The history of four-footed beasts and serpents describing at large their true and lively figure, their several names, conditions, kinds, virtues ... countries of their breed, their love and hatred to mankind, and the wonderful work by Edward Topsell ; whereunto is now added, The theater of insects, or, Lesser living creatures ... by T. Muffet ...

CHAP. XIII.

Of the tame or house Spider.

AMongst Insects, though many may be found (as Pliny, Caelius, Curio the second, out of whom we have fetched many of these things, say rightly) that may exercise great wits, yet the nature of Spiders is worthy to be admired in chief, and is apparent by their curious working, as any reasonable man will judge. Aristotle the greatest diver into Nature, saith that this is the most magnificent, and wisest of all Insects. And Solomon himself at whose wis∣dome all the world admired, amongst those four Animals that exceed Philosophers for their knowledge, reckons up the Spider, dwelling as he saith in Kings Palaces, and weaving Webs that man cannot do the like. The Poets faign that the Spider was once a Lydian Mayd, that Minerva had taught to work with the needle, and weaving all curious artificiall work: But she was grown so proud of this skill, that she denyed that ever she learned this of Pallas, and she proceeded so farre in arrogancy, that she boldly challenged Minerva to work with her in all these Arts: Wherefore Pallas disdaining her pride, came, and sharply rebuking the Mayd for her insolence, brake all her fine wrought works with a Wand: At this the Mayd was sore abashed, and thought to have hanged her self; but the Goddesse pitying the poor Maids condition, would not suffer her to do so, but as she hung by a very fine Cord, she changed her shape into a Spider.

Pallas was angry, and in wroth she said, Yet live and hang thou proud and haughty Mayd, And that thou mayst still suffer 'tis my minde, The same Law lasts for thee and for thy kinde.

But they that interpreted this a Fable or a History, say that Arachne found out the art of spinning, sowing, and weaving hemp, taking pattern by the Spiders. And this needs not seem strange to any man, since the Swallowes found out the Art of plaistering, and for Oculists, Eagles for building, Hippotamus for letting bloud, Ibis for giving Glysters, Goats for Anti∣dotes, so Tortoises, Weasels, Storks have instructed us.

To praise the Spider as I ought, I shall first set before you the riches of its body, then of * 1.1 its fortune, lastly of its minde. If you consider the matter of it, it is light, partaking much of Air and Fire (that are the most active and noblest Elements) but it hath little of earthly dregs and gravity. Consider the figure it is wholly round and orbicular, or at least Ovall, that is next unto it. The substance of it is thin, transparent, subtile, and though sometimes by the abundance of plunder and prey, it becomes so cram'd, that it growes as great as a Walnut, and (if Cardan erre not) as great as a Sparrow sometimes, yet if you see it hanging in its Web, against the light, it shines all through like a Chrysolite, and makes reflexion of beams most gratefull to the eye. It hath the same colour that Ovid writes that Lovers have, that is, pale; and when she sticks aloft with her feet cast every way, she exactly represents a painted Starre. As if Nature had appointed not only to make it round like the Heavens, but with rays like the Stars, as if they were alive. The skin of it is so soft, smooth, polished and neat, that she precedes the softest skin'd Mayds, and the daintiest and most beautifull Strumpers, and is so clear that you may almost see your face in her as in a Glasse; she hath fingers that the most

gallant Virgins desire to have theirs like to them, long, slender, round, of exact feeling, that there is no man, nor any Creature that can compare with her: she hath feet not numberlesse, as the Scolopendrae, nor is she without feet, as some Insects are, nor hath only six feet, as those that want wings have, but eight feet, which number is next to the most perfect num∣ber, as all men know. These legs also are made in a sesquitertiall proportion, which is most admi∣rable and venerable; so that though the latter feet be alwayes shorter then the former, yet they hold still their proportion. Many Philosophers who hold that Spiders are blinde, are blinde themselves, for were they blinde, how should they make choice of those places that are most convenient for to pitch their nets, and who should lead them to fasten one thred to ano∣ther, and should know how to mend their Webs when they are broken by accident? when as also the tame and familiar Spiders will come from a distance to catch a Flie that toucheth but the sides of their threds, they are the more bold to pursue them, and will take them as it were from hand to hand, as we have often seen. Truly they are blinde at noon-day, and understand nothing, who say, that Spiders are blinde. In this Spider there is no poyson nor hurt, for if it bite it is with∣out harm, and it is rather tickling then painfull. Also their very Carkases, and their bodies, their eyes, their excrements, are good and usefull for many diseases, as we shall make it plain enough when we speak of their use. I know not what it was that made Pennius so frighted when he thought of eating them; for he knew a Noble English Lady, and Phaerus a Physician, that did often eat them without any hurt at all. For the truth is, Spiders are free from poy∣son, and are very good for ones health. But because it seems so horrid a Creature to some people, that the very▪ sight of it makes them fly from it, I rather attribute that to their me∣lancholy apprehension, tendernesse and distemper, than to the ill form of the Spider. Nature hath used no lesse elegancy and bounty in the Spider, then she hath done in the Butter-fly, and Flie, and it is no light disease of the minde to disdain so beautifull a work, and to be afraid of a Creature that weaves so curiously. Lastly God hath given a wonderfull disposition and nature of the skin to so wonderfull a body; for it doth not only once a year (as Vipers do) but every Moneth if she be well fed she changeth her skin, and recovers a new one that is more curious. Also it is of so excellent a temper, and so frugall in its diet, that in a wholesome place, where she can get any provision, she will live alwayes. I think that to be the chiefest good amongst * 1.2 the goods of Fortune, or rather Fate, that they carry the matter of their Webs in their bel∣ly, and they are so well stored with it, that a Spider can draw forth innumerable threds and weave them, and catch if need be, a hundred Flies, and have Nets enow to wrap them in. And though they, have not meat in a Granary as Pismires have, nor ready and growing up, as Bees have, but they live only upon food they light upon by chance, yet by Gods providence the prey comes flying by that sustains them, and oft times they grow fat with plentifull dishes that they take by hostility. Further, I should think it no small part of good Fortune given to the Spider, that when she is satisfied with the troublesome fare of the Court, yet she never hath the Gout. You have heard that Solomon of old assigned her a place in Kings Palaces, that she might be a pattern to his Courtiers, to labour, to be ingenuous, wise, frugall, and vertuous. There beginning her Webs she workt with hands and feet, and never need to goe a hawking for Flies, she feared no assaults, no treachery: and briefly, this most wise creature did bear rule in the great Palace of that great King. After him arose bad Princes, that were idle, fol∣lowed ill counsell, that came to ruine, it is hard to say, how hardly they used the poor Spider, and commanded forthwith to sweep her down with beesoms and poles, as if she had been a night-robber, and to tread her under foot, and to kill her. Presently Furies ran and swept down and spoyled all those learned works that had been wrought, so that she could hardly escape the quick-sighted beesomes of those lazy devils. She was most miserable now, left all alone in so great abundance, and in so large houses, she could not finde one corner to be in. And by the Kings example, the Nobles and rich men drove out this Mistresse of labour and vertue, and they would not suffer one thred to remain, that was a Token and Ensign of her great wisdome. She when once she went abroad to travell (as the Fabulist wittily saith) the Gowt by chance came to keep her company, though she could hardly hold pace with her, but with great toil. When as now they had travelled one dayes journey, at night they took counsell to try their Host, but they were of different opinions. The Spider going into the City, got into the house of a rich Gitizen, and so soon as she began to work and to spread her Tapestry and hangings, (by the example of the bad Kings) he forthwith hates her, and drives her out, and the same night he expos'd her to the rain and open air. But the Gowt being lame, when he could go no further, got into the first house of the Town, and could scarce in∣treat to be harboured in the poorest Cottage there; and when she lay down, she found misery enough; she had for supper brown bread that her stomach rose against, and a little herbs, scarce any salt upon them, and water was fetcht from the next pond, in an earthen Pitcher to quench her thirst; being thus entertained, she required a bed to ly on, she could get none but straw or the planks to ly upon, and so she lay down in pitifull misery, lamenting and sighing: But alas how wretched a thing it is for tender limbs, and that cannot endure to be touched (as saith Hippocrates) to ly upon such a hard bed and pillowes. The next morning the Spider and the Gowt met again; the Spider complained terribly of the incivility and rudenesse of the rich Citizen, and the Gowt on the other side complained of her Hosts poverty and poor fare, shewing

the black and blew marks the hard lodging had made in her skin; and when they had a while taken deliberation about it, they both agreed upon this, that the next night they would change their host; that the Spider should go to the poor cottages, and the Gowt to the Kings palaces and rich mens houses: the Gowt not unmindful of this agreement, went to a very rich mans house, and lay down at the feet of a very well fed Master, that was very rich, and so soon as this kinde host perceived her, with what humanity, embracings, and cheerfulness did he entertain her! down pillowes were laid under her, all the stools and chairs in the chambers are filled with the best fea∣thers, and cushions laid upon them; the Kitchen was very hot, and all officers at work for pro∣vision; the table is spread with all dainties, and the cups fill'd with Wine; fat and cramb'd Ca∣pons, Pheasants, Partridge, Peacocks, Quails, Turtles, that feed on figs and grapes, and those birds that have two hearts to set them forth come flying to the table: Turbots, Gilt-heads, Sturge∣ons, are not worth speaking of. The shell-fish of Campania with purple juice, and Oysters from Abydus, and whatsoever the whole ocean can afford, are ready. The Wines, are white, black, red, purple, sweet, delicate, sharp, Cecubum, Falernum, Chium, powred forth in full bouls. To say nothing of the second table brought from Tarentum, and the dainty cates, with Rose, Violet, and Iacinth coloured. Lastly, no delights, dainties, pleasures, or joyes are wanting, that the rich Gowt, (for she is daughter to Bacchus and Venus) with her sisters, the hand and knee-gowts, may be entertained delicately. The Spider also as good hap was, light upon a poor Cottage in∣stead of a rich palace, and there she teacheth man and wife what duties are useful for both, and fats her self with care. But perhaps some man wil object that they can finde no good fortune in this, but only the Spider may be commended for changing her habitation and her host; but it is very for∣tunate for her: for she lives not only safer, and more at rest, but she doth not from the roof as from a watch-tower, behold any more adulteries, gluttony, riot, prodigality, lasciviousness, plays, dancings, wantonness, dicings, cardings, and lastly those vanities, and beastliness, that never enter into poor mens cottages, whereof she knew her self to be guilty, whilest she lived in Courts and Palaces of great men, who so soon as they had driven forth the Spider, (the mistress of labour and fru∣gality) were presently seised on by the Gowt, and not only so, but all luxury, dissembling, lying, flattering, pride, entred into their palaces, or rather into their ears, eyes, and mindes, and pollu∣ted them with all wickedness and companions of all mischiefs: were it not better for Kings to allow this good, frugal, wise, harmless little creature a room in their large chambers, than to hear∣ken to, and to reward so much such pick-thanks, and Court-flatterers, and voluptuous persons, who by their wicked counsel and example will quickly corrupt the best men? I know not whether I * 1.3 were best commend the Spider for the gifts of her minde, as wisdom, justice, valour, tempe∣rance, humanity, love of poverty, love of works, sufficiency, cunning, cleanlinesse, and her other vertues; or else her admirable art and skill in weaving her Webs. Her wisdom appears in that, that when the Rivers are like to rise higher, and drown her house, she removes to some safer place. In fair weather when the Flies fly about, they weave not, but wait on their prey: she runs away at the least touch of any thing that troubles her, and hides her head in her hole (as Vipers do) that she may feel the lesse pain, and that her body being hurt, (which is easily healed) yet she may preserve her head that governs the whole body. Who taught them to know this? Did any Chaldean teach them, by the situation and position of the Stars? No indeed, but the Spider hath a certain divine wisdom given her, as the Poet sang truly,

Her body moves by vertue of her minde, Diffused in every part—

Moreover, so soon as they see an enemy faln within their nets, they do not presently wound him, or bite him in a hostile manner, but they kisse as it were and tickle him, until they have all smeered him over with a clammy web fetcht out from the hinder parts with their hindermost feet, and have as it were bound him with bands, taking away from him all power of resistance, flying away or moving; then that thred being fastned to their web, they run to the centre to ob∣serve, if any new prey may fall within their nets: and thus sometimes you shall see ten or twen∣ty Flies hung up on a line on high, and the Spider will take them one after another, breaking their line they hang by, and fastned to one of the hinder legs, will carry them to the centre of her work, and there devour them: she feeds on nothing but the juice of Flies, and when the car∣kass is dry and void of all juice, she throws it down as an useless burden to her web. Moreover, because the female is something greater than the male, therefore she hangs under and observes, for fear the small creatures should perceive and take heed, but that they may fall unawares into her net, for by reason of her greater body she is not so fit to catch her prey. But the male is more active, and lies a top, as if he were otherwise imployed, or else seeing all things from a very little hole in his net, he conceals himself that he cannot be seen. And when any by chance comes to his lot, how vigilant is he and intent after his game? for he will not let his prey escape, but he runs from the uppermost line to the lowest suddenly, and when he hath his belly full, he laies up the rest of his provant, and hangs them up by a thred to suck them another time. And when as by age the webs have lost their clammy quality to hold fast, the Spider either new weaves them, or else beglewes them anew and repairs them. Her work ended, she either con∣tains her self in her hole, or watching above she holds the thread drawn from the centre, as it were

with her hands, whereby she can go and come to her nets and retreat at pleasure, and also (if any prey be taken) she perceives it by the motion of her web. But to be more certain, before she comes down, she drawes her thred back sometimes, that she may know how it is by motion and weight. Then first she hastneth to the centre; which the ensnared little creatures either fee∣ling or conjecturing, do lie still, lest by motion they should discover themselves and be more entangled; yet they cannot deceive the Spiders who with feet and eyes perceive their prey, and run swiftly unto it suddenly. But good God, what and how great justice is seen amongst Spi∣ders? None of them robs another of his wife, none of them enters upon anothers house; each of them lives by his own labour and possessions, and they hold it unlawful to break the bands that belong their neighbours:

But men are not so just, oh pity 'tis to see How covetous they are, lust reigns in each degree: Adding house to house, both seas and lands, And more worlds they fain would have in their hands.

Farther, they do not pitch their nets for such creatures as are good, and useful, but to catch Hornets, Oxe-flies, Horse-flies, Wasps, Drones, Breezes, Gnats, common Flies, which are to us like bawds, theeves, flatterers (as the Comedian speaks) that breed us many inconveniences, but are no way fit to do us any good. Moreover, she dares (as she is very valiant and magnani∣mous) hunt after the Lizards young ones, whom she presently involves in her net, as they make resistance, then laying hold of both their lips with a deadly biting, she holds them so fast, that she makes them dye under her. And lastly like another Cacus she drawes them backward dead into her lurking place. And if by chance in this great contest, she findes her nets broken or folded together, she presently repairs, unfolds, and spreads them anew with great dexterity. Farther yet, there is a fierce and everlasting fewd between the Spider and the Serpent: for if at any time the Serpent seeking shady places, fals upon some places under a tree where many Spi∣ders are, one or other of them will fall right upon the Serpents head with his net, and she will so beat upon his brain with her mouth, that he will make a noise and hiss, and be so vertiginous, that in this miserable condition, he can neither break her thread, nor escape from her. Nor is their end of this combate, till the Spider have destroyed him. Let the Romans be silent con∣cerning their battails on the stage, and the cruel combates of Elephants, when a little Spider dares fight with a horrid and wan black Serpent; and not only to fight with him, but to triumph over him, and carry away the rich spoils of her victory. Who would not admire so great force, so great weight, so sharp and hard bitings, and almost incredible strength, in so small a body, and of no consideration, having neither bones, nerves, flesh, and hardly any skin? this cannot pro∣ceed from its body, but its spirit; or rather from God himself: In the same fashion they en∣ter the lists with land and water Toads, and kill them in single fight. For not only Pliny and Albertus the Philosopher mention this, but also Erasmus in his Dialogue of friendship, re∣lates, how a certain Monk, who slept with open mouth, and had a Toad hanging at his lip, escaped by assistance of the Spider. Oft-times also they enter the stage with the winged Hornet, that hath a strong sting, and fibres almost of horn, who straight by main force breaks through their webs, as great rich men do with the Laws, yet at last he is wrapt in a more tena∣cious glew, and pays for breaking open their houses, and conquer'd in single duel, he becomes subject to the Spider.

I must not passe by their temperance that was once proper to Man, but now the Spiders have almost won it from them. Who is there now, (if age will let him) who will be content with the love of one? and doth not deliver up himself body and soul to wandring lust? But the Spi∣der so soon as they grow up, choose their mates, and never part till death. Moreover as they are most impatient of corrivals, so they set upon any Adulterers that dare venture upon their Cottages, and bite them, and drive them away, and oft-times justly destroy them. Nor doth any one of them attempt to offer violence to the female of another, or to assault her chastity. So great command have they of their affections, so faithful and entire are they in their conjugal love, like Turtles. If you respect their houshold government, what is there more frugal, more laborious, or more cleanly to be seen in the whole world? For they will not suffer the least thread to be lost, or placed in vain; and they ease themselves by interchangeable work; for when the female weaves, the male hunts: if either be sick, the other supplies both offices, that they may deserve alike. So sometimes the female hunts, and the male weaves, and this at any time when the one wants the others assistance; for we cannot think them so void of mutual love, that living so faithful in Matrimony, the one should not lend a helping hand to the others necessities, and so by mutual courtesie they continues their friendship amongst themselves. The female at home being now learned from her Parents to spin and weave (as she is wont to do with us) she be∣gins her webs, and her belly contains all the matter of them, whether it be for that at a cer∣tain time her entrails are so corrupted (as Democritus said) or that there is a kinde of woolly fruitfulnesse in her as there is in the Silk-worm. Yet Aristotle will have the matter to be with∣out, like a thin shell which is drawn in length, by spinning and weaving; or after the manner of those that shoot out their bristles, as the Porcupine. However it be, they lose not the

least end of a thred, but they undertake all by providence. Their love to their young ones no man can rightly describe, but he that loves his children himself. For by mutuall incuba∣tion, they foster their Egges, and raise up and increase the he••t of them; and thouhg oft-times they produce three hundred young ones, yet they bring them all up alike to labour, spa∣ringnesse, discipline, and weaving, and love them all alike. I have oft wondred at their cleanlinesse, when I have seen those that were weak and sick to go down to the bottome of their Web, out of their dens, and exonerate their bellies, lest by the filth of their excre∣ments their houses, or Web, or threds should be polluted. And these things shall suffice for their civill and oeconomicall vertues. Now let us proceed to their art of making Nets, which is so offensive to Pallas, for the Scholar exceeded her Mistris in the curiosity of her work. First therefore we shall consider the clammy stuffe that drawes like Bird-lime, which loseth not its tenaciousnesse by drinesse nor by moysture, we said from Pliny, that she drawes this stuffe out of her belly. But seeing that the males weave also, I think on good grounds, with our friend Bruerus, that it is drawn out of the entrails behinde. And since it cannot be ex∣hausted, we may wonder at the infinite and endlesse power of God, and adore it, for it were next to madnesse to assign this to bodily or naturall causes. Those Spiders are held to be the best Artificers that work in Autumn, and are called Holei; they draw a thred that is smaller then any linnen or silk, and farre lighter, and so pure (saith Aelianus) that the whole Web wrapt together, will scarce make one thred as great as a linnen thred though it be never so small. Edwardus Monimus described these, both Males and Females, very elegantly Heptam: l. 7. in these words:

—He hunts at home, But she doth weave within her tender loom, And jugler-like, she from her belly casts Great clewes of yarn and thred, which while it lasts She works to make her Nets, and every part She frames exactly by Dedalian art, Her Web is fastened to the beam, the threds Are parted by fit lines at severall heads, She works from Centre to circumference, The Web is made on both sides for defence, Pervious lest when the East-winde doth set Strong, it might break this tender w••rke, and yet The strongest Flie may be held in this Net. No sooner can a Flie but shake her thread, The male runs to the Centre, and his head Peeps forth to catch what comes, so is he fed.

The variety of their Nets is so great, that it is not called amisse, the Goddesse of a thou∣sand works; some of them are looser, some thicker, some triangular, others square, some Diamond figures, for the commodity of the swiftnesse of hawking: But that which is round is commonly wrought between two trees, or Reeds, and oft times in divers windowes, hanged fast with ropes, and sail-yards. Good God, what great reason, judgement, art, what admirable wisdome and beauty she shews! Truly we may not suppose amisse, to say that Euclides learn∣ed to make his figures from hence, and Fishermen their Nets; for from whence else could they fetch such an example of so curious and laborious a Mistresse? So finely is her work besmeared, and made so round and exact, and so equally ballanced, and she doth so work her body in place of a weight and spindle, that she may well be compared with Minerva, but that the compari∣son makes me afraid. Also the work is so firm, though it appear so weak, that it will hold Hornets, endure force of windes, and dust being fallen into it, it rather yeelds than breaks or is hurt. The manner of her Net-work is this: First she drawes her semidiameters to the pla∣ces circumabient, most fit for her work, then with no compasse, but by a naturall skill of her feet, she makes 44 circles with her thread from the center to the circumference, by equall parts more distant one from the other. Moreover that is worth our knowing, as also it seem∣ed most admirable to our most learned Turnerus and Bruerus, namely, that those Spiders when they are purposed to fasten a thred from a high beam, in a right line to the earth, they hold a little stone with their feet, and then by degrees they let themselves down by a three doubled thred, that the angle at the earth may answer the angle above by the beam exactly. But that above all the rest is worthy of admiration, how they fasten the first thred on the hither side of the River, and the second on the farther side, whereas Nature hath not taught them to ••ly, or to swim; I much doubt whether they leap over or not. The second praises in weaving they deserve, that build on the rafts of houses, and other Field-spiders, who upon the grasse weave a Net, that is broad, thick, and plain, and it is a Net indeed, spread forth like a sayl, or sheet. In the work of these Spiders, if you consider, the wouf, the ska••ns of yarn▪ the trendle, the shittle, the comb, the woof, the distaffe, the web, either you will see nothing, or you must see God insensible, yet really performing all these things: and truly in spinning, they go far before the Egyptians, Lydians, Penelope, Tanaquil, Amestris, Romes Claudiana, Sabina, Julia, and the Queens of Macedonia, that were wonderfully skilled in spinning, because (beyond all ordrdinary reason and art) no threds being drawn overthwart, they make a solid and tenacious Web, of a straight continued long thred. Their work being ended, they smeer it over with a birdlimy glutinous spittle, by the touch of which alone the prey is entangled, and payes for its blindenesse and want of foresight. The colour of her Web is aereall and transparent, or rather no colour, which is the thing deceives the Flies that are not aware of it, and they that see best hardly escape it. For had it but any perfect colour, they would think what need they had to avoid it, and fly farther from it. The most ignoble

Spiders, (namely, those that are sluggish, fat, and that ly in holes) make but a very course Web, and grosser thred by farre, which they hang only to holes in Walls. These have a more heavy body, shorter feet, and are more unfit to spin or card, they light upon their prey rather by chance than seek for it, because the hole is great without, and seems a fit place for Flies to hide themselves in; but at the very entrance they are ensnared by the Spider, and catcht, and are carryed into the Shambles for Flies to be slain. For they ly deep in Walls, that they may escape the Birds that ly in wait for them (as Sparrows, Red-breasts, Nightin∣gales, Hedge-sparrows) and that they may the sooner ensnare the Flies that suspect no harm. And for Spiders that are harmlesse, and for their Webs, let this suffice: Now we shall adde some∣thing concerning those kindes I have observed.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The praise of the house Spi∣der taken from the bo∣dy of it.
• * 1.2

  The praise of the house Spi∣der from the goods of For∣tune.
• * 1.3

  Prayses of the Spider from the gifts of her minde.