Of the Swine in generall.

BEing to discourse of this beast,* althogh the kinds of it be not many as is in others, yet because there are some thinges peculiar to the Bore, and therefore he deserueth a speciall story by himselfe, I will first of all deliuer the common properties in a generall Narration, and afterward discend to the speciall. For the names of this beaste, [ 30] there are many in all languages, and such as belong to the seuerall sex and age of euery one. For as in English we call a young swine a Pigge, A weaning Pigge, a sheate, a Yealke, and so foorth: likewise, a Hogge, a Sow, a Barrow, a Libd-Hog, a libd-Sow, a Splayed Sow, a Gelt Sow, a Basse, for the elder swine, so in other Nations they obserue such like titles. The Haebrewes cal a Bore Chasir, and a Sow Chaserah, the Chaldees Deut. 4. for Chasir translate Chasira, the Arabi∣ans Kaniser the Persians Mar-an-buk, the Septuagints Hus, and S. Hierome, Sus. The Arabi∣ans also vse Hazir, and Acanthil, for a hog, Achira, and Scrofa.

The Graecians do also vse Sus or Zus, Choiros, and Suagros. The wilde hog is called Ka∣pro•, [ 40] from hence I coniecture is deriued the Latine word Apex.* The Italians do vulgarly call it Porco, and the Florentines peculiarly Ciacco, and also the Italians call a sow with pig Scrofa and Troiata or Porco fattrice. The reason why that they cal a Sow that is great with Pigge Troiata, or Troiaria, is for the similitude with the Troian horse,* because as that in the belly thereof did include many armed men, so doth a sow in her belly many young pigs, which afterward come to the table and dishes of men. A Barrow hog is called Maia∣lis in Latine, and the Italians Porco castrato, and Lo Maiale. The French call a swine Porceau, a sow Truye Coche, a Bore, Verrat, a pig Cochon Porcelet, and about Lyons, Caion. The bar∣row hog they cal Por-chastre. The Spaniards cal swine Puerco, the Germans saw, or suw, su schwin, schwein, a sow they call Mor and looss, a Bore Aeber, which seemeth to be deriued [ 50] from Aper, a barrow hog Barg, a splaied sow Gultz, a pig Farle, and Seuwle, and a sucking pig spanfoerle. In little Brittaine they call a hog Houch, and therof they cal a Dolphin Mer∣houch. The Illyrians call Swine Swinye, and Prase. The Latines Sus Porcus, and Porcellus, & Scrofa, and these are the common and most vulgar tearmes of swines: If there be any other they are either deuised or new made, or else deriued from some of these.

Page  662Concerning the Latine worde

Sus,* Isidorus deriueth it from Sub, because these beasts tread vnder foote grasse and grayne, and indeede for this cause the Egyptians kept their Swine in the hilles all the yeare long, till their seed time, for when their corne was sowne, they droue them ouer their newe plowed Landes, to tread in the graine, that the Fowls and Birds might not roote it or scrape it forth a∣gaine, & for this cause also they spared Swine from sacrificing. But in mine opinion, it is better deriued from Hus the Greeke word: For the Latine Porcus, is thought to be fetched from por rectus, because his snowte is al∣way stretched forth, and so hee feedeth, digging with it in the earth, and turning vp the roots of trees: but I better approoue the notation of Isidorus, Porcus quasi spurcus quia cano & limo se volutat. That is, because it row∣leth and walloweth in the mire. Porcetra or Porceta for a sow that hath hadde but one farrowe, & Scropha for a sowe that hath had many. The Graecians Hus is de∣riued from Thuein, which signi∣fieth to kil in sacrifice, for great was the vse of sacrificing this beast amonge the Paynims, as we shall shew afterward. The an∣cient Graecians did also tearme swine Sika, and when the Swine herds did cal the beasts to their meates, they cryed Sig, Sig: as in our Countrey their feeders cry Tig, Tig, Choiros of their fee∣ding and nursing their younge ones. And indeede from Swine we finde that many men haue also receiued names, as Scipio Suarius, and Tremellius Scro∣fa,* whereuppon lieth this history, as he writeth when Licinus Nerua was Praetor, his great Vncle was left Questor in his absence for Macedonia, vntill the Praetor returned. The ene∣mies thinking that nowe they had gotten opportunity and aduantage against their besie∣gers or assa•lants, caused an onset to be made, and a fight to be offered, then his Vnckle exhorting the Romane Souldiors to Armes, tolde them, Se celeretar hostes disiecturum vt sorosa porcellas, That he would as easily cast them off and scatter them, as a sow doth hir pigges sucking her belly, which he performed accordingly, and so obtained a great vic∣tory, for which Nerua was made Emperour, and hee was alwaies euermore afterwarde called Scrofa.

Page  663Macrobius telleth the occasion of the name of the family of Scrofa somewhat otherwise yet pertaining to this discourse. Tremellius (saith hee) was with his family and children, dwelling in a certaine village, and his seruants seeing a stray Sow come among them, the owner whereof they did not know, presently they slew her, and brought her home. The Neighbour that did owe the Sow called for witnesses of the fact or theft, and came with them to Tremellius, demaunding his Scrofa or Sow againe. Tremellius hauing vnderstood by one of his seruants the deed, layed it vp in his Wiues bed, & couering it ouer with the cloaths, caused her to lye vpon the Sowes carkase, and therefore told his neighbour hee should come in and take the Scrofa, and so had brought him where his wife lay,* and swore [ 10] he had no other Sow of his but that, shewing him the bed, and so the poore man was de∣ceiued by a dissembling oth, for which cause (he saith) the name of Scrofa was giuen to that family. There was one Pope Sergius, whose christen and first name was Os porci, Hogges snowt, and therfore he being elected Pope, changed his name into Sergius, which custome of alteration of names, as that was the beginning, so it hath continued euer since that time among all his successours. Likewise we read of Porcellus a Grammarian, of Porcellius, a Poet of Naples, who made a Chronicle of the affaires of Fredericke Duke of Vrbine, Por∣cius, Suillus, Verres the Praetor of Sycilia, Syadra, Sybotas, Hyas, Hyagnis, Gryllus Porcilla, and many such other giue sufficient testimony of the original of their names, to be drawen from Swine, and not onely men, but people and places; as Hyatae, Suales Chorreatae, three names of the Dori in Greece: Hyia a Citty of Locris, Hyamea a Citty of Mesene, Hyamaion a [ 20] Citty of Troy, Hyampholis a Citty of Phocis; whereby to all posterity it appeareth,* that they were Swineheardes at the beginning; Exul Hyantaenos inuenit regna per agros Hy•pe, Hyops a Citty in Iberia, Hysia a Citty of Boeotia, and Pliny calleth the tall people of Ethiop, which wer 8. cubits in height Sybotae, and the like I might adde of many places, Cities, peo∣ple, fountaines, Plants, Engins, and deuises, plentifull in many Authors, but I will not trouble the Reader any longer with that, which may be but thought to bee vnnecessary. Onely I cannot containe my selfe from the fiction of a Swines name and Testament, or last will, for the mirth and wit thereof, as it is remembered in Coelius, and before in S. Ie∣rom, and lastly by Alexander Brassicanus, and Geo. Fabritius, I will expresse both in Latine [ 30] and English in this place.

M. Grunnius Corocotta Porcellus testamentum feci,* quod quoniam manu mea propria scribe∣re•on potui, scribendum dictaui. Magirus cocus dixit veni huc euer sor domi, soliuer sor fugi∣tiue porcelle, ego hodie tibi vitam adimo. Corocotta porcellus dixit si qua feci, si qua peccaui, si qua vascula pedibus meis confregi, rogo domine coque, veniam peto, roganti concede. Magirus coquus dixit, transipuer adfer mihi de culina cultrum, vt hunc porcellum cruentum f•ciam. Por∣cellus comprehenditur à famulis ductus sub die 16. Cal. lucerninas, vbi abundant cymae. Cliba∣nato & piperato consulibus, & vt vidit se moriturum esse, horae spatium petijt, coquum roga∣uit, vt testamentum facere posset. Inclamauit ad se sues parentes, vt de cibarijs suis aliquid di mitteret eis, qui ait, patri meo verrino Lardino, do lego, dari glandis modios 30. & matri meae [ 40] veturrinae Scrofae do, lego, dari laconicae siligines modios 40. & sorori meae Quirinae, in cuius vo∣tum interesse non potui, do, lego, dari hordei modios, 30. & de meis visceribus dabo, donabo futoribus setas, rixatoribus capitinas surdis auriculas, causidicis & verbosis linguam, bubula∣rijs intestina, esiciarijs femora, mulieribus lumbulos, pueris vesicā puellis caudam, cinaedis mus∣culos, cursoribus & venatoribus talos, latronibus vngulos, & nec nominando coquo, do, lego, ac dimitto popam & pistillam, quae mecum detuleram à quer ceto vs{que} ad haram, liget sibi collū de reste. Volo mihi fieri monumentum ex literis aureis seriptum. M. Grunnius Corocotta porcel∣lus vixit annos D.CCCC.xc. 9. quod si semis vixisset, mille annos Compleuisset. Optimi ama∣tores mei vel consules vitae, rogo vos vt corpori meo benefaciatis bene condiatis, debonis condi∣mentis nuclei, piperis, & mellis, vt nomen meum in sempiternum nominetur. Mei domini, & [ 50] consobrini mei, qui huic testamento interfuistis iubete signari Testes.

Page  664In English without offence I may translate it thus; I, M. Grunter Hogg-son, little pig haue made this my last will and Testament, which because I could not write with my own hand, I haue caused it to be endited by other. Magirus the Cooke said vnto me, come hither thou vnderminer of houses, thou rooter vp of land, fearefull, fugitiue little Pig, I must this day take away thy life. To whom Hog-son made this answer, If I haue done any harm, if I haue offended, if I haue trod in peeces any vessels of worth vnder my feet, then I en∣treat thee good M. Cooke pardon me, and grant me my request. But Magirus the Cook said, run (sir-kitchin-Boy) and bring me a knife out of the Kitchin, that I may let this litle pig bleed: presently I the little Pig was taken by the seruantes, and by them led the xiv. [ 10] day of the calends of Torch-light into the place of Coole-worts, when Fiery-furnace & Pepper-spice were Consuls, and when I saw no remedy but that I must die, I entreated the Cooke but an houtes space to make my will. Which when I had obtained, I cald my parents and friends about me, and made my wil in manner following, Of all my meat and prouision left behind me, first I giue vnto Bore-Browne, my father 30 bushels of Buck∣mast. Item I giue to my mother Town-Sow, forty bushels of the best Weate. Item I giue my Sister Whine-pig, 30. bushels of Barly, and for my bowels I bestow them in manner following. I bequeath my bristles to the Coblers and shoomakers, my brains to Wrang∣lers, my eares to the deafe, my tongue to Lawyers and Pratlers, my intrals to the Tripe-makers, my thighes to the Pye-makers, my loines to Women, my bladder to Boies, my [ 20] taile to young maides, my muscles to shamelesse Dancers, my Anckle-bones, to Lackyes and hunters, my hooues to Theeues.

Item I giue vnto this (vnworthy to bee named Cook) the Knife and the pestle, that I brought out of the spinny of an Oake, into my stye, and so let him tye his Necke with a halter. Also my wil is, that there be made for me a monument, wherein shall be engra∣uen in Golden Letters, this inscription or title, M. Grunter Hog-son, Little-Pig, liued nine hundered ninety nine yeares and a halfe, and if he had liued but one halfe yeare longer he he had liued a thousand yeares. And you my Louers and best counsellers of my life, I beseech you do good to my dead carkase, salt it well with the best season of Nutmegs, Pepper, and Honny, that so my name and memory may remaine for euermore. And you my Maisters and kindred which haue beene present at the making of my will, I pray [ 30] you cause your markes to be put thereunto.

Witnesses;

I haue expressed this discourse for no other purpose but to shew the Rea. what proper feig¦ned names haue beene or may be giuen to Swine, and so not to hold him any longer in this discourse,* I will proceede from the names to the natures of this beast. And first of all to begin with the common and vulgar epithets, which are as so many short definitions [ 40] as they are words, as that of Horace, Amica sus luto, a durt-louer, clouen footed, beastly, clamorous, Acron-eater, rough, horrible, fearefull, sluggish, filthy, vncleane, impati∣ent, loud, glad of food, miry, fat, wet, follower, moyst, greedy, tender, and milke-sucker, according to the Poets sayings; Swine are in the most countries of the world.* Yet Aristotle and Aetian report, that there are none in Indian, & Arabia Scein: and moreouer there is in the people of those countries [ 50] such a detestation of them, that they cannot endure to eate their flesh, which this is not wrought in them by any instinct or opinion of religion (as it is in the Iewes) but rather by a naturall inclination of the place and region wherein they liue, for it is said also that if Swine be brought thither from any other place, they dye within short space.

Pliny affirmeth, that there are Boares among some of the Indians which haue horns, Page  665 and the like is affirmed of the Ethiopians. The Swine of Sycily are accounted the best of all other for food. In Bauaria they are leane, but in Burgundy or the neather Germany, they are fierce, strong, and very fat. Those which are carried into Hispaniola,* are said to grow to the stature of Mules.

Now concerning the seuerall partes of Swyne, it is most certaine that inwardly they do more resemble a mans body then an Ape, for as al writers do affirme, that outwardly the proportion of Apes come nearest to men, according to the Poets verse;

[ 10] So on the other side a Swynes Anatomy doth more liuely expresse the inward members and seate of life, and therefore our predecessours did first of all dissect a Swyne, and then a man, for the Swine was an example or introduction to the other; and in Swine they chuse a leane Hogge, because that all the vessels and instrumentall partes do better and more clearely appeare to the sight then in a fat Hog. There is not according to Aristotle, much marrow in their bones, and their skin is all ouer rough and hairy,* and yet the haire not so thicke as an Oxes, yet much longer and stiffer, standing vp vppon the ridge of the backe, the colour of Swine is vncertaine and varieth not only after the diuersity of the Countrey, but in euery Countrey it is diuers in it selfe, some are white, some branded, some sanded, some red, some black, some pyed, some none of these, and some al of these; [ 20] yet in Germany for the most part red, and in France and Italy blacke.

Betwixt the skin and the flesh there lyeth a fat called Lardo larde and Aruina. Their braine is very fat, and in the waine of the Moone it is lesse then any other beastes. Their eies are hollow, and stand very deepe in their heads, and therefore cannot by Art of man be taken out without danger of death, and if one of them be at any time perished, it is haz∣zard but the Swine dyeth.

Their eie-browes moue more downeward toward their Noses, and are againe drawne vp toward their temples, and their forehead is very narrow, by which in ancient time they iudged or deemed a foole or foolish vnwise disposition, as by standing vp of the lips about the canine teeth, betokeneth a contumelious and clamorous rayler, and thicke lips, and a [ 30] round mouth standing forth, the disposition of a Hog.

The snout is long and strong, and yet broad to cast vp the earth for food, hauing on the tippe a rising gristle round, and more piked, at the top betwixt the Nostriles,* where∣withall it first entereth the earth by digging. Vpon their vnder chap there are teeth which grow out of their head, and the Boares haue some which the females haue not: For euen as the Elephant hath two teeth growing downewarde, so hath the Boare twoe growing vpward. The male as we haue said, hath more then the female, and neither of both do loose or change them by any corse of nature. As the Horse hath his mane, so hath a Swine cer∣taine bristles on his Necke (called therefore by the Graecians Lophia,) this necke is broad and thicke, and in it lyeth the strength of the beast, and therefore it is obserued by the [ 40] Physiognomers that a man with such a necke is an angry foole.

The collop next to the necke called vulgarly Callasum, ought to be broad & stiffe. It is said of sore harts that they haue their gall in their eares, and indeede in the eares of Swine there is found a certaine humor not much vnlike to a gall: yet lesse liquid, and therefore by reason of the density or thicknesse thereof, comparable to the humor of the Spleene. The ventricle is large to receiue much meate, and to concoct it perfectly, we call it vul∣garly the bucke, and there are in it but few smooth ribs or crestes, and in the liuer partes which are very great, there is a certaine hard thing white like a stone. The females haue twelue vdders or dugs vnder the belly, but neuer lesse then ten, if they want of twelue, and the Boares haue their stones on their seat behind them ioyned together, which being taken [ 50] off, are called by the Latines Polimenta.

But in the female there is a great miracle of nature, for the place of conception is one∣ly open to the vdders or downeward, but when her lust commeth on her,* by often tickling and striuing she turneth it about to meete with the Boares instrument in generation.

Page  666And this bag is called Apria, which hangeth in the female inward, as the stones of the Boare do outwardly. In some places there are Swine which are not clouen-footed, but whole hooued like a Horse, yet this is very seldome or accidentall, for the most part al are clouen-footed, Aristotle affirmeth, that there are Swine whole hooued, in Illiria, Poeonia, and Macedonia, and Albertus saith, that he hath bin informed of some such seene in Eng∣land, and also in Flanders.

The Anckles are doubtfull, as it were in proportion betwixt the Anckle of a whole and of a clouen hoose. Now by this that hath beene said and shall be added, we must make vp the description of a perfect Swine, for the better knowledge of the Reader, which may be this,* of a straight and small head. The best forme is to haue large members, except the [ 10] head and feet, and of one vniforme colour, not parted or variable, not old, but of a good race or breed.

There be some that for the choice of their Swine do make this obseruation, they chuse them by their face, by the race, and by the Region, by the face, when the Boare and Sow are of good and beautifull aspects; by the race, if they bring forth many and safely, not casting Pigges, by the Region when they are not bred where they bee of a small, slender, or vile stature, and especially this is obserued in the Male, bycause that in all beastes they are oftentimes more like the sire then the Damme; therefore it is better in Swine to haue a thicke, round, and well set Hogge, then a long sided one, howbeit some approue Hogs with long Legs. The buttockes ought to be fleshy, the belly large and prominent, and [ 20] the Snowts short and turning vpward, yet the Sowe is best, that hath the largest sides, if all the other members be correspondent.

Likewise in cold Countries they must chuse their Swine with rough and thicke haire, but in warmer and more temperate Climats, any haire be it neuer so small will serue the turne, especially if it be blacke. And thus much shall serue in this place for their seue∣rall partes and members: Now wee will proceede on to their nourishment and copula∣tion.

*It is most certaine that Swine are of a hot temperament, and for that cause it com∣meth to passe that they do not loose their Winter haire, for by reason of the fat neere to their skinne, there is aboundance of heate which keepeth fast the roots of the haire. Their [ 30] food therfore and nourishment is easily digested in euery part, for that which is so strong in the nouriture of the haire, must needs be of correspondent power in other parts. Some haue thought that Swine care not for Grasse or Hearbes, but onely rootes, and therefore hath a peculiar snout to attain them, but I find by experience that they wil eat grasse aboue the earth, aswel as rootes beneath, & they loue to feede in heardes together. They loue a¦boue measure Acornes, and yet being giuen to them alone they are hurtfull, and bring no lesse damage to them then to Sheepe (though not so often) especially to Sowes that be with pigge. The best time for gathering of Acorns is in Nouember, and it is a worke for Women and Children. The Woodes of Italy are so full of Acornes that they nou∣rish aboundance of Swine, and that therewith are fed the greatest part of the Romaine [ 40] people.

They delight also in Bucke-mast, and that meate maketh the Swines flesh light, easie of digestion, and apt for the stomacke: In some Countries Hawes haue the same vertue to fat Hogges,* that is in Acornes, for they make them waighty, straight, neate, and sweete. The next vnto this Holme Berries do fat Hogges, sauing that they procure loosenesse, ex∣cept they be eaten by little and little. There is a tree which hath such bitter fruite (cal∣led Haliphlocus) whereof no beast will tast, heereof Hogges wil tast, but in extreame fa∣mine and hunger,* when they are without all other food and meate.

The fruite or Apples of Palme-trees (especially such as grow in salt grounds neare the Sea sides, as in Cyrene of Affrica, and Iudea, and not in Egypt, Cyprus, Syria, Heluetia, and [ 50] Assiria) do fatten and feed Hogges: And indeed there is scarce any food whereof they do not eate, as also no place wherein they picke not out some liuing, both in Mountains, and Fens, and plaine fieldes, but best of all neare waters, wherein by the bankes sides they ga∣ther many sweete and nourishable morsels.

There are no better abiding places for Hogs then are the woods, wherein abound ey∣ther Page  667 Oakes, Beeches, Corke-trees, Holme, wilde Oliues, Tamariske, Hasels, Apples, or Crab-trees, white Thorne, the Greeke Carobs, Pine-trees, Corne-trees, Lote-trees,* Prune-trees, Shrubs, Hawes, or wilde Peares, or Medlers, and such like; for these frutes grow ripe successiuely one after the other, for there is no time of the yeare wherein some of them are not to be gathered soft and norishable, whereby the heards of swine may be maintained.

But if at any time this food cease, and not to be found, then must ther be some other prouision out of the earth, such as is corne, or graines, and turn your Hogs to moist pla∣ces where they may picke vp worms, and suck vp fat fenny water, which thing is aboue al [ 10] other things gratefull to this beaste, for which cause it pleased the Holi-ghost in scripture to compare the pleasure that beastely men take in sinning to the wallowing of swine in the mire. The Dogge (saith S. Peter) is returned to his vomit, and the Sow that was washed to wallow in the mire. For this cause also you must suffer them to digge in the water, and to eat Canes and wilde Bul-rushes, likewise the rootes and tops of Water-cresses; and you must prouide to lay vp for them in water Acornes, and not spare corne to giue it them by hand, as Beanes, Pease, Fitches, Barly and such like: And Columella (from whome I haue taken these instructions) addeth moreouer, that in the spring time before your Hogs go abroad to bite at the sweet and fresh-growing-hearbes,* least they prouoke them to loose∣nesse, you must giue them some sodden drinke, wash or swill, by vertue whereof that mis∣chiefe must be auoided, for if it be not, such leannesse wil follow, that it will ouerthrowe [ 20] and kil them.

In some Countries they also giue them the scapes or refuse Grapes of Vintage,* and moreouer the frutes of yew tree, which is poison to Dogges. Aristomachus the Athenian by many and sundry praises aduanceth three-leaued grasse, and among other, for that as when it is greene it is commodious for sheepe, so being dried it is wholesome to swine. They loue greene corn, yet it is reported that if swine eat of it in the Isle of Salamine, their teeth by the law of the countrey are beaten out of their mouthes. It is wholesome to giue them crude or rawe barley, especially to a Bore when he is to covple with a sowe, but vnto a sow with pigge sod.

There is in Bauaria a kinde of Scallion which beareth a red-purple-flower, like to the [ 30] flower of the Lilly of the vallies, which is greatly sought after and deuoured by swine. They also seeke after wilde Vines, and the hearbe called Hogs-bread, and the roote of wilde rapes, which beareth leaues like vnto violets but sharper, and a white roote without milke: By some it is called Buchspicke, bycause it groweth in woodes amonge Beeches. They eat also flesh, and abstain not from fat Bacon, and heerein they differ from most of the rauening creatures, for Dogges will not taste of Dogges flesh, and Beares of Beares, yet will Hogges eat of Swines flesh, yea many times the damme eateth hir younge ones: And it is found that swine haue not abstaind from the flesh of men and children, for when they haue been slaine by theeues, before they could be found,* the greatest part of their body was torne in pieces and eaten by wilde swine. And indeed as we see some Hens eat [ 40] vp the Egges that they themselus haue layd, so shal we obserue some sows to deuoure the frutes of their owne wombes, whereat we ought not to maruel as at a monstrous or pro∣digious thing, but rather acknowledge a naturall voracity, constrained in them thorough famine and impatience.

They also eat Snailes and Salamanders, especially the Bores of the mountaines in Ci∣licia, and although there be in Salamanders a verye deadly poison, yet doeth it not hurt them at all, but afterward when men or beasts tast of such a swines flesh, the operation of the poison worketh vpon them mortally: neither is this any maruaile, for so it is when a Frog eateth of a Toad: and whereas if a man eat Hemlocke, presently al his blood congea∣leth in his body and he dieth, but if a Hogge eat thereof, hee not onely not dieth, but [ 50] thriueth and groweth fat thereby.

Aristotle reported one great wonder of a place about Thracia (as he saith) wherein for the compasse of twenty paces there groweth Barley, whereof men eate safely, but Oxen, and sheep, and other creatures auoid it as mortall poyson, and swine wil not vouchsafe to tast of mens excrements that haue eaten thereof, but auoide them carefully.

Page  668As swine delight in meat, so also they delight more in drinke, and especially in the Sum∣mer time, and therefore they which keepe sucking Sowes, must regard to giue them their belliful of drinke twice a day, and generally we must not lead them to the waters as we do Goats, and sheepe, but when the heat of Summer is about the rising of the Dog-star, we must keepe them altogether by water sides, that so they may at their owne pleasure, both drinke and lie downe to wallow in the mire, and if the coasts be so dry that this cannot bee obtained or permitted, then must they haue water set in troughes and vessels, whereof they may tast at their owne pleasure, for otherwise through want of water they grow liuer and lung sicke.

*The miery water doth most quickly make them fat, and they will drink wine or beere [ 10] vnto drunkennesse, and in those countries where Grapes grow if the swine come into the vintage, they grow drunke with eating of grapes. Also if the Leeze of wine be mingled with their meat, they grow fat aboue measure and sencelesse in their fat, whereby it hath bin seene that a mouse hath eaten into the sides of a fat Hog without the resistance of the beast: and the like is reported by Pliny of the sonne of L. Apronius who had bin a Consul, for his bodie grew so fat that it was taken from him his body remaining immouable. And in the spring time Swine of their owne accord grow so fat, that many times they cannot stand on their legs their bodies be so heauy, nor go any whit, so that if they are to be remo¦ued, they are not to be drouen but to be carried in a cart.

Varro and Crescentiensis do report admirable things of the fatnes of swine For first Var∣ro [ 20] saith,* that hee receiued knowledge from a credible honest man in Portugall, of a Swine that there was killed, the offall wherof with two ribbes was sent to Volumnius a Senatour, which weighed twenty and three pounds, and the fat betwixt the skin and the bone, was a foot and three fingers thicke. Vnto this he addeth the story of the Arcadian Sowe, who suffered a mouse to eat into her fat, and breed young ones therein, after she made a nest: which thing he likewise affirmeth of a Cow. And Crescentiensis reporteth of an other Lu∣sitenian Swine, which after the death, weighed fiue hundred seuenty and fiue pounds, and the Lard of that Hogge was one foot and three fingers broad. And the like may be said of a Hogge at Basill, nourished by a certaine Oile-man, in whose Larde or fatte, after his death were found manie passages of mice too and fro, which they had gnawed into his [ 30] body without the sence of the beast.

*Hogs growe fat in short time. In auncient daies (as Pliny writeth) they put them vp to fatting threescore daies, and first of all they made them fast three daies together, after six daies they may senciblie be perceiued to grow fat. There is not any beast that can better or more easilie be accustomed to al kinds of food, and therefore doeth verie quicklie grow fat, the quantitie and stature of their bodie considered, for whereas an Oxe or Cowe, or Hart, and such like Beasts aske long time, yet a Swine which eateth of all sorts of meate, doth very quickely euen in a moneth or two or three at the most, prooue woorthye the knife and also his maisters table, although in some places they put them vppe to fatting a whole yeare together, and how much they profit and gather in their feeding, it is verye [ 40] easie for them to obserue that daily keep and attend them, and haue the charge and ouer∣seeing of them.

And there must be had great care of their drinke. In Thracia, after they put vp a Hog to fatting, they giue him drinke the first daie, and then let him fast from drink two daies, and so giue him drinke by that proportion, till the seuenth day, afterwarde they obserue no more dyet for their Swine, but giue them their fill of meat and drinke till the slaugh∣ter day. In other Countries they diet them in this sort: After Beanes and Pease they giue them drinke aboundantly, because they are solide and harde, but after Oats and such like, as meale, they giue them no drinke, least the meale swimme vp and down in their bel∣ly, and so be eiected into the excrements without any great profitte. There is nothinge [ 50] whereon it liueth, but thereby it will grow fatte except grazing, and therefore all manner of graine, Millet seed, Figges, Acornes, Nuttes, Peares, Apples, Cucumbers, Rootes, and such things cause them to rise in flesh gratefully, and so much the sooner if they bee permitted to roote now and then in the mire.

They must not be vsed to one simple, or vnmingled, or vncompounded meate, but Page  669 with diuers compounds, for they reioyce in variety and change like other beastes, for by this mutation of food, they are not onely kept from inflamation and windinesse, but part of it alway goeth into flesh, and part into fat.

Some vse to make their stye wherein they are inclosed to be very darke and close,* for their more speedy fatting, and the reason is good, because the beast is more apt to be qui∣et. You shall haue Bakers that will fat their Hogges with bran, and in Elsatia a country of Germany, they fat them with Beane-meale, for thereby they grow fat very speedily, and some with barley meale wet with flat milke. And in the Alpes they fat them with Whaye, whereby their fat and flesh groweth more white and sweete then if they were fatted with Acorns, yet whay is very dangerous: for such is the rauening intemperancy of this beast [ 10] to swil in whatsoeuer is pleasant to his taste, that many times in drinking of Whaye their bellies growe extended aboue measure, euen to death, except that they bee dieted by a wife keeper, and driuen vp and downe not suffered to rest till it flow foorth againe backe∣ward.

Ba•ly is very nourishable to them, whether it be sod or raw, and especially for Sowes with Pigge, for it preserueth the young ones til deliuery, and at the farrowing causeth an easie and safe pigging. And to conclude this part, Millers and Bakers fat with meale and bran, brewers with Ale or Barley steeped in Ale, Oyle-men with the refuse of Nuttes and Grapes.

Some again there be that grew fat with the rootes of Ferne.* When a Sow is very fat she hath alway but little milke, and therefore is not apte to make any good tidie pigs, and [ 20] yet as all other beasts grow leane when they giue sucke, so also doth swine. Al swine in hot regions by reason of a viscous humor, groweth more fat then in the cold regions. In that part of Frisia neer Germany, they fat Oxen and swine with the same meate, for there you shal haue in one stable an Oxe, and a Hogge tyed behind him at his taile, for the Oxe be∣ing tied to the rack eateth Barly in the straw & chaffe, which he swalloweth down without chewing, and so the softest thereof is digested in his belly, & the other commeth forth whole in his dung, which the Hogge licketh vp and is therewithal fatned. And it is to bee remembred, that swine gelded or splaied, doe sooner fatten then anie other.

To conclude, they loue the dung of men, and the reason thereof is, because the seat [ 30] of their lust is in their liuer which is very broade and insatiable, and there is nothinge that hath a duller sence of smelling then this Beaste, and therefore it is not offended with any carrion or stinking smel, but with sweete and pleasant ointments, as wee shall shew after∣wardes.

Concerning their generation or copulation,* it is to be noted that a Bore or male swine wil not remaine of validity and good for breed past three yeare old, by the opinion of all the auncient, for such as he engendereth after that age, are but weake and not profitable to be kept and nourished. At eight moneths olde he beginneth to leape the female, and it is good to keepe him close from other of his kinde for two moneths before, and to feede him with Barly raw, but the sow with Barly sodden. One Bore is sufficient for ten Sowes, [ 40] if once he heare the voice of his female, desiring the Bore he will not eate vntil hee be ad∣mitted, and so he wil continue pining, and indeed hee wil suffer the female to haue al that can bee, and groweth leane to fatten her; for which cause Homer like a wise husbandman prescribeth, that the male and female Swine be kept assunder till the time of their copula∣tion.

They continue long in the act of copulation, and the reason thereof is, because his lust is not hot, nor yet proceeding from heat, yet is his seed verie plentiful. They in the time of their copulation are angry, & outragious, fighting with one another very irefully, and for that purpose they vse to harden their ribs by rubbing them voluntarily vppon Trees. They choose for the most part the morning for copulation, but if he be fat and young, he [ 50] can endure it in euery part of the yeare & day, but when he is leane, and weake, or old, he is not able to satisfie his females lust, for which cause she many times sinketh vnderneath him, and yet he filleth her while she lyeth on the ground, both of them on their buttocks together.

They engender oftentimes in one yeare, the reason whereof is to be ascribed to their Page  670 meat or some extraordinary heat, which is a cōmon thing to al that liue familiarly among men, and yet the wilde swine couple and bring forth but once in the yeare, because they are seldome filled with meat, endure much paine to get and much cold, for Venus in men and beasts, is a companion of satiety, and therefore they onely bring forth in the springe time, and warme weather, and it is obserued that in what night soeuer a wilde Hogge or sow farroweth there will be no storme or raine. There bee many causes why the tame do∣mesticall Hogs bring forth and engender more often then the wilde, first because they are fed with ease, secondly because they liue togither, without fear, & by society are more often prouoked to lust, on the otherside the wilde swine come sildome together, and are often hungrey, for which cause they are more dull and lesse venereous, yea many times [ 10] they haue but one stone, for which cause they are called by Aristotle and the ancient Grae∣cians Chlunes, and Monorcheis.

*But concerning the sow, she beginneth to suffer the Bore at eight moneths of age, al∣though according to the diuersity of regions and aire, they differ in this time of their co∣pulation, for some begin at foure moneths, and other againe tary till they be a yeare old, and this is no maruell, for euen the male which engendereth before he be a yeare olde, begetteth but weake, tender, and vnprofitable Pigges. The best time of their admission is from the Calends of February vnto the Vernall Equinoctiall, for so it hapneth that they bring forth the young in the summer time, for foure months she goeth with young, and it is good that the pigges be farrowed before haruest, which you purpose to keepe al the [ 20] yeare for store.

After that you perceiue that the sowes haue conceiued, then seperate them from the bores, least by the raging lust of their prouoking, they be troubled and endangered to a∣bortment. There be some that say, a sow may beare young till she be seauen yeare olde, but I will not striue about that whereof euery poore swineheard may giue ful satisfaction. At a yeare olde a sow may do well, if shee be couered by the bore in the month of Fe∣bruary.

But if they begin not to beare til they be twenty moneths old, or two yeares, they wil not onely bring foorth the stronger, but also beare the longer time euen to the seauenth yeare, and at that time it is good to let them go to riuers, fennes, or miery places, for euen [ 30] as a man is delighted in washing or bathing, so doth swine in filthy wallowing in the mire; therein is their rest, ioy, and repose. Albertus reporteth, that in some places of Germany a sow hath bin found to beare young eight years, and in other till they were fifteen years old▪ but after fifteene yeare it was neuer seene that a sow brought foorth younge pigges. If the sowe bee fatte, she is alwaies the lesse prone to conceiue with young, whether shee be young or old.

When first of all they beginne to seeke the Bore, they leape vpon other swine, and in processe cast foorthe a certaine purgation called Apria, which is the same in a sow which Hippomanes is in a mare, then they also leaue their heard-fellowes, which kind of behauior or action, the Latines call by a peculiar Verb Subare, and that is applied to Harlottes and [ 40] wanton Women, by Horace:

We in English call it Boaring, because she neuer resteth to shew her desire till she come to a bore, and therefore when an olde Woman lusteth after a man, being past lust by all natural possibility, she is cald Anus subans. And the beast is so delighted with this pleasure of carnal copulation, that many times she falleth asleepe in that action, and if the male be young or dull,* then wil the female leap vpon him and prouoketh him, yea in her rage she s•tteth manie times vpon men and Women, especially if that they doe weare any white [ 50] Garments, but this rage of lust is abated, if their Apria and priuy place be wet and moist¦ned with Vineger. They haue their proper voices and cries for this time of their boaring, which the bore or male vnderstandeth presently.

They are filled at one copulation, and yet for their better safegarde, and to preserue them from abortment, it is good to suffer the bore to couer hir twice or thrice, and more Page  671 ouer, if she conceiue not at the first, then may she safly be permitted three or foure times together, and it is obserued that except her eares hang downe flagging, and carelessely, she is not filled but reiecteth the seed, but if her eares fall downeward, and so hang all the time that the Boare is vpon her, then is it a most certaine token that she is filled, and hath conceiued with young.

After foure monthes (as we haue saide) the Sow farroweth her Pigs, that is to say, in the fifth month, as it were in the seuenteenth weeke: For so is this beast enabled by nature to beare twice in the yeare, and yet to sucke her young ones two monthes together. And there is no clouen-footed-beast that beareth many at a time except the Sow, except in her age, for then she beginneth to loose her Apria or purgation, and so many times mis∣carrieth, [ 10] and many times beare but one. Yet this is maruailous that as she beareth many, so she engendereth them perfect without blindnesse, lamenesse, or any such other di∣stresse, although as wee haue saide before, that in some places you shall see Swine whole hooued like a Horsse, yet most commonly and naturally their feete are clouen, and therefore is the wonder accounted the greater of their manifolde multiplycation, and the reason thereof may arise from the multitude and great quantity of their foode, for the humour cannot be so well auoyded and dispersed in so little a bodye as Swine haue, as in Mares and Cowes, and therefore that humour turneth to multiply nature and na∣turall kind, and so it commeth to passe,* that by ouermuch humour turned into a natu∣rall seede, it breedeth much young, and for little humour it bringeth forth a few Pigges, [ 20] and those also are not only perfect, but also she is sufficiently furnished with Milk to nou¦rish them, till they be able to feed themselues. For as a fat ground or soyle is to the plants that groweth on it, euen so is a fruitefull Sow to the pigs which she hath brought forth.*

Their ordinary number which they bring forth and can nourishe is twelue, or six∣teene at the most, and very rare it is to see sixteene brought vp by one Sow. Howbeit it hath beene seene that a Sow hath brought forth twenty, but far more often seuen, eyght or ten. There is a story in Festus of a Sow that brought forth thirty at a time, his words be these;

The Sow of Aeneas Lauinius did bring forth thirty white Pigges at one time, wherefore the Lauinians were much troubled about the signification of such a monstrous farrow, at [ 30] last they receiued answer, that their Citty should be thirty years in building, and being so they called it Alba, in remembrance of the thirty white Pigges. And Pliny affirmeth, that the Images of those pigges and the Sow their damme, were to be seene in his daies in publique places, and the body of the Damme or Sowe preserued in Salt by the priestes of Alba, to be shewed to all such as desired to bee certified of the truth of that Story.

But to returne to the number of young pigges which are ordinary and without mira∣cle bred in their dammes belly, which I find to be so many as the Sow hath dugges for, so many she may well nourish and giue sucke vnto, and not more, and it seemeth a speciall worke of God which hath made this tame beast so fruitefull, for the better recompence [ 40] to man for her meate and custody. By the first farrow it may be gathered how fruitfull she will be, but the second and third do most commonly exceede the first, and the last in old age is inferior in number to the first.

Iuuenal hath a comparison betwixt a white sow and an Heighfar. Scropha foecundior al∣ba, more fruitefull then a white Sow, but belike the white Sowes do bring more then any other colour. Now the reason of the Poets speech was because that there was an Heighfar in the daies of Ptolomy the younger, which at one time brought forth sixe Calues; Whereuppon came the prouerbe of Regia Vaccula, for a fruitefull Cow, for Helenus telleth this to Aeneas. Vpon the Sow and thirty pigges there is this aunswer of [ 50] the Oracle to the Lauiniens concerning Alba:

Page  672 And Iuuenal saith thus of it;

When the young one commeth forth of the Dammes belly wounded or imperfect, by reason of any harme therein receiued, (it is called Metacherum) and many times swine engender Monsters, which commeth to passe oftner in little beastes then in the greatest, because of the multitude of cels appointed for the receipt of the seede, by reason wher∣of, sometimes there are two heades to one body, sometimes two bodies and one head, [ 10] sometime three Legges, sometime two before and none behind, such were the Pigges without eares, which were farrowed at that time that Dionisius the Tyrant went to War a∣gainst Dion, for all their partes was perfect but their eares, as it were to teach how incon∣siderately against all good counsell, the Tyrant vndertooke that voyage; Such are commonly found to bee bred amonge them, also now and then of an vnspeakable smalenesse like Dwarfes, which cannot liue, hauing no mouth nor eares, called by the Latines Aporcelli: If a Sow great with Pigge do eate aboundantly of Acornes, it causeth her to cast her farrow and to suffer abortement, and if she grow fat, then is she lesse fruit∣full in Milke.

Now for the choyce of a Pigge to keepe for store, it must be chosen from a lusty and [ 20] strong damme bred in the Winter time, (as some say) for such as are bred in the heate of Summer are of lesse value, because they prooue tender, small, and ouermoyst, and yet also if they be bred in the cold of winter they are smal, by reason of extream cold, and their Dammes forsake them through want of Milke: and moreouer bycause they through hun∣ger pinch and bite their dugges, so as they are very vnprofitable to be nourished and pre∣serued in the Winter time, rather they are fit to be killed and eaten young.

But this is to bee obserued for reconciliation of both opinions, namely, that in hot Countries such Hogges are preferred that bee bred in the Winter, but in colde such as are bred in March or Aprill: within tenne daies after their farrowing they grow to haue teeth, and the Sowe euer offereth her foremost Dugge to the pigge, that commeth first out of her belly, and the residue take their fortune as it falleth, one to one, [ 30] and another to another, for it seemeth shee regardeth the first by a naturall instinct, not so much to prefer it, as that by the example thereof the residue may be inuited to the like sucking by imitation, yet euery one (as Tzetzes saith) keepeth him to his first choice. And if any of them be taken away from his Dugge that is killed or sold, that dugge presently dryeth and the Milke turneth backewarde, and so vntill all bee gone, one excepted, and then it is nourished with no more then was ordained at the beginning for it. If the olde Sow want Milke at any time, the supply must be made by giuing the young ones fryed or parched Corne, for raw Corne or drinke procureth loosenesse, and it is best for them to be suckled in the place where their Damme vsually abideth.

For weaning of them it is not good to let more then fiue or sixe sucke of her at one time, [ 40] for although every one sucke but his owne Dug, yet by the multitude, the Milke is dryed vp: After two months old they may safely be disioyned from their Dame and weaned, so as euery yeare the Sow may breede eight monthes, and giue sucke foure: it is best to let them feed asunder from their dams till they haue vrterly forgotten to sucke. And thus much for the procreation and nourishment of old and young Swine.

*This beast loueth society and to liue in heardes or flockes together, and therefore the auncients haue inuented Hogge-keepers, whom they call Swyne-heardes, wherein there was wont to be considered these instructions, first he accustomed them to the sound of his horne, for by that he called them abroad out of their foldes to their feedings, for they ne∣uer suffered aboue twelue together at the trough or parcell of meate. It becommeth a [ 50] Swyne-heard (saith Collumella) to be vigilent, diligent, industrious, and wise, for hee must carry in his head the state of all that he nourisheth, both old and young, barren and fruit∣full, and consider the time of their farrowing, wheather they be neare at hand or far off, that so none may bee lost through the want of his obseruation, being farrowed, hee must consider and looke vppon them to see which are fit for store, and which are not, what are Page  673 their natures and probabilities, how much milk their dam is able to afford them, and how many she is to bring vp, especially to regard that euery Sow bring vp no more then her own pigs, for swine being out of the sty do mingle one with another, and loose their owne young ones, and when she lyeth downe to giue them sucke, she lendeth her paps as well to strangers as to her owne, and therefore herein must the care and wit of the heards-men appeare, for if there be many he must shut vp euery Sow with her young, and if that can∣not be, then with a little Pitch or Tar let him giue seueral markes to the seuerall farrowes, that so his memory may not be confounded. Another remedy to auoyd the confusion of young Pigs one among another, is so to frame the threshold of the stye, that the pigs may not be able to go in and out, for the Sow can more easily goe ouer, and so she may bee eased of their company, and they safely included at home, and so shall no stranger [ 10] breake into them; but euery one in their own nest expect the returne of their dam, which ought not to exceede the number of eight, for although the soecundity of Swine bee great, yet it is better to kil off two or three if their number bee aboue eight, then to per∣mit them to sucke their dam, for this multitude of suckers do quickly draw away all nou∣rishment from the dam: and when they are but eight at the most, regard must bee had that the Sow be welfed with sod barly or such like, least through a couetous pinching of the beast, leanenesse follow to her ouerthrow & destruction. Another point of a good swine-heard, is to sweepe oftentimes the sty, for although such be the nature of the beast that it defileth all things, and will be wallowing in the mire, yet will she also be very desirous of a cleane lodging, and delight much in the same; and when they be shut vp they must not [ 20] be enclosed like other beastes altogether, for one of them will throng and lye vpon ano∣ther, but there must be seueral porches and hatches to seauer & distinguish ther lodgings so as the great with pig may lye in one place,* and the other ready to be deliuered by them∣selues, free from al incursion & violence. These deuisions or separations ought to be some 3. or 4. foot high, so as they may not be able to leape ouer to one another, & not couered, to the intent that euery swine heard both man & Boy may freely look ouer to them, and tel them if any chance to be missing, or else help a poore pig when it is ouer laid by his dam.

Whensoeuer the Swineheard clenseth the sty, then let him cast in sand or some other drying thing into it, that all the moysture and wetnesse may be drunke vp. The damme ought not to be permitted for the first ten daies to go forth of the stable, except to drinke, [ 30] and afterward let her go abroad into some adiacent pasture, not far off, that so by her of∣ten return she may the better giue suck to her young ones. When the litle ones are a fort∣night or three weekes old, they desire to follow their parent, wherfore they must be shut vp from their mother, and feed alone in her absence, that they may better endure it, af∣terward when they shalbe weaned. They must be fed in the summer time in the morning, before the heat bee strong, and in the heate of the day led into some watry or shadowy place, that so they may be freed frō extreamity til the coole of the day return again, where in they must be suffered to feed. In the winter time, they are not to bee led abroad till the frost and yce be thawed and dissolued. Ten Boares are sufficient for an hundred Sows, & [ 40] although some keepe fiue or six hundred in a heard, as we may read in scripture of the great heards of Swine, into which our sauiour Christ permitted the Diuels to enter, yet is it not safe or wholsome to keepe aboue an hundred together, for a lesse flock or heard requireth lesse cost, charge, and attendance. There is a speech of Tremellius Scrofa, tending to the commendation of the custody or nourishing of Swine, for thus he writeth: Agriculturae ab initio sui studiosus, nec de pecore suillo mihi mino cura est, quam vobis magnis pecuarijs. Cui enim eares non est communis? quis enim nostrum fundum colit quin sues habent, & qui non au∣dierit putras nostros dicere ignanum & sumptus sum esse, qui succidiam in carnario suspendit po∣tius ab laniario quam ex domestico fundo? That is to say, I haue beene long giuen to follow husbandry, and I have alway had as great care of my Swyne, as other men of greater cat∣tell. [ 50] For what is there, whereunto swine are not profitable? who tilleth land and keepeth not hogs, and who hath not heard our fathers say, that he is an idle ill husband vvhich hangs vp all his prouision in the shambles, and liueth rather vpon the Butchers, then vpon his ovvne ground? Thus far Tremellius.

Another part of a good Svvinehard is, to looke to the gelding of his Svvyne, and splaying of the females, for if all bee suffered to procreate and engender it is more Page  674 danger that Swine would in short time eate vp men, rather then men Swine. The Latins call such a Hogge gelded Macalis, and Porcastrus, that is Porcus castratus, the Germans ein barg, or Boetz, from whence seemeth to be deriued our English Barrow-hog (for so wee call a gelded-male-hog) and a female Basse.* The best time therefore to geld them is in the old Moone, or as we say in the waine of the Moone, but Hesiod prescribeth, that an Oxe and a Boare should be gelded in the second quarter and first day thereof, and Aristo∣tle is of opinion that is skilleth not what age a Boare be when hee is libbed; but it is cleare by the best experienced among these beasts, there are two times of gelding them; one in the spring, and the other in the Autumne, and this is to be done after a double manner; First, by making two incisions or wounds vpon his stones, out of which holes the stones [ 10] are to be pressed forth.

The second way is more perillous, yet more cleanely; for first of all at one wounde or incision they take out one stone, then that being forth, with their knyfe they cut the small skin which parteth the stones in the cod, and so presse foorth the second stone at the first wound, afterward applyeng to it ordinary medicines, such as we will describe in the trea∣tise of their diseases.

And the opinion of Varo is, that it is good to lib them at halfe a yeare old, or at a yeare old, or at three or foure yeare old, for their better fatting; but best at a yeare, and not vn∣der halfe a yeare. When the stones are taken forth of an old Bore, suppose two, or three or foure yeare old, they are called by the Latins Polimenta, because with them they poli∣shed [ 20] and smoothed garments.

The female also is gelt or splayed, (although she often bore pigs) whereof they open the side (neere her loines) and take away from her Apria, and receptacles of the Boares seede,* which being sewed vp againe, in short time is enclosed in fat; this they do by hang∣ing them vp by their forelegs, and first of all they which do it most commodiously, must cause them to fast two daies before; and then hauing cut it, they sew vp and close fast a∣gaine the wound or incision, and this is doone in the same place of the female, that the stones are to be taken out in the male (as Aristotle writeth) but rather it appeareth by good examination and proofe, that it is to be cut out on the right, against the bone (called os sa∣crum.*) And the onely cause of this Sow-gelding is, for their better growth and fatning; [ 30] which in some Countries they vse, being forced thereunto through their penury & want of food; but whereas is plenty of food, there they neuer know it: and the inuenters hereof were the Graecians, whose custome was to cut out the whole matrix. And thus much for the libbing, gelding, and splaying of Swine.

*This beast is a most vnpure and vncleane beast, and rauening; and therefore we vse (not improperly) to cal Obscoene and filthy men or women, by the name of Swyne or Sowes. They which haue foreheads, eyelids, lips, mouth, or Necke, like Swyne, are accounted foolish, wicked, and wrathful: al their sences (their smelling excepted) are dull, because▪ they haue no articles in their hearts, but haue thicke blood, and some say, that the acute∣nesse and ripenesse of the soule, standeth not in the thicknesse of the blood, but in the co∣uer [ 40] and skin of the body, and that those beasts which haue the thickest skins, are accoun∣ted the most blockish & farthest from reason but those which haue the thinnest & softest, are the quickest of vnderstanding: an example whereof is apparant in the Oyster, Oxe, and Ape. They haue a maruaylous vnderstanding of the voyce of their feeder, and as ar∣dent desire to come at his call, through often custome of meat, whereupon lyeth this ex∣cellent story. When certaine pyrates in the Tirrhene sea, had entred a Hauen, and went on land,* they came to a Swines stye and drew out thereof diuers Swine, and so carried them on shipboard, and loosing their Anckers and tacklings, doe depart and saile away. The Swine heardes seeing the pirats commit this robbery, and not being able to deliuer and [ 50] rescue their cattel because they wanted both company & strength, sufferd the theeues in si∣lence to ship & carry away their cattle: at last, when they saw the Theeues rowing out of the port, and lanching into the deepe, then they lift vp their voyces and with their accusto∣med cries or cals, called vpō their Swine to come to their meat; assoone as the swine heard the same, they presently gat to the right side of the vessell or barke, and there flocking to∣gither, the ship being vnequally ballanced or loden, ouerturned al into the sea, and so the Page  675 pirats were iustly drowned in reward of the theft, and the stolne Swine swam safely backe again to their maisters and keepers. The nature of this beast is to delight in the most filthy and noysome places, for no other cause, (as I think) but because of their dul sences. Their voice is cald Grunnitus gruntling, Sordida sus pascens ruris gramina grunnit, which is a terri¦ble voice to one that is not accustomed therunto, (for euen the Elephants are afraid there∣of) especially when one of them is hurt or hanged fast, or bitten, then all the residue as it were in compassion condoling his misery, run to him and cry with him, and this voice is very common in swine at all hands to cry, except he be carried with his head vpwards, to∣wards heauen, & then (it is affirmed) he neuer cryeth, the reason wherof is giuen by Aphro∣disien: [ 10] because it is alwaie acustomed to looke downward, and therefore when it is forced to look vpward it is suddenly appaled and afraid, held with admiration of the goodly space aboue him in the heauens, like one astonished, holdeth his peace (some say that then the artery of his voice is pressed) and so he cannot cry alowd. There is a fish in the riuer Ache∣lous which gruntleth like a hog, whereof Iuuenal speaketh, saying: Et quam remigibus grun∣nisse Elpenor a porcis. And this voice of swine is by Caecilius attributed to drunken men. The milke of Swine is very thicke, and therefore cannot make whay like a sheepes, howbeit it suddenly coagulateth and congealeth togither. Among diuers males or Boates when one of them is conqueror, the residue giue obedience and yeald vnto him, and the chiefe time of their fight or discord is in their lust, or other occasions of food, or strangnesse, at which time it is not safe for any man to come neare them, for feare of danger from both parties, [ 20] and especially those which weare white garments. And Strabo reporteth in generall of al the Belgian Swine, that they were so fierce, strong, and wrathfull, that it was as much daun∣ger to com ner them as to angry wolfes. Nature hath made a great league betwixt Swyne and Crocodiles, for there is no beast that may so freely feed by the banks sides of Nilus,* as the swine may, without all hurt by the Crocodil. Other Serpents, especially the smaller Serpentes which are oftentimes deuoured by Swine, Aristotle saith, that when many of them are together they feare not the wolfe, & yet they neuer deuoure any wolfe, but on∣ly with their scarring and gruntling noise feare them away. When a wolfe getteth a swine,* he deuoureth him, and before he can eate him, draggeth him by the eares to some water to coole his teeth in his flesh (which aboue measure burne in deuouring his flesh.) It hath [ 30] bin seene that a Lyon was afraid of a Sow, for at the setting vp of his bristles he ran away. It is reported that swine will follow a man all the day long which hath eaten the braine of a Crow in his pottage: and Nigidius affirmeth, that Dogs will run away from him that hath pulled off a ticke from a swines backe. The people of Mossynaecum did engender man with Woman publicke like swine, and Stobaeus writing against women saith, that some of them are deriued from one beast, and some from another, and namely a woman discended of a Sow sitteth at home, and doth neither good nor harme: but Simonides writeth otherwise, and namely that a woman borne of a Sow sitteth at home suffering all things to be impure, vncleane, and out of order, without decking, dressing, or ornament, and so she groweth fat in her vnwashed garments. And there are many fictions of the transforming into swine. [ 40] Homer faineth that the companions of Vlisses were all by Circes turned into swine, which is interpreted in this manner; Circe to signifie vnreasonable pleasure, Vlisses to signifie the soule, and his companions the inferior affections thereof, and so were the companions of Vlisses turned into swine by Circe, When vnreasonable pleasures do ouercome our affecti∣ons and make vs like swine in following our appetites: and therefore it was the counsell of Socrates, that no man should at banquet eate more then sufficient, and those which could not abstaine from them, should forbeare their company that perswaded them to eat when they were not hungry, & to drinke when they were not thirsty, and therefore he supposed that it was said in iest that Circe turned men into swine. When as Vlisses by his owne absti∣nence and Mercury his counsell, was deliuered and saued from that most sauage transfor∣mation, [ 50] which caused Horace thus to write;

And from this came the originall prouerbe of Porcellus Acarnanius for a tender and deli∣cate person, vsed so to fulnes, that al penury is death vnto him. Sweet sauours as we haue shewed already, are very hurtfull to swine, especially the sweet oyle of Marioram. Wher∣upon came the prouerb Nil cum amar acino sui, and Lucretius speaketh hereof in this sort; And for this cause Tullius Cicero saith, Illi alablastrus putaet vnguenti plena. That is, A box of Alablaster full of oyntment is displeasing to this beast, for as the Scarabee or Horse fly forsaketh sweet places to light and sit vpon horse dung, euen so doth Swine. There be many of the aunci∣ents that haue deliuered merrily Anima suis prosate, that the Swines soule is in their body but in stead of salt to keepe the flesh from stinking,* euen as for no other purpose many a∣mong men seem to liue and retaine soule in body. They are very clamorous, and there∣fore are vsed for talking and pratling fellowes, whereupon the Greeke Poet Lucilius tran∣slated [ 10] by Erasmus alludeth, when he saith in this manner, vnder Alia Menecles alia porcellus loquitur; And to conclude, in Latin they say Sus mineruam, when an vnlearned dunce goeth about [ 20] to teach his better or a more learned man, then doth the Hog teach Pallas, or as we say in English, the foule Sow teach the faire Lady to spin.

There are in Swine many presages and foretokens of foule weather, as Swine-heardes haue obserued: as first if they lye long wallowing in the mire, or if they feed more greedi∣ly then they were accustomed, or gather together in their mouths, hay, stubble, or straw, as Aratus writeth; or if they leap and dance, or frisk in any vnwonted sort: and for their co∣pulation in yeares that will proue moyst, they will euer be boring, but in dryer years they are lesse libidinous.

The greatest harm that commeth by Swine is in rooting and turning vp of the earth, and this they do in corn fields, for which we haue shewed that the Ciprians made a law to beat [ 30] out the teeth of such Swine, for this cause Homer writeth that Irus threatneth Villisses, be∣cause his companions eate vp all his corne, to knocke out their teeth; yet sometimes the husbandmen admit them of purpose, both into their land before it bee plowed, and also into their vineyards. It is said that the Egyptians forbeare to sacrifice them, because they tread in their corne in their fields after it is swelled out of the earth, so as the Birds cannot gather it vp againe, as we haue shewed before. The Iewes and the Egyptians accounted this beast most vncleane. The Iewes not as the vaine gentiles imagined because they wor∣shipped it, for that it taught men to plow the earth, but for the law of God. And the E∣gyptians hold it a profaigne thing, and therefore they had an ancient law, that no Swyne-heard should come into their temple, or that any man should giue him his Daughter in [ 40] marriage. It is very certaine that they were wont to be vsed in sacrifice. The said Egyp∣tians neuer sacrificed them but to the Moone and to Bacchus, and at other times it was vn∣lawfull, either to offer them, or to eate them: but it seemeth by many Authors that their first sacrifices were of Swyne, for we read of ancient customs in Hetruria, that at their mar∣riage feastes they offered and sacrificed a Sow to Venus, and at other times, especially in haruest they did so to Ceres. The Latines do hold a Swine very gratefull and sacred to Iupi∣ter, because as they beleeued that a Sow did first of all lend her paps to him, and therefore all of them worship a Sow, and abstaine from her flesh. Likewise in Mysia and Phoenicia, there were temples of Iupiter, wherein it was forbidden to sacrifice or kill Swyne by a pub∣like law, like as it was among the Iewes. When the Kings of Sparta were first of all chosen [ 50] into that royall place, they were permitted to execute the priests office, and to the intent that they might neuer want sacrifices, there was a preuiledge graunted them to take a pig of euery Sow, and when they sacrificed to Iupiter a Swine, it must be after or at a tryumph: they were also sacrificed to Neptune, because they were impetuous and ranging beasts; & a Boare was holy to Mars, according to this saying of Pomponius in Attellana. Mars tibifac∣turū, Page  677 si vnquā re••ireo, bidente verre. And there was a custome among the Athenians when a man had slaine an hundred enimies, he was permitted to offer vp to Mars, some part of a man at Lemnos, and afterward they grew out of liking of this vaine custome, and in stead therof sacrificed a barrow or gelded hog, & when they housled their army, they did it with hogs, sheep, or Buls, and nothing else, and they compassed it about 3. times with pomp & stately procession, and at last slew and offered them to Mars. They were wont to sacrifice a hog for a man that had recouerd his wits after he had bin mad, and also they sacred Swyne to Siluanus, according to these verses; Caedere Siluano porcum quadrante lauari: And againe: Tellurem porco Siluanum lacte piabant. Their pagan God Terminus, had an Ewe and a young Sow offered to him (as Ouid writeth) although by the lawes of Numa, al [ 10] sacrifice of liuing things were forbidden vnto him. To Ceres and Bacchus, we haue shewed already, how they were offered, and the reason of their sacrificing was, because they were hurtfull to all greene corne and vines;

And againe in another place he writeth thus: [ 20] The time of their sacrificing to Ceres was in Aprill, wherein the priestes with Lamps and Torches, and apparelled in white garments, did first of all kill a female Swine, and then of∣fer her, and sometime this was a Sow with farrow, because thereby in a mistery they pray∣ed the fruitefulnesse and fecundity of the earth, and for these and such like causes we read of titles put vpon them, as Porca pracidanea, for the sow that was slaine before the reaping, and Porca praesa, for the sow that was offered at a funerall for the safety of all the family, wherein the dead man liued. They also sacrificed a barren sow to Proserpina, because shee neuer bore children, and to Iuno in the calends of euery month: And thus much for their sacrificing. Now we are to come to the vse of swine and their seuerall parts, first of all it is certaine that there is no beast lesse profitable being aliue then a hog, and yet at his latter [ 30] end he payeth his maister for his keeping. Cicero said well Sus quid habet praeterescam, cui quidem ne putresceret, animam ipsam pro sale datam esse dicit Chrysippus. A hog hath nothing in him beside his meate, and that therefore the soule thereof was giuen to it in stead of salt to keepe it from stinking: for indeed in Lions, Dogs, Beares, Horsses, and Elephants, all their vertue lyeth in their minds, and their flesh is vnprofitable and good for nothing, but the Swine hath no gifts at all in the mind, but in the body, the life therof keeping the flesh and body from putrifaction. And there is no beast that God hath ordained for domestical prouision of food and meat to man, except Hares & conies, that is so fruitful as Swin are,* God (as we haue touched already) Leuit. 11. Deut. 14. forbad his people of Israell to eate heereof, because it was an vncleane beast not chewing the cud; and furthermore the ob∣seruation [ 40] of Procopius is memorable, that whereas the Egyptians did worship with diuine worship, both Oxen, Kyne, and sheep, and would not eat of their flesh or kill them in sa∣crifice, yet did eat, and kil, and sacrifice Swine. The Iewes were permitted and commaun∣ded to eat Oxen & sheep, and abstain from the flesh of Swine; thus manifesting how dif∣ferent his waies and thoughts are from the waies and thoughts of men. The Lord doth not this for pollicy, but to try the obedience of his people, placeth therin one part of his worship, and therefore by his prophets. Esa. 65. & 66. calleth the eating of Swines flesh abomination, and threatneth therunto a certaine vnauoydable iudgment and damnation. The woman and her seuen sons which were apprehended by King Antiochus, and by him tempted to eat swines flesh which they refused to do, (being against the law of their God) [ 50] are remembred as most worthy Martyres of his Church, that endured, cutting off their hands and feete, pulling out their toong, and seething in a boyling caldron with other ex∣quisite torments incident to such death, as is recorded by Iason 2. Macab. 6. We read that Heliogabalus did abstaine from swines flesh, because he was a Phoenician, and they forbore to eate it. The women of Bracea in Affricke, do neuer tast of Cowes flesh or Swines flesh.

Page  678The Arabian Scenites neuer eate hereof, and Swine cannot liue in their Countries (Tesias and Aelianus affirme) that in India there are no Swine, either tame or wilde, and that the Indians do as much forbeare to eate of Swines flesh, in detestation thereof, as they do of mans flesh.

Now concerning the flesh of Swine, diuers opinions are held about the goodnesse and euill thereof, yet Hippocrates writeth, that Porcinae carnes prauae sunt quum fuerint crudio∣res & ambustae, magis autem choleram generant, & turbationem faciunt, Suillae carnes optima sunt omnium carnium. That is, The flesh of a Boare being raw or roasted is worst of all o∣ther, because it engendereth Cholor and wilde windy matter in the stonlocke; but the flesh of a Sow is the best of al flesh, with this prouiso, that it neither exceed in fatnesse, lean¦nesse, [ 10] or age.

There is a merry and a witty answer of a memorable Noble Man to an old Gentlewo∣man (if not a Lady) who dispraised Bacon at the Noble Mans table, and said it was a chur∣lish, vnpleasant meate. The Lord vnderstanding a priuy Emphasis in that speech against himselfe, (for his name was written with those Letters and sillables) aunswered her; you say truth, if the Bacon be a piece of an old Sow, (as peraduenture she seemed to be at that time.) The best opinion about the concoctiue quality of this flesh is, that then it is best, when it is in middle age, neither a pig, nor an old Hogge, for a pigge is ouer moyst, like the Damme which is the moystest of all other earthly Beastes; and therefore cannot but engender much flegme: and for this cause the fattest are reprooued for a good diet, for [ 20] that it cannot digest well through ouer much humidity.

And the olde Swine are most hard of concoction, (yea though they bee scorched or senged at the fire) because therby is increased in their flesh much acrimony and sharp∣nesse, which in the stomacke of man turneth into Choler: for they bite all the vessels rea∣ching to the stomacke, making a deriuation of all those ill humours into the belly and o∣ther parts.

I do not like their opinion, which thinke that it is better cold then hot, for feare of in∣flammation, this rule is good in the flesh of Goates (which are exceeding whot) but in Swyne where is no predominancy but of moysture, it is better to eate them hot then cold, euen as hot Milke is more wholesome then cold. Hippocrates doth prescribe the ea∣ting [ 30] of Swynes flesh in the sicknesse of the Spleene; and Coelius Aurelianus, forbiddeth the same in the palsie or falling sicknesse.

Galen is of opinion that Caro porcina potentissime nutrit: nourisheth most strongly, and potently; whereof hee giueth an instance for a reason taken from Champions, Comba∣tants, or Wrestlers, if the day before they Wrestle or fight, they feed on an equall quan∣tity of any other flesh, they feel themselues weak and feeble, in comparison of that is ga∣thered from Swyns flesh: and this (he saith) may be tryed in labourers, Myoners, Dig∣gers, and Husbandmen; which retaine their strength aswell (if not better) by eating of Swynes flesh or Bacon as any other meate: For as Beefe in thicknesse and solidity of substance to the eyes appearance, excelleth Porke or Bacon, so Porke and Bacon excel∣leth [ 40] and is preferred before Beefe, for a clammy nourishing humour. And this compa∣rison betwixt Pork and Beefe, Galen amplyfieth farther in these wordes: Of Swines flesh, those are best for men in their middle and ripe age, which are of Hogges of aunswerable age, and to other which are but growing to a ripenesse and perfection, piggs, Sheates, and young growing Swyne, are most nourishable. And on the contrary, young grow∣ing Oxen are most nourishable to men of perfect yeares and strength, because an Oxe is of a far more dry temperament then a Hog.

A Goate is lesse dry then an Oxe, and yet compared to a man or a Swyne, it excelleth both of them; for there is a great resemblance or similitude betwixt a mans flesh and [ 50] Swines flesh, which some haue proued in tast, for they haue eaten of both at one Table, and could find no difference in one from the other: for some euill Inn-kepers and hoasts haue so deceiued men, which continued a great while, not descryed or punished, vntill at last the finger of a man was mixed therewith, and being found the Authours receiued their reward. Swines flesh also is lesse excrementall then pigges flesh, and therefore more nutrible; for the moyster that the flesh is, the sooner it is dispersed, and the vertue Page  679 of it auoided, and olde swine notwithstanding their primitiue and naturall moisture, yet grow very dry, and their flesh is worst of al, because in nature, humidity helpeth the con∣coction thereof.

All swines flesh being concocted engendereth many good humors, yet withal they ontaine a kind of glutinous humor, which stoppeth the liuer and reins, especially in those which by nature are apt to this infirmity: And althogh some are of opinion, that the wilde Bore is more norishable then the tame swine, because of his laborous course of life, and getting his prey; yet it appeareth that the tame swine by their resty life, and easie gathe∣ring of their meate, are made more fit for nourishment of man, for they are more moist: and swines flesh without conuenient moisture (which is many times wanting in wilde [ 10] Bores) is poison to the stomacke, and yet for a man that hath propounded to himselfe a thin extenuating diet, I would wish him to forbeare both the one and the other, except he vse exercise, and then he may eat the eares, or the cheekes, or the feet, or the haslet, if they be well sod or dressed: prouided they be not fresh, but sauced or powdred; And it is no maruell that swines flesh shoulde so well agree with ours, for it is apparant that they liue in dirt, and loue to muddle in the same.

And if any man aske how it commeth to passe, that swine which both feed and liue so filthily, should be so norishable to the nature of man; some make answere, that by reason of their good constitution of body, they turne ill nutriment to a good flesh: for as men which be of a sounde, perfect, and healthy disposition or temperature, are not hurt by a [ 20] little euill meat, which is hard of digestion; euen so is it with well constituted and tempe∣red swine, by continuall feeding vpon euill things, they grow not onely to no harme, but also to a good estate, because nature in processe of time draweth good out of euill: But if men which haue moist stomackes, do eat of swines flesh, then do they suffer thereby great harme, for as water powred vpon wet ground, increaseth the dirt, so moistnes put vpon a moist stomacke, increaseth more feeblenesse: but if a man of a dry and moist stomack, do eate heereof, it is like rain falling into a dry ground, which begetteth and engendreth ma∣ny wholesome frutes and hearbes. And if a swine be fatted with dried figges or Nuts, it is much more wholesome. With wine all swines flesh is most nourishable, and therefore the vniuersity of Salernum, prescribed that in their verses to the king of England, and al∣so [ 30] they commended their loynes and guts:

And Fiera describeth the eating of Hogs-flesh in this manner: And whereas Hippocrates commended swines flesh for Champions or Combatants, it is [ 40] certaine, that Bilis the Champion thorough eating of swines flesh, fell to such a heighth of choller, that he cast it vpwards and downwards.

When the wombe of a woman is vlcerated, let her abstaine from all swines flesh, espe∣cially the eldest and the youngest. It is not good for any man to taste or eat this flesh in the Summer time, or any hot weather, for then onely it is allowed when extreame frostes haue tempered it for mans stomacke, and the stomacke for it: the flesh of wilde swine is most of all hurtfull to them that liue at ease, without exercise, because that they are im∣moderately giuen to sleepe. Some are of opinion that a sow which is killed immediatly af∣ter the Boare hath couered hir, is not so wholesome as other: Heliogabalus obserued this custome, to eat one day nothing but Phesant Hens, another day nothing but Pullen, and [ 50] the third day nothing but porke.

There was in auncient time a dish of meat called Troianus, the Troyan Hog,* in imitati∣on of the Troyan horse, for as that was stuffed within with many armed men, so was this with many seuerall meats, and whole beasts, as Lambes, Birds, Capons, and such like, to serue the appetites of the most strange belly-Goddes, and Architects of gluttonny: and Page  680 therefore Cincius in his oration, wherein he perswaded the senators and people to the law Fannia, reprooueth this immoderate riot in banquets, In apponendo mensis porcum Troia∣num, and indeed it wanted not effect, for they forbad both Porcum Troianum, and Callum aprugnum.

There was another (Rauen-monster-dish, (called Pinax) wherein were included ma∣ny Beasts, Fowles, Egges, and other things which were distributed whole to the guests, and no maruell, for this Beast was as great as a Hog, and yet gilded ouer with siluer. And Hippolochus in his Epistle to Lynceus, speaking of the banquet of Caramis, saith thus, Alla∣tus est nobis etiam porcus dimidia parte diligenter assus siue tostus, & dimidia altera parte tan∣quam [ 10] ex aqua molliter èlixus, mira etiam coqui industria ita• paratus, vt qua parte iugulatus esset, & quomodo varijs delicijs refertus eius venter non appareat. There was brought to vs a Hog, whereof the one halfe was wel rosted, and the other halfe or side wel sod, and this was so industriously prepared by the Cook, that it did not apeare where the hog was slain or receiued his deadly wounde, nor yet how his belly came to be stuffed with diuers and sundry excellent and delicate things. The Romans had a fashion to deuide and distribute a Hogge,* which appeareth in these verses of Martiall:

And of the eating of a sucking pigge, Martiall also writeth in this manner: I might adde many other thinges concerning the eating and dressing of Swines flesh, both young and olde, but I will passe it ouer, leauing that learning to euery Cooke, and Kitchin-boy.

Concerning Bacon, that which is cald by the Latins Perna, I might adde many things, neither improper, nor impertinent, & I canot tell whether it should be a fault to omit it in this place. The word Perna after Varro, seemeth to be deriued from Pede, but in my opini∣on, it is more consonant to reason, that it is deriued from the Greek word Pterna, which is the ribs and hips of the hogge, hanged vp and salted, called by Martiall Petaso, and by Plautus Ophthalmia, Horaeum, Scombrum, and Laridus: [ 30]

The time of the making of Bacon, is in the winter season, and all the cold weather, and of this Martiall writeth very much in one place: And againe. Strabo in his time commended the Bacon of the Gaules, or of France, affirming that it was not inferior to the Asian or Lycian, an old citty of Spaine (called Pompelon) nere Aquitania, [ 40] was also famous for Bacon. They first of all killed their hogs, and then burned or scalded of al their haire, & after a little season did slit them assunder in the middle, laying them vp∣on salt in some tub or deep trough, and there couering them al ouer with salt, with the skin vppermost, and so heap flitch vpon flitch, til al be salted, and then againe they often turnd the same, that euery part and side, might receiue his season; that is, after 5. daies, laying them vndermost which were vpermost, and those vpermost which were vndermost. Then after 12. daies salting, they tooke al out of the tub or trough, rubbing off from it al the salt, and so hanged it vp two daies in the winde, and the third day they all to anoint it with oile, and did hange it vp two daies more in the smoke; and afterward take it downe againe, and hange it or lay it vppe in the larder, where all the meat is preserued, still looking warily vn¦to [ 50] it, to preserue it from mice and Wormes: And thus much shall suffice at this time for the flesh of Hogges, both Porke and Bacon.

The milk of a sow is fat and thick, very apt to congeal, & needeth not any runnet to turne it; it breedeth little whay, and therefore it is not fit for the stomacke, except to procure vomiting, & because it hath bin often proued, that they which drink or eat sow milk fal into Page  681 scurffes and Leprosies, (which diseases the Asians hate aboue all other) therefore the E∣gyptians added this to all the residue of their reasons, to condemne a sow for an vnclean and filthy beast: And this was peculiarly the saying of Manethon.

With the skinnes of swine which the Graecians did call Phorine,* they made shoo-lea∣ther, but now a daies by reason of the tendernesse and loosenesse thereof, they vse it not, but leaue it to the sadlers & to them that couer bookes, for which cause it is much better then eyther sheepe or Goates skinnes, for it hath a deeper graine, and doeth not so easily fall off. Out of the parings of their skinnes they make a kind of glew, which is preferred before Taurocollum, and which for similitude they call Choerocollum. The fat of swine is ve∣ry precious to lickor shooes and bootes therewithall. The amber that is in common vse [ 10] groweth rough, rude, impolished, and without clearenesse, but after that it is sod in the greace of a sow that giueth sucke, it getteth that nitour and shining beauty, which we find to be in it.

Some mixe the blood of Hogges with those medicines that they cast into Waters to take fishes, and the hunters in some Countries when they would take Wolues and Foxes do make a traine with a Hogges liuer sodde, cut in pieces and annointed ouer with hony, and so annointing their shoos with swines grease, draw after them a dead catte, which will cause the beasts to follow after very speedily. The haires of swine, are vsed by Cobblers and Shoomakers, and also with them euery Boy knoweth how to make their nosebleede. The dung is very sharpe, and yet is it iustly condemned by Columella for no vse, no not to fatten the earth, and Vines also are burned therewithal, except they be diligently watred, [ 20] or rest fiue yeares without stirring.

In Plinies time they studied to enlarge and make their Luttuce grow broad,* and not close together, which they did by slitting a little the stalke, and thrusting gently into it some Hogs dung. But for trees there is more especial vse of it, for it is vsed to ripen fruit and make the trees more plentifull. The Pomegranats and Almondes are sweetned her•¦by, and the Nuts easily caused to fall out of the shell. Likewise, if Fennel be vnsauourie, by laying to the root thereof eyther Hogs-dung, or Pigeons dung, it may be cured; and when any Apple tree is affected and razed with wormes, by taking of Swines dung, mixed and made soft like morter with the vrine of a man layed vnto the root, it is recouered, and [ 30] the wormes driuen away: and if there bee any rentes or stripes visible vppon trees, so as they are endangered to be lost thereby, they are cured by applying vnto the stripes and wounds this dung of Swine.

When the Apple trees are loose, poure vpon their roots the stale of Swine, and it shall establish and settle them, and wheresoeuer there are swine kept, there it is not good to keepe or lodge horses, for their smell, breath, and voice, is hatefull to all magnanimious and perfect spirited horsses. And thus much in this place concerning the vse of the seue∣rall parts of swine, whereunto I may adde our English experiments, that if swine be suffe∣red to come into Orchards, and digge vp and about the roots of the Apple trees, keeping the ground bare vnder them, and open with their noses, the benefit that will arise thereby [ 40] to your increase of frute will be verie inestimable. And heere to saue my selfe of a labor a∣bout our English Hogges, I will describe their vsage out of Maister Tussers husbandry,* in his own words, as followeth: and first of al for their breeding in the spring of the yeare he writeth in generall:

And of September he writeth thus: And againe in Octobers husbandry he writeth: In Nouem. he writeth again Thus farre of our English husbandry about swine: Now followeth their diseases in parti∣cular.