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 VRE-OXE.

THis Beast is called by the Latins Vrus, by the Germans Aurox,* 1.1 and [ 40] Vrox, and Grosse vesent, by the Lituanians Thur, the Scythians Bu∣bri, and these beastes were not knowne to the Graecians, (as Pliny writeth) of whom Seneca writeth in this manner;

Tibi dant variae pectora tigres, Tibi villosi terga Bisontes, Latis{que} feri cornibus vri.

And Virgill also maketh mention of them in this Georguke, writing of the culture or tilling of vines;

Texendae saepes etiam & pecus omne tenendum: Precipue cum fons tenera, imprudens{que} laborum, Cui semper indignas hyemes, solem{que} potentem. [ 50] Siluestres vrt assidue, capreae{que} sequaces, Illudunt.

These wilde beasts or Vre-oxes are wilde Oxen, differing from all other kindes already rehearsed in the story of Oxen, Bugles, Bisons, or any other, although some haue vnskil∣fully taken them for Bisons, and Sir Thomas Eliot in his Dictionary, doth English Vrus a Bugil, but beside him no body, that I know, and for this cause he is reprehended by o∣ther.

[illustration]

Now although there be nothing in this beast but ordinary, yet seeing it is a creature so well knowne, we haue the lesse reason to omit his shape and story, least we should iustly be condemned of negligence and carelesnesse.

In outward proportion of the body it differeth little from the Bull, It is very thick, and his back somewhat bunched vp, and his length from the head to the taile is short, no waies answerable to the proportion of his stature and sides: the horns (as some say) are but short, yet blacke,* 1.2 broad, and thicke, his eies red, a broad mouth, and a great broade head, his temples hairy, a beard vpon his chin, but short, and the colour thereof blacke, his other parts, as namely in the face, sides, legs, and taile, of a reddish colour.

These are in the wood Hercynia, in the Pyreney Mountaines, and in Mazouia neare Litu∣ania.* 1.3 They are cald Vri of Oron, that is the Mountaines, because their sauage wildnes is so great, that they sildome discend from those sauegardes. They far excell Buls, and other wild Oxen, comming neerer to the quantity or stature of Elephants, then to the Bull. In resemblance a man would thinke them to be compounded of a Mule and a Hart, for their outward resemblance so seem. It is said they could neuer be tamed by men, although they were taken when they were young, yet they loue other heardes of cattel, and will not for∣sake them easily after they haue once ioyned themselues vnto them, wherby many times they are deceiued and killed, 20. 30. or forty at a time. Caligula Caesar brought of these a∣liue to Rome, and did shew them in publike spectacle to the people, and at that time they were taken for wilde Buls. Some affirme that there are of these in Prussia, and that they are so wild,* 1.4 cruel, and vntamable, as they feare or spare neither man nor beast; and when they are set vpon and wounded by the hunters in the woods among the trees, feeling their hurts and perceiuing their bloude issuing out of their body, they rage aboue measure, for ha∣uing no meanes to take reuenge vpon the hunter, by reason that he standeth behind some great tree, for very wrath and fury they kill themselues with their owne headlong force vpon the same tree. It is said that their foreheades are so broad and large, that two men may easily sit betwixt their hornes. They are able to take vp an Armed man and his horse, and to tosse him into the aire like a Bull, and the heads of these or such like beasts are to be seene publiquely fixed vp in common places at Mentz and Wormes, which are worth the obseruation, because in all proportion they are twice so big as the vulgar Bull or Oxe.

Now although their large bodies and manes doe also appertaine to the Bisons, yet it is not vnfit to attribute the same also to the Vre-Oxe. For if it be in the pleasure of any man to make it also a kind of Bison, I will not deny that this must be remembred, that both the body of this beast is much larger, and also the aspect not so grim or fierce as is the Bison.

There are many of these found also in Angremannia, and the Confines of Lapponia,* 1.5 and other Northerne parts of the world, where they are cald by the Illirian terme Zubrones, and these are so high as a tall man can hardly lay his hand vpon the top of their backes, al∣though he straine himselfe very much.

And some of them are fifteen cubits in length, of whom beside their admirable strength, their velocity and nimblenesse is also remarkeable, for it is said of them, that when they empty their bellies, they can turn about to take their dung or excrement vpon their horns before it fall to the ground, which they cast vpon the hunters or pursuers, Dogs or men, whereby they blind and burne them. They which accustome or practise to kill and hunt these beasts, are greatly commended and rewarded when they haue killed many of them, [ 10] whereof they make proofe, by bringing the hornes of them that they haue killed into the common Market place.

In ancient time before the inuention of iron weapons, they did take them in those coun∣tries in ditches, and great caues of the earth, wherunto the strongest and most actiue yoūg men did apply themselues, hauing both Dogs and all other needfull instruments to take a∣way the life of this beast; and if it did not happen that hee fastened his hornes into some tree, then was all the labour lost, for they could neuer come neere to touch him, onely when in his speedy swift fury among the woods, he ran his hornes into the body of some Okes or such like, whereby hee was stayed, (for it is not so easie to pull them forth, as to fixe them, because they are rugged, crooked, and stand vpward) then hee was ouertaken and killed by some hunter or other. And if at any time he met with a hunter, it was fa∣tall [ 20] and deadly to the man, except hee could auoyde the Beast by getting vnto some tree.

Sigismundus Baro, that honorable man writeth thus hereof, that in Masonia neare Lituania it is bred, and called Thur, & they are a kind of wilde Oxen, not differing from the vulgar, (except as aforesaid) but in their colour, and a spotted strake or line which goeth al along their backs. And those Vre-oxen are kept as it were in parkes and chases, hauing a peculi∣ar disignment by the King, and the inhabitantes of certaine villages to keepe and watch them. Sometimes when they meet with a common or vulgar tame Cow, they leape vpon her and fill her, but such a Calfe liueth not long, but dyeth as if it were not perfect, and if it do chance to liue, it neuer resembleth the sire, nor yet is admitted into their society and [ 30] heard, but are refused for bastards and ignoble breed. And when he was Ambassador to Sigismundus the Empe. he receiued for a gift one of these killed, and bowelled,* 1.6 hauing the skin of the forehead cut off and taken away, whereat hee wondered much, but durst not aske the question or reason thereof; yet afterward he vnderstood that there were girdles made of that part of the hide, whereby the women in that Country were perswaded that they should be made apt to conceiue & bring forth children: & Bona the mother of Sigis∣mund gaue vnto him 2. girdles for that purpose, wherof he said he bestowed one vpon the Queene of Romaines, who did take the same at his hand very gratiously and thankefully. And it is certain, that out of the hides of these beasts are made girdles, which are two fin∣gers [ 40] thicke, and strong, and yet the haire vpon them is soft and gentle like any wooll.

The flesh of these beasts is ranke and heauy, and if it be eaten fresh it causeth loosenesse, but if be salted a day or two it it is nothing inferiour to Beefe, for so the humidity is taken away. With the hornes are made drinking Cups, and for that purpose the richer sort of people do edge or lip them ouer with siluer and gold: they hold or containe as much as two ordinary pitchers of water. Other take off the points and fasten them to speares, being very sharp, and not easily blunted or broken, and other make of them cut into slices or panes the best Lanthornes in the world. And thus much for the Vre-Oxe, vnto whose Historie it is needefull for me to adde the story of diuers other wilde Oxen not yet descri∣bed. [ 50]

Strabo saith, that there are Oxen cald Rhizes, among the Hesperian Aethiopians, who in outward proportion are much like the vulgar buls, but in other parts, as quantity, strength,* 1.7 and vigour, comparable to the Elephants.

Theuetus writeth, that betwixt Floridia and Palma, in the new found Worlde, there are verye many strange shaped Beastes, and amonge other a kynde of Wilde Bull,

whose hornes are a foot long, but on his backe he hath a tumour or bunch like a Camel, and is therefore called Bos Camelita, his haire all ouer his body is very long, but especial∣ly vnder his chin, and his colour like a yellow Mule, and this beast is a continuall enemy to a Horse. Like vnto these are the tame Scythian Oxen, and some other in Asia, who car∣ry packes vpon the bunches of their backes, and also bend their knees like Camels.

OF THE LYBIAN OXE.

THere is so great an innumerability of Libian Oxen, of so [ 10] great swiftnes and celerity, that the hunters are many times deceiued in hunting them, and so doe certainely chance or fall vpon other wilde beastes for the same they raised, and he in the meane while doth hide himselfe in a place of bram∣bles and briars, keeping himselfe there safe, while other wild beasts doth appeare like vnto them, and so doe deceiue the eies of the hunters: therefore if any man doth begin to fol∣low after either of them, it will be but labour lost, for hee is not able to comprehend or attaine them with a horse, ex∣cept he may take them being wearied by longitude of time. But if any hunters shall find a young calfe, spare the life thereof, and shall not presently kill it, he shall reape a double [ 20] profit by it: and first it doth bring profit to it selfe, and dooth induce or lead his dam into captiuity. For after that the hunter hath bound the calfe with a rope, she being enflamed by the loue or affection which she beareth to hir calfe, returneth backe againe vnto it, co∣ueting with an ardent desire to loosen and take away her Calfe out of the bond or halter, therefore she thrusteth in hir horne that she may loosen the cord, and pluck hir young one away, whereby she is kept fast bound with hir Calfe, her hornes being entangled in the rope.* 1.8 Then commeth the hunter and killeth her, and taketh forth her liuer, and also cutteth off her dugs or vdder, and doth likewise pluck off hir skin, & leaueth her flesh for the Birds and wild beasts to feed vpon. There is another kind of Oxe in Libia, whose Hornes doth bend downeward, and for that cause they are faine to feed going backwards. Of the say∣ings [ 30] of Herodotus and Aelianus, I haue spoken before. Philes doth write that they are cald Oxen going backward, because the broadnes of their hornes doth couer their eie-sight, so that it standeth them in no vse to go forward, but is very commodious to go backward. There is an Oxe which liueth in the woods of Affrick, which doth resemble a domesticall Oxe, yet lesse in stature, of a browne or russet colour, and also most swift of foote. This beast is found in the desarts,* 1.9 or in the Marches or limits of the desarts. Their flesh is also of a perfect or absolute sauour and tast, good for the nourishment of men.

OF THE INDIAN WILD OXEN. [ 40]

THe horns of the Oxen of the Garamantons do grow downewards to∣ward the earth,* 1.10 and therefore when they feede they bow the hinder part of the necke, (as Solinus writeth) and as we haue spoken before in the diuersities of wilde Oxen. The woods also in India are filled with wild Oxen. In the prouince of India where the Gymnits inhabit, are great multitudes of Oxen which liue in the forrests or woods. In the kingdomes which are vpon the borders or Confins of India,* 1.11 (in the mid of the day) are many faire and great Oxen which liue in the woods. There are Mountains in the in most regions of India, which are very hard to come [ 50] vnto, where they say liue those beasts wilde, which are among vs domesticall and tame, as sheepe,* 1.12 Goates, Oxen, and so forth. The great King of India doth elect or choose a day euery yeare for the runnings and combats of men, and also fightings of beastes, who set∣ting their hornes one against another, do fight irefully with admirable rage, vntill they o∣uercome their aduersaries. They do also labour, and striue withall their nerues and sin∣newes, euen as if they were champions, or fought for some great reward, or should get honor by their battell.

Wilde bulles, tame Rams, Asses with one horne, Hyaenaes, and lastly Elephantes, as if they were capable of reason, they wound them among themselues, and the one doth of∣tentimes ouercome and kill the other, and sometimes fall downe togither being both wounded. I haue also recited before in another place of the intreaty of Oxen, those Indi∣an Oxen which are said to be most swift in their ioynts in running too and fro, when they are at combate, because there we had not distinguished whether these were wild Oxen or not: but it doth appeare in this place, that they are wholy taken for wilde Oxen: and the thing it selfe doth manifest that domesticall Oxen are not so swift nor so strong.

The Oxen in India haue altogether whole hoofes, and also but one horne. Aethiopia al∣so doth breede Indian Oxen, that is to say, Oxen that are like to those of India,* 1.13 for some [ 10] haue but one horn, & othersome 3. Solinus saith, that there are found in India some Oxen which haue but one horn, & othersome which haue 3. horns with whole hoofs, & not clo∣uen. The Indian Oxen are said to bee as high as a Cammell, and their horne foure foote broad. Ptolomaeus doth report, that he saw a horne of an Indian Oxe which did hold in the bredth of it thirty gallons.

There are also Oxen which are bred in India, which in greatnes are no bigger then a Bucke, or Goat, they do run yoaked together very swift, nor do end their race with lesse speed then the Goat-land horses, and I did not take them to be Oxen liuing in the woods, for our Rangifer and Oxen which liue in the woods, are the swiftest of al beasts in this kind,* 1.14 and most apt to combats and runnings, and they may partly be called Oxen hauing one horne, and partly Oxen hauing three hornes, neither are they found in Scandinauia, but [ 20] also in other Regions and Dominions of Asia, as we beleeue that Indian Oxen are of the same kind. Solinus doth not rightly cal those Indian Oxen, which Aelianus calleth Aethio∣picos, as I haue declared aboue in the storie of the Aethiopian Oxen, for their hornes are moouable. Ctesias doth write, that there are sprung vp among the same beasts, that beast which is called Mantichora: which is manifested by Aristotle in his Historie of Foure-foo∣ted beasts. Hermolaus also and others haue not considered this error. Among the Aracho∣tans there are Oxen which liue in the woodes, which do differ from those that are bred in the Citty, as much as wilde swine from tame. Their colour is blacke, bending a litle down∣wards, and their hornes broad and vpright. There is a Citty in India called Arachotus, ta∣king the name from the riuer Arachotus, which do flow out of Causacus, what those beasts [ 30] are which bend their hornes vpward, I haue declared in the story of the Bison, for as there may be spoken something concerning the difference of the plantes of the woods, so also concerning the beasts that are bred in the Citty, and those that are bred in the woods.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The seueral names.
• * 1.2

  The seueral partes
• * 1.3

  Places of their abode
• * 1.4

  Countries of their breed
• * 1.5

  Their stature
• * 1.6

  Vse of their parts.
• * 1.7

  Histories of other wilde Oxen.
• * 1.8

  〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.9

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 African
• * 1.10

  〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.11

  〈…〉〈…〉 ••onet.
• * 1.12

  ••••lianus
• * 1.13

  Plinius.
• * 1.14

  Aristotle