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 ...

THE THEATER of INSECTS: OR, Of lesser living Creatures. BOOK II. (Book 2)

CHAP. I.

Concerning Catterpillers and their several kindes, and namely of Silk-spinners, and Silk-worms.

WEE thought fit to place in the Front, Catterpillers, the devourers of Egypt: because they are most different in their kindes, and also some of them are excellent for their use and worth. It is no fond conceit to main∣tain * 1.1 that Catterpillers had their name in Latine from devouring, for they eat up leaves, boughs, flowers, fruits; which also may be observed in the Peach. Ovid called these Field-worms:

Field-worms that weave their hoary thred on boughs, we finde That they with painted Butterflies do change their kinde.

The Greeks call a Catterpiller 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, from the waving and vaulting motion, when it creeps, whereby it lifts up and contracts it self. The Hebrews call it Ghazam, because it sheareth the fruits of the earth, as Kimhi saith on Joel the first. The Italians call it Rugaverme, and Bruche, for so saith Marcellus Virgilius upon Dioscorides. In our times, saith he, our whole Countrey cals all kindes of Catterpillers Bruchi. The Spaniards call them Oruga; the French, Chenille, Chatte∣peleuse; the English, by the name of Catterpillers; but the Northern people call the hairy Cat∣terpillers Oubuts; the Southern call them Palmer-worms; in the Poles language, a Catterpiller is called Rup hausenka; in the German Tongue Ein Raup; in Low Dutch, Ruype; in Sclavonish, Gasienica; the Pesants call them Certris, and Cedebroa.

I should be endless if I should add all kindes of Catterpillers; for some feel rough, others * 1.2 soft, some have horns, (and that either in their head or in their tail); some are without horns; some have many feet, some fewer, but none have above sixteen feet. Most of them move swiftly in a waving posture; yet others there are that go even and slowly. Some do yearly change their old skin, and others do not. Some are changed into Aurelia's fixed above the earth, whence are bred your ordinary Butterflies, others are transformed under the earth, and become Glow-worms. Also some of their Aurelia's are smooth and equal; some again are hairy and wrinkled, pointed at the ends, sharp; some (namely of the harder kinde) naked, but others (namely of the tenderest) are covered with moss or silken down. The most of them are bred of the eggs of Butter-flies, and are changed into Aurelia's: some are bred on the leaves of trees, of the proper seed left there in the web in Autumn; or of the dew or air shut up in it, and corrupting there, as Vine-fretters. Some again feed on leaves, some on flowers, and some on fruits. We, to express both kindes of Catterpillers, shall divide them into those that are bred from other things; and those that are bred from their own kinde alone. Such as are bred from other things, again, are either smooth or hairy; as also those are that proceed from their own kindes. Amongst the smooth Catter∣pillers, the Silkworm deservedly challengeth the first place.

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A worm that to a Fly transformed is, and then: * 1.3

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Transformed back once more is made a worm agen; Twice it both dies and lives an••w, is wafted ore By Cha••on twice unto the Elizian sh••re. Its successor is left half living and half dead, Which after spins silk robes for those are finely bred. Find thred this Silk-worm makes, why doth she labour thus? It is not for her self she labours, but for us. Her fleece was formerly an ornament for Kings, But this prodigious age confusion brings: So prodigal of silks, that the vile rabble, clowns, Oyster-wives, herb-women, shine in silk suits and gowns: Nothing more common now for all than silk attire, Which wastes and burns mens hearts with continual fire.

In which words, though our divine Poet, who was more clear than the ancient Bards, doth something touch upon the Silk-worms, and paint them forth, yet he doth not describe them ••o fully, that it may suffice for the History of them. For Silk-worms are smooth Catterpillers almost of a milky colour, with small black eyes, and as you see, with a so ked mouth. The snow white ones are bred of Butterflies eggs, which growing by degrees into little worms, produce Silk-worms of the same colour with Butterflies. And that I may not repeat this again, let it suffice that I have once said it; the Butterfly is almost alwaies of the same colour with its Catterpillar. That Butterfly forsaking its Aurelia, as many eggs as it leaves, or seeds (if you will) like to eggs, they become so many Silk-worms afterwards; which, if you cherish them, when they are fostered by the Suns heat, and full fed with Mulberry leaves, they will repay a reward worth your cost and care, namely a silken fleece. They breed first in May, in which moneth and the two following moneths, they devour a multitude of leaves, and in eating as it were by sucking, they harden: when they are grown up with plenty of nourishment, being be∣come able, they spin a most fine web out of themselves, like to a Spiders web. Then against cold weather, they grow rough with hair, and make themselves new thick coats for Winter, by the sharpness of their clawes, pulling the down of their skins into fleeces: then they thicken and close it, carding it with their feet, then they draw it out amongst the boughs, and make it small as with a comb: lastly they take hold of this web, and wrap their body in it, making a round nest. Then men take them, and put them in earthen vessels, and feed them with bran, and so there spring up seathers of their kinde; which, so soon as they are prepared with, they are set to perform other tasks. But the spinning work they began, growes pliable by moisture, and is spun into threds on a smal spindle. Some women do use to draw it forth into yarn, and then they weave it. Pamphila the daughter of Latous was the first that was reported to have woven in the Island of Co. Also Pliny reports that Silk-worms are bred in that Island, Plin. lib. 11. cap. 23. the flowers of the Cypress, Turpentine, Ash, Oake-trees, being beaten down to the ground by showres, whence they receive life. Though women were the first inventers of this Art, yet men are not ashamed to wear these garments for lightness in Summer. The customes of men are so far degenerate from Arms, that their very cloathes are grown burthen∣some. The thinner and softer the leaves are they feed upon, the finer Silk these Silk-worms make: wherefore amongst the people of Seres in Scythia, the most soft garments are made; which we call silken, as Marcellinus witnesseth, lib. Hist. 23. In India also and in Aegypt there is great plenty and use of them, and are brought from thence to the Spaniards and Italians, being the greatest cause of wantonness amongst mortals. So often as I consider, that some ten thou∣sands of Silk-worms labouring continually night and day, can hardly make three ounces of Silk, so often do I condemn the excessive profusion and luxuriousness of men in such costly things who defile with dirt, Silks and Velvets, that were formerly the ornaments of Kings, and make no more reckoning of them now, than of an old tattered cloak, as if they were ashamed to esteem better of an honourable thing than of a base, and were wholly bent upon waste. The Greeks call this Catterpiller 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and Bombyx, which name is become Latine. The Italians call it Bigatto; the Spaniards, Guafano della seda; the French, Ver à Soye; the Ger∣mans, * 1.4 Ein Seyde worme; the English, Silk-worm. Amongst whom a Silken habit is so much loved and valued, that they despise their own Wool, (which compared with Silk, is not con∣temptible, and is the most profitable and the greatest merchandise of the Kingdome.) But time will make them forgoe this wantonness, when they shall observe that their moneys are treasured up in Italy at that time, when they stand in need of it for their private or publick af∣fairs. This is a pleasant thing and worthy to be noted, that the head of the Silk-worm, makes the tail of the Butterfly in that golden coloured Metamorphosis, and the tail the head; which al∣so happeneth in all other Catterpillars that are changed into an Aurelia.

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CHAP. II.

Of the rest of the smooth Catterpillers.

ALL the other smooth Catterpillers, are either green or yellow, or reddish, or dark, or va∣rious colours. The chief Catterpiller of the green, is that which hangs upon the Privet; * 1.5 a circle surrounds the face of it, and all

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its feet; and it hath a horn turned back∣wards in the tail. They are black and red, spots are made athwart their sides, they are half purple, half white; the small spots are red, but their whole body appears green. That upon the Elder-tree differs not much from it, but that it is altogether green, except those overthwart spots very white, and some little points like milk. It chiefly feeds on the reddish coloured El∣der.

The third, that is all green, when Autumn comes is transformed into a blackish case: it feeds on the softer Pot-herbs, especially on Lettice, whence we call it the Lettice Catterpiller.

The fourth upon the Medlar-tree is less, all over green, draw∣ing it self into an ash-coloured case, all besprinkled with most black spots.

The fifth is least of all, spins its threds on trees, (especially upon the Oake, and descends by them upon the heads of those that pass along, and intangles their hats and cloathes: a very little creature, most noted in Summer, and obvious every where, when the fall of the leaf is at hand; he wraps himself in a course web, and being shut up in a red and green cover, he dieth in Winter. He hath but ten feet, as all the rest that went before had.

We call them yellowish, that are most part yellow: such these figures present you with, which is kept, wheresoever they are void of black, overcast that with a paler yellow, and you have their * 1.6 figures painted. They live on softer leaves, especially on the Tiel-tree.

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Vinula is next in order; which is a most delicate Catterpiller, and beautiful beyond belief, we * 1.7 have found it on the Willow feeding greedily, the lips and mouth of it are a pale yellow, the eyes are fiery, the forehead is purple, the feet and the lower body green, the tail is forked, blacker than grapes, the whole body is spotted as with thick and dark red wine, which passing from the neck crossway to the very tail, a most white line doth wonderfully adorn it.

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The Catterpiller called Porcellus, * 1.8 is black, brown, especially the grea∣ter, but the lesser hath the circles white. Frequently they are found on the leaves of meadow Trifolie, and they devour them with wonder∣full swiftness.

Three various colours are chiefly observed: the * 1.9 first hath a blewish face, and very black eyes, the outward skin of the back is grayish, much besprin∣kled with black and yellow spots: it is changed into an Aurelia of a bright bay garnished with a white small membrane: it loveth Cabbidge and all kinde of Turneps.

The second hath the head and feet and tail very black, being chequered with yellow; the cheque∣rings that are painted on them inwardly, are di∣stinguished by channels black and gray, drawn long∣waies by turns. It loveth Fennel, and Anniseed, and Cummin.

The third is green from white, buncht as it go∣eth along, for it hath only six feet on both sides, as those before. It is changed into an Aurelia set with pricks, of a dark colour. It consumes Olives.

The fourth feeds on Dragon-wort, and resembles a spotted Viper: it goes alwaies with the head up∣right, and leans chiefly on its breast. It loves Bul-rushes, and plants that bear down, and are bred in rivers.

If you paint the ribs descending of the fifth kinde with old Minium, there will be few things in the picture that shall not agree with the truth.

In the sixth what you see white, paint with Ocre. Both of them delight in the black Poplar-tree, and feed greedily on it.

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The chamferings bred in the seventh, must be white from yellow; all the rest of the body is of a dark colour, and changeth it self into an Aurelia, of a light red co∣lour.

The eighth seems of the colour of ashes, waving out of black: it makes a case between black and a bright red, whence growes a dusty coloured Glow-worm.

The ninth is various, and deservedly thought so: the roundles of the incisions are green; the horn of the tail is bent back∣wards, and is of a bright blew; under which a red coloured spot serves to make it beau∣tiful: the middle part of the incisions is ashes colour. Lastly, an Aurelia is included of a murry colour. We found this in the high way; it delights in the field Crow-foot.

The tenth is gray and black; for what is here white, lay gray upon it, and it will represent the creature. It is changed into a spiral case, of a weak blew colour; the roundles being somewhat red; and it comes next to the form of a horn fashion peri∣winkle.

The smooth Catterpiller comes from the wilde night-shade (which the Italians call Bella∣donna) of a green and yellow colour, it hath a horn in the forehead as long as ones finger, which Cardanus relates that he saw often.

CHAP. III.

Of Catterpillers rough and hairy.

THose with hairs are the most mischievous of all: some are very thick of hair, others thin∣ner; whereof I here afford you the kindes. Amongst those of the thicker hair, are wal∣kers up and down, such as are upon Nut-tree leaves, Pine-trees; such as have sayl-yards, such as are called Neustriae, Pear-eaters; such as are upon Nettles, Cabbage, Hedges, feeders on Pop∣lar, such as lose their skins, such as are amongst Marigolds, black and green, &c. Those that have thinner hairs are Echini, dwellers amongst Fennel, eaters of bushes, half white: of which we shall speak in order.

Pityocampes, that is, Catterpillers on the Pitch and Pine trees, are as thick as a mans little fin∣ger, and as long as the breadth of three fingers. They have eleven incisions between their heads and tails, and they have sixteen feet like the rest, namely about the head on both sides three, on the middle of their bodies on both sides four, and at the ends of their tails on both sides one: but the first are crooked and small, wherewith they try their way, the rest are broades and jagged like sawes, that they may stick the faster to the boughs. The head is like an Ant, ••he rest ike common Catterpillers; they are rough with hair and encompassed on all sides with straight bristles: the hairs bred on their sides are white, they shine on their backs; the middle part whereof is ador∣ned with spots like to eyes; the bristles being shaved off, there is a black skin 〈…〉〈…〉eath, their hairs very slender, yet they prick more sharply than a nettle, and cause very great pain, heat, a Feaver, pricking, unquietness. For the poyson enters suddenly without any sense of the wound, and is carryed to the parts next the bowels. They spin fine webs like to Spiders, drawing and disposing their threds with their fore-feet. Towards night they go under these, as they were

tents, that they may escape the inconveniencies of cold and storms. The matter of this tent is so fast and fine, that it is not in danger by the greatest winds, nor is it sob'd with rain: and it is so spacious, that a thousand Catterpillers may be under it. They make their nests in the small boughs of the Pine and Pitch trees, where they live not solitary as others do, but by flocks: which way so ever they bend their course, they spin and carry their thred for the web along with them; and at break of day, if it be but fair weather, the great ones accompany the lesser by troops, and having made the trees void of leaves, for they consume them all, they labour hard in weaving. Only these plagues of the Pine and Pitch trees do not meddle with other Cone Apple trees. In Mount Athos, the woods of Trent, and in the vallies beyond the Alps they abound very much, by reason of plenty of leaves for their nourishment, as Matthiolus witnesseth. They are truly most venomous creatures, whether you touch them outwardly with your hands, or they be given inwardly. They were of old esteemed so certainly to be poyson, that Ʋlpian interpre∣ting * 1.10 the Cornelian Law concerning private murderers, set down amongst them to be punished those that give a Pine Catterpiller to drink. Sect. Alium. ff. ad leg. Corn. de sic. When one hath swallowed a Pine Catterpiller, the pain grievously afflicts both the mouth and palat; the tongue, belly and stomach are greatly inflamed by the corroding poyson: also a wonderful pain vexeth them, though at first they seemed only to feel a pleasant kinde of tickling: great heat follow∣eth, loathing of meat, and a perpetual desire to vomit, but ineffectual. At length if it be not helped, they burn the body, and make the stomach crusty almost like to Arsenick. Diosc. Aetius, Plin. Cels. Gal. also 11. simpl. c. 5. and Avic. sos. cap. 25. Hence it is that Aetius and Aegineta held it dangerous to set the table for meat under the Pine-tree, or for to stay there, lest perhaps by the reak of the meat or vapour of the broth, or by noise of men, these Pine Catterpillers should be moved and fall down upon the meat, or should let fall their seeds, that are as deadly as them∣selves. They that are hurt by these must use the remedies against Cantharides, for the same means will cure them: but properly oyl made of Quinces, called melinum, and oyl Olive, is to be drank twice or thrice to cause vomit, as Dioscorides from Aetius hath prescribed. They are bred, or rather regenerated, as Vine-fretters are, from Autumnal seed left in the web in certain bladders, or from the Vine-fretters themselves corrupted, as Scaliger thought.

Now we proceed to walkers about. We call those walkers, who have no certain houses or food: wherefore they do something superstitiously wander like pilgrims, and like to Mice, they alwaies feed on others meat, wherefore the English call them Palmer-worms, namely for their wandring life, for they dwell no where, though by reason of their hair they are called Bear-worms. They will not be tied to any kinde of flowers or leaves, but they pass on boldly, and taste of all plants and trees, and feed where they please.

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First those white spots which we see in their sides, must be such really; the whole body is black, all the inward hairs must be somewhat yellow, but all the uppermost on the back must be hoary, except those three ranks that are bred in the neck near the head, for they have the same colour with the hairs of the bel∣ly. Out of the Aurelia of this comes forth the Butterfly which you see here: whose colour, figure, and nature, we de∣scribed in the Book before.

The second, if you make the neck and belly, and the hair there growing, yel∣low, you need do no more. The cover of it seems dusky, the eggs are pale. We explained the Butterfly that growes from thence in the former Book.

The third is, the whole body and hair, dusky yellow, but that the spots on each side being ob∣liquely made in each incision lie hid, and the head being of a light red, is adorned with a cer∣tain white fork.

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The fourth hath his belly and lower hairs dusky, the back and upper hairs are yellow from dusky, a double forked line in the face resembles the colour of whey, or milk mingled with water.

The fifth hath a bright bay colour in the face, the sides of the belly hoary, a body various with small yellowish spots, and above these with black; yellow hairs come forth like small rags; they are sharp, and growing more sharp pointed from the middle: it hurts much the neighbouring herbs and the corn.

The sixth is a brown colour'd, if the incisions were not died with black and white spots here and there; the hairs are bred above and beneath, and set after a saw fashion; they are very rough and hard, but they are of the colour of the body.

The seventh hath a black skin, yet it hath hairs something of a dirty colour, I use to call it the Pensill, because on both sides of the forehead, and also in the rump a soft pensil breaks forth of a crow-black co∣lour: but those wedge fashioned eminences that you see in the back, are white as milk at the root, other∣wise somewhat black.

The eighth holds forth a Mouse colour, on whose back those seven joynts resemble it.

The ninth is a strange and rare colour: for all the in∣cisions are painted with various colours one from ano∣ther, yet mingled one with another, which a silver stud doth adorn severally one by one.

The tenth is amongst the sports of wanton nature, not less elegant that it is rare, being streaked with black, green, blew, yellow ridges, and smooth strings; which some golden spots do wonderfully illustrate: it hath very soft hair, of an admirable and most plea∣sing freshness; it hath a purple cover fortified with a small membrane.

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Suppose the white incisions of the eleventh to be green as Leeks, and paint the skin and hairs half green.

The Nut-tree Catterpillar is of a pale green, except three black spots between the joynts, and that horn at the end of the back, and growing as it were on the remp, which receives a fresh rose colour. It especially 〈…〉〈…〉s on the leaves of the Hazel-nut, whence we call it Corylaria. I saw two kinde of them, one was a full, the other a paler green.

The manifold delicacy of Nature shines forth in these, to which though it giveth them the face of a Moor or Aegyptian, yet it affords them a garment that is of changeable colours, shi∣ning in divers works and real art; in the forehead; the hairs are knit as into knotty locks, and resemble the sail-yard: the like are found in the extremity of their backs. The skin is like the rain-bow, and shines in circles deeply died with purple, which nature hath fastned to the sides like broad studs; the hairs bred in the skin, shine like the Sun, and dazle our eyes in a clear day.

We received two Neustriae out of Nor∣mandy, the first had a face of a blew co∣lour, and the body ridged with white red and gray streaks; the hairs are comely with a golden shining colour. The les∣ser rolled together, is like an Urchin; the head is cole-black, the body is variously spotted with little blew spots; the hairs resemble a Saffron lustre.

This corrupts the buds of the peat tree, having a black s〈…〉〈…〉dged face; the body is adorned with some black red white ridges; in the middle as it were of the shoulders, and to the end almost of the back, little swellings or bunches arise of black and blew colour, sprinkled with white spots. The Eggs from whence they breed are a bright bay colour, which is also the colour of the Aurelia, and of the hair. We saw another of the same kinde, but only it had a bunch on the back.

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We call that half white, which is by nature yellow from the head to half the back, and the rest white as a Lilly. The belly is yellow and ash-coloured, adorned with studs, and checquered in the middle.

If you touch the feet of the Nettle Catterpiller lightly with a fading yellow, the figure will differ little from the natural: it hath hard upright hairs growing like thorns, they wound with a small touch, and at first they cause a pleasant itching, but venomous; but after that a pain hard to be endured. Some maintain that it is more ve∣nomous than the Pine-tree Catterpiller.

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On a Cabbage a Catterpiller breeds with a bright blew head, his body is marked with two yellow branches on both sides; between which a grayish plat as it were, seems to be spotted with some black seeds: the hairs obtain the colour of the Aurelia, which is ashes colour.

Here we shew you two hedge Catterpillers, the greater hath a face Saffron coloured, but that tri∣angle you see in place of its nose, was Lilly colou∣red: the body is varied with spots, white, yellow, red and black, (which we have expressed) placed in no order; it is rough with yellowish hairs: it devours the leaves of hedges and makes them naked: where at length, leaving a bottom of yam of courser silk, she drawes her self into a case of a bay colour, as into a sepulchre. The lesser hath a countenance blewish, as also the whole body, except that it hath spots black and white; it hath hairs of the same colour with the former.

These have fewer hairs: namely, Cranesbill-eater Catterpiller, St. James w••rt Catterpiller, Sayl-yard, Ʋrchin, Bramble Catterpillers, and that little horn beast, which the Germans call Horn∣worm.

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We have here set down exactly the form and magnitude of the Cranesbill-eater, you must make the white spots that adorn its black girdles of an iron colour; and paint the belly and feet, and the white 〈◊〉〈◊〉 between the gir∣dles, with a Leek-green colour. C〈…〉〈…〉arius sent this to Pennius, with this subscription: A great Catterpiller, feeding only on wilde herbs, and is especially an enemy to Crowfoot Cranesbill in the Marishes.

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The body of the Sayl-yard is various; from the head to the third inci∣sion, you would say he were smeered with chalk, in the five following with ashy dark colour, and on the three last with white lead; the sayls are made of hairs as it were platted together, the like stand up at the end of his back like a crest: Those four tusts on the back are made of hairs also growing in order like to teeth.

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St. James wort Catterpiller, or that which eats the greater Groundsel; with the head and feet of a decayed purple colour the belly of a pale green, hath the body of an impleasant fading green, and adorned with black yellow and fiery coloured spots; the co∣lour of the hair agree with the belly.

I have observed two kindes of Urchins, one of a blewish green, the other a mingled white.

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The first of the Urchin. Catterpillers hath a chequered body, varied with black and yellow; the thorny bristles seem yellow, when Au∣tumn comes it is transformed into an ashy coloured Aurelia.

The second is perfectly like an Urchin, half the back, namely the first half, is black from yellow, the latter is white from yellow, it hath pricks very sharp and thick, of a grayish colour.

Nature hath painted the bramble Catterpiller ashy black, on both sides with three ridges of a pale yellow colour: the hairs are ve∣ry thin, and altogether black.

There is also the horn Catterpiller, who hath many green spots from yellow, the hairs bred on the middle of the back are hoary, but the horn is notched and red.

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Many diversities there are of these Catterpillers upon the Mullen, Hop, Pile-wort, Bitter-sweet, Nightshade, Elder, Elm, Basill, Tythimals, and al∣most every herb hath its particular de∣vouring Catterpiller: which, that I may not prove tedious, I overpass, as well enough known. I never had the hap to see the stinking Catterpiller of Ges∣ner, described by him in these words, as I have it in writing: It is, saith he, most like the horned Catterpiller, but it differs something in the horns and colour. I took one creeping on a wall at the end of August in 1550. It sends forth a filthy smell, that you would verily believe it were venomous: it was angry, and with its two forefeet it held the head alwaies upright: I think it is blinde, it was a finger long, and thick, it was rough on the back and sides, with a few hairs scattering on them; the back was black; the colour of the belly and sides was reddish from yellow: the whole body is distingui∣shed by fourteen distinct knots: all these joynts again have a prop or wrin∣kle over the back; it hath a black some-what hard head, the mouth is forked and dented, or saw-fashioned; whatsoe∣ver it catcheth with these nippers, it bites it: it goes on sixteen feet, as most of the Catterpillers do, without doubt it is venomous. Vergerus thought it to be the Pine-Catterpiller; others thought it was Scolopendra. But its number of feet will not let it be Scolopendra. I could scarse endure the smell while I took the description alive: it did so in∣fect two stoves with an extreme and intolerable stink, that I could not stay to endure it: so sayeth Gesner.

CHAP. IV.

Of the original, breeding, nourishment, and change of Catterpillars.

DEar book, the faithfull witnesse of my pain, Let not the purple red thy fair cheeks stain, Whilest I in tables paint the rude worms race, And such as change their skins into a case. For these by Gods wise hand created are; Which in small things is wonderful and rare, And more to be admired in Worms, than Whales, Or Elephants, Leviathan with scales, Arm'd as with harnesse•• strong as iron bars, And roars like thunder terrible in wars; Who drinks the sea, and s••ews it up again, Compar'd with worms, will be admir'd in vain.

So I shall begin with our Poet, who observed a divine power in Catterpillers from their Original; which whilest divers Authors have diversly expressed, I know not into how great

darkness they have cast us. Aristot. 5. Hist. 19. writes, that they begin from green leaves of herbs, as from Cabbage, or Radish: namely by a seed like Millet left there in Autumn, whence little Worms proceed. From these Worms in three daies space Catterpillers breed at the end of the Spring; which being augmented and nourished sufficiently, they leave off moving, and at the beginning of Autumn they change their form and life for an Aurelia. Pliny saith that dew thickned by heat of the Sun, is left upon the leaves, whence he derives all kindes of Catterpil∣lers, to whom Arnoldus agrees: others say they all come from Butterflies; which so soon as they come forth of their A••reliae, they thrust forth (above or beneath the leaves hard by) some eggs (the barbarous call them Turds) and these are greater or less, according to their bodies (some of these have blew shels, some yellow, some white or black, green or red) in fourteen daies they are hatched by heat of the Sun, and the shell breaking, they thrust forth small Catterpillers like very small Worms, but coloured: at first beginning they are very hungry, and do nothing but devour leaves and flowers, especially of those herbs and plants where they were left in eggs. But I should maintain that they are not bred only one way, but all these waies: for though Ari∣stotles doctrine seems to some not acute enough, that the Cabbage little Worm grows to be a Catterpiller; yet it is not against reason; for as nature from an egg, so from a worm she pro∣duceth a more perfect living creature, as perfecting, not as corrupting. For though the worm be not that it was before, (as is clear to sense) yet as much as can be perceived, it is both what it was, and is now somewhat more, for a Worm doth not dye that a Catterpiller may be bred: but adds a greater magnitude to its former body and feet, colour, wings; so life remaining, it gets other parts, and other offices: so the off-spring of man (I use Scaligers words) after some daies at first of a man in posse, is made a man actually; you must understand its generation, in which time the intellective soul doth not yet act, but it bears the same proportion to a man that shall be, as a Worm doth to a Catterpiller or Bee. So also Pennius derided the opinion of Pliny, when he writ that Catterpillers were bred of dew, yet all Philosophers with one con∣sent agree, that the more imperfect small creatures are bred of dew. And not without cause. For the Sun by heating acts, being like the form, and the humour is like the matter. The Suns heat is different from the fire, for it gives life, or it preserves the souls in their likeness. For the dew hath the proportion and softness of the air, where Theophrastus alledgeth the affect of softness (in his Book of Plants) as proper for generating air. Also nothing is more nourishing than dew, by which alone some little creatures live: which also the divine Poet said; How much doth dew lay up in the night! Therefore as it is humour, it is the matter, as it is thin, it enters, as it is drawn by the Sun, and concocted, it is the fitter for generation; for the preparation of the form carries the matter along with it, and these going together it fals out that a living, creature is generated. And it is not only an off-spring of dew, but the daughter of Butterflies, as we said, and as experience testifieth: and the greatest part of Catterpillers come from them, besides the Cabbage and Vine-fretters, few are bred otherwise. For these that the Greeks call 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, are made of dew, or a humour shut up in webs and putrefying, especially when the wind is East, and the air warm, that hastneth corruption. For then such a mighty army of them breaks forth in our Countrey, that we cannot truly say or think so many could be bred any way but from corruption. They are all gluttonous devourers of herbs and trees: whence Philip the Parasite boasts of himself in Athenaeus in his Pythago ist, for feeding on Thyme and Pot-herbs, I am a Catterpiller. Martial speaks to the same purpose, One garden will hardly feed a Catterpiller. When their time of eating is over, they wander up and down here and there hungry, and by degrees growing lean with hun∣ger, some within, some above the earth, seek for a fit place, where they are transformed into an Aurelia covered with a Membrane, and hanging by a thred, or into a bare case; if this happen in the midst of Summer, after 24 daies the shell breaking, a Butterfly presently flies out: but if Autumn be well spent, the Aurelia lasts all the Winter, and shuts out nothing till the heat of the Spring. Yet all Catterpillers are not changed into Aurelia's, but some are contracted (as Vine-fretters) and corrupt, from whom oft-times three blackish eggs fall, that are the mothers of Flies or Cantharides: when your Butter-flies copulate very late, they bring forth eggs (even untill the next Spring) that have life, (if you take diligent care of them) as it is usual in Silk-worms, whose eggs are sold commonly amongst the Spaniards by ounces, and pounds. Theophrastus distinguisheth the transformation of these Catterpillers rightly in these words, in his second of Plants: First, of a Catterpiller is made an Aurelia, and of this a Butterfly, then of that a Catterpiller again. But whether this Aurelian Chryfallis be a living creature or not, we shall dispute when we come to speak of Insects without feet.

CHAP. V.

Of the quality and use of Catterpillers, and of their Antidotes.

ALL Catterpillers have a burning quality and pilling of the skin, and raising of blisters. The most deadly is the Pine Catterpiller, yet they are all venomous, but least of all those that are smooth and without hair. The daughter of Caelius secundus, being at Basil (saith Gesner)

when she had devoured some Cabbage Catterpillers in the garden, after much vomiting, her bel∣ly swelled, the swelling troubled her many years, and no cure would be found for it. William Tur∣ner a Divine and a learned Physician, the happy father of one Peter who was born to give physick to Physick it self, prescribed a purging porion for a noble Woman of England, by the help whereof she vomited up a hury Catterpiller, which being swallowed by negligence, had long afflicted her with cruel torments: yet we may remember (saith Marcellus Virgilius) that there are beasts in the sea of the same names, and called Catterpillers, and are far from being poy∣son: and amongst those men that live by the sea side, are the last dish at their tables. We have shewed remedies against the mischievous and venomous ones before, in the Histories of Can∣tharides, Buprestis, and Pityocampes, for they admit of, and require the same cure. If you would have your garden or trees free from them, what webs you see hang on the naked boughs you must sweep off in Winter; for if you let them remain till the Spring, they will breed before you can remove them. In a short space they devour all green things, and consume the flowers: some anoint their trees with the gall of a green Lizard, or of a Bull, which as it is commonly reported, they cannot endure. The Countreymen use to stisle them with some brimstone and straw set a fire under the trees. The earth dug up under the root of the great bearing mast tree, if it be strewed in a garden, drives away Catterpillers, saith Hildegard. I should pass over the Remedy Columella hath prescribed, as a shameless delusion of Democritus, did not Pliny and almost all the rest approve of it, who meddle with husbandry: the words are these:

But if against this plague no Art prevail, The Trojan Arts will do't, when others fail. A woman barefoot with her hair untied, And naked breasts must walk as if she cried, And after Venus sports she must surround Ten times, the garden beds and orchard ground. When she hath done, 'tis wonderful to see, The Catterpillers fall off from the tree, As fast as drops of rain, when with a crook, For Acorns or Apples the tree is shook.

They touch not Plants that are besprinkled with Wine. Theophrast. They presently dye with the smoke of the herb Psora. Aetius. Hence it appears (saith Silvius) that the vulgarly called Scabious, is not Psora. The Cabbage is free from Catterpillers, if it be fenced with Vetches. The Worms found in Fullers Teasels, make them fall if they but touch the Cabbage Catterpillers. Pliny. Strew your Cabbage with Nitre, or salt earth, whilest it hath lost but three leaves, or strew it with ashes, and by the saltness of it, it will drive away Catterpillers. Geopon. Palladius in this matter prefers the Fig-tree ashes. If Crabs or river Crevish, were hanged up and exposed to the Sun for ten daies, they will drive Catterpillers from Pot herbs. Cardan out of Palladius. Others wet the seeds just before they set them, in the bloud of a Catterpiller, or the juice of Marjoram, to free them from Catterpillers. A sea Onion set or hung in a garden, hinders the Catterpillers from breeding. Some sow Mints, others Vetches, others Wormwood about their gardens to drive away Catterpillers. Some not without cause, have Coleworts and Garlick leaves in ther gardens, by the fume whereof spread every way the Catterpillers fall down. Palladius, where any man may easily read of many remedies against them. If a Horse devour them, swel∣lings arise, the skin of him grows dry and hard, his eyes hollow, saith Herocles, and he prescribes this remedy: You must take the sharpest Vinegar and Nitre three quarters of a pint, Vitriol a fourth part; mingle them and anoint the Horses body, be careful that it enter not into his eyes. Now we shall speak of the use of them in Physick, and in the Common-wealth. The Catterpillers web and covering (like to silk) being drank stops a womans courses. Math. If it be burnt and put into the nostrils, it stops bleeding at the nose. The Catterpiller feeding on Privet, doth not only in a strange manner allure the Carp, if it be put on the hook for a bait, but also the dung of it put into the nostrils, presently helps the falling sickness in women, that proceeds from the Matrix, as I was told by a Midwife that was very experienced, and worthy to be believed. The Catterpillers that are upon Spurges (in the opinion of Hippocrates) are very good for purulent wombs, especially if they be dried in the Sun, with the double weight of dunghil Worms, and adding a little Anniseed, bringing them into powder, and infusing them in the best white Wine, and so giving them to drink. But heaviness following in the belly with numbness, let the Pa∣tient drink a little water and honey after it. Hippocrat. lib. de superfoet. prescribes those ordina∣ry Catterpillers that are in troops to be given in drink against the Quinsey. Dioscor. lib. 1. cap. 90. But unless they do profit by their secret quality, I think they are to be rejected for their open quality, especially in that disease. The Germans know that the hairy Catterpiller dried and pow∣dered, stops the flux of the belly. Nicander also useth them to procure sleep: for so he writes. And Jeremy Martius thus translates him:

Stamp but with oyl those Worms that eat the leaves, Whose backs are painted with a greenish hue, Anoint your body with't, and whilest that cleaves, You shall with gentle sleep bid cares adieu.

There are in prickly and hairy plants, such as the Nettle is, some downy and hairy Catter∣pillers, by tradition are held to cure children, when they cannot swallow their meat for straight∣ness

of their jaws. A Catterpiller that lives on Pot-herbs being bruised and anointed where a Serpent hath stung, is very good. Avicen. If you rub a rotten tooth often with a Cabbage Catterpiller, it will soon fall out of it self, saith the same Author. Catterpillers mingled with Oyl, drive away Serpents. Dioscor. If you anoint your hands or other parts with the same Oyl, it will keep them from being hurt by Wasps or Hornets. Aetius. Pliny citeth many superstitious things from the opinion of Magicians concerning the vertue of Catterpillers; which because I see they are cast forth of the Schools of Divines, and I in my judgement do secretly disavow them, I will not repeat them here. They are meat also for divers Birds that we eat, and are useful for us, as namely Choughs, Starlings, Peacocks, Hens, Thrushes, to say nothing of Trouts, Robbin∣red-brests, Tenches, Carps, Pikes, which are easily deceived by a Catterpillar bait. And if you desire to know the waies of deceiving them; see Terentinus in Geopon. who is there (that I may not overpass the Physick of the soul given by Catterpillers) that hath not sung of Gods mer∣cies shewed to the wandring Israelites, when all Egypt swarm'd and was even drowned with the deluge of them? Also amongst the Romans there was twice in one Summer such a cloud of Catterpillers, Anno 1570. that put them in great fear, for they left no green thing in their fields, but devoured all. Though the fruitfulness of the next year did blot out the memory of this grie∣vous punishment, yet we may not doubt but it put many of them in minde to lead better lives. God grant that we may escape by being corrected in the punishment of other men. Let us think no creature of God to be contemptible, for God can, if he please, make the smallest the greatest judgement.

CHAP. VI.

Of the Whurlworm.

THE Greeks call it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; which Gaza interprets by Verticillus: Pliny changeth not the Greek word, but cals it Sphondylam; the Germans Eugerle, as George Agricola teacheth. Gesner writes it was called Twaer, because it goeth diversly with sawed feet. The Northern English call it Andever; the Southern, Whurlworm, that is, a Whirl or little hairy Worm with many feet: Vincentius cals it Zuvarola, because it hurts gourds: Pliny was in an error, that makes this a Serpent, since the kinde of life and reason it self numbers it amongst Insects. Should I here add the differences between Gaza, Pliny, Theophrastus, Absyrtus, Phavorinus, and the Scho∣liast on Aristophanes, and Erasmus, concerning the nature and form of this Whurlworm, I should indeed trifle, and rather bring fire to quench this fire amongst wits, than water. But I rather collect out of their dissensions, that there are two kindes of Whurlworms; one about houses, another in the fields. For so Aristotle and Absyrtus write. Staphulinus is like to the Whurl∣worms that are about houses. For saith he, your house Whurlworms copulate backward, and that in our sight, as Beetles do, the male coming upon the female, and they stick long in copulation. Away then with these triflings of Pliny, that would have these to be Serpents, which never copu∣late backwards. Hesychius and Favorinus that follows him describe them thus: Men say that the Whurl is like to an Insect called Silphium, making a stinking smell, if any one touch it. But Ari∣stophanes and his Scholiast, paint it out thus: A Whurl is an Insect like to a Bloud-sucker. Camer∣sius out of Aristophanes saith, a Whurl is a worm like a Leech, smelling most stinkingly. Whence I collect that there is a house Whurl like to Silphius, and smels so scurvily, which if you touch, runs away, and stinks for fear: for so Aristophanes hath it, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. As the Whurl flying from you breaks wind stinkingly. In which verse I cannot but wonder that Erasmus (I know not by what Atticism) cals the Whurl Telem, Chil. Adag. 3. cent. 7. Pliny saith it is a very small body, and blackish, which if it be touched whilest it lives, and after it is dead, sends forth a most terri∣ble smell. I confess ingenuously, that I never yet saw it nor know whether it be so by a contra∣riety in our land or climate. Concerning the field Whurl, we read thus in Theophrastus, as Gaza hath interpreted, of small wilde creatures that are bred outwardly, that is not in the roots but without them, none of them will feed on roots except the Whurl, and that leaves none un∣touched, for it is the proper nature of this Insect. George Agricola a most learned Philosopher, writes thus of Whurls that feed on roots: The Whurlworm is found under the earth wrapt up near the roots, (which truly I could never observe) and hence it hath its name Sphondyle from a little wherve or whirl. It is so long and thick as ones little finger, a red head, the rest of the body white, but that it is black above, where it swels when it is full. This plague of Or∣chards, which wants not feet (for it hath six feet) and doth not creep, eats up the pils about the roots of young trees; nor doth it at all forbear the roots of wilde Cucumers, black Chameleon, Centaury, hogs Fennel, Birthwort, Briony, which no other Insect whatsoever will touch. This Whurl without all doubt is the Insect that Malleolus in his Book of his filthy Exorcisms brings in these words: There is, saith he, a certain worm which the Germans call Engar or Ingar, it liveth under the earth, is so long as ones middle finger, of a white colour, a black head, six feet, which by turning about, furrowing and turning up the earth, and eating the roots, maketh plants * 1.11 barren.

The third year after its generation, it breaks forth like flying Pismires, which like their pre∣decessors stick about trees, and consume the fruit. Then they call it Lawbkaefer. In the Dio∣cess of Mentz there were such multitudes of them, that all remedies were attempted in vain, on∣ly they were driven away by charms (for so Malleolus reports) Cordus also speaks of them. Spon∣dyles are worms under ground, the Germans call them Engar or Ingar, called so from the Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

The next year after they are bred, they are alwaies transformed into May Beetles: they hurt roots much, and feed on all kindes, (be the bitter or venomous) of young sprouts, and trees roots, so that suddenly the whole plants, or at least the leaves shall fade. When the Gardners see this, they dig about the roots of trees, and fetch forth these Worms and kill them. They do us most hurt in the moneths of April and May; in July and August many are found with us in marish grounds, but there are no May worms but in Devonshire and Cornwall, and in the west of England. This we must note diligently, that it fals out with Insects as with Plants, that they change their colour with the climate and the earth. I have seen and I have by me a Whurl like a Catterpiller, that is of colour white from Ash-colour, with a black head, if it be touched it collects it self into a ball, and it fitly resembles the Whirl in a womans spindle when they spin; whence it hath its name. It is benummed out of the earth, and cannot endure the air; being wounded, a moisture comes forth of a pale black, wherewith one may write Letters as by ena∣melling. I have also a reddish Whurl that lives in the earth two foot

[illustration]

deep, whose head is exceeding black, his mouth forked, the neck is reddish from yellow, the back is scarler dye, the six forefeet are red-lead colour, the belly and all the body are perfect yellow, but that on both sides near the belly there are eight red spots, for ornament. It is so long as ones middle finger, and Summer coming, it is transformed in∣to a Fly. I have seen one also clear coloured, with a thicker bo∣dy, blewish from the middle of the back to the tail. But from the neck it appeared more grayish, the head and feet were yellow, the mouth was forked and red: whilest it is young the whole body is white, in age it grows yellow and blew, and it begins from the tail. It is wonderful how it will carry its body long and broad waies by a waving motion, and yet never change the place, and in moving it often changes colours. For whilest it lies on the earth it is all white, but when it is forced to move, as if it were angry, it appears black and blew. It is altogether like to the great Worms in wood, as for the form of its body, but they cannot wreath and turn themselves round. I have seen a great Fly bred from this Worm that hath four wings. We have another that was found at the roots of Onions; and almost of the same magnitude with the black and blew one, with a green head, and fourteen feet; it hath horns, and a tail green from white: the whole body is green, white, bloud red, noted with mingled colours: we call it Onion Cat∣terpiller, we here represent the figures of them all. Now we shall add the opinion of Joach. Camerarius concerning Whurls, whose judgement I alwaies commend. It may be, saith he, Whurls are * 1.12 those Worms that are found in the earth at the beginning of the Spring, that are almost white, or rather somewhat black and blew; which in Autumn become dark green, and with a shining skin, are coloured with a dark dye: their head is a light bay enclining to black, and something hard, that it can easily gnaw roots. Catterpillers soon rowl themselves up and die, and take other forms of Flies or Catter∣pillers. They are a finger thick, and an inch and half long, they have eight feet in the middle of their body toward the head. Our Countrey call them Eardtworms. Guilandinus saith that Whurls are Worms so called, that like a Whurl they are round about the roots of trees. Also other Worms that are black, somewhat reddish, and have shell covers, with many feet, like the Scolopendra (and they seem to be of kind unto it, but that they are rounder, and not so broad) are found in the earth, and are dug out at the beginning of Summer, and roll themselves up the same way, as I said, if any one touch them. They also call these Engerlin, in Germany, that are yellow Worms under the earth with a black head, and near to that small feet, but have none in the rest of their bodies. These when they are dug up turn themselves into a round form, and be∣ing laid in the Sun they presently consume; for they live only under ground and eat the roots of Plants. Who would not account all these Worms that turn themselves round, to be amongst Whurls? So far Camerarius. Niphus upon Aristotle saith that Whurls are a

[illustration]

round kinde of Spider, in the middle of whose body a cavity is to be seen, that resembles a Whirl of a spindle. But this was his dream against the Philo∣sophers minde, and he deceived us. What use there is of Whurls in Physick I never read, nor do I know. This is certain from the Prince of the Philosophers, that Owls and night Ravens hunt after them, as also Moles, as it is probable: Cordus holds them to be venomous. In Egypt the Scorpions that they call Si∣bylae, eat Whurlworms, as Aelian testifieth: but we shall pass from these to those called Staphylini.

CHAP. VII.

Of a Catterpiller called Staphylinus.

GAza translates Staphylinos, a Parsnip, either by sleepy carelesness, or rather ignorance: but as it appears in the short expositions of Nicander, the ancient Physicians knew it not sufficiently. For the Scholiast writes that Staphylinus is a little creature like a Whurl: others say it is like the Spanish Fly. Hippocrates speaks once of it, but describes it not.

Aristotle treating of the diseases of Horses, cals it an incurable disease, if a horse swallow a Staphylinus, that is like to a Whurl. But Absyrtus writes thus: A Staphylinus is like to a Whurl that is about houses, but is greater; it is bred every where in the fields, and goes holding up the tail. Whence I perceive it were no hard matter to know a Staphylinus, if the home bred Whurls were not unknown to us. But that I may do my part and satisfie my Reader, I will produce two Insects with their figures, which I cannot tell whether they may be called Staphylini or not. But that they are not far different from them is more than a conjecture. The

[illustration]

first (as you see) is all shining black, not much unlike to Beetles, but the body is more slender and longer. The whole body is two fingers square or somewhat less in length, the tail is with two forks; which whilest it flies away (for it will fly away and run very swiftly) it lifts up, as it were in its own defence, and thrusts out like two short stings very white: but we never saw it sting or strike with them; and the stings are too small and soft to enter: when he puts out these stings in anger, it pours forth with them a white and thick substance, but softer than a moist ointment. It lives most under ground, yet it is often seen amongst corn above the earth. But I cannot say that it is like to the Whurl that Aristotle or Absyrtus speaks of. The countrey people in Kent hold this to be a venomous creature, and that Oxen are swollen by this poyson as they are with eating Long-legs. It appears indeed that this Staphylinus is a venomous creature, not only from their report, but by the authority of Aristotle and Nicander. I received the se∣cond kinde of Staphylinus, a Worm of a wonderful form, from a Nobleman Edmund Knivet, exactly deciphered with his own hand, and they are very common in Norfolk in England. He hath a small head, of a dark co∣lour from red, almost round; the mouth is small and forked. Next the head it hath three feet on each side; the two former of them are short (like to Catterpillers) the other four are almost of a bloudy colour, four times as long. In the middle of the body under the belly it hath eight feet that are blunt, as also a Catter∣piller hath. The tail is bunchy and forked with two hairs. We learn hence that both these kindes are naturally venomous, because two horses eating hay and swallowing them down, were swoln all their bodies over, and died by them. In which disease it will not be useless to know Absyrtus his remedy, that in the like case we may have it ready, and cure our horses. For if a Horse eat a Staphylinus, whilest he feeds on hay or eats, he presently casts him out again, by reason of the sharpness of the spirits of it, and as it were Vipers bloud. But presently he swels exceedingly. first therefore foment the swellings, largely washing and rubbing them with salt water very hot: then take vinegar Lees, and put into them fine linnen cut, and boyl this with water, and anoint him all over: but when he takes his physick, let him remain in a hot house, and a soft stall, cove∣red

well with cloathes, and let a good fire be kept continually by him. Anoint him abundantly in the morning, then the third day wash him well with hot water, and dry up his sweat, then rub him in a close place, and having rubbed him, anoint him with Nitre. And fear not though his lips and eyes swel, (for it useth so to fall out) for the Horse will certainly re∣cover suddenly by this means, and be as well as he was before. But whether these be the same with Staphylinus of Cordus, or the Coursilles in France, let indifferent men judge. They are found in Orchards sometimes so long as ones little finger, and they make hillocks like to Moles, and there they sleep. They chiefly do mischief to Thyme and Elder, yet not so, but they hurt other plants and herbs also. If there be any that know any thing more certainly concerning Staphyli∣nus, they are to be desired, for Physick and Philosophy sake, that they will not refuse to add their talent. So at last the natural History of Insects shall be enriched by their labour, and shall repay them not only great thanks, but also their part in a large increase.

CHAP. VIII.

Concerning the Scolopendrae and Juli.

THE Scolopendrae, and Juli, and Cheeselips march in the last rank. They far surpass in the number of their feet, Catterpillers, Staphylini, and Whurlworms, and all kindes of Insects, whence they are called Many-feet by a peculiar name belonging to them. Aristotle cals this Scolopen∣dra; Theophrastus, Scolopia; Dioscorides (from the destruction of Serpents) cals it Ophioctone; Varinus and Hesychius call it Amphydes phaganon; others, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and some call it Thousand-feet, and Many-feet; the vulgar Greeks call it Scolopetra; the Latines also call this Scolopendra and Sepa, and dirty-hog, and hundred-feet, thousand-feet, many-feet; which three last names also they give to Juli. In Hebrew they call it Ghazam; in Arabick, Alcamptia, and Alamula, as Silvaticus testi∣fies; Albertus cals it Almuga, Altapua; in the Polish Tongue, Stonogroback, Gaflauka; in the Hungarian Tongue, Zones, Hiragopap, Matzkaia; in High Dutch, Ein nassel; in Italian, Cento∣pede * 1.13 Vermi; in French, Chenille, Millepied; in English, Scolopender and Manyfoot. In my judge∣ment it differs as far from Julus, as a sea Lobster from a Crevis. They are indeed like to one ano∣ther, but these are alwaies less, nor are they so mischievous when they bite, nor so veno∣mous.

The great earth Scolopender is as long and thick as you have it pictured; the colour of the bo∣dy is black from brown, and shining. To every incision a yellow little foot is joyned, that is, in the several sides sixty. It goeth forward and backward with equal ease. For it goes with the head forward, and with the tail forward; and therefore Nicander and Rhodoginus call it two heads. It hath the part between the head and belly not single, but manifold; whence it comes to pass that this kinde can live though it be cut in sunder. This Scolopender being provoked bites so sharply, that Ludovicus Armarus (who gave me one brought out of Africa) could scarce endure him to bite his hand, though he had a good glove on, and a double linnen cloth; for he strook his forked mouth deep into the cloth, and hung a long time, and would hardly be shaken off.

[illustration]

Another was brought from new Hispaniola, which had on the midst of the back a flame co∣loured line to adorn it; and a red side, and colour of the hair set it forth. It had feet like to hairs, and lifting it self upon them all, it ran very swiftly: this is worthy of the greatest admiration, that Nature having given to this creature a small head, yet it hath given memory to it, and the rule of reason, not in pints and pitchers, but in the largest measure. For seeing it hath feet innume∣rable as Rowers, and many of them are from the Rudder the head at a great distance, yet every one knows his own office, and as the head directs, so they all frame their motion.

[illustration]

Another was brought to us from St. Augustines Promontory out of India, something greater in body and feet: which had 70 black and blew incisions, and twice as many light red feet.

[illustration]

I doubt not but more sorts of Scolopenders may be found, of almost all colours except green; yet Ardoynus makes mention of one that was green. Each of them hath an inbred property, to go to the roots of sword grass (as Theophrastus thinks). But Robertus Constantinus deserves to be whipt, and so doth Stephanus that followes him, and Ardoynus himself, who invent that a Sco∣lopender is first a Serpent, then hath eight feat, then a horn in its tail, and lastly, it is a slow goer. Albertus, Rhodoginus, Avicenna, are to be blamed also, who affirm rashly, that no Insect hath above twenty feet, and they put the Scolopender in that number. Yet Nicander cals him two headed in these verses:

The Scolopender hath each end a head; And stings with both, untill that men be dead: With feet like ores he wafts himself along, &c.

Yet by the favour of so great an Author, I might say that he hath but one head; though he can as easily move forward or backward with his tail conducting him, as with his head. And this I believe deceived Nicander and others. But he saith farther, that he bites at both ends; which is as false as the former; for he bites only with his forked mouth, and hurts not with his tail, otherwaies than by a venomous touch, and by putting forth poysonous bloud.

Oppianus holds it to be more fierce than the sea Scolopender, and so it is indeed: and I great∣ly wonder that Grevinus Parisiensis, upon no authority, in his Book of Venomes should op∣pose this.

All Histories testifie that this creature is dangerous and venomous, and so much the more as it is more hairy. We read in Aelian that the Rhytienses were driven out of their City by the multitudes of these creatures: and Theophrastus affirms the like concerning the Obterietes in Pliny: therefore though we have ranked the Scolopenders in the last place, yet in executing di∣vine vengeance, they may sometimes challenge the first place. Countrey people do judge of fair weather by the frequent coming forth of the Scolopenders; and when they hide themselves they foreshew rain, as Marcellus Virgilius hath noted on Dioscorides. They have these uses in Phy∣sick. If they be boyled in Oyl, they take off hair with a little pricking, Gal. 11. Simpl. and Ae∣tius lib 7. They are enemies to Wiglice, that are most stinking creatures, and kill them with their breath, or eat them alive. Again, Wiglice being either taken inwardly, or anointed out∣wardly, are a remedy for their bitings, by a reciprocal, and as it were emulating antipathy, as is manifest from Pliny, and Ardoynus lib. 6. concerning poysons. When the land Scolopender hath bitten, the place is all black and blew, putrefies and swels, and looks like to the dregs of red Wine, and is ulcerated with the first bite. Aegineta. Aetius adds that the pain is intolerable. Dioscorides saith the whole body pricks. All hold that this bite is incurable, and will admit al∣most no remedy. It hath (saith Anazarbeus) symptomes, prevention, and cure, the same as for the stinging of a Viper, lib. 6. c. 23. Against this disease some things are taken inwardly, some things are applied outwardly.

Amongst inward Remedies, Aegineta commends Trifoly that smels like Bitumen, drank with Wine. Dioscor. approves much of wild Rue, the root of Dragons bruised, the root, seeds, and flowers of Asphodill, the branches and leaves of Serpol, Calaminth, the roots of Fennel and Birthwort, given with pure Wine, or Wine and Oyl. Actuarius gives Nix with Wine. Pliny commends Salt with Vinegar, or rather the froth of Salt as being the better. Also he highly esteems of Horse-mints, or wilde Penniroyal taken in Wine. Aetius bids give Wormwood and Mints with Wine.

As for outward Remedies, first scarifie the place hurt, make deep incision, and draw out the ve∣nome by Cupping-glasses; then put in the juice of the lesser Centory, boyle with a third part of sweet Wine to the consistence of Honey, and binde a leather over it for eight or fourteen daies. Then foment the place with a spunge dipt in hot Wine, and this is a certain cure for the bite of a Scolopender. Anonymus. Pliny also prescribed divers remedies for it, as the dregs of Vinegar, washing the place with Vinegar, the flower of Millet with liquid pitch, Butter with Honey, the green Figs of the wilde fig-tree with Vetches and Wine, the Urine of the patient hurt and of a Wether, burnt Salt anointed with Vinegar and Honey, wilde Penniroyal with Salt, Salt with Tar and Honey, wilde Cummin with Oyl; and all kindes of Maiden-hairs. Diosco∣rides commends Garlick, with Fig-leaves and Cummin, and with Vetch Meal and Wine, also the leaves of Calamint, and burnt Barley with Vinegar; also he commends a Fomentation made

of sowre Pickle: Archigenes bids foment the part with Allum-water: Aegineta saith, with much hot Oyl. Nonius prescribes hot Oyl of Rue.

Some commend exceedingly both outwardly and inwardly such things as are given against the biting of a Shrew. Aristotle writes that the Scolopenders are deluded and drawn forth with the fume of liquid Storax, and are easily taken whilest they stick to the clamminess of it.

Of the Juli.

THE kindes of the Juli follow next: which the Greeks call 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; and that as I think not from their down, but from the tails of Walnuts and smal Nuts, whose hair being fastned in * 1.14 a hard substance, represents these Cats-tails, whence they had the names of Juli. I know the Latines call them Juli, but I should call them Galleys. For Lycophron called the Galleys of Pa∣ris that were swift with many ores, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Nicander applies the same similitude to Scolo∣penders; whence it may easily appear, that Juli and Scolopenders are like one to the other. The Spaniards call these Centopeas: the Italians, Cento gambi. It may be the English after me will call them Gally-worms: Numenius also called earth-worms black Juli, as Athenaeus witnesseth lib. 7.

Black Juli that feed on earth are called the earths bowels; yet unless they have many feet, they cannot be numbred or named amongst the Juli. Juli are as I said, short Scolopenders, that for the number of their feet, exceed not only Hoglice, and all Catterpillers, but also all other Insects. Some Juli are smooth, others hairy. I saw a smooth one in a Cabbage Lettice

[illustration]

as thick as a small river bulrush, and of the same magnitude you see it here: it had a very black head, the back was of a golden co∣lour, the belly was silver coloured from gray, the incisions and * 1.15 hairy feet were so many that they easily overcame both the eyes and memory. The second was all black, except a white line, which was drawn down the back, straight from head to the tail. The third was a decayed yellow, his head and feet were red, the sailyards, and the hairs growing near the tail, were black and blew. If you paint the fourth with a body blackish red, and his feet and sailyards lighter, you have rightly set him out: we caught some of these coming forth of moss growing on the barks of trees, and others lurking under trees and rotten logs. I could meet but with two hairy ones. The first was white of this form and figure, it crept on a wall, the short hairs that grew on twere black. The second had a black and blewish belly, and a back spotted with an uncom∣ly yellow. The mouth was red, a black eye, the hairs were hoary. It lies hid in old decayed trees between the bark and the wood; and also amongst stones that are overgrown with mosie and thick downy hair. All these Gally-worms, if they be touched roll themselves up, and become round. I cannot tell whether they are venomous or not, but if they be, O happy Pennius, who di∣vers times with his bare hand provoked and killed them, and yet was never bitten nor hurt by them. George Agricola tels us of a Gally-worm of a brazen colour (but he cals it a Scolopender) his words art these: A little Scolopender is bred and lives in the logs of trees, or in posts driven into the earth, (whence it hath its name) remove these or stir them, and it will come forth; otherwise it alwaies lurks there. It hath no feathers, but hath many feet: when it creeps it lifts up the middle of a body like a vault: if you touch it with a little wand or any other thing, it rols it self together. It is of a brazen colour, a slender body, not broad, but three fingers long, or at most four.

Also it is found in another form, almost in the very same places, with a slender round body, the thickness almost of a thread, of an allayed bright bay colour, the feet are so many and so small, that it is impossible to number them. It is four fingers broad in length; it remains under rot∣ten trees and plants. Avicenna makes the Scolopender (which is also a Gally-worm) to have 44 feet only, and to be the palm of ones hand long; so small and slender, that it can creep into the ears. Lib. 4. Feu. 6. tract. 5. cap. 19. This creature, saith he, hath no venome, or but very weak, and causeth no great pain: which is presently taken away with the flowers of Asphodils, or with Salt mingled with Vinegar. Our Gally-worms (saith Gesner) if they be in the houses, they will come together to St. Thomas Sugar, that is the most pure, (as Mice do to the best Cheese). Our Countreyman Bruerus (a skilful and laborious searcher of Nature) reports that he hath seen here in England Scolopenders, and kept them, that shined in the night, and in mossy and broo∣my grounds shined with their whole body: who was no lier, and I willingly give credit to him; and so much the rather, because Oviedus saith he observed the same in new Hispaniola in the fields, and Cordus did the like in Germany in moist cellars. It seems strange that Plutarch re∣lates, Lib. 8. Sympos. problem. 9. that a stripling at Athens cast up a small ragged creature, toge∣ther with a great deal of seed: it had many feet, and walked exceeding fast.

The Galley-worm found in cellers, burnt to powder, doth wonderfully provoke Urine. Me∣rula. * 1.16 The bloud of Galley-worms, with the moisture pressed out of Hog-lice, is a divine and excellent remedy to take away the white spots of the eyes. Arnold. Brev. 1. cap. 18.

And thus much for Galley-worms, concerning whose Natures, I passe over the opini∣ons of Hesichius, Aristotle, Nicander, Lycophron, Ardoynus, because they are various, but not true.

CHAP. IX.

Of Chisleps.

ARistotle cals them 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Greek Physicians, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; Theophrastus, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; Dioscorides, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; Absyrtus, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; those of Asia called them 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, from the likeness of a Bean, * 1.17 saith Galen, for it looks like it, when the Chislep rols himself up into a round body. Or, because, as our most learned Covntreyman Stafford saith, (who was president of the Minorites at Wor∣cester in the reign of Richard the second) they are wont to come forth of the leaves and tops of beans, and to grow from thence. Pliny cals it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, from the brawny hardness of the skin. Others call it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, though for the fewness of its feet (for it hath but fourteen at most) and be∣cause it cannot arch it self, it seems to be a far different kinde from a Scolopender or Galley-worm. Farewel then all those dreams of Guillerinus, Vincentius, and Pliny, concerning this matter: for we deny that these are Galley-worms. But it is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, not from the form or flowness of an Asse, but because it is of the same colour, as Pennius writes: For it is a little creature with many feet, Asse-coloured, breeding in moist places. Dioscorid. lib. 2. cap. 37. Gal. 3. de loc. affec. & 11. de simp. fac. cap. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The Latines call it Asellum, Cutionem, Porcellionem; Pliny said not well to call it Centipes, since it hath but fourteen feet: the Eng∣lish from the form call them Sowes, that is, little Hogs: from the place where they dwell, Tylers-louse, that is, Lice in roofs of houses: they are called also Thurflows, or Jovial Lice, from a spirit that was not hurtful, to whom our Ancestors superstitiously imputed the sending of them to us. In some places also they call them Cherbugs, and Cheslips, but I know not why. The Germans call them Esel, Eselgen, Holtzwentle, that is, Wood-lice, because they are oft-times found between the bark and the tree: George Agricola cals it also Shefflein, and vulgarly Keller Esel, as if you would say a Cellar-hog. The Saxons call it Eselchan from its Asse-colour, as the Greeks, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; the Italians, Porcelletto; the French, Cloporle; the Spaniards, Galmilha; the Ara∣bians, Harva, Gauda, Schachalochada, Kiren, Grix, saith Sylvaticus. The Brabanders call it Piffe de Suege. It is indeed a very small Insect, scarce a fingers breadth long, and half a

[illustration]

finger almost broad; (I speak of the greater) of a colour wannish black, especially that is found in dunghils and in the earth; but that which is under tyles and buckets is a perfect Asse-colour. It hath fourteen feet, seven on each side: every foot hath one joynt, hardly to be perceived. It hath two short sailyards, that it may prove * 1.18 its way. Being touched it turns it self round or (as Galen saith) into the form of a a Bean, whence it was called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The sides about the feet are dented like a saw. It is bred under tyles, water-vessels, in the pith of rotten trees, between the bark and the tree corrupting, as also under rocks, growing from moisture putrefying. Then they copulate, and after copula∣tion they lay eggs (whence comes a worm) that are white, shining, like to small pearls; they are many, and heaped up in the same place, as we observed in the year 1583. they live on warm moisture, and pass the winter in the chink, or wals, or secret places of houses. From the eggs first somewhat hard Worms are thrust out, which for some time stick almost unmovable, and are white: at length like their parents, they suck the dew and moisture. They are found also in hot and dry Countreys; but where they regain by the dew of the night and vapours, what moysture was consumed in the day. Galen describes a Chislep thus: It is a house-bred living creature, with many feet, bred under watry vessels, and dunghils, and if you touch it with your fingers it rols it self up. It is clear that Aristotle knew it, because he compares a Sea-louse unto it, when his tail is taken off.

Chisleps attenuate, open and discuss, as Galen hath taught us out of Asclepias. They seem con∣temptible to the sight, but they are excellent for diseases of the eyes. Also inwardly (for they are free from all poyson) they are of great use; for being bruised and drank in Wine, they help diffi∣culty of making water. Dioscorides. To which Medicament he adds this: Take, saith he, 2 or 3 Chis∣leps, boyl them in a little fish pickle, & drink of the pickle with water in two smal cups of an ounce and half apiece. Pliny useth them for the Stone and difficulty of urine thus: Take Mice and Pi∣geons dung, of each half a dram; two Hog-lice or Chisleps bruised, drink it, and the pain will cease, and you shall void either the Stone, or much smal sand. We finde in Gesners papers, that Marianus Barolitanus affirms the same: Galen gives them drink in sweet Wine, and so he cured many of the Kings Evill. Asclepias most successefully used this kinde of remedy against the Asthma and short windedness: Take Elaterium four grains, three Hog-lice from a dung-hil, well bruised, and drink it with an ounce and half of water. Gal. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Asclepias also, building on the authority of the ancient Physicians, much commends live Hog-lice burnt in the fire, and taken to a spoonful: for by their property they cure Asthma. Hollerius and Johannes Agri∣cola make good this opinion by their practise. Some do torrifie in a dish a smal quantity of

them into most white Ashes, and then give them with Honey. Pliny saith they cure short breaths 21 being bruised with Athenian Honey, and with little hot water, drank through a reed, that the teeth and mouth may not grow black. Aetius for the same infirmity, gives five or six with Hydromel. And Marcellus the Emperick reports, ch. 35. that 21 Hog-lice stamped with the best Honey, and drank with water, will cure short windedness, pursiveness, and such as are almost choked, and the Leprosie also, beyond belief. Pliny writes that they are good in drink for Consumptions, who farther maintains, that a penny weight of them given in three ounces of Wine to drink, will cure the pains of the loyns and hips. Alexis of Piemont subscribes to this; but Caelius Aurelianus dislikes this, and the like remedies from Insects; being so perswaded from the unusualness of such remedies, rather than from any hurt or inconvenience that proceeds from them. Experience confirms that many fresh Hog-lice well bruised and drank with Wine, Ale, Beer, or any convenient liquor, or applyed but outwardly, can cure almost all diseases of the eyes that arise from any thing growing in them, or growing to them, (except the Cataract) which we observed in the former Chapter out of the Breviary of Arnoldus. For a Quinsey, saith Ga∣len, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. they must be licked with Honey, and the outside of the throat must be anointed with the same. Hog-lice boyled with oyl of Roses and heated in a Pomegranate shell, and poured into the ears that are pained, do cure them. Dioscorides. Gal. lib. sec. loc. & Eupor, commanded to boyl 2, 3 or 4 in oyl, and to press out the oyl and drop it into the ears of those were deaf, or had pains or tinklings in their ears. Oyl of Chisleps dropped into that ear is next an aking tooth takes away the pain certainly, that ariseth from a hot cause. Aetius 24. 27. Some mingle them with some convenient unguent and drop them into the ears. Severus (saith Galen), pou∣red them into ulcerated ears with good successe. Faventinus ptescribes 21 Chisleps boyled in sowr Oyl, for pains of the ears proceeding from cold: in which he shews that they must be anointed about the ears, and a little must be dropped in. Cardan justifies the same remedy by experience. For Wens, Pliny takes a fourth part of Rosin or Turpentine to the dunghil Chislep, by which Medicament (saith he) swellings under the ears, Kings-evils, and all such tumors are cured. Marcellus Empericus hath the same, and Avicenna 2. 2. cap. 729. and from the authority of others, he adds, that Chisleps taken in drink, cure the Cramp, and Alcuzes, which we have never known any to have said besides. If you often apply Oyl or Butter of Hog-lice to a pained head, you shall cure the pain. Gal. Eupor. 2. 91. and Absyrtus de quadrup. Bruised, they cure the Tonsils, and the diseases of the chops, Dioscor. A live Chislep laid to a whitloaf, cures it; and it takes away swellings, if it be laid on with a third part of Rosin or Turpentine. Pliny. Take Unguent populeon j. ounce, Oyl of Roses wherein Hog-lice have been boyled j. ounce and half, Saffron iv. grains, mingle them and make an unguent, that is a most noble cure for the Hemorrhoids, that swell and are painful. Others (saith Alexander Benedictus) boyl these Chis∣leps with Fat or Butter, then they put to it the yolk of an Egg; and with this they asswage that cruel pain. Pliny saith, they cure all hardness of wounds, and Cancers, and Worms in Ulcers, being mingled with Turpentine. And to conceal nothing from you, I thought fit to add, that Pennius himself lying sick of the Asthma, used for a long time Hog-lice steeped in Wine: but having done it alwaies to no effect, by my advice at last he did twice or thrice take in the smoke of Brimstone through a tunnel, and he grew perfectly well from that horrid symptome. Take oyl of Violets iij. ounces, wherein let four Chisleps boyl till a third part be consumed: it re∣strains a salt humour, being outwardly anointed. An incertain Author. Hens, water Lizards, land Frogs, and Serpents feed on Chisleps, as Theophrastus writes. Ambrose Paraeus, a Chirurgeon of Paris, relates that one vomited a small living creature like to a Chislep: and such a like thing Solerius hath written concerning a certain woman, upon the second Book of Aetius.

CHAP. X.

Of Land Scorpions.

[illustration]

IT is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in Greek, from scattering its ve∣nome, or as others wil have it, because it creeps lame∣ly. Also 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifies a Scorpion, or a kinde of Scorpion, whereof Nieander speaks in his Theriacks, the burning Scorpion must be pressed down when he creeps upon his feet, being a deadly creature. It is doubtful whether this be a kinde of Scorpion; it hath legs or clawes, and a sting in the tail. The Latines call it Scorpius, and Pli∣ny Scorpio; Cicero, Plautus, Varro, and Nonius, call it Nepam, which name Columella useth often. In He∣brew it is called Acrab, and Cancrab, because it pricks those that tread on it. In Arabick it is Natarab, A∣chrab, Necharab, Hacharab, Acrob. Rhasis cals it

Couches, Pandactarius, Satocollen; in Spanish it is Escorpion, or Alacram; in Italian, Scorpions, Scurrificio; in High Dutch, English, French, Brabant, it is called a Scorpion; in the Sclavonian language, Niedaradeck; in Illyrium, Istir; in Danish, Wollocow; in new Hispaniola, Alacrant.

[illustration]

But that which hath a bunch on its back and drawes the tail after it rolled up, Silvaticus cals Algararat. It is an Insect with a body of the fashion of an egg; as it were smoked all over, at the bottome a tail comes forth, joyned with many round knots, the last as it seems longer than the rest, so that only is armed with a simple or double sting, and semething bended backward toward the end: it hath eight feet, and legs sorked with claws, and strong pinsers; it hath a head as the others have, lying hid in the top of its brest, wherein you can perceive very smal and almost no eyes, that Authors do scarce mention them. All Scorpions have tails, or no tails. Some of the tailed Scorpions are fenced but with one sting, but others with two; yet they do not differ in kinde and nature. Nicander describes seven kindes of land Scorpions. The first is white and not deadly. The second (saith he) hath a red mouth, from whose sting ariseth vehement heat, feaverishness, and intolerable thirst. Aelian saith the same. The third is wan and blackish, whose sting causeth a shaking palsie, and a Sardonian laughter, and vain, like to that of fools. The fourth is of a colour inclining to green: this so soon as it hath stung a man, a cold and shivering possesseth him, so that in the hottest Summer he will suppose himself covered with frost. This kinde hath many knots between seven or nine, which is also the cause that he wounds so deep, by reason of the length of his tail. The fifth is black and blew, or of a pale colour, of a large stretched out belly, for it feeds on grass, and is unsatiable. It not only stings with the tail, but also bites with venom'd teeth. Nicander cals its poyson 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, because a Bubo riseth on a man that he stings. The sixth is like to a shore sea Crab, yet not without a tail, but with a greater body and almost round, so that it represents a Crab with a tail. Matthiolus saith that he saw of this kinde some that were black, murrey and green in the County of Arcinna, not far from the River Sarcus. The seventh is like a Grampel: also it hath claws greater than that; and this kinde is produced by Crevis on the dry ground, that are entred into some hollow places to escape the Fishermen: in which places if they die or corrupt, these kinde of Scorpions grow from them: as Ovid most elegantly hath set it down:

Take off the claws of Crabs that use the shore, And from their bodies with earth covered ore, A Scorpion growes threatning with crooked sting.

Aelian cals this the flame-coloured, for it is like the Crab that becomes red with boyling. There is another kinde of Scorpion which we call Rha∣sis, and the Arabians Scorpion, for Nicander and the Greeks never saw it: it is very bunchy, and runs swiftest of them all: it hath a tail for its small body that is very great; it seems to be pale, but the sting put forth is very white: Rhasis cals it jararets; Albuchasis, Grati; Avicenna, Algeraratie. It is found in the Eastern Countreys, especially in Coz, and in Hascari, as Gordonius notes. Philosophers say that the stings of other Scorpions infuse a cold poy∣son: the Arabians say that only this one, infuseth poyson that is hot. I saw one brought sorth of Barbary, and we here give you the picture of it. The sting of all the tailed Scorpions is hol∣low, whereby they cast poyson into the wound: as Aelian reports l. 9. c. 4. To which Pliny sub∣scribes, lib. 9. cap. 37. and Nicander in his Theriacks. Yet our Galen is of another minde, lib. 6. de loc. aff. c. 5. where he speaks in these very words almost, to those who ascribed a specifical quality of hurting or helping to humours or vapours. But the sting of the Scorpion deserveth much more to be admired, which in a very short time causeth extreme symptomes; and that which is injected when it stingeth, is either very little or nothing at all, there appearing no hole in its sting: And indeed, when we sen that from the teeth pricks and stings of some creatures, fishs or plants, there is solid poyson conveyed into the wound by them; what need we fly unto secret bladders, and perchance such as were ne∣ver seen, that lie hid under the root of their stings, such as fruitful wits have rather invented, than solid judgements and those that were studious for the truth? As I said, they have all six feet, besides the clawes that are their fore-legs, as crabs have, (which I should more willingly call arms) some of them (if you look narrowly) are forked: their tail consists sometimes of 6, 7 or 9 knotted joynts: in the end of the tail is one hollow sting, two sometimes, (but that is more seldome). If it had its sting any where but in the tail (saith Aristotle lib. 4. Histor.) because it moves it self by steps, it were unuseful to sting withall: Aelian saith, that its sting is very small, and scarse visible: out of whose invisible pipe, if there be any, such a venomous spirit, or moister humour is poured in by a wound made, that is scarse perceived or sensible. It walks side-waies as Crabs do, alwaies moving the tail ready to strike, that no opportunity may be let slip. The Males are the fiercer, slenderer, longer, and more spotted on their bellies, clawes and stings. The Fe∣males * 1.19 again (as Avicenna well observes) are greater, fatter, greater bellies, and milder. The poy∣son

of the Male is also more dangerous, as Pliny thought, the Female is more gentle; but all their venome is white, unless Apollodorus deceive us. It is apparent that they which have seven or nine joints on their tails, are the most curst: many have but six, it strikes athwart and bendingly. All of them have their poyson more violent at noon day, and in Summer, when they are hot with the Sun-beams, and when they are thirsty and are unsatiable for drink. The plague of it seems in∣tolerable, and which with a heavy punishment destroys a man with a ling••ing death in three daies. Their stinging is alwaies mortal for maids, and most commonly for all women: and for men in the morning, before they have cast out their venome by some accidental stroke, and are new come forth of their holds. It is the property of Scorpions, that they will not sting the palm of the hand nor smooth parts, and no where unless they feel the hair. Scorpions, as Pliny supposeth, will hurt no living creature that wants bloud: which Dr. Wolfius of Turin a most lear∣ned * 1.20 Physician hath proved to be false: for he saw, as he reported to Pennius, a Viper shut up in a vessel with a Scorpion, and they killed one another with mutual bitings and stingings. And Aelian writes, l. 8. c. 13. that they do fight and contend with Vipers, and all kinde of veno∣mous Insects for their meat: Gesner saith it is certain that a Viper will devour a Scorpion: and from thence his bite will be the more grievous. Also Theophrastus writes that by the sting of Scorpions Serpents will dye, and not men. But Galen depending on experience, hath proved it to be false, and appeacheth it for a lie. Pennius shewes the fraud of Aelian, relating, lib. 6. c. 23. the wonderful fraud of Scorpions: but since I observed the same in Italy, I will maintain the truth of the Author, and free him of it. We know that the skill men have in that Countrey, they em∣ploy it all to escape from the Scorpions: whereupon they use sandals to defend themselves, and hang their beds on high from the ground, they place the props or supporters of their beds far from the wals, and set them in vessels full of water, and many other inventions they have to de∣ceive or to destroy the Scorpions. But the Scorpions get up to the roofs of houses, and if they can finde any tyle broken they will remove it, and one of the strongest of their Captains, (tru∣sting to the force of his claws) hangs down by this chink, and his tail hanging down, then ano∣ther upon his back comes down as by a ladder, and takes hold by the others tail, and a third takes hold of the seconds tail, and a fourth by his tail, and so the rest, until such time as by links they can reach the bed, then the last comes down and wounds one that lies asleep in his bed, and runs back again by the links of his fellowes, and so all the rest in order shift away, unlosing as it were the chain, untill they are all got up again upon one anothers backs. Also Clem. Alexan. 1. stromat. makes mention of this property. But they are not all venomous, no•• do they hurt or sting all men alike. For they do not live in Sicily, and if there be any there, yet they do no hurt; and therefore the Psilli lost their labour when they undertook to free Italy from this mischief that was a stranger to them, in hopes of gain. Plin. lib. 11. cap. 25. Aristotle writes of the same thing concerning Pharos lib. 8. Histor. c. 29. of the Island Malta, Diodorus lib. 4. cap. 3. of the Countrey Noricum, Joseph. Scaliger, exerc. 189. 5. where you shall come in no place but you shal finde abundance of them, and yet they either sting not at all, or else there is no danger unto men by it. But now in Egypt, Sicily, Africa, and Albania, they wound mortally, as we re••d in the Books of Alexander de Alexandro, Pliny, Dioscorides, Strabo. In England, Scotland, Ireland, and Gas∣cony, Scorpions cannot live, nor in the colder Islands more Northward. For though they cannot well bear the heat of the Sun by day, and therefore lie under stones all day; yet it seems they want no less heat in the night, for love whereof they come not only into chambers, but get into feather beds, and lay themselves down sometimes close to those that are asleep. Men report many things concerning the Countrey of Trent set free from the deadly sting of Scorpions by the prayer of St. Vigilius. But it is at the Readers choise to take it for a Truth or for a Fable. In Scythia it is far otherwise, for there if a Scorpion sting a Man, a Hog, or any Beast or Bird, they are certainly killed. Cardan saith that such as wound mortally are seldome bred. But Mat∣thiolus reckons up an army of desperate symptomes that happen there, especially in Hetruria, by the stingings of Scorpions, sometimes joyned with death. And Aelian l. 8. cap. 13. reports that in Aethiopia mens lives are not only endangered by the stinging of the Scorpions; but if they do but tread on their excrements, their feet blister, and they can hardly be cured. He cals these Scorpions Sibrittas, they feed on Vipers, Blind-worms, Lizards, Spiders, and other veno∣mous Insects: whence they are so forcible with poyson, and have a kinde of graduation (that I may use Paracelsus) in the use of it.

Aristotle speaks of some Scorpions in Caria that are very loving to strangers. (Aelian reports that this is about Latmus a mountain of Caria, where they are sacred to hospital Jupiter, and do not sting any stranger; or if they do, they do them no great hurt, but they kill the inhabitants presently when they sting them. A Lion whensoever he sees a Scorpion flies from him as from an enemy to his life: witness Physiologus and St. Ambrose gives credit to it. Men say that such are never stung by Wasps, Homets, or Bees, who are stung by a Scorpion. Pliny. Their Genera∣tion * 1.21 is twofold, common by Copulation, more seldome, (so far as we know of it) from Putre∣faction. Some maintain that they are not bred by copulation but by exceeding heat of the Sun. Aelian lib. 6. de Anim. cap. 22. amongst whom Galen must first be blamed, who in his Book de foet. form. will not have Nature but chance to be the parent of Scorpions, Flies, Spiders, Worms, * 1.22 of all sorts, and he ascribes their beginning to the uncertain constitutions of the Heavens, Place, Matter, Heat: but doubtless they do copulate, and they produce little worms alive (which I

have seen) they are white and like to eggs, and they sit upon them to hatch them. So soon as their young are brought to perfection by them, they are driven away by their young, as it fals out with Spiders also, (especially those are called Phalangium) and they are destroyed by their young ones in great numbers. Scorpions are fruitful creatures, for oft-times they bring forth ele∣ven. Some also suppose that they devour their young (namely Antigonus) but only one that is more cunning than the rest, which hides it self about the dams legs, and so escapes the danger of its sting and biting. This afterwards revengeth the death of all the rest, and kils its parents from above. They bring forth twice a year, namely in Spring and Autumn. The original of Scorpions from putrefaction is more rare, and it is many waies. For they are bred from Crevis corrupted, Pliny lib. 11. cap. 25. and from the carkass of the Crocodile, as Antigonus affirms, lib. de mirab. hist. cong. 24. For in Archelaus there is an Epigram of a certain Aegyptian, in these words:

The carkass of dead Crocodiles is made the seed, By common Nature, whence Scorpions breed.

Aristotle adds further, that from water Mints corrupting, Scorpions are bred. And Kiramides and Pliny say they breed of Basil. An Italian that delighted much in the smell of Basil, a Scorpion * 1.23 bred in his brain, which afterward caused most vehement, and long during tortures, and lastly death. Hollerius, lib. 1. cap. 1. of his practise. Gesner heard as much of a French maid, as he testifieth with his own hand writing. Doctor Banchinus second to none for Anatomy, reported to Doctor Pennius, that he hid Basil in a wall at Paris, and after a certain time he found two Scorpions in the same place. Chrysippus therefore not without cause, dispraised Basil to many men. There are some that maintain that if a man eat Basil the day he is stung with a Scorpion, he cannot escape death. Others say, that if a handful of Basil be bruised with ten sea Crabs or river Crabs, and be left in a place where Scorpions haunt, all the Scorpions will come about it. Pliny lib. 20. cap. 12. But Dioscorides lib. 2. 135, and lib. 32. cap. 5. saith that Crabs will kill Scorpions, if they be put to them with Basil. Albertus Magn. lib. 19. anim. cap. 18. Some are of Avicenna's opinion that they breed of corrupt wood, and are made many waies.

The place conduceth much to their generation and production. For in Hispaniola, the Canaries, Numidia, Scythia, Pescara, Barbary, Aethiopia, there are such multitudes of Scorpions, that the inhabitants are oftentimes forced to forsake their habitations: Oviedus, Thevetus, Leo Afer, Pli∣ny. The Countrey about the Lake Arrhata, in the East Indies near the River Estamenum, is so fruitful and so pestered with Scorpions, that the inhabitants not knowing what course to take, left the place to them. Aelian lib. 17. cap. 40. When you are two daies journey from Susa in Persia into Media, you shall light upon an infinite number of Scorpions, whereupon the King of Persia being to ride that way, commands the Citizens three daies before to hunt the Scorpions, and assigns a very great reward for those that catcht most of them. If he should not do so, by reason of the multitude of Scorpions lying under every stone, there could be no pas∣sage. Aelian. lib. 15. cap. 26. The East Indies, as Agatharsis testifieth, and Africa also, breeds abundance and very great Scorpions, which also wound with their stings as the others in Europe do. The Scorpions of America are the smallest of all, yet the most venomous, next to those of Africa: their poyson works so suddenly, that it immediately flies to the heart and kils the par∣ty that is stung. The people of Noricum near the Alpes, have in their Countrey many Scor∣pions, but (which is wonderful in Nature) they are all harmless, as Scaliger affirms. In Pharos also, and the Territory of Avarrium, the Scorpions (as we said before) do no hurt. In some places of Helvetia (as about Rappisvill) there are found very small Scorpions, and innocent. Gesner. So it is also in some Countreys of Germany. In new Hispaniola there are a great many Scorpions, but not very venomous; there is some pain that followes their stinging, but it is not great, nor of long continuance, and men are more hurt by the stings of Wasps or Bees: unless it were so that the Scorpions were fasting, or newly wounded. Manardus. But the Scorpions in the Island Ferrata (which is one of the fortunate Islands) and Coptum in Aegypt, cause great pain, and their Venome is mortal. In Castile a Countrey of Spain, the countrey folk oft-times whilest they plough up the ground, do finde innumerable Scorpions, clustered together like Pis∣mires, where they lye hid all the winter. Matthiolus. The colder Countreys have no Scorpions, as Gascony, England, Ireland, Scotland, Denmark, and great part of Germany, or if there be any there, they are not venomous. Aelian reports a wonderful thing concerning the Priests of Isis, which in Copto, a City of Egypt, where there are abundance of deadly Scorpions, they can tread upon them, and cast them on the ground, and yet receive no harm by them. Also Psylli, a peo∣ple of Africa cannot be hurt not stung by Scorpions. For when they come to any venomous creature, it presently becomes stupid, as if it were charmed or struck dead, that it cannot move. Also all their Hogs, but not the black ones, (for if they be stung they die presently) are free from their stings. Lastly, a Scorpion nor any other venomous beast, doth not hurt a Stellio, an Asca∣labotes, a Crab, a Hawk, as Galen ad Pisonem, and our friend Gesner have observed.

They live by eating the ground, and in some places they feed on Herbs, Lizards, Blinde-worms, Whurls, Beetles, and all poysonous beasts. Aelian. But he that shall tread on the excrements * 1.24 will have his feet blistered. The Hens, Ibis, Vipers eat abundantly of them, whence Aristotle * 1.25 cals the Viper 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. And they are not more fit for their food, than they are a remedy

for us. For being laid to their own wounds they made, they cure them, as is generally known. * 1.26 Also a Scorpion bruised resists the poyson of a Stellio. Pliny. Some bruise them and drink them in Wine, casting away their tails. Others lay them on burning coles, and perfume the wound, and then strew the Scorpions ashes upon it. Some binde them to the wound, being brui∣sed with salt, Linseed, and Marsh-mallowes. Against the Stone, Lanfrancus his powder: Take 20. live Scorpions, close them in a pot with a narrow mouth, and with a soft fire burn them to ashes, which is a wonderful remedy against the Stone: A Scorpion torrified and burnt to ashes and taken with bread, breaks the Stone of the bladder. Author ad Pisonem. Three Scorpions closed in a new earthen pot, and covering it with a cover well luted, with a fire made of Vine branches, bring them to ashes in an oven; the Dose is 6 grains with syrup de quinque radicibus: it wonderfully drives forth stones of the kidneys. New Authors exceedingly commend the ashes of Scorpions amongst the remedies against the Stone, and the oyl of them injected into the bladder, and anointed outwardly. Alexand. Benedictus, Aggregator, and Leonellus Faventinus out of Galen (Eu∣por. 3) teach us to burn three small Scorpions, and to give their ashes in syrup, or a decoction, or some confection proper for it, to break the Stone. And lib. 2. he bids us to mingle them with fat, being calcined, and so to exhibit them; because otherwise the Patients would abhor the eating of them, wherefore they may be given without suspicion. That Medicament of Abolaus, that Arnoldus praiseth so much, is made of the ashes of Scorpions, as you may see in 2. Breviarii cap. 18. as also the admirable syrup of the King of France against the stone, which is described in the same Book and Chapter. Rondeletius, capite de calculo, in his practise, maintains that a Scorpion is cold, and therefore to drive out the Stone we must use the compound, and not the simple oyl of Scorpi∣ons. Matthiolus teacheth to make that compound oyl, Commentar. pag. 1407. 20. But be∣fore him, Luminare Maius, made that after this manner. Take round Birthwort, roots of Gentian, Ciperus, Barks of Capers, of each j. ounce, oyl of bitter Almonds j. Kist. let them stand in the sun 30 daies; then add to it 15 Scorpions, and shutting the vessel again very close set them in the sun so many daies as before. Then strain the oyl and keep it for your use. Others prepare it thus: Take old Oyl as much as you please, put as many Scorpions into it as you can take in July (for then are they most venomous and fittest for this remedy) add to them white Dittany, leaves of Wormwood, Betony, Vervain, Rosemary, of each j. handful, set them a sun∣ning for a long time, then distil them in balneo in a Limbeck. It is called St. Bernards Oyl. It powerfully provokes urine. Anointed on the groin, it is prevalent against the bitings of Scor∣pions, how venomous soever. It drives out worms miraculously. Brassavolus. Of Oyl of Scor∣pions and Vipers tongues, is made a most excellent remedy against the plague, as Crinitus testi∣fies, 1. 7. Manardus saith that Oyl of Scorpions is now made with old Oyl, adding many medicaments thereto commended against poysons, and it is admirable in the plague, and against all venome. I know a man that having only this remedy, made no reckoning of the greatest plague; and had not only preserved himself but his servants also, whom he sent to visit people that were sick of the plague; and I know very many that escaped only by anointing themselves, having drank the most deadly poysons. So sayes Manardus. A liniment of Scorpions against the plague, and all poysons, is described by Fumanellus, lib. de cur. pest. cap. 12. A Scorpion is good also against a wound given by a Viper, saith Galen l. de simpl. Samonicus commends them highly against pains in the eyes, in these verses:

If that some grievous pain perplex thy sight, Wool wet in oyl is good bound on all night. Carry about thee a live Scorpions eye, Ashes of Coleworts if thou do apply, With bruised Frankincense, Goats milk, and Wine, One night will prove this remedy divine.

If any one troubled with the Jaundies take Scorpions bruised in Wine and Honey, Galen saith he shall quickly finde help. Kiranides, against a Quartain ague, Quotidian, or Tertian, prescribes a Scorpion put into a glass of Oyl about the wane of the Moon, and kept there; and with this Oyl anoint the whole body on the joynts, and the soles of the feet, and the palms of the hands, very well before the coming of the Ague. Plinius secundus saith, that a Quartan Ague, as the Magicians report, will be cured in three daies by a Scorpions four last joynts of his tail, toge∣ther with the gristle of his e••••, so wrapt up in a black cloth, that the sick parent may neither per∣ceive the Scorpion that is applied, nor him that bound it on. But let these superstitions pass, and we shall speak something of Antidotes against Scorpions.

First therefore of Prophylacticks. Magicians deny that a Scorpion can pass over if he be com∣passed in with a branch of Turnsole: and the herb laid upon him kils him. Pliny. A smoke made * 1.27 with Brimstone, Galbanum, and an Asses hoof, dtives away Scorpions. Rhasis. Take Scorax, Arse∣nick, Sheeps-dung, fat of the caul of Sheep, equal parts, dissolve them in Wine, and make a fume by the holes of Scorpions. If a Radish cut be put into their holes, they will not come forth. A Scorpion burnt is good, the liver of an Asse, Sandaracha, with Butter or Goats suet to make a fume. Varignana and Diophanes in Geopon. Rhasis commends the root of Elecampane carried about one. Macer writes of Monsteek thus:

Men say that Housleek hath so soveraign a might, Who carries but that, no Scorpion can him bite.

If a man anoynt his hand with an herb called Paris, or with the juice of the root, he may safely take a Scorpion in his hand, Flaminius. Grapes preserve men from the stingings of Scor∣pions, as also Filberds carried in their Purses. Aetius. Also the seed of wilde Docks either drives them away, or their stinging is not mortall. Dioscorid. Who also saith from the Africans, that Basil will do the like. Larks spur, and wilde Campions also makes them stupid and asto∣nished: The same Author. And saith he, they report, as long as any man hold Carduus in his hand, a Scorpion will not bite him, or if he do, it will not hurt him. The seed of Wood-sorrell drank, preserves one from Scorpions. Avicenna. If you lay Solomons Seal under you, it keeps off Scorpions. Isidorus. And Pliny learned from the Inhabitants of Africa, that he that carries Ra∣dish-root, or Turnsole, or a dried beast like a Lizard about him, Scorpions will not hurt him: So Dittany in smoke, or wilde Mints, or Oyl of Scorpions anoynted about their holes, will keep them from coming into the Chambers. Rhasis. But these things will kill them laid upon them: Radish-root chewed, broad leav'd Basil that growes by the water side, Mallowes leaves, black Hellebore, (but the white will quicken them when they are dying, if Pliny may be believed) Scorpions grasse, Rose-root, Basil with a red flower, the spittle of a cholerick man fasting. Rhasis, Pliny, Avicenna, Democritus in Geopon. To cure the sting and wound Guilielmus de Placentia, * 1.28 prescribes this in general, namely, to give and apply inwardly and outwardly, presently, good Theriac; then the part affected must be cut, and an actuall Cautery set to it, and the poyson drawn forth with Cupping-glasses. Galen bids binde the part above, and to cut off the parts af∣fected. Gal. 5. de loc. aff. c. 3. But since that is a very hard and cruel remedy for the patient, I thought fit to write from the Antients what remedies are cures for this wound. You shall first know the stinging of a Scorpion thus: The place is presently red and inflamed, and by turns, (as in an intermitting Ague) waxing cold, and the sick is sometimes better, sometimes worse. He sweats all over, his hairs stare upright, his whole body waxeth pale, his secrets swell, he breaks winde backwards, his eyes run with clammy tears and filth, his joynts grow hard, and he hath the falling of the Tuel, he fomes at mouth, he is drawn backwards by convulsions, and troubled with the Hickop, and sometimes great vomiting, he is quickly weary of labour, he is vexed and troubled with sense of horror, the outward parts of his body are cold, a pricking pain runs over all his skin, sometimes he thinks that hail falls upon him; for Galen asking one that was stung with a Scorpion, what he felt, (3. de loc. aff. c. 7.) he said he seemed all covered over and almost frozen with hail. Aetius addes, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or warts of the fundament like Ants; after these fainting, then swounding, and finally death. Aetius writes, that if the lower parts be stung, the groins swell presently, if the upper parts, then the Arm-pits. The wound being now known and viewed, and opened by section, and the generall cure we speak of applyed, whereof Authors are plentifull. Galen amongst outward remedies, reckons Balsamum, true Worm-wood, or the juice of black Mirtle-berries anoynted. Also he diversly commends the spittle of one that is fasting, and useth it as a Charm, lib. 10. Simpl. And he bids give inwardly the Balsam with Womans milke, the Saphire stone in Powder, Assa faetida, Scordium, Centaury the lesse, Rue, Castoreum. Out of Cassion the Phisician he commends this: Take Assa faetida, Galbanum, each alike, make it up with the decoction of Scordium, and round Birthwort. The Dose is the big∣nesse of a small Nut with hot water. Out of Andromachus he commends this, lib. de Theriac. Take Theriac two drams, Wine four ounces, mingle and drink them.

Dioscorides outward remedies applyed.

• Cyprus bruised and laid on.
• Amomum used with Basil.
• The Milk of the Fig-tree, or the juice of Sage dropt in, the Scorpion it self bruised.
• Sow-thistle beaten.
• Succory.
• Hawk-wood.
• Balm.
• Bush-flower.
• Mull-berries.
• Larks-heels.
• The flesh of a Fish called Smaris.
• The Barbel Fish cut in two.
• A Fish called Lacerta salted and cut in pieces.
• House Mice cut asunder.

Internal remedies from Dioscorides.

• Cardamonum.
• Juice of Myrtles.
• Bay-berries.
• Horse or Ass dung.
• Seed of Campions.
• Mullens.
• Chamaepitys.
• Scorpion-grasse.
• Turnsole.
• Calamint.
• Trifoly.
• Scordium.
• ...Lotus rustica.
  • applyed.
• Basil with Barley-flour.
• Wheat-meal with Vinegar and Wine.
• Marjoram with Vinegar and Salt.
• Assa dissolved in Wine.
• Sea-water.
• Quick Brimstone with Rosin and Turpentine.
• Salt with Linseed.
• Galbanum made for a Plaister.

Other External remedies out of Avicenna.

• Marjoram laid on with Vinegar.
• Root of Coloquintida bruised.
• Reed roots bruised.
• The Shell of an Indian small Nut.
• Rams flesh burnt.
• Mummie four grains, with Butter & Cows milk.
• Decoction of Ameos.
• ...

• Bran plaister-wise.
• Wine new boyled.
• Bark of Frankincense.
• The white Thistle.
• White Thorn.
• Pine kernels.
• Dates.
• Figs.
• Mountain Poly.
• Anacardi.
• Ashes of Kaly.
• Wheat Bran boyled with Pigeons dung.
• Salt of Urine.
• Oyl of Wormwood.
• Decoction of Nettles or Chamomile.
• But white Naptha is the principal remedy, laid on hot. It is also good to suck out the ve∣nome with ones mouth, unlesse it be first ul∣cerated, and then to apply such things as in∣flame, as Pellitory of Spain, and Garlick.
• Seed of sowr Dock.
• The herb Phalangium.
• Daffadil seed and flowers drank in Wine, and also Bramble flowers so taken.
• Parsnip-seed.
• Turnsole.
• Cypress boughs.
• Rue.
• Origanum.
• Loveage with black leaves.
• The juice of Dog-fennel
• Sow-thistle
  • drank.
• The Decoction of Gentian-root.
• The bark of Birthwort.
• Penniroyall.
• A broiled Scorpion eaten.
• River-crabs raw and bruised, and drank with Asses milk.
• Mans urine drank.

Internals of the same Author.

• Juice of Worm-wood with Vinegar.
• Doronicum.
• Cinamon.
• Myrrhe.
• Wilde Saffron-leaves and fruit.
• Citron-seed.
• Mummie.
• Galbanum.
• Roots of Coloquintida and Gentian.
• The Indian small Nut eaten, and the Theriac of it.
• The root of Squills eaten, is admirable against the bitings of Scorpions.
• Locusts broiled and eaten.
• Juice of Onions and of Worm-wood.
• Juice of the lesser Centaury.
• Also new boyled Wine helps much.

The Antidote of Anderam, otherwise Braz. the King of Sicily.

Take Castoreum one dram, Scordium two drams, Costmary one dram and half, Assa faetida three drams and half, make it up with Honey. The Dose is one dram and half, or two drams with wine.

Another of the same.

Take Birthwort round and long, each one aureus, Cumin-seed three drams, Assa faetida, Car∣away, Rue-seed, each two drams, Castoreum four drams, make it up with Honey. The Dose is two drams with the hot decoction of Gentian root, or Birthwort, and wine; he gave also two drams of Assa faetida, and sometimes three drams, Wood Laurell with Vinegar.

A Medicament of Andro a Greek Philosopher.

Take Rue-seed, live Brimstone, of each six aurei, Castoreum one aureus, Assa faetida one aureus and half, Pellitory of Spain, liquid Storax, of each one aureus, make it up with Ho∣ney. The Dose is half an ounce with Vinegar of the best wine.

Another excellent remedy.

Take Rue-seed one aureus, Castoreum half so much, Birthwort round and long, of each two aurei, roots of Gentian, Assa faetida, of each eight drams, (or eight aurei) make it up with Honey. The Dose is one dram and half with pure wine. The Electuary of Zeno, or Diaruta. Take Assa faetida, bitter Costus and sweet, each five aurei, round Birthwort, Agarick, each two aurei, Castoreum, Cinamon, Aloes, each three drams, roots of Orris, Sarcocolla, each one dram and half, long Birthwort, Gentian, each six drams, make it up with Honey. The Dose is three drams. He commends also the great Theriac of Andromachus, Esdras, Mithridate, and the Theriac diatesseron. The description of it is this. Take Gentian, Bay-berries, long Birth-wort, Myrrhe, each alike, make it up with clarified Honey. The Dose is one aureus with hot water. Another against the bitings of Scorpions. Take seed of wilde Rue, Aethiopian Cumin, seed of Trifolie, Minianth, each alike, with Vinegar what may suffice, make a Confection. The Dose is one aureus. Another. Take Garlick, Nuts, of each one part, Rue leaves dried, Assa faetida, Myrrhe, of each half as much, make it up with milk. The Dose is three drams. Another. Take Castore∣um, white Pepper, Myrrhe, Opium, of each alike, make Troches. The Dose is three oboli with four ounces of wine. Another. Take Opoponax, Myrrhe, Galbanum, Castoreum, white Pepper, each alike, make them up with liquid Storax and Honey. Another. Take roots of Coloquintida, of Capers, Worm-wood, long Birthwort, wilde Succory, each alike. Give children one scruple, men one dram, it is of wonderfull vertue in this disease. Another. Take green grassewort juice with Cows milk, boyl it like to an Electuary. The Dose is two aurei, they say this helps much. Another. Take Opium, seeds of white Hen-bane, make it up with Honey, and mingle it with hotter things to temper it. If any man will have more from Avicenna, he shall finde it Can. 4. Fen. 6. Tract. 3.

Externall remedies out of Rhasis.

The hot Oyl of Anacardi standing in the shell of an Egge, rubbed in, let the wounded part be

first bound, then let it loose, and anoynt it with Jesamin Oyl. The third day open a vein, but after meat and sleep. Also anoynt the place with Castoreum, Melanacardinum, and Garlick, laying on a plate of lead anoynted with Quick-silver.

Sagapenum applyed outwardly heats the wound, and a Weasels flesh laid over it.

Rub the place with a Topaz, and it will be cured.

The wound is bettered by rubbing a Flie upon it.

It may be cured with water from Radish-leaves, and Oyl of Mustard-seed, and Marjoram.

Serapio writes that boyled Butter doth good.

Internals of Rhasis.

Sweat must be procured any way, by external and internal means.

Take Nuts, and Garlick cleansed, of each alike, bruise them.

The Dose is one ounce, and an hour after let him drink wine. Others adde to this a like quantity of dryed Rue, Myrrhe, and Assa. The Dose is three drams with pure wine.

Another. Take Nigella seed one part, Assa three parts, the Dose is one Trochis, with one ounce of wine.

Another. Let him drink strong Wine till he be almost drunk, and in the morning open a vein.

Another. Take roots of Coloquintida, bark of roots of Capers, Worm-wood, long Birthwort, Endive-seed, of each alike, make a powder. The Dose is one dram, for children one scruple.

Another Theriac against the stingings of Scorpions. Take round Birthwort, roots of Gentian, Bay-berries, roots of Capers, Coloquintida, Worm-wood, Swallow-wort, white Briony, each alike, make it up with Honey.

Another. Take Myrrhe, Opoponax, Smallage, each one dram and half, white Briony, long Birthwort, Pellitory of Spain, each six drams, seeds of Rue, Gith, Trifoly, each three drams, Gum, Arabick, what may suffice, with Vinegar make Trochis. The Dose is one dram to one dram and half. Another. Take Cloves of Garlick cleansed five drams, Nuts ten drams, Assa one dram, incorporate them well. The Dose is two drams. Another. Take Gentian, Birth-wort, Myrrhe, bitter Costus, Rue, Castoreum, wilde Mints dried, Pellitory of Spain, Pepper, Gith-seed, Assa faetida, each alike, make them up with Honey, The Dose is one aureus with wine. Also the powder of Eringo root is good with hot water, and the powder of Dodder. Also one aureus of Napellus with water. Ivy and Polium with water are very profitable. If a fever come upon it, open a vein. Asses drie dung drank with wine is very helpfull. Thus much from Rhasis.

External remedies from Albucasis.

Anoynt the place with Oyl of Ben. for many dayes, or Oyl of Jasmin, grinde Euphorbium with it, and Castoreum, or else Castoreum and Garlick ground together, with old Oyl for a plaister.

A Frog cut and laid on is very good. Take old Oyl one pound, Wax four ounces, Euphorbi∣um one ounce, melt it in the Oyl, and anoynt the place with it.

Internals from Albucasis.

Let him drink hot milk from the Cow with wine or Honey. Cinquefoil-seed, and lees of wine, are Theriac in this disease, as also Rocket-seed.

Hiera Anacardina against the stings of Scorpions. Take Pellitory of Spain, Gith-seed, bitter Costus, black Pepper, Acorns, of each ten ounces, leaves of Rue, Assa faetida, roots of Gen∣rian, long Birthwort, Bay-berries, Castoreum, Cassia lignea, Mustard, Melanacardium, of each five drams, make up the powders with Oyl of Nuts, and with juice of Radish-root make it compleat. The Dose is one dram daily, it causeth sweat. The brains of a hen in drink is very usefull.

Haly Abbas brings nothing that is new, but only takes other mens prescriptions. Concern∣ing some Seals (amongst the hundred sayings of Ptolemy) and some fashions for Charms, both he and Kiranides make mention, but a Christian beleeves it not, nor are they worthy to be recorded by him.

Joannitius mightily commends a Plaister with Garlick and Butter, or to anoynt the place with Oyl of Peter, or pure juice of Leeks.

He prescribes to give inwardly of the pith of the greater Spurge four scruples, with warm wa∣ter.

Rabby Moyses prescribes one Sextula of Frankincense with Wine sufficient. Also he exhi∣bits Pigeons dung dried, and finely powdered with Butter and Honey. The Dose is two Sextulas.

Guil. de Placentia bids men give drie or green Marjoram inwardly, to drink it with mans Urine, and to apply it outwardly.

Constantinus 4. Pantechn. lib. commends Hens dung, or the heart applyed outwardly, and Pim∣pernel inwardly, taken with Wine, and powder of Gentian, Cinamon, Centaury.

Averrhois extolls Bezar stone above all, the Dose is the fourth part of an aureus.

Aristotles 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, describes a kinde of Locust that is an Antidote against the Scorpion, which eaten presently cures the stingings of Scorpions.

Serapio affirms the root of the male Coloquintida bruised and laid to the wound, that it will take away the pain. He commends inwardly Wormwood, Lettice-seed with Garlick, Mummy two grains, with the decoction of Sampire, and leaves of Laserwort.

Oribasius approves of the Lilly roots, and leaves, bruised and applyed, as also a Plaister of Vervain, and it is thus made. Take Vervain three ounces, Rosin six ounces, Wax, Pitch, of each two ounces and half, Oyl half an ounce, make a Plaister.

Inwardly he commends the ashes of River-crabs with Goats milk, or juice of Agrimony two ounces, with a draught of Wine, or the root of Dragons bruised, with wine.

Aetius commends water Calamints and Nip, which some think to be so called because it is an Antidote against Nepas, that is Scorpions. He saith, Garden-snails bruised and laid on draws forth the venome; he commends also upright and green Vervain, if it be laid on for a Cata∣plasm. Also Sheeps dung laid on with Wine. He makes also this Plaister. Take wilde Rue bruised with Vinegar one dram, Wax one dram, Pine Rosin three ounces, make a Plaister, it is admira∣ble against the stingings of Scorpions.

Inwardly, he writes that Garden Parsnips cure beyond expectation, be it eaten green or dried, and drank with Wine. Take Castoreum, Lazerwort, Pepper, of each four drams, bitter Costus, Spikenard, Saffron, juice of Centaury the lesse, of each two drams, clarified Honey what may suffice, mingle them. The Dose is the quantity of a Hazel-nut with Wine and water; it drives the Scorpions venome from any part, as Aetius proved on himself. Aegineta gives quick Brim∣stone bruised with a River-crab to drink in Wine.

Nonus bids lay on Litharge or Silver presently upon the place stung, and he commends Brim∣stone, if it be taken the quantity of an Aegyptian bean with eight grains of Pepper in Wine.

Anatolius commends this, to sprinkle Crows dung upon the stinging of the Scorpion.

Silvaticus out of Haly, commends a Want, or the greater house Mouse laid on, and out of Serapio, Pewter powdered and drank.

Orpheus commends Coral in drink, and the stone called Scorpiodes laid on with a Garlik-head.

Octavius, Areteus, Horatinus, Zoroastres, Florentinus, Apuleius, Democritus, and other Au∣thors of the Geoponica, adde but a few things to the Medicaments of the Antients, besides some old wives fables, and inchanted prints that are hatefull to God and man. Pliny tells such a ficti∣on, but no man can tell with what reason or credit: If, saith he, one that is stung with a Scor∣pion get up upon an Asse, with his face toward his tail, he shall do well, but the Asse will suffer.

Myrepsus extolls the herb Flower-de-luce, well bruised, and then drank with Wine or Vi∣negar.

Quintus Serenus writes thus, and adviseth,

These are small things, but yet their wounds are great, And in pure bodies ••urking do most harm, For when our senses inward do retreat, And men are fast asleep, they need some charm, The Spider and the cruel Scorpion Are wont to sting, witnesse great Orion, Slayn by a Scorpion, for poysons small Have mighty force, and therefore presently Lay on a Scorpion bruised, to recall The venome, or Sea-water to apply Is held full good, such vertue is in brine, And 'tis approv'd to drink your fill of Wine.

Pliny amongst outward means addeth these: Mustard-seed bruised, Pimpernel, roots of Cha∣maeleon, Sea-weeds, wilde Onions, Hares rennet, Tortoyse-gall, ashes of Hens dung, Colts-foot, and Mullen-leaves: It is exceeding good to purge the body within, very well, with the seed of wilde Cucumber, and Elaterium, and then to drink the juice of Lettice, and to drink the dried leaves and stalks in Vinegar.

Ammi drank with Linseed.	In Wine.	The seed of Hyacinth with Southern-wood.
Wilde Cumin.	Seeds of Trifoly, and Rocket.
The third kinde of Canila.	Four oboli of Agarick.
Fennel-seed.	The juice of Jelly-flowrs and Plantain.
Root of Cyprus.	The Ashes of River Frogs.
Great Saffron.	Chamaipythe.
Cresses.	The herb Nodia.
Yellow Camomil.	Seed of white Thorn.
The tender stalks of green Figs.	Flame-coloured Campions.
Bay-berries.

Arnoldus Villanovanus hath these: Herb Trinity cures the wounds of Scorpions, and kills the Scorpions themselves. Let the sick drink one spoonfull of the juice of the root of Dwarf-el∣der with Wine, and it is an infallible remedy. Take of the roots of Cappars, Coloquintida, Worm-wood, long Aristolochia, Gentian, Bay-berrles, Yellow Ben. White Briony, of each alike, make it up with Honey. The Dose is the quantity of a Nut with Wine. Another. Take seeds of wilde Rue, Cumin, Garlick, Hazel-nuts, of each one dram, leaves of dryed Rue one grain and half, Myrrhe, Frankincense, each one grain, white Pepper, Opium, each three drams, Opo∣pon••x, Galbanum, of each half a dram, make it up with Honey. The Dose is the magnitude of a Bran with Wine. John Arden an English man, (he was in his time the most skilfull Chirurgeon in England) after his long practise in England and France, he affirms he could finde nothing more safe against the sting of the scorpion, then to draw forth two or three drops of bloud hard by

the wound, and presently to anoint the wound with the same bloud. Celsus saith that those Phy∣sicians did some such thing, who were wont to keep the bloud they drew forth of the arms of those that were stung. And this shall suffice for remedies against the stingings of Scorpions.

If any man chance to be bit by Rhasis Scorpion, (which we called Bunch't-back) the first day a smal pain is perceived, but the second, straightness, heaviness, and sadness is seized on the sick; the colour of the body is divers almost every hour, and changing from green, yellow, white, and red; whence it may appear, that all the humours are infected, the place burns by the confluence of pain, and humour, swounding followes, and trembling of the heart, an acute Feaver, and swelling of the tongue, by reason of humours melted and corrupting in the brain, and falling down on the roots and muscles of the tongue: sometimes also the urine is bloudy, by reason of the acrimony of the venomous matter, and green choler is cast forth by vomit, also the guts are tormented with a sharp and vehement pain. Almost all symptomes fall upon the nerves that can happen to them. Rhasis bids cure all these things this way: First, incision being made on the place, and cupping glasses applyed, burn it with a strong actual cautery, then anoint the wound with the juice of wilde Endive, or with oyl of Roses, Barley water, juice of Apples, and with all cold things. If the belly be not soluble, make it so with a gentle Clyster, and the juice of Blites, Nitre, and oyl of Violets, and let the patient take this Theriack. Take Opopanax, Myrrhe, Galbanum, Castoreum, white Pepper, of each alike, make it up with liquid Storax and Honey. The Dose is the quantity of a Jujube: the part must be fumed with a piece of a milstone heat, and sprinkled with Vinegar. Also foment it with water of wilde Lettice. The usual Theriack. Take the rind of the root of Cappa••is, root of Coloquintida, Wormwood, round Birthwort, Hepatica, wilde Dandelion, dried, each alike; make a Powder: the Dose ••s two drams; also sowre Apples must be eaten, For pain in the belly: Let him drink oyl of Roses, with Barley water, Citrals, Gourds, also give sowre Milk. For trembling of the heart: Let him take juice of Endive, or syrup of Vinegar, or syrup of Apples, with troches of Camphire, or sowre Milk the same way. If the wound be afflicted with great pain: Lay on a Cataplasm of Bole and Vinegar: for a defensative and for a sharp remedy, lay on Euphorbium, or Castoreum, Poly root drank with water, and a Rams flesh burnt, is profitable. Theriack called Hascarina, first inven∣ted in the Province of Hascarum. Take leaves of red Roses iv. drams, Spodium ij. drams, Citron Sanders ij. drams and half, Saffron j. dram, Licorice ij. drams, seeds of Citrals, Melons, Cucumers, Gourds, Gum tragant, Spike, e〈…〉〈…〉 j. dram, Lignum Aloes, Cardamon, Amylum, Camphir, each j. dram, most white Sugar, Manna, each iij. drams, with the mucilage of Fleawort and Rose-water, what may suffice, make it up. The people of Hascarum was wont to draw bloud from the sick (saith holy Abbas) almost till they fainted: then they gave sweet milk to drink, and water di∣stilled from sowre Apples. Also they gave sowre Milk in great quantity. Thus the Arabians speak of this pestilent kinde of Scorpions that Nicander and all the Greeks were ignorant of, and that was too common in the Countrey of Hascarum. Now we will speak of Spiders.

CHAP. XI.

Of the Name of Spiders, and their Differences.

THE Latine name Araneus, or Aranea, is in Greek, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, from the slender feet it hath, * 1.29 or from its high gate, fom the cobwebs it spins: Others call him 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or Mus∣catricem; Kiramides, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; Hesychius, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; the Hebrews, Acabitha, Acbar, Acabish, Sema∣mith; in Arabick, Sibth, and Phihit, Aldebahi, and Aldebani, as it is called by Bellunensis: the Germans call it Spinn, and Banker; the English, Attercop, Spider, Spinner; the Brabants, Spini, and French, Araigne; Italian, Ragno, Ragna; the Spanish, Arana, or Taranna; the Sclavonians, Spawauck; the Polonians, Paiack; the Barbarians, Koatan, Kersenati; Isidore, l. 12. c. 12. saith it is called Aranea, because it is bred and nourished by the air: a twofold error: for if they live by the air, wherefore are they so careful to weave nets, and catch Flies? and if they were bred of the air, wherefore do they copulate? wherefore do they thrust forth little worms and eggs? but we will pardon the elegant Etymologer, because who makes a custome to play thus with words. There are many of these kindes, and all of them have three joynts in their legs:

A little head and body small, With slender feet, and very tall, Belly great, and from thence come all The webs it spins.

Now Spiders are venomous, or harmless; of harmless some are tame or house-spiders, those * 1.30 are the biggest of all; others live in the open air, and from their greediness are called hunters or wolves: the smaller kindes of these do not weave; but the greater sort begins his web very sharp and small by the hedges, or upon the ground, having a little hole to creep into, and laying the beginnings of his webs within, observing whilest something shakes the web, then he runs to

catch it. The venomous Spiders called Phalangia, are so venomous, that the place they wound will presently swell. These are of two kindes; for some are less, some greater; the less are va∣rious, violent, sharp, salacious, and going as it were rebounding, which as we read, are called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or Fleas, or Apes; others are called Oribates, which are found especially on trees in mountains; they are called Hypodromi, because they live under leaves. Gesnerus. It is a hairy creature, and breeds in the greater trees. The belly of it is moderately with incisions, that the cutting may seem to be marked by thred. Aelianus.

CHAP. XII.

Of Spiders that are hurtful, or Phalangia.

IN Italy they know not the Phalangium, (said Pliny) It is of sundry kindes; one is great like * 1.31 to a Pismire, but much greater, with a red head; the other part of his body is black, with white spots running between. The Pismire kinde of Aetius hath a smoky body, an ash-coloured neck, and the back as it were adorned with stars. Nicander his 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; Aetius cals 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; the Latines call it Venator; it makes a weak wound and without pain, but yet a little venomous: it is found amongst the Spiders webs, where (like hunters) it catcheth Flies, Bees, Horse-flies, Oxe-flies, and Wasps also, and (unless you will not credit Lonicerus,) Hornets too, and it spoils all that the nets can take and hold: that this is the same with Aristotles Pulex no reasonable man will deny. It hath a broad round volubilous body, the parts about the neck have an inci∣sion;

[illustration]

and there are bred three eminences about the mouth. There is another Phalangium which Nicander cals 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; Aetius 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; Aelian, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; (from the likeness of it to the stone of a black Grape) it is round, and black, and shining, and globe-like, the feet are extreme short, as if they were imperfect, but it moves swiftly: it hath a mouth, but with teeth bred under the belly, and it moves with all the feet at once. Whether Aristotles Spider will bite, let the Reader judge. Tru∣ly it is not much unlike it, as Grevinus rightly conjectured. In this description, Aetius, Aelia∣nus, Plinius, do almost agree with Nicander. Aelian put long feet amiss for small feet, and affir∣med it to be only an African creature. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, were the same, unless it were distinguished by certain white stars and lines, that are fat and transparent. Only Pliny after Nicander made men∣tion of this, as if it had been unknown to Aristotle, Galen, Aetius, Aelian, Avicenna. The blewish coloured Spider is worse than all these, called by Nicander 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; going on both sides with very long and tall feet: the Scholiast adds 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is downy and high, not high downy, as Lonicerus translates it. Pliny saith hairy with black down, though I can hardly be in∣duced to believe that the blewish Phalangium is hairy with black down. Nicander calls that Phalangium 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which others call 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, differing only from the red Hornet by want of wings, and is wonderful red. It is held far worse than the blew, though that by only touching doth communicate her venome, and break a crystal looking-glass (saith Scaliger) by running over it. There are two kindes of Tetragnathi, the worst is with a white line running along the middle of the head, and another across that. The milder or ash-coloured, white on the latter part, is of the same colour, and that makes very broad nets for flies on the walls. Plin. and Hermolaus. But as Aetius saith, Tetragnathus is one kinde of Phalangium, with a broad body, whitish, with rough feet, it hath two little risings in the head, one upright, the other broad, that it seems to have two mouths, and four cheeks. Aelian saith there is a great number of them about the River Arrhata in India, sometimes deadly to the Inhabitants. In harvest time they are found amongst pulse, (when they are gathered with the hands) some small Phalangia are like to Bee∣tles,

of a flame-red colour; such are those the English call Twyngs, by eating whereof cattel are oft-times killed: Phalangium breeds amongst tares, and in the Peach-tree, they call it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, by Nicander and Aetius; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, by Dioscorides, because it boldly strikes the heads of those that pass by it, when it descends by a thred, or fals down without it. It is a little creature in the shape of a Butterfly Phalaena: it goes horridly with the head alwaies nodding, and a heavy belly, it is of a long body and a greenish colour; it hath its sting in the top of its neck, if it light upon any man, it will especially wounds the parts about the head, as Aetius witnesseth; it is nourished in the Peach-tree leaves, and hath wings like to some Butterflies: whence the Scholiast would insinuate that this kinde of Phalangium is winged, which no man hath obser∣ved yet. Ponzettus and Ardoynus, deceived by Rabbi Moses, suppose it to be Cranocaleptes, and the Tarantula; Gilbert an English man followed this error, in the Chapter of the Tarantula. Sclerocephalus, or hard-head, little differs in fashion from the former; it hath a head as hard as a stone, and all the lineaments of its body like those little creatures that fly about candles. Scoletion is a long Spider, and varied about the head especially with some spots. There is also a kinde of Phalangium, Pliny cals it the downy Spider, with a very great head; which being cut, they say that two worms are found, which bound to women before conception in a crows skin, will keep them from conceiving: and this vertue of them will continue for a year, as Cecilius hath left it written in his Commentaries. We call the last Appulus, and commonly Tarantula, famous by that name, from the Countrey of Tarentum, where they are most fre∣quent,

[illustration]

it borrows its name, we give you here the picture of it, that was bestowed upon Pennius by an Italian Merchant of happy memo∣ry; where if you paint the white places with a light brown, and the black with a dark brown, you have the true spotted Tarantula; I know no man yet that described it as it should be. Ferdinandus Ponzettus doth faign it to be only with six feet, and Ardoynus thinks the same, and saith more, that it hath a long-tail. Rhasis cals it Tarantula, Sypta, Albucasis, Alsari, Rabbi Moses, Aggonsarpa, Avicenna, Sebigi, Gilbert an English man, Tararta; for he followed Ardoynus, who made two kindes of Tarantula's, one brownish, as we have pictu∣red it: another Saffron coloured and clear, such as Egypt produceth.

Phalangium is not known in Italy, as we said out of Pliny, but now they are all almost found in the south Countrey, with great inconvenience to mowers, and hunters, as is manifest by dai∣ly experience. Ponsettus was wonderfully deceived, who in l. 3. c. 15. of the Scorpion, cals Phalangium a venomous Fly. It is a druel creature (saith Alexander ab Alexandro) pestilent to touch. In summer when the sun is very hot, their sting is venomous, at other times not. In the coldest Countreys there are many Spiders, but no Spiders called Phalangia, or if there be any, they are free from all venome and infection. Tarantulae lie hid in the chinks of furrowes that are cleft with heat, and they strike and wound with their teeth mowers or hunters that are not aware of them; wherefore the Inhabitants defend their hands and feet, when they go to mow, or to hawk or hunt, she makes her web like a net very silently, and all the little creatures she can catch, she provides for her supper. All the Phalangia bring forth in their net, (that they make thick) and they do as it were sit upon eggs in a great number, and when the young grows up it embraceth the dam and kils her, and oft times casts out the sire, if it can lay hold of him, for he helps the dam to sit, and they bring forth 300. Bellonius l. sing. obs. c. 68. observed little Phalangia in sandy grounds creeping up the Horses legs, (may be that is it the Germans call Stein spinnen) by whose continual bitings they suddenly fainted, and staggering continually they consumed. Basilius saith that there are ten kindes of Phalangia, but he describes them not. Avicenna (I know not out of what Book of Galen) divides the Spiders Phalangia in∣to the Aegyptian, the black, the bright red, that men call Raches, the white, Citron coloured, Grape coloured, Pismire-like, like Cantharis, Waspy, and mountainous. But both he, and all the Arabians describe them so foolishly (to say no more) that there can be nothing more con∣fused

[illustration]

in so great a matter. Lastly, to add all the kindes of Phalangia which we have seen or read of. I shall annex the Cretian Phalangium, you have here the picture of it exactly printed. It is of colour brown and ash-coloured, a smooth body, and hairy legs: near the mouth it is fenced as it were with two hooked prickles, with which it bites and wounds. It lives as the Spiders do by Flies & Butterflies, & makes nets to catch them: she laies eggs, and fosters them under her breast, whence the young ones are thrust forth, which stick under the dams belly, till growing elder they kill her. They dig a hole fit for the bigness of their body; for as they are not every where of one colour, so they are not of the same mag∣nitude. They dwell in a cave two foot deep, and on the out∣side they cover it with straw that the dust get not in. All these venomous Spiders are naturally so, for they suck not their poyson from herbs, (as some think from

their likeness) for they do not so much as taste of them, nor yet from the malignity of their food. For they feed principally on Flies, Gnats, Bees, and they suck no ill humours from them.

Grievous symptomes follow the bitings of Pismire Phalangium, for there followes a mighty * 1.32 swelling on the part bitten, the knees grow weak, the heart trembles, the forces fail, and oft-times death succeeds. Nicander saith that the sick sleep so deeply, that they are alwaies asleep at last, and are in the same condition as those are that are stung by the Viper: Histories relate that Cleopatra set one to her breast, that she might escape Augustus without pain, nor is the wound deadly unless it be wholly neglected. Rhagium makes very small wound, and that cannot be seen, after it hath bitten: the lower parts of the eyes, as also of the cheeks wax red, then horror and fainting seize on the loyns, and weakness on the knees, the whole body is very cold & hath no heat, and the nerves suffer convulsion from the malignity of the venome. The parts serving for genera∣tion are so debilitated, that they can harly retain their seed, they make water like to Spiders, webs, and they feel pain as those do are stung with a Scorpion. From the sting of Asterion, men seem wholly without strength, their knees fail them, shivering and sleep invade the patient. The blew Spider is worst of all, causing darkness and vomitings like Spiders webs, then fainting, weak∣ness of the knees, Coma, and death. Dysderi, or Wasp-like Phalangium, causeth the same sym∣ptomes with the blew, but milder, and with a slow venome brings on putrefaction. Where the Tetragraphii bite, the place is whitish, and there is a vehement and continual pain in it, the part it self growes small as far as the joynts. Lastly, the whole body findes no profit by its nourishment; and after health recovered, men are troubled with immoderate watchings. Aetius: Nicander denies directly that the ash-coloured Tetragnathon can poyson one by biting him. The Cantharis like, or pulse Phalangium raiseth wheals, which the Greeks call 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the minde is troubled, the eyes are wrested aside, the tongue stammers and fails, speaking things im∣properly, the heart is as it were moved with fury, and flies up and down. The Vetch kinde pro∣duceth the same mischiefs, and cause Horses that devour them, and cattel to be very thirsty, and to burst in the middle. Cranocalaptes, saith Pliny, if it bite any one, death followes shortly after. But Aetius and Nicander affirm the contrary, and that the wound thereof is cured without any trouble almost at all. Head-ache, cold, vertigo, restlesness, tossings, and pricking pains of the belly follow, but they are all asswaged (saith Nicander) by fit remedies. Sclerocephalus, is like to this in form, and forces and effects the same things, as also the Scolecium. We said that the downy Phalangium drives away barrenness, if it be carried about one, but whether it be violent∣ly venomous, I know no man that hath determined it. The spotted or Phalangium of Apulia, doth produce divers and contrary symptomes according to the complexion of him that is wounded, and his present disposition. For some laugh, some cry, some speak faulteringly, others are wholly silent, this man sleeps, the other runs up and down alwaies waking; this man re∣joyceth, is merry and moves up and down, that is sad, slothful, dull; some think themselves to be Kings, and command all; some are sad, and think they are in captivity, and fettered: lastly, as men drunk are not of one quality: so are these that are mad, some are fearful, silent, trem∣bling; some are bold, clamo••ous, constant. This is common to them all, to delight in musical instruments, and to apply their mindes and bodies to dancing and leaping at the sound of them. Lastly, when by continuance of the disease and the vehemency of it, they seem next unto death, yet when they hear musick they recollect their spirits, and they dance with greater chearful∣ness every day. These dancings being continued night and day, at length the spirits being agita∣ted, and the venome driven forth by insensible transpiration they grow well. But if the Musi∣cians upon any cause do but leave off playing, before the fuel of this mischief be spent, the sick fall into the same disease that they were first oppressed with. We must admire this most, above other things, that all those that are stung with the the Tarantula, dance so well, as if they were taught to dance, and sing as well as if they were musically bred. (In Italy it was first invented, and custome hath taken it up to call such as are bitten, Tarantati, or Tarantulati.) Cardanus against faith and experience, denieth that musick can restore any that are bitten; yet we heard the same thing fell out at Basil, from Felix, Platerus, Theodore, Zuingerus, our most famous, and dear Masters, and we read the same in Matthiolus, Bellunensis, Ponzettus, and Paracelsus. And if the sweet musick of pipes could help mad horses, and pains of the hips, (as Asclepiades writes) why may it not help those are stung with a Tarantula? Some there are that assign to this dis∣ease, some I know not what small deity, as superintendent over it: they call him St. Vitus that had formerly great skill in singing, he being called upon and pacified with musick, as he is the patron of musick cures them, so that men superstitiously impute that to him, which they should do to musick and dancing. Bellonius reports that the Cretian Phalangium induceth the like mis∣chiefs, and the pain and wound of it is also cured by musick. It is no wonder the Ancients de∣scribed not these two kindes of Phalangia, because they knew them not, nor did the shew the waies how to cure their stingings. Dioscorides writes thus of the common bitings of the Pha∣langia. The symptomes that follow their bitings are commonly these: The place stung looketh red, but neither swels, nor waxeth hot, but it is something moist; when it growes cold, the whole body quakes, the hams and groins are stretched out, there is a collection made in the loins, they are often urged to make water, and they sweat with very great pain, and labour to go to the stool, and cold sweat runs down every where, and tears trickle down from their

darkned eyes. Aetius adds further: They are kept waking, they have frequent erection of the yard, their head pricks, sometimes their eyes and their legs grow hollow. Their belly is unequal∣ly stretched out with winds, and their whole body swels, chiefly their face, their gums, their tongues, and tonsils, they bring forth their words foolishly and gaping, sometimes they are trou∣bled with difficulty to make water, they are pained in their secrets, they make urine like water and full of cobwebs. The part affected is pricked and swels, (which Dioscorides denied be∣fore) and it is moderately red. So saith Aetius, from whom Paulus, Actuarius, Ardoynus, differ but little. Gal. 3. de loc. affec. c. 7. hath it thus. The bitings saith he of the Phalangia are scarce to be seen: it first affects only the skin, and from the superficies of it, it is carried by the conti∣nuity of the fibres to the brain, and into the whole body: for the skin comes from the mem∣branes, * 1.33 and they from the nerves and the brain; this is clear, because by presently binding of it on the farther parts, they are preserved from the venome that is near to them. In Zacinthus they that are bit by the Phalangia are otherwise affected, and more grievously, in other parts: their body is astonished, weakned, trembles, and is very cold: vomiting and convulsion followes, and inflation of the yard: their ears are afflicted with most cruel pains, and the soles of their feet. They use bathing for a remedy; if the party recovered go willingly into bathes afterwards, or were by chance or by craft brought into them, by the hot water the contagion passeth over the whole body, and he perceives the same mischief in the whole body. Dioscorides writes the same things in the chapter concerning Trifoly that smels like Asphaltum. The decoction of the whole plant easeth all the pain by fomentation, where Serpents have stung men, what man soe∣ver that hath ulcers and washeth himself in the same bath, is so affected, as he that was bit by a Serpent; Galen saith he thinks it is done by a miracle, Lib. de Theriaca ad Pisonom, if Galen did write that Book. But Aelian speaks more miraculously, where he affirms that may happen to those that are sound, making no mention of ulcers. And thus much for symptomes. Now for the cure.

The cure is particular or general. Physitians speak of but a few particular cures, because the * 1.34 general is commonly effectual.

But Pliny sets down a remedy against the biting of the Phalangium called Formicarium, that hath a red head: to shew another of the same kinde to him that is wounded, and they are kept dead for this purpose. Also a young Weasil is very good, whose belly is stuft with Coriander, kept long and drank in Wine. A Wasp, that is called Ichneumon, bruised and applied, drives back the venome of the Phalangium Vesparium, (saith Bellonius) not otherwise than as one living kils another, that is alive. For Ichneumon (saith Aristotle, is a small creature that is an ene∣my to the Phalangia; it often goes into their holes, and goes forth again, losing its labour. For it is a matter of great labour for so small a creature to draw forth its enemy greater than it self by force; but if he light upon his enemy preying abroad, he drags the Phalangium as easily with him as a Pismire doth a corn; and the more stifly he drawes himself back, the Wasp draws him on the more fiercely, and sparing no pains, doth bestir himself with all his might; sometimes when he is tired with too much labour, he flies away and breathes himself, and having recove∣red breath, he goes to seek for the Phalangium again, and striking him often with his sting, at last he kils him; when he hath killed him, he carries him into his own habitation on high, and there it renewes its kinde by sitting upon them. Those whom the Tarantula strikes, are helped by violent and constant motion, but Celsus on the other side commands those that are stricken by the other kindes of Phalangia, to be quiet and to move but little. But musick and singing are the true Antidote of it. Christophorus de honestis, bids presently exhibit Theriaca Andromachi. Also he gives Butter and Honey, and Saffron root with Wine. The Bezar of it are the green grains of the Mastick tree. Ponzettus lib. de venen. perswades to give ten grains of Mastick with Milk, or juice of the leaves of Mulberies, j. ounce and half. In the augmentation he cureth it with Agarick of white Briony, after sweating much they must be refreshed with cold and moist things, as with Poppy-water. Merula saith they are cured with singing, dancing, leaping, and colours; I will not contend for the first three, but I cannot see how they can be cured with co∣lours, especially when as they that are stung are blinde, or see very little. He saith also that in∣habitants and citizens are hurt by them, but strangers are safe and out of danger, which no man of a smal belief, or not very great faith can believe. Dioscorides appoints a general cure: First, scarifying must be repeated, and cupping glasses set on with a great fire. Absyrtus coun∣sels to fume the part stricken, with the shels of Hens eggs first steeped in Vinegar, and burned with Harts-horn, or Galbanum.

Then you must use scarification, and draw fouth the bloud by sucking or cupping glasses. Or, which is safest, burn the place affected with an actual Cautery, unless it were full of nerves; for then it is best to set a Cautery on the neighbouring parts. Then sweat must be provoked with clothes laid on, or rather by gentle and long walking. Lastly, to perfect the cure, you must prove by external and internal Medicaments, such as we here set down, and the most commen∣dable and most noted we mark with an Asterisk. Internal remedies out of Dioscorides: Take seeds of Southernwood, Anniseed, Cummin seed, Dill, round Birthwort, wilde Cicers, Cedar fruit, Plantain, Trifoly, seed of Minianthes, each alike, bruise them severally; the Dose of them severally is ij. drams in Wine, but if you joyn many of them together, drink iij. drams or iv. with Wine: also j. dram of the fruit of Tamarisk is effectual, with Wine. Chamepithy, and the

decoction of green Cyprus nuts with Wine. Some prove of the juice of River-crabs with Asses milk and Smallage-seed, and they promise it shall presently take away all pains. Also a Ly of the Fig-tree is drank against the bitings of the Phalangia: also it is good to dtink the fruit of the Turpentine tree, Bav-berries, Balm-leaves, the seeds of all the wilde Carrots, and of Coriander, the juice of Myrtle-berries, Ivy, Mulberry, Cabbage and Cliver-leaves, with Wine or Vinegar, one dram of the leaves of Bean Trifoly drank with Wine.

Decoction of Sparagus root, juice of Housleek, juice of Clivers with Wine. He also com∣mends a Snail bruised raw, and drank with Asses milk. * Also Balm-leaves with Nitre, and Mallowes boyled with the roots, drank often. The leaves, flowers, and seeds of the herb Pha∣langium, and the seed of Gith, the Decoction of Asparagus, Mock Chervil, and the juice of Mullberries.

Out of Galen.

Take Birthworth, Opium, of each four aurei, roots of Pellitory of Spain three aurei, make Trochis as big as a Bean; the Dose is two Trochis with three ounces of pure Wine. The ashes of a Rams hoof drank with Wine and Honey. The remedies of Diophantis, against the bitings of the Phalangia. Take Birthwort four drams, Pellitory as much, Pepper two drams, Opium one dram, make little Cakes as big as Beans, take two, with two Cyathi of the best Wine.

Another that is better. Take seeds of wilde Rue, Rocket-seed, Pellitory, Storax, quick Brim∣stone, each six drams, Castoreum two drams, mingle them, make Trochis as before with Snails bloud; the Dose is three oboli in Wine. Another. Take Myrrhe, Castoreum, Storax, each one dram, Opium two drams, Galbanum three drams, Anniseed, and Smallage of each one aceta∣bulum, Pepper thirty grains, make it up with Wine. Another. Take Myrrhe five drams, Spike of Syria six drams, flowers of the round Cane two drams and half, Cassia four drams, Cina∣mon three drams, white Pepper one dram and half, Frankincense one dram and one obolus, Costus one dram, make it up with Athenian Honey; the Dose is the quantity of a Hazel-nut with water, or with Honey and water. Apollodorus * remedies. Take wilde Cumin one aceta∣bulum, bloud of a Sea-tortoise four drams, rennet of a Hinde or Hare three drams, Kids bloud four drams, make them up with the best Wine, and lay them up; the Dose is the quantity of an Olive, in half a Cyathus of Wine. Another. Take seed of bituminous Trifoly, round Birth-wort, seeds of wilde Rue, Tare-seed dried in the Sun, each six drams, drink them in Wine, and make Cakes, four drams weight; the Dose is one Cake, Gal. 2. de Antid. where he hath col∣lected many remedies from Authors.

Out of Aetius and Aegineta.

Take quick Brimstone, Galbanum, each four drams, bitter Almonds blancht, juice of La∣serwort two drams, of Assa four drams, mingle them with Wine and Honey, and drink them, also lay them on thus. Another. Take Ameos two drams, Flower-de-luce one dram, or of St Johns wort, or bituminous Trifoly, drink them in Wine. Or take Anniseed, wilde Carriot∣seed, Cumin-seed, Gith, Pepper, Agarick, each one dram, drink it. Or take leaves of Cyprus∣tree, or the Nuts bruised in Wine and Oyl one Hemina, and drink it.

For this end he prescribes Bay-berries, the herb Scorpions grasse, Serpolet, Laserwort, Cala∣minth, Chamaepitha, by themselves, or with Rue and Pepper. Another. A bunch of Mints boyled in fresh Posca, let the sick drink two Cyathi: Also Germander, Chamaepithy, white Thorn, and Peniroyall in decoction are good. Also a Ly, and juice of Ivy with Vinegar. As∣clepiades used these. Take seed of Sphondylium dried, Calamint, each alike, bruise them, and drink often in a day two Cyathi of Wine with them. Another. Take juice of Laserwort, Dau∣cus-seed, dried Mints, Spikenard, each alike, make it up with Vinegar; the Dose is one dram: take it with Posca and Wine, four Cyathi, and presently go into a hot Bath; when Laserwort is wanting, take the double portion of pure Assa.

One that is better. * Take of Cenchryus, seeds of wilde Rue, Pepper, Myrrhe, wilde Vine, of each one dram and half, Cyprus root one dram, make a Confection; the Dose is one dram, with four Cyathi of Wine, and one Cyathus of Honey. Also the eating of Garlick is good, as also a Bath and Wine, and such things as help against Vipers stingings. Paulus repeats the same reme∣dies, and Theban Cumin, or seed of Agnus Castus or leaves of the white Poplar-tree drank in Beer are very effectual.

Out of Nicander. Rosin of the Turpentine tree, Pine or Pitch-tree, drank or swallowed, is exceeding good, which Gesner and Bellonius say they learned by experience, to be true.

Out of Avicenna. The Myrtle-tree and the fruit of it, Doronicum, Mastick, Assa foetida, Dod∣der and its root, the Indian Hazel-nut (which is Theriac for this disease) white Bd••llium, all of these drank with Wine. Take roots of Birthwort, Flower-de-luce, Spike Celtica, Pellitory of Spain, Daucus, black Hellebore, Cumin, root of Daffodil, leaves of Winter Wheat, leaves of Dogs-tooth, Pomegranate tops, Hares Rennet, Cinamon, juice of River-crabs, Storax, Opium, Carpobalsamum, of each one ounce, beat all to powder, and make Troches, the weight of one aureus, which is the Dose of them. Also give in Wine the decoction of the leaves of bitu∣minous Trifoly, of the Cyprus Nut, Smallage-seed. Moreover give to drink, Pine kernels, Aethiopian Cumin, leaves and rinde of the Plane-tree, seeds of Siler Montanum, black wilde Chiches, seed of Nigella, Southern-wood, Dill, Birthwort, fruit of the Tamarisk, for all these are very good. Also the juice of wilde Lettice and House-leek are commended.

The decoction of Cyprus Nuts, especially with Cinamon and River-crabs juice, and juice of a Goose: Also the decoction of Sparagus with Wine and water.

Another. Take Birthwort, Cumin, each three drams with hot water: An approved Theriac. Take Nigella seed ten drams, Daucus, Cumin, each five drams, Cyprus roots and Nuts, each three drams, Spipenard, Bay-berries, round Birthwort, Carpobalsamum, Cinamon, Gentian, seeds of Siler Montanum, and of Smallage, each two drams, make a Confection with Honey; the Dose is the quantity of a Nut with old Wine. Confection of Assa. Take Assa foetida, Myrrhe, Rue-leaves, each alike, make it up with Honey; the Dose is one or two drams with Wine.

Out of Absyrtus, Lullus, Albucasis, Rhasis, Ponzettus. Take white Pepper thirty grains, with a draught of old Wine, take it often. Also Thyme is given in Wine. Ab••yrtus. Drink upon it one spoonfull of Wine distilled with Balm. Lullus. Take dry Rue, Costus, wilde Mints, Pellito∣ty of Spain, Cardamum, each alike, Assa foetida one fourth part, Honey what may suffice, min∣gle all, and make it up; the Dose is the weight of an Hazel-nut in drink. Albucasis. A Hens brain drank with a little Pepper in sweet Wine or Posca. The decoction of Cyprus-nuts with Wine. A Theriac against the bitings of Phalangia. Take Tartar six drams, yellow Brimstone eight drams, Rue-seed three drams, Castoreum, Rocket-seed each two drams, with the bloud of the Sea-tortoise, make an Opiate; the dose is one dram with Wine. Another. Take Pellitory of Spain, round Birthwort, each one part, white Pepper half a part, Horehound four parts, make it up with Honey; the Dose is one dram. Another. Roots of Capers, long Birthwort, Bay-berries, Gentian root, each alike, drink it with Wine. Or drink Diassa with strong Wine, and Cumin, and Agnus Castus seed, Another. Take Nigella seed ten drams, Daucus, Cumin, each five drams, wilde Rue-seed, Cyprus Nuts, each three drams, Indian Spike, Bay-berries, round Birthwort, Carpobalsamum, Cinamon, Gentian root, seed of bituminous Trifoly, Smallage-seed, each two drams, make a Confection with Honey; the Dose is the quantity of a Nut with old Wine. Rhasis.

Out of Pliny, Celsus, Scaliger.

It is good for those that are bitten by the Phalangium to drink five Pismires, or one dram of the Roman Nigella seed, or black berries with Hypocistis and Honey. Also Marish Smallage and wilde Rue, are peculiar against the bitings of the Phalangia: Also the bloud of the Land Tortoise is good, juice of Origanum, the root of Polymonia, Vervain, Cinquefoil, the seed of Garden Onyons, all the kindes of Housleek, roots of Cyprus, Turnsole with three grains of juice of Ivy-root, in Wine or Posca; also Castoreum two drams, in Mulsum to cause vomit, or in juice of Rue to stop it. Also Agnus Castus seed two drams: Apollodorus that followed Demo∣crates,, calls a kinde of herb Crocides, by the touch whereof Phalangia die, and their force is abated; the Mat-rush-leaves next the root, eaten do profit. Pliny. Take wilde Vine-berries, Myrrhe, each alike, drink them out of one Hemina of sod Wine. Also the seed of Radish, or root of Darnel must be drank with Wine. * Celsus. But amongst many other remedies that are proved, one Antidote is due to Scaliger, who was the ornament of our world and age; the form of it is this. Take true round Birthwort, Mithridate, each two ounces, Terra Sigillata half an ounce, Flies living in the flowrs of Napellus, 22. Citron juice what may serve turn, mingle them. For saith he, against this venome or any other bitings of Serpents, Art hath scarce yet found out so effectuall a remedy. Scaliger. Juice of Apples drank, or of Endive, are the Bezar against the bitings of the Phalangium: Petrus de Albano. These are the most approved outward remedies. Five Spiders putrefied in Oyl and laid on, Asses or Horse dung anoynted on with Vinegar or Posca: Take Vinegar three sextarii, Brimstone a sixth part, mingle them, foment the place with a sponge, or a bath, the pain being a little abated, wash the place with much sea-water: some think that the stone Agates will cure all bitings of the Phalangia, and for that reason it is brought out of India and sold dear. Pliny. Fig-tree ashes with Salt and Wine, the root of the wilde Pa∣nace bruised, Birthwort and Barley-meal impasted with Vinegar, water and Honey and Salt for a fomentation. Decoction of Balm, or the leaves of it made into a Pultis and applyed; we must constantly use hot Baths. Pliny. Open the veins of the tongue, and rub the places swolne with much Salt and Vinegar, then provoke sweat diligently and warily. Vigetius. The practicall men mightily commend the root of Panax Chironia. Theophrastus. Anoynt the wound with Oyl, Garlick bruised, or Onyons, or Knot-grasse, or Barley-meal with Bay-leaves, and Wine, or Wine Lees, or wilde Rue, lay it onwith Vinegar for a Cataplasme. Nonus. Take live Brimstone, Galbanum, each four Denarii, Lybian juice and Euphorbium, each alike, Hazel-nuts pild, each two drams, dissolve them in Wine, and with wine make a Cataplasme, also inwardly it helps much. Flies bruised and laid on the part affected. Also a Barbel heals the bites of a ve∣nemous Spider, if it be cut raw and applyed to it. Galen. Anoynt all the body with a most li∣quid Oyntment with wax. Foment the part affected with Oyl, wherein bituminous Trifoly hath been soked, or with a Sponge and hot Vinegar, very often. Make also a Cataplasme of these that follow, namely, with Onyons, bloudwort, Solomons seal, Leeks, Bran boyled in Vinegar, Barley-meal, and Bay-leaves, boyled in Honey and Wine. Make them also with Rue, Goats dung with Wine, Cyprus, Marjoram, and wilde Rue with Vinegar. Asclepias his Plaister. Take seed of wilde Rue, Rocket-seed, Staves-acre, of Cenchrus, Agnus Castus, of Apples, Nuts, of leaves of Cypress, each alike, bruise all with Vinegar, and with Honey make a Plaister. Aetius. Lay the decoction of Lupines upon the place affected, the Eschar being first taken away, then

anoynt it with Goose grease, wilde Rue, and Oyl in the hot Sun or by the fire, or make a Cataplasme of Barley-pap, and broth of Lupines. Oribasius. An Indian Hazel-nut smeared on cures the bitings of the Phalangia: Oyl of Worm-wood, and the milk of Figs anoynted on, doth profit very much. Avicenna. Of hot ashes, Figs and Salt with Wine make a Plaister: Al∣so it is convenient to hide a great boll in sand or hot ashes, and by that means to sweat with Antidotes. Rhasis. Goats dung must be dissolved with the Pultesses, and laid to the part af∣fected. Kiranides. Lay on often cold Iron. Petrus de Albano. Foment the place with juice of Plantain daily. Hildegard. Oyl of artificiall Balsam is exceeding soveraign. Euonymus. A Fo∣mentation of the branches and stalks of Masterwort must be continued, or let him drink Ver∣vain with Wine, and lay it on outwardly, first bruised. Turneifer. Bruise Rue with Garlick and Oyl and lay it on. Celsus. You shall lastly finde divers such remedies in Pliny and Dioscorides, so digested into order, that they rather require our silence, than our curious, and unusefull re∣petition. Of this therefore thus far.

—Now let us see That Spider with which our mindes well agree, Who sits within the midst of's Net to watch Where the East winde blowes, it shakes, he doth catch Flies that but touch his Web, none can him match.

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 * 1.35 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 * 1.36 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 * 1.37 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.

CHAP. XIV.

Of certain kindes of Spiders observed by Authors.

YOu may remember that I so divided Spiders, that some were venemous, and called Pha∣langia, and others were harmlesse: Few of the Phalangia (and perhaps none) use to spin, but all the rest spend their time in making threds or Nets. Some of these Net-work∣workers

[illustration]

are House Spiders, others are field Spiders, so also are those that make threds distinguished.

Amongst the Net-workers I saw one the greatest of all, I have set down the picture of it here. In Autumn amongst small Rose-boughs it extendeth an artificiall Net, and it catcheth either another Spider running over it, or Gnats or Flies that come to it, when she pulls her cord with wonderfull dexterity, and when she hath hanged them thus up, she leaves them till she growes hungry a∣gain. She hath a frothy body, Ovall figured almost, i•• hath a little head with pinsers under the belly, and the back is adorned with white spots: This is one of the Autum∣nal Holci, and in a very short time it will grow from the big∣nesse of a Pease to be as big as you see her here descri∣bed. Amongst the Web-makers, we have seen some spin a very fine Web, others spin one that was but mo∣derately fine, some spin base stuffe, grosse, rude, and ill favoured: The most subtile work-masters are the House-bred-Spiders, whereof we have here set down one of a brown colour, of the bignesse of the figure, and being placed between you and the Sun, it is of some transpa∣rency. This is it whose commendation was written by Coe∣lius Secundus Curio, and the nature of it by Pliny, which taught Heba, Penelope, the Egyptians, Lydians, Macedonians, and others that were given to spinning. This field Spider weaves a moderate and strong Web in hedges, stretch∣ing forth his sheet with a Coverlaid, and where he dwells he waits for his prey. His Web is thicker that it may not rain through, and better to endure the force of windes, she hath a brown body, but feet that are changea∣ble colours, varyed with black and white spots in order, she hath a forked mouth, fenced with clawes, the two white spots that are seen above in the head I know not whether they serve for eyes, the whole body is gently hairy; she doth stretch out her Web wide and long, that she may catch much prey, to which she is very much addicted. This field Spider spins a base and un∣polished thred, and gathers it as it were into a bundle. Pennius first observed this kinde in Colchester fields between wilde Origanum watch∣ing for Flies, and he never saw it otherwise. It hath feet like to those described just before, a

[illustration]

round body like a Globe, the back is marked with white spots, also it hath a fundament four ••quare, and black. Hitherto also we referre three kindes of the Spiders called Lupi, who live in chinks of Walls, heaps of stones, and old rub∣bish: they weave a base and small Web in their holes, and in the day time they wander farther abroad in hopes of prey, which they set upon with great force, and draw into their dens. The greatest of them is of a brown colour, it hath a head almost of Ovall figure, the body as a Globe, both sides are adorned with two small and short white lines, about the middle of the back it is of a more whitish colour, it hath feet comely with divers black and brown spots: The middlemost is the least, and grey-coloured; the ridge of the back is set forth by three Pearles as it were, whereof that which is next to the neck is greater and longer. The third seems to be blacker, wearing a Crosse overthwart the back very white, and with ••ight angles, and therefore some call it the holy Spider. I con∣jecture that these are of the Wolf kinde, because they run with a kinde of leaping, and discover a great ravening appetite, for they lay up nought for the morrow, but consume all their provision in one day. Gesner saw one of this kinde that was Ash-coloured. There are also Spiders with long shanks, that make disor∣derly and most rude work. The field Spider with a body almost round and brown, that lives about grasse and Sheep, the English call it Shepheard, ei∣ther because it is pleased with the company of Sheep, or because Shepherds think those fields that are full of them to be good wholsome Sheep-pasture, and no venome to be it, (for this Shepherd taken in∣wardly, or outwardly applyed, is a harmlesse Crea∣ture.) There are yet more kindes of Spiders, for there is a kinde of black Spider, with short feet, that hath a white Egge under the belly, white as snow, and running swiftly; when the Egge breaks, many young Spiders run forth, which go all with their Dam to feed, and at night they rest upon the Dams back. Pennius supposed that this was rough with warts, untill he touch∣ed it with a straw, and saw the young Spiders to run down. Also in rotten hollow trees there are very black Spiders, with great bodies, very short feet, that dwell with Cheeslips, and Catterpillers called Juli. Also saith Gesner, we have seen them all white, with a com∣pacted and broad little body, upon the flower of Mountain Parsley, Roses, and grasse, they have most long slender legs, the mouth is noted with a spot, and both sides with a red line; he thought it was venemous, because he saw a Munkey almost dead that had eaten one, and

[illustration]

could hardly be recovered by powring Oyl down his throat. We know also Spiders with a long body, and a sharp tail, they are red from black, as also green. Also there are red ones of two kindes, one great one that dwells only in the Caves of the earth, with a body Cinnaber colour, with feet yellow from red, the tail and belly tend toward yellow a little from brown. There is another sort very small, lesse then a Sheeps Tike, as red as Scarlet, it hath but six feet, being a monster amongst Spiders; it hath a head like as Spiders have, but it is very small: It lives in the earth, and weaves a very course Web, and not well wrought; sometimes she wandreth abroad, and shews great agility to catch her prey. We grant willing∣ly that there are more kindes of Spiders, and of more colours, for our land brings not all things forth, nor yet did Actorides, though he was called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, see all things. It may be fu∣ture times may delineate the rest better. In the mean time we have spoken of Spiders if not to delight, yet according as we thought fit, and we would do no more, because in writing so much of them we have ta∣ken great pains: Yet this we shall observe, that all Net-workers, and Web-workers amongst Spiders, do grow to have greater skill by age, and that shut up in Wooll, they increase the generation of Moths, and they yearly oft times cast off their old skin, and the greater and lustier they are, the more ingenious are they found to be in their gifts of life.

CHAP. XV.

Of the generation, copulation, and use of Spiders.

IT is manifest that Spiders are bred of some aereall seeds putrefied, from filth, and corrup∣tion, * 1.38 because that the newest houses the first day they are whited will have both Spiders and Cobwebs in them. But their propagation is frequently by copulation, the desire and act whereof lasts almost all the Spring. They do by a mutual and frequent attraction of their Net, as it were kindle venery, and continually a•• they draw, they come neerer, then * 1.39 at last they copulate backwards, because that manner of copulation, by reason of their round body was most convenient: After the same manner do all the Phalangia that weave, copu∣late together, and they are generated from creatures of the same kinde as Aristotle testifies. But they copulate not in the Spring, but at beginning of the Winter; at which time they go fastest, and hurt certainly, and seem to be more venemous. Some after copulation lay one Egge alone, and carry it under their belly, and it is white as snow, and they sit on it by course, the male sometimes helping the female. Others lay many and very small Egges, like Poppy-seeds, out of which sometimes thirty small Spiders are bred, after some trifling sports in their Web, they go forth with their Dam, and in the evening they come in again, untill such time as each of them hath learned to spin its own Web, to live more safely and pleasantly, they thrust forth their young by leaping, they sit on their Egges three dayes, and in a Lunar moneth, they bring their young to perfection. The House Spiders lay their Egges in a thin Web, but the field Spiders in a thick, because they may resist the greater forces of winde and rain; the place helps much for Generation. For as in the Countrey of Arrhen∣tia, and in the Island of Crete there are great store of Phalangia, so in Ireland there are none; they did not long indure in England, the Tower at Gratian••••o••is would suffer none, for though many of our Spiders swallowed down do hurt us, yet their bite is harmlesse, and no man is killed by it, bu•• the bitings of all Phalangia are deadly. Where shall you not finde these Spiders that bite without doing hurt? they climbe up into Kings Courts to teach them vertue: they work in Noble mens Chambers to teach them their Duties: they dwell in poor mens houses to teach them patience, to suffer, and to labour▪ Goe but into your Orchard, and each tree is inhabited by them, in your Garden, they hide in Roses, in the field they work in hedges, you shall finde them at home and abroad, that you may have no cause to complain that there are no examples for vertue and diligence every where. The Spider, though Pallas called her impudent, Martial unconstant, Claudian bold, Politian pendulous, Juvenal dry, Propertius corrupt, Virgil light, Plautus unprofitable: yet is she good, and created for many uses, as shall appear clearly; wherefore adoring the Majesty of God who hath given so great * 1.40 vertues to so small a Creature, we shall proceed to speak of the profits we receive by her. The Flie-catching Spider wrapt in a linnen cloth, and hang'd on the left arm, is good to drive away a Quotidian, saith Trallianus. But better i•• many of them be boyld with Oyl of Bayes to the consistence of a Liniment; if you anoynt the arteries of the Wrists, the arms and Temples before the fit, the Feaver abates, and seldome comes again. Kiramides. A Spider bruised with a plaister, and spread on a cloath and applyed to the Temples, cures a Tertian. Dioscorides. The Spider called Loycos, put in a quill, and hang'd on the breast doth the same. Pliny. That House Spider that spins a thick fine and white Web, shut up in a piece of lea∣ther, or a Nur-shell, and hang'd to the arm or neck, is thought to drive away the fits of a Quartane. Dioscorid. Pennius saith he proved it to be true. Three living Spiders put into Oyl, let them presently boyl on the fire, drop some of that Oyl warm into the ear that is in pain, and it profits much. Or presse out the juice of Spiders with juice of Roses, and put it in with Wooll. Marcellus Empir. Pliny bids infuse them in Vinegar or Oyl of Roses and stamp them, and then drop some into the ear with Saffron, and it will still the pain certainly: Di∣oscorides affirms as much. Sostratus 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, saith, that Cranocolaptes (a certain Spider) drowned in Oyl, is a present remedy against poysons, as the Scholiast of Nicander professeth. Somecatch a Spider with their left hand, and bruise her in Oyl of Roses, and drop some of it into the ear of the same side the tooth akes, and Pliny saith it is a cure. Laid upon their own bites, and taken inwardly they help us. What should I speak of the Albugo of the eye, a most hurtfull disease? Yet that is taken away very easily by the help of one Spider, if you do but bruise the longest and slenderest feet (especially of that kinde of Spiders that are the whitest) with Oyl, and anoynt the eyes affected with it. Pliny. Also the running of the eyes is stopped, (which the Greeks call 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) with the dung and urine of a House Spider dropt in with Oyl of Roses, or one dram of Saffron, or else laid on alone with Wooll: whereby you may know that there is nothing so filthy in a Spider that is not good for something. Aetius for suffocation of the mother, applyed a Cerate of Spiders to the Navel, and saith it did great good. Pliny saith, that Spiders help the swelling and pain of the spleen, but he tells us not his reason. He saith moreover, that if any man take a Spider coming down with his thread, and bruised in the hollow of his hand, do lay it to the Navel it will cause a stool, but if he takes him climbing

up, and applies him, it stops the belly. He writes also that a Spider applyed to one that knowes not of it, and taken off the third day, will cure a Felon. The head and feet being ta∣ken away, it helps swellings of the Fundament. The same Author. By the fume of Spiders all the Lice fall down and never breed again. Goose-grease and Oyl of Roses with a Spider a∣noynted on the breasts, keeps the milk from curding in them. Anonymuss. Also that knotty Whip of God, and mock of all Physicians, the Gowt, which learned men say can be cured by no remedy, findes help and cure by a Spider layd on, if it be taken at that time when neither Sun nor Moon shine, and the hinder legs pulled off, and put into a Deers skin and bound to the pained foot, and be left on it for some time. Also for the most part we finde those people to be free from the Gowt of hands or feet, (which few Medicaments can doe) in whose houses the Spiders breed much, and doth beautifie them with her Tapestry and hangings. Oh the rare miracle of Nature! O the wonderfull vertue of a poor contemptible Creature! O most happy rich men, if they knew many of them how to make use of a thing ready to do them so much good! Antoninus Pius was wont to say, that the quirks of Sophistry were like to Spiders Webs, that had a great deal of art and ingenuity in them, but very little profit. But how often hath the bloud run forth of the body most miserably by a fresh wound? yet it had been easie to have stopt it by laying on a Spiders Web, something thick, and binding it fast on, were we but more attentive to look to such remedies that God affords us in our houses. But we are greedy af∣ter forain remedies, fetcht from farre, as if they were better that we bring with great pains from the farthest Indies, or more healthfull because of their greater cost. But unlesse mad af∣fection did drive us, as if we were Gad-stung, through all the places of Sea or Land, to finde remedies to stop bloud, cure Ulcers, hinder corruption, drive away inflamation, knit wounds▪ One Spiders Web would do more good than Sercocolla, Sandaraca, Bole brought from Arme∣nia, Terra Sigillata, Argilla Samia, Terra Lemnia: For it bindes, cools, dries, glutinares, and will let no putrefaction continue long there; wherefore it suddenly stops all bleeding at the nose, (as also bleeding of the Emrods, and bloud in a Dysentery, Menstrual bloud, and all over great evacuations of bloud by the opening of the mouths of the veins) whether you give it alone with wine inwardly, and lay it on outwardly, or else mingle it with Bloud-stone, Crocus Martis, and other things of that kinde. Also the Spiders web is put into the Unguent against Tetters, and applyed to the swellings of the Fundament, it consumes them without pain. Marcel. Emp. Also Pliny saith it cures runnings of the Eyes, and layd on with Oyl it heals up wounds in the joynts. Some rather use the ashes of the webs with Polenta and wine. Our Chirurgians cure warts thus: They wrap a Spiders ordinary web into the fashion of a Ball, and laying it on the wart, they set it on fire, and so let it burn to ashes; by this means the wart is rooted out by the roots, and will never grow again. Marcellus Empiricus was wont to use the webs of Spiders sound in the Cypress tree, in a remedy for the Gowt, to ease the pains. For the Tooth-ache, Galen 5. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. out of Archigenes, commends highly Spiders Egges, mingled with Spike Oyl, and put into the tooth: Also Kiranides gives Spiders Egges to drink against a Tertian; whence we conclude with Galen ad Pison. From the Spiders web we may understand enough, that Nature hath made nothing so vile, but th••t it serveth for its necessary use; if so be Physitians would use more diligence, and would not disdaign to enter into the wood of such things as are easie to attain. Now I will proceed to other things, least if I stay too long in the History of the Spiders, I may indeed be said to weave the Spiders web; yet I will add this, that Munkeys, Apes, Stellions, Lizards, Wasps, Ichneumons, Swallows Sparrows, Muskins, Hedge-sparrows, feed on Spiders. And the Nightingale, that is the chief of singing Birds, is cured from some diseases by eating of Spiders. When Alexander reigned, it is reported that there was a very beautifull Strumpet in Alexandria, that fed alwayes from her childehood on Spiders, and for that reason the King was admonished that he should be very carefull not to embrace her, least he should be poysoned by venome that might evaporate from her by sweat. Albertus also makes mention of a certain Noble Mayd of Collen, that was fed with Spiders from her childehood. And we in England have a great Lady yet living, who (as we said before) will not leave off eating of them. I cannot but repeat a history that I formerly heard from our dear friend worthy to be believed, Bruerus. A lustfull Nephew of his, having spent his estate in rioting and Brothel-houses, being ready to undertake any thing for money, to the hazard of his life; when he heard of a rich Matron of London, that was troubled with a Timpany, and was forsaken of all Physicians as past cure, he counterfeited hi••self to be a Physician in practice, giving forth that he would cure her and all diseases. But as the custome is, he must have half in hand, and the other half under her hand, to be payed when she was cured. Then he gave her a Spider to drink, as supposing her past cure, promising to make her well in three dayes, and so in a Coach with four Horses he presently hasts out of Town, lest there being a rumor of the death of her (which he supposed to be very neer) he should be appre∣hended for killing her. But the woman shortly after by the force of the venome was cured, and the ignorant Physician who was the Author of so great a work, was not known. After some moneths this good man returns, not knowing what had happened, and secretly enqui∣ring concerning the state of that woman, he heard she was recovered. Then he began to boast openly, and to ask her how she had observed her diet, and he excused his long absence, by reason of the sicknesse of a principal friend, and that he was certain that no harm could pro∣ceed

from so healthful physick; also he asked confidently for the rest of his reward, and to be given him freely. Truly in this present corruption of manners and times, how highly is such a Mountebank esteemed, wherein chance is accounted for skill, and one accidental rash cure of a disease, with danger oft-times of the patients life, makes a Quacksalver a great Physician, and he is judged worthy of praise and honour? But a better revenging Judge will correct these things; we pass on to Pismires.

CHAP. XVI

The commendation of Pismires; wherein we shall describe their Diffe∣rences, Nature, Ingenuity and Ʋse.

TO begin with the commendations of the Pismires, I know not whether I shall first speak of their body or minde, since Ants for both are not only to be preferred before many In∣sects, but also before many Men; for they are not one ey'd, nor horrid skew-ey'd, nor do they walk with crammed guts, as Ballio doth in Plautus, nor yet are they mishapen, crook-leg'd any way, gorbellied, over close kneed, blub-cheek'd, great mouthed, lean chopt, rude foreheads, or barren, as many great Ladies, and noble Women are, who have lost the faculty of generation; but the beauty of their body followes the goodness of their minde, and nature hath given them for their degree and order, a constant and absolute perfection. Cardan was the first said they were blinde, because their body is small; not remembring that there are many Flies and Gnats that are far less than Ants, yet they have eyes and can see well. If they were blind, I see not what the light could profit them, and they would work as well in the night as in the day. I confess that their foreyards serve them for a staff to prove the way, not that they do not see what way they go, but because by those means they try the hardness and softness of things. They have a very little head, but round as the heavens are, wilde brain'd, set with eyes, a mouth with teeth, and a throat not without a tongue and a palate; they have a square breast with ribs to defend it, with lungs, or bellows that supply their room, that are so firm, and yet loose, that they never grow out of winde by labouring, but alwayes draw their breath most freely. They have a stomach in their belly that is strong to digest venome, (for they feed often on Serpents and Toads) and they are very hot in the matrix, and very fruitfull, to their commendation. What should I here mention their swift walking, and their equall motion when they goe? fot they not only out-goe pack-horses for the proportion of their bodies, but out-run the swiftest Cha∣riots. They vary in colour, according to the difference of their kindes and places. For there are red ones in Mauritania, and the Inhabitants of Budemelum have white ones. In Europe they are most an end black ones, yellow, and somewhat red from tawny. Here they seem very short, smaller, fine necked, slender, and weak bodied; yet these will carry a weight thrice as great and heavy as themselves; and those in India of a great bignesse, will carry great pieces of flesh with them, and devour it.

Their bodies you have seen, now see their minde, * 1.41 It's a sparing and laborious kinde, And holds and keeps whatever she can finde. Virg. 4. Aeneid.

Truly, as often as I remember the profuseness of Caius Julius Caesar, the luxury of Caligula, the prodigality of Nero, the excessive gluttony of Apicius, and the great waste of Heliogaba∣lus; so often do I exceedingly commend the wit and ingenuity of the Pismire, and prefer her pru∣dence before that of Men. I know that they lived sweetly, and with fat patrimonies from their fa∣thers, they gained large inheritances; yet they found out new use of baths, dangerous kindes of meats, curiosity in banquets, ships made of cedars adorned with Jewels, the drinking of pearls, and theywasted as much in one year, as they could extort for tribures and customes, or by plunder both at home and abroad all their life time. Licinius Crassus had formerly much riches, who being brought to need, was laught at by all that met him, and the people in a jeer, called him the rich Crassus. And (Oh God!) saith the Comedian, what a miserable thing it is for a man to have had a great estate formerly, and to have nothing now? how much better were it for us to imitate the Ant, who gathering corn in Autumn, doth not waste it prodigally in Winter rioting, but keeps it providently for future use, and daily store? Hence it is that she is never tortured with hard poverty, nor is she tossed on the billowes of cross fortune, nor is she endebted or in danger by borrowing from others; nor doth she seek from other creatures either work, or sustenance to maintain her, and keep her in health: and if frugality comes from fruits, as the Etymologist de∣rives it, (for our Ancestors, the Masters of old sobriety, scarce knew any other diet) it is very credible that that vertue is passed from our first parents into the Pismires, who feed only on dry corn to maintain their lives, and avoid all superfluity of many dishes. Hence the Poet elegantly feigned that the Myrmidons, the most excellent people of the Greek Nation (if you consider their

temperance, their labour and their diligence) were descended of the Pismires. For whence could they have gotten so great abundance of riches and goods, unless by an Emmets prudence they had preserved what they had gotten and laid up to prevent poverty? And as sparing in keeping, so diligence in getting, and wisdome and industry is found to be admirable in them. They take a very commendable way first to preserve their life, then for their posterity, and lastly to provide their victuals. First of all, they build themselves an house, as in the golden age, not co∣vered with tyles for delight, but with green turfs, and not made of bricks, but fenced with mud∣wals. Histories do mightily magnifie the Pyramides, and trenches of Egypt, and the Labyrinth of Crete. But no man can sufficiently set forth the excellent work of 〈…〉〈…〉ches that the Ants make, the figure, the magnificence, the turnings, windings, and revolutions thereof: for these by an unspeakable prudence, beyond all mans art, make houses under ground with such strange turnings, that they open only the way that is unaccessible to others, and is not possible for any that would do them wrong to enter at. First they make the earth hollow with their tender nails in the place of spades; and to throw the earth forth, they use their hinder feet for shovels: hereby they cast up a mount, and fence it about as with wals or forts; then they cover their work with chaffe, straw, leaves, bowes, bark, and pieces of sticks, and laying onnew matter, they raise a tower that may be seen afar off, (called an Ant-hill) which is far higher and more sloping than the foundation, partly that their houses may not fall by rain staying about them, and partly that they may live the more healthfully by reason of the air that penetrates and passeth through. This divine little creature fetcheth the fashion of its building from heaven, either because their multitudes required room, or their excellence required the best. The entrance is not right forth but turning with many labyrinths and muses; they distinguish their chambers in this tower of theirs in a threefold order, yet it is so hard to come into them, that Argus who was all eyes, may be often deceived in them. The first room is large enough, like the Presence-cham∣ber, where they all meet, and convene, we call it the universal Congregation house of Ants: under this for the females, there is the feminine room arched by Daedalean Art, wherein the eggs are laid safe that they may produce their young ones, it is made lest they should be thought careless of posterity. The third chamber is most inward, and most safe from showres, and that is built for their store-house for their corn, that as it were in a granary they may lay up their belly-timber, and may fence it well from the winter cold that searcheth into all things; the adja∣cent parts and outmost skirts of their castle they appoint for a place of burial, and there they bu∣ry their dead with honour and state. And this is the manner of their building, plain indeed, and within the ground, as were the houses of the wise men of elder times, before that pride, and the head-strong ambition of Ninus invented to build up towers to heaven. Since his death, shall I speak of Kings or Princes? Truly there are some Citizens of the lower bench, who with ex∣traordinary charge do build up, not an Ant-hill, but Mausoleum, or a prison for their bodyes, and adorn it with all the cost and art they can; worthy they are indeed to be devoured by Pismires whilest they live, that dying by the force of a wise Creature, they may suffer for their folly. Nor do Ants build houses that are places for idle people, or such as are mis∣chievous to harbour themselves in, but every one, yet without any Commander, followes some honest labour, and for the good of their democraticall state, each one mutually employs his pains by turn. For they all, like those that labour in the Mines, do stoutly exercise them∣selves in digging of trenches, some serve to repair their houses, to adorn them, and to keep them clean, others with great assemblies and funerall solemnities bury their dead, in the place of buriall adjacent, others again visit the sick, and out of their Granary they fetch some Phy∣sicall grain, (for they have Corn and grain almost of all plants) and prepare that and carry it to them. They have Officers of all sorts, as Purveyours for Corn, Gleaners, Storers, Yeomen of the Larder, Housholders, Carpenters, Masons, Arch-workers, Pioners; for such is the ver∣tue and skill of every one, that each Ant knowes what is needfull to be done, and willingly doth his best to help the Common-wealth. But in their ordinary work what labour and dili∣gence do they use? If they be minded to build an Ant-hill presently, or else are forced on a sudden to raise a new house, the old one being undermin'd and decayed by the Moles dig∣ging under them, they go forth all in troops, and from the rubbish of their houses thrown down they build new ones hard by. First they gather together their scattered Egges, and Corn, and put each of them in their proper places, afterwards they repair their hill, and co∣vering and thatching that well, they keep all safe and dry: when the Sun shines, when they go forth to fetch Corn, the greater and elder go before them as Captains, the rest follow af∣ter. They creeping up to the top of the stalk, bite off the ears of Corn, and the young ones stay and gather them up, and the Chaffe being fallen off, they pull the Corn out of the husks, and then they carry it home; and the end of it being eaten off, if there be necessity, they set it at their doors a sunning, and when it is ventilated they lay it up again. When gleaning is done, they frequent the threshing floors, and there not by stealth, but openly they take suste∣nance for their lives, and they enrich their treasury. Which labour of theirs Virgil wittily de∣scribes in these Verses.

As when the Ants plunder a heap of Wheat, Minding cold Winter, store it up for meat.

Their black Regiments through narrow wayes passe, And carry their prey over fields of grasse, Some bear the burden, some them forward drive, Chastning delayes, who shall work most they strive.

Wherefore not unfitly did the Prince of morall wisdome, send those sluggish and slothfull Monfters of Mankinde (who like Mice live alwayes on other mens labours, and goe from dore to dore like Vagabonds to beg a peny) to learn wisdome of the Ant, that by the example of the Ant, they ma•• use opportunity, and lay aside begging, esteeming labour much, which is the Merchant for all that is good. Hitherto belongs that of the French Poet.

Poor Sluggard who dost live in penury and want, Behold the houshold prudence and wisdome oth' Ant, Lest she should stand in need, which she doth greatly fear. She gathers in one moneth, to serve her a whole year.

This is their diligence in gathering, their care in preserving, their prudence in storing, their oeconomicall skill in distributing what they have laid up. I shall shew you also their modesty on the way, which me thinks should not be over-passed. For though they go in a narrow way, yet are there no brawlings, contentions or strivings for it, nor yet any murmurings, or fightings, or slaughters amongst them for place, (as it is usuall amongst proud men.) But the younger gives place to the elder, and he that carries no burden, to him that is loaded, and each of them is ready modestly rather to passe by an injury, then Waspishly to offer one. If any man compare their burdens with their bodyes, he will confesse that no Creature hath more strength, considering their proportion. They carry their burdens in their mouths; the greater burdens they attempt to take up backwards with their hinder feet, and lay their shoulders to them with all their might. They have all a care and mindefulnesse and endeavour for the pub∣lick good. They store up the seed they first bite, lest they should grow again in the earth; when they are subject to grow mouldy, and are wet with rain, they bring them out and dry them in the Sun, wipe and torrefie them, and then they lay them up in their Granaries again. The greater seeds they divide at the entring. They work also at the full Moon in the night, (as good Mowers are wont to do) and when the Moon is in conjunction and hid, then they forbear labouring. But what pains do they take in labouring? How dilgent are they? And be∣cause they work in divers places, to come home with it, the one not knowing what the other doth. Certain dayes (saith Pliny) are appointed for a generall survey, and meeting to enquire into the businesse, what running together of them is there then? how civill is their conversa∣tion? how complementally do they salute one the other? how diligently do they seem as it were to talk together, and to make enquiry? You shall see see Flints worn in the path they goe, and a path made in Marble stones, that no man may doubt but that diligence will doe something in any matter; for they all goe almost in the same path. For if one carry a burthen too heavy for him, the rest in the way will come and help him, lending their legs and shoul∣ders, if it be a light burthen the fewer come to assist, if a weighty, more come, and either draw back, or thrust forward, or if the burthen be too great, by biting it in sunder, and dividing it, they promote their businesse: And by this means they bring home a great heap of straw and sticks to their houses. Now if any will attempt to hinder the Ants in their labour, (as the Serpents and Toads often doe when they meet them,)

—They fight and will not flie, And hold it noble in these wars to die.

For then (making as it were an agreement) they conspire together, and with horrid and cruell bitings, they destroy the enemy. He that hath not fastened upon the common enemy, thinks he hath deserved little of the Common-wealth, and upon that score they fight. In the time of harvest, when such an accident falls out, they do not meddle with a dead body, but presently as the enemy is vanquished, they fall to their labour again, and they gather up a∣gain the Corn they laid aside before the battell, and lay them up; for they hold it no prudence to stay to plunder, when greater businesse doth require their industry, and they hold it ignoble to contest with those that are dead. They feed chiefly on grains of Wheat, Winter Corn, Barley, and hard meat which they delight in. They take great pleasure in Cyprus Nuts, and the tender flowers of herbs that are red. They eat Scorpions (called Geraret) saith Rhasis, and they feed on the Carkases of Serpents and, Frogs when they are hungry. Otherwise they ab∣horre to eat corrupt and venomous things; nor will they touch fruit polluted with Menstruall bloud, nor taste of them. Have not men by reason of hunger been compelled to feed on Hor∣ses, Wolves, Serpents, grasse, and dead bodies in time of narrow sieges? That is sufficient to prove their cleanlinesse, that they carry out their dead in the husks or bladders of trees and Corn, as of old time the Romans buried their dead in pots, but they now carry them forth on Biers. They delight to live in clean houses, and for that purpose they do not lay their dung, (that is

like to Urine) within doors; and when they travell through dirt, and are bedawbed, at the entrance of their houses, they rub themselves clean against some rough bark. They love and take such care for their young ones, that they alwayes carry their Egges in their bosomes, so long as they are little, and not so overgrown that they hinder their labour; but then they lay them up in their deep hollow Cave, that they frustrate the birds that prey upon them, as the Wood-pecker, the Nightingale, and also the Bear. But so soon as the young Pismires come forth of the Egges, they immediately shew them the way to labour and take pains, and if they refuse to work they will give them no meat. Hence you may observe that they set eve∣ry one his task: The stronger with their mouths, feet, little noses, do cast up the earth, and when they have cast it forth, they make it up in heaps, when they heap it up, they mingle straw with it, that it may lie light, and lie hollow. The wiser sort of them do build, the les∣ser of them remain in their trenches, and work, the more expert make windings like Maean∣dres and Labyrinths, and frame vaulted Chambers. If they observe any to be idle, they not only drive them out, pinched with famine as a base breed, but they bring him before the door, and calling a Councell of them all, they put them to death, that their young ones may take example, that they may not hereafter addict their mindes to sloth and idlenesse. The dayes appointed for labour and gathering Corn, they set venereous action aside; and chiesly in Winter, (when there is neither sowing nor mowing) they couple together: yet for mo∣desty sake they use venereous actions within doors, as the Bees do, at this time they make much of their Females, and when they are great with Egges they embrance and love them most. Above all they take care (O wonderfull love to their young ones) that nothing may be wanting to their off-spring for food or instruction. He only can doubt of the valour of Pis∣mires who nevet saw them fight, nor heard the report of their battels. For they are not only full of choler, (as the proverb is) but they have a purpose to fight, so that they either joyn battell with externall enemies, or else hold civill warres amongst themselves, when they want food. For though Pismires never fight when their Granary is full, and their Democraticall Go∣vernment stands fast whilst they have plenty of food; yet (what we read to have hapned in the best ordered Monarchies) in a dearth, or rather want of provision, they fight desperately for food, and for their lives, and the lesser of them will rebell against the greater, (as being the greater gulphs of the Common-wealth.) It is the nature of necessity to give and not to take Lawes, and then chiefly when the belly a troublesome Client, doth feed on it self, and the guts croke and are empty. There are few juster Kings then Lysimachus was said to be, nor were there better subjects then the Athenians, yet both of them did many things disorderly in famin, and he gained thereby to be branded with the name of a pusillanimous, faint-hearted Prince, and they of rebellious Subjects. Therefore this warre of the Pismires is to be commended, that is not undertaken for a Crown of Ivy, Bayes, or of Gold, or of Grasle, (which was ac∣counted the most ancient) but from intestine necessity, and nature leads them to it; for nei∣ther could Solon himself endure thirst, nor Solomon conquet hunger. For these will dig under all walls, will be held by no bands, and they only know neither Lawes nor bounds. Aeneas Silvius relates a strange history of this fight, lib. de Europa, c. 50. His words are these. In the County of Bononia, many little Pismires that were hungry, clambered up a dry Pear tree to seek for food, the greater Pismires came upon them in no small number, and these took the meat out of their mouths, and killed some of them, others they threw down, those that were cast down returned to their Ant hill, or fort, in the way they meet with others, and seemed to talk with them, and rip up the injury they had received, and they bring forth all the for∣ces they had, and their companions out of their tents. About two hours almost afterwards, so many bands of the lesser Pismires, and such a mighty Army drew forth, that the whole field appeared black by these black souldiers; they came all well guarded, and compassing the stock of the tree round, they began to climbe up. The greater Pismires when they saw their ene∣mies at hand, drew close into a body to receive the encounter aloft; so soon as the Armies met and fought, the great ones killed abundance of the lesser ones with fierce biting them, and they destroyed all those in a terrible skirmish that first ventred up, that at the root of the Pear-tree there lay a great heap of them slayn. The rest of the little Pismires and the middle Army would not be daunted by this, or run away, but they recollect their forces, and attempt to be revenged, and following more stifly, and pressing one Army after another, they mounted up the tree in greater numbers than before, and they bite their enemies on the back, on the sides and in the front, and they forced them to yeeld, and leave the tree. The greater Pismires were much too strong for them, but the numerous multitudes of the little ones pre∣vailed against them, and twenty at least set upon one. This happened when Eugenius the fourth was Pope, Nicolaux Pistoriensis a most learned Lawyer standing to behold it, and he re∣lated the manner of the fight sincerely and truly. Olaus Magnus reports the like accident to have hapned at Ʋpsal and Holme, before that barbarous and cruel Tyrant Christianus the se∣cond was driven forth by the Inhabitants of Sweden, from ruling over the Goths and Swedes. In which battel that must not be forgotten, the lesser Pismires after they had won the field interred the bodies of their fellowes, leaving their enemies exposed to the Crowes and Mus∣kins; also they made choice of a high Tower for the place of combat, as if they would with a clear voice call and draw unto them the prodigy of Tyrants and his followers, to see their

destiny revealed, and the punishment that hang over their heads. Also they hurt Elephants and Bears, but not unlesse they be first hurt by them. They afflict Serpents and Dragons and make them mad, but it is either because they hinder them in their labour and stop the way, or because they breath their venemous breath into their caves and turrets. Grashoppers and Dormice they hate exceedingly, those because they spend the Summer time in singing, these because they lose the Winter in sleep∣ing, for a Common wealth well regulated doth punish idle persons as well as those that are wicked, and the Spartans were wont to cast forth those that would not labour. They live very long, and would hardly ever die, unless the Birds did catch them before their time, or the flouds and waters drowned them. They are for the most part very healthful, because they observe those three rules of Plato very exactly, mirth in labour, temperance in diet, and sparing in venereous actions. For what creature labours more chearfully, diets more moderately, or did nature ever pro∣duce that is more temperate in venery? Also there is in them many seeds of domestick discipline, justice, friendship and other virtues; and had we the like, either by nature or by art in us, we would scorn to live basely on the labours of others, and we would refuse to be slaves to our bellies. Moreover they have some sense of future things; for before a famine they labour ex∣ceedingly, continuing their work night and day, and every where laying up a great store, as Juvenal hath it Satyr 6.

—Hunger and cold away drive, And from the Ant learn thou an art to thrive.

Since therefore (to wind up all in a few words) they are so exemplary for their great piety, pru∣dence, justice, valour, temperance, modesty, charity, friendship, frugality, perseverance, industry, and art; it is no wonder that Plato in Phaedone, hath determined, that they who without the help of Philosophy have lead a civill life by custom or from their own diligence, they had their souls from Ants, and when they die they are turned to Ants again. To this may be added, as I related before, the fable of the Myrmidons, who being a people of Aegina, applied themselves to diligent la∣bour in tilling the ground, continual digging, hard toiling, and constant sparing joyned with virtue, and they grew thereby so rich, that they passed the common condition and ingenuity of men, and Theognis knew not how to compare them better then to Pismires, that they were originally descen∣ded from them, or were transformed into them, and as Strabo reports they were therefore called Myrmidons. The Greeks relate the history otherwise then other men do; namely, that Jupiter was changed into a Pismire, and so deflowred Eurymedusa the mother of the Graces, as if he could no otherwise deceive the best woman, then in the shape of the best creature. Hence ever after he was called Pismire Jupiter; or, Jupiter King of Pismires. For the generation of Pismires are endowed with so much virtue and justice, that they need no King to govern them, for each of them can regulate his own passions; or if they have any King, it is the Supreme Jupiter, that governs all, who is deservedly thought to be the Fountain and Authour of all virtue both in Men and Pismires, and all other creatures. For there is none amongst men that doth govern better then the Pismire; and we that should teach them (as saith St. Hieronymus) may learn of them divers things that are necessary for our souls and bodies. For when contrary to their nature and industry they hide themselves, we are certain that rain is not far off; and when we see them running here and there, and carrying their egges before them, we are warned thereby of great winds and tempests. Also those that are well acquainted with Country learning, when they see the Pismires run here and there, extreme fast, twice as much almost as at other times, and take such huge pains in gathering and storing up Corn, they are warned of a famine at hand, and so buy up all the Corn they are able. For they more rightly and certainly by their naturall magick foreshew Tempests, then our Soothsaying Almanack-makers, that are derided and exploded for vain fellowes by all godly and truly learned men. For let Ennius be heard;

They that are out shew other men the way, And promise riches who have none to pay. To whom they promised to them they pray.

Nor doth Accius lesse elegantly describe them, who was the chief in writing of Tragedies, in his Atticis we read thus;

I trust no Wisards, who have learn'd the skill, With gold their houses, others ears to fill.

They do better in my opinion who observe the Pismire, and grow rich by following his manners in labor, industry, rest and study. We read of Midas that he was the richest King of all the West, and when he was a boy, the Pismires carryed grains of Wheat into his mouth whilst he slept, and so foreshewed without doubt that he should be endowed with the Pismires prudence, and should by his labour and frugality gain so much riches, that he should be called the Golden boy of fortune, and the darling of prosperity. Aelianus. And when the Ants did devour and eat up the live Serpent of Tiberius Caesar, which he so dearly loved, did they not thereby give him sufficient warning that

he should take heed to himself for fear of the multitude, by whom he was afterwards cruelly murthered? Suetonius. They do teach us by their example of labour and virtue, both because they do inculcate unto us parsimony and perseverance, and also because when they are grown rich they maintain perpetual and inviolable friendship. For though at such a time one man is a wolf to ano∣ther, and the desire of having more increaseth with gain, (which the Greeks call 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Cove∣tousness) yet as the Comedian speaks;

In good or bad what ere it be, The Ant with Ant doth still agree.

And they never fight and jar but upon occasion of extreme famine. Horace chargeth them with Covetousness, because they alwayes heap up more; but since they do that for the common wel∣fare, that reproach of his is not their fault. But they eat Serpents, and live sometimes on venomous things: I grant that, and may be they use it for their Theriac, and are not therefore Pismires to be commended? Yes as well as the Storks, they ought to be fed from the common Treasure, and I might say to be adored as well as the Indian Rat Ichneumon. In Isthmus the Priests sacrificed Pismires to the Sun, either because they thought the Sun the most beautiful▪ and therefore they would offer unto him the most beautiful creature, or the most wise, as seeing all things, and therefore they offered unto him the wisest creature. But you will say, they are most hurtful creatures to Vines, to Dittany, to young shoots, and to many tender plants, and Pliny cals them the plague of trees. But Gellius cals them more properly the revengers and judges of idle people; for they by their labour call us out of our lurking holes, and drinking houses, to till our grounds, and take care of our Orchards more diligently, and to exercise our wits, and to be more industrious in our business, and to do what is just and equall. Go forth then idle companions, and powre on a little hot water wherein lime hath been infused, and believe me not, but you shall drive all Pismires away, and shall infuse more life and spirit into all thy plants. Origanum, brim∣stone, Assa, Nitre, Snails-shels, Lupines, Lazerwort, wilde Cucumbers, Buls-gall, boyl, and cast on, or but in fume or sprinkled: also many things there are ready to be had for one that is dili∣gent and laborious, whereby you may quickly drive out this plague from your grounds, and you may expect a great retribution for your pains, abundance of fruit. Moreover all those things that drive away Wasps and Hornets, that we spake of before, will afford you a sufficient remedy, and will also kill all the Pismires. Yet in truth, thou sluggard, thou hast more need to nourish up this creature and set up for it a statue of gold. For so of old time they are said to have done, when they worshipped the Ant, in an hieroglyphick, holding three ears of corn in the mouth of it, as being an emblem of divine providence, and labour, and of household care. For they are, to use Aristotles words, without any King, and under a popular government; yet every one of them is for himself a father of his Countrey, and they do to their power increase the common good as if it were for themselves in particular. But if you object, that the Pismires by biting cause redness, tumour, tickling, and then a grievous pain where they bite; I do not wonder at that; I rather wonder at this, how thou canst look upon them, and not blush extremely, for thou canst not chuse but blush to see luch great industry in so small a creature, and to behold the watchfulness, labours, journeys, sweat, and toil that he is busied in. Yet they do not wound idle people so much (whom alone they are said to sting) but it will be cured with an Emplaister of Varignana, made of Flies and Pismires mingled together; for as Scorpions, so are they the remedy for the wounds they make; and they bring their cure along with them when they bite. Pliny, Columella, Arnoldus, Aelianus, Albertus, and Vitalis, will direct you in other helps, but you must not draw them out and apply them, without using the prudence of the Pismire. Will you give me leave to reckon up the infinite benefits you may receive from them, for this small detriment you accuse them for? Now listen what the An∣cients write concerning the virtues of them, and judge uprightly concerning it. For they are not only meat for Serpents, Dragons, Beares, Locusts, Rats, Dormice, Chameleons, Lapwings, Wood-peckers, Larks, Nightingales, Pheasants, Wagtails, Hens, sometimes to satisfie their hunger, some-times as remedies to cure them of surfets, as Pliny, Solinus, Plutarch, Palladius, Eustathius, Bellonius, Albertus, and experience do witness: But also the Inhabitants of the Countrey of Mangi, do feed on red Pismires seasoned with Pepper, and they are their greatest dainties as Nicolaus Venetus doth testifie. Also they are good to catch Locusts, and to bait for many fishes, chiefly the Roch. As concerning Physick, there are but a few diseases that these creatures, as the hand of God, do not * 1.42 yeeld some help unto. Doth a Feaver burn and scorch thee alive as it were in the Engine of Perillus? hearken•• and I shall tell thee of an admirable water to quench that fire, and most effectual against it, as Gesner received it from a friend: Take fountain water one pound, honey three spoonfuls, shake them in a can, and set them in an Emmets hill, so that Pismires may easily fall into it; when you find that so many are fallen in as will thicken the water, shake the Can, and as you use to do in making Rose-water, so distill them. The dose is half a spoonfull, or more as the Patient can endure it by reason of his force more or lesse, it will wonderfully provoke vomiting, and will also evacuate the matter of the disease by Urine. Pliny is the Authour from the old sayes, that a Quotidian, Tertian, Quartan, and all intermitting Fevers will be cured, if the sick cause the parings of his nails to be cast before the entring of the Ant hill, and if he catch the first of them that layes hold of them, and bind him up and tie him about his neck. Art thou troubled with pains in thy ears? go to, fill a glasse with Emmets and Emmets eggs, and stop it well, and bake it in an Oven

with the bread, till it be as hot as the bread that begins to heat; then shall you find a water that is very usefull to cure the pains in the ears if it be dayly dropped in. Is there a cloud before the sight 〈◊〉〈◊〉 presse out the juyce of the red Emmets, and drop it in, it doth corrode with some pain, and wholly extirpate it. Erotus, Trotula, Theophrastus. Emmets egges beaten and put into the ears, remove all deafness quickly. Marcellus. Some bruise them and press out the watry substance, and drop it in. Some infuse them in a glasse vessell in Oyl, and boyl that on the fire, and powre that into the ears.

If Urine be retained and cause the Dropsie, drink twenty Pismires, and so many egges with them in white wine, and they shall help you. Also their egges distilled do much when Urine is stopped. Leo, Fa∣ventinus. A Maid that cares for her beauty, and would make the circles of her eye-lids black, Emmets egges bruised with Flies will perform that, and give them their desire. Some again either through age or disease (to use the Poets phrase) are beaten in their property, and have lost their generative power, that they cannot do the office of a husband if they would. Some Authours commend to these oyl of Sesamum with Emmets egges bruised and set in the sun, if the yard and testicles were anointed with it. To this oyl some add Euphorbium one scruple, Pepper, Rew seed, of each one dram, Mustard seed half a dram, and again they set it in the sun. Rasis. Arnoldus in this case commends black Ants macerated with oyl of Elder. Nicolaus mingleth it with roots of Satyrium; and others do give the distilled water thereof to those that are fasting. Gesner in Euonymus describes a water conducing thereunto; Take saith he, a pot besmeered within side with honey, and half full of Ants, then add long Pepper, Nut∣megs, Cardamon, Pellitory of Spain, each one pugil, Butter what may suffice, and digest them fourteen dayes in horse dung, then distill them in a Bath, and give a little duly to be drank fasting. Others, saith Merula, add Comfery to oyl of Pismires; others Borax, or root of Masterwort with Wine when the impotent man goes to bed, and thus they affirm that men may be cured of feeble∣nesse, and women of barrenness. But I wonder at the force of Pismires in this case, for Brunfelsius writes that but four Ants taken in drink will make a man unfit for venery, and abate all his courage thereunto: yet he will maintain that Emmets with common salt and egges, and old hogs grease, wrapt in a cloth and laid on, will cure the pain of the Hip-gowt. Marcellus saith, that if they be applyed with a little salt, they are a present remedy for a Tetter: Also as Serenus relates, they are good against scabs and itch from an inflamation of bloud;

The dust in Emmets hils doth deep ly, Being mingled with oyl, will help it by and by.

Also Arnoldus reckons Emmets egges amongst such things as take off hair; and commends water distilled from them against Noli me tangere, and all corroding Ulcers. Albertus thinks that drank with Wine, they do powerfully dissipate winde. Reckon how many Warts you have, and take so many Ants, and bind them up in a thin cloth with a Snail, and bring all to ashes and mingle it with Vinegar. Take off the head of a small Ant, and bruise the body between your fingers, and anoint with it any impostumated tumour, and it will presently sink down. Nonus. Also God, that I may omit nothing, by the biting of Ants called Solipugae (it is a kind of venomous Ant) drove the Cyna∣molgi (a slothful and idle people of Aethiopia) from their habitations, and destroyed them quite. Pliny. Some think they should be called Solifugae, but Cicero cals them Solipugas. I have a few things to speak from Authors, as from Anthologius, Apthonius, Natalis Comes 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and Moichea a witty Book of the same argument. And Aratus, Herodotus, Strabo, Aristophanes, Rasis, Ag∣gregator, Beroldus, Ryffius, Zetzes, Arnobius, have by the by run over the natures of them, and their polite life. But because they add but little to what hath been said, I would no longer play the Pismire, lest seeming to be eloquent I might grow impertinent, and searching every creek too nar∣rowly, I should make more gaps. God grant that we whom God hath commanded to learn of Ants, when we are idle and mind nothing but our bellies, may by his good guiding learn of them, and he instructing us, we may perform our duty. It is a small creature, and contemptible for its magnitude, yet we must know that goodness is not in greatness, but what is good is to be accounted great. I have said.

CHAP. XVII.

Of the Gloworm, and the female Melo, and of Anthremus and the field Chislep.

OFt-times those that are of a great faction, and of noble descent, will scorn to marry with one of a common family. Yet the Poets write that Jupiter did not disdain to im∣brace ordinary women; and the Cicindela or Gloworm, and the oyl Beetle or Meloe, (though they are of the winged order) are not ashamed to couple with others that want wings. And for as much as these females are endowed with the same force and dignity by nature, which is seen in males, I know not why they should refuse or be weary of their chance, and of their females, when as (if their wings be taken off) they agree in the same endowments of their minds and bodies. We spake abundantly in the first Book, concerning their form, figure, manners,

virtues, use, when we speak of their males that have wings; and though this Treaty is allotted for Insects without wings, yet I would not artificially separate the females from their males, whereas naturall love hath from the beginning united them together.

I give you here the picture of Anthrenus, which the Greeks call Anthrenus without wings. Some con∣jecture that it is a creeping Hornet; others think it

[illustration]

is a kind of the Spider Phalangium, which Pliny saith differs from a Hornet only in want of wings. It hath a crooked nose, and forked, and the face looks up∣ward. It perfectly represents that horned Owl that we saw in the low Countries. It hath black eyes, a breast very hairy and yellow, the feet are yellow at first, then brown; the rest of the body hath 8 junctures that are yellow from red, which is much adorned by black spots on the back; from the top of the nose, sailyards or horns of a yellow colour grow forth; they are all hairy and flexible yet are they something hard in feeling. He bites so that it is hard to cure it, yet it seems not to be so deadly as the biting of the Phalangium, nor is it yet so gentle but that the venom of it exceeds the Hornets. If hereafter I can discover any thing more concerning the nature of this little creature, the conditions and use of it, I shall willingly do it for the publick good; for far be it from me to conceal any thing that may make for the advancement of Learning.

From the similitude this Insect hath with a Chisl••p, we call it the field Chisl••p; for it is found in Corn fields; it differs from the rest only in the number of its feet, (for it hath but six feet that are very small and black) The neck of it is very short, the body something broad and compact, the tail somewhat painted. Pennius saw one in July about Colchester, or else he never saw it. What Physicall use it hath it is yet unknown to us.

CHAP. XVIII.

Of Mineral Worms with six feet.

IN Pennius his papers concerning the nature of Wormes, I did for a time wonder at his opinion, when he spake of Wormes in stones, and he averred that he saw little ones with six feet in old rotten stones. For I had received from all Philosophers, that all things that are very bitter, salt, sowre, sharp, oyly, hot, cold, solid, hard, though they may corrupt in time, yet they will breed no worms, and therefore Theophrasius cals them 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, not that they want life, but because they breed no living creatures. I began to weigh the matter narrowly, and to put into an equall ballance, without fraud, all their opinions; at last I found that our Ancesters were here and there most foully deceived, and I ascribe more to mine and Pennius his eyes, then to all their words. Tell me in good earnest, is there any thing more bitter then Gall or Agarick, salter then the Sea, more tart then Leaven, more sowre then Vinegar, more hot then fire, or more pure and cold then Snow congealed? yet certain it is, that Worms breed out of all these: and it shall appear sufficiently by the sequell of the story, that Worms are bred out of stones, neither dri∣nesse, nor solidity, nor coldness nor want of heat or moisture can hinder it: Nor will I allow of that, That Nature produceth living creatures by a mixture of heat and moisture, and moisture is alwayes as the matter for heat to make a concoction of. For not only where moisture affords matter, and heat doth manifestly concoct it, are living creatures breed; but there also, (that we may not seem to set bounds to the power of God) where we see with our eyes that there is neither of these, nay where we may conceive that they are both absent. The generation of the creature called Pyrigonus in the flames, of Oripa in the most frozen snow, will evidently prove this, and that was the cause that I sooner subscribed to the generation of Worms in stones. Moreover, they that with their graving tool, do make rough their Milstones that are grown over smooth by using, find Worms oft-times bred in them, as the Brother of Pennius testified. Faelix Platerus, the worthy President of the Phy∣sitians at Basil reported to me, that he found a great live Toad in the middle of a hard stone that was saw'd in sunder, that was bred there. And that excellent man Zuingerus relates the same thing of a Scorpion. And indeed these things had seemed to me incredible and monstrous, had I not known the same thing to have happened in a Quarry of Willia•• Cave a Noble man of Leicester. And neither Philosophy nor reason is contrary to this opinion, since in the earth, the mother of all things, there is all kind of heat and moisture, and all kind of spirits; and (to use the words of a principall Physitian) all things seem almost to be

full, of all things. Nor can I see the reason why stones should rather be bred in living Creatures, then living Creatures in stones; and as I shall easily grant that there are Minerall vapours in us, so I shall not fear but I may grant that there are animal spirits in them, and yet not wrong the truth. For they have invisible and secret passages, nervs, veins, and turnings, whereby they either draw to them strange moysture, strange seeds and different vapours, or else receive them being brought thither. Some say, that the marrow of a mans back will produce a most venemous Serpent. Cardanus saith that Worms will breed of the ashes of Worms. Many Writers besides Pliny report that Scorpions will breed from Basil buried between Walls. All men do see that stones are bred in the air: And Bonus Ferrariensis is not ashamed to say that it hath rained Calfs, bloud and stones, which things though they sound harsh, and not to be true, yet I dare not rashly deny it, not doth this at all impaire the opinion we hold concerning Worms bred in stones. And if the reason of this seem to ly so deep, that it is too difficult for us to search out; you must think that truth lyeth so deep, and covered with so much darknesse, that it could not be found out till of late years. And in the generations of these things, (which God only knowes) truth will never shew it self but by conjectures, similitudes, collations, proportions, and observations. God doth here seem to scoffe and deride the arrogancy of worthlesse men, that dare look asquint into the work-house of Gods Creation, and are not afraid to inquire into the reasons, and to search and trie, and to attempt to imitate the works of God. I wish we could be admonished either by the punishment of Salmoneus, or by the counsell of Solomon, to learn more modesty: For that is the only way I know to the true knowledge of things, and the safest for us to walk in.

CHAP. XIX.

Of Worms in Vegetables, that have six feet, and first of Worms in trees.

WOrms in Vegetables are either Worms in trees, or in shrubs or Pulse, or Corn, or Herbs. The Tree-worms some of them feed on the wood, some on the bark, some on the leaves, some on the fruit, and of all these we shall speak in order. Those that corrupt or spoyl the wood are of divers sorts, for those that breed in green and growing wood are called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, those that breed in dry wood without sap, are called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, those that are bred in so∣lid and dry wood are called Thripes, those that breed in hotter kindes of wood are called Ter∣mites, those that breed in saw-dust are called Cossi, those that breed in planks of Ships are pro∣perly called Teredines. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 it may be took their name from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, for they do bite and eat living trees, so that oft times about their roots a great deal of powder and dust may be seen, as if it came by sawing. This Worm hath an ill-favoured head, of divers colours, covered with a covering, and he can put it forth and draw it in at pleasure. His feet are on the hinder part toward his tayl, as the Cossi have theirs on their breast, the rest of the body is covered with a sandy Coat, as it were their shell, and when they put that off they die, as Snails out of their shells.

In that time which Nature hath appointed they grow into a sheath like to an Aurelia, but what winged Creature cometh from that afterwards I could never yet observe. This is far great∣er than Cossus, by reason of its unsatiable eating, and is not so dainty. The Wood-peckers and other Birds that spoyl the trees do make holes in the green trees, and by the sound finding out the hollow places, they dig and pierce in there, till they come to those devouring Worms, and they devour them. For they exceedingly delight in this kinde of meat, and for love of it they will sometimes spend whole cayes in digging of a tree. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is found * 1.43 in rotten and hollow wood, which will make no noise though you strike it with a staffe, it is very like to the Cerastes in Theophrastus, and the Pitiocampa of the Physitians, but that it hath only three feet on both sides. Gesner artributes to it a venemous and constant evil smell, and a very corroding faculty. Thripes are thought to be named from terendo wearing, * 1.44 they are little Worms very frequent and common, their bodies are white, their heads black, or brown from red, with six very slender feet neer their neck, and blackish with a little red, like to the Worm in a Hazel-nut for the fashion of their bodies, but they are shorter and smaller in the middle; they love no black wood, but are bred only in wood that is whitish, (as is the white sap of Timber, Hazel-nut trees, Birch, Cinamon, the Plain-tree) and they pe∣netrate into these when they are partly dry and solid, and drinking up the moysture they have, they make them rotten. I passe over the contests between Pliny, Hesichius, Theophrastus, Plu∣tarch, concerning the signification of Thrips, whereof some are so negligent, some so curious in observing the properties of words, that in describing them they are very obscure, and as good as nothing. The Ancients used for Seals, the wood the Thripes had eaten, and chiefly the Laconians, as Hesichius testifieth. Whence Lucian in Lexiph. I keep them under seals eaten by Thripes. For these Worms as they eat forward, do engrave divers characters of herbs, and forms of living Creatures, and so exceed the Divine sculpture of Phidias, Praxiteles, Myrmecide, Bupalus, Sophroniscus, Anthermus. Galen speaks of a man that made Rings, l. 17. de usu part.

who on the broad part of a Ring engraved exactly, to a wonderfull demonstration of his art, Phaeton with his Chariot and Horses, cast down headlong. But the Worm Thrips hath neither graving tool nor Iron instrument, but with his soft tooth engraves most solid Signets, and frames wonderfull pictures of all things sometimes, only by the conduct of Nature. When woods are * 1.45 dryed by overmuch heat of the Sun, they produce and feed a Worm called Termes, which as Servins saith, being bred out of the very pith, at last consumes its mother, and will not touch the hard barky substance. A very ungratefull little Creature, and so much worse then other Worms, the more it is hurtfull to the heart and vital fountain of trees: For they live some-times when their bark and hard wood is devoured, but when the pith is wasted they die pre∣sently,

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and Nature can never cure this wound. They are like the Cossi in shape of body, but they are farre lesse, and much softer. The name perchance comes from Kis a Greek word, as if you should * 1.46 call it a Wood-weevel. For the Philosopher saith that Kis is a little Creature bred in wood, like Worms bred in Corn; the English call them Timber-worms, because they are seldome in any wood but that which is cut, and prepared for building. Their bodies are full of wrinkles, and hence some Roman Consuls are called Cossi. The greater Cossi are almost as thick as the little finger, and as long as three fingers broad, of a whitish colour, almost like to the greater kinde of Catterpillers; wherefore the great ones are called by Pliny Cossi. They have three feet on each side that are pendu∣lous, not farre from their heads, short, slender, and black. The bo∣dy of them hath twelve rings, those toward their tails are alwayes smaller and shining; their heads are somewhat thick, of a dark colour, and the nose is small, forked, sharp as a Spear, black, with two plates in the forehead, neer the mouth there are small hairs that are pointed, all the rings in the sides are severally marked with red points, a little hollow. It is a Crea∣ture that creeps very slowly, and the motion can hardly be perceived, wherefore Festus calls them Cossi, great bellies, and sluggish Creatures. He hath very little eyes, a round back, a belly something hollow, of a waterish whitish colour; they seem to be fat, and very soft; they breed in wood newly cut, but before it ought to be. But if they have been long cut, and have lost much of their moysture, the small Cossi only breed in them, that differ from the great ones only in bignesse. The Ancients in Pontus and Phrygia (as Pliny and Hieronymus note) fed on these as the most dainty meat, and for that use they fatted them with meal, that they might be fed Worms. Pliny saith they serve also in physick; for they heal Ulcers, increase milk, and in Oyntments they cure creeping sores, which Albertus also confirms. The Teredines have a very great head, considering their bodies, they gnaw with their teeth, and pierce into Okes, as you may know by the noyse: But Theophrastus thinks that these are only found in the sea, and men think there is no other Worm can properly be called Teredo. We remember, that in the Ships of the Venetians, that had long stood in the Havens of Alexandria, that little ones were found, that were a cubit long, and as thick as a mans thumb, such as that famous Sir Francis Drake another Sea Neptune brought home with him, in his Ship that had gone over the world, and was grown rotten and spongy. We saw other Teredines an inch long, like to Worms bred in flower; they have a red body, a yellow shining head, a little red, a forked

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mouth, from the lips whereof little thorny hairs come forth, they have three feet on each side, the incisions of their backs are eleven, some∣thing red: The rest of the body is of a watry yellow, and shines, * 1.47 the greater they are the more darkly they shine, of a Crimson colour, and the lesser they are, the whiter they are. The Italians call them Byssam, the Spaniards Bromam, from the eating of them, for they eat Ships, and penetrate them; whence Aristophanes in Equitibus, brings in a rotten Galley, speaking thus, I being eaten by the Teredines am accused for it. And Ovid saith thus, 1. de Ponto. It's eaten as a rotten Ship with Worms. By Pennius his leave, the Teredines eat not only Ships, but beams of houses, so the Scholiast upon Homer saith, (Odyss. 10.) The words are these. Melampus whose ears Draco had picked, that he might * 1.48 understand the voices of wilde beasts, was cast into prison for the Oxen of Iphicus he had driven away; where when he understood by the speech of the Teredines, that there was but little of a main beam left, he caused him∣self to be brought forth, lest it should fall and kill him; and whilst he was lifted up by a man and a woman, and got forth, the house fell, and both of them were slayn. That is also apparent out of the chief of the Latine Comedians, when he brings in Philolaches a young man, speaking to them in these words;

If tempest comes, Teredo enters, And the rain at all adventures, Gets in, and rots the walls and wood, Makes work for Carpenters, that's good, &c.

These hurt especially great trees, as the Oak, the Pear-tree, the Apple-tree, the Chesnut, the Larch, Walnut, Beech, the Medlar, the Elm, and broad leafed Willowes: in which cut unseaso∣nably, or planted, a ••oft and ill fatty humour breeds (which Wood-men call, the sap, and the white) which is the matter and nourishment of all the Teredines. Trees that are drier, more bitter, more oily and hard, are thought to be so much the freer from these Worms: yet some-times they will offer violence to the Cypress-tree, the Walnut, the Guaiacum, the Tiele-tree, and to Ebony it self. The manner of their breeding in wood is thus: Many are bred within, and do not come from without, and they eat up their original, that of what they were bred they may live by the same. The material and conjunct cause is the sweet moisture of wood that is fit for their nourishment, being corrupted, even as of sweet flegm, worms are bred in the belly. Now that sweet humour purrenes from a twofold cause, either by distemper, or solution of continuity. By distemper the quality is corrupted, and by cutting not only the inbred humour runs forth, but some strange humour enters by rain and mists, and corrupts the wood. In old spongy, and dry trees, by reason of age, are the greater Worms, both because the radical moisture is more dimi∣nished, and because the distemper, heat and moisture that are strangers, are more augmented: as oft-times old men are troubled with cruel scabs, and eating sores, and Worms. Wood lying open to the Moon in the night, sooner breeds Worms, because of the over much moisture of the air, and in the hotter Sun, from too much heat. Those that breed within, breed at all times, but for those that come from without, and are bred of the seed of Gnats and Flies; the Spring and Summer are the chief times for them; for in Winter they are frozen and dye. Also the cli∣mate and the ground a••e of great force, for the Irish wood seldome corrupts, there is such vertue in the ground, and in Arabia, in the climate. Now we shall describe the particulars.

Of those Worms that are in Fig-trees, some are bred of the trees themselves, and another is bred withall, that is called Cerastes. For since the greatest part of Worms do differ in shape and * 1.49 form one from another, yet the principal difference amongst them is this, that those which are bred in one kinde of tree or fruit, if they be translated to another kinde, they will not live: yet men affirm that Cerastes is bred in the Olive-tree, and will breed in the Fig-tree; wherefore the Fig-tree hath its Worms, and sends forth those also that it receives from other trees: yet they are all like to Cerastes, and they make a small shrill sound. Sypontinus saith he hath two horns on his head: when he hath eaten the place so hollow that he can well turn himself, he begets another little creature, and changeth one kinde into another as Catterpillers do.

The Service tree is infested with red Worms, and hairy, and then it dyes. Also the Medlar-tree being old produceth such Worms, but they are greater then in other trees, as Theophrastus writes. The sap produceth a Worm like to a Thrips, from whence Gnats and kindes of Pha∣leuci are bred, wilde Pear-tree Worms, some sort of living Creatures that feed on wood, saith Hesychius, for they extremely hurt wilde Pear-trees. A little Worm in the Oke-like tree (Sue∣tonius calls it Galbus) is wonderfull slender, whence the first of the Sulpitii was called Galba, from his extreme slendernesse. The Palm-tree produceth the Carabus (as Hesychius and Aristotle testifie) a Worm like to Sea-lobsters, having only six feet; by this means the Carabick Worm of Hesychius is known: Theophrastus writes that they cut off the small boughs of the Cinamon tree, two fingers length, and when they are green they sow them up in Ox-hides; then they say that these boughs corrupting will breed Worms that eat the wood, and will by no means touch the bark, because it is sharp. This wood was seen in Pennius his house, eaten by a Worm that was of an Ash-colour, it was not very hard, but had neither taste nor smell; contrary to that some Portingal Merchants and Quacksalvers that are ignorant of simples affirm. The Worms called Raucae, breed in the root of the Oak, and hurt it. Pliny faith, an Olive-tree is ill planted where an Oake is dug up, for the Worm Raucae left in the roots of the Oak, creep into the roots of the Olive-tree, and endamage them. Johannes de Chaeul affirms the same. The Ancients reckon up but few worms that feed on bark, except the Scolopendrae, J••li, and those Moths that are like little Scorpions, whose nature we explained in the Chapter of the Scorpion. The Germans call these Clop••, they are not much greater than a Flea, of a red colour, with ten feet, they are fre∣quent in the wood and horses of the Mu••covites built of Pine-tree: in the day they feed on the moisture of the wood that sweats forth between the bark. In the night they creep out, and if they light upon men that are asleep, they will suck out their bloud, biting painfully. The Worms called Syrones feed on the leaves and flowers of trees, how small they are in thickness we may conjecture from this, that it creeps between the membranes of the thinnest leaf, digging, and not hurting either outward skin. Next to the Worms in vinegar (saith Joach. Came〈…〉〈…〉us) I never saw a Worm so compact. The mines that it makes do sometimes represent the most fine lines and fibres. They hurt exceedingly the leaves of the Cherry-tree, and the Apple-tree that are spot∣ted; and when they are full they fall off; and they seem to be formed of many Pompion-seeds glewed broad waies together, but that they are far smaller. From these when they are dead ano∣ther small Insect ariseth, as they grew from another. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, are like to Syrones, which the English, whether they breed in wood, or bark, leaf, or flower, or fruits of trees, as in Cheese or Wax, call Mites, that is very little ones, or Alomes; they differ from Syrones by this, that they seem to be made of many Acari. But the Acarus it self is a round white six-footed little crea∣ture like to a little Lowse, of almost no substance, that if you press it violently between your fingers and your thumb, it is so small that you cannot feel it nor hurt it. Antigonus and Aristctle

call it Jupiters Butler, it may be because it will eat with its nib into the thickest Wine-cask. And certainly if there were not something of God in it, and of divine vertue, how could we finde so great force in so little and almost no body? Also in the leaves of the Beech, little knots are found wherein there are small Worms. The fruits of trees (as Theophrastus saith) are sometimes worm-eaten, when they are yet green, as we see in Services, Medlers, Pears and Apples. The Olive both in the skin and kernel hath Worms called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and it is a mischief not to be neg∣lected (saith Theophrastus) for it will not only waste all the oyl and the juice, but will eat up the stones that are so hard wherein the kernel is. Also little Worms are found in Galls that are eaten through, and they are bred in the very inmost pith, out of which afterwards ariseth a kinde of Flies and Gnats, as Valerandus Doures an Apothecary of Lions testifieth. Moreover, in Oak Acorns, and spongy Apples, sometimes Worms breed, and Astrologers presage that year to be likely to produce a great famine and dearth. I need not contend that there are Worms in small Nuts, for all men know it: especially when the Summer is moist, and the wind blowes from the South. It is strange that Ringelbergius writes, lib. de experiment. that these Worms may be fed to be as big as a Serpent, with sheeps milk, yet Cardanus confirms the same, and shewes the way to feed them, Lib. de rer. varictat. There are little Worms bred in dry Figs like those in Hazel-nuts, with a black head, and the rest of the body is a whiti〈…〉〈…〉 yellow, but they are smaller. Bellonius saith he found that Cedar as well as Pine Apples were sub••ect to Worms. They are for thickness like to the female Glow-worm, a fingers breadth long, with a head like an Emmer, but more compact, with twelve incisions; on each side it hath three feet near to the head, and two circular foreyards, with a thick belly, and a sharp tail. Also in the hard and woody hulls of the Witch-tree, there is a broad seed, and oft-times eaten with Worms: and you shall finde there oft-times their very Aurelia's. Lastly, no fruit can be named, but some Moth or Worm will infest it; even Manna it self sometimes (which the Poets feign to be the meat of the gods, the Scri∣ptures maintain to be the meat of the sons of God) corrupted and bred Worms, when contrary to Gods Word it was laid up till morning.

CHAP. XX.

Of Worms of Fruits, Pulse, Corn, Vines, Herbs.

UPon the lower Willow (especially when swelling gals break forth) sometimes there are found like to roses, that are full of Worms, as it also happens in the leaves of the Ma∣stick-tree. Quinqueranus saith there are two kindes of scarlet Oak, one like a great tree, the other a small shrub, about a foot and half high; it spreads very broad, and the leaves are smooth and shining, with a numerous thorny beard in the circumference rising up with many siences like to the Rose-bush. Our Countreymen call it a Beech-tree, though it be nothing like to a Beech-tree. It growes on plain ground, but that stands high, with little dry hillocks, and unfruit∣full: when the shrubs are bedewed with showres in the midst of the Spring, the Cochineal be∣gins thus: When the lower stalk divides into two branches, and in the middle of these there comes forth a thing that is round, and of the colour and bigness of a Pear, they call this the Mo∣••her, because from this the other grains proceed. Besides every one of these shrubs hath com∣••••only five Mothers, which at the beginning of Summer and in hot weather put forth a great com∣pany of little Worms, and they cleave in the top. A new off-spring of shoots growes up severally on high of a white colour, that produce living creatures. But wheresoever they meet with the hollow places of the twig budding where the Worms are, they fall down, and become as great, as Millet-seed. Then growing up more freely, the white colour changeth into ash-colour, and then they appear no more living creatures, but again like unto Pease. Then those grains being ripe gathered, now great with colour'd Worms: whilest they are carried to the Merchants, the thin skin that goes about them breaks. The price of a pound of these Worms that are come forth of the skin is a gold noble; but that part which is yet in the skin, is sold for a fourth part of it: the mean while the little Worms are as if they were dead, and move not. But when the sea∣son of the year comes, they are hastned by putting them in linnen cloths, and exposing them to the Sun. Then but seeling the heat, they presently creep forth, and strive to fly away; but by the keeper of them, who watcheth them continually, they are shaked back into the middle of the linnen cloth till they die; whilest this is doing, and for three daies after, there is so sweet a smell and delightful, that no Civet, Musk, or Amber-greece, nor yet Lemon flowers can surpass it.

But if any grains escape from him that gathers them, they presently send forth a numerous army of winged creatures into the air.

It was observed one year, that in a stony field in the Countrey by Arles, the profit of this increase was reckoned at 11000 crowns. So writes Quinqueranus. And Carolus Clusius saith, that in his time, the same fashion of gathering Cochineal was observ'd about Narbon in France, and also in Spain. For they have plats of ground in the open air provided for the purpose, with the sides something high, and they lay a•• linnen cloth upon them and pour forth the Cochineal upon that; the kee∣pers stand ready about it with little wands continually when the Sun shines very hot, and they

strike the outsides of the linnen cloth, that they may drive back into the middle of the cloth these little Worms that hasten to come forth. But Petrus Bellonius l. 1. observ. c. 17. tels us of another manner of preparing Cochineal.

There is (saith he) in Crete a great increase of Cochineal: shepherds and boyes do gather it. They finde it in June upon a small shrub, of a kinde of holm that bears Acorns sticking to the stock of that shrub, without any stalk, and the colour is ash-colour with white, but because the leaves of that shrub are full of prickles like to Holly, the Shepherds have a staffe in their left hands to press down the boughs, and hold them so; and in their right hands they have a pruning knife, wherewith the cut off the smal boughs, from which they pull off little round bladders as great as smal pease, on that side they grew to the wood they are chapt and open, full of little red creatures smaller than nits, that fly forth at that cleft, and leave the bladder empty. The boyes when they have gathered their Cochineal, bring it to the Treasurer, and he gives them victuals for it. He parts these little creatures from the bladders with a sieve, and then he takes them gently with the tops of his fingers, and makes bals of them as great as Hens eggs: for should he press them too hard, they would turn to juice, and the colour be lost: wherefore there are two kindes of dying stuffe, one of the pulp, another of the bladders, and because the pulp is more usefull for dying, the price of that is four times beyond the price of the bladders. Gesner also saw small Worms of a yellow and red, upon the uppermost boughs of the Juniper-tree; in the sponge of the Eglantine or wilde Rose, white worms breed, from which Aristotle saith that Cantharides do come. Gesner saith, that after two moneths the sponge being kept in a stove will send forth a great number of little live Worms. Also the Thorn and the Bramble, the Rose, Heath, Broom, tree Trifoly, Raspis, the Myrtle-tree, Capers, Bush, the Goosberry-bush, the Palm-tree, the white Thorn, the Privet, Park-leaves, Licorice, and indeed every shrub, and under-shrub is eaten by Worms: nor could Palma Christi (which afforded shadow to Ionas, that divine Prophet, when he was very hot) escape this plague, as we finde it written. Also Pulse, the gifts of Ceres, are (to use the Philosophers word) most Worm-eaten, but how that comes to pass is most uncertain: whe∣ther is it, as Theophrastus seems to say, when the juice cannot be diffused, by reason of the great heat, and the foulness of them? or should we rather say, that the dry part desires the humour, but the humour s••ees from it as its contrary? So we see drops hanging on a dry wall: or whether the over great heat corrupts both the natural heat and moisture contained within? That cor∣ruption comes that way, most sickly Aethiopia can testifie. A little worm eats Beans, Theo∣phrastus cals it Midas, and Hesychius 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, is a worm breeding in Pulse, but chiefly in Pease, and hath its name from eating: and such a one breeds in chich Peason, after that the saltness of it is washed away with showrs, as besides the Scholiast upon Hesiod, Phavorin••••, and Theophrastus determine. They often breed in the sweeter Pulse, both by reason of the fitness of the nourishment, and the nature of the air fit to breed worms, and when they are bred they nourish them, and shew them forth. Worms bred in corn are generally called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which feed on the roots, stalks, reeds, and prickles of winter Wheat, Panick, Oats, Rice, Miller, Rie; others there are that feed upon Wheat-flour, as those that are called Farinarii; others of that which is whole Wheat, not yet ground in a mill, as Weevils. The English call the Farinarii Meal-worms; they are like to ships worms, they have six feet, with a little shining red head, a round body, and divers coloured as the meal is: for the best and whitest meal breeds them white, the elder meal breeds them yellow, the lean meal full of bran hath dark colour'd. Cardan cals them Meal-moths, (but as it fals out frequently) not well considering of it. Those that

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are fed with bran, it is wonderful how great they will grow, and frons ten in a short time you shall finde three hundred. They are found amongst woollen weavers at all times almost; for they make a mixture of Bran, Vinegar, and Hogs grease, from whence they breed abundant∣ly. The Weevil is the bane of whole Wheat, be it raw or torrefied (as in 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of Aetius (which the English call Mault, the mother of Ale.) For so my Comedian hath it, though Virgil and Varro call it Gurgulio or Curgulio. The English call the Wheat-worm Kis, Pope, Bowde, Weevil, and Wibil, as if you should say double Bill, yet it is indeed a living creature with three beaks. It destroyes wheat chiefly, yet it will destroy any other grain, lea∣ving nothing but the hull, and the thin skin. For as Virgil hath it in his Georgicks:

The Weevil spoils a mighty heap of corn.

It is formed like a small Beetle, it hath a beck proper to it self, and with three forks. Some of them are with black bodies, others with brown, but others that are the greater are greenish, and the middle of their body very small. This creature is so dry, that with the least touch it will turn to dust. It is bred chiefly in the Spring, some few daies before that Bees swarm. Theophra∣stus saith they breed of one part of the grain, and the other part they feed•• on. Our Countrey-men finde by experience that this wheat-worm will lay eggs in chinks of wals, and under the tyles, and from thence by procreation comes a new off-spring. They speak of three wonders con∣cerning these little creatures. First, that though they be but few at first, yet in a short time they will increase infinitely. Secondly, that they will lie between the tyles and in chinks of wals without any meat at least three years. Thirdly, that if they be put into water three daies

with Wheat or Barly, when they are taken forth they wil live again. Our Countreyman Siliardus (a diligent observer of Nature) describes the propagation of Weevils thus: when Ants have ea∣ten off the top of the ear of wheat, the Weevill goes up, and in that little hole he laies one or two eggs (but seldom three) so great as a grain of Millet, long and yellow, full of liquid yellow matter; from this afterwards proceedeth another Weevill. This little Insect hath both sexes, for they copulate before they do this mischief. Petrus Comestor affirms that they proceed from Beans corrupted, to whom no man but Guillerinus de Conchis assents, lest they should falsly con∣found a Weevil with Midas, or Bean-worm. Beside this Weevil commonly known, Joach. Cae∣merarius sent two others to Pennius out of the barns of Germany, with a far greater belly; one of them was a kinde of ash-colour, and the other green. Also Scaliger saith there is in wheat a worm without a beck, which perhaps Pliny meant by his corn-beetle. To this I will refer a cer∣tain little creature that is frequent in barns, that creeps with six feet, and with two short sail-yards it tries its way, it is spotted on the middle of its back and sides, and the rest of the body is black, which I therefore call the spotted Weevil. This creature doth no great harm to corn, be∣cause it is still alone, and seldom two of them are found in one barn. About Lentzbourg, a Town of Germany, a certain insect is found in the fields, which some call Ʋlput, some Korn-worm, others Kornevele. It is said to be so venomous and hurtful, that the Husbandmen will leave their plough when they meet it, and run after it to kill it. It is black from a little red, dwelling amongst wheat and eating up the corn: worms bred in Vines, the skarlet Oak worms are like them, such as Brassavolus doth strongly maintain and think that they are bred on the roots of Pimpernel. Amongst herbs, both for physick, and for meat, the Violet, Radish, Rue, Basil, and many more are molested with worms. The worms in Violets are very small and black, and run very fast, as Jacobus Garetus a most diligent Apothecary, and very famous in the knowledge of simples as there are not many, affirms, out of the root of the Hartichoak a worm comes, that hath six feet, like to a Catserpiller, and whitish, with a reddish black head; where it bites the roots of Hartichoaks it makes them black, and at last kils them. The Radish produceth the like. Cardan saith, men report that there is a worm found in the leaves of Rue, and it will grow wonderful great, as the Hazel-nut worm will do if it be fed with sheeps milk. A little worm that is the childe of the dew, and a guest in basil with a body almost upright, he sticks fast by his hinder feet, whilest he takes hold with his forefeet. Sugar is made of the Sugar cane, the sweetest of all Salts, and as the common sort of Physicians suppose, it is altogether free from corruption. Yet under the au∣thority of Scaliger, I assert that a little worm is bred in Sugar, long, black as a flea, and (if you take away his beck) like to a Weevil; and therefore we may justly call it a Sugar-worm. Bellonius also makes mention of this. But that Insect which the Germans call Mayen Wormlen, seems to breed very seldom, saith Camerarius. For in the moneth of May dewes often fall that are very unhealthful, and if they fall upon the leaves of Hops, they turn to little living creatures called Hoppen. Amongst thousands of these you shall sometimes see one far greater than the rest (though it is scarse greater than a fat lowse) it hath yellow circles about the belly, the back is cham••er'd, the tail is somewhat long, the colour of the body for the greatest part is blackish. This when it wants aliment from dew, devours one by one all of his own kinde, ever beginning with that is next to him: he changeth his skin like to Silk-worms: lastly, when he is almost transparent, he putting off his last skin, he hangs by his head and feet by a kinde of thin bird-lime, by some leaf, and so he dies: why may we not call this worm the Hop-worm? In the stalk of the Asphodil, a worm is bred of a clear colour when the herb begins to flower, out of his shoulders wings grow by degrees, and then when he can fly, he forsakes his habitation. In the swoln joynts of the cod∣ded Arsmart, and the wilde Thistle, little white worms breed, as yellow ones do in the purple flowers of the bastard wilde Chervil, and red ones in the root of Pimpernel. I often have seen in the female Smallage downy worms; in Mushroms and Coleworts, small black worms; in the root of Acorus, white ones: in the root of Elecampane whilest it is green and growing, white worms breed in ten or eleven joynts that are visible, that are as thick as a Goosquil, with a lit∣black head, and six short feet, and the body all black. The Kings of the Indians, as Aelian testi∣fieth, use to eat for their second course, a worm found in a certain plant, when it is rosted at the fire, and they commend it for the daintiest and sweetest meat. In the head or stalk of the Fullers Teasil, we have seen a worm very small, with a little head, and six black feet, with ten or eleven incisions. First it eats up the spongy pith of the stalk, and when that fails it dies for want of food. It is easily found at the beginning of October, though Marcellus upon Dioscorides, doth most shamefully deny it. If I am not deceived, this is that worm the Ancients call Tatinum. Xeno∣crates cals a plant like to double Camomel Galedragon, (saith Pliny) it hath a stalk like Fennel Gigant, with a tall and prickly head, and like to an egg in form: in this with age they say little worms breed, that are good against the tooth-ach.

In the roots of white Thistle (which plant is luxuriant in the high mountains of Savoy) there is a little worm found, breeding in some, in others it growes great, and in most of them it grows to have wings and ready to fly, it is white, and hath some joynts that it is divided by, and very black shining eyes. It may be there is great use in physick of a little worm bred in wilde Tansey: but I leave the enquiry of that to those that are curious in the secrets of Nature.

CHAP. XXI.

Concerning the use of Worms that breed in Minerals and Vegetables, and the way to destroy them.

SOme think that worms that are bred in stones, (whereof we speak) those I mean that are as great as Hand-worms, beaten into powder with the stone, are good to cure Ulcers. Al∣so Marcellus witnesseth that these bruised and given with three Cyathi of water, will break and drive forth the Stone by urine. The Ancients used the more solid wood that the Thripes had carved with their teeth for Seals, and Antiquity ascribeth the invention of that to Hercu∣les. In old trees red worms breed, whereof Serenus writes thus.

From an old tree do but red worms procure, Bruise them with Oyl, and dropt in warm, be sure, For pains oth' ears this is the safest cure.

Galen out of Apollonius subscribes this remedy. Worms that breed in hollow and rotten trees heal secret Ulcers and all symptomes of Ulcers, and diseases of the head; also being burnt and powdered with their weight of dry Dill, they cure Cankers. Marcellus. But Ae∣tius addes three Worms bred of wood to an Oyntment against the Elephantiasis, which he learn∣ed of a certain Physitian that took his oath of secrecy. The rottennesse that is made by their biting dries without pain, and is profitable for many things. Galen Eupor. 3 c. 7. commends this kinde of powder, against knobs, clifts, and sores of the Fundament. Take Orpiment in pieces three ounces, rotten wood of an Oke four ounces, make a fine powder, then foment the place affected, first with the warm urine of a young boy, and afterwards strew on this powder. But the Cossi are not only food for the Inhabitants of Pontus and Phrygia, and they delight much in them (as Worms in Cheese are to the Germans) but they also cure Ulcers, increase milk, and as Pliny saith, when they are burnt to ashes they cure creeping sores. The Worm in Ful∣lers Teazil put into a hollow tooth, will give wonderfull ease. Pliny. And if it be hanged in a bladder about the neck and arms, it will cure Quartane Agues. Dioscorides. One Samuel Quic∣kelbergius a learned young man, in an Epistle he writ to D. Gesner, hath these words, Saith he, as I was gathering of Simples, a certain old man came unto me whilst I sought for a little Worm in the head of the Fulle••s Teazill, and he said unto me, O thou happy young man, if thou didst but certainly know the secret vertues of that little Worm, which are many and great. And when I intreated him, that he would acquaint me with them, he held his peace, and by no intreaty could I obtain it of him. Pliny asserts that the Colewort Catterpillars being but touched with it will fall and die. The Worms of Galedracon (which plant some men con∣found with Fullers Teazil) being put into a box, and bound with bread to the arm on that side the tooth akes, will wonderfully remove the pain, saith Xenocrates. The Worms of the Eglan∣tine will cause sleep, and therefore some Germans call them Schlafoirs: They are applyed alive to a Felon (but alwayes their number must be odde) and they do certainly cure it saith Quickel∣bergius. A little Worm found in the herb Carduus, bound up in a piece of Skarlet and hang'd about the neck, will cure the tooth-ache. Marcellus. The Worms that are found in the root of Pimpernel, make a most incomparable purple colour, (Gesner) that I wonder the Ancients said nothing of them. All little Worms found in prickly herbs, if any meat stick in the nar∣row passage of the throat of children, will presently help them. Pliny. Rub a faulty tooth with the Worms in Coleworts, and it will in a few dayes fall forth it self. Meal-worms are good and seem to be bred to catch black-heads, and Nightingales, and to feed them; nor is there in winter wholesomer meat for them: for they purge, heat, and nourish also, those Birds that have but a thin nutriment to preserve them. I spake before of the profitablenesse of the Co∣chineel Worms. Brassavolus affirms the same of Vine-worms, but how rightly let others judge; but they are not only good for dying, but necessary in Physick, for they both binde and dry, and scowr without biting, and incarnate also, they cure rheumatick eyes, mingled with Pi∣geons bloud, they help suffusions of the eyes, they cure Dysenteries, they help hard labour in Childe-birth, and debility, they cure Melancholy, fear, Epilepsies, they provoke urine and the terms, they heat the Matrix, they dissolve water and choler, they abate the panting of the heart, and upon that score they are put into Confection of Alkermes, and are the Basis thereof. Dioscor. Avicen, Kiranides. I say nothing, how greedily Sparrows, Wood-peckers, Hens, Wood-cocks, Snipes, the Pardus, a Black-bird, Larks, Gnat-snappers, Reed-sparrows, and many other birds, that are good physick, or else meat for us, do feed on the Worms of trees and herbs. Now since God hath mingled conveniences and inconveniences together, both to rouse up our providentiall prudence, and to punish us with punishments due to our sins, how both of these may be prevented I shall shew briefly. Jonas being cherished under the shadow of the Gourd, he thought it safe and happy to be so, when the heat was so vehement. But God sent

a worm and took that from him, both to try his patience, and demonstrate his frailty. There was an Arch-bishop of Yorke, whose surname was Grey, as our Histories relate, when he had abundance of all Corn in the time of great scarcity, yet he refused to let the poor have victo∣als either for money or intreaty. A little after this his barns that were full of Corn, were so exhausted with Weevils, that they left not one whole grain of Wheat or Barley: Even as So∣lomon said, He that hoards up his Corn the people shall curse him, but blessing shall be on the head of him that selleth it. So God, that he may call forth a sluggish father of a family, sends the Moths and Worms into his Orchard•• and fields, both to make him laborious by this means, and also to teach him to make use of such helps and means that God offers to him. Our An∣cestors have delivered by tradition many of these: But because Cato, Vitruvius, Pliny, Palla∣dius, Theophrastus, Columella, Varro, Virgil, and many of those that were Princes in husbandry, have abundantly set down these things, we shall only give you a smack of them here, be∣cause others have given a full draught. That trees may not be eaten with worms, plant them in the new of the Moon, and cut them down between the new and old Moon in the conjun∣ction. Also anoynt them with Tarre, and often wet them with the lees of Oyl. Also keep them under Covert, every where, that they may not stand exposed either to great heat of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 or tempests of weather. Also that trees may not grow worm-eaten, anoynt their roots be∣fore the first planting of them, and then afterwards moysten their roots with mans urine and a third part of the strongest vinegar. Some steep a long while Squills with Lupins, and they sprinkle the places that are worm-eaten or presse out their liquor with a Sponge, or they be∣smear the stock of the tree till it be very wet, and they powr into the holes Bitumen min∣gled with Oyl. Others sprinkle on quick-lime, others Oyl-lees and old pisse, others Hogs or Dogs dung steept in Asses pisse, the roots being first uncovered. Democritus taught men to bruise Terra Lemnia with water, (it may be he meant Carpenters red) and to smear them with that: Some pick out the Worm with a brasse pin and put Cow-dung over the hole. Red hairy Worms search to the inward pith, if you can draw these forth and not break them, and burn them hard by, it is reported that all the rest will dy with it. It is good also to powr often upon the roots, Bulls gall, and lees of Oyl: To plant Squills, Rue, Worm-wood hard by, to make a menstruous woman passe over the place often, to smear the pruning knifes with Oyl of Cantharides, and to avoid lean and dry ground. By these remedies Oranges, Peaches, Pomegranates, Quinces, Pears, Apples, Olives, and Okes, and other trees are kept sound a long time, and almost free from Worms. Ashes laid to fig-trees, drive away Worms, for it hath the force of salt, though not so strong. The seeds of Fig-trees or kernels will not be eaten by Worms, if a slip of the Mastick tree or Turpentine tree be set by them. As for Vines, Aetius bids us to sprinkle Sea-cole with water, and cast upon the place in the Spring-time, and then to smear the roots of the Vines that begin to bud. For if you smear the pruning knife with Goats suet or Frogs bloud, or do but anoynt the Whet-stone with it, worms will not breed there. Africanus saith that the tears of the Vine mingled with the ashes of the Vine∣stalks, and put on the root with Wine, it will do as much. Lastly they are killed with a ••ume of Oxe-dung, Harts-horn, Goats-clawes, Lilly-roots, shavings of Ivory, womens hair. The herb Pionie or Thorow-wax, planted where Vines grow, drive away worms. Some there are that boyl Assa foetida, and Lazerwort in Oyl, and anoynt the stocks of Vines with it (beginning at the root) or with Garlick bruised. The seeds that must be sowed, should be kept in a Tortoise-shell, or Mints are to be sowed amongst Pot-herbs, but chiefly Tares. The bruised leaves of the Cypresse-tree mingled with them, will avail much. Aggregator. And Palladius saith that all seeds will be free from worms, if a little before you sow them you soke them in the juice of wilde Cucumbers. Pliny bids to prepare seeds of Lupins before you sow them, in the smoke or some hot place, because in a moyst place the worms will eat up the middle of it, and make it barren. Varro saith that worms will never touch Ony∣ons that are set with salt and Vinegar. Moreover, the seeds of all pot-herbs wet with the juice of Housleek, will admit of no worms. Against Weevils, that are a certain plague to Corn, it is good to dawb the walls with lime and hair both within and without. Others do for two dayes steep the fruit and leaves of wilde Cucumbers in lime water, and with sand they mould it up like plaister, and with that they plaister the insides of their Granaries; though Pliny writes that Quick-lime is a very great enemy to Corn. Some put beasts pisse to the lime, some worm-wood, juice of great Housleek, and hops, others powr on the ground Oyl-lees, Herring pickle, and the decoction of Flea-bane. Strabo mingles Marle. Others report that often fanning of wheat keeps it safe from weevils; but Columella denies this to be true. Cato lib. de re rustica, commends Clay mingled with Oyl-lees, and he would have the Granary to be fenced with that. Varro useth it almost the very same way, but he commends Clay with Oyl-lees, Maple tree and Corn mingled together. Our English men do deceive and destroy them divers wayes. Some in the middle of the heap of Corn do so place brasse Vessels half full of hot water, that the Corn may lie almost up to the mouth brims of the Vessels; for thus they think the weevils are taken or destroyed.

Some shut up an Ant-hill and Ants together in a bag, and after that they powr it forth in a corner of the granary: thus in ten daies will the Ants destroy all the Wee∣vils, and when they are killed, they take them and carry them forth, that are going back to their former house. Also they use to put into that place young Chickens that will soon eat

〈◊〉〈◊〉 all the weevils. Some sprinkle on salt water where Garlick hath been in••••••ed, or Hops, Elder-leaves, worm-wood, Rue, Nigella seed, wilde Mints, Walnut leaves, Savoury, Lavender, Southern-wood, Flea-w••••t, Bean Trifoly, boyld in Vinegar of Squills. They are much delight∣ed with Navew seeds, for the sweetnesse of them, that they will leave the Corn for that, and eat till they swell and break in sunder. Though some may think these things too much, and beside my purpose, yet Hippocrates proves that they are fit for Philosophers and Physitians (Epistola ad Cratevam) not only to know the art, to describe, gather, lay up, and use Simples, but also in preserving them, and preparing them, and to purge them from inbred or inflicted venome, and from putrefaction and worms.

CHAP. XXII.

Of the six footed Worms of living Creatures, and first of Lice in men.

SInce God hath given the principality to man amongst living Creatures, we will begin w〈…〉〈…〉 him. In the first beginning whilest man was in his innocency, and free from wickednesse, * 1.50 he was subject to no corruption and filth, but when he was seduced by the wickednesse of that great and cunning deceiver, and proudly affected to know as much as God knew,

[illustration]

God humbled him with divers diseases, and divers sorts of Worms, with Lice, Hand-worms, Belly-worms, others call Termites, small Nits, and Acares: Acastus, Alcmaeon, Phericides, Pharaoh King of Egypt, Cassander son of Antipater, Democratus, Calisthenes, Olynthius, Scylla the Dictator, and that river of Eloquence Herod, knew it to be true that I write, who perishing with a Lowsy disease, used Physicks and Baths in vain, for they died mise∣rably of them. Some also write that Plato (being elevated perhaps more then he ought, and so wise that he disdained others) died of this disease, whence grew the Proverb, Platoes Lice. I shall say nothing of Henry the se∣cond a most cruel Tyrant, and Theodorus that propagated Arianisme, two Kings of the Vandals: I let passe Arnulphus an Emperour, and an effeminate Sodomite, and Caesar Maximus a filthy Pander, all consumed with Lice, who found that when God commands, the least and most contemptible Creature hath force enough to destroy sinners, and with Pharaoh they were compelled to acknowledge this to be the finger of God.

The Hebrewes call a Lowse Ki••im, and Chinnam, the Greeks 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, * 1.51 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the Italians Pidocchio, the Spaniards Piecio, the French Pou, the Germans Luss, the English Lowse. The Latines call it Pes, as we read in Plautus in Curcul. Wherefore you are a kinde of Lions, and like Flies, Gnats, Lice and Fleas, you trouble all mens and are hated by all, but never do any good. And Livy to Gladiolus, Are they Fleas, Wood-lice, or Lice? An∣swer me. And Lucilius when he sees me, he scratcheth his head, and picks Lice. Festus. Where still a Lowse is called Pes. It is a beastly Creature, and known better in Innes and Armies then it is wellcome. The profit it bringeth, Achilles sheweth, Iliad 1. in these words: I make no more of him then I doe of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Lowse; as we have an English Proverb of a poor man, He is not worth a Lowse. The Lice that trouble men are either tame or wilde ones, those the English call Lice, and these Crab-lice; the North English call them Pert-lice, that is a petulant Lowse, comprehending both kindes, it is a certain sign of misery, and is sometimes the inevitable scourge of God. The tame ones that breed of corrupt bloud, are lesse, and reddish, from * 1.52 Fleame white, from melancholy and adust humours, black, and from mixt humours they are of divers colours, as Petrus Gregorius noted l. 33. If you rub them gently between your fin∣gers you shall see them four-square, and something harder than Fleas, whence in the dark when you take them you may easily finde the difference. They that breed in the head are bigger, longer, blacker and swifter, those that breed in the body are fatter, bigger bellies, slower, darkish white, and marked with blackish streaks. Some constantly affirm, that in May they have seen Lice with wings, and that the Locust-eaters of Lybia, when they have fed too plentifully of them, after they come to be forty years old, will die with these Lice, as Diodorus Siculus saith confidently, 4. Antiquitat. Agatharcides speaks of these Lice, but he saith they are like to Ticks. They chiefly fasten on the chin, eye-browes, and the privities full of hair, the groin, and the arm-pits, their body is more compact, their nib is sharper, they bite more, and tickle lesse. For Tykes will sometime enter deep into the skin with their nose, that you can hardly pull them out but with the losse of their heads, and they seldome wan∣der, but they bite cruelly, and make themselves a hollow place, and there they stand fast. Some call these Lice in Latine, Cicci, some mens Tikes, others Vultures lice▪ Aristotle calls them wilde Lice, Hist. Animal. l. 5. c. 31. it is harder then a tame Lowse, and is more hard∣ly removed from the place it bites. Our French men, saith Joubertus, call them Morpions, and Pattae, the Germans call them F••eultz leuss, Gordonius Pessolatas: they stick very fast to the skin, or bite through the cuticula; they are of a dryer matter, and that which is half rosted,

so they are not so swolne, but they are more compact. The Arabians call them Alcarad, Guardam, Faed, and with an Article, Alguardam, and Alfaed, as Ingrassias observed. Also in the Synonymaes contr. Rhasis, they are called Motes and Immores. The Italians call these Piatolos, and Chacillos, and Albenzoar Platulas. All Lice breed from humours, flesh, fat, sweat corrupted, and differ exceedingly in respect of the place and humour. For those that breed of mans bloud will die if you smeare them with the bloud of other Creatures. Also they that breed in a mans head will hardly live, or not long in his body. So the wilde Lice bred in the privities will die in the head. Those that breed of flesh putrefied, such as often will a∣bound * 1.53 in Ulcers ill cured, will not be fed with the excrements of the skin, (saith Hieron. Mercurialis, l. 1. c. 7. de morb. cut.) The opinions of Authors are divers concerning the gene∣tion of this disease: Aristotle 5. hist. anim. c. 31. thinks that Lice breed of flesh corrupted, in which place he affirms three things. First, that they that breed Lice, have some pulses arising before in their skin, which if a man prick, the Lice will appear. Then that this disease come not, but by moyst humours, or to such that have been troubled with a long and moyst dis∣ease. Lastly, that all Birds, Fish, Four-footed beasts, are molested with this disease, except an Asse. The first opinion pleaseth me not: First because in the skin of the head Lice breed most commonly, where there is the least portion of flesh. And again, if they should breed only of corrupt flesh, the heads of young children that are almost allwayes full of them would be so wanting of flesh, that it would almost wast all away. Further, in Consumptions, where the body nourisheth not, and is wholly consumed almost, they abound most commonly, where all * 1.54 the flesh is so dry, that there is no moysture almost to breed Lice. Theophrastus is of another minde from Aristotle, affirming that Lice breed of corrupt putrefied bloud; which Hieron. Mer∣curialct in the quoted place labours to infringe by these reasons. First because in Feavers that grow from putrefaction of bloud, there is seen no such increase of Lice. Secondly, if they should be made from bloud, some of them at least would be of a red sanguine colour, and resti∣fie from whence they were bred, as other things doe, but we see no such, therefore, &c. In which place this otherwise very learned man, seems to beg his principle. For in the heads of our children we oft times finde very red Lice, and in those that are upon recovery of a pu∣trid Synochus, we finde that oft times many red and mingled coloured Lice breed. Galen, 1. de comp. med. sec. loc. c. 7. and Avicenna l. 4. sen. 7. tract. 5. c. 26. ascribe them to some other cause, and as Mercurialis thinks, that their opinion is the truest of all, namely, that they breed from the hot excrements of the second and third concoction putrefied, nor sharp, nor bad. To understand rightly their opinion, we must know, that when bloud is changed into the sub∣stance of the Limbs, many kindes of excrements are produced, whereof some are dissolved by insensible transpiration, others by sweat, others turn to filth, others stay in the skin: Those that are retained in the upper skin, make dandruf, if they stay in the depth of the skin, or are bad and sharp, they cause sore heads. But since I have observed that in some that were in a Consumption uncurable, where the sharpnesse of the humour eats up the very roots of the hairs, Lice come forth abundantly, why may I not think by their leave that they may breed at first from sharp humours? Scaliger would prove that Lice breed not from putrid humours, because herbs grow from the seed without putrefaction: for he thinks the principle is altered, but he beleeves not it can be corrupted. But by his leave I must say that Scaliger or the Apostle must be mistaken: For so St. Paul, 1 Cor. 15. That which thou sowest is not quickened unlesse it die. But if death be a corruption, as the Philosophers say, then Scaliger was deceived, and (yet keeping the Laws of friendship) we may deservedly reject his opinion. And Epithymum breeds from Thyme, and Misseltoe ariseth from some trees, that are sound, and not yet corrupted. But I answer, that a Lowse differs more from the principle it proceeds from, than Epithymum doth from Thyme, trees from Misseltoe. For these are of the same kinde, and are as it were thrust forth from the abundance of fruitfull matter, and Misseltoe is nourished from the pith of the tree. But it is apparent, that Lice seldome breed in sound bodyes, or not at all, but those that are cachecticall, in Consumptions, and full of putrefaction, and watry bloud, and whose flesh and skin are corrupt as well as their bloud, and fat, are troubled with them. Oft times sound men sweat, and yet breed no Lice, for they will not breed of all sweat, but from corrupt sweat, and that which is not bitter. But when it grows bitter, (as we finde it in those that are dying, or troubled with the Jaundies) they forsake their stations and creep from the body into the pillowes that are under them; yet they do not alwayes go to other places when men are dead, for as those that take care of the dead Corpses affirm, they will still stick about the mouth of the stomack, and under the chin by the sharp artery; which places which are most full of na∣tive heat, when they once creep unto, it is no small sign of death approaching. Also the com∣plexion serves much to breed Lice, the Countrey, and the dressing. For some have more, some fewer, and some in any Climate will be free from them. Oviedus l. Navig. c. 82. writes, that Christians in the West-Indies have not so much as a Low••e in their heads, and yet the ••nhabi∣tants (to use Plautus his phrase) are very Lowsy, pedicosi. Also our Countrey-men have obser∣ved, that have passed upon the Indian sea, when they have left the Isle of Azores behinde them, all the Lice presently die, and when they see those Islands again, they will revive abundantly. I think the reason is, (that I may here help Pennius out) the extreme heat between the Tropicks, that not only sucks aliment from them, but the Element also. Vespucius testifieth of the Isle

of St. Thomas, that the Blackmoors there are full of Lice, but the white men are free of that trou∣ble. As for dressing the body: all Ireland is noted for this, that it swarms almost with Lice. But that this proceeds from the beastliness of the people, and want of cleanly women to wash them is manifest, because the English that are more careful to dress themselves, changing & washing their shirts often, having inhabited so long in Ireland, have escaped that plague. Hence it is that Ar∣mies and Prisons are so full of Lice, the sweat being corrupted by wearing alwaies the same cloathes, and from thence ariseth matter for their original by the mediation of hea••. So those that keep no diet, but delight in eating and filthines, and feed on Vipers, Radishes, Basil, Figs, Lignum Aloes, Garden Smallage, and Dates too much, their bodies will from putrefaction of humours breed Lice between their skin, as Diodorus in Empiricus, Simon Sethi, Aetius, and Pliny affirm. But Dioscorides saith it is exceeding false, that Lice will grow from eating Vipers. Sheeps-wool that a Wolf hath killed will breed Lice, if a garment made thereof be wet with sweat, which grant that it be an invention of Aristotle and Pliny, yet experience teacheth us, that cloathes smeered with Horses grease, will breed Lice presently. Aelian saith that he will be full of Lice, who is anointed with oyl wherein a St••llio is drowned.

Against this terrible disease, which the Greeks call 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, many have invented divers reme∣dies. * 1.55 The Irish and Iseland people (who are frequently troubled with Lice, and such as will fly, as they say, in Summer) anoint their shirts with Saffron, and to very good purpose, to drive away the Lice, but after six moneths they wash their shirts again putting fresh Saffron into the Lye. But Antigonus in Synag. Histor. Paradox. so soon as little pushes or wheels appear upon the body, bids us prick them, and take forth the Lice: but if they be left unprickt, that general lowsie dis∣ease will come, whereby they say that Alcmaeon Physicus, and Pherecides Syrus were destroyed.

The general Cure of the lowsie Disease.

Amatus Lusitanus cured that good Venetian at Ancona (of whom I spake before) who was s••ck of a general lowsie disease. First, by opening a vein, and then purging him; for so he drove forth the corrupt humours that fomented the disease, not at once, but twice or thrice. After∣wards by applying Topical remedies, in a short time he grew free of this plague. Topical Medi∣caments were made thus: Take bitter Lupins iij. pugils, seeds of Staves-acre ij. pugils, in the sharpest Vinegar what is sufficient, boyl them, and with that Vinegar wash the body from head to feed, then wipe and dry it, and anoint it with this oyntment following: Take Staves-acre two parts, Sandaracha of the Greeks one part, the finest Nitre half a part, mingle them all with the sharpest Vinegar and oyl of Radishes, and pound them together very exactly, and with these make an oynt∣ment: with which Amatus soon attained his purpose, that the sick fell no more into the same foul disease. Amat. Lusitan. cent. 3. curat. 58. Herod (as Josephus and Aegesippus testifie) when he had got this disease by his great pride, and he was so smitten from God, he went to the Baths beyond Jordan, and the Bituminous Lake, that were very good to cure this disease, but at that time they were of no force, when God was pleased to punish a proud Prince with a contemptible crea∣ture. If the body be lowsie all over, it shewes a general Cacochymia, wherefore it is best in my opinion, first to open a vein, and then to give a Purge, as the humour requires, and so to proceed to specificals, and such as agree with the place affected. Dioscorides prescribes such kindes of internal remedies: Take Garlick with the decoction of Origanum; drink this three daies. Another, Let the sick drink Coriander bruised with Origanum, and anoint himself out∣wardly with Honey. He commends also Alum-water, and the Decoction of Betes, juice of Ivy and the gum of it with Honey, liquid Pitch, Alum, Synopex smeered on with Vinegar, Nitre with Samian Earth and Oyl.

Other outward Remedies that kill Lice, out of Pliny: Seeds of Staves-acre beaten, without the hulls, will free the body from Lice, but better if you mingle them with the Sandaracha of the Greeks, Mustard-seed, Garlick, with Vinegar and Nitre are good for the same. Oyl of Radish doth cure the lowsie disease contracted for a long time. Siler, Mountain-seed beaten with Oyl, Hysop, mingled with Oyl, Tar, sweet Gums, the juice of the wilde Vine, and Staves-acre boyl'd in Vinegar, will free garments from them. So black Hellebore with Oyl or Milk anointed on is very good. Internal Remedies out of Pliny. A Snakes cast skin powdred and drank for three daies, will keep the body free from Lice. Mustard-seed, or seed of Tamarisk, drank, are good; so is water of Radish-leaves, and the juyce of Privet-berries, Plantain, Garlick, the juyce of wilde Cucumer, and Tar. Nonus commends the root of the sharp Dock, bruised with Oyl and anointed, first washing the body with the decoction of Lupins, and he prescribes a remedy of San∣daracha of the Greeks, Nitre, and Staves-acre. Oribasius approves the juyce of Pellitory long rubbed on, or Nitre with the wilde Vine in a Bath. Rhasis prefers the leaves of Barberies, gum of Ivie, great Knot-grass, and Sea-water. Avicenna commends Quicksilver with oyl of Roses, and wilde Staves-acre with Arsenick. Haly Abbas bids us purge the body, and then to eat meat of good juyce, to wash away the filth, and to change our clothes often: then he prescribes Quicksilver bruised with Staves-acre-seed, and oyl of wilde Saffron, and with that to anoint the body morning and evening, after bathing. He farther commands us to use these Remedies: Take long Birthwort, bruise it with Pine-leaves and Quicksilver, and with oyl of Lupins what may serve turn, make an Unguent. Anoint the body with that at night, and in the morning wash it

with hot water, after that, with a decoction of Alum, Wormwood, Santonicum, or Mugwo••t, rub it away. Another: Take round and long Birthwort, red Arsenick, that is the Greeks San∣daracha; and with oyl of Ben. make an unguent, with this anoint the body in the evening, and in the mo••ning rub the body with Bran and Barley-meal. Another: Take biter Costus, Carda∣momum, Buls gall, bray them with the Oyl of Pistaches, anoint the body with it, and in the morning wash it with the water of a decoction of clear Bran, or of Barley. Constantinus used Quicksilver with ashes, Litharge, Vinegar and Oyl mingled together for hot complexions; but for cold he used Pine-tree juyce, Sea-water, Staves-acre, Nitre, Arsenick, and oyl of wilde Saffron. Johannes de Rupescissâ, mingled Quicksilver with Aqua vitae, and the powder of wilde Staves-acre, with that he provides a girdle, which worn about the bare loyns will kill the Lice. Serenus, A∣binzoar, Amatus Lusitanus, Matthiolus, Hildegardis, Johan. Vigo, and others, prescribe other remedies, but most of them of these materials. He that desires more remedies against the lowsie disease, let him read Paulus Aegineta, l. 3. c. 3. Galen l. 1. de comp. med. sec. loc. and Guiliel. de Saliceto l. 1. c. 48. I knew one (saith Pennius) who when he was Governour of an Hospital, he cured the lowsie disease thus: He whipt the sick till the skin came off with Birchin rods, and where the prints were, the Lice would never breed again: A new kinde of cure, and most fit for idle Sea-men and slothful companions. Amatus Lusitanus (if I do not mistake) tels of a poor man that had a hole in his back by reason of an Ulcer, out of which daily abundance of Lice crept; questionless they were bred between the skin and the flesh, and afterwards by an un∣guent of wilde Staves-acre, Quicksilver, Pepper, and Lard, he was cured. Raland prefers the Bal∣sam of Sulphur to all remedies, and not without cause.

Aetius writes, that wilde Lice must first be picked out with great diligence, then the place must be fomented with warm Sea-water; yet very warily if they stick in the eye-browes, that you hurt not your eyes: then apply this remedy: Take Alum Scissil ij. drams, Staves-acre j. obolus, Pepper j. obolus, burnt Brass j. dram, Myrrhe ij. oboli, Scissil-stone ij. oboli and half, Misy torre∣fied j. dram; bruise it and dry it, and so use it: Then let them bathe and heat their head with discutients and strengthners, wash the whole body, and rub it again. Our Countreymen pick them out, and then they anoint the places well with black Sope, and if the body were too hot, anoint the body with the pap of a sweet apple mingled with Quicksilver, and it is a certain re∣medy. Celsus saith they offend the eye-brows so much sometimes, that the eyes being ulce∣rated they dim the sight, then incorporate purified Quicksilver with tops of Wormwood, and old Hogs grease, for nothing doth more certainly cure one, if it be done with caution. Also take Aloes j. ounce, Ceruse, Frankincense, each v. ounces, Lard what may suffice, make an unguent; some mingle with this Quicksilver and Brimstone. But here observe, if Crab-lice do breed thick on the beard, eye-brows, the share, and peritonaeum; first all the hairs must be shaved off, so soon as a general purgation hath been taken, and then the forementioned Topicks must be ap∣plyed, and all galls, especially Buls gall, Calfs gall, Capons and Partridge, with juyce of Cen∣taury and Quicksilver, are held very good. A lye of the ashes of Tamarisk destroyes the Lice. Rhasis and Albertus commend the marrow of a live Vulture taken forth. Varignana useth the milk of the greater Bindweed, wilde Mints, and Sow-bread, with a lotion of Honey. But chief∣ly he extols this Medicament: Take Staves-acre ij. ounces, Wine iv. glasses, Hogs bristles ij. ounces, purged Quicksilver j. ounce, let them boyl, and foment the body with the decocti∣on. Marinellus and many others make great reckoning of Wine-lees, juyce of Broom, a Lixi∣vium of Sena, Acorns, Cassia, Pellitory of Spain. But Gilbert an Englishman burns Leeches and Styrax Calamita together, and with these and Hogs bloud, he preparss an excellent Un∣guent.

These filthy creatures, and that are hated more than Dogs or Vipers, by our daintiest dames, * 1.56 are a joy to those that are sick, and sometimes a cure. For they that have lain long sick of a putrid disease, when Lice breed in their heads, they foreshew the recovery of the sick. For it is a sign of the exhaling of it, and flying forth from the centre to the circumference, Also experience proves that the Jaundies are cured with twelve bruised Lice drank with Wine. Pennius gave Lice and Butter to beggers and such as live on alms, very often, and so he recovered some that were almost desperate; some for the Dysurie are wont to put into the yard living Lice the grea∣test they can, to draw forth the urine by their tickling: which Alexander Benedictus relates of Wig-lice, when clammy humours have hurt the eyes, some cleanse them with Lice put into them, which creeping here and there like Oculus Christi, collect the matter; and wrapt up in that they will fall out. Also what shall I say? Apes, Baboons, will feed on them. And Herodotus and Strabo in Pontus speaks of men that feed on Lice, (to whom Arianus in Periplo consents) and the Spa∣niards speake the same of the Inhabitants of the Province of Cuenensis in the West-Indies. And they hunt after them so greedily and desire them, that the Spaniards can hardly keep their slaves from feeding on them. And it is no wonder that they can feed on Lice, that devour Horses, Asses, Cats, Worms (and more than that) men that are raw. But because it is an idle work, the women have that task put upon them to catch Lice, and they do that work almost, and there∣fore Strabo cals them Pedilegas. Serenus makes another use of them and writes thus:

Some hurtful things our bodies do produce By nature, which do stand us in great use, To keep us waking, and to stop th' abuse Of sleeping over much—

See the Chapter of Nits amongst the Insects without feet: Chap. 35.

CHAP. XXIII.

Of the Lice of brute Beasts and Plants.

THis plague fell not only on Man for his first transgression, but upon beasts also: yet amongst mankinde children are more full of them than young people, men than women, sick people than sound, nasty people than such as are cleanly; and so it is with other creatures: only the Asse is said to be free from this disease, not because Christ rid upon him, (as some fools dream) but because he goes so softly that he seldom sweats, or else God hath bestowed upon him some pe∣culiar antipathy. The Lion is a couragious creature and king of beasts, yet is he so tormented with Lice feeding on his eye-browes, that when he cannot help himself with scratching with his clawes, he will sometimes grow furious, as Pliny reports. Who hath not seen the Lice of a Horse, that most generous four-footed creature, and Nits with red heads that are apparent, and the rest of their body is of a dark white? The Lice of Oxen and Calves are black, and those that are lean have very many, like to Hog-lice almost, but shorter and somewhat thicker. Hog-lice have the same form, but they are so great and hard that you can hardly kill them with your fingers, these are called Ʋrii from burning, as Albertus testifieth l. 4. c. 205. Dogs though more seldom, yet are sometimes Lowsie; but their Lice are small ones, speckled, and with a whitish head, the rest of their body is of a blackish or wan colour from blew, as I first observed by the Dogs at Malta. Sheeps Lice are very small, their heads are red, their bodies white. Goats Lice differ but little from these▪ when the stag hath strove to cast his horns, he is troubled with an exceeding itching of his eye-lids, from Lice that breed of the same colour with their head that thrusts forth: who doth not know by Gesners History of Birds, or by his own experi∣ence, that Swans, Hens, Geese, Pigeons, Quails, Pheasants, Partridge, Hawks, and other fowl have Lice? Also Palladius, Columella, Paxanus, Varro, and other principal Leeches for cattel, have shewed us remedies sufficient for to kill Lice in brute beasts, that it will be no glory for me to insist upon them, nor fruitful to the Reader: what Avicenna l. 4. fen. 6. tract. 5. meant by Vultures Lice, I cannot conjecture, and I much desire the help of some Oedipus to untie this rid∣dle for me: we mentioned before in our first Book, that your dung-Beetles are killed by their own Lice. Also Salmon-fishes, especially the leaner sort, were seen by Pliny to have many Lice under their gils oft-times. Also they are found in Plants, as Southernwood, Wormwood, flowers of Water-lillies, and chiefly in Columbine leaves, in June, by reason of its exceeding sweetness, (saith Gesner). Also some plants a••e called lowsie plants, either because they are good against them, as Staves-acre, or because they breed Lice, as Dodonaeus his Fistularia, or because they abound with Lice, as Columbines, or from the great despicableness of them, as the fruit of the great plum-tree, which are therefore called lowsie plums.

CHAP. XXIV.

Of little Lice called Syrones, Acari, and Tineae, or Hand-worms, or Mites in living Creatures.

THo. à Viga falsly reports that the Ancients knew not what Syrones were, for Aristotle cals it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, 5. Hist. Animal. c. 2. Also they seem to be called Syrones, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, because they creep under the skin continually. It is the smallest living creature that is, which useth to breed in old cheese and wax, and also in mans skin. Pollux and Suidas say that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is such a small thing as is too small to be divided. In Latine they are called Pedicelli; in French, Ci∣rons; in Piemont Sciri; in Gascony, Brigantes; in English, Mites, in cheese, leaves, dry wood, and wax: but in men they are called Wheal-worms; the Germans call them Seuren. Abinzoar saith that Syrones are called Assoalat, and Assoab, they are little Lice creeping be∣tween the skin of the hands, thighes, and feet, and raising watery blisters there, they are so small creatures, that a good eye can hardly discern them. Gabucinus saith; Unto our times a kinde of filthy torture that is not to be endured, is continued, a very small Lowse, not so great as a Nit, creeps under the skin. And Johan. Phil. Ingrassias out of Abenzoar, describes them very hand∣somely

thus: when the skin is excoriate when that small little pimple and push appears like to a red angry wheal, little living creatures creep forth so small a man can hardly see them. And Joubertus writes that Syrones are those that are the smallest Lice of all, alwaies lying under the outward skin, and creep under it as Moles do, biting it, and causing a fierce itching. They consist of a dryer matter than Morpiones, which for want of glutinous matter, is almost divided into Atoms. They breed often in the head, and eat the roots of the hair. The Greeks call them 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; some call them Tineas by a peculiar name. Syrones have no certain form as Scaliger well observed, only they are round: our eye can scarsely discern them, they are so small, that Epicurus said it was not made of Atoms, but was an Atom it self. It dwels so under the skin, that when it makes its mines it will cause a grear itching, especially in the hands and other parts affected with them, and held to the fire. If you pull it out with a nee∣dle, and lay it on our nail, you shall see it move in the Sun that helps its motion; crack it with the other nail, and it will crack with a noise, and a watry venome comes forth; it is of a white colour, except the head; if you look nearer it is blackish, or from black it is something reddish. It is wonder how so small a creature, that creeps with no feet as it were, can make such long fur∣rowes under the skin. This we must observe by the way, that these Syrones do not dwell in the pimples themselves, but hard by. For it is their property not to remove far from the watry hu∣mour, collected in the little bladder or pimple; and when that is wasted or dryed up, they all die sho••tly after: whence we collect that as they breed from putrefied whey, so again they are sustained by it. None of the Ancients, except Abinzoar writes of these, who saw this disease, and rightly set down the remedy. Nor are those Syrones of the kinde of Lice, as Johan. Langius seems to assert out of Aristotle; for they live without the skin, but these not, nor do I know that Aristotle in any of his writings, placed Acaros amongst Lice.

How cruel a disease this is, and to be compared with the lowsie disease, an honourable Eng∣lish Lady of sixty years knowes, she was the most vertuous Lady of Penruddock a Knight, that by drinking too much Goats-milk (for she feared a consumption) was for ten years troubled with these wheal-worms, with which night and day she was miserably tortured in her eyes, lips, gums, soles of her feet, head, nose, and all her parts, that she lived a very grievous life, alwaies with∣out rest, and at last in despite of all remedies, the disease increased, whereby her flesh was con∣sumed, and she died thereof. I must not overpass this, that the more the women that sat by her, picked them out with their needles, the more their young ones bred, and when they had gnawed the flesh also, they grew to be bigger. Hence let proud despicable mankinde learn, that they are not only worms but worms-meat; and let us fear the power of that great God, who can with so con∣temptible an army confound all pride, haughtiness, daintiness, and beauty, and conquer the greatest enemy. It may be some will think it impossible for these Wheal-worms to breed between the eyes; but we see it is so, and we finde it was done so formerly, by an Epistle of D. Le Ieune, a Chirurgeon to Jacob Guillimaeus, his words are these: Know, saith he, that in the conjunctive membrane, or white of the eye as they commonly call it, some great Wheal-lice by creeping up and down here and there, biting, will make the place itch so much, that a man cannot hold from rubbing. I in this case used remedies the Ancients used against the Lowsie disease, but to no purpose. Then my friends sent me to a sick woman, who with a silver needle pickt out these worms so cunningly and without all pain, that I wondred at it. And indeed had not I seen these little creatures to creep, with my own eyes, I could never have believed that Wheal-worms could breed there. They dye for want of moysture that is salt, and are killed with contrary reme∣dies. The common people ordinarily picks them out with a small needle, (the Germans call them Seuren Graben) but since this takes not away the cause of them, which fosters them, the dis∣ease still abides: wherefore it is best to kill them with an unguent or fomentation, which may at once take off that troublesome itching. That which penetrates most and kils these Syrones is salt and vinegar. Laur. Joubert. Joh. Arden, formerly the most learned Chiruregeon of England, saith that a Lotion with Sublimate kils them quite. And it seems not to be against reason: for it dries, penetrates, resists putrefaction, and by its heating acrimony kils them all. Abinzoar l. 2. c. 19. tract. 7. prescribes these following remedies. First purge the body with an infusion of wilde Saffron-seed, and Nettle-seed, after that anoint it outwardly with the oyl of bitter Almonds, or de Cherva, and with the juice of the leaves of Peach-tree: give boyled Partridge for meat, and leavened bread. Let the patient abstain from all kinde of fruit (except almonds) especially from Figs, Grapes, Jujubes, and Apples; rub the body often with the substance or pulp of Melons, or with the Mucilage of the seed. But if the body be fleshy, rub it with the juyce of the leaves of the Peach-tree. Pliny, where there is this disease, forbids Oxe-flesh, Hogs, Geese, and all kindes of Pulse.

Erotis l. de pas. mul. writes thus: Wheat tempered with Wine, adding thereto powder of Frankincense, put to the parts affected for a plaister, will kill these Wheal-worms every where, chiefly upon the cheeks and foreheads. Another: Take common Salt, black Soap, live Brim∣stone, each alike, incorporate them with vinegar of Squils, and anoint the place with them. Ano∣ther for Syrones on the face, which the Author of the English Rose cals Barrones: Take sharp Dock, Frankincense, Dragons cuttle-bone, each alike, make a powder, and thrice in a week rub the places where the Worms breed, but first wash you face with a decoction of Bran, and on Sunday wash your face with the white of an egg and white Starch, and then wash it often

with river-water, or with white starch. Alexander Petronius Traianus commends this remedy most: namely a fine linnen cloth made into lint, that it may be the softer, and stick the faster: binde this to the part affected, then lay on the white of an egge that is rosted hard, whilest it is hot, and cut into large pieces, and then binde upon it some thicker cloth, and so let it remain some hours. Then taking all away, you shall finde the inward lint full of these small Lice, which is thus proved: shake this over the fire, and you shall easily hear these young Syrones crack. Against hair-eating Worms and Mites in the heads of children, that are usual, and that will make little holes in them, Alexius makes great account of this remedy. Take Fran∣kincense, Bores-grease so much as you please, let them boyl in an earthen vessel that is glased, and make an unguent. Another: Sprinkle on the powder of burnt Allum, and lay on some lint. Another not uneffectual: Powder quick Brimstone, with Rose Vinegar of Squils, or else incorporate it with Rose-water, and binde it on with a cloth for 24 hours. Another that is most certain: Take juice of Lemmons and Aqua vitae, each alike, burnt Salt what may suffice, mingle them, and anoint with them often. Another of Hildegard; Apply that skimming of the air, that is, those cobwebs that are scattered in Autumn, and it will certainly destroy all those Syrones and little worms. Also strew on the powder of Bees that are dead in their hives, on the places affected, and they will all dye, chiefly if it were mixt with Aqua vitae, or Vinegar of Squils. Again: binde on the crums of white bread whilest they are hot, do it often, the heat will kill them. Fir-tree seed burnt to ashes, which growes on the top of the tree, if it be strewed on, will help much. Also the kernels of Barberries, powdered and laid to the place, will kill Syrones. Johan. Vigo prescribes these remedies against Syrones wheresoever they breed. All bitter things, saith he, are good against them, shave the patt affected, that they may penetrate the better. Oyl of Vi∣triol warily and lightly powred on will kill them mightily. Quicksilver with French Soap and a little Orpiment, and some Vinegar of Squils and some Aloes, doth much good. For Syrons in the Teeth: Some call the Worms that breed in mens teeth Syrones, which they affirm have fal∣len forth like shavings of Lute-strings by the smoke of Henbane-seed, received at the mouth. Though I should truly deny that these shavings are Worms, yet that Worms breed in rotten teeth Barbers and every man knowes. Against venomous Syrones, Abinzoar cals it the disease of Oxen, between the flesh and skin there breeds a kinde of venomous Worms; which raiseth no small tumour, as great as a walnut, wherein the Worm Syro lies hid, (he is venomous indeed, though he be but little). This disease neglected will kill. He appoints the Remedy thus: The place must be presently burnt with an actual cautery, then apply lint with Barly-meal and sweet water: when the pain of the burning is over, the humour will fall being anointed with Unguent of Agrippa and oyl of Roses, then wash the place with water of Honey, and strew on powder of Roses; and then using incarnatives, close up the wound. But if the part cannot be cauterized or cut, take Lupine-meal, Soot, Pepper, root of Endive, each alike, and bruising them all, and wetting them with Alchi∣tra, fill half a Nut-shel with them, and keep them on so long, till the force of the medicament may penetrate to the Worm: but great care must be had that no part be left bare without the shell. A little creature called Nigua, as Thevet imagineth, doth much vex the West-Indian people. It is saith he an Insect most offensive to mens hands, far less than a Flea, but breeds in the dust as a Flea doth. De Lery was taken with the same oversight, and was not ashamed to be mad with Thevet for company. But Oviedus affirms that they breed between the skin and the flesh: but especially they breed under the nails of the fingers, into which place, when once they are rooted, the cause a swelling as great as a pease, with a mighty itching, and they multiply like to Nits. Now if this worm be not timely pickt forth with its brood, in a few daies this itching becomes a wonderful pain, and the sick dye with the violence of the disease. There is a Worm that breeds on the bodies of Hawks and Faulcons under the roots of their wings, it is called Trocta: we have left off to doubt any longer whether it be a Syron, Acarus, or Tinea, or not, by reading Albertus his Book, wherein you may read a remedy for that disease at large. Also, as Bonaceiolus reports, in the urines of some women with childe, little red Worms called Syrones will be seen, which are a certain argument of conception. Dermestes is an Insect that will con∣sume skins, and from skins it hath its name, and as the skins vary, so that changeth its colour. For oft-times it followes the colour the skin is of: it is as big as a Flea, with six feet and a forked nib. Also a Moth consumes clothes, especially woollen clothes: for it is a very devouring crea∣ture, and breeds from Butterflies as I said.

CHAP. XXV.

Of Wall-lice.

THE Greeks call it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Latins, Cimex; the Hebrews, Pischpescz, from seeking; for it seeks after living creatures that are asleep, to suck their bloud. Isidore will have it called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and Cimex, from the herb 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which they call Cimicaria; I confess ingenuously I know not what herb it is, unless it be that low and stinking kinde of wilde Orach, which growing near to wals and heaps of dirt, is called by a bawdy name, Vulvaria. For Coris of Matthiolus smels

well, and therefore agrees not with Cimicaria. The Arabians and Barbarians call it Alcarad, Deboliar, Fesases, Coroda, and Corab: the Germans Wantlausz; the English, Wall-lowse; the Saxons Wantzen, that is Wall-lowse; the Brabant people call it not amiss Wuegluys, or Lowse of bedsteds; the Spaniards call them Chimesas; the Italians Cimice; the French Punaise. Now Wall-lice are either home-bred and without wings, or winged and wilde Lice. We spake of these in the first Book, now we shall speak of those that breed in houses.

This home-bred Lowse is a creature naturally disdained, to use the words of Pliny, it is almost like to a Tike, for the body of it is of the figure called Rhomboides, black of colour with a little

[illustration]

red: it hath short feet near the neck, on each side three, and the belly and back marked with incisions; the skin is very thin, that it will break in pieces with the least touch, and send forth a most abominable stink. In the night by biting shatply, it sucks bloud out of mens bodies to sustain it self. For like Moths it cannot endure the light, and when the day breaks it will go into chinks of beds and wals. After it hath bit it leaves behinde purple spots swoln with an itching pain. They are bred, after Aristotles opinion, from moisture that sweats fo••th on the surface of the bodies of living creatures, lib. 5. c. 31. histor. but without doubt they arise from other humours corrupting about beds, and that sweat out of wood by degrees. Also they propagate by copulation, as Pennius observed about Orleance; for whilest he kept company with a Spaniard born at Capera, he strove to draw his sword to cut off a bough: but when he could hardly do it for the rust, he was forced to cut his scabbard, where he found abundance of great Wall-lice, with a great company of young ones, and a multitude of whitish eggs of a watry complexion. Scaliger saith they will breed in Hens nests, and also in a short time they will infinitely increase in the Quails nests. They are frequent in Fir-tree bedstids, and chiefly when the straw growes old. Also they will breed in paper-books. Ludovicus Vives in his Dialogues, thinks that wals overcast with Alabaster are the most ready to breed Worms▪ It is commonly said (saith Josephus Scaliger) that Wall-lice will breed from Wall-lice bruised, which is hardly credible. Cardan that was a fancier of subtilties, writes that the Carthusians are never vexed with Wall-lice, and he gives the cause, because they eat no flesh. The beds at Tolouse (I use Scaligers words) eat no flesh, yet they are noted for breeding Wall-lice. He should rather have alledged their cleanliness, and the frequent washing of their beds and blankets to be the cause of it, which when the French, the Dutch, and Italians do less regard, they more breed this plague. But the English that take great care to be cleanly and decent are seldom troubled with them. In the year 1503. when Pennius writ this, he was called in great haste to a little village called Moreclack near the Thames, to visit two Noblemen, who were much frighted by perceiving the prints of Wall-lice, and were in doubt of I know not what con∣tagion. But when the matter was known, and the Wall-lice were catched. he laught them out of all fear. Against those enemies of our rest in the night, our merciful God hath furnished us with remedies, that we may fetch out of old and new writers, which being used will either drive them away or kill them. For they are killed with the smoke of Oxe-dung, Horse-hair, Swallows, Scolopendra, Brimstone, Vitriol, Arsenick, Verdigrease, Lignum aloes, Bdellium, Fern, Spatula Foetida, Birthwort, Clematitis, Myrt••ls, Cummin, Lupins, Knotgrass, Gith, Cypress, as we read in Aetius, Rhasis, Florentinus, Didymus, and Cardan. But the best way is with curtains drawn about the bed, so to shut in the smoke, that it can have no vent. And for this end un∣guents, oyntments, Embrocations are provided of gall of an Oxe, he Goat, Hedge-hog, Calf, she Goat, Asse, with the leaves of Cucumers and Ivy, Citrons, Ising-glass, Oyl lees, Oxe dung, and the sharpest Vinegar, quick Brimstone, Squils, Capers, wilde Staves-acre, Wormwood, sweet Wine, Lime, Quicksilver, Bayes, black Soap, winter Cherries, juyce of Oranges, Lemons, &c. whereof consult Varro, Palladius, Arnoldus, Didymus and others: what concerns preventional means, Hemp-seed, or winter Cherries laid near the bed, or hanged up drive away Wall-lice. De∣mocritus saith, that Harts-horn or Hares feet hanging about the bed-posts, will do as much: which another author ascribes to a Foxes ear. The dregs of boyled Butter cast where there are Wall-lice, will wonderfully kill them, for they will feed on that till they burst. May be this is that fat whereof Cardan speaks in these words: I knew once, saith he, but I have forgot, a fat, that being smeered on a wooden round circle, would so allure all the Wall-lice unto it, like a charm, that one could scarse see the wood for them. Some say that a half-penny laid under the bed will drive away Wig-lice. Some hang by a sheet wet in cold water, and so by actual cold they drive them away. Oyl of it self or with Vitriol, or Buls gall, or the decoction of black Chamaeleon will drive away Wall-lice. Moreover all things that are exceeding bitter, and have a stronger smell, are doubtless good against Wall-lice. And that strong smels will drive them away, Olaus Mag∣nus shewes by many raw hides heapt up together. Alexander Benedictus saith that when these multiply over much, they foreshew the plague. For it signifies a corruption of the air, or hu∣mours, or both. Bacchus descending to hell, as the Greek Comedian wittily sets it down, desired Jupiter to assign him such Innes in his journey, where there were but few Wall-lice: yet saith Pliny, that concord and discord, which fils all Physick, by the conduct of nature hath produced nothing that in some part is not good for man, and therefore that which that Co∣median

God thought hurtfull, mans posterity hath found beneficiall. Indeed wall-worms are of a corroding quality, yet have they place in Physick; for taken with the bloud of a Tortoise they cure the bitings of Serpents. By their smell the Epilepsie that ariseth from the strangling of the Mother, is discussed. Inclosed in an Egge or Wax or a Bean, and swallowed, are good for an Im∣postume, and a Quartan Ague, and will help them (saith Pliny, Dioscorides, Galen, Marcellus, Aetius, Actuarius.) Drank with Vinegar or but smelt to, they will remove Horsleeches that stick too fast. Also the Verses of Quintus Serenus shew that they are good for Tertian Agues.

Shame not to drink three Wall-li••e mixt with wine, And Garlick bruised together at noon-day. Moreover a bruis'd Wall-louse with an Egge, repine Not for to take, 'tis loathsome, yet full good I say.

Gesner in his writings confirms this experiment, having made trial of it amongst the common and meaner sort of people in the Countrey. The Ancients gave seven to those that were taken with a Lethargy, in a cup of water, and four to children. Pliny and Serenus consents to it in these Verses.

Some men prescribe seven Wall-lice for to drink, Mingled with water, and one cup they think I•• better then with drowsy death to sink.

And he of old sang, that bleeding at the nose would be stayed with the only smell of Wig-lice. Some there are, that cure dark sights by reason of a Cataract, bruising these with Salt and Asses milk. Many anoynt painfull ears with honey mingled with Wall-lice, to good purpose. Also Marcellus saith they stay vomiting, and he saith it is a certain remedy, if a bruised Wall-louse be swallowed in a rear-egge, by one that is fasting, and knowes nothing of it. Pliny seems to prove from thence, that they are good against the stings of all Vipers, Adders, and all kinde of Serpents, because that Hens that feed on these, are free from the stinging of these Creatures. Aetius com∣mends Wall-lice against the Strangury, and to drive forth the Stone. Vegetius in this case puts one Wall-lowse into the ear, another into the passage of the Yard, and with a gentle friction of the parts, he affirms that they will presently make water, which remedy he seems to have bor∣rowed out of Herod in his Hippiatricks. Galen Eup. 5. reports, that Wall-lice will not only pro∣voke urine, but also drank for nine dayes space, will stop childrens water that goes from them a∣gainst their wills. Valarandus Donures an Islander, a most learned Apothecary of Lyons, often said, that these drank with water hot, or wine, or broth, would wonderfully help those that were troubled with the Stone. Moreover, the later writers wonderfully commend the ashes of them with a fit decoction cast in for a Clyster, to bring forth the Stone. If they be bruised and a∣noynted on the passage of the yard, it will presently provoke urine. Marcellus. There are saith Gesner, that for the Colick prescribe four live Wall-lice to drink in wine, in the morning, and then they command to fast two hours after, and they give as many to drink two hours before 〈…〉〈…〉pper, and so again the next day untill they have drank up twelve Lice: truly it is a remedy to be despised, but it is no new remedy in that desperate disease, and it is a present cure. It helped Functius the Governour of Zurick at the second taking, and so it did some of his Kindred also, and he was like to have written a commendation in praise of Wall-lice. What concernt outward diseases. If you pull up the hair by the roots, and anoynt the part affected with the bloud of Wall-lice, and let it dry, it is the opinion of Galen, Aetius, and Nonus, that they will never grow again. Pliny saith that if you anoynt the breasts with Goose-grease and Wall-lice, the pains will abate, the Moles of the matrix will break forth, and scabs of the privities will be cured. Corne∣nelius Gemma in his Appendix of his Cosmocritica, speaks of a woman in whose Skull opened, were found abundance of Wall-lice.

CHAP. XXVI.

Of Tikes, and Sheeps Lice.

THe Tike in Latine Ricinus, in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Hesichius calls it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Suidas 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and others call it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Sypontinus calls it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, but that is not right, for it wants wings. The Arabians call it Alcharad, Alfesafes, Alhalem, as Bellunensis reports. The F••rlini, saith Hermo∣laus Barbarus, to this very day call Tikes 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as we read in Dydimus Zelonotes. It is called Rici∣nus in Latine, because it is like the seed of the Plant Palma Christi. Gaza calls it Reduvium, and Albertus sometimes calls it Taca. Also Albertus Vinoentius, Guillerinus de Conchis, call it E••gulam. I think that at first it was called Cica, saith Scaliger, because Cici is the same with Croton. The Italians call it Zeva, the Germans Haltzback, the French Plata from its compact body, the English Wood-teek. Some distinguish between Ricinus and Reduvius, thus very exactly.

Ricinus is a small Insect, that when Summer comes on breeds in pastures among grasse, and in Woods amongst the leaves, of some putrid humour: with a very compact body and that feels plain, with a skin very tough, of a Diamond figured body, of a black shining colour, or a dark brown; but so soon as it fasteneth to any living Creature, and thrusting its head within the skin, it drawes the bloud, in a short time it growes great and swells, and at length be∣comes almost round. It hath six feet fastened to its neck, with a sharp nose, but short, it pro∣duceth no young ones, nor is it produced by other living Creatures, and in this it differs from all other Insects, that it is filled with food a bundantly, and yet there is no passage for any ex∣crement, and therefore it may be the He〈…〉〈…〉 call it Ca••a. Let therefore the materiall Philo∣sophers that with Aphrodiseus draw all things from the manifest qualities of the Elements, con∣sider diligently, to what default of matter or confusion they will be here forced to fly. If they imagine, that Nature wanted a bodkin to pierce a hole in the tail, they deserve to be hissed at. But rather let them here see and acknowledge that of Paracelius, That bodies may be made from Spi∣rits, and Spirits from bodies. Pliny calls a Tike a filthy Creature, the end of whose gluttony is, as to gluttons amongst men, death it self. For in a few dayes it will break with over-fullnesse; yet it will fast lustily for seven dayes. I 〈◊〉〈◊〉 consent to Scaliger, who supposeth Tikes will breed in a mans beard and groins, for being there fastened it will stick close to feed it self: yet Eustathius and Hesithius are of his side in these words. It is called a Tike, because it sticks fast to what it is bred in. But the truth is, a Tike is not bred in living Creatures, but from the corrupt matter of leaves and grasse as I said before, and as Aristotle affirms, Hist. 5. c. 19. Tikes breed of Plants. May be Scaliger meant by a Tike some Lowse like a Crab, or some Crab-lowse in man; for they both breed in the beard and privities, and can very hardly be pulled off. It cruelly plagues men and Oxen, but especially barking Dogs. Cato also testifieth that Sheep and Goats are troubled with Tikes, but he was deceived by the likenesse of their bodies; for that Lowse of Sheep should be called Red〈…〉〈…〉, our Countrey-men say (a Sheeps Lowse) be∣tween which and a Tike there are many and different marks: For a Sheeps Lowse hath a long little beck, and its body when it is fullest is never so distended but being pressed, it will never

[illustration]

seem round. Also the feet of this are of a dark red, the back Ash-coloured, marked with three black spots, and it is framed after the fashion of a heart. The head is not alwaies but seldome fast in the skin, and it drawes bloud forth but by turns, and it voids the excrements that breed of it by the tail, and it will dy Wooll of so deep a green, that this cold tincture shall scarce be bettered in a hot dying Fat. Sheeps Lice will live a whole year in shorn Wooll but Tikes live only upon the hot bloud of the Creature. Let therefore Cato maintain them both to be of one kinde, yet truth will main∣tain a vast difference between them. S〈…〉〈…〉 is a little Creature, like to the swellings of leprous people, saith Albertus. Gesna•• doubts whether he understand by that a Tike or a Breez; I rather think he meant a Tike, both from the round form of the swellings, and from their wan colour. Cato frees shorn Sheep from Lice with Oyl 〈◊〉〈◊〉 well putrefied, and the best lees of strong wine, and a decoction of Lupins added to them, and anoynting them with it, then let them dry two or three dayes, and after that wash them with Sea-water. The English Shepheards sheer them, and then anoynt them with Tarre and Sheeps suet; or else they bruise the root of Acoras, and boyl it in water, and they foment their bodies with the warm decoction. Some use no∣thing but Tarre, others use the root of Mand〈…〉〈…〉; but care must be had that the Sheep taste it not, for fear of the great danger of stupefaction that it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 cause. Others boyl the root of Cypresse, and with that boyled they wash their Sheep. Dioph••••es in Geo••an. Against Dogs Lice the Ancients bid us to anoynt their ears with Oyl of bitter Almonds and of Walnuts; experi∣ence confirms that remedy. Also Nemesianus testifieth as much.

'Tis good to noynt their ears, and set them in the Sun, Or use ared hot knife, when Lice are first begun.

Rhasis commends against Aschardes of Dogs or Dog-lice, to wash them with Wine, and Vine∣gar, Cummin-seed and Salt-water. Th〈…〉〈…〉 and Cato prepare oyl of bitter nuts, and with that they anoynt their claws and ears, and secrets also. Tarre of Cedar kills them. Dioscorides. But Columella forbids to pull off Tikes from Oren and Dogs, left the places should exulcerate, and he highly commends Tarre and Hogs grease. Pliny saith the juice of both Chamaeleons will de∣stroy them. Albertus reports that Tikes bloud will cleanse Ulcers, and if they be infused in wine * 1.57 they will presently make one drunk. Seranu•• farther commends them for to cure a Fistula in Ano.

If that n••w ulcers in the secrets chance to breed, Chew'd Bramble-leaves apply, you quickly shall be freed. Or if from an old sore a Fistula do grow, A Weasils ashes burnt will help't; and further know, The bloud of an Ox Tike is no means else below.

Also the bloud of a Tike will cure the Shingles. Also men say, that a Tike pulled out of the left ear of a Dog, if it be tied on, it will cure all pains. Pliny writ this out of Nigidius. Also he asserts that if a womans loyns be anoynted with the bloud of it, she will abhorre venery. Moreover nine or ten Goats Tikes taken in wine, will stop the terms. Dioscorides. Anoynt your eye-lids with the bloud of a Tike taken from a Bitch, the hairs being first pluckt off, saith Galen, Simpl. 10. c. 5. and they will never grow again: So also Pliny and Avicenna write, but it is from other mens opinions. Dionysius Melesius prescribes such a Depilotary against pricking thorny hairs: Burn a Sea-hare in a new earthen pot, and keep the ashes with Tikes bloud in a horn box, use this, first pulling out the hairs. Many English men have learned by experience, that one dram and a half of Sheeps Lice given in drink will soon and certainly cure the Jaundies.

CHAP. XXVII.

Of the Garment-eating Moth.

PEnnius beginning to write the history of this Insect, saith that Tinea is a word that signifies many things; as Lice of Hawk-weed according to Albertus, Wood-lice in Plautus, the plague of Bee-hives in Virgil, and it signifies the creeping ulcers of the head, that are eaten like to gar∣ments, whence it may be Glaudian writes;

The filthy M••ths have gnawn the loathsome head.

Gaza translates 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Tineas, but very ignorantly, as we observed in the history of Catterpillars. Also Pliny saith that Tineae do destroy the seeds of Figs, he means the Worms that breed in Figs, from whence grow 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Niphus cals that little Scorpion which eats books Tineas, whereof I spake in the history of Scorpions. But 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, if a man will speak properly, is a Worm that eats garments. It is called in Latine Tinea, a tenendo from holding, for it sticks fast in gar∣ments, and will not easily change its station. The French call it Teigne, the Spaniards Tina, the Italians Tignola, the Muscovites Mel, the Polonians Mol, the English Moth, the Hebrewes Hhasch, and Sas, as you shall finde it Job chap. 13. and Isai. 51. It is a little Worm of a wan white colour, of which ariseth that small kinde of Flie that will fly at night about the Candle-light. There are some of them that are silver-coloured, the English call them silver-moths, the Dutch Schietes, from their swift motion. Niphus greatly erred, making this the Scorpion amongst Books. There is also a certain Worm that is thick, or with a coat, saith Pliny, called Tinea, that drawes its coat along with it, as a Snail doth its shell, and when she is deprived of this she presently dieth. But if this coat grow too great, it changeth to a Chrysali••, out of which at a set time a little Glow-worm comes. This kinde hanging by a thred, hangs a long time in houses before it changeth to an Au∣relia. It hath a little black head, the rest of the body is a whitish dark brown, the Case of it is something long, made almost of a Cobweb, not round at all, but lightly compacted, and at each end something hairy. The Phalenae that come from thence stick by the feet to the roofs of houses, un∣till their bodies being corrupted and putrefied they are bred again: when their bodies corrupt, and their wings and feet fall off of themselves, they hang with a thred by the tails. At length they get a Case and are turned into this kinde of Moth. In Germany and Helvetia there is a Moth of a sad red colour, with a little thick head, the body grows by degrees smaller even to the tail. The colour of its belly is lighter, something yellow, and like a soft downy silk. It is a very tender Creature, especially that which is silver'd over, and it is bruised to pieces if you do but touch it. Whence that Kingly Psalmist, Psal. 39. When thou with chastisements shalt correct man, thou makest him to consume away as a Moth. And Job, Chap. 40. he amplifying the certain destruction of the wicked: They shall be bruised (saith he) before the Moth. All Moths are reckoned amongst the number of six-footed Creatures, and they breed in Garments as well of Wooll, as skins that are not cleansed from dust and filth: and so much the sooner if a Spider be shut in, as Aristotle writes. For the Spider drinks up all their inbred moysture, and dries them; wherefore care must be had that gar∣ments be not layd up full of dust, and when the Air is thick and moyst. Some to avoid Moths, ventilate their garments in the hot Sun-shine: which our women severely forbid, and lay them up in the shade, and when the winde is high and very cold. For they hold that the Sun-beams are kindly for Moths, but windes and tempests and the shade are enemies to them. These Worms when they have by degrees insensibly eat off the outmost superficies of the cloth, then they eat up the inward part, and so insinuate themselves into the middle substance of it, that those that search never so well for them can hardly finde them. The Ancients were most expert to kill Moths. For the garments of Servius Tullius lasted to the destruction of Sejanus, for they were kept with so great diligence by the keepers of the Wardrobe, that they neither consumed by age, nor were Moth-eaten. They that sell woollen Clothes, use to wrap up the skin of a Bird called the Kings-Fisher amongst them, or else hang one in the shop, as a thing by a secret Antipathy that Moths cannot endure. They are handsomely destroyed by the sent and smoke of Savin, Hops, Finger hood, Wormwood, Rosemary, Poley, Panax, Aniseed, Golden-flower, Pomegranates, Citron-pills,

(for this was the chiefest use of Citrons in old time) the out-landish Myrtle, Cedar, Cypresse, Calamint, Brimstone, Downy feathers. The Books that were found in Numa his Tomb, were said to be anoynted with the juice of Cedar: wherefore as Pliny writes, they were supposed to be free from Moths above 530. years. The bones of Bergesterts (I know not what beast it is) being brought to powder, and strew'd amongst garments, will drive away Moths, if we will credit Hilde∣gard: Rhas••s reports that Cantharides hung up in the middle of the house will do as much: Who saith moreover that garments wrapt up in a Lions skin, will never have any Moths. Some wet a a linnen cloth in a strong lie, and dry it in the Sun without pressing it, and they affirm, that clothes wrapt in that will not be Moth-eaten. Cato bids sprinkle your Wardrobe with Oyl-lees. That which Pliny reports is a wonder, that a Cloth laid under the Biere of a dead body, will never have Moths to hurt it. The richer people, who (as Horace writes)

Whose hangings rot in Chests, rich for the Worms and Moths,

take diligent care in Summer to look up their garments, and taking them out of their Coffers, they air them in open place for the winde, and then they beat off the dust with the leaves of Indi∣an Millet, or Hogs bristles, or Broom Mosse, or with Worm-wood branches. Of old they were wont to do it with an Ox tail; for so Martial writes;

If that with yellow dust thy costly clothes abound, Thou mayst with an Ox tail brush't off upon the ground.

There are also rich Merchants, that have Cedar and Cypresse Chests, and they put up powder of Origanum, Worm-wood, Orris, Citron-pills, Myrtle-berries with their clothes, and by such remedies they drive far from them this Wooll-devouring Creature.

We writ before amongst the six-footed Worms, of Worms in books, wood, the skin, the fruit de∣vourers. I have nothing more to add to this Chapter, but only to exhort rich men to lay up their trea∣sure there, where neither Moths shall eat their garments, nor rust confume their Silver; and let them in the mean time leave off that infinite expense in clothes, of which can they look for any better end, to use the words of the Lyrick Poet,

Than to feed black Bugs, and the Lazy Moths?

If a man, saith Calvin, born of a woman, having but a short time to live, and alwayes waxing old, and corrupting, would think himself to be like a garment that Moths eat, certainly he would lay aside all pride, and blush, and fall lowly upon his knees unto Almighty God.

CHAP. XXVIII.

Of the Flea.

THe Latin word Pulex, in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, comes saith Isidore, from Pulvis, dust, or the son of dust; in Spanish Pulga, Italian Pulice, French Puce, English Flea, the Germans from its nimblenesse in flight call it Floch. Fleas are not the least plague, especially when in greater numbers they molest men that are sleeping, and they trouble wear••ed and sick persons; they escape by skipping from us, and so soon as day breaks they forsake the bed. They are a vexation to all men, but especially, as the wanton Port hath it, to young maids, whose nimble fingers, and that are as it were clammy with moysture, they can scarce avoyd. These Fleas are either com∣mon or extraordinary. The common ones are small Creatures about the bignesse of Lice, but their bodies are softer, and they are bunch-backt, almost like a Hog, they are black and shining, their breast and belly is yellow from black, in white Dogs they are more clear, in red more yellow, in black Dogs blacker than in others. Here I desire you to observe the wonder of Nature, that their hinder little legs are bent backwards toward their bellies, and their forelegs toward their breasts, as four-footed beasts are, as it is usual almost in all Insects to whom Nature hath given but four feet. It may be for that end the joynts of Fleas are so disposed, that they may with the more ••ase hide themselves in the long foldings and plights of the blankets from those that hunt after them. The ends of their feet are divided into two parts, and are hooked and sharp, and seem as it were to be horny, not only that they may more surely creep up upon high places, but also that they may sit and stick faster to the smooth skin: They have a little head, and a mouth not forked but strong and brawny, with a very short neck, to which one Mark an Englishman (most skilfull in all curious work) fastned a Chain of Gold as long as a mans finger, with a lock and key so rarely and cunningly, that the Flea could easily go and draw them, yet the Flea, the Chain, lock and key were not all above a grain weight: I have also heard from men of credit, that this Flea so tied with a Chain, did draw a Coach of Gold that was every way perfect, and that very lightly; which much sets forth the Artists skill, and the Fleas strength. The point of his nib is something

hard, that he may make it enter the better. It must necessarily be hollow, that he may suck out the bloud, and carry it in. They seek for the most tender places, and will not attempt the harder places with their nibble; with two very small foreyards that spring out of their foreheads, they both prove their way, and judge of the nature of the object, and whether it be hard or soft: where they bite they leave a red spot as a Trophie of their force, which they set up. In rainy wea∣ther they bite sorely, and are bold to run over ever part of mans body. They have but one small intestine with folds inward, which is either relaxed or contracted as they eat more or lesse. The lesser, the leaner, and the younger they are, the sharper they bite, the fat ones play and tickle men more willingly. It is very probable that they have eyes, both because they choose their pla∣ces of retreat, and because they withdraw themselves when the day breaks. They will not sit upon corrupt or dead flesh. Those that have the Kings evil, because they are of bitter juice, and such as will die, because of the corruption and stink of the same, they will not meddle with. At all times they trouble men and Dogs, but chiefly in the night. Though they trouble us much, yet they neither stink as Wall-lice doe, nor is it any disgrace to a man to be troubled with them, as it is to be lowsie. They only punish sluggish people, for they will remove farre from cleanly hou∣ses: when they finde they are arraigned to die, and they feel the finger coming, on a sudden they are gone, and leap here and there, and so escape the danger: whilest those that hunt them en∣deavour to measure their jumps, as Aristophanes saith, they but play the fools. In the morning, after they have fed, they creep into the rough blankets, and stick to the walls, or else they hide themselves in the rushes or dust: and so they ly in ambush for Pigeons, Hens, and other Birds, al∣so for men and Dogs, Moles, Mice, and vex such as passe by. Our hunters report, that Foxes are full of them, and they tell a pretty story how they quit themselves of them. The Fox gathers some handfulls of wool from thorns and briars, and wrapping it up, he holds it fast in his mouth, then he goes by degrees into a cold River, and dipping himself in by little and little, when he finds that all the fleas are crept so high as his head for fear of drowning, and so for shelter crept into the wooll, he barks and spits out the wooll full of Fleas, and so very froliquely being delivered from their molestation, he swims to land.

Their first Originall is from dust, chiefly that which is moystned with mans or Goats urine. Also they breed amongst Dogs hair, from a fat humour putrefied, as Scaliger affirms. A little cor∣ruption will breed them, and the place of their originall is dry filth. Martyr the Author of the Decads of Navigation, writes, that in Perienna a Countrey of the Indies, the drops of sweat that fall from their slaves bodies will presently turn to fleas. Some Countreys are such enemies to Fleas, that if they be brought in thither they cannot live, nor will they breed there; as in the Territory Tefethor of Sigelunum. Contrarily the City Hea by the sea-side, (unlesse John Leo deceives us) is most fruitfull for Fleas, by reason of the abundance of Goats, as also Dede. In Hispaniola Fleas are found, but neither many, nor great ones, but they bite more fiercely by farre than ours doe: they love hot places, where the Sun shines. In the Spring they multiply, at the beginning of Winter they die, for they cannot endure the cold. They copulate, the male ascending upon the female as Flies doe, and they both goe, leap, and rest together. They stick long together, and are hardly pulled asunder. After copulation presently almost, the female full of Egges seems fatter; which though in her belly they seem long, very small, very many, and white, yet when they are layd, they turn presently black, and turn into littles Fleas, if we may grant what Pennius saith, that bite most cruelly. Philoponus in lib. de generat. maintains that Fleas breed not Egges but Nits, and Niphus saith the same: But they endeavouring to prove this because they crack when they are crusht, doth not confirm their opinion, for Egges will not break under the nail without cracking. Aristotle thinks, that from them, be they Egges, Nits, or little Worms, no other Crea∣ture breeds, and I should willingly subscribe to him, but that I think Nature made nothing in vain. Those Fleas seem to be more rare that India produceth neer the River Nigua, as we learn from Thevet. They chiefly seize upon the softest parts of the feet under the nails, and bite ve∣nomously. After four dayes they raise a swelling as great as a pease, or a Chich pease, and young ones like to white Nits; and if all these be not forthwith picked out, and the place affected bur∣ned with hot ashes, the part will be lost, as it falls out often with the Slaves in Numidia. He also in the Province of Peru was subject to this mischief, and could not recover but by washing him∣self in the River very often.

Cardan writes of a little Flea. The West-Indies, saith he, brings forth a kinde of Flea called Ni∣gua, a very shrewd plague. This creature is far lesse then a Flea, that sticking to a man will so * 1.58 torture him, that some lose their hands, others their feet. The remedy is, to anoynt the part with Oyl, and shave it with a Rasor: To whom Scaliger answers thus. Thy story of Nigua is lame, yet not unprofitable if you consider Philologie: I shall adde what you have omitted.

This little Flea hath a most sharp nib, and invades chiefly the feet, (seldome other parts) not only when men goe, but lye down also. Therefore the Indians lie high. Most frequently they * 1.59 bite that part which is under the nails. The fourth day the swelling begins to increase, and grows to the bignesse of a great pease. This swelling is full of young Nits; they pick out these, and lay on hot ashes. Benzo seems to say the same. The Indians are mightily troubled with venomous In∣sects. Amongst the rest the Niguae about the bignesse of a Flea, insensibly creep in between the * 1.60 flesh and the nails especially, and they are bred in the dust. It falls out ost times that no pain is felt by them, till they grow as great as Chich peasen or Lentils; and then with a wonderfull

plenty of Nits bred, they are hardly pickt out with a needle or thorn: and this mischief is cured with hot ashes. Moreover, the slaves of Africa that the Spaniards have in their families, be∣cause they go barefoot, are shrewdly troubled with this plague, and they breed such numbers in their feet, that there is no remedy for them but the iron instrument of the fire, whence many of them want their toes or their feet. Fleas will dye from extreme cold, and therefore in the colder winter they are not to be seen; or else we kill them when we can catch them. And one dog will as willingly bite out the Fleas of another dog, as they will scratch one the other. Also most bountiful Nature hath supplied us with a large field of remedies, that the Fleas that hide themselves, and leap away from us, may be destroyed by us, and we preserved from them. For we have herbs, Dwarf Elder-leaves, Fern-root, or Anchusa, flowers of Penniroyal, Rue, Colo∣quintida, Brambles, Oleander, Mints, Horse-mints, Hops, Rape-seed, Cumin, Staves-acre, Fleabane, Conyta, Saffron, Coriander, Celendine, sweet Cods, wilde Cicers, Arsemart, Mustard, Lupins, roots of Chamaelea, Hellebore, leaves of black Poplar-tree, Bayes, Walnut-tree, with the oyls of these, or the boyl'd decoctions, if the pavement be sprinkled, or the house be perfumed, the Fleas will be gone, and most of them are killed. Above all, the dregs of Mares-pisse, or sea-water are commended, if they be sprinkled up and down; also Harts-horn burnt is very good. Goats bloud set in a bason or a pit, drawes all the Fleas to it, as also a staffe anointed with the fat of a Hedgehog or Cony, Ape, Bear, Bull, or Fox, will do the like. The water of the decoction of Arsenick or Sublimate sprinkled is a certain experiment to destroy them. Quicklime mingled with the juice of white Hellebore, doth the same. A Gloeworm set in the middle of the house, drives away Fleas. Fleawort in the City of Cl••tire is powdred, and the powder is strew'd about the beds, which by its smell doth astonish the Fleas that they will not bite. If a Flea get in∣to ones ear, pour in Oyl mingled with a little Vinegar or juice of Rue, oyl of Spike, Tur∣pentine, or oyl of Peter, is very useful. These remedies may serve the turn, which are taken from Apsyrtus, Varro, Columella, Galen, Aetius, Palladius, Avicenna, Rhasis, Kiramides, Guiliel∣mus, Placentinus, Joanicius, Bellunensis, Hermotaus Barbarus, and Pliny. The Barbarians (saith Leneus) that the Fleas may not bite them, anoint themselves with oyl that is thick and red, pressed out of fruit, which they call Courog. Petrus Gallisardus, Caelius Chalcagninus and Tzet∣zes, are reported to have written the commendation of a Flea; it was my desire to have seen this, but it was never my chance.

CHAP. XXIX.

Of Insects that want feet, and first of Earth-worms.

SOme earthly Insects▪ that have no feet are bred in the earth, some in living creatures, some in plants. Earth-worms by Plautus and Columella are called Lumbrici, may be from their lubricity. Also they are called the entrails of the earth, both because they are bred in the bowels of the earth, and because being pressed, like the entrails of living creatures they cast forth excrements, also because they are like them in form and fashion. The Greeks call these 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Hesichius, and the Syracusians, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; the English Meds, Earth-worms; the French, Vers de Terre; the Italians Lumbrichi; the Spaniards Lombriz; the Germans, and those of Flanders, Erdwurmen: the Arabians, Charatits. Manardus writes, l. 2. ep. 4. that Earth-worms were called Ovisculi. Earth-worms are greater or lesser.

The great ones, are long Worms, almost like those round ones that are bred in mens bellies, half a foot long, and stretched out a foot long; they are of a weak flesh-colour, and for the most part they have a ring or else a collar about their neck that is thick, wherein there is a little bloud contained: they have no eyes, for no Worms have any. They first breed of putrefied earth, they are afterwards fed by the same, and lastly they are resolved to earth again. Those that you see wreathing little hils at the brink of their holes, as I suppose those heaps are their excrements; for in them we finde nothing but earth, the nutrimental juice whereof being spent, they cast forth the rest as unprofitable matter at their doors, and they are fenced by it against the rain falling in. At night chiefly when it is rainy weather, they willingly copulate, and stick fast till morning. They are not wrapt together in copulation like Serpents, but they stick fast together by their sides, sending forth a frothy kinde of spittle when they copulate: when they are in conjunction, they keep the middle of their bodies, that is the hinder half in their holes, and they are never so fast glewed together, but with the least motion of the earth they can easily part: in rainy weather they are whiter, unless it be when they copulate, for then especially they are red. Gesner saith in the middle of April he dissected a female Earth-worm, that was ve∣ry thick, within the flesh through the whole body, a receptacle descends, that is ringed, covered with a thin membrane: when he dissected it, it stank filthily: in this is the earth contained that they take in; but above this receptacle there lie white eggs very many heaped together, next the mouth.

The lesser Worms, for clearet description sake, I will with George Agricola call Ascarides, they are frequently found in dung-hils, and under heaps of stones: some of them are red ones, they

call them Duggs, and f••shers much de〈…〉〈…〉e them; some are wan-coloured, others have yellow tails, and are so called; some also are with collars and are fat, others without collars and slender, which I take to be the males. These are bred chiefly in Autumn by reason of no plenty of moisture, as Aristotle seems to affirm. Both kindes live long in water, but at last they die for want of food. They move from place to place with a certain drawing and pulsation, for the Philosopher saith they do not p••operly tumble along. The great ones live in the bowels of the earth, especially in the open air, and where men oft-times resort. In the morning when they withdraw them∣selves into their holes, when the air is clear they sence them with earth cast up, but in rainy wea∣ther, they slop them by drawing in some stalk, they feed frequently on earth, but most greedily on a piece of white bread unleavened, as I learned from our Turner, a very credible man, and have oft-times seen it. Many of them dye if the Winter be too cold, or the Summer too hot. Moreover they are taken by Fishermen, and driven forth of their holes either by digging, and shaking the earth, or by pouring in some liquor of strong juice, as of Walnut leaves, Hemp, or strong Lye. It is good also in tempestuous and dark nights to go into gardens silently, (which they miserably hurt) and to creep upon them when they couple, by the help of fire carried in a horn: for so in one night thousands of them may be intercepted and killed.

Uses of this despicable creature are observed to be many; and Nature scarce affords any simple that she hath bestowed more vertues on against diseases. For Earth-worms soften, glew * 1.61 together, ease pain, and by their earthly and watry moisture together, they duly temper the part affected. Powder of Earth-worms is thus prepared: Wrap up great Earth-worms for some time in earth-moss, that so they may free themselves of that glutinous matter that sticks on their outward parts; then press their hinder parts next the tail, that they may cast forth their excre∣ments and be cleansed. Then cast them into a vessel of white Wine and a little Salt, and gently pressing them with your fingers, cast away that first Wine: pour on more, and after the Worms are washed, take some part of this away also: for it must not all be cast away, as some would have it, till it be perfectly clear, for so that glutinous clammy quality would be lost with it. Thus prepared, they must be gently dried in a furnace, till they will crumble into dust when you touch them. Then the powder being beaten and searced (it will smell like Runnet or Cheese) must be kept something far from the f••re in a glass vessel. Otherwise i•• is best to kill the Worms cut in pieces in Wine and Salt, and when they are dead, to take them out and to cleanse them. This powder with the juice of Marigolds, will cure the Epilepsie; with Mead, the Dropsie; with white Wine and Myrrhe of the Troglodytes, the Jaundies; with boyled Wine, Hydromel, or Wine, the Stone, the Ulcers of the reins and bladder; you may give a dram weight. In three cy∣athi of water they will break inward Impostumes, and bring them forth, if seven or nine of them be brought into powder. They stay also the Dyarrhoea, help Barrenness, bring forth the Secon∣dine that staies behinde, ease the pains of the Hip-gowt, open the Liver, cure Tertian Agues, kill and drive out all Belly-worms, given in liquors or decoctions that are proper for it. Also the decoction of Earth-worms d••ank with the juice of Knot-grass or Comfrey, is good against continual pis••ing, especially if it be also cast in by a Clyster. Also a Clyster of their decoction easeth the Emrods wonderfully. Some, where they suspect clotted bloud, give the decoction of Earth-worms to drink with great success. For the diseases of the Ears almost past cure, boyl them in Goose-grease and pour that in. Boyled in oyl for the Tooth-ache, and poured into the ear on that side the pain is, as Pliny saith, they give ease, or if you drop them into the contrary ear, as Dioscorides saith. Thus far for Earth-worms given inwardly, from experience and testimony of Dioscorides, Galen, Aetius, Aegineta, Myrepsus, Pliny, Vularis.

Also outwardly applied and bruised, they joyn wounds and nerves cut in funder, and heal them in seven daies; wherefore Democritus would have them kept in Honey. Their ashes with old oyl, cleanseth corrupt Ulcers; and as Pliny writes, consumes the hard edges of them, if it be mingled with liquid Pitch and Simblick Honey, Dioscorides saith Sicilian Honey is called Simblick. A certain Chirurgion now in England of good note, makes a liniment of Earth-worms and Ho∣ney, wherewith he anoints the tent, and sprinkles it with fine powdred Allum, and puts it into a Fistula, and so brings forth the core eaten out with no pain, and heals the wound Also their ashes drawes forth things that stick within, and laid on with oyl of Roses cures Kibe-heels. Mar∣cellus.

Serenus saith, that when the nerves are cut in sunder, it is good to lay on Earth-worms bruised with Hogs-grease that is old and rank. Marcellus Empiricus adds Groundsel to the Hogs-grease and Earth-worms, with the tender tops of Box with Frankincense, and this he laies on the nerves cut or pain'd: Pliny saith that the ashes of these and of a wilde Mouse, laid on for a plaister, with oyl of Roses, is excellent for broken bones.

For the great pains of Horses in their nerves or joynts, to help them, Russius, Absyrtus, Didy∣mus, collect a great number of Earth-worms: whence Cardan gathers that they will ease all pains. Mundella affirms that contraction of the nerves will be cured if you anoint them with oyl of Ca∣momil that is well replenished with Worms. Marcellus saith that the same is done with Honey and Worms, as before. Aetius saith without doubt they are an excellent remedy for the Gowt boyled in oyl, and a little wax: so saith Marcellus, but he sometimes mingles Honey with them. Vigo, for pains in the joynts, makes a plaister of these and Frogs, to which he adds Vipets-grease.

For pains of the joynts: Take ashes of Worms iij. ounces, oyl of Roses, or Foxes, what may

suffice, mingle them to an ointment. Another that is singular: Take the marrow of a Calfs leg compleat, and old oyl of Roses iij. ounces, Earth-worms cleansed with Wine and Salt ij. ounces, let them boyl in Balneo to the consistence of a Mucilage; with this anoint the neck, shoulders, and the places where the pain is, for it gives great help, Pliny. Marcellus anoints them with Honey, and then he laies on the Mucilage prepared. When any part is wasted and receives no nutriment, cleansed Worms must be put into a glass very well luted, that nothing may breathe forth, and so set in a warm oven or in Balneo, and they will then resolve into a clammy moisture; an admira∣ble remedy and approved for the Palsie of the limbs: Take the ashes of tender Earth-worms iij. pounds, Ginger, Galanga, of each iij. ounces, with clarified Honey incorporate them for an Un∣guent, with this for three nights together anoint the Patient, binding his arms forcibly over his belly or stomach, then cover him warm, and let him beware of cold. Jacobus de parma To drive away hoary hairs, women use these ashes mingled with oyl whilest they comb their head, as Pliny saith, to whom Serenus subscribes in these verses:

Earth-worms and oyl of Olives, free from cares; They will preserve a man from hoary hairs.

We said before how they cure the Tooth-ache. But further the powder of them rubb'd on will preserve the sound teeth, and being injected will make rotten teeth, though it be a grinder, to fall forth; especially, if the tooth be first scarified, and fill'd with powder well sprinkled on it. Aetius. Gal. 5. sec. loc. bids us do almost the same out of Archigenes. Also they are good with the root of Mulberries boyled in Vinegar of Squils, to wash the teeth. For purulent Ears, poured in with oyl they help much, as Galen thinks, and cure their inflamations, being boyled with oyl of Roses. Aetius.

If that your hearing fail, an old disease, Is cur'd with Earth-worms boyled with Ducks grease. Serenus.

Myrepsus bruiseth Worms with some small quantity of the earth from whence they were taken, and works them together, and anoints that upon ears that are bruised. Marcellus bruiseth them with oyl of Roses, Celsus with oyl of Olives. Faventinus for pains of the ears anointeth the out∣ward parts with oyl of Earth-worms, and also pours it into the inward parts. Marcellus bids to bruise Leeks not planted but sowed, odd in number, and as many Worms together, and boyl these in the best Oyl to thirds, and he saith that this oyl put into the ears is very good for their greatest pains and deafness. Abinzoar cures clefts of the hands and feet with oyl of Earth-worms. For an old pain of the head, they are held very excellent bruised with Vinegar, Frankincense, and Castoreum. Galen for the same prepares in his Euporists such a Remedy: Take xv. Earth-worms, as many grains of Pepper, Vinegar what is sufficient, mingle them, smeer them on. Another: Take Earth-worms, Mouse-dung, white Pepper, Myrrhe, each half an ounce, bruise and mingle them with Vinegar, and anoint that part of the head that the pain lies on. Myrepsus will have the Worms to be odd, and to be taken only with the left hand, and so superstitiously anointed. If thou wouldst try, saith Marcellus, whether a swelling in thy neck be the Kings-evill, lay a live Worm upon each swelling: if it be a scrophulous tumour, each Worm will turn to earth; if not, he will be alive and receive no hurt: so saith Pliny also. Earth-worms are a part of that noble Plaister of Arnoldus (2 Breviarii) of a Rams skin, or the bloud of a man that is red, against the Rupture: and Hollerius commends it to cure Enterocele and Epiplocele. They also diminish the Stone, both taken inwardly, as also anointed on the share somewhat thick. Gal. What concerns womens diseases, bound to the neck they retain the birth, but contrarily applied to the hips, they draw the birth out and the secundine, for they draw mightily wheresoever they are applied living. Plin. Inflamations of the breasts, Earth-worms alone laid on will cure, for they concoct, open, draw forth, and heal. Alex. Benedict. So Myrepsus makes a plaister of them bruised. Lay on Earth-worms with Quinces, or with dried Barley flour, upon Breasts hardned or inflamed. Aetius. But if after delivery womens breasts swell, and to use the words of Serenus:

If the swoln breasts do feel great pain, Smeer them with Earth-worms 'twill help them amain.

For they will concoct the Impostumes and suppurations of the breasts, and after concoction will heal them and void out the matter. For the Shingles, the Indians, saith Carolus Clusius, make an unguent thus: Take Earth-worms, and feed them some time with leaves, fine flour, or flour and milk, and when they are grown fat, boyl them in an earthen vessel (alwaies scumming them) when they are strained, boyl them again to the consistence almost of a plaister, which well pre∣pared will be almost of a yellow colour; dissolve some part of this in distilled water of Roses, and wash the part affected with it twice a day. A most excellent remedy, saith Clusius, and proved by very long experience. Pliny saith they will do the same in Vinegar, who together with Aetius and Myrepsus, affirms that Worms bruised and laid on the place a Scorpion hath stung, are an admirable remedy, for they presently ease the pain, and correct the malignity of the tumour.

O••l of Earth-worms is known by all to be good against divers infirmities, and the Ancients made it thus. Take Earth worms half a pound, Oyl of Roses, Omphacine, two pound, the best white wine two ounces, let them boyl in balneo till the wine be consumed. This cures the nerves relaxed, contracted, astonished, cut in sunder, or cooled, it easeth almost all pains, and wasts the stone, being anoynted on the share and loins. But in the preparing of it, every man followes his own opinion. For some before they adde Oyl, wash and purge them with white wine, some neither wash them nor presse out the earth, and perswade to take the best wine, that it may pe∣netrate the sooner: Others use simple Oyl, not Oyl of Roses, others again Oyl of Chamo∣mile. Also they shew us many wayes to boyl them, for one useth a furnace, another Balneum, another doth it in dung, and some mingle of Chamomil flowers, and of Dill, to asswage pains, some of Hypericon flowers to glew wounds together, others Snails without shells, others with shells, every one as he thinks fit. The Author of Bartapalia prepares an admirable water of Worms, fol. 254. that is very good for wounds and diseases both outward and inward. For Worms of Horses and Oxen Pelagonius▪ puts live Earth-worms into their nostrils, yet it were far better with a horn to put them down their throats into their stomacks. Tardinus bids give ashes of Earth-worms bruised with flesh to a Hawk, when she cannot mute. They are also meat for Moles, and when they dig, they will break out of the earth in wonderfull haste. Sows (as Varro writes) will trouble the mud, and dig up the earth with their snouts to feed on them. Albertus saith that Toads, Bellonius Lizards, Tarentinus that Sea Grampets, and experience saith, that Frogs, Eels, Gudgeons, Carps, Roches, Trouts, Darcae, and Tenches will greedily devour Earth-worms. Also that bird Aristotle calls 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, some call it Vangellus, and Hens, and all Quails will feed on Worms. But those are no wise Fisher-men, that cause Worms to come forth with medicinal juices, for when they are bitter the Fish will not bite, but if they lie a day in Wheat-meal and a little Honey, and then put upon the hooks, they relish better then Ambrosia: And it is no ordinary good we may re∣ceive by them, that they foreshew rain when they suddenly come forth of the earth, but if they lie hid the night before, it is a sign of fair weather. Some do harden Iron like Steel thus. Take Earth-worms two parts, Radish-roots one part, bruise them, and distill the water in a Limbeck. Or take distilled water of Earth-worms three pound, juice of Radishes one pound, mingle them, let Iron hot be often quenched in this water, and lie in it ten dayes, and it will grow very hard. Another. Take Earth-worms two pound, juice of Radish one pound, distill them at an easie fire, and tem∣per your Iron with this distilled water. Also draw forth juice of Sorrel, stinking Hemlock, and of round Aristolochia, of each alike, and temper your steel often. The juice of Sow-bread is thought to do the same. Mr. Fakenham a famous Physitian writes thus. Another. Take Goats bloud, adde to it a little salt, let glased pots be buryed in the earth, well luted for thirty dayes, then distill the bloud in Balneo, and put as much of the distilled water to the same quantity of the water of Worms. Another. Take water of Worms, Rapes, roots of Apple-trees, each alike, di∣stil them apart, and mingle equal quantities together, and quench your Iron in that water, as we said before. A Frenchman namelesse.

CHAP. XXX.

Of Worms in living Creatures.

Isidorus thinks they are called Lumbrici from Lumbi the loins. For the Ancients call the belly * 1.62 Lumbos and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 by Hesichius, and Suidas. Some interpret that, those that are sick of Worms. But more rightly from Earth-worms, which they represent in form and nature, doe they borrow that name. Cornelius Celsus calls them Worms, Pliny the living Creatures of the en∣trails. The Greeks call them 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and when they are extraor∣dinary great, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as appears out of Aelian, l. 9. c. 33. You must observe, that Latin writers make difference between Vermes and Vermina or Verminationem, that is Worms, and diseases from Worms in the belly; for Vermina and Verminatio, are the pains of the belly from Worms, as Cel∣sus, Serenus, Pliny, and Seneca Epist. 97. testifie. The Arabians call them Emicar, Sylvaticus Elin∣gen, the Germans Spulworm, Bauchworm, the English Gutworm, the Sclavonians S••krkawka, a word hard to be pronounced. A belly-worm is a living Insect, without feet, bred in the bodies of living Creatures, hurting their operations diversly. I said a living Creature, that I might exclude those * 1.63 broad Worms called Taeniae, which though they be of substance that grows to the guts, and are in form like to living Creatures, yet they cannot properly be accounted living Creatures, as Hip∣pocrates 1. de morbis, rightly affirms. I said an Insect, both because they are of a round body, and because the Ancients do not reckon them amongst Serpents, nor have hitherto ranged them into any proper Classis. I said without feet, that I might distinguish them from Worms with feet. I said bred in the bodies of living Creatures, because they are not only bred in the guts of living Creatures, but in all the fleshy parts, and in the heart it self, as it shall appear by the history. And not only men are troubled with them; but also Horses, Calves, Dogs, Hogs, Hawks, and all perfect Crea∣tures. I said that diversly hurts actions, because from them, pains, Consumptions, Convulsions, Epi∣lepsies, Frensies, and divers other mischiefs follow, especially if they be very great, or very many.

And all these Worms breed either in parts that are alive or dead. The worms in living Creatures seem to be of three sorts, the round Worms, Gourd-like Worms, and Ascarides, such as are bred of∣ten in the Intestines of living Creatures: And not there only, but in other vessels and bowels; of which matter I finde there was a great controversie amongst the old Authors. For Galen 1. l. de loc. aff. c. 5. assigns certain diseases to certain parts, as worms to the guts, the Stone to the reins and bladder. But I my self with many other persons of the University, saw a stone as great and like a Pigeons Egge, voided by stool, at Cambridge, by Dr. Larkin the Kings professor in physick, who was long tormented with a pain of the Colick, and wasting, and he voided that stone in the same form and magnitude, as a most troublesome birth at his fundament. Montuus and Beniven∣nius write that they saw the like. Also by giving but one Clyster to the choise wife of noble Le∣onardus, I brought forth 35 stones like to Medlar seeds, at one time in the year 1583. Many there are that question the credit of Pedemontanus Arculanus, Guainerius, Trallianus, Benivennius, and Montuus, because (besides the opinion of Galen) they have written that they have more then once seen stones in the head, lungs, greater veins, the gall, bladder, under the tongue, in the joynts, and belly. But since daily experience doth clear them from a lie, we may say that the Greek speak, as Greeks were wont to doe, but that these men speak but the truth. Galen might have remem∣bred, that Hippocrates, Epid. 5. sec. 12. did not rashly affirm, that there was a sharp stone pressed out of a womans matrix, by the hand of the Midwife, as great as the whirle of a Spindle. This I thought fit to premise, lest when I shall report them, the faith of others and my own expe∣rience that worms are bred almost in every part, others should think I relate either a thing very strange, or what is false. Worms seldome appear in the most vehement pain of the Hemicrania, yet Hollerius teacheth that it so comes to passe sometimes, l. 1. c. 1. The Polonians call this disease Stowny Roback, the Germans Hauptwurm, and it was formerly frequent in Germany and Hungary, and all that were taken with it fell into the frenzie, or madnesse, and when they were dead, and their brains were opened, a Worm was found there. Then the Physitians gave Garlick with di∣stilled wine once or twice a day, and all that drank of that recovered, the rest dyed. Philip Shot cured five of his servants that were sick of that disease, with the same remedy, as one writ in a Letter to Gesner. That Worms are often seen in the brain, Thomas a Vega saith, com. in cap. 5. l. de loc. aff. Galeni, and Balthasar Conradinus c. 10. de feb. Hungar. Also Cornelius Gemma, in Appendic. ope∣ris Cosmocritic. disputing of a pestilentiall Semitertian, speaks of a woman in a city neer the river Mosa, that had a long and vehement pain in her head, when she was dead of it her brain was open∣ed, and there was found a great quantity of filth, and abundance of Worms. That disease is known saith Rhasis, by the internall corroding of the forepart of the head, and by the most ve∣hement pain, that almost makes them mad. It is cured by neesings, and juices cast up into the nostrils, that wil kill Worms. Rhasis, l. 1. c. 9. But the Worms that are yearly found in the brains of Stags, and sometimes of Goats, Sheep, Rams, (chiefly those that are fat) that Hunters and Butchers know better, than that I need to tell them. They are as big as the greatest Worms, and of the same form with them, as Alexander Benedictus and Matthiolus report. Theophrastus mentions these Hist. lib. c. 53. and Alexander Trallianus, l. 1. c. 15. It is reported that Democritus of Athens, when he was young was troubled with the Falling sicknesse, and he went to ask counsell of the Oracle of Apollo, and Apollo answered him thus:

Take a tame Goat that hath the greatest head, Or else a wilde Goat in the field that's bred, And in his forehead a great Worm you'l finde, This cures all diseases of that kinde.

The young man was much troubled at this answer, and he repaired to Theognostus Democratius, that was then ninety yeers old, to tell him the meaning of the Oracle. This Theognostus told him that nothing could be plainer, for he had learned by long experience, that there were Worms in the heads of Sheep and of Goats, that being wrapt in a black Sheeps skin, and hanged about ones neck, would miraculously cure the Falling sicknesse. Some write, as Pliny witnesseth, that two Worms are found in the head of a downy Phalangium, which Worms bound up in a Deers skin, and bound to a woman before the Sun-rising, would hinder conception. Concerning Worms of the Abdomen. A woman, saith Pennius, that I knew very well, told me that she had seen more than once, some round Worms, that crept forth of the belly by the Navel.

The Ancients also say, that oft-times Worms will breed in the ears, against which they prescribe these remedies. Take the juice of wilde Cucumbers, and the juice of Garden-sage, or that with broad leaves, mingle them both alike, and pour that into the ears. Gal. l. 3. sec. loc. where recko∣ning up the Compositions of Andromachus for the ears, he highly commends this of Pritanis and Harpalus. Take Opium two oboli, Myrrhe, Spikenard, Saffron, of each three oboli, burnt brasse five oboli, and of round and Sicil Alum, each one dram, black Hellebore two drams, mingle them with sod wine or Oyl of Roses, and apply them to the ears. Lib. Euporist. 2. he writes, that a Locust will destroy Worms in the ears, and he bids apply a sweet Apple to the ear, with a hole in it almost quite through, for the Worm will come forth, enticed by the sweet smell of it. Pliny much commends the root of Cypresse boyled in water, and the urine of a young boy, and the juice of Hemp, Rue, Bramble, and of Capers powred in. Lastly, many remedies may be fetcht from

Columella, Vegetius, Marcellus Empiricus, Trallianus, Vigo, Tardinus, and all the Arabians, and there∣fore here I supersede, passing on to other matters. Monardus prescribed to one that had a Poly∣pus in his nose, the juice of Tobacco to be injected; whereby the Ulcer was purged, and many little Worms came forth: Wherefore they breed also in the nostrils, (for all the Arguments that Gabucinus hath alleadged against it) and are not only cast forth of other parts. Cow-heards know that Worms will breed under the tongue, and the Worm under a Dogs tongue (the carrying of which Worm about one, saith Pliny, will drive off the biting of a mad Dog) doth prove that suffi∣ciently: And Valescus saith he hath seen Worms under mens tongues. It is known sufficiently by experience, that the very Breast and Lungs are not free from Worms; Antonius Benevennius, Be∣nedictus Renius, Mundella, Antonius Siculus, are my witnesses, who have seen them cast up, not by vomit or reachiing, but even by coughing. Also Alsaranius, Capite de Tussi, writes, that sometimes a cough is caused from living Creatures bred in the hollow of the lungs, and cavity of the breast, which being no greater than little Lute-strings, yet when they creep from place to place they make one cough, and when they lie still it ceaseth. Also Abenzoar Abhomeron. lib. 1. tract. 11. c. 3. makes mention of them, af∣firming that the old Physitians saw and writ of them. Albertus and Gentilis saw some in the liver and spleen, and Platerus in the gall bladder. Wherefore, whatever Galen or Avicenna may say to overthrow this from the perpetual motion of the Lungs, the neerness of the heart, and other frivo∣lous Arguments, yet there is no man but will say, but that reason must give place to sense, especi∣ally in natural things. There was saith Hieronymus Gabucinus, a certain Noble woman of Fanes (in his Comment of Worms, to which we are indebted for the great part of this history) when she had a long time been tormented with pain of her stomach, at last she cast up a ball of hard flegme, this being dissected, it seemed like a piece of flesh, and in that there was a Worm, and thus the woman recovered, whom the neighbours thought to be bewitched. Of Worms of the Reins and Bladders. When the reins putrefie, or the muscle of the bladder, oft-times little Worms are cast out, concerning which I thought good to write these histories out of Pennius. A woman thirty six years old, had great pain of an Apostume in her reins, and she consumed, at length she cast forth little Worms, a fingers breadth long, which I first saw in the bottome of her urine, Anno 1582. Randulph a London Physician, very learned and pious, when he looked on at the dissection of the body of one that was dead of the Stone in the kidneys, he sound in one of the kidneys that was corrupted, it was wrinkled and putrefied, a Worm of a full length. Timothy Bright, a very skilful * 1.64 Physician, and to whom we are much indebted for the Epitomie of the Ecclesiastical History, saw a Scholar at Cambridge when he lived there, that pissed out a Worm an inch and half long; but it was not without feet as Worms are, but it had many feet and was very nimble. Aloysius Mundella Medicina Dialog. 4. Argenterius cap. de vesic. morb. Rondeletius lib. de dign. morb. c. 17. Scholiastes Hollerii lib. de morb. int. cap. de vesic. affec. (to say nothing of Levinus Cardan, and my own experience) do suf∣ficiently testifie that such Creatures breed also in the bladder: That Worms come forth of the matrix, like to Ascarides, I did not only see at Frankfurt in a German woman, at eighty years of her age, but Aloysius confirms the same in his Epistle to Gesner, and Hippocrates 2. de m. mulier. and Avenzoar. lib. 1. tract. 2. have said the like. Kiranides writes, that there is a Worm to be found in the matrix of a Mule, which tied to a woman will make her barren. In India and the Countreys above Egypt there are some living Creatures like to Worms in form, (they are commonly called Dragons) they are in the Arms, Legs, Shanks, and other brawny parts, also in young children, they breed in secret places under their skin, and more apparently: When they have stayed there for * 1.65 some long time, at some end of this Dragon the place comes to supputation, and the skin being opened out comes this Dragons head. Paulus lib. 4. c. 59. Soranus granteth this, but he questions whether they be living creatures. Moreover, in the bloud it self some living creatures breed, like to Worms, that feed on the body, as Pliny writes, Hist. 26. c. 13. Plutarch 8. Sympos: who writes, that a young man of Athens voided Worms with his seed. Aegineta saw them come forth at the groins and buttocks, as he saith lib. 4. to whom Benevennius subscribes c. 100. Also they breed un∣der Sheeps clawes, (saith Columella) and such I have seen under the nails of those that were trou∣bled with a Whit-flaw. And thus farre concerning Worms in the bodies of living Creatures. But such as breed in dead and corrupt bodies, (whether it be from the disease or the Chirurgeons fault) want a Latin name, but the Greeks call them 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as appears by Hippocrates. The English call them Maggots. Coelius would also have them called Eulas in Latin, borrowing the word from the Greeks. We will speak of these in order. And first concerning Worms of the guts, the descriptions whereof, the causes, signs, symptomes and cure wil bring much light to the History of the rest.

CHAP. XXXI.

Of the Description of Worms in the Intestines.

VVEE shewed before that there are three sorts of Worms that are bred in the guts. It will be worth our labour to describe what each of them is. The round Worms are the first difference, and that manifest to all men, because these are the most common, and are so called, because they are indeed round and smooth, not unlike to those worms that breed in dunghils and gardens, which we said before are called by

the Greeks, the bowels of the earth. These as all other Worms are blinde, without any eyes, and they are a hand length or something more: yet Benivennius c. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. affirms that a Smith did vo∣mit up a Worm with grosse flegm, almost a foot and half long, very plain, with a red head that was smooth, and about the bigness of a pease; but the body of it was downy, and the tail crooked like the half-moon. Also at Rome, anno 1543. one that was now upon his youthful years, when as for many daies (as Gabucinns tels the story) he had been in great torments of his belly, at last he voided by stool a great black Worm with black hair, five feet long, as big as a cane. He saw one also that did not exceed the hands length, like to the round Worms, but that the back of it was hairy, and set as it were with red hairs; but this being cast forth by using good reme∣dies, he grew very well. One Antonianus a Canon (as Hieronymus Montuus tels the story) voided a green Worm, but he died shortly after he had voided that. But for the most part they are smooth and not hairy, a hand long and not a foot, at both ends pointed, as it were with a nib. And they differ so far from Earth-worms, that they wear no collar nor girdle: what concerns their co∣lours, I have seen some red, yellow, black, and partly white, or gold colour. Green ones are sel∣dom seen, yet Montuus saw some. Gourd-worms are those quick Worms that are like unto Gourd-seeds; concerning which the question is so great between Gabucinus and Mercurialis; for when he treats of a broad VVorm, that is made of an infinite number of Gourd-seeds shut up in a skin; he saith thus: I, saith he, think a broad Worm to be nothing else but, according to Hippocrates, as it were a white shaving of the guts, that comprehends all the in∣testines, between which some living creatures are bred like unto Gourd-seeds: which may then be seen to be voided when all that shaving is voided, yet oft-times it is voided by parts: which if they break when they are voiding, then you may behold these Worms like to Cucumer-seeds voided by themselves, sometimes many of them being folded together, sometimes but a few. But if any man shall see all that portion, let him know, that that scraping off like a Worm doth not live, but the creatures that are in it, like Cucumer-seeds. I once saw this Worm called a Broad Worm that pants, to have been of a wonderful length, and it crawled, a woman in a Quotidian Feaver voided it by siege, and when I did with▪ admiration much view it, and sought to finde the cause of its motion: that other man, who said he voided a portion of a broad Worm some daies before, which he would shew unto me for a wonder, did shew it me with incredible des▪ I had to see it; for this portion did move it self, whence I was more desirous to know the cause of that. At last searching diligently, I observed through the whole hollow part of it, a rank of living creatures like to Cucumer-seeds, which crept forth of it as out of some bed, some-times one, sometimes two folded together, oft-times four, or more, and that part of the shaving of the guts that was empty of these creatures did not move at all, but sank down: whence it comes to pass that I think a broad Worm is nothing else but snotty matter bred between the guts, or snivelly flegm thickned by the coldness of the guts, covering the inside of the guts like a coat, which women that assist the sick call a bed of Worms. Out of which snotty matter little living creatures like Gourd-seeds proceed, as by way of a conception, which is covered all over by the second membrane in the womb which is first made of the seed. So saith Gabucinus. Avicenna agrees in this opinion, Fen. 16. tract. 5. cap. 2. the Gourd and broad Worms are bred from the clammy matter that is fastned in the superficies of the guts, which is comprehended by a flegma∣tick pannicle covering it as if they were bred from that, and did putrefie within it. Antonius Bene∣vennius a Florentine saith the same, and more clearly, in com. de mirand. morb. causis, c. 87. who writes that in the mineral Baths at Avign••n, that are in the Countrey of the Senones, he saw a wo∣man that for seven daies together drinking the water, did void these Gourd-worms in abun∣dance, that stuck so fast together, one being close to the other, that they were in a rank that was above four cubits long, yet you would judge them to be but one body and one Worm. Johan∣nes a Bookbinder at Basil (whilest I studied Physick there in that Academy, under Zuingerus and Platerus my Masters, anno 1579) voided▪ such a Worm ten ells in length without any pain, and not many years before he had voided the like. It consisted of many Gourd Worms; without which it had had no motion nor feeling, and might deservedly have been rejected from the num∣ber of living creatures. Platerus had such a Worm dried that was eighteen ells long, I saw it. Pliny writes of a Worm a sick person voided, was three hundred foot long: wherefore whatso∣ever Mercurialis objects to the contrary, lib. 3. de morb. puer. cap. 7. since experience proves the thing, is without any firm ground. He saith it cannot be that any living creature can produce so many young ones, as there appear like unto Gourd-seeds; then, that the guts are not large enough to receive so many young ones. Thirdly, that this comes to pass by reason of the vio∣lent putting them forth that gives the form, because the young one being broken by coming forth, is divided into those many pieces like Gourd-seeds. And hence we may conclude that those are trifles that the Arabians speak of Gourd-worms, forasmuch as there are none such: What is that I hear, most learned Jerome? that thou being gray headed, and taught by long expe∣rience, shouldst so applaud thy own imagination, that thou shouldst dare to deny a thing ob∣vious to sense, and plain to our eyes, and to Gabucinus Benevennius, and the Arabians? Go to, No living creature can produce so many young ones like Gourd-seeds: why not I pray? when as one maid that took physick to kill Worms, as Gabucinus affirms, voided 177 round Worms? To say nothing of that Benevenius reporteth c. 85. of the incredible multitude of them: and he was a man to be believed. And what thou speakest of the capaciousness of the place, if that be an argument, it is an errour to be laughed at.

For the guts will contain not only as many as are in a Gourd, but the Gourd it self prepared. By thy last objection thou dost but mock, but canst not weaken the opinion of Avicennas and the Arobians: for as much as in bodies diffected, Gourd-worms have been seen wrapt up in a roll, wherefore they took not their Gourd-form from the violent voiding them at the fundament, or from the manner of putting them forth, as thou either inventest maliciously, or ignorantly be∣lievest. I conclude therefore with Gabucinus, that there are Gourd-worms, and the broad worm called T••nia, is not properly a Worm, nor yet a living creature, but something about the entrails like white shavings, as Hippocrates saith, that is filled with these Gourd-worms put in fashion of a coat of M••il. Ascarides have their name from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, because they bite and tickle very much, and so exercise the patients that are troubled with them: others derive them from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which signifies to move. The Ancients called them Beasts-worms, because they were seldom sound in men, but often in Horses, Dogs, Hens, and Oxen. And they were so seldom seen in men, that Hippocrates, and Celsus that followed him, either knew them not, or thought them not worth the mentioning, and so they said nothing of them; and yet they writ at large of other Worms. They are like the round Worms, but ten times shorter, (for they are seldom above an inch long) and what length soever they be, they are thicker at the end of the longanum, and the sphincter of the anus they are found, causing a vehement itching in those parts. Galen writes in Lib. de Ling. Hippocratis, that Gous an old man called Ascarides long Worms; which difficulty Mercurialis easily opens, for we should read it, saith he, not 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, great, but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, small. More∣over, though in consideration of their breadth and thickness they seem long; yet compared with round Worms, they may be called short. These and round Worms are of divers colours, as the matter they are bred of is, or in respect of the heat that concocts them; but Gourd-worms are alwaies the same: whence I should conclude that Gourd-worms breed only from flegm, but the rest from all humours and excrements. Ascarides oft-times come forth in great numbers, and before they be voided they prick much.

CHAP. XXXII.

Of the Original of Worms in the guts.

ARistotle lib. 5. Generat. and Hippocrates before him, 4. morb. make the material cause of Worms to be dung. Oribasius l. 3. Aph. 30. and Montanus that followed him being his Ma∣ster, thought that living creatures might breed in the guts from all kindes of humours: and Mercuria∣lis who thought they were deceived, was blinde himself at noon-day. But let us examine his Arguments: It is found, saith he, that they will not breed from bloud, because bloud never pu∣trefies so much, that living creatures may breed from it; Also he affirms from the judgement of Alexander Trallianus, that living creatures cannot breed in the veins. But experience cuts off the nerves of his first argument; and the Authority of Rhasts, Loppius and Pliny, overthrows the second. Also they cannot breed of a melancholy humour, because it is cold and dry; nor of yellow choler, because it is bitter, and such creatures are not fed by bitter things, but destroyed. For which opinion, though he urge Aristotle, Hippocrates, Galen, 4. simpl. med. Aegineta, lib. 4. c. 27. yet what is there more slender than the opinion of them? For Butchers know that in the milts of Sheep, which is the fountain of melancholy humour, and in the gall of Oxen, which is the re∣ceptacle of bitter choler, innumerable worms are oft-times found. And I see no reason why Worms may not breed from yellow choler, as well as in Wormwood; from melancholy as well as in stones, from bloud as well as in sugar. But if they be not bred from them, whence have they matter that they breed of? The Physician of Padua will answer, It remains therefore that they can breed only of raw flegm, which either ariseth from too great quantity of the best meats for want of heat, or quantity of bad meats corrupt by depravation: which opinion, though it well agree with Galen, Aegineta, Aetius, Avenzoar, Avicenna, Colu••nella, Celsus, Alexan∣der, and chiefly with our Mercurialis, yet in my judgement Hippocrates is in the right, who thought that living creatures are bred in the little world, as well as they are in the great. Therefore as in the earth there are all kinde of humours, heat and spirit, that it may nourish living crea∣tures that breed, so hath man all kinde of moisture that mourisheth things that breed. Moreover, when as these living creatures do represent perfectly Earth-worms, no man in his wits will deny but that they have both the same original. What flegm is there in the earth? yet it breeds round Worms, and Gourd-fushioned, and Ascarides, and all sorts of Worms, and the best and warmest earth abounds with them, so far is it that they should breed only of raw and corrupt humours. Do we not also daily see that Worms are voided by men that are in health? For I knew a wo∣man of Flanders, that at Francfort on the Main, which from her youth till she was forty years old, did daily void some round Worms, without any impairing of her health, and she was never sick of them. I conclude therefore that from every raw humour of the body Worms may breed; and not only from crude or corrupted flegm. The formal cause depends from internal heat, which is weak, gentle, pleasing, and fit to breed living creatures; wherein that plastick force of Caleodick Nature, (to use the word of Avicennas) doth make the colours by the de∣grees

of secret heat, and sporting her self doth make that broad form of Gourd-worms, and some-times of Lizards, Toads, Grass-worms, Catterpillers, Snakes, Eels, as we read in Histories. This doth give them taste, feeling and motion, this gives them that force of attracting, whereby they forcibly draw forth with greediness the juices that slip into the guts. If it were not so, that heat that consumes all things might perhaps dispose the matter that is changed by putrefaction, but it would never give the form and figure of a living creature. For it is not because the guts are round, that round Worms are bred in them, as some men dream; but the external form depends from the internal, and the spirit drawn forth of the bosome of the soul it self, doth frame the shapes without a Carver or Smith. This spirit is the mediate efficient cause: but God himself is the principal cause in this and other things, in whom, as well as we, the Worms are, move and have their being.

The final cause shewes their use, which declares Gods omnipotency, Natures majesty, and the * 1.66 singular providence of both for mans good. For there are collected in us some putrefied excre∣mental superfluous parts, which the more bountiful hand of Nature changeth into Worms, and so cleanseth our bodies; as we account it a good sign of health to be full of lice, after a long disease: also they consume much superfluous moisture in mans body, and unless they grow too many (for then they feed on our nutrimental juice) they are a great help to the guts; so far is it that they should be accounted by physitians amongst diseases, or the beginnings of diseases. Amongst the concomitant causes I reckon the place and the countrey. For though they are more common to children than to those that are of years, to women than men, in a pestilential than a healthful time, in Autumn than in the Spring, to such as use an ill diet rather than to those that keep an exact diet: yet they accompany all ages, sexes, conditions, seasons, diets; for no man is priviledged from them, yet some places or climates are free, for according to the nature of them, in some many, in others no Worms will breed: for all kinde of Worms will not breed in each part of the guts, but round Worms only in ••he small guts, Ascarides in the Longanum, the Gourd-worms only are bred in all. Also, as Theophrastus and Pliny testifie, there are no small dif∣ferences amongst Nations and Countreys. (lib. hist. pl. 9. c. 2. Lib. Nat. hist. 27. cap. 13.) For broad or Gourd-worms are common amongst the Egyptians, Arabians, Syrians, and Cilicians: again they of Thracia and Phrygia know them not. And though the Boeotians and Athenians are under the same Confines, they are frequently full of Worms, and these are by a priviledge as it were freed from them. He only will admire at this, or think it a Fable, who knowes not that the nature of Coun∣treys vary according to the position of the stars, the nature of the winds, and the condition of the earth. There is a River (saith Aristotle, lib. de nat. anim. c. 28.) in Cephalenia that parts an Island, and on one side of it, there is great abundance of Grashoppers, but none on the other. In Prodoselena, there is a way goeth between, and on one side of it a Cat will breed, but not on the other side. In the Lake Orchomenius of Boeotia, there are abundance of Moles; but in Lebadius, that is hard by, there are none, and brought from other parts they will not dig the earth. In the Island Ithaca, Hares cannot live; nor in Sicily, flying Ants; nor in the Countrey of Cyrene, vocal Frogs; nor in Ireland, as we know, any kinde of venomous creature. The reason of all this he can only tell, who hath hanged the earth in the air without a foundation; for it is not my eye that can see so far, nor have I any minde to affect to know things above my un∣derstanding.

I leave that work to those that dare aspire To know Gods secrets, let me them admire.

CHAP. XXXIII.

Of the signs and cure of Worms out of Gabucinus.

LEt us therefore shew the signs of Worms, beginning from those that are called round Worms; both because these do more frequently vex children, and because they produce more cruel symptomes: of which Paulus writes thus: they that are troubled with round Worms, are cruelly torn in their bellies and guts; and they have a tickling cough that is troublesome, and somewhat tedious, some have a hickop, others when they sleep leap up, and rise without cause; sometimes they cry out when they rise, and then they fall asleep again; their Arteries beat unequally, and they are sick of disorderly Feavers, which with coldness of the outward parts come thrice or four times in a day or a night without any reason for them. Children will eat in their sleep, and put forth their tongues, gnash their teeth, wink with their eyes, they will be very silent, and are angry with those that rowse them up, the balks of their cheeks, in a short time, are sometimes red, sometimes wan-coloured. If the Worms run up to the sto∣mach, they cause nauseating, gnawing, and want of appetite; and if the sick are forced to eat, they scarse can swallow it, and if they swallow it down, they vomit it up again, they void many corruptions of meat by their bellies, and they are swoln like a drum, the rest of the body growes unreasonable lean, not by reason of hunger, nor immoderate evacuations. These things happen when these creatures creep and gnaw in the belly. A feaverish heat sends up ill vapours to the

brain, that arise from putrid moisture collected in the stomach. So writes Paulus. But Aetius out of Herodotus writes thus: Those that are troubled with Worms have a most cruel pain of their stomach and bellies, and they have a little frequent tickling cough, and yet they spit up nothing: i•• their sleep they shiver, and rise preternaturally; some again put out their tongues and shut their eyes, and are silent, and cannot endure to be rowsed, and cannot watch for weakness: some have their eyes bloudshed, their pulses unequal, obscure, deficient, and recurrent: some want an appetite, children whilest they sleep, bite their tongues, and move their mouthes as if they sucked, or eat meat. But these things are done for a short time, and by circuits. More∣over some children besides reason, rise with crying, and presently fall down again: some crash their teeth, which it seems happens when the Worms suck, and gnaw their bellies and guts. And now it appears that some are come up into the stomach, and cause loathing, and bitings: oft-times also by themselves they are cast upward, but sometimes with some flegmatick humour. Some Infants neglected lose their motion, and are benummed, and like those that are in a swound, they sweat a cold thin humour, and most commonly they are wan-coloured: sometimes the face will be red, especially about the cheeks, but this colour again is changed into more than ordinary paleness. Others again like dotards speak strange words in their sleep, others change their places they 〈…〉〈…〉y on, still sleeping, and they are vexed, and turn from place to place: but ve∣ry few of those do cry, for most of them are void of reason, and are silent. Also they that are vexed with round Worms, loath their meat, and if they eat any thing, they cast it up again, or ••oath it so much they can hardly swallow it: for they fall into Feavers with vehement cold in the outward parts: some have their bellies swoln like a drum. So saith Aetius. But these are the marks he reckons from Hippocrates opinion: Worms in the belly are discovered by these marks: If they be sleepy, and the disease will not let them, and their outward parts be cold, and there be gnawing at their hearts, the urine troubled, and the tongue full of moisture; also they that have Worms in their stomach, are full of spittle; and if any little Worm comes forth they spit no more: therefore all those that have Worms in the mouth of their stomach, do commonly cast them up all by vomit, but those that have belly Worms, void them by siege. But they all nauseate, and vomit up what they take in. They are like to those that are pricked, that have contractions all over their bodies, and move suddenly and confusedly, and they have torments and pains of their guts. Vapours carried to the head cause Vertigoes. Moreover the manner of diet that the party used will shew the generation of Worms, and all the rest. These are the signs of round Worms; but all these signs must not be sought for in every one, as Paulus saith; but some and the principal of them. I might joyn here many things out of our new writers, unless what they say, and more also were not to be found in Avicenna, whence they borrowed it.

Paulus gives us these notes of broad Worms: sometimes they abound in those that have Fea∣vers, and sometimes in those that have none. In Chronical diseases they breed, gnawing the * 1.67 stomach, and causing a greedy appetite. They eat the meat so fast, that we need more, and if it be not present, they bite shrewdly; the body growes lean and weak, and unequal. But the most certain sign is, that some bodies like Gourd-seeds come forth with our excrements: so saith Paulus, and Aetius doth not differ from him, but that he saith, that they gnaw the stomach continually, and cause an insatiable appetite, and that the meats eaten soon turn to excrements. They that are affected grow weak of body and sluggish, and are alwaies hungry, for what is living in the guts, when it hath consumed the meat, feeds on the body; but this sign will not fail us, if some things like Gourd-seeds be voided by stool. The signs Hippocrates gives are these: He writes after this fashion: There is another kinde of this, that comes forth like the white shavings of the guts; which hath these marks: The party voids seed like Cucumer-seed, and when he is fasting he is vexed, and spits much, his liver being affected, sometimes not; and sometimes when this vehemently affects his liver, it stops his speech, and he spits much, and after that it stops: and sometimes there is great pains in the guts, sometimes the shoulders ake, and then it stops again. Sometimes these are the signs of the broad Worms. He that is affected with this Worm, is al∣most alwaies in health, but when he growes weak, he can hardly endure it, or be recovered. For this broad Worm takes some part of those things that go down into the stomach, and if care be taken it may be cured, but if not, the Worm will not come forth it self, nor doth it kill a man, but growes old with him, &c. Ascarides are alwaies about the bottome of the belly as we said, and there they cause a great itching almost continually, as Paulus and Aetius have written; and * 1.68 sometimes, as it is reported, they will make one faint. For that is shewed by their name. For they moving alwaies do continually exercise a man and tire him out. They that are troubled with these, feel alwaies a heaviness about their Praecordia and backs. The signs of these are chiefly taken from the filthy smelling of the excrements. They that have Worms their eyes at first shine, their cheeks are wan, in the night they have cold sweats, their mouth is pale, they start in their sleep, in the day they are more feaverish, their tongues and are dry lips, their breath commonly stinks, their face is pale, they nauseate and vomit often, they loath meat, they crash their teeth, especi∣ally in the night, they put forth their tongues (and they seem to eat) they are angry with those that awake them, they speak strange words, sometimes they are in a lethargy, and pick straws, and their heads ake, they cry out in their sleep, as the disease increaseth, their hearts beat exceeding∣ly, their voice is interrupted, their arteries beat weakly, sometimes in the height of their pain, they are extended, and their mouth fomes as in the Epilepsie, their belly is swoln like a Tympany;

Sometimes the pains abate, and again there follow torments, and Colique pains, with a henterie flux of the belly, sometimes they are costive, and the excrements are hard. These are the signs of Worms, now follow the Prognosticks. The Prognosticks are very necessary in all diseases to know * 1.69 what will be the event, and to know the condition of the patient serves much for the cure, as Hippocrates, especially in his Prognosticks, hath abundantly shewed; who in the beginning of his book de prudent. Medico, hath delivered it: Especially foretelling here before the patient, things present, past, and to come, and what the sick have neglected, he is thought to understand the con∣dition of the patient; and hence it is that men wil better dare to trust the Physitian. But because it is difficult to foresee all this, unlesse we use some artificial conjecture (I call that an artificial con∣jecture, that comes very neer the truth) and who can easily attain this, unlesse he have learned the things that belong to the art, and remember them, and hath with all diligence exercised himself in the practice of it? The things wil be thus known. If a man suppose that there is any vital vertue, he must know the disposition of the patient in strength and weaknesse; and when he is perfect in these, he must study further to know all differences of diseases in the greatnesse and manner of them, and then to learn the foreknowledge of the future state. And when he hath learned all these, then he must exercise himself both in comprehending the magnitude of the disease by exact conjecture, and the ••orce of the patient, and how long they may last. Now practise wil help him much in this; and before he hath diligently learned all these, it wil no whit profit him to see sick people: wherefore they that professe physick, proceeding in this method, shal never undergo any disgrace, neither in curing, nor foretelling of future events, which they report some famous Paysitians have fallen into. Hence it may be collected why some Physitians are more fortunate then others, and what a fraud that is, to call a Physitian more fortunate then another; how absurd that is, Galen and Erasistratus have shewed; saying, that a Physitian must be exercised in all these things in his minde, and he must be diligent, and prudent by nature, that comparing all together, he may get a grosse summe of praedictions, that shal be useful for himself and for his patient. For such is the force of praediction, that alwayes for the most part, what the Physitian foresces wil come to passe, where the Physitian is perfect, and the sick doth not negiect his orders. But because, as it is evident, a Physician by praedictions may get immortality almost, so chiefly from those things that do belong to this affect, he shal win glory to himself, by telling the sick their condition, who for the most part are children, or ignorant what their disease is. Since therefore Prognosticks are chiefly neces∣sary for this disease, I wil not fail to set down what the Ancients have written of this disease. Pau∣lus a great follower of Galen, writes of these things to this purpose. Worms bred at the beginning of Feavers, have their subsistence from the corruption in the body, about the state of the disease, from the malignity of the disease, about the declining, they grow better. For Hippocrates saith, it is good that round Worms come forth, when the disease comes to a Crisis. But Aetius writes thus from the opinion of Herodotus a Physician. Worms breed in Feavers, and without, that differ one from the other in multitude, magnitude, colour, and time. For Worms bred at the beginning of a disease, have their being from the corruption that is in the body, about the vigour of it, from the malignity of the disease, about the declination, from the change to better, and they are soon also voided forth, Nature driving them to the outward parts, as she doth the rest of the excrements. But the greater ones are worse then the lesser, many than few, red than white, living than dead. Our new writers adde to these; if round Worms are cast forth alive at the beginning of acute diseases, they shew pestilent diseases, but if dead ones be cast forth when the diseases decline, they are an ill sign also, however they appear both these times, it is bad. It may be because that Feaver that follows Worms is alwayes naught, because it consumes the matter for Worms. It happens also that the Worms are set on fire and grow hot by reason of a Feaver, and so are wreathed toge∣ther, and moved, that they so much the more affect and trouble those that have these Worms. They adde further, that it is proved by experience, that Worms are in the belly, if in the morning you sprinkle cold water on the mouth of childrens stomachs, for they will all gather to one place. Worms sprinkled with bloud, so voided is ill, for they shew great hurt of the guts, to cast Worms up by vomit is naught, for it shews the stomach to be stuffed with filthy humours. Frequent cold breathing of children, their bodies yet swelling, is deadly, for it shews they will die the next day. If the eyes of the sick are somewhat held together, and cannot be closed by the fingers of those that stand by, death is at hand. Some there are, it may be following the opinion of Alsaravius, that say that those who are troubled with Ascarides, are but short-lived. But there is a great question to be resolved, and that being done, I shal put an end to those things that concern the Prognosticks taken from Worms. Aetius a little before said that live Worms were worse than dead ones. But Rhasis and Avicenna that follows him▪ think the contrary, absolutely preferring the dead ones before the living. In which question, to passe over other men, I shal say what I think, that the strongest affection is taken from those that are dead, because they must needs be driven forth, and cannot come forth of their own accord; yet I follow Hippocrates, who in a certain place useth some words that are difficult, wherein he would have us to consider diligently what symptoms VVorms breed, for if they come forth without any symptoms they foreshew a good sign. But he makes it clearer elsewhere thus. It is necessary that round Worms should come forth with the excrements, when the disease comes to the Crisis. So that by this we may understand, that if they be voided any other time, it is done rather symptomatically than by force of nature, and therefore they shew corruption or malignity, as Paulus and Aetius distinguished.

But because we can never rightly undertake the methodicall way of curing Worms, unlesse the belly in which they are be well disposed, nor can this be, unlesse the whole body be so, and this is * 1.70 excellent well performed by good diet; wherefore that in the first place must be well ordered, for without that all helps are in vain, for the preserving and repairing our health. For this is so fa∣mous, and almost the best part of Physick, that that admirable Cous, Celsus, Galen, Pliny, and al∣most all the old Physicians, could never give it commendations enough. Asclepias formerly esteem∣ed it so much, that he almost took away the method of curing by Physick, and wholly turned all curing upon diet. Now this consists not only in the quantity and quality of meats and drinks, but also in all those things that befall us whether we will or no, as in sleeping and waking, motion and rest, as also in the repletion and emptinesse of the whole body and of every part, and in the affects of the minde, but chiefly in the Air that is about us, which not only sticks fast to us out∣wardly, but continually enters into the inmost parts of our body by the drawing in of our breath. As for what concerns those things that we take, because they are such things that every man knows, I shall say nothing of them. For there is no man ignorant, that divers meats, and of ill and naughty juice, and disorderly taken, will breed crudities, and that gluttony and drunkenness do our bodies great hurt, yet many kinde of meats, that are hurtfull in other diseases, are profi∣table in these. Wherefore we shall as it were besides our purpose, and by the way touch upon these, first adding what Paulus writes. Let the meats of those that have Worms be of good juice, that may easily be dispersed, and passe to the parts, and neither foster the cause, nor weaken our forces.

Wherefore we grant them wine mingled with water, and let them eat often both for their need, and that the Worms may not gnaw them. If there be a scowring of the belly, it is a sign that many are bred, the meat being not dispersed; and in that case Pears or Quinces must be mingled with our broths; Wheaten bread is a wonderfull help, having Anniseed mingled with it, or Fennel or Salt; or bread that is between Bran and Wheat, called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, because there are joyned together in it, the Bran, the Hulls, and the Flour. Men call also this bread 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, because all the Wheat, without taking any thing from it, is made into bread. Also the wheat it self that the meal is taken from must be the best, for some of these have much Bran, which is the courser wheat, but the finer wheat is the best. But wine that is mingled with water, because it gently bindes, is held to be very convenient. Mountain birds are fit for their meat, and young wood Pigeons, green Groundsel, and Goats-beard, the broth of black Chiches, and Coleworts, and Capers, and pickled Olives eaten; and if there be no Feaver, let them eat their other meats with Mustard, also sowr and oyly things are commended. Also Panick (which Diocles called the honey of Corn) is most durable, if so be it may be reckoned amongst Corn. Also Spelt in the decoction of Myxie, and a Ptisane with a great quantity of Oyl of unripe Olives, besides these, Lupines, Cresses, Betes, Mints, Smallage, Radish, and sawce eaten are good. Give children before all meat, a decoction of Sebestens with Mints. Milk is very hurtful, as also Fish, and Pulse, and whatsoever is of a cold grosse substance, and hard to be digested. Bread unleavened breeds Worms, for it is good for no man, and so are all moyst meats, that easily turn to corruption within.

For all kinde of Worms it is most convenient to use abstinence from such things as breed them: And when they are bred, it is good to eat often, a little at a time; and that is best, when they leave off gnawing. But those that have Ascarides must eat meats of good juice, and of easie di∣gestion, that the force of them may not reach so farre as the right gut. For the matter fit to breed them is so consumed. Thus far for meats and drinks to be taken. But the other five kindes that are not so manifest, shal be handled by us also with all brevity. And we shal begin from sleep. It must not be too little nor too much, and in the night rather than in the day, at least two hours after meat. Moreover, to be long idle is naught, let exercise precede meats, and rest after meats. Nor is every motion to be taken for exercise, but that which makes us breath more; unlesse it be when we have taken Physick against Worms; for then we must ride or run, to shake our bodies; for they are more easily cast forth by hard exercise or labour: but children will hardly observe these rules. Care also must be had, that the belly may twice be unburdened, and if that will not do of it self, we must use a Suppository or Clyster to provoke it, made of such ingredients that are fit for this purpose. All affections of the minde whatever they be, must be set aside, as quar∣relling, anger, sorrow, great cares, and thoughts, sadnesse, fears, envy, and all such kinde of pertur∣bations, and chiefly after meat. For these change and turn the body from its natural state. Let men beware of cold North windes, and let them not go barefoot. The air because it alwayes is about us, cannot be chosen at our pleasure: for it is sometimes a defence for us, and sometimes the cause that makes Worms, or fosters them: It wil be a defence if it be very hot, and dry, pure, clear, and calm; and it wil chiefly foster the disease, when it is very cosd, or moyst, or moved by the North or South winde, or by too great heat, dissolves our forces, and then by art it must be thus prepared: To burn in our Chambers wood of Juniper tree or of Citrons, or Peach-trees, and such wood as is against Worms. Also to perfume the place with tops of Worm-wood, Peach-tree leaves, Citron pills, roots of Pomegranate-trees, also with Fern, and Ivy. But that is the best that is made with Myrrhe, and Aloes. Another remedy that succours the fainting spirits, by reason of Worms. Amber-greece two penny-weight, Musk one peny weight, Gum Arabick, four peny-weight, Roses, Sanders, Cloves, Privet, Frankincense, of each one peny-weight, Gallia Moschata so called, six peny-weight, Lignum Aloes burnt to a cole twenty peny-weight, the quenched coles of Vine-branches, what is sufficient, make them up with Rose Vinegar.

Worms are oft-times exasperated with vehement remedies, that they bring children to Con∣vulsions, * 1.71 swoundings, and death; wherefore they are not rashly to be given, and at all adventures. But because that remedies by reason of their different qualities are thought to be good to kill and bring forth Worms, therefore in general, such remedies as heat, drie, cut, and are sharp, bitter, salt, or sowr, and attenuating, are to be used. For either they kill the Worms by their sharpnesse, or bring them forth by their bitternesse, or they allure them to come forth, or else they are known to be good to bring them forth by the loosenesse that followes. They are brought forth 'tis likely at once, by such supping means as make the passages slippery, or by some effectual quality, that is namelesse. There are some cool remedies that effectually drive forth Worms, and some by a hidden quality, as shavings of Harts-horn. But those things are best that kill the Worms, for so long as they are alive they are an occasion of mischief. And they are hardly driven forth when they are killed, wherefore they must be drawn forth by Clysters; otherwise they send a filthy virulent va∣pour to the brain, and likewise inflame the body, and hurt the appetite and concoction. But be∣cause Worms happen most to children, who are hard to be dealt withall, I thought it not fit to conceal that wonderful way that Paulus mentions, whereby Aloes, and certain broths are given to them by way of suppings. A certain Cooks Instrument or spoon that is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, is put in∣to their mouths as they lie▪ upon their backs, and by a ••little Clyster with a strong Pipe, Aloes is forced down their throats, holding their mouths wide open as far as it is possible. Pollux makes mention of this, but doth not tell us what it is. But whatsoever Zomerysis is, we understand two things by it, that it is made descending, that thereby the bitternesse of the Aloes is not tasted. But by that other Instrument that Paulus calls Clysteridion, it is forced in by violence. But force and nature concurring, the motion is most swift, the heavy matter running downwards, and is violently driven in by it. Paulus also describes another Instrument, whereby moyst things are in∣jected into the fundament, it hath many holes quite through it, and these from the matrix are called Metrenchitae: But Aetius speaks clearer thus. To which purpose you must provide a horn Pipe that is full of holes through it, large at the bottome, and convenient for the largenesse of the place, which being thrust in beyond the Sphincter of the Anus, we fill with juice of Cedar, so that the liquor may flie forth every way. But forasmuch as these Instruments are unknown to us, when remedies are given either to kill or drive forth Worms, stop the childes nostrils, and then wash its mouth with some sweet or sharp thing, and when he hath drank down the medicament to kill the Worms, his stomach must be fomented with Acacia or Hypocistis with wine. Those things that kill Worms are best given in sweet milk or honey or Oxymel, or syrup called Acetosus. Some first satisfie the children first with three dayes drinking of them, and then they give the physick afterwards. Also they give Clysters of the same sweet things, that they may entice those Creatures to the lower parts. If the belly scowre, it is of necessity that the Worms must be killed at last, for the motion of the belly will cast them forth. But when the appetite is hurt, and the belly loose, the Worms must be killed with bitter things only, that are somewhat astringent, as with Wormwood amongst hot things, or Southernwood and Worm-seed: Or amongst cold things, with Pomegranate pills, Acacia, juice of Plantain, Purslane and such like.

Of hot things the seed of Cresses drives forth all belly-worms, bruised and drank in wine or Vi∣negar, * 1.72 yet more effectually if wilde Mints be added, yet it troubles the belly. The meal of Lu∣pins licked with honey or drank in Posca, and outwardly applyed to the navel with Bulls gall, drives them forth. The same also being infused and eaten with their bitternesse, wil do the like. Also their decoction can do as much, being drank with Rue and Pepper. Sea Worm-wood boyl∣ed by it self, or with Rice, adding Honey to it, kils Worms in the guts, and it wil do it better with Worm-wood. Southernwood doth the same by its bitternesse; Cardamomum kils them. Also the decoction of Hysop drank, or the herb it self licked up with Honey. So Calaminth kills Ascarides, and other VVorms, if it be drank with salt and honey, or if it be eaten raw or boyled, or the juice of it given in a Clyster, or drank. Also the decoction of Thyme, or Rue boyled and drank with Oyl forceth them out. Also wine of Cedar, and the liquor of Cedar it self. Unripe oyl of Olives, if it be drank plentifully, for it is pressed out unripe for children. Juice of Oenanth hath the same operation, as oyl of unripe Olives. But the best thing against VVorms are sweet Apples called St. Johns Apples, for they loosen the belly, and drive out the VVorms; which by what fa∣culty they can do it, (being they are sweet, and of a honey taste, from whence they borrow their name, and since so they should rather feed VVorms) is perhaps, because by this meat the belly is made loose, and the VVorms follow; and the VVorms that otherwise would stay within, by the force of the excrements, as Fishes in a torrent are carried away, when in Summer great rains fall, and so are they carried downward. For Dioscorides lib. 1. cap. de Melimela, saith that those Apples make the belly soluble: Also the seed of Coleworts, especially that which growes in Egypt, drank, drives forth VVorms, namely, because the temper of it is drier, and more wilde. The same is done by Oyl of Falma Christi drank. Myrrhe also by its bitternesse both kills and drives them forth. The decoction of Elecampane, Squils taken with Vinegar and Honey, but the Squils must be first rosted, or otherwise it is held▪ to be most pernicious to the entrails. Also they use to give against all VVorms the decoction of the root of Capers in honey and vinegar. And Dioscorides lib. 4. cap. 1. writes, that the herb called small Turn-foil, drank with the seed, adding thereto Nitre, Hysop, Cresses, and water, wil force out all sorts of VVorms, long and flat. But Paulus, unless there be an error in the Press, reckons Cardamomum for Cresses, lib▪ 7. c. 1. Rocket-seed in wine, wil drive out all living Crea∣tures

bred in the body. Also seven or five Earth-worms drank with sweet wine, wil drive out all kinde of VVorms: Bitter Almonds and the Oyl is good. Agarick with Honey, but it purgeth with trouble; for it is hurtful to the stomach, by making it slippery and loose. Storax swallowed with Rosin of Turpentine: Aloes drank in cold water or milk, the same drank in a decoction min∣gled with Honey, brings them forth without trouble. The seed of Tithymal or the juice of it about five drops mingled with Figs or Dates. The leaves▪ of Agnus Castus, Polypode, Chame∣pythe, Centaury the lesse, bruised and drank with Vinegar. Also one peny weight of the root of the same drank in three Cyathi of wine, doth help. Horehound with Wormwood and Lupins, boyled in water and Honey, of each alike, and with wine applyed twice or thrice, kills all Worms in the belly: Costus by its bitternesse, with water kills all Worms. But Dioscorides lib. 1. writes that it drives out only broad VVorms, with water and honey; which place Marcellus interpreting, blots out that word [and honey] as put in amisse, for this reason, because it is contrary, and seems not to agree with the cure for VVorms. For saith he, they are raised and nourished by sweet things, and belly VVorms are not driven forth by them, unlesse perhaps Honey must be therefore added, that they being deceived by the sweetnesse of it, they may take in the bitter Costus in greater quan∣tity, as we use to do in curing children, when we give them bitter or strong potions, we cover them with some sweet savour, or pleasant smell. In which businesse he•• seems to seek a knot in a Bull-rush (as we read in the Comedy) and yet he confesseth it to be otherwise. For whether the word Honey be read in Dioscorides or not (for I am not yet certain of it, nor hath Ruellius set it down) it is sufficient that bitter Medicaments, (such as Costus are, and such like) were given alwayes almost by Dioscorides, Pliny, Galen, and others, for to cure Worms, with sweet things, and chiefly with Honey, or Mede, or Oxymel, for the same reason that Marcellus mentioneth, lib. 4. cap. 57. which Paulus added in these words. Because some men oft times refuse bitter potions, as having an ill taste, of these thing herein comprehended, they shal not give any that are manifestly bitter, but mingled with some sweet thing, as he said a little before, that all these medicaments must be mingled with Honey or Oxymel, and so given to drink: Oras Lucretius saith, that the improvi∣dent Age of young people may be deceived, or else may be able to take it, being enticed by such a taste. For children most commonly are subject to Worms. Therefore nothing hinders but that the word Honey should be added, as Marcellus himself testifies, if we read him in some old Copies. Likewise a Cantharis bruised, and drank with a Briony root, drives forth Worms, as Galen writes, * 1.73 lib. de comp••s. Theriaces. Of cold things, the juice of Mouse-ear, with Ale, of each one Cyathus. Groundsel eaten, the juice of Plantain, especially when the belly is loose, given one spoonful or a small measure to drink, and the herb it self bruised, laid to the navel. Coriander seeds with the juice of Pomegranates and Oyl destroy the Worms in the guts, or drank with sweet wine. Hot things, as boyled Beets, taken with raw Garlick, by the Nitrous quality it hath, brings them forth, but the juice is hurtfull. A Pomegranate bruised, and boyled in three Heminae of wine to one He∣mina, drives forth Worms, takes away the pain, and the juice o〈…〉〈…〉 the root one dram and half weight, will kill them. Sumach of Syria will do the same, and the seed of Orache. Our new writers adde, that it is manifest by experience, that the sharpest Vinegar drank when we go to bed will drive out the Worms. But amongst those things that prevail much is Corallina, so called, which being powred or mingled with Honey or Oxymel, or drank with Honey-wine, doth wonderfully kill Worms, or drive them out half dead. This took its name from the likenesse of Corall, since both of them grow in the water, and for sixty years almost it hath been used to good purpose to drive forth Worms; if I be not mistaken, this is that which Dioscorides lib. 4 and Galen call 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, Sea-mosse; and if that they did not attribute to it the same force we do to drive forth Worms, as we see in Corallina, as they call it, I shal not therefore think that it is any thing else, besides Dioscorides and Galens 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: For the Antients did not know the vertues of all Simples, for the true nature of each cannot be found out by any other way than by its effects in physick. A mighty work and secret from God, than which there can be no greater found out. Also many things are found now adayes that were not found out in our forefathers dayes; and no wonder, since these experiments are made by Countrey-men, and such as are ignorant of learning, who commonly live only where they grow, besides the negligence of seeking, when there are so many Physicians at hand every where. Also many things are found out that want nam••s: To this we may adde the uncertain way of finding out; for in things that are found, some were found by chance, saith Pliny, lib. 25. cap. 2. others were revealed by God. But the foulest cause of this rarity is, that they who know things will not discover them, as if they should quite lose what they acquaint others with. They are as envious indeed as those are who either suppresse the monuments of Antiquity, or else utterly demolish them; which they for that end, that what is written by the Ancients may be attributed to themselves, or if they have delivered any famous matter, they that write other mens opinions will let that be lost. But if there be any that will contend, and say it cannot be that they should be ignorant that Sea-mosse was good to drive forth Worms, to those I answer, that the Ancients did not commit to writing all the natures of Simples that they knew. For we know many of the precepts of Pythagoras and Socrates; which yet cannot be known out of their Books, because they wrote none. And Plato though he left so many Books in writing, yet besides those he wrote, his followers take many things for his that he never put in writing. Nor hath that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 growing in every place, as they report, the same faculty, but the Apothecaries in some cer∣tain places of Italy fish for it, and they sell it under the name of Corallina. But let this suffice.

This is rather to be enquired into, why, being that Corallina tasts salt, Dioscorides, Pliny, Galen, and others report it to have a cooling faculty, when as it is known that all ••alt things are hot, and earthly, not unlike to bitter things that are hot? Whether it be, because the sea-water is salt, yet hath in it a great deal of potable water (as Aristotle hath sufficiently demonstrated it) and therefore by that it is the less hot? Or else because it contains in it much earth, and so it is drier and thicker? But such things as grow in the sea, must needs be of the same faculty with it. Because therefore that Sea-mosse growes in the sea, Dioscorides and others attribute to it a thickning quality, but as it contains in it much water fit to drink; and as it is of an earthly quality, by that it cools. Lastly all that are troubled with Worms, are helped with the smell of the hair of Ichneumon (they call it an Indian rat) as Paulus writes.

The juyce of Housleek drank in Wine, will drive out of the belly round Worms: Worm-wood Wine drank doth the same. The herb of great Turnfoil drank with its seed, adding there∣unto * 1.74 Nitre, Hysop, Cresses, and water, will cast them forth. The root of female Fern, 3 drams drank in Wine, will force out the round and broad Worms of the belly, as Ruellius and Marcellus, who interpreted Dioscorides, do both assert. But Galen saith that it kils not round Worms, but Ascarides and broad Worms, for so he writes, lib. Therapeut. method. cap. 14. But Wormwood can destroy round Worms broad Worms require more strong helps, as Fern is, and so doth that Worm the Greeks call 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Theophrastus was of this opinion, who writes that female Fern mingled with Honey is good against broad Worms of the belly, if it be min∣gled with Honey; and for Ascarides, in sweet Wine. For so he sets it down: Female Fern is good against broad Worms and small ones: against broad ones mingled with Honey, but against small ones in sweet Wine. It is certain that Ascarides both are, and are called small Worms. More∣over, Galen lib de simpl. Medic. facult. 8. ascribes the same vertue to the female Fern, that the male hath. Now Pliny writes that the female will kill only broad Worms and not round. Pli〈…〉〈…〉. lib. hist. 27. c. 9. And again, that both, (that is, both male and female) will drive forth Worms of the belly, broad Worms with Honey, the rest with sweet Wine drank for three daies, and he excludes neither round Worms nor Ascarides. But Galen in one place excludes both round Worms and Ascarides; and in another place he writes that it will de∣stroy Ascarides with broad Worms. What now shall we say, where Authors are of so many different opinions? shall we say that female Fern will kill all Worms in the belly? For Ga∣len ascribes the same virtue to it he doth to the male, but that especially it kils broad Worms, and in the next place Ascarides, which being at the bottome of the belly, require a stronger remedy, as Fern is, that the force of it may come so far. But since it can drive forth broad Worms and Ascarides, that are more seldome, and the one is in the guts, the other farthest from the stomach, it will far sooner destroy round Worms that lie in the upper guts. Galen therefore will not fight with himself in this, for it sufficeth if it will kill broad VVorms, and if it can destroy them, it can more easily destroy Ascarides, and easiest of all round VVorms. But Pliny, as who best of all knew that, saith it will drive out the rest also, (that is, both round VVorms and Ascarides). But that he saith so is manifest out of Paulus, lib. c. 58. who in his method of curing round and broad VVorms, mentions Fern: which yet all men agree is most properly used to drive forth broad VVorms. Avicenn. 16 Tertii tract. 5. c. 4. shewes this most clearly in these words: The medicins that kill Ascarides are stronger than those that kill long Worms; and those things that kill long Worms and Ascarides will also kill broad Worms. Gith or Nigella not only eaten but laid in a plaister to the belly, or anointed on the navil with water, brings them forth. In which place we must note Marcellus, who saith it will drive forth broad VVorms and not round: but Ruellius interprets this by the contrary. I•• Marcellus have done right, I leave other men to judge, this is certain that Galen is of Ruellius minde, who hath writ∣ten only that it will kill VVorms; and as I said before, it is taken generally for round VVorms. Paulus and Aetius, agree with Ruellius, who in their curative method for round VVorms, often speak of Gith, but never for broad VVorms. Wormwood called Santonicum, of it self or boyled with Rice, adding Honey to it, will kill Worms. The seeds of Nettles bruised, or of Coleworts or Cummin, with water, or Mints with it, or Hysop with Honey and water or Cresses∣seed bruised with Vinegar, kils them. Celsus l. 4. c. 17. Oribasius lib. ad Enn••pium filium, hath written that Calamint, Cardamom, Lupins, and the powder of them in drink, or with Honey by way of Electuary, or given in Posca to drink, are sufficient to kill round Worms. Also the leaves and buds of the Peach-tree bruised, and laid upon the belly can do as much; also Mints in drink and Sorrel. Purslain boyl'd, the juyce of Succory, or the decoction of Sebestens, or the Sebestens themselves boyl'd and eaten are very good. Also the ashes of burnt Harts-horn is thought very effectual for this use, especially of that which growes on the right side of the Stags head. It is burnt thus: Break the Harts-horn, and put it into a new earthen Crucible, and lute it well, put it into the furnace and let it burn till it be white. Scribonius Largus, c. 141. gives it thus: Harts-horn, saith he, raspt with a workmans rasp, with water of Sebestens boyled, give 4 or 5 spoonfuls of it, which were soked the day before in 3 cyathi, then bruise and give it, adding the water to it. An Oxe shank burnt, and drank with Milk, drives out round Worms, saith Galen. Costus with water drives forth broad Worms of the belly. Galen de com. Ther. ad Pis. Cardamom, Garlick eaten. The leaves of female Fern taken with Ho∣ney in a Lohock. But the root of the male 3 drams with Honey-water drank, will drive

them forth, but better, if it be given with so many oboli of Scammony, or black Hellebore, Al∣so the root of white Chamaeleon, drank a sawcer full, for which use it is drank with sharp Wine and the decoction of Origanum. Walnuts eaten largely, the pill of the Mulberry-root boyled in water and drank; besides that it loosneth the belly, it will force out broad Worms; also the decoction of Pomgranate roots drives them out and kils them. The decoction of Pom∣granate pils can do as much. The root of wilde Bugloss a sawcer sull, with Hysop and Carda∣mom drank, doth the like. Ruellius the Interpreter of Dioscorides, seems to have followed Pau∣lus, who say that with Hysop and Cardamom: but Marcellus▪ saith, with Hysop and Cresses drank, it will drive forth broad Worms, what was said before of Turnsoil. Marcellus seems here to follow Galen lib. 6. de simp. fac. who writes that a sawcer full of it is good drank with Hysop and Cresses. But the juyce of Cedar kils Ascarides, and so doth Calamint, the juyce of it being drank or given in a Clyster. The decoction of Wormwood, mingled with oyl and given Clyster-wise, and the decoction of the lesser Centory given with Salt-peter and Honey, hath the same force, or the decoction of the wilde Gourd, of wilde Saffron, if the right inte∣stine were first emptied with sharp pickle. The root of female Fern drank for three daies in 3 drams of Wine, drives forth Ascarides. Also old Hogs grease put into the Anus, is excellent good.

Both Paulus and Aetius testifie that Feavers commonly accompany round Worms, and we found▪ it true by daily experience. When therefore there is a Feaver, sometimes we must take * 1.75 care to curc the Feaver and the Worms, and sometimes taking little care for the Feaver, we must strive to drive the Worms out of the belly. For many that have neglected them have died torn and eaten up by them, and some say they have seen them come forth at the groins. But we must first kill them all, and then drive them forth; they are killed chiefly with bitter things. When therefore the cure is common both to the Feaver and the Worms, the more simple reme∣dies are convenient, and where the disease is uncertain we must use things that are more milde. For the Feaver is exasperated with strong remedies if we should be mistaken; but when we are certain how the matter is, we must wait for the times of the disease. For about the first daies, and the rather if they should appear then, we must use stronger remedies. But those that ap∣pear when the disease declines, are more easily cured, and the better if there be no inflammations or tensions of the bowels. As Hippocrates saith well, lib. Aph. 1. cap. 24. In acute disease but sel∣dome, and that at the beginning we must use purging Medicaments; and this must be done with premeditation, for these swell most, and are agitated as 'tis often seen, and therefore about the beginning of those diseases, we may use sharper means with profit, but there must be much cau∣tion, and premeditation used therein. First examining whether the patient can endure such re∣medies, and be prepared rightly for them, and whether we may expect a right Crisis by giving them. For there is no small danger in an acute disease, as the sickness of Worms is, to use sharp remedies, because all such meaus are potentially hot. Therefore they that suffer inflamations and extensions, must have Cataplasms of Linseed, with the like quantity of meal of Lupins min∣gled, or else moist fomentations of oyl of Camomil, Wine, tops of Wormwood, and Aloes laid to their Praecordia; but where moderate Feavers molest, give children before all meats, the de∣coction of Myxato-drink, or give them the Sebestens themselves to eat with Mints. For these things wonderfully help those are troubled with Worms, either because, saith Serapion, they stick by reason of their sweetness to them, or else these are so glutinous, that they cannot be parted from them, and so must come forth with them. For Myxa are very clammy, that in Syria the best birdlime is made of them called Damask-birdlime: wherefore because by their clamminess they bring forth Worms, if they trouble the stomach, they must be given by the mouth; but if they be in the belly and guts, by clyster: but to such as are come to ripe years, stronger remedies may be given, as the decoction of Wormwood or Southernwood, or the force of the root of the sowr Pomgranat boyled to thirds, also three scruples of washt Aloes is given, which is the most commendable remedy for those that are strong: also we use unwasht Aloes, and both, if they be feaverish, and but three moneths old. Earth-worms with boyled sweet Wine may be given confidently; but if they will not drink sweet wine, give them with water and honey, or as you think fit, fearing nothing, not despising the meanness of it, give 5 or 7. But if it be not a naked suspicion, but a certain knowledge that there be Worms, and that a proper cure belongs to them, then you must lay on Cataplasms with Lupins meal boyled in sweet Wine, to which also sometime a root of Briony must be added. In the mean time anoint the navil well with Buls gall, or Gith bruised with womans Milk, or with Wormwood, or Southernwood, or Briony mixed with fat old Figs: anoint all the Spina dorsi with Deer-suet, and cover the upper belly with a Cerate made of Wormwood and Cypress oyl. Moreover a Suppositar must be put up where the belly is bound, especially for children, and if it profit not, then give a Clyster, the vigour of the disease abating, made of the decoction of Wormwood, or Southernwood, or Cen∣taury, with Honey and Nitre. And we shall endevour to draw them out by suppings, that make the passages slippery, such are oyl of unripe Olives, supping up by little and little two spoonfuls of it, for as it is bitter it kils Worms, and as it is glib it drawes them forth with the dung. But we must alwaies increase the potions of oyl for they are very commodious. The Worms come forth, some yet alive, but they are giddy, and as we may say half killed, and many come out dead with the excrements. Moreover Worms will breed when there is a scowring of the belly, we must

cure them by stopping the flux, and by bettering the concoction with meats and Cataplasms. For the more the flux growes, the more the Worms breed; and when the flux ceaseth, the Worms do the like: wherefore we must diligently endevour that the belly may be stopt and strengthned; we must therefore add to such Cataplasms as serve to stop other fluxes, such things as we said to be good against Worms, and that cause no fluxes, such as are Wormwood, Southern-wood, Santonicum; also Pomgranate pils, Acacia, Hypocistis, Balaustia, and the like, with raw Barley-meal. Also Cerats laid on must be made of these. Also suppings must be used amongst all which the juyce of Plantain is best; and the dry Plantain, for it is good both against the flux and the Worms. Farthermore the VVine of the Pomgranate pressed forth with shell and all helps exceedingly. But for nauseating that ariseth from VVorms, and gnawing of the stomach, a grain of Salt held in the mouth, and melted and swallowed down, profits wonderfully, for it should seem the tartness of it, makes them presently fall down. But if a hickop arise from the same causes, pils are good, that have the juice of Ridder-spin, Wormwood, Santonicum, Water-mints, Scordium, of each four penny weight, boyl them to the thickness of Honey, then add fifty penny weight of powdered Aloes, and make pils of all, and swallow a penny weight, for this will take away the hickop, and kill the Worms. But if from the Feaver or filthy vapours arising from Worms, or the fumes of Medicaments (as most of those are that are given against Worms) rise to the head, so that there be great pain thereof, then anoint the forepart of the head, the forehead and temples with oyl of Roses, or the juice of Acacia, or of Hypocistis mingled with it, for it is most effectual. Others lay on leaven with a little Saffron and Vinegar, on these parts being anointed: for this cures all intemperate sleep, and other perverse affects. But amongst * 1.76 those men call Syrups, syrup of Wormwood, Calamint or Horehound are commended: or make one thus: Take juyce of Mints, Elecampane root, Wormwood, Rue, purified, for it is taken the sediment being cast away, of each of them haf a hemina in weight; of the juyce of Succo∣ry and Grass, of each of them seven cyathi in weight, infuse in these torrefied Harts-horn, Su∣mach, Purslain seed, and flowers of wilde Pomgranates, strain the decoction and make up all with Sugar, or the purest Honey of Athens. Another: Take Southernwood, Calamint eight penny weight, Horse mints, Elecampane-root fresh, six penny weight, boyl them in water to a third part: this decoction is given with syrup of Wormwood, or Oxymel of Squils. Also Worm-wood-wine is much commended for these uses, but it is made divers waies, for some let down Celtick nard 40 drams bound in a linnen clout, into a measure of new Wine; and after 40 daies they strain it. Others cast a pound of Wormwood into 20 sextarii of sweet Wine, and a sixth part of Pitch, Rosin, and after ten daies they strain it, and lay it up for use. A syrup against Worms, with a Feaver and the symptomes: Take sixteen penny weight of Grass-roots, Purslain-seed, sowr Dock, of each eight penny weight, ten sebestens, boyl all to thirds, to these add the juyce of Pomegranates, and Oranges, or sowr Wine, of each one and half cyathus in weight, as much of juyce of garden Succory, the best Sugar what may suffice, boyl them to a syrup: you may give Infants half an ounce, and young children one ounce without danger. A Julep that shall help those are affected with Worms: Take Dittany of Crete, Gentian Zedoary, Arabian Costus, one penny weight, seeds of Coleworts, Dill, Wormwood, Purslain, of each alike as much; water of Mints, Wormwood, Grass, of each half a hemina weight, boyl them to thirds and strain them, to these add of the best Sugar twenty penny weight. But in a Feaver you may give the decoction in water, or Grass-roots, Wheat, Barley, of each fifteen penny weight, to a large quantity to drink. Another most effectual and very sweet: Distilled water of Sorrel, Roses, Grass, garden Endive, Bugloss, juyce of Pomgranates, of each o••e hemina weight, seeds of Purslain, Orach, Sumach, Citrons, of each three penny weight; Coriander-seed, Myrtle-berries, wilde Smallage, of each two penny weight, seeds of sowr Dock, Coleworts, Cummin, of each the same weight: red Roses, Tormentil, Barberies, of each two penny weight, so much weight of Balaustia, five penny weight of the ashes of burnt Harts-horn, white Dittany of Crete eight penny weight; the shels of Mulberry-roots barked, Fern-roots, of each two penny weight, ten Sebestens, one penny weight of red Coral, white Sugar what may suffice, make a Julep. But the most▪ present remedy of all is that the Apothecaries call commonly Diaturpethum, but chiefly with Rhubarb, three drams of it being swallowed down; which being it is proved by long ex∣perience, so it hath also great reason for it, that it should be preferred before all other reme∣dies. For children enticed by the sweetness of the Antidote, will take it down willingly, and the Rhubarb kils▪ the Worms, and the parts are strengthned by it. The Turpeth drives them from their nests, and the rest of the ingredients do not only make it pleasant but harmless, so that it is most sweet, harmless and strong all at once: it is made thus: Take white Sanders and red, Violets, Ginger, of each two penny weight; Anniseed, Cinnamon, Saffron, Mastick of Chius, each one penny weight; Myrthita, which the Apothecaries call Turpeth, eight penny weight; Rhubarb, ten penny weight, Scammony as it is usually prepared, four penny weight, the purest Sugar 190 penny weight, make up all with that and make Troches (as the Greeks call them from the form) each three drams weight, where you have need of them, give one for this disease. Another An∣tidote: Take Rhubarb, Saffron, Scammony, Wormseed, Dittany of Crete, each two penny weight, the best Sugar eighty penny weight, make them up with Grass-water, and make Tro∣ches; one penny weight of this is given to Infants without danger, being dissolved in Grass-water▪ The powder I use is good, and a powder thus prepared: Take Rhubarb, Agarick, Germander,

of each two penny weight, Sea-moss four penny weight, Wormseed and Purslain-seed of each two penny weight, unwashed Aloes six penny weight, give a scruple of this or two oboli in Wine to children safely. Sometimes all these are bruised, and sifted and made into pils with the juyce of Wormwood or Mints, and three of them are swallowed down. Another for the same by ano∣ther Author: Take Harts-horn burnt, the less Centory, Mints, Penniroyal, Water-mints, Worm-wood, Santonicum, Germander, Lupins, of each four penny weight, bring all to very fine powder and give it with Milk, Vinegar, or Oxymel, or any way. Another of the new Writers that is approved: Take Rhubarb, Coriander-seed, Basil-seed, Plantain, Pomgranate pils, Carway-seeds, Sumach, of each two penny weight, Carduus Benedictus seed, shavings of Harts-horn, and of Ivory, of each eight penny weight, the bark of the roots of Mulberries pill'd, Colewort-seeds, Citron Apple∣seeds, bark of Willowes, of each six penny weight, Purslain-seed, Dittany of Crete, four penny weight of each, Pearls, red Coral, of each two penny weight, dry them and bring them to fine powder: one or two drams of this with Wine in winter, and where there is no Feaver, or with Oxycrate in summer or to those that are in a Feaver is safely given. An Antidote that kils Worms, diminisheth a Feaver, and helps against pains of the heart: Take Wormseed, Sea-moss, seed of wilde Smallage, Harts-horn burnt white, of each alike, infuse them all three daies in Vi∣negar, wherein let these things first boyl, Purslain-seed, Sorrel-seed, Sumach, Coriander, Cole∣wort-seed, and a little Myrrhe; then dry them, and add to them Orange-seeds two parts, Citron-seeds one part, make them up with Sugar dissolved in the Wine of Pomgranates, and make morsels, to which you may add some little Cinamon and Musk. But because it hath been seen oft-times that Medicaments outwardly applied have done much good against Worms, it is but reasonable that I should set down the manner of them: For by these we not only defend our bodies, but also we kill the Worms and drive them out dead: wherefore this may suffice * 1.77 that hath: Lupin-meal, less Centory, leaves of Peach-tree and Horehound, bruise them with Posca and lay them to the belly. Another tryed by our newer Physitians: Take the less Centory boyled in the oyl of Peach-kernels, anoint the Navil with this, and it will drive forth the Worms. Another: Tost Barly-bread, and infuse it in Vinegar, then press it out, and infuse it again in the juyce of Peach-leaves, lay it on warm to the belly with a linnen clout. Others mingle Lupine meal. Southernwood and Buls gall. Again: Take Lupine-meal, Centory the less, of each four penny weight, Aloes, Buls gall, of each 4 oboli, make them up with juice of Wormwood, and laid to children very young. Another: Take Wormwood, Gith, ashes of Harts-horn, of each a like quantity, mingle them with Honey and anoint them. Another good for the stomach, that kils Worms, and is good against the belly flux: Take Wormwood, Mints, Roses, Santonicum, Lupin-meal, of each eight penny weight, tosted bread, infused in the sharpest vinegar four penny weight, Buls gall sixteen penny-weight, Mountain-nard, Water-flag, (Gallia called Moschata) Cloves sweet Cane, Nutmeg, Galanga, Carway-seed, of each twelve penny weight; Hippocystis, Acacia, Sumach, of each four penny weight, oyl of Myrrhe, juyce of Mints, and Wax what suf∣ficeth, make a plaister. If there be no Feaver, the navil and thighs are to be anointed with Ho∣ney, in a hot affect with Milk, and then a little Aloes is strewed on, for it wonderfully kils Worms, also the nostrils are profitably anointed with Theriac and Vinegar. A Cerate against Worms out of Paulus: Take Aloes, VVormwood, Lupin-meal, Seriphium, Gith, of each six scruples, VVax an ounce and half, oyl of Camomel what may suffice, make them up being bruised dry with Buls gall. Another out of Aetius: Lupin-meal, VVormwood in powder, Barley in fine powder, of each seven penny weight; Buls gall, eight penny weight; rasping of Harts-horn, four penny weight; VVax, twenty six penny weight; weak oyl, twelve penny weight. Another approved: Take Aloes half an ounce, Saffron two oboli, juyce of Pomecitrons as many drams, mingle them with sweet white VVine, and apply them to the heart. Another approved: Take Buls gall, 30 pen∣ny weight, choise Frankincense 128 penny weight, Strong-water 2 heminae, distil, all these chy∣mically and in a glass vessel covered with VVax, keep what comes forth, and use it when occa∣sion is. Another very excellent, that kils and casts forth the Worms: Take VVormwood, Gentian, Centory the less, bark of the roots of Mulberies, Bay-berries wit•• the kernels taken forth, bark of the roots of the Pomgranate-tree, Ash-root pils, of each 16 penny weight; Marjoram 14 penny weight; Southernwood Aloes, Myrrhe, Agarick, of each 12 penny weight, Dittany of Crete, Germander, Savin, of each 8 penny weight; Poly-mountain, Grass-roots, each 10 penny weight; Staechas, Chamaedrys, Chamaepity, Pomecitron-seed, each 6 penny weight; ashes of Harts-horn, Santonicum, 4 penny weight, Coloquintida-seed, 2 penny weight, Buls gall 24 penny weight, the sharpest Vinegar 1 hemina and 3 cyathi, a gallon of bitter oyl of unripe Olives, and 6 heminae; let the dry things be beaten into most fine powder, and mingle them ten daies together, on the eleventh day let them boyl in a double vessel until the Vinegar be consumed; when these are cold, add one hemina of oyl of Bayes, bitter Almonds, and Peach-kernels, of each beaten 24 penny weight; all these, as the former, must be put into a glass ves∣sel, and be distilled. Another most excellent and sure: Take Peach-kernels, Garlick, Earth-worms washed in Vinegar, of each 24 penny weight; Gentian, Dittany of Crete, Grass-roots, and Pio∣ny, pils of Mulberry roots pilled, of each 52 penny weight, Saffron, sweet Cane, Cloves, Aloes, Calbanes, Coloquintida, Ginger, Nutmegs, Cassia, long Pepper, Frankincense, fruit of Balsome, red Coral, of each 8 penny weight; the best Theriack 12 penny weight, Mints, Wormwood, Centory the Less, Peach-tree leaves, headed Leeks, Penniroyal, Calamints, Plantain, Rue, black

Horehound, Bay-leaves, Sage, Marjoram, Betony, Scordium, Orange-pils, and bark of Mul∣berry roots, of each 16 penny weight; seeds of wilde Smallage, Purslain, Radish, Coleworts, San∣tonicum, Plantain, headed Leeks, sea Mosse, garden Smallage, (that is, Parsly) each 12 penny weight; the sharpest Vinegar, juyce of Quinces, of each one hemina; oyl of Mastick, Spike, liquid Bitumen, (they call it Petroleum) oyl of Bayes, of each 16 penny weight; the oldest Oyl, or oyl omphacine, 8 heminae; beat the dry things to powder, and mingle them, and in a glased vessel set them under Horse-dung for a moneth, then boyl them in a double vessel to thirds, strain them when they are cold, and straining them out forcibly, keep in a glass, what comes forth for your use. But employ it thus: first anoint the temples, then the nostrils, next that the spondyls of the neck, four of them next the throat, then anoint the pulses of the arms, next to that the stomach, I mean by the stomach the mouth of the ventricle, taking the word stomach improperly, for properly it signifies the throat; wherein I must not passe over the error of our new Physicians, who in affects of the mouth of the stomach, lay their remedies upon the back over against it, which is both contrary to Galen, and also to reason, 3. & 10. de m••rb. cur. libro. yet I believe Thomas Linacer did not rightly inter∣pret that place, if I be not mistaken, who was indeed otherwise a very learned man, and most skilful in the interpretation of Authors; but it may be that Greek Book was faulty, or for some other reason. Also it seems agreeing to reason, that for affects of the mouth of the sto∣mach, the remedies should be applied before, immediately under that round gristle, which they call the shield or sword-fashion gristle, for at this place the mouth of the stomach best receives the force of Cataplasms and Cerats, forasmuch as there are no bones to keep it off, but the properly called stomach, that is, the throat is fenced with most strong bones, as un∣der a fence; for it hath the brest bones before, and the back behinde. But this is spoken by the by. Now between the wetting of one place, and of another, we must stay so long as a man might walk about 40 paces; and when these places are wet, we must use more distance of time, when we anoint the reins and the navil. And these three remedies are so certain, that unless a childe be ready to die, he will recover from the point of death only by anointing these parts. That which is called the broad Worm abounds in those that have no Feaver, and breeds * 1.78 in long during diseases. The method to cure these is the same as for round Worms. For bitter and sharp potions are most in use, and to eat Garlick or Calamint, Dittany or Penniroyal; we must eat Garlick largely for three daies, and old soft Cheese. Next let a man eat of Mace∣donian Fern dried and powdred and sifted, 8 penny weight, with as much Honey as he please; af∣ter four hours give the patient Aloes, and Scammony, of each one half dram, in Honey-water 4 cyathi, when he begins to rise to stool, set hot water under; Also give water to drink in which Lupins, or the bark of Mulberry-tree is boyled, or to which there is added a sawcer full of Pepper, or bruised Hysop, and a little Scammony: or else after the eating of Garlick we speak of, let him vomit, and the next day let him gather as many Pomgranate roots as he can hold in his hand, and bruise them and boyl them in 3 sextarii of water, to a third part remai∣ning, * 1.79 let him put a little Nitre to this and drink it fasting; three hours then past, let him take two Potions either of water or salt pickle added to it; Then pour forth the hot water into a bason, as I said: also give Earth-worms to drink, for they are exceeding good. But the juyce of mouse-ear is proper for them, drank two cyathi with one cyathus of Ale: for it quickly drives forth the broad Worms. But this remedy following must first be drank; nor is it thought un∣fit for those that have Worms, especially if they have no Feaver. Out of Paulus. It consists of red Nitre, Pepper, Cardamoms, of each equall parts, mingle all these and give of them a spoonfull in Wine or hot Water, for it quickly brings them out.

Another, which is an Electuary of Paulus. Take Pepper, Bay-berries cleansed, Aethiopian Cumin, Mastick of Chios, of each alike, Honey what may serve turn, give one spoonfull in the morning, and let them sleep upon it; but if you would do this more effectually, adde Nitre as much as of each. Another of the same. T••ke Fern a sawcer-full, Nitre two peny weight, give it with a spoonfull of water, after evacuation, but it is better to adde a little Scammony to it. Another of the same, and of Aetius. Take of the bark of the root of a sowre Pomegranate, scraped from the upper part, Pepper, of each four peny weight, Cardamoms six peny weight, Horehound two penny weight, the best Honey what is sufficient, give one spoonfull of it after eating Garlick or Leeks. But that the disease may be wholly driven away, give some Theriac, for Galen highly commends it for this use. Another out of Oribasius, that he alwayes used by the experience of his masters, and had a long time proved it for good. It contains Scammony one Scruple, Euforbium as much and half as much, the powder of burnt feathers one scruple, Nitre in weight one Siliqua, give this to drink in honey'd or sweet wine. But it will fall out better if he first eat Garlick or some sharp thing. Also here is a Plaister of another Author, that is good against all Worms, especially broad ones. Take Lupines, Bay-berries cleansed, Bulls gall, lay these on the navel, and binde it on with a swathe∣band for one day and night, or else for two or three dayes. Against broad Worms from another Authour. Take Southern-wood, scraped Harts-horn, Coccus gnidius, and Sesamum, of each one penny weight, Cardamoms three oboli, give this to drink with Oxymel. Another for the same use. Take Gum Arabick, one peny weight, Fern three peny weight, Cardamoms one peny weight, Nitre three peny weight, give it in Hydromel or Ale. Also against the same, is the Antidote called Dia∣phereon. Take Fern eight peny weight, Scammony, Gith, Cardamoms, salt Nitre, of each two peny

weight, give it in Oxymel or Ale, but adde Polypode four peny weight. It is reported, that Asca∣rides will trouble children, and such as are come to their full growth. But children are continually provoked to excretion, and after egestion they are the better most commonly, but those that are come to their full growth, observing the trouble of such things that are the cause of them, will thrust their fingers into their fundaments, and pull them forth, and further they will foment and abate these biting pains, with peble-stones that lie in the Sun on the shores, or else with stones put into the fire. But some for fear will admit of none of these helps; yet this disease ought not to be neglected, for Worms will not easily yeeld to remedies, nor are they easily driven forth, but by strong means. Wherefore children must be purged with Suppositars made of Honey and a little salt, or Nitre, or sharp pickle, or with the decoction of Wormwood mingled with Oyl. Also there ought to be a stronger purging, and when they have voided their excrements, the Longanum, which is the place affected, must be anoynted with it. As for Simples, they are Acacia, Hypocistis, the juice of Sumach, with liquid Allome or Nitre, but the Compounds are the Troches of Andron, and those that are called Sphragides polydiae, and with fat Wooll and such like; for the flesh is made stronger by Astringents, and loseth its readinesse to breed living Creatures, and thrusts forth the Ascarides. Andron his Troches are made thus. Take flowers of Garden Pomegranates ten peny weight, Galls eight peny weight, Myrrhe four peny weight, long Birthwort, and as much Vitriol, Saffron, scistil Allum, dregs of the Oyl of Saffron, Mysi, Frankincense, of each two peny weight, they are powdered and mingled with astringent wine, or with Vinegar. But Sphragis polydiae is thus. Take scistil Allum three peny weight, Frankincense four peny weight, Myrrhe as much, or eight peny weight, Vitriol two peny weight, flowers of tame Pomegranates twelve peny weight, Bulls gall six peny weight, Aloes eight peny weight, make them up with sharp wine: But that which is made with fat Wooll is thus made. Take fat Wooll forty peny weight, lead powder, shales of Bi∣tumen, of each ten peny weight, round scissil Allum, Pomegranate shells, Galls, Mysi, Vitriol, Frankincense, of each five peny weight, Myrrhe two peny weight, lees of Oyl eight Heminae. Those that are of riper years must be purged with sharper and hotter remedies, as with Diapicra, and with Oyl mixt with wine, in great quantity, and other things infused, as salt pickle, the decoction of Centaury, with Nitre and Honey, or Coloquintida, Chamaeleon, Anchusa, Lupins; then Oyl of Cedar must be given in Clyster, and after that rest; often repeating the same method of cure, al∣so take salt flesh, scraping away the fat, and cut it long and round, and thrust that into the Anus, and binde it in, to hold it there so long as may be, and then lose it, and in ject again the foresaid things, and let us often repeat the same remedies.

CHAP. XXXIV.

Of Worms that breed without the Bowels, and chiefly of Maggots.

THE living Worms that are bred in the head, the brain, the liver, milt, bladder, reins, muscles, proceed from the same causes Worms in the guts doe, and are destroyed by the same reme∣dies. But those Worms Hippocrates calls Eulas, the English call Maggots or Gentils, they are Worms without feet, not unlike to Ascarides, but that they are shorter a little, and thicker considering their length: There is no man almost that hath not seen these in Carrion and corrupt flesh, and sometimes in limbs that are dead by the negligence of Chirurgions, when as they apply a remedy that putrefies together with the wound or ulcer. Hippocrates calls Eulas Worms bred in dead bo∣dies. Suidas calls them ill beasts, fl••sh-eaters. Lucretius calls them cruel Vermin, and Plutarch, Worms from corruption and putrefaction of the excrements boyling forth. Homer in his Iliads, 19 and 24. saith they are Worms arising from putrid matter, that are far smaller in the ears than in other ulcers: And Coelius writes, that they are called Eulae, which Latin writers call improperly Ear∣moths, since they agree with them neither in form nor figure nor in any mark whatsoever. Last∣ly, those small Worms that breed from Flies egges in flesh, in Summer, (the English call them Flie∣blowes, and the Germans Maden) as Camersius observed, are reckoned amongst Eulae or Maggots. But those Eulae or Maggots that breed in Hogs flesh or Bacon, have a proper name given them by Festus and Perottus, who call them Tarni, Maggots. Have either a tayl, or they are without a tayl: Hens feed on both kindes of them, and so it is likely other Birds doe. To make a woman conceive Hippocrates prescribes three or four parts of those that have tayls, bruised with Origanum and Oyl of Roses, to be laid to the mouth of the matrix. In his first de morb. mulier. and in another place of the same book, he bids apply with Wooll the heads of these Worms mingled with the Secondine of a woman, and Allum of Egypt, and goose grease.

It is reported that Democrates of Athens, when he was a youth, and was sick of the Falling sick∣nesse, went to Delphos, and enquired of Apollo, what he would advise him to take against this trou∣blesome disease, and that Apollo answered;

Take the greatest Maggot you can finde In a wilde Goats head and fast binde That in a sheep-skin, &c▪

Democrates having heard the answer of Apollo, he repaired to Theognostus Democratius, who was then ninety yeers old, and he wondring at the providence of God, expounded this Oracle that was so doubtfull: Saith he, by nature the head of a wilde Goat is full of abundance of Worms, neer to the basis of the brain, and when he neeseth, many Worms fly forth at his nostrils; you must therefore lay a garment under the Goat, that these Worms may not touch the ground, but that you may catch them before, and so taking one or two of them, put it into a black Sheep-skin and binde it to your tender neck, and this saith he, is a natural remedy against this disease. These things are good against Maggots bred in ulcers and wounds in man or beast. First cleanse the parts af∣fected, with the gall of Frogs, the juice of Celandine, Sea water, or brackish water, with the de∣coction of Honey, Worm-wood, Horehound, Peach-leaves, Groundsel, juice of Betes, and Wine; then to kill the Worms, strew on Pepper, Salt Peter, or Allum in powder, Hellebore, Henbane, round Birthwort, Vitriol, or wash the fore-places with the juice of river Calamint, or the decocti∣on of Centaury, or with the juice of Leeks or Horehound. Johannes Agricola prescribes Bugloss, but Pliny preferres Aristolochia with Honey; and Paracelsus commends juice of Celandine. Mon∣tanus commends Nitre before all other things. Vegetius bids to wash the ••ores early in the morning with cold water, and to drench them throughly, for he affirms, that the Worms by this means will be so contracted with cold that they will soon fall down. Aetius commends Poly, and Worm-wood mingled with Pitch, and he commends the anoynting of the parts with fasting spittle. Hildegardis strews on the pith of Smallage, the shell of a Tortoise, Bees that are dead in the Hive, the leaves and the bark of the Plum-tree, powdered and sprinkled on the ulcers. Bayrus applies quick lime tempered with the sharpest Vinegar. The places where the Worms are being sprinkled with the juice of Hippia, will be presently cured, saith Tardinus; but what this Hippia is, no man hath de∣termined: Some think it is wilde Tansey, some say 'tis Potentilla; Gesnerus understands it to be Chickweed, which by its sharp and Nitrous faculty (as the Betes have) kills all the Worms.

CHAP. XXXV.

Of Nits.

NIts in the Greek are called Dorcas and Cumidas, the Italians call them Lendine, the Spaniards * 1.80 Liende, the Germans Niss, the English Nits, the Muscovites call them Guida. These are lit∣tle white living creatures, most like to Syrones, if they had but feet, but they are twice almost as small; and their body is somewhat long, out of which Aristotle saith that nothing else can breed: Crackt between the nails they make a noyse and die, they are not found only in the hair and eye-browes of men, but they abound also in the hair of Oxen and Cattel that are lean, and wanting feet, yet they will stick so fast sometimes, that you may as easily pull off the hair by the roots as pluck them off. Trotul•• not improperly calls them 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, hair-eaters, for as Snails live on the juice of herbs, so these live on the moysture of the hairs, and feed thereon. The Philosopher * 1.81 affirms, that they proceed from the copulation of Lice, and therefore are called their egges. They are like to the flowers of Jesemine that grows with us. For as Jesmine brings flowers without ••e••d, so Lice bring forth egges without young ones in them. They die either for want of nourishment, or * 1.82 by using a Comb with close teeth, or by the use of such Medicaments as the old and new Phy∣sicians prescribe abundantly. Pliny mingleth Allum with Vinegar, or Vinegar with gall of a Calf, and also ••aith, they are killed with Goats milk. Also he commends Nitre mingled with Terra Sa∣mia and smeered on, and the powder of Harts-horn drank in wine. Abenzoar prescribes, to anoynt the hair with the lesser Centaury, and Alkitrum. Brimstone in Vinegar takes away Nits, as also Oyl mingled with Lie. Marcellus doth very much commend Hogs dung mingled with wine and juice of Roses; also to anoynt with Honey and Sal Armeniack, but chiefly Oyl of Radishes with a strong lie. Hildegardis provides a lie made of Date-stones, which being mingled with Oyl of Radish roots, will kill the Nits. Ardonus mingles some sublimate of Quick-silver with spirit of wine: And he saith also, that if the head be first wet with a Hens egge, and then with the juice of Sow-bread, or Sea-water, that the〈…〉〈…〉 will never breed again. Gilbert an English man highly commends the gall of any Creature, as also all bitter things, cleansers, and Aromatical Drugs, with the juice of Marigolds.

CHAP. XXXVI.

Of Aureliae, and a Wood-worm called Teredo, without feet.

THat which the Latins call Aurelia, the Greeks call 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the name is borrowed from the gol∣den * 1.83 colour which appears in most of them. It hath no mouth, nor yet any apparent parts, nor doth it void any excrements, nor yet eat, or move, unlesse it be moved by some body, or hurt. That which Pliny writes, that a Chrysallis hath a hard body, I think that is meant in respect of a

Catterpillar. But that which he addes that it will move if a Spider touch it, though I know this to be true by experience, yet I doubt he borrowed those words from the Philosopher, and inter∣preted them amisse. For the sense seems to be thus. They move if they be touched, and they are cove∣red with p••••es like to Cobwebs. Aristotle speaks nothing here of a Spider passing over them, as Pliny seems to translate it. Aristotle shuts the Aureliae not only out of the number of Insects, but also of living Creatures, and determins them to be as it were the Caterpillars egges. But what agreement is here with an egge? That is laid by another living Creature, and is void both of actual life and motion. The Aurelia is laid by none, but is changed from one to another, for it changeth its former shape into another shape, and retains both life and motion, not in possibi∣lity of being, but actually. But that doth not take away the life of it, because it neither eats, nor increaseth, for Dormice sleep all the Winter and eat nothing. The life of it doth resem∣ble that sleep which is partly waking, wherein men are not properly awake, nor yet asleep; but are alive, and move a little. But I conjecture that the Philosopher wrote this, that he might confirm that Axiome of his to credulous posterity, that all Insects either lay egges or little Worms. His words are these. Insects first breed Worms, but that which is called Chrysallis, is an Egge, and afterwards from this is bred a living Creature, that at the third changing hath the end of its ge∣neration. Yet it is manifest enough by what I said before, that an Aurelia is no Egge, and it ought not to be called a generation, but a transmutation of a Caterpillar into this, and of this into a Butterflie. I say this for that purpose, that such as adore Aristotle for a God, may re∣member that he was but a man, and that he was subject to humane errors. There are two kindes of Aurelias that I have seen, some are downy, and others smooth, both are of divers * 1.84 colours, and sometimes they are Gold coloured, which are the true Chrysallides, and others that are but bastard ones, are without any colour of Gold. They have their Original from the death of the Catterpillars, which as they do waste by degrees in certain dayes, so by degrees * 1.85 their covering grows continually more hard, and changeth into an Aurelia. These again the next Spring or Autumn, by degrees losing their life, a Butterflie comes forth of them that is bred by the like metamorphosis. What use they serve for, for the good of man kinde, I am * 1.86 wholly ignorant of. I know well enough how much they perplexed Aristotles wit by their won∣derfull * 1.87 transmutation; and they set forth to us the boundlesse power of Almighty God.

George Agricola only propounds to us the Teredo without feet, which from the brasen colour of it, he call Kupter-worm: It creeps like a Serpent, saith he, because it wants wings and feet. It is as thick as a small Goose quill, and it is as long as a Scolopendra: It is round, and breeds under rotten wood, and sometimes found hard by the Scolopendra, or long Ear-wig. You may easily finde the figure of it placed amongst the Scolopendrae.

CHAP. XXXVII.

Of Water Insects without feet, and first of the Shrimp or Squilla.

WEE said before that all water Insects were with feet or without feet. Some of those that have feet, swim with six feet, as the Lobster, the Shrimp, the lake Scorpion, the Evet, and the Sea-lowse; others with four feet, some with more. We shal treat of them se∣verally. The Squilla an Insect differs but little from the fish Squilla, but that it hath the sail-yards much shorter, and a more red colour, or rather a more earthly colour. Some of these are covered with a thin shell, and some again are smooth and naked. Those with shells live chiefly in small Brooks, and stick to the roots of Reeds or water-flags: They are of a yellowish colour, and sometimes of a white or Ash-colour. They go only with six feet, the rest that are joyned to them, serve in stead

[illustration]

of fins. The naked ones are either soft or hard. The soft ones are represented well e∣〈…〉〈…〉ough by this figure, only suppose their heads to be of a bright Bay colour, and their body died with a dark Ash-colour. All those that are covered with a hard crust are made with joynts, but some have round joynts, others o∣ther fashions. The form of the round joynted is exactly represented here, if you sup∣pose him to be easily dyed with a lighter red. And such is the colour of the first and

[illustration]

second that are not round joynted. The third kinde is black upon the back, and with a brown belly; but they are all with a forked mouth, and that will hold fast what is applyed to it. The fourth kinde moves it self with the three former feet, and useth the rest that hang by in stead of Oares. The neck of it, and the sailyards, and the nippers are of a watry red colour, the body is brownish or more Ash coloured. The fifth hath a very black head, and the body like to a Pomegranate shell. The sixth seems to be cruel, and in the same form you see it, of an Ash-colour. All of them have 〈…〉〈…〉ard eyes, and black, covered over with a membrane shining like unto glasse, which move continu∣ally almost, like to the ears of four-footed beasts. They leap quickly one upon the other as the Fishes Squillae doe in coupling, and when they grow bold and have liber∣ty, they fill the Females with young. The time when they are ready for this is signified by a gentle biting: The Female takes hold with her mouth, and what she layes hold on she kills, and gives part of it to her companion; for they couple at the mouth, as Crabs and Lobsters doe. But what use they serve for in physick, I cannot finde either in writers or from Empiricks, who either knew not these Squillae, or thought them not worthy to say any thing of them. Yet this is certain, that in April and May there is no better bait to catch Fish with.

CHAP. XXXVIII.

Of the Locust, Scorpion, Notonectum, the Grashopper, the Wasp, the forked Claw, the Newt, the little Heart, and the Lowse, all Water-Insects.

THE Insect-Locust, is like the Lobster, for that cannot be called either flesh or fish: you see the figure of it: it is of a pale green colour: I have seen three kindes of Lake Scor∣pions, and I have them by me: the first is somewhat black, the other two are like to white

[illustration]

sand: we call some Insects of

[illustration]

the water Noton••cta, which do not swim upon their bellies as the rest do, but upon their backs, from whence it is pro∣bable that men learned the art of swimming upon their backs also. Some of these have eyes, shoulders, and bodies all black, some are green, some are fiery coloured, and some pitch co∣loured. For you shall seldom see two of them of the same colour; nature hath so vari∣ously sported her self in ador∣ning them. Water-Grashoppers hold the for••h described, but their eyes are extreme black, and their bodies are ash colou∣red. The Wasp hath a brow∣nish body all over, except the black eyes. The Forked Claw hath almost the same colour, but it is more full, it seems to want eyes, but it hath them hid within, whereby it both sees and perceives the object. The Lizard is of divers colours, and delights in catching Fish, it is common about the British shores, where it lyeth in wait to catch Fish. The Corculus hath the just fashion of a heart, the feet and head being taken away; it hath very little black eyes, and six legs of the same colour, & each with two clawes. The Sea-Lowse is an Insect that is an enemy to all kinde of Whales, which by biting and tickling it puts into such a rage, that they are forced to run upon the sand, and hasten to dry land: I know nothing concerning the use of these creatures; but I seriously ex∣hort posterity to search out the use of them.

CHAP. XXXIX.

Of the Flea or Asellus, and the Scolopendra found in the Sea.

THE Flea, or Sea Asellus is like to a soft Squilla, but it hath but four feet (as I may say by Gesners leave) and by often and long leaps it frees it self from having many feet. It is

[illustration]

called Asellus from its leaping, Aristotle cals it a Flea; from its bunch∣back it is called a Sow: it is of a wan colour with blackness; the length of those that are in rivers is the breadth of ones finger, and their breadth is not above half a finger broad. But the Sea fleas are larger, which when the tyde flowes are seen also oft-times in fresh waters. It shewes a wonderful deal of agility when men strive to catch it, or do but look upon it.

The Sea Scolopendra, sometimes is of a grey colour, and sometimes you shall see others that are more red. These are longer and leaner, that is shorter and thicker. I saw both kindes in the year 1578. in coves of Oysters. For they are not found in the deep sea, as Gesner supposeth, but in the muddy standing waters, where the Oysters are fatted, there they lye hid, are bred, and do live. Numenius warned Fisher-men concerning these, when he said;

See therefore that you let not ingender, The stupid Julii or deadly Scolopender.

They are as Aristotle writes lesse than the land Scolopendras, but not differing in their form. Nonus the Physitian makes of these a remedy to hinder hair from growing, or a depilatory, and highly commends it in his 34. Chapter. Take Frankincense, Vitriol, of each two ounces, sea Scolopenders three ounces, grinde them all well, and mingle them with the powder of Quick-lime, then pull out the hairs first, and anoynt the places with that.

CHAP. XL.

Of Water Insects without feet, and first of Oripes.

NO Philosopher that understands as he should, will deny but that snow is water turned to froth, by long subliming in the air. In this Worms are bred which the Greeks call 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Aristotle writ something concerning these, which History I will briefly touch. In snow there are bred hairy Worms, very sluggish, and that move slowly, wherefore I reckon them amongst Worms without feet, so soon as they are taken out of the snow they die, as the Worms bred in the fire doe, being taken from thence: with snow that is old and begins to look red, they become red also, but those that are found in new snow are white. It is, saith he, a certain thing that snow can no more corrupt than fire can. And indeed they cannot corrupt, yet in both of them are living Creatures bred, and they are nourished in both. I can∣not in any wise consent to Eustathius the Scholiast upon Homer, who affirms, that snow growes red from Minium, because those places are of a Cinnaberous quality, whence he conceives, that from the vapours rising from Cinnaber, the snow becomes red: I will not deny but that it is so in some places. But whether the Interpreter be pleased or not, we must needs grant that in some places the snow grows red, where no Cinnaber is. Strabo makes mention of such places in these words. In Charzena and the Countrey of Cambicium, and in places neer to the moun∣tains of Caucasus, some little beasts are bred in the deep snow, which Apollonides calls 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and Theophanes 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, Mountain little hairy Worms, like unto the greater Teredines. I think their generation as admirable, as of the fire Worms; yet living Creatures are more easi∣ly bred in snow, than in fire, because in snow there is much air, earth and spirit, all which the fire consumes abundantly. And if the heat of the Sun happen to be with these, I shall use Sca∣ligers words, they make dung that smells the sweetest of all ordure. Also they are bred in a∣bundance in Carinthia, as Joach. Vadianus reports. But Strabo in his Comment upon Pompon. Mel. addes a thing that is admirable, saying that these Worms are full of excellent water, which

Travailers take, by breaking the bladder or coat it is in, and they drink this pressing it forth gently. For it is very wholsome and seasonable when the fountains are troubled, as it falls out often in great snowes.

CHAP. XLI.

Of Horsleeches.

A Blood-sucker or Horsleech, in Latin Hirudo, in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in Hebrew Halukab, in French Sangsue, in Italian Sansuga, in Spanish Sanguisuella, in High-Dutch Ein agel so das blut sauget, in English a Horsleech. These are water Worms that thirst exceedingly after the bloud of living Creatures, and they will fill themselves with it sometimes till they burst and die. Some of them are without any passage through their belly, some are open behinde; we give you the pictures of them here. Europe hath scarce any open behinde, but in America and

[illustration]

India they are common. Those that are not open behinde, are obvious to every man, and when they are filled with bloud, their skin seems checquer'd with fibres. Some of them are of divers colours, some green, black, brown, yet not venomous, only the bright bay and Chesnut colours, that are like to pills of trees. They breed chiefly in standing pools, where Cattel are wont to be watred, for from their feet earth and foulnesse are washed, and fall to the bot∣tome, to say nothing of the sediment of their dung, out of which, that want not vital heat, living Crea∣tures are bred. Once bred, they most greedily thirst after bloud, and therefore they lie in wait in the very entrance of the pools, that they may light upon Horses, Oxen, Elephants, &c. so soon as they come to drink for thirst of cold water. Pliny writes, that they are so troublesome to the Elephant, that the beast is by their tickling and sucking in his snout, al∣most mad; which doth manifestly shew the wonder∣ful power of Insects: For what is there greater then an Elephant? and what is there more contemptible than a Horsleech? Yet the greatnesse and wit of the Elephant must give way and yeeld to this Worm. They feed most on bloud of beasts, and watry bloudy matter; yet when they want sustenance, they still themselves with the filth that riseth from the water. Pliny saith they vanish in the Spring, l. 9. c. 51. but we see that season to be most fit for the breeding of them. And indeed I can see no reason, that when they have overcome the Winters cold, they should not be able to stand out the Springs mildeness. And this we all know, that Horsleeches will die in the Winter, unlesse they be carefully preserved in warm water, and fed with bloud very plentifully. If any man swallow a Horsleech, some perswade us to drink pickle, others snow-water: But Asclepiades bids us first to wash the mouth, and to put a soft Sponge wet in cold water into the mouth, that the Horsleech stick∣ing to the Sponge may be drawn forth. After this he prescribes the juice of Duck-weed, and to cover the neck with cooling plaisters. But Apollonius, whose surname was Mus, gave the sharpest Vinegar with pickle to drink; but those that gave snow, did first warm it, and used it being dissolved, and they did use meat and drink at fit times to make the belly soluble, that they might drive forth the Horsleech, for they report that so they will oft-times come forth with the excrements. Gal. l. 2 de Antidotis. In the dayes of Pliny, wicked men did privily give Horsleeches to their enemies to do them mischief; but Rue with Vinegar, or only Butter, (as a∣gainst all venoms that did exulcerate) were a present remedy, lib. 20. c. 13. and lib. 28. c. 10.

Their use in physick is manifold. For some (I use Galens words, lib. de different. sanguinis detrahen∣di modis, Tract. 10.) take Horsleeches and put them up, and they use them diversly: For when they are made tame they are easily put upon the skin; but those that are taken must be kept one day, and must be fed with a little bloud; and so it will be that whatsoever venome they have in them, they will soon cast forth. But when we have need to use them, that part to which you will apply your Leeches must be first rubbed with Nitre, and must be anoynted, and scratched with your fingers, that by this means they may fasten the more greedily; but you must cast them into warm water that is contained in a large and a clean vessel, then you must lay hold of them with a Sponge, you must cleanse them with your hand from all filth and dirt, and so they will be fit to be applyed. And when you have set them on, lest that part they stick to should grow cold, you must powr on warm Oyl: But if they be to be applyed to your hands or feet, you must thrust them into the warm water that the Leeches are cast into. And if they will not hold ••ast, you must cut off their tails with a pair of Cizzers; for when the bloud so runs forth they will not leave off sucking until you sprinkle salt or ashes upon their mouth: When they are fallen off, that venemous quality they use to leave behinde must be drawn sorth with a Cupping glasse; and if that may not be done, you must use a Sponge to foment the place. And if yet any bloudy drops run forth, apply meal and Cummin, and then binde on some Wooll wet with a little Oyl. But if yet the bloud will not stop, lay on a linnen clo〈…〉〈…〉et in Vinegar, or burnt glasse, or a Sponge first put into liquid pitch, and afterwards burnt. And this also you must ob∣serve, that Leeches draw that bloud that is next the flesh, and not that which is contained in the Centre of the body. Men use them commonly in stead of Cupping glasses. Mark also that you must take them off when they have drawn half the bloud. And you must beware that the bloud run not forth so long, untill it be sufficient: For the part it self will grow cold, both by rea∣son of the Leeches that are naturally cold, and because of the air that compasseth us about. So far Galen. But Cardan bids us not to anoynt the place with Nitre, but with milk, that they may fasten the sooner; and withall to pinch the Leech close, that striving for revenge he may open the vein, lib. 7. de rer. var. c. 28. What help they were to Dionysius the Tyrant of Heracleot〈…〉〈…〉 we may read in Histories, who representing rather a beast than a man, sor he died with a might•• great paunch, had been eaten by the Worms long before, unlesse Horsleeches had been applyed to both his sides, and drawn forth daily some quantity of the humours he was charged with. It were too tedious to reckon up all the melancholique and mad people, that have been cured by applying Leeches to the Hemorrods in their fundaments. Yet I may not over-passe the Noble Richard Cavendish, (the most learned Unkle by the fathers side of that famous Navigator through the world Thomas Cavendish) who was perfectly cured of his Gowt that had held him many years, only by applying Horsleeches to the Emrods in Ano every moneth, so that now to the great wonder of all the Court, he walks alone without any help, and being sound and void of all pain, he lives an old man. Also Horsleeches set upon the fundament, will so wonderfully pluck back the humours that run from the whole body to the joynts, that they will presently ease the pains like a Charm. This I proved at Lions upon an excellent Musitian, one Rosolus; who for the great pains he endured, and by continual waking, fell into a burning Feaver, with raving, in the Dog-dayes, at which time Hippocrates saith it is dangerous to purge. It is in this case such a re∣medy, that it is to be preferr'd before all others, for they draw from the whole body without any trouble or losse of a mans forces. Jac. Aubert. Exercit. 50. progymnasm. Fernel. Abdit. God∣fridus a Cenami, a Venetian, a famous man, and my very great friend, for just and lawfull causes, who told me that he saw one who had the joynt Gowt, who lived many years free of all his pains, only by applying Leeches to the part that was in pain. Math. de Grad. and Savanrola, Ja∣cob Dournet, Apolog. lib. c. 3. perswade the same remedy. Also Gilbertus Anglicus reports, that the Lowsie disease generally is to be cured with the ashes of Horsleeches boyled with Storax: For they are not only usefull for men whilest they are alive, but when they are dead and burnt to ashes. Pliny reports, lib. 32. c. 7. that Horsleeches will black ones hair, if they be corrupted in black wine for sixty dayes: Others bid us take one fextarius of Leeches, and let them lie to cor∣rupt in two sextarii of Vinegar, in a leaden vessel for so many dayes, and then to anoynt with them in the Sun. Sornatius relates, that this medicament is of so great force, that ulesse they hold Oyl in their mouths that die the hair, it will also black their teeth. Meges writes, that live Frogs putrefied in Vinegar, will take off the hair, but the ashes of Leeches anoynted with Vi∣negar will doe the same.

CHAP. XLII.

Of Water-worms.

[illustration]

IN waters both salt and fresh, great and small Worms will breed of putrefaction, especially in Summer, very like Earth-worms, but they want that knot or chain about their necks: Also they are by far more sharp and lean; oft-times they lie in the sand, and they cast up earth out of their holes, as Earth-worms do: In sweet waters that are standing, and not deep, there is found a kinde of Worms of a full red, that resemble in shape the Teredo without feet, but that they have greater heads. Their tail is forked, whereby they stay themselves, till lifting up their heads they may finde a place to fasten the rest of their body, and so they creep upon the mud and stones, and so they move in a brandishing manner crookedly. In Summer, when it is clear weather and hot, they come forth together in great numbers, but if the mud move never so little they presently withdraw themselves. The English call them Summer-worms, either because they are seen only in Summer, or they die in Winter. In the Mediterranean Sea there is a round Worm found as great as a great Snake, and of the same colour, but it hath neither head nor tayl, as Weckerus observes. Some∣times it is twenty foot long. What may be the use or na∣ture of these I have not yet observed. But I hope that o∣thers will discover that light that shal shew us both. Yet this is certain, that those Worms serve for baits to catch Fish, espe∣cially those small red ones, and Fisher-men diligently seek after them for that purpose. We call them Water-worms, because as Earth-worms will not live long in water, so Wa∣ter-worms put upon dry land soon die, they wanting Air, and these for want of water.

FINIS.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Name.
• * 1.2

  The differen∣ces.
• * 1.3

  Edward Moni∣〈…〉〈…〉▪ Beresish, lib. 5.
• * 1.4

  The Name.
• * 1.5

  Green 5.
• * 1.6

  Yellowish are 3.
• * 1.7

  Vinula.
• * 1.8

  Dark 2.
• * 1.9

  Various co∣loured 10.
• * 1.10

  Signs of a Pine Catter∣piller drank and the cure.
• * 1.11

  Ionas.
• * 1.12

  See Joach. Ca∣merarius.
• * 1.13

  The Name.
• * 1.14

  The Name.
• * 1.15

  [illustration]
• * 1.16

  The Us••.
• * 1.17

  The Name.
• * 1.18

  The De∣scription.
• * 1.19

  Lib. 11. c. 25.
• * 1.20

  Lib. 19 c. 4.
• * 1.21

  Their Gene∣ration.
• * 1.22

  Nature.
• * 1.23

  L. 10. c. 12.
• * 1.24

  Their Food.
• * 1.25

  Their Use.
• * 1.26

  Their use in Physick.
• * 1.27

  Preventions against the stinging of Scorpions,
• * 1.28

  Cure-of the stingings of Scorpions.
• * 1.29

  The Name.
• * 1.30

  The differen∣ces.
• * 1.31

  The difference of Phalangia and descripti∣on.
• * 1.32

  Signs of the bitings of Phalangia.
• * 1.33

  This is the sense of Galen, but not the same words.
• * 1.34

  The cure.
• * 1.35

  The praise of the house Spi∣der taken from the bo∣dy of it.
• * 1.36

  The praise of the house Spi∣der from the goods of For∣tune.
• * 1.37

  Prayses of the Spider from the gifts of her minde.
• * 1.38

  Generation.
• * 1.39

  Copulation.
• * 1.40

  The use.
• * 1.41

  Their praise from their minde.
• * 1.42

  Their Physi∣call use.
• * 1.43

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.44

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.45

  Termes.
• * 1.46

  Cossus.
• * 1.47

  These three were found in rotten logs.
• * 1.48

  I found this in the root of a great Mallow, it feeds on earth-worms, biting them continually, and sucking them till they be dry.
• * 1.49

  Fig-tree Worms.
• * 1.50

  A Lowse.
• * 1.51

  The Name.
• * 1.52

  Description of their differen∣ces.
• * 1.53

  Causes of a general lowsie disease.
• * 1.54

  L. de Plant. c. 2.
• * 1.55

  Prevention and Cure.
• * 1.56

  Use of Lice.
• * 1.57

  The Use.
• * 1.58

  L. 9. subtil.
• * 1.59

  Exer. 94. n. 8. ad subtil. Car∣dan. 23.
• * 1.60

  In Navig. hist.
• * 1.61

  The Use.
• * 1.62

  The Name.
• * 1.63

  The Descrip∣tion.
• * 1.64

  Remember the Cook o•• Q••een Mark that cast out a Scolo∣pendra by her nostrils, &c. Mr. Crane.
• * 1.65

  See de Vera M••d••nd.
• * 1.66

  Use.
• * 1.67

  Signs of broad Worms.
• * 1.68

  Ascarides.
• * 1.69

  Prognosticks.
• * 1.70

  The cure.
• * 1.71

  A general cure of Worms.
• * 1.72

  Simple hot medicaments against Worms out of Diosco∣rides, Celsus, Pliny, Sc••ibo∣nius, Largus, Galen, Oribasi∣us, Paulus, Aetius.
• * 1.73

  Cold Simples against Worms.
• * 1.74

  Simples seve∣rally that bring forth Worms round, Ascarides, and broad Worms.
• * 1.75

  The methodi∣cal Cure of round Worms, chiefly out of Paulus and Aetius.
• * 1.76

  Compound in∣ternal Reme∣dies to kill and sorce out Worms.
• * 1.77

  Compound ex∣ternal Medica∣ments against Worms.
• * 1.78

  The Cure of broad Worms, chiefly out of Celsus, Oribasi∣us, Scribonius, Paulus, and Actius.
• * 1.79

  Victoriatus, is a piece of Mo∣ney of 3 oboli, or half a dram.
• * 1.80

  The Name and Descrip∣tion.
• * 1.81

  Their Origi∣nall.
• * 1.82

  Their End.
• * 1.83

  The Name and Descrip∣tion.
• * 1.84

  The kindes.
• * 1.85

  Their Origi∣nall.
• * 1.86

  Their End.
• * 1.87

  Their Use.