The historie of serpents. Or, The second booke of liuing creatures wherein is contained their diuine, naturall, and morall descriptions, with their liuely figures, names, conditions, kindes and natures of all venemous beasts: with their seuerall poysons and antidotes; their deepe hatred to mankind, and the wonderfull worke of God in their creation, and destruction. Necessary and profitable to all sorts of men: collected out of diuine scriptures, fathers, phylosophers, physitians, and poets: amplified with sundry accidentall histories, hierogliphicks, epigrams, emblems, and ænigmaticall obseruations. By Edvvard Topsell.

OF THE TORTEYSE.

THe last foure-footed egge-breeding beast, commeth now to bee handeled in due order and place; namely, the Torteyse, which I haue thought good to insert also in this place, al∣though I cannot finde by reading or experience, that it is ve∣nomous, yet seeing other before me haue ranged the same in the number and Catalogue of these Serpents and creeping creatures, I will also follow them; and therefore I will first expresse that of the Torteyse, which is general and common to both kindes, and then that which is speciall, and propper to the Land and Sea Torteyses.

The name of this Beast is not certaine, among the Hebrewes some call it Schabhul, some Kipod, and some Homet, whereas euery one of these doe also signifie another thing, as Schabhul a Snayle. Kipod a Hedge-hogge, and Homet a Lyzard. The Chaldeans call this Beast Thiblela. The Arabians terme it Sisemat. Also Kauden salabhafe, and Halachalie.

The Italians call this Testuma testudine, vel testugire, tartuca, enfuruma, tartocha, & co∣sorona. And in Ferraria, Gallanae, tartugellae, biscae scut llariae. The inhabitants of Taurinu, Cupparia. The Portugalls, Gagado. The Spanyards, Galapago, and Tartuga. The French, Tortue, and Tartue. And in Sauoy, Boug coupe. The Germaines, Schiltkrot, and Tallerkrot. The Flemings, Schilt padde, which aunswereth our English word Shell-crab. The Grae∣cians call it Chelone, and the Latines Testudo: which wordes in their seuerall Languages, haue other significations, as are to be found in euery vocabular Dictionary, and therefore I omit them, as not pertinent to this busines or History.

There be of Torteyses three kinds, one that liueth on the Land, the second in the sweet waters, and the third in the Sea, or salt-waters. There are found great store of these in India especially of the Wate•• Torteyses, and therefore the people of that part of the Country, are called Chelonophagi; that is, Eaters of Torteyses, for they liue vpon them: and these people are sayd to be in the East-part of India. And in Carmania the people are likewise so called. And they do not onely eare the flesh of them, but also couer their hou∣ses with their shells; and of their abundance, doe make them all manner of vessels. And Pliny and Solinus write, that the Sea Torteyses of India are so bigge, that with one of them they couer a dwelling Cottage. And Strabo sayth, they also row in them on the waters, as in a Boate.

The Islands of Serapis in the Redde-Sea, and the farthest Ocean Islands, towardes, the East of the Red Sea, hath also very great Torteyses in it: and euery where in the Red-Sea they so abound, that the people there doe take them and carry them to their greatest Marts and Fayres to sell them, as to Rhaphtis, to Ptolemais, and the Island of Dioscorides, whereof some haue white and small shels. In Lybia also they are found, and in the night time they come out of their lodgings to feede, but very softly, so as one can scarcely per∣ceiue their motion.

And of one of these Scaliger telleth this story. One night (saith he) as I was trauayling, being ouer-taken with darkenesse and want of light, I cast about mine eyes to seeke some place for my lodging, safe and secure from Wild-beasts; and as I looked about, I saw (as I thought) a little ••ill or heape of earth, but in truth it was a Torteyse, couered all ouer with mosse: vpon that I ascended and sa••e downe to rest, where-vppon after a little wat∣ching I fe••l asleepe, and so ended that nights rest vppon the backe of the Torteyse. In the morning, when light approched, I perceiued that I was remooued farre from the place, whereon I first chose to lodge all night; and therefore rising vp, I beheld with great ad∣miration the face and countenaunce of this Beast, in the knowledge whereof, (as in a new nature) I went foreward, much comforted in my wearisome iourney.

The description of the Torteyse and the seuerall partes thereof now followeth to bee handled. Those creatures (saith Pliny) which bring forth or lay egs, eyther haue feathers as Fowles, or haue scales as Serpents, or thicke hides as the Scorpion, or else a shell like the Torteyse. It is not without great cause that this shell is called Scutrem, and the Beast Scutellaria, for there is no buckler and shield so hard and strong as this is. And Palladius was not deceiued when he wrote thereof, that vppon the same might safelie passe ouer a Cart-wheele, the Cart being load••d. And therefore in this, the Torteyse is more happy then the Crocodile, or any other such Beast.

Albertus writeth that it hath two shell••s, one vppon the backe, the other on the belly, which are conioyned together in foure places and by reason of this so firme a couer and shell, the flesh thereof is dry and firme, also long lasting, and not very easie or apt to putre∣faction. This shell or couer is smooth, except some-times when it is growne old, it hath mosse vppon it, and it neuer casteth his coate in old age, as other creeping thinges do. In the head and tayle it resembleth a Serpent, and the great Torteyses haue also shelles vpon th••ir heads like a shield, yet is the head but short, and the espect of it very fearefull, vntil a man ••e well acquainted there with. And by reason of the hardnesse of their eyes, they mooue none but the neather eye lidde, and that without often winking. The Liuer of it is great, yet without any blood. It hath but one belly without diuision, and the Liueris alwa••es foule, by reason of the vitious temperature of the body. The Melt is exceeding small, comming far short of the bodies proportion.

Be•…•…e, the common nature of other thicke-hided-creatures. It hath also reynes, ex∣cept that kind of Tortoyce called Lutaria, for that wanteth both Reynes and bladder, for by reason of the softnesse of the couer thereof, the humour is ouer fluent; but the Tor∣toy••e that bringeth foorth Egges hath all inward partes like a perfect Creature: and the Females haue a singular passage for theyr excrementes, which is not in the Males The Egges are in the body of their belly, which are of a party-colour like the Egges of Birds.

Theyr stones cleaue to theyr loynes, and the tayle is short, but like the tayle of a Ser∣pent.

They haue foure Legges, in proportion like the Legges of Lizards, euery foot ha••ing fiue fingers or diuisions vpon them, with nayles vpon euery one. And thus much for the seuerall parts.

They are not vniustly called Amphibia, because they liue both in the water and on the Land, and in this thing they are by Pliny resembled to Beauers: but this must bee vnder∣stood of the general, otherwise the Tortoyces of the Land doe neuer dare come into the Water: and those of the Water can breath in the water, but want respiration, and like∣wise they lay theyr Egges and sleepe vppon the dry Land. They haue a very slowe and easie pace; and thereupon Pauuiu•• calleth it Tardigrada, and also there is a Prouerbe: Testudineus incessus, for a slow and soft pace, when such a motion is to be expressed. The Tortoyce neuer casteth his coate, no not in his old age. The voyce is an abrupt and bro∣ken hissing, not like to the Serpents, but much more loud and diffused. The Male is ve∣ry salacious and giuen to carnall copulation, but the Female is not so; for when shee is attempted by the Male, they fight it out by the teeth, and at last the Male ouercommeth, whereat he reioyceth as much, as one that in a hard conflict, fight, or battaile, hath won a fayre Woman; the reason of this vnwillingnesse is, because it is exceeding paynefull to the Female. They engender by riding or couering one another. When they haue layde theyr Egges, they doe not sit vpon them to hatch them, but lay them in the Earth, couered, and there by the heat of the Sun is the young one formed, and commeth foorth at due time without any further help from his parents.

They are accounted crafty and su••tle in the••r kinde, for subtlenesse is not onely ascri∣bed to thinges that haue a thinne bloud, but also to those that haue thicke skinnes, hides, and Couers, such as the Tortoyce and Crocodile haue. The Tortoyce is an enemy to the Bariridge, as Philes and Aelianus write: Also the Ape is as frayde thereof, as it is of the Snayle: and to conclude, whatsoeuer enemy it hath, it is safe inough as long as it is couered with his Shell, and clyngeth fast to the Earth beneath; and therefore came the Prouerbe: Oikos philos, oikos aristos. That House which is ones friend, is the best house.

The Poets giue a fabulou reasons, why the Tortoyce doth euer carry his House vppon his back, which is this: They say, that on a time Iupiter badde all liuing Creatures to a banquet or Marriage feast, and thether they all came at the time appointed, except the Tortoyce: and shee at last also appeared at the end of the feast when the mea••e was all spent: whereat Iupiter wondred, and asked her why shee came no sooner? Then i•• an∣sweared him, Oikos philos, oikos aristos; at which answere Iupiter being angry, adiudged her perpetually to carry her house on her back, and for this cause they fable, that the Tor∣toyce is neuer seperated from her house.

Flaminius the Roman diswading the Achaeans from attempting the Island of Zacyn∣thij, vsed this Argument; and so afterward T. Liuius. Caeterum sicut Testudinem, vbi col∣lecta, in suum tegumen est, tutam ad omnes ictus ••••di esse: vbit exerit partes aliquas quod∣cunque nudauit, obnoxium atque infirmum habere: Haud dissimiliter vobis Achaei, clausis vndique maris, quod intra Peloponnesum est, termino, ea & iungere vobis, & iuncta tueri facile: si semel auiditate plura amplect endi hinc excedatis, nuda vobis omnia quae extra sint & exposita ad omnes ictus esse. Thus farre Pliny. That is to say, Euen as when the Tortoyce is gathered within the compasse of her shell, then is it safe and free from all stroakes, and feeleth no violence, but whensoeuer shee putteth foorth a Limbe or part, then is it naked, infirme, and easie to be harmed: So is it with you Achaeans, for by rea∣son

of the enclosed seate of Peloponnesus within the straights of the Sea, you may well wind all that together, and beeing conioyned, as well defend it: But if once your auidious and couctous mindes to gette more, appeare and stretch it selfe beyond those limits, you shall lay open your naked infirmitie and weakenesse, to all force, blowes, and violence whatsoeuer. Wherefore, the Torteyse careth not for flyes, and men with good armour care not much for light and easie aduersaries.

Alciatus hath a witty Emblem of a Torteyse to expresse a good huswife, and that the same of her vertues, spreadeth much further then eyther beautie or riches.

Alma Venus quaenam hac facies quid denotat illa Testudo, molli quam pede diuapremis? Mesie effinxit Phidias sexumque referri Foemineum nostraiussit ab effigie, Quod{que} manere domi, & tacitas debet esse puellas Supposuit pedibus talia signa meis.

Which may be englished thus;

Loues holy God, what meanes that vgly face? What doth that Torteyse signifie in deede? Which thou ô Goddesse vnder soft foote dooest pace, Declare what meanes the same to me with speede? Such is the shape that Phidias did me frame, And bade me goe resemble women kind, To teach them silence, and in house remaine, Such pictures vnderneath my feete you find.

There is a manifold vse of Torteyses, especially of their couer or shell, and likewise of their flesh, which commeth now to be handled. And first of all, the auncient ornament of Beddes, Chambers, Tables, and Banqueting-houses, was a kind of artificiall worke, called Caruilius, and this was framed in golde and siluer, brasle and wood, Iuory & Tor∣teyse-shells; but, Modo luxuria non fuerit contenta ligno, iam lignam emi testudinem facit: That is to say; Ryot not contented, sought precious frames of wood; and againe, the vse of wood, caused Torteyse-shells to be deerely bought; and thereof also complayned the Poet Iuuenall, where he saith;

—Nemo curabat Riualis in Oceani fluctu tectudo nataret Clarum Troiugenis factura & nobile fulerum.

In English thus;

Then none did care for Torteyse in the Ocean-flood, To make the noble beds for Troyans blood.

We haue shewed already that there are certaine people of the East called Chelophagi, which liue by eating of Torteyses, and with theyr shells they couer theyr houses, make all theyr vessels, rowe in them vppon the water, as men vse to rowe in boates, and make them likewise serue for many other vses.

But as concerning the eating of the flesh of Torteyses, the first that euer wee read that vsed this ill dyet, were the Amozons, according as Caelius Rhod: and other Authours writeth. Besides, Aloysius Cadamustus affirmeth, that he himselfe did tast of the flesh of a Torteyse, and that it was white in colour, much like vnto Veale, and not vnpleasant. But Rasis is of a cleane contrary opinion, condemning it for very vnsauourie, and vnwhole∣some, because the taste and temperament thereof, is betwixt the Land and the Water, it beeing a beast that liueth in both Elements. And in eating heereof the Graecians haue a prouerbe, Chelones kreas he phagein, he me phagein: That is, eyther eate Torteyse flesh, or eate it not. Meaning that when we eate it, we must eate nothing else, and therefore must be filled sufficiently onely with that kind of meate: For to eate little, breedeth fretting

in the belly, and to eate much is as good as a purgation, according to the obseruation of many actiōs, which being done Frigide & ignauiter, that is, coldly & slothfully to halues, doe no good, but beeing done, Acriter & explicatie, earnestly and throughly bring much content and happinesse.

But I maruaile why they are vsed in this age, or desired by Meat-mongers, seeing Apicius in all his booke of Variety of Meats, doth not mention them; and I therefore wil conclude the eating of Tortoyces to be dangerous, and hatefull to Nature it selfe, for vn∣lesse it be taken like a Medicine, it doth little good, and then also the Sawces and decoc∣tions or compositions that are confected with it, are such as doe not onely qualifie, but vtterly alter all the nature of thē, (as Stephanus Aquaeus hath well declared) in his French discourse of Frogges and Tortoyces. And therefore to conclude this History of the Tor∣toyce, [ 10] I will but recite one riddle of the strangenesse of this beast which Tertullian out of Pacuuius maketh mention of, and also in Greeke by Moschopulus, which is thus transla∣ted.

Animal peregrinae naturae, sine spiritu spiro, geminis occulis retro iuxta cerebrum, quibus ducibus antrorsum progredior Super ventre coeruleo pergo, sub quo venter latet albus, aper∣tus & clausus. Oculi non aperiuntur, ne{que} progredior, donec venter intus albus vacuus est. Hoc saturato, oculi apparent insignes, & pergo aditer: Et quanquam mutum varias edo voces: That is to say, I am a liuing creature, of a strange nature, I breath without breath, with two eyes behinde neere my braynes doe I goe forward, I go vppon a blew belly, vnder which is also another white, open and shut, my eyes neuer open, I goe forward vntill my belly be empty, when [ 20] it is full, then they appeare plaine and I goe on my iourney, and although I am mute or dumbe, yet doe I make many voyces. The explycation of this riddle, will shew the whole nature of the beast, and of the Harpe called Chelys. For some things are related herein of the liuing Creature, and some things againe of an Instrument of Musicke made vppon his shell and couer. And thus much for the Tortoyce in generall, the Medicines I will reserue vnto the end of this History.