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 picture of the Lizard with the belly upward.

[illustration]

In Sarmatia, a Countrey of the Rutenes, there is a Province called Samogithia, wherein the Lizards are very thick, black, and great, which the foolish Countrey people do worship very familiarly, as the Gods of good fortune; for when any good befalleth them, they entertain them with plentiful banquets and liberal chear: but if any harm or mischance happen unto them, then they withdraw that liberality, and intreat them more coursely, and so these dizzardly people think to make these Li∣zards by this means, more attentive and vigilant for their welfare and prosperity.

In the Proyince of Cataia, subject to the Tartars, there are very great Lizards, (or at least wise Serpents like Lizards) bred, containing in length ten yards, with an answerable and correspondent compasse and thicknesse.

Some of these want their fore-legs, in place whereof they have claws like the claws of a Lyon, or talons of a Falcon. Their head is great, and their eyes are like two great loaves. Their mouth and the opening thereof so wide, as it may swallow down a whole man armed, with great, long, and sharp teeth, so as never any man or other creature durst without terror look upon that Serpent. Where∣fore they have invented this art or way to take them.

The Serpent useth in the day time to lie in the Caves of the earth, or else in hollow places of Rocks and Mountains. In the night time it cometh forth to feed, ranging up and down seeking what it may devour, neither sparing Lyon, Bear, nor Bull, or smaller beast, but eateth all he meeteth with until he be satisfied, and returneth again to his den. Now for as much as that Countrey is very soft and miry: the great and heavy Bulk of this Serpent maketh as it were a Ditch by his weight in the sand or mire, so as where you see the trailing of his body, you would think there had been rowled some great vessel full of Wine, because of the round and deep impression it leaveth in the earth.

Now the Hunters which watch to destroy this beast, do in the day time fasten sharp stakes in the earth, in the path and passage of the Serpent especially neer to his hole or lodging, and these stakes are pointed with sharp Iron, and so covered in the earth or sand, whereby it cometh to passe, that when in his wonted manner he cometh forth in the night season to seed, he unawares fastneth his breast, or else mortally woundeth his belly upon one of those sharp-pointed stakes. Which thing the Hunters lying in wait observing, do presently upon the first noise with their swords kill him if he be alive, and so take out his gall which they sell for a great price, for therewithal the biting of a mad Dog is cured, and a woman in travel tasting but a little of it, is quiclky discharged of her burthen. It is good also against the Hemroids and Piles. Furthermore, the flesh of this Serpent is good to be eat∣en, and these things are reported by Paulus Venetus, and this story following.

As Americus Vesputius sayled in his journey from the Fortunate Islands, he came unto a Countrey where he found the people to feed upon sod flesh, like the flesh of a serpent, & afterwards they found this beast to be in all things like a Serpent without wings, for they saw divers of them alive, taken and kept by the people to kill at their own pleasure. The mouths whereof were fast tyed with ropes, so as they could not open them to bite either man or beast, and their bodies were tyed by the legs. The aspect of these beasts was fearful to his company, and the strangers which did behold it, for they took them to be Serpents, being in quantity as big as Roe-bucks, having long feet and strong claws, a speckled skin, and a face like a Serpent: from the nose to the tip of his tail, all along the back there grew a bristle, as it were the bristle of a Bore, and yet the said Nation feedeth upon them, and because of their similitude with Lizards, I have thought good to insert their relation among the Lizards in this place, leaving it to the further judgement of the Reader, whether they be of this kinde or not.

In C••lechu•• there are Serpents also, or rather beasts remaining in the fenny places of the Counrtey, whose bodies are all pild without hair like Serpents: also in their mouth, eyes, and tail they resem∣ble them, and in their feet Lizards, being as great as Boars, and although they want poyson, yet are

their teeth very hurtful where they fasten them. Like unto these are certain others bred in Hispani∣ola, in an Island called Hyvana, having prickles on their back, and a comb on their head, but with∣out voyce having four feet, and a tail like Lizards, with very sharp teeth. They are not much greater then Hares or Conies, yet they live indifferently in trees, and on the earth, being very patient, and induring famine many days. Their skin smooth and speckled like a Serpents, and they have a crap on the belly from the chin to the breast, like the crap of a Bird.

Besides these, there are also some called Ba••bati, about the bignesse of Conies, and of a white ash colour, yet their skin and tail like a Snakes, and they resemble trapped Horses. They have four feet, and with the foremost they dig them holes in the earth, out of which they are drawn again like Conies to be eaten of men, for they have a pleasant tast. To conclude, we do read that in the year 1543 there came many winged Serpents and Lizards into Germany, neer Syria, and did bite many mortally: And in the year 1551. there were such bred in the bodies of men and women, as we have shewed already in the general discourse of Serpents, first of all recited in the be∣ginning.

In all the nature of Lizards, there is nothing more admirable then that which is reported of them by Aelianus of his own knowledge. When a certain man had taken a great fat Lizard, he did put out her eyes with an Instrument of Brasse, and so put her into a new earthen pot, which had in it two small holes or passages, big enough to take breath at, but too little to creep out at, and with her moist earth and a certain hearb, the name whereof he doth not expresse: and further∣more, he took an Iron Ring, wherein was set an Engagataes Stone, with the Picture of a Lizard in∣graven upon it. And besides, upon the Ring he made nine several marks, whereof he put out every day one until at the last he came at the ninth, and then he opened the pot again, and the Lizard did see as perfectly as ever he did before the eyes were put out: whereof Albertus enquiring the reason, could give none, but having read in Isidorus, that when the Lizards grow old and their sight dim or thick, then they enter into some narrow hole of a Wall, and so set their heads therein, directly looking towards the East or Sun-rising, and so they recover their sight again. Of this Albertus giveth good reason, because he saith, the occasion of their blindenesse cometh from frigidity congealing the hu∣mor in their eyes, which is afterward attenuated and dissolved by the help and heat of the Sun. The voyce of the Lizard is like the voyce of other Serpents, and if it happen that any man by chance do cut the body of the Lizard asunder, so as one part falleth from another, yet neither part dyeth, but goeth away the upon two legs that are left, and live apart for a little season, and if it happen that they meet again, they are so firmly and naturally conjoyned by the secret operation of nature, as if they had never been severed, only the scar remaineth.

They live in caves of the earth, and in graves, and the green Lizards in the fields and Gardens, but the yellowish or earthy brown Lizard among hedges and thorns. They devour any thing that comes to their mouth, especially Bees, Emmets, Palmer-worms, Grassehoppers, Locusts, and such like things, and four months of the year they lie in the earth and eat nothing.

In the beginning of the year about March, they come out again of their holes, and give themselves to generation, which they perform by joyning their bellies together, wreathing their tails toge∣ther, and other parts of their bodies; afterwards the female bringeth forth Egges, which she com∣mitteth to the earth, never sitting upon them, but forgetteth in what place they were laid (for she hath no memory.) The young ones are conceived of themselves by the help of the Sun. Some there be which affirm that the old one devoureth the young ones assoon as they be hatched, except one which she suffereth to live, and this one is the basest and most dullard, having in it least spirit of all the residue: yet notwithstanding, afterwards it devoureth both his parents, which thing is proved false by Albertus, for seeing they want memory to finde out their own Egges, it is not likely that they have so much understanding as to discern their own young ones, nor yet so unnatual as to destroy the noblest of their brood, but rather they should imitate the Crocodile, which killeth the basest and spareth the best spirits.

It is affirmed, that they live but half a year or six months, but it is also false, for they hide them∣selves the four coldest moneths; and therefore it is likely that they live more then six, for else what time should they have for generation? Twice a year they change their skin, that is in the Spring and Autumn, like other Serpents that have a soft skin, and not hard like the Tortoises. Their place of conception and emission of their Egges is like to Birds: and therefore it is a needlesse question to enquire whether they bring egges forth of their mouth or not, as some have foolishly affirmed, but without all warrant of truth or nature.

They live by couples together, and when one of them is taken, the other waxeth mad, and rageth upon him that took it, whether it be male or female: In the Old Testament Lizards, Weasels, and Mice are accounted impure beasts, and therefore forbidden to be eaten, not only because they live in Graves and design inconstancy of life, but also theeves and treatherous persons. They are afraid of every noise, they are enemies to Bees, for they live upon them; and therefore in ancient time they mixed Meal and juyce of Mallows together, and laid the same before the Hives, to drive away Lizards and Crocodiles. They fight with all kinde of Serpents; also they devour Snails, and con∣tend with Toads and Scorpions. The Night-owls and Spiders do destroy the little Lizards, for the Spider doth so long winde her thred about the jaws of the Lizard, that he is not able to open his mouth, and then she fasteneth her stings in her brains. The Storks are also enemies to Lizards, ac∣cording to this saying of the Poet;

—Serpente ciconia pullos Nutrit & inventa per deviarura l••certa.

In English thus;

With Lizards young and Serpents breed, The Stork s••eketh her young ones to feed.

Notwithstanding, that by the law of God, men were forbidden to eat the Lizard, yet the Trogla∣dites, Ethiopians, did eat Serpents and Lizards, and the Amazons did eat Lizards and Tortoises, for in∣deed those women did use a very thin and slender diet; and therefore Coelius doth probably conje∣cture, that they were called Amazons, because Mazis carebant, that is, they wanted all manner of de∣licate fare. We have also shewed already, that the Inhabitants of Dioscorides Isle, do eat the flesh of Lizards, and the fat after it is boyled, they use in stead of Oyl.

Concerning the venom or poyson of Lizards, I have not much to say, because there is not much thereof written: yet they are to be reproved which deny they have any poyson at all, for it is ma∣nifest that the flesh of Lizards eaten, (I mean of such Lizards as are in Italy,) do cause an inflamation and apostumation, the heat of the head-ach, and blindenesse of the eyes. And the Egges of Lizards do kill speedily, except there come a remedy from Faulkons dung and pure Wine. Also when the Lizard biteth, he leaveth his teeth in the place, which continually aketh, until the teeth be taken out: the cure of which wound is first to suck the place, then to put into it cold water, and afterward to make a plaister of Oyl and Ashes, and apply the same thereunto. And thus much for the natural de∣scription of the Lizard.

The medicines arising out of the Lizard, are the same which are in the Crocodile, and the flesh thereof is very hot: wherefore it hath vertue to make fat, for if the fat of a Lizard be mixed with Wheat-〈…〉〈…〉al, Halinitre, and Cumin, it maketh Hens very fat, and they that eat them much fatter: for Gordan saith, that their bellies will break with fatnesse, and the same given unto Hawks, maketh them to change their feathers.

A L••zard dissected, or the head thereof being very well beaten with Salt, draweth out Iron points * 1.1 of nails, and splents out of the flesh or body of man, if it be well applyed thereunto, and it is also said, that if it be mingled with Oyl, it causeth hair to grow again upon the head of a man, where an Ulcer made it fall off. Likewise a Lizard cut a sunder hot, and so applyed, cureth the stinging of Scor∣pions, and taketh away Wens.

In ancient time with a Field-lizard dryed and and cut asunder, and so bruised in pieces, they did draw out teeth without pain; and with one of these sod and stamped, and applyed with Meal or Frankincense to the fore-head, did cure the watering of the eyes.

The same burned to powder, and mixed with Cretick Hony by an Ointment, cureth blindenesse. The Oyl of a Lizard put into the eat, helpeth deafnesse, and driveth out Worms if there be any there∣in. If children be anointed with the bloud fasting, it keepeth them from swellings in the belly and legs: also the liver and bloud lapped up in Wooll, draweth out nails and thorns from the flesh, and cureth all kinde of freckles, according to this verse of Serenus;

Verrucam po••erit sarguis curare Lace••ta.

That is to say;

The bloud of Lizards can, Cure feeckles in a man.

The urine (if there be any at all) helpeth the Rupture in Infants. The bones taken out of the Lizards head in the full Moon, do scarifie the teeth, and the brain is profitable for suffusions: The liver laid to the gums, or to hollow teeth easeth all pain in them. The dung purgeth wounds, and also taketh away the whitenesse and itching of the eyes, and so sharpneth the sight, and the same with water, is used for a salve. Arnoldus doth much commend the dung of Lizards mixed with Meal, the black thereof being cast away, and so dryed in a furnace, and softned again with water of Nitre, and froth of the Sea, afterwards applyed to the eyes in a cloth, is very profitable against all the former evils. And thus much shall suffice to have spoken of the first and vulgar kinde of Lizard: for killing of whom Apollo was in ancient time called Sauroctonos.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Marcellus.