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 ...

Of the TORTOISE.

THe last four-footed Egge-breeding Beast, cometh now to be handled in due order and place; namely, the Tortoise, which I have thought good to insert also in this place, although I cannot finde by reading or experience, that it is venomous, yet seeing other before me have ranged the same in the number and catalogue of these Serpents and creeping creatures, I will also follow them; and therefore I will first expresse that of the Tortoise, which is general and common to both kindes, and then that which is special, and proper to the Land and Sea Tortoises.

The name of this Beast is not certain, among the Hebrews some call it Schabhul, some Kipod, and some Homet; whereas every one of these do also signifie another thing, as Schabhul, a Snail; Kipod, a Hedge-hog; and Homet, a Lizard. The Chaldeans call this Beast Thiblela; the Arabians term it Sise∣mat, also Kau••en salabhafe, and Halachalie; the Italians call this Testuma, testudine, veltestugire, tartuca, ••nsuruma, tartocha, & coforona. And in Ferraria, Gallanae, tartugellae, biscae, scutellariae; the Inhabitants of Taurinum, Cupparia; the Portugals, Gagado; the Spaniards, Galapago, and Tartuga; the French, Tortue, and Tartue; and in Savoy, Boug coupe; the Germans, Schiltkrot, and Tallerkrot; the Flemings, Schilt∣padde, which answereth our English word Shell-crab; the Grecians call it Chelone; and the Latines, Te∣studo: which words in their several languages, have other significations, as are to be found in every vocabular Dictionary, and thefore I omit them, as not pertinent to this businesse or History.

There be of Tortoises three kindes, one that liveth on the land, the second in the sweet waters, and the third in the Sea, or salt waters. There are found great store of these in India, especially of the Water-tortoises, and therefore the people of that part of the Countrey are called Chelonophagi; that is, Eaters of Tortoises, for they live upon them: and these people are said to be in the East∣part of India. And in Carmania the people are likewise so called. And they do not only eat the flesh of them, but also cover their houses with their shells, and of their abundance, do make them all manner of vessels. Pliny and Solinus write, that the Sea-tortoises of India are so big, that with one of them they cover a dwelling Cottage. And Strabo saith, they also row in them on the waters, as in a Boat.

The Island of Serapis in the Red-sea, and the farthest Ocean Islands, toward, the East of the Red-sea, hath also very great Tortoises in it: and every where in the Red-sea they so abound, that the people there do take them and carry them to their greatest Marts and Fairs to sell them, as to Raphtis, to Ptolemais, and the Island of Dioscorides, whereof some have white and small shells. In Lybia also they are found, and in the night time they come out of their lodgings to feed, but very softly, so as one can scarcely perceive their motion.

And of one of these Scaliger telleth this story. One night (saith he) as I was travelling, being overtaken with darknesse and want of light, I cast about mine eyes to seek some place for my lodg∣ing, safe and secure from wilde Beasts; and as I looked about, I saw (as I thought) a little hill or heap of earth, but in truth it was a Tortoise, covered all over with mosse: upon that I ascended and sate down to rest, whereupon after a little watching I fell asleep, and so ended that nights rest upon the back of the Tortoise. In the morning, when light approached, I perceived that I was removed far from the place, whereon I first chose to lodge all night; and therefore rising up, I beheld with great admiration the sace and countenance of this Beast, in the knowledge whereof, (as in a new nature) I went forward, much comforted in my wearisome journey.

[illustration]

The description of the Tortoise and several parts thereof now followeth to be handled. Those creatures (saith Pliny) which bring forth or lay egs, either have feathers as Fowls, or have scales as Serpents, or thick hides as the Scorpion, or else a shell like the Tortoise. It is not without great cause that this shell is called Scutum, and the Beast Scutellaria, for there is no buckler and shield so hard and strong as this is. And Palladius was not deceived when he wrote thereof, that upon the same might safely passe over a Cart-wheel, the Cart being loaded. And therefore in this the Tortoise is more happy then the Crocodile, or any other such Beast.

Albertus writeth that it hath two shels, one upon the back, the other on the belly, which are con∣joyned together in four places, and by reason of this so firm a cover and shell, the flesh thereof is dry and firm, also long lasting, and not very easie or apt to putrefaction. This shell or cover is smooth, except sometimes when it is grown old, it hath mosse upon it, and it never casteth his coat in old age, as other creeping things do. In the head and tail it resembleth a Serpent, and the great Tortoises have also shells upon their heads like a shield, yet is the head but short, and the aspect of it very fearful, until a man be well acquainted therewith. And by reason of the hardnesse of their eyes, they move none but the neather eye-lid, and that without often winking. The liver of it is great, yet without any bloud. It hath but one belly without division, and the liver is always foul, by reason of the vitious temperature of the body. The milt is exceeding small, coming far short of the bodies proportion.

Beside, the common nature of other thick-hided creatures. It hath also reins, except that kinde of Tortoise called Lutaria, for that wanteth both reins and bladder; for by reason of the softnesse of the cover thereof the humor is over-fluent; but the Tortoise that bringeth forth egs hath all inward parts like a perfect creature: and the females have a singular passage for their excre∣ments, which is not in the males. The egs are in the body of the belly, which are of a party-colour like the egs of Birds.

Their stones cleave to their loins, and the tail is short, but like the tail of a Serpent.

They have four legs, in proportion like the legs of Lizards, every foot having five fingers or di∣visions upon them, with nails upon every one. And thus much for the several parts.

They are not unjustly called Amphibia, because they live both in the water and on the land, and in this thing they are by Pliny resembled to Beavers: but this must be understood of the gene∣ral, otherwise the Tortoises of the land do never dare come into the water: and those of the water can breath in the water, but want respiration, and likewise they lay their Egges and sleep upon the d••y land. They have a very slow and easie pace; and thereupon Pauvius calleth it Tardi∣grada, and also there is a Proverb, Testudineus incessus for a slow and soft pace, when such a mo∣tion is to be expressed. The Tortoise never casteth his coat, no not in his old age. The voyce is an abrupt and broken hissing, not like to the Serpents, but much more loud and diffused. The male is very salacious and given to carnal copulation, but the female is not so; for when she is attempted by the male, they fight it out by the teeth, and at last the male overcometh, where∣at he rejoyceth as much as one that in a hard conflict, fight, or battail, hath won a fair Woman; the reason of this unwillingnesse is, because it is exceeding painful to the female. They engender by riding or covering one another. When they have laid their Egges, they do not sit upon them to hatch them, but lay them in the Earth, covered, and there by the heat of the Sun is the young one formed, and cometh forth at due time without any further help from his Pa∣rents.

They are accounted crafty and subtle in their kinde, for subtlenesse is not only ascribed to things that have a thin bloud, but also to those that have thick skins, hides, and covers, such as the Tor∣toise and Crocodile have. The Tortoise is an enemy to the Partridge, as Philes and Aellanus write: Also the Ape is as fraid thereof, as it is of the Snail: and to conclude, whatsoever enemy it hath, it is safe enough as long as it is covered with his shell, and clingeth fast to the earth beneath; and therefore came the proverb, Oikos philos, oikos aristos. That house which is ones friend, is the best house.

The Poets give a fabulous reason, why the Tortoise doth ever carry his house upon his back, which is this: They say, that on a time Jupiter bad all living creatures to a banquet or Marriage feast, and thither they all came at the time appointed, except the Tortoise: and she at last also appeared at the end of the feast when the meat was all spent: whereat Jupiter wondered, and asked her why she came no sooner? Then it answered him, Oikos philos, oikos aristos; at which answer Jupiter being an∣gry, adjudged her perpetually to carry her house on her back, and for this cause they fable, that the Tortoise is never separated from her house.

Flaminius the Roman disswading the Achaeans from attempting the Island of Zacynthus, used this ar∣gument; and so afterward T. Livius. Caeterum sicut Testudinem, ubi collecta in suum tegumen est, tutam ad omnes ictus vidi esse: ubi exerit partes aliquas, quodcunque nudavit, obnoxium atque infirmum habere: Haud dissimiliter vobis Achaei, clausis undique maris, quod intra Peloponnesum est, termino, ea & jungere vobis, & juncta tueri facile: si semel aviditate plura amplectendi hinc excedatis, nuda vobis omnia quae extra sint & exposita ad omnes ictus esse. Thus far Pliny. That is to say, Even as when the Tortoise is gathered within the compasse of her shell, then is it safe and free from all stroaks, and feeleth no violence, but whenso∣ever she putteth forth a limb or part, then is it naked, infirm, and easie to be harmed: so is it with you Achaeans, for by reason of the inclosed seat of Peloponnesus within the Straights of the Sea, you may well winde all that together, and being conjoyned, as well defend it: But if once your avi∣dous and covetous mindes to get more, appear and stretch it self beyond those limits, you shall lay open your naked infirmity and weaknesse, to all force, blows, and violence whatsoever. Wherefore the Tortoise careth not for flies, and men with good armour care not much for light and easie ad∣versaries.

Alciatus hath a witty Emblem of a Tortoise to expresse a good huswife, and that the fame of her vertues, spreadeth much further then either beauty or riches.

Alma Venus, quaenam haec facies? quid denotat illa Testudo, molli quam pede diva premis? Me sic effinxit Phidias, sexumque referri Foemineum nostra jussit ab effigie, Quod{que} manere domi, & tacitas debet esse puellas, Supposuit pedibus talia signa meis.

Which may be Englished thus;

Loves holy God, what means that ugly face? What doth that Tortoise signifie indeed, Which thou ô God ••desse under soft foot dost pace? Declare what means the same to me with speed: Such is the shape that Phidias did me frame, And bade me go resemble Womankinde, Te teach them silence, and in house remain, Such pictures underneath my feet you finde.

There is a manifold use of Tortoises, especially of their cover or shell, and likewise of their flesh, which cometh now to be handled. And first of all, the ancient ornaments of Beds, Chambers, Tables, and Banquetting houses, was a kinde of artificial work, called Carvilius, and this was framed in gold and silver, brasse and wood, Ivory and Tortoise-shels; but, Modo luxuria non fuerit content a lig∣no, jam lignum emi testudinem facit: That is to say, Ryot not contented, sought precious frames of wood; and again, the use of wood caused Tortoise-shells to be deerly bought, and thereof also complained the Poet Juvenal, where he saith;

—Nemo curabat Rivalis in Oceani fluctu testudo nataret Clarum Trojugenis factura & nobile fulorum.

In English thus;

Then none did care for Tortoise in the Ocean flood, To make the noble beds for Trojans bloud.

We have shewed already that there are certain people of the East called Chelophagi, which live by eating of Tortoises, and with their shells they cover their houses, make all their vessels, row in them upon the water, as men use to row in boats, and make them likewise serve for many other uses.

But as concerning the eating of the flesh of Tortoises, the first that ever we read that used this ill diet, were the Amazons, according as Coelius Rhod: and other Authors writeth. Besides, Aloysius Cadamustus affirmeth, that he himself did tast of the flesh of a Tortoise, and that it was white in colour, much like unto Veal, and not unpleasant. But Rasis is of a clean contrary opinion, condemning it for very unsavory, and unwholesome, because the taste and temperament thereof is betwixt the Land and the Water, it being a Beast that liveth in both Elements. And in eating hereof the Greci∣ans have a proverb, Chelones kreas he phagein, he me phagein: That is, either eat Tortoise flesh, or eat it not. Meaning that when we eat it, we must eat nothing else, and therefore must be filled suffici∣ently only with that kinde of meat; For to eat little, breedeth fretting in the belly, and to eat much is as good as a purgation, according to the observation of many actions, which being done frigide & ignoviter, that is, coldly and slothfully to halfs, do no good, but being done acriter & ••xplicate, earnestly and throughly bring much content and happinesse.

But I marvail why they are used in this age, or desired by Meat-mongers, seeing Apicius in all his Book of Variety of Meats, doth not mention them; and I therefore will conclude the eating of Tor∣toises to be dangerous, and hateful to Nature it self, for unlesse it be taken like a Medicine, it doth little good, and then also the Sawces and decoctions or compositions that are confected with it, are such as do not only qualifie, but utterly alter all the nature of them, (as Stephanus Aquaeus hath well declared in his French discourse of Frogs and Tortoises.) And therefore to conclude this History of the Tortoise, I will but recite one riddle of the strangenesse of this Beast which Tertullian out of Pa∣cuvius maketh mention of, and also in Greek by Mascopulus, which is thus translated.

Animal peregrinae naturae, sine spiritu spiro, geminis oculis retro juxta cerebrum, quibus ducibus antrorsum progredior. Super ventre coeruleo pergo, sub quo venter latet albus, apertus & clausus. Oculi non aperiuntur, ne{que} progredior, donec venter intus albus vacuus est. Hoc s••turato, oculi apparent insignes, & pergoaditer: Et quanquam mutum varias edo voces: That is to say, I am a living creature, of a strange nature, I breath with∣out breath, with two eye behinde, neer my brains do I go forward, I go upon a blew belly, under which is also another white, open and shut, my eyes never open, I go forward until my belly be empty, when it is full, then they appear plain and I go on my journey, and although I am mute or dumb, yet do I make many voyces. The explica∣tion of this riddle, will shew the whole nature of the Beast, and of the Harp called Chelys. For some things are related herein of the living creature, and some things again of an Instrument of Musick made upon his shell and cover. And thus much for the Tortoise in general, the Medicines I will re∣serve unto the end of this History.