Natural magick by John Baptista Porta, a Neapolitane ; in twenty books ... wherein are set forth all the riches and delights of the natural sciences.

THE SECOND BOOK OF Natural Magick: Shewing how living Creatures of divers kinds, may be mingled and coupled together, that from them, new, and yet profitable kinds of living Creatures may be generated. (Book 2)

The PROEME.

HAving wandred beyond my bounds, in the consideration of Causes and their Acti∣ons; which I thought fit to make the Subject of my first book: it will be time to speak of those Operations, which we have often promised, that we may not too long keep off from them those ingenious men that are very desirous to know them. Since that we have said, That Natural Magick is the top, and the compleat faculty or Natural Science, in han∣dling it, we will conclude within the compass of this Volume, whatsoever is High, Noble, Choice, and Notable, that is discovered in the large field of Natural History. But that we may perform this, I shall reduce all those Secrets into their proper places; and that no∣thing may be thrust out of its own rank, I shall follow the order of Sciences. And I shall first divide them into Natural and Mathematical Sciences; and I shall begin with the Na∣tural; for I hold that most convenient, that all may arise from those things that are sim∣ple, and not so laborious, to Mathematical Sciences. I shall from Animals first proceed to Plants, and so by steps to Minerals, and other works of Nature. I shall briefly describe Fountains, also whence flow Springs; and I shall annex thereto the Reasons, and the Causes; that Industrious men made acquainted with this, may find out more of themselves. And because there are two generations of Animals and Plants, one of themselves, the other by copulation: I shall first speak of such as are bred without copulation; and next, of such as proceed from copulation one with another, that we may produce new living Creatures, such as the former ages never saw. I shall begin therefore with Putrefaction, because that is the principle to produce new Creatures; not onely from the variety of Simples, but of mixed Bodies. I thought fit to leave none out, though they be of small account, since there is no∣thing in Nature, appear it never so small, wherein there is not something to be admired.

CHAP. I.

The first Chapter treateth of Putrefaction, and of a strange manner of producing li∣ving Creatures.

BEfore we come to shew that new living Creatures are generated of Putrefaction, it is meet to rehearse the opini∣ons of antient Philosophers concerning that matter. Whereof though we have spoken elsewhere, in the description of Plants, yet for the Readers ease, we will here rehearse some of them, to shew that not onely imperfect, but perfect li∣ving Creatures too, are generated of Putrefaction. P••rphy∣ry thought that Living creatures were begotten of the bowels of the Earth soaked in water, and quickned by the heat of the Sun. Of the same mind were Archelaus the Athenian, Anaxagoras Clazomenius, and Euripides his Sco∣lar. Cleodemus, and after him Theophrastus, thought that they came of putrified wa∣ter

mixt with earth; and the colder and fouler the water was, the unfitter it was for their generation. Diodorus, and many other good Philosophers hold, that all living Creatures did arise of putrefaction. For whereas in the beginning of the world, the Heavens, and Earth, and Elements were setled in their natural places, the earth being left slimy and soft in many places, and then dried and stricken with the heat of the Sun, brought forth certain tumors and swellings in the surface and upper∣most parts: in these tumors were contained and cherished many putrefactions and rotten clods, covered over with certain small skins; this putrified stuff, being moi••••ened with dew by night, and the Sun heating it by day, after a certain season became ripe; and the skins being broken, thence issued all kinds of living Crea∣tures; whereof, they that had quickest heat, became birds; the earthy ones be∣came creeping beasts; the waterish ones became fishes in the Sea; and they which were a mean, as it were, betwixt all these, became walking-creatures. But the heat of the Sun still working upon the earth, hindered it from begetting and bringing forth any more such creatures; but then, the creatures before generated coupled together, and brought forth others like themselves. Avicenna, in that work of his which he made of deluges and flouds; holds, that after the great flouds that drowned the Earth, there was no mans seed; but then, man, and all living Crea∣tures else, were generated of rotten carcases, only by the vertue of the Sun: and therefore he supposeth, that the womb, and such needful places framed by nature, for the better fashioning of the infant, are not needfull to the procreation of man. He proves his assertion by this, that mice, which arise of putrefaction, do couple together, and beget store of young; yea, and serpents are generated chiefly of womans hair. And in his book of living Creatures, he tels of a friend of his, that brought forth Scorpions after a strange manner, and those did beget other Scorpions, not imperfect, or unlike to themselves, but such as did also procreate others. Averroes held, that the stars were sufficient to generate imperfect creatures; as mice, bats, moules, and such like, but not to generate Men, or Lions. And dai∣ly experience teacheth us, that many living creatures come of the putrified matter of the earth. And the Ancients supposing all things to be produced out of the earth, cal∣led it the mother of all; and the Greeks called it Dimitera. Ovid hath very ele∣gantly set down this generation of putrefaction, under the fable of Pytho; that the earth brought forth of its own accord, many living creatures of divers forms, the heat of the Sun enliving those moistures that lay in the tumors of the earth, like fertile seeds in the belly of their mother; for heat and moisture being tempered to∣gether, causeth generation. So then, after the deluge, the earth being now moist, the Sun working upon it, divers kinds of creatures were brought forth, some like the former, and some of a new shape.

CHAP. II.

Of certain earthly Creatures, which are generated of putrefaction.

PLants and living Creatures agree both in this, that some of them are generated of seed, and some of them Nature brings forth of her own accord, without any seed of the same kind; some out of putrified earth and plants, as those Creatures that are divided between the head and the belly; some out of the dew that lies upon leaves, as Canker-worms; some out of the mud, as shel-creatures; and some out of living Creatures themselves, and the excrements of their parts, as lice. We will onely rehearse some which the Ancients have set down, that so we may also learn how to procreate new creatures. And first, let us see, how

Mice are generated of putrefaction.

Diodorus saith, that neer to the City Thebais in Egypt, when Nilus overflowing is past, the Sun heating the wet ground, the chaps of the earth send forth great store of mice in many places; which astonisheth men to see, that the fore-part of the mice should live and be moved, whereas their hinder parts are not yet shapen. Pliny saith, that after the swaging of Nilus, there are found little mice begun to be made of earth and water, their fore-parts living, and their hinder parts being nothing but earth. Aelianus saith, that a little rain in Egypt, engenders many mice, which be∣ing scattered everywhere in their fields, eat down their corn, and devour it: And so it is in Pontus; but by their prayers to God, they are consumed. Macrobius and Avicenna say, that the mice so generated, do encrease exceedingly by coupling to∣gether. Aristotle found out, that a kind of field-mice encreased wonderfully; so that in some places they did suddenly eat up whole fields of corn: insomuch that many Husband-men appointing to reap their corn on the morrow, when they came with their reapers, found all their corn wasted. And as these mice are generated suddenly, so they are suddenly consumed, in a few dayes; the reason whereof can∣not be so well assigned. Pliny could not find how it should be; for neither could they be found dead in the fields, neither alive within the earth in the winter time. Diodorus and Aelianus write, That these field-mice have driven many people of Ita∣ly out of their own Countrey: they destroyed Cosas, a City of Hetruria: many came to Troas, and thence drove the inhabitants. Theophrastus and Varro write, That mice also made the inhabitants of the Island Gyarus to forsake their Country; and the like is reported of Heraclea in Pontus, and of other places. Likewise also

Frogs are wonderfully generated of rotten dust and rain;

for a Summer showre lighting upon the putrified sands of the shore, and dust of high-wayes, engenders frogs. Aelianus, going from Naples in Italy, to Puteoli, saw certain frogs, that their fore-parts moved and went upon two feet, while yet their hinder parts were unfashioned, and drawn after like a clot of dirt: and Ovid saith, one part lives, the other is earth still: and again, mud engenders frogs that sometimes lack feet. The generation of them is so easie, and sudden, that some write it hath rained frogs; as if they were gendred in the Air. Phylarchus in Athe∣naeus writes so; and Heraclides Lembus writes, that it rained frogs about Dardany and Poeonia, so plentifully, that the very wayes and houses were full of them: and therefore the inhabitants, though for a few daies at the first they endured it, killing the frogs, and shutting up their houses, yet afterward when they saw it was to no purpose, but they could neither use water, nor boil meat, but frogs would be in it, nor so much as tread upon the ground for them, they quite forsook their coun∣tries, as Diodorus and Eustathius write. The people Autharidae in Thesprtaia, were driven out of their Country, by certain imperfect frogs that fell from heaven. But it is a strange thing that

Red Toads are generated of dirt, and of womens flowers.

In Dariene, a Province of the new world, the air is most unwholesome, the place being muddy and full of stinking marishes; nay, the village is it self a marish, where Toads are presently gendred of the drops wherewith they water their houses, as Peter Martyr writes. A Toad is likewise generated of a duck that hath lyen rotting under the mud, as the verse shews which is ascribed to the duck; When I am rotten in the earth, I bring forth Toads: happily because they and I both, are moist and foul creatures. Neither is it hard to generate Toades of womens putrified flowers; for women do breed this kind of cattel, together with their children, as Celius Aurelianus and Platearius call them, frogs, toads, lyzards, and such like: and the women of Salerium, in times past, were wont to use the juice of Parsley and Leeks, at the beginning of their conception, and especially about the time of their quickening, thereby to destroy this kind of vermin with them. A certain

woman lately married, being in all mens judgement great with child, brought forth in stead of a child, four Creatures like to frogs, and after had her perfect health. But this was a kind of a Moon-calf. Paracelsus said, that if you cut a serpent in pieces, and hide him in a vessel of glasse, under the mud, there will be gendred many worms, which being nourished by the mud, will grow every one as big as a Serpent; so that of one serpent may be an hundred generated: and the like he holds of other creatures. I will not gainsay it, but only thus, that they do not gender the same ser∣pents. And so, he saith, you may make them of a womans flowers; and so, he saith, you may generate a Basilisk, that all shall die which look upon him: but this is a stark lie. It is evident also, that

Serpents may be generated of mans marrow, of the hairs of a menstruous woman, and of a horse-tail, or mane.

We read, that in Hungary, by the River Theisa, Serpents and Lyzards did breed in mens bodies, so that three thousand men died of it. Pliny writes, that about the be∣ginning of the wars against the Marsi, a maid-servant brought forth a serpent. Avi∣cenna in his book of deluges, writes, that serpents are gendred of womens hairs e∣specially, because they are naturally moister and longer then mens. We have expe∣rienced also, that the hairs of a horses mane laid in the waters, will become ser∣pents: and our friends have tried the same. No man denies but that serpents are easily gendred of mans flesh, especially of his marrow. Aelianus saith, that a dead mans back-marrow being putrified, becomes a serpent: and so of the meekest living Creature arises the most savage: and that evil mens back-bones do breed such monsters after death; Ovid shews, that many hold it for a truth. Pliny received it of many reports, that Snakes gendred of the marrow of mens backs. Writers also shew,

How a Scorpion may be generated of Basil.

Florentinus the Grecian saith, That Basil chewed and laid in the Sun, will engender serpents. Pliny addeth; that if you rub it, and cover it with a stone, it will be∣come a Scorpion; and if you chew it, and lay it in the Sun, it will bring forth worms. And some say, that if you stamp a handful of Basil, together with ten Crabs or Cre∣vises, all the Scorpions thereabouts will come unto it. Avicenna tells of a strange kind of producing a Scorpion; but Galen denies it to be true. But the body of a Crab-fish is strangely turned into a Scorpion: Pliny saith, that while the Sun is in the sign Cancer, if the bodies of those fishes lie dead upon the Land, they wil be turned into Scorpions. Ovid saith, if you take of the Crabs arms, and hide the rest in the ground, it will be Scorpion. There is also a

Creature that lives but one day, bred in vineger;

as Aelianus writes; and it is called Ephemerus, because it lives but one day: it is gendred of the dregs of sowre wine; and as soon as the vessel is open, that it comes into the light, presently it dies. The River Hippanis, about the solstitial daies, yields certain little husks, whence issue forth certain four-footed birds, which live and flie about till noon, but pine away as the Sun draws downward, and die at the Sun-set∣ting; and because they live but one day, they are called Hemerobion, a daies-bird. So the

Pyrig••nes be generated in the fire;

Certain little flying beasts, so called, because they live and are nourished in the fire; and yet they flie up and down in the Air. This is strange; but that is more strange, that as soon as ever they come out of the fire, into any cold air, presently they die. Likewise the

Salamander is gendred of the water;

for the Salamander it self genders nothing, neither is there any male or female amongst them, nor yet amongst Eeels, nor any kind else; which doth not generate of themselves either egge or young, as Pliny noteth. But now we will speak of a most excellent generation, namely, how

Bees are generated of an Ox.

Aelianus writes, That Oxen are commodious many wayes; amongst the rest, this is one excellent commodity, that being dead, there may be generated of them a very profitable kind of Creatuers, namely Bees. Ovid saith it, that as all putrified bodies are turned into some small living Creatuers, so Oxen putrified do generate Bees. Florentinus the Grecian saith, that Jubas King of Africa, taught how to make Bees in a wodden Ark. Democritus and Varro shew a cruel manner of making Bees in a house: but it is a very ready way. Chuse a house ten cubits high, and ten cu∣bits broad, square every way: but let there be but one entrance into it, and four windows, on each side one. Put in this room an Ox, about two or three years old; let him be fat and fleshy: then set to him a company of lusty fellows, to beat him so cruelly, that they kill him with their cudgels, and break his bones withal: but they must take great heed that they draw no blood of him, neither must they strike him too fiercely at the first: After this, stop up all the passages of the Ox, his nostrils, eyes, mouth, and necessary places of evacuation, with fine linen clouts besmeared with pitch: Then cast a great deal of honey under him, being laid with his face upwards, and let them all go forth, and daube up the door and the windows with thick lome, so that no wind, nor Air can get in. Three weeks after, open the room, and let the light and the Air come in, except there where the wind would blow in too violently. And when you see that the matter is through cold, and hath taken air enough, then shut up the door and windows as before. About eleven daies after, open it again, and you shall find the room full of Bees clotted to∣gether, and nothing of the Ox remaining, beside the horns, the bones and the hair. They say that the Kings of the companies are generated of the brain, the o∣ther of the flesh, but the chief Kings of all, of the marrow; yet those that come of the brain, are most of them greater, handsomer, and better-coloured then the rest. When you open the room first, you shall find the flesh turned into small, white, and unperfect creatures, all of the same shape, but as yet only growing, and not moving. Afterward; at the second opening, you may see their wings grown, the right colour of Bees in them, and how they sit about their Kings, and flutter about, especially toward the windows, where they would enjoy their desired light. But it is best to let them light by the windows every other day. This same experiment, Virgil hath very elegantly set down in the same manner. Now as the best kind of Bees are generated of a young Ox, so a more base kind of them is brought forth of the dead flesh of baser creatures; Aelianus saith,

That Waspes are generated of an Horse;

when his carcase is putrified, the marrow of him brings forth Waspes; a swift kind of fowl, from a swift kind of beast. Ovid saith, that Hornets are thence generated; and Isiodore derives crabronem à cabo, id est caballo, a hornet of a horse, because they are brought forth of horses. Pliny and Virgil say, that waspes and hornets both, are generated of the flesh of dead horses. In like manner

Drones come of Mules,

as Isiodore affirmeth: and the Drone is called Fucus quasi Fagos, because he eats that which he never laboured for. But others hold that Locusts, and not Drones, are generated of Mules flesh. So also, of the basest beast cometh the basest fowl:

The Beetle is generated of the Ass,

as Pliny writes. Isiodore saith, they come of swift dogs: Aelianus saith, they have no female, but lay their seed in a clot of earth for 28 dayes, and then bring forth young out of it.

CHAP. III.

Of certain Birds, which are generated of the Putrefaction of Plants.

Olaus Magnus, in the description of the North-countries of Europe, reports, that about Scotland, there be certain birds generated of the fruit of a Tree. Munster saith, there be certain Trees which bring forth a fruit covered over with leaves; which, if it fall into the water under it, at the right season, it lives, and becomes a quick bird, which is called Avis arborea. Neither is this any new tale; for the antient Cosmographers, especially Saxo Grammaticus mentions the same Tree. Late Writers report, That not onely in Scotland, but in the River of Thames also by London, there is a kind of Shel-fish in a two-leaved shell, that hath a foot full of plaits and wrinkles: these fish are little, round, and outwardly white, smooth and brittle shelled, like an Almond shell; inwardly they are great bellied, bred as it were of moss and mud: they commonly stick on the keel of some old Ship, where they hang together like Mushrome-stalks, as if they were thereby nourished. Some say, they come of worms, some of the boughs and branches of Trees which fall in∣to the Sea; if any of these be cast upon shore, they die; but they which are swal∣lowed still into the Sea, live, and get out of their shell, and grow to be ducks or such like birds. Gesner saith, that in the Islands Hebrides, the same

Birds are generated of putrified wood.

If you cast wood into the Sea, first after a while there will certain worms breed in it, which by little and little become like ducks, in the head, feet, wings and feathers; and at length grow to be as big as Geese: and when they are come to their full growth, they flie about in the Air, as other birds do. As soon as the wood begins first to be putrified, there appears a great many wormes, some unshapen, others be∣ing in some parts perfect, some having feathers, and some none. Paracelsus saith; As the yelk and white of an egge, becomes a chick by the heat of an Hen; so a bird burnt to ashes, and shut up in a vessel of glass, and so laid under the mixen, will become a slimy humour; and then, if it be laid under a Hen, is enlived by her heat, and restored to her self like a Phoenix. Ficinus reporteth, and he had it out of Albertus, That there is a certain bird, much like a Black-bird, which is generated of the putrefaction of Sage; which receives her life and quickning from the general life of the whole world.

CHAP. IV.

Of Certain fishes which are generated of putrefaction.

HAving first spoken of earthly Creatures, and then of Fowles; now we will speak of Fishes so generated. And first how

Eeles are generated.

Amongst them there is neither male or female, nor egges, nor any copulation; nei∣ther

was there ever seen in any of them, any passage fit to be a womb. They have bred oft-times in certain muddy pools, even after all the water and mud hath been gone; only by rain-water: neither indeed do they ever breed without rain, though they have never so much water otherwise; for it is the rain, both that begets and nou∣rishes them, as Aristotle writes. They are also generated of putrified things. Ex∣perience hath proved, that a dead horse thrown into a standing pool, hath brought forth great store of Eeles; and the like hath been done by the carcases of other creatures. Aristotle saith, they are generated of the garbage of the earth, which he saith, ariseth in the Sea, in Rivers, and in pools, by reason chiefly of putrefaction; but it arises in the Sea by reason of reeds; in Pools and Rivers, it arises by the banks∣side, for there the heat is more forcible to cause putrefaction. And a friend of mine filled certain wooden vessels with water, and Reeds, and some other water-herbs, and set them in the open Air, having first covered them with a weighty stone, and so in short time generated Eeles. Such is the generation of

Groundlings out of some and froth,

which fish the Greeks call Aphya, because rain breeds it. Many of them breed of the fome that rises out of the sandy chanel, that still goes and comes at all times, till at last it is dissolved; so that this kind of fish breeds all times of the year, in sha∣dowy and warm places, when the soyl is heated; as in Attica, neer to Salamnia, and in Marathon, where Themistocles got his famous victory. In some places, this fish breeds of fome by the help of the rain; and swims on the top of the water in the fome, as you see little wormes creep on the top of mud. Athenaeus saith, This fish is consecrated to Venus, because she also comes of the froth of the Sea, whence she is called Aphrodites. Aelianus saith, These fishes neither do beget, nor are be∣gotten, but only come of mud: for when dirt is clotted together in the Sea, it waxes very black and slimy, and then receives heat and life after a wonderful man∣ner, and so is changed into very many living Creatures, and namely into Ground∣lings. When the waves are too boistrous for him, he hides himself in the clift of some rock; neither doth he need any food. And Oppianus makes the very same descri∣ption of them, and of their generation. There is a kind of these fishes, called a Mullet-Groundling, which is generated of mud and of sand, as hath been tried in many marish places, amongst the rest in Gindus; where in the Dog-daies, the Lakes being dried up, so that the mud was hard; as soon as ever they began to be full of rain-water again, were generated little fishes, a kind of Mullets, about the bigness of little Cackrels, which had neither seed nor egge in them. And in some parts of Asia, at the mouth of the Rivers into the Sea, some of a bigger size are generated. And as the Mullet-groundling comes of mud, or of a sandy lome, as Aristotle writes; so it is to be thought, that the Cackrel-groundling comes thereof also. It seems too, that

A Carpe is generated of putrefaction,

Especially of the putrified mud of sweet water: for it is experienced, that in cer∣tain Lakes, compassed about with Hills, where there is no Well, nor River, to moisten it, but only the rain, after some few showers, there hath been great store of fish, especially Carps: but there are some of this kind generated by copulation. There are also in certain particular Lakes, particular kinds of fishes, as in the Lemane, and the Benacian Lakes, there be divers kind of Carpes, and other such fishes. Likewise there are certain

Earthly fishes generated of putrefaction.

Pliny reports, that in Paphlagonia, they dig out of deep ditches, certain earthly fishes very good to be eaten; and it is so in places where there is no standing wa∣ter; and he wonders that they should be generated without copulation: but sure∣ly

it is by vertue of some moisture, which he ascribes to the Wells, because in some of them fishes are found. Likewise

Shel-fish are generated of the forthy mud,

or else meerly of the salt-water; for they have neither seed, nor male, nor female; the hardnesse and closenesse of their shels, hindering all things from touching or rub∣bing their inward parts, which might be fit for generation. Aristotle saith, they breed all of themselves; which appears by this, that oft-times they breed in Ships, of a forthy mud putrified: and in many places, where no such thing was before, many shel-fishes have bred, when once the place waxed muddy, for lack of moisture. And that these fishes emit no seed or generative matter, it appears, because that when the men of Chios had brought out of Lesbos many Oysters, and cast them into Lakes neer the Sea, there were found no more then were cast in; onely they were some∣what greater. So then Oysters are generated in the Sea, in Rivers and in Lakes, and therefore are called Limnostrea, because they breed in muddy places. Oppianus writes also, that they have neither male nor female, but are generated of themselves and their own accord, without the help of any copulation. So the fish called Orti∣ca, and the Purple, and Muscles, and Scallops, and Perwinkles, and Limpins, and all Shel-fish are generated of mud: for they cannot couple together, but live only as plants live. And look how the mud differs, so doth it bring forth different kinds of fishes: durty mud genders Oysters, sandy mud Perwinkles, the mud in the Rocks breedeth Holoturia, Lepades, and such-like. Limpins, as experience hath shewed, have bred of rotten hedges made to fish by; and as soon as the hedges were gone, there have been found no more Limpins.

CHAP. V.

That new kinds of living Creatures may be generated of divers beasts, by carnal copulation.

WE have shewed that living Creatures are generated of putrefaction: now we will shew, that sundry kinds of beasts coupling together, may bring forth new kinds of Creatures, and these also may bring forth others; so that infinite monsters may be daily gendred: for whereas Aristotle saith, that Africk alwayes brings forth some new thing; the reason thereof is this, because the Country being in most places dry, divers kinds of beasts come out of sundry quarters thither, where the Rivers were, and there partly for lust, and partly by constraint, coupled together, and so gendred divers monstrous Creatures. The Antients have set down many such generations, and some are lately devised, or found out by chance; and what may be hereafter, let men of learning judge. Neither let the opinions of some Philosophers stay us, which hold that of two kinds divers in nature, a third cannot be made, unlike to either of the parents; and that some Creatures do not gender at all, as Mules do not: for we see, that, contrary to the first of these their positions, many Creatures are gene∣rated of kinds divers in nature, and of these are generated others, to the perpetual conservation of this new kind; as hath been tried in many Villages, that divers kinds coupling together, have brought forth other new kinds, differing from their proge∣nitors every day more and more, as they multiply their copulations, till at length they are scarce in any thing like the former. And against their second Position, we must not think that the one example of Mules not gendring, should prejudice the common course of other creatures. The commistions or copulations, have divers uses in Physick, and in Domestical affairs, and in hunting: for hereby many proper∣ties are conveyed into many Creatures. First, we will rehearse those experiments, which the Antients have described, and then those which new Writers have recor∣ded, and our selves have seen in divers Countries. And by this, the ingenious Rea∣der may find out others. But first I will relate certain observations, which Aristo∣tle and others have prescribed, that this kind of generation may be more easily

wrought. First, the creatures thus coupled, must be of an equal pitch; for if there be great oddes in their bignesse, they cannot couple: a dog and a wolf, a Lion and a Panther, an Asse and a Horse, a Partridge and a Hen, are of one bignesse, and therefore may couple together; but a Horse and a Dog, or a Mare and an Elephant, or a Hen and a Sparrow cannot. Secondly, they must have one and the same space to bring forth in: for if one of them bring forth in twelve moneths, and the other in six, then the young will be ripe by one side, when it is but half ripe by the other. A dog must have two moneths, and a horse must have twelve: and the Philosopher saith, no creature can be born, except he have his full time. So then a dog cannot be born of a man, nor a Horse of an Elephant, because they differ in the time of their bearing. Again, the creatures which we would thus couple, must be one as lustful as the other: for a chaste creature, that useth coition but once a year, if he have not his female at that time, he loseth his appetite before he can fancy any other mate: but those which are full of lust, will eagerly couple with another kind as well as their own. Among four-footed beasts, a dog, a goat, a swine, an ass, be most la∣scivious; among birds, partridges, quailes, doves, sparrows. Moreover, they must be coupled at such a time as is fit for generation: for Nature hath prescribed certain times and ages fit for that work. The common time, is the Spring; for then almost all Creatures are prone to lust. The ages of them must likewise be fit: for the ge∣nerative power comes to creatures, at a set age. Neither of them must be barren, nor weak, nor too young; for then their seed is unfit for generation: but both of them, if it may be, in the prime of their best age and strength. If any creatures want appe∣ti••e thereunto, there be many slights, whereby we may

Make them eager in lust.

And if the female do cast out the seed, there be means to make her hold in it. Pro∣vokements to lust there are many set down by Writers, and some usual with us. Ae∣lianus writes, that keepers of sheep, and goats, and Mares, do besmear their hands with salt and nitre, and then rub the generative parts of them in the time of their coition, for their more lustful and eager performance of that action. Others be∣smear them with pepper, others with nettles seed, others with myrrh and nitre; all of them kindle the appetite of the female, being well rubbed therewith, and make her stand to her male. The He-goats, if you besmear their chin, and their nostrels with sweet ointment, are thereby much enclined to lust; and contrariwise, if you tie a thred about the middle of their tail, they are nothing so eager of copulation. Ab∣syrtus sheweth, that if you wipe off some nature of seed of a mare, and therewith besmear the nostrils of a Stallion horse, it will make him very lustful. Dydimus saith, that if Rams, or any other beasts, feed upon the herb Milk-wort, they will become both eager to lust, and stronger for the act of copulation. Pliny sheweth, that Onions encrease desire of copulation in beasts, as the herb Rotchet doth in men. The She-ass, holds the seed within her the better, if presently after copulation she be well beaten, and her genitories besprinkled with cold water, to make her run after it. Many such helps are recorded by those who have written the histories of living creatures.

CHAP. VI.

How there may be Dogs of great courage, and divers rare properties, generated of divers kinds of Beasts.

WE will first speak of Dogs, as being a most familiar creature with us, and suiting with many beasts, in bignesse, in like time of breeding; and besides, being al∣wayes ready for copulation, and very lecherous, oft-times coupling with beasts of a far divers kind, and so changeth his shape and fashion, leaveth the bad qualities of his own kind, and is made fitter to hunt, to keep any thing from spoil, to play or make sport, and for divers other uses. And first, how

A strong Indian-dog may be generated of a Tygre.

This is called by some, a Mastive; by others a Warrior, or a Hircan-Dog. Aristotle calls them Indian-dogs, and saith, they are generated of a Dog and a Tygre; and elsewhere, of a dog and another wilde beast, but he names it not. Pliny writes, that the Indians intending to generate dogs of Tygres, tie the She-tygres in the woods about rutting time; and dogs coupling with them engender young: but the first and second births they care not for, as being too fierce; but the third they bring up, as being milder and fitter fot their uses. Aelianus relates the story of this kind of Dogs, out of Indian Writers: that the stoutest Bitches, and such as are swiftest to run, and best to hunt, are by the shepherds tied to certain Trees within the Tygres walk: as soon as the Tygres light upon them, if they have not before met with their prey, they devour them; but if they be full of meat, and hot in lust, then they couple with the Bitches; and so generate, not a Tygre, but a dog, their seed degenerating into the mothers kind. And these dogs thus gendred, scorn to hunt a Boar, or an Hart; but a Lion they will set gallantly upon. A Noble man of In∣dia made trial of the valor of these dogs, before Alexander the Great, on this manner: first, he set an Hart before him; but the Dog scorning the Hart, stir∣red not at him; next, a Boar, but neither stirred he at the Boar; after that a Bear, but he scorned the Bear too: last of all, a Lion; then the Dog seeing that he had an even match in hand, rose up very furiously, and run upon the Lion, and took him by the throat, and stifled him. Then the Indian that shewed this sport, and knew well this Dogs valour, first cut off his tail; but the Dog cared not for his tail, in comparison of the Lion which he had in his mouth: next, he cut off one of his legs; but the Dog held fast his hold still, as if it had been none of his legs: after that, he caused another of his legs to be broken; but the Dog still kept his hold: after that, his third leg, and yet still he kept his hold: after that, his fourth leg, and yet the Dog was still as fierce upon the Lion, as at the first: Nay, when last of all his head was cut off from his body, yet still it stuck fast by the teeth in the same place, where he took his first hold. Alexander seeing this, was much grieved for the Dogs death, and greatly amazed at his valour, that he would rather suffer his life, then his courage to be taken from him. The Indian perceiving that, gave to Alex∣ander four such Dogs; and he received them as a great Present, and accepted them gladly and thankfully: and moreover, rewarded the Indian that gave them, with a Princely recompence. This same story Philes also writes. But Diodorus Siculus and Strabo, say that Sopithes a King, gave Alexander an hundred and fifty of these Dogs, all very huge and strong, and usually coupling with Tygres. And Pollux writes the same. And Plutark describes the Indian-dog, and his fight before Alex∣ander, as it is before related: Pliny writes, that the King of Albania gave Alexan∣der a great Dog, wherewith he was much delighted: but when he brought the Dog, first Bears, then Boars, and then Deer, and saw he would not touch them, being much offended that so great a body should have so little courage, he caused him to be killed. The King that gave him, hearing this, sent him another, and withal char∣ged the Messenger, that he should not be tryed in small matches, but either with a Lion or an Elephant. So then, Alexander caused a Lion to be set before him, and presently the Dog killed him: afterward he tried him with an Elephant; and the Dog bristled and barked at him, and assaulted him so artificially every way, till the Elephant was giddy with turning about, and so fell down and was killed. Gratius writes of this kind of dogs, thus generated of a Bitch and a Tygre. There is also another kind of Dogs

Generated of a Lion.

And these are strong Dogs, and good Hunters. Pollux saith, that Arcadian Dogs first came of a Dog and a Lion, and are called Lion-dogs. And Coelius writes the same: and Oppianus commends the Arcadian Dogs, and those of Tegea, which is a Town of Acadia. This is also

A strong and swift Dog, gendred of a kind of Wolf called Thos,

which, as Aristotle writes, is in all his entrails like a Wolfs; and is a strong beast, swift, and is wont to encounter the Lion. Pliny saith, it is a kind of Wolf; Hesychius saith, it is like a Wolf; Herodotus, that it is gendred in Africa: Solinus calls them Ethiopian Wolves: Nearchus calls these beasts Tygres, and saith there be divers kinds of them. Wherefore Gratius saith, that dogs generated of these Thoes, are strong, and fit to hunt; and calls them half-savage, as coming of a tame Dog, and a savage kind of Wolf. There is also a

Dog called Crocuta, gendred of a Dog and a Wolf.

Pliny saith, that these Dogs break all things with their teeth, and presently devout them. As the Indians join Tygres, so do the Gaules join Wolves and Dogs together; every herd of Wolves there, hath a Dog for their Ring-leader. In the Country of Cyrene in Libya, Wolves do couple with Dogs, as Aristotle and Pollux write. Galen in his book concerning the use of Parts, writes, that a Bitch may conceive by a He-wolf, and so the She-wolf by a Dog, and retain each others seed, and ripen it to the bringing forth of both kinds. Diodorus saith, that the dog which the Aethiopi∣an calls Crocuta, is a compound of the Nature of a Dog and a Wolf. When Ni∣phus was hunting, one of his dogs eagerly pursued a she-wolf, and overtaking her, began to line her, changing his fiercenesse into lust. Albertus saith, that the great Dog called a Mastive, is gendred of a Dog and a Wolf. I my self saw at Rome, a dog generated of a wolf; and at Naples, a she-wolf of a dog. Ovid saith, that the dog Nape was conceived of a Wolf; and Ovid and Virgil both, mention the dog Lycisca, which, as Isiodore writes, are generated of wolves and dogs coupling together. Coelius calls these dogs Chaonides; being gendred of a kind of wolf called Chaos, as some suppose, whence they have that name. But if we would ge∣nerate swift dogs, as Grey-hounds, we must join dogs with some swift beasts. As, couple dogs and foxes together, and they will

Gender swift Dogs, called Lacedamonian Dogs.

Aristotle, and out of him Galen, report, that beasts may couple together, though they be of a divers kind; so that their nature do not much differ, and they be of a like bignesse, and thereby sutable for their times of breeding and bringing forth, as it is betwixt dogs and wolves; of both which, are gendred swift dogs, called Lacedaemonian dogs: the first births are of both kinds; but in time, after sundry interchangeable generations, they take after the dam, and follow the kind of the female. Pollux saith, These are called Alopecidae, fox-dogs; as Xenoph•••• also writes of them, and makes them to be hunting dogs: and surely the best and swiftest hunting dogs, as Grey-hounds, are long-headed, and sharp-snou••ed, as foxes are. Hesychius and Varinus call them Dog-foxes. But now, if we would gene∣rate a kind of

Swift Dogs, and strong withal,

we must make a medley of sundry kinds of dogs together; as a Mastive and a Grey-hound gender a swift, and withal a strong dog, as Aristole writes: or else couple a dog with a wolf, or with a Lion; for both these mixtions have Hunts-men devised; the

former, to amend certain natural defects in one kind; and the latter, to make their dogs stronger for the game, and craftier to espie and take advantages; as commonly, to∣gether with the properties of the body, the qualities of the mind are derived into the young ones. Ovid mentions such mungrels amongst Actaeons dogs: and Oppianus in his book of Hunting, counsels to join in the Spring-time, divers dogs together, if we desire to have any excellent parts in any; as the dogs of Elis, with them of Arca∣dia; the dogs of Crete, with them of Pannonia; Thracians, with them of Caria; Lacedaemonians, with them of Tuscia; and Sarmatian dogs, with Spanish dogs. Thus we see, how to generate a dog as stomackful as a Lion, as fierce as a Tygre, as craf∣ty as a fox, as spotted as a Leopard, and as ravenous as a Wolf.

CHAP. VII.

How to generate pretty little dogs to play with.

BEcause a dog is such a familiar creature with man, therefore we will shew how to generate and bring up a little dog, and one that will be play-full. First of the generation

Of little Dogs.

In times past, women were wont to esteem little dogs in great price, especially such as came from Malta the Island situate in the Adriatical Sea, neer to Ragusius. Cal∣limachus terms them Melitean dogs. And Aristotle in his Problems, shews the manner of their generation; where he questioneth, Why amongst living creatures of the same kind, some have greater, and some have smaller bodies; and gives thereof a double reason: one, is the straightnesse of the place wherein they are kept; the other, is the scarcenesse of their nourishment: and some have attempted to lessen the bodies of them, even after their birth; as they which nourish up lit∣tle whelps in small cages: for thereby they shorten and lessen their bodies; but their parts are prettily well knit together, as appears in Melitaean dogs: for nature performes her work, notwithstanding the place. Athenaeus writes, that the Syba∣rites were much delighted with Melitaean dogs, which are such in the kind of dogs, as Dwarfes are among men. They are much made of, and daintily kept, rather for pleasure then for any use. Those that are chosen for such a purpose, are of the smallest pitch, no bigger at their best growth then a mouse, in body well set, having a little head, a small s••out, the nose turning upward, bended so for the purpose when they were young; long ears, short legs, narrow feet, tail somewhat long, a shagged neck, with long hair to the shoulders, the other parts being as it were shorn, in co∣lour white; and some of them are shagged all over. These being shut up in a cage, you must feed very sparingly, that they never have their fill; and let them couple with the least you can find, that so lesse may be generated; for so Hippocrates writes, that Northern people, by handling the heads of dogs while they be young, make them lesse then, and so they remain even after they are come to their full growth: and in this shape they gender others, so that they make, as it were, another kind. But if you would know the generation of a

Dog that will do tricks and feats,

one that will make sport of himself, and leap up and down, and bark softly, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 without biting, and stand upon his hindermost legs, holding forth his other legs like hands, and will fetch and carry; you must first let them converse and com∣pany with an Ape, of whom they will learn many sportful tricks; then let them line the Ape; and the young one which is born of them two, will be exceeding practised to do feats, such as Juglets and Players are wont to shew by their dogs. Albertus saith, that these kind of dogs may very well be generated of a dog and a fox.

CHAP. VIII.

How to amend the defects and lacks that are in dogs, by other means.

WE may also supply the lacks that are in dogs, by other means, and teach them new qualities, even by their food and nourishment: for we have shewed oft-times, that qualities are drawn in together with the milk and nourishment where∣by we live. Columella shews how

to make Dogs strong and swift:

If you would have them full of stout spirits, you must suffer them to suck the breasts of some other beasts; for alwayes the milk, and the spirits of the nurse, are much available, both for the quality of the body, and the qualities of the soul. Oppia∣nus bids us to keep hunting dogs from sucking any ordinary Bitches, or Goats, or Sheep; for this, saith he, will make them too lazy and weak; but they must suck a tame Lionesse, or Hart, or Doe, or Wolf; for so they will become swift and strong, like to their nurses that give them suck. And Aelianus gives the very same precept, in the very same words: for, saith he, when they shall remember that they had such strong and swift nurses, nature will make them ashamed not to resemble their quali∣ties. Pollux saith, that for a while, the Dams milk is fittest meat for whelps; but after, let them lap the blood of those beasts which dogs have caught, that by little and little they may be acquainted with the sweetnesse of hunting. Ctesias in his book of Indian matters, writes, that the people called Cynamolgi, do nourish and feed many dogs with Bulls blood, which afterward being let loose at the Bulls of India, overcome them and kill them, though they be never so fierce: and the people themselves milk their Bitches, and drink it, as we drink Goats or Sheeps milk, as Aelianus reports: and Solinus writes, that this is supposed to make that people flap-mouthed, and to grin like dogs. We may also make

an Ass become couragious,

if we take him as soon as he is brought forth into the world, and put him to a Mare in the dark, that she may not discern him; for her own Colt being privily taken from her, she will give suck to the Asse as to her own foale: and when she hath done thus for the space of ten daies, she will give him suck alwayes after wil∣lingly, though she know him to be none of hers. Thus shall he be larger, and bet∣ter every way.

CHAP. IX.

How to bring forth divers kinds of Mules.

WE will speak of the commixtion of Asses, Horses, and such like: though it be a known matter, yet it may be we shall adde something which may delight the Reader. Aelianus writes out of Democritus, that Mules are not Natures work, but a kind of theft and adultery devised by man: first committed by an Asse of Media, that by force covered a Mare, and by chance got her with foal; which violence men learned of him, and after that made a custom of it. Homers Scholiast saith, that Mules were first devised by the Venetians, a City of Paphlagonia. It is writ•••••• Genesis, chap. 36. v. 24. that Anah, Esau's kinsman, feeding his fathers Asses in the wildernesse, found out Mules. Now

A Mule cometh of a Mare and an Ass.

They have no root in their own kind, but are graffed as it were, and double kin∣ded,

as Varro saith. If you would have a strong and a big Mule, you must chuse a Mare of the largest affize, and well-knit joints, not regarding her swiftnesse, but her strength. But there is another kind of mule called Hinnus, that cometh

of a Horse and a She-ass.

But here special choice must be made of the Asse, that she be of the largest affize, strongly jointed, and able to endure any labour, and of good qualities also; for howso∣ever it is the Sire that gives the name to the young one, and it is called Hinnus, of the Horse; yet it grows altogether like the Dam, having the main and the tail of an Asse, but Horses ears; and it is not so great of body as the Mule is, but much slow∣er, and much wilder. But the best She-mules of all, are generated

of a wilde Ass, and of a She-ass,

and these are the swiftest too; for though the Mule that is begotten by the He-asse, be both in shape and qualities very excellent in his kind, yet that which is begotten of the wilde Asse, cometh nothing behind the other, but only that it is unruly and stub∣born, and somewhat scammel, like the Sire. These Mules thus gendred of a wilde Asse, and a She-asse, if they be males, and put to cover a Mare, beget excellent young ones, which by little and little wax tame, resembling the shape and mildnesse of their Sire, but the stomack and swiftnesse of their Grand-sire; and they have exceeding hard feet, as Columella writes. These happily are the Mules which Aristotle writes, are only in Syria, swift, and fertile, called by the common name of Mules, because of their shape, though their kind be of a wild Asse. But there is a more common kind of

Strong Mules gendred of a Bull and an Ass,

which is a fourth sort of Mules, found in Gratianopolis, and called by a French name, Jumar. Gesner reports, that at the foot of the Hill Spelungus in Rhetia, was seen a Horse gendred of a Mare and a Bull. And I my self saw at Ferraria, certain beasts in the shape of a Mule, but they had a Bulls head, and two great knobs in stead of horns; they had also a Bulls eyes, and were exceeding stomackful, and their colour was black: a spectacle, wherewith we were much delighted. I have heard, that in France, they be common; but I could see none there, though I passed through the whole Country.

CHAP. X.

How to mingle the Sheep and Goats together, by generation.

IF we would better any qualities in a Ram, we must effect it by coupling them with wild beasts, such as are not much unlike, either in quantity or in kind. There is a beast called

Musinus, gendred of a Goat and a Ram.

Pliny saith, that in Spain, but especially in Corsica, there are beasts called Musimones not much unlike to Sheep, which have Goats hair, but in other parts, Sheep: the young ones which are gendred of them, coupling with Sheep, are called by the Antients, Umbri: Strabo calls them Musimones. But Albertus calls them Musini or Musimones, which are gendred of a Goat and a Ram. I have heard that in Rhe∣tia, in the Helvetian confines, there are generated certain beasts, which are Goats in the hinder parts, but in the former parts, Sheep or Rams; but they cannot live long, but commonly they die, as soon as they are born: and that there the Rams be∣ing grown in years, are very strong and lustful, and so oft-times meeting with goats,

do run over them: and that the young ones which wilde Rams beget of tame Sheep, are in colour like the Sire, and so is their breed after them; and the wool of the first breed is shaggy, but in their after-breed soft and tender. On the other side, there is a beast called

Cinirus, generated of a He-goat, and an Ewe,

as the same Albertus writeth. But the best devised adultery is, to couple in gene∣ration, and thereby to procreate young ones, of

A wilde and a tame Goat.

Writers affirm, that whatsoever kind hath some wilde, and some tame, the wilde∣nesse of them, if they couple with the tame of the same kind, is altered in the suc∣ceeding generations; for they become tame. Columella writes, that many wilde Rams were brought out of Africa into Cales, by some that set out games before the people; and Columella, the Uncle of this Writer, bought some of them, and put them into his grounds; and when they were somewhat tame, he let them co∣ver his Ewes: and these brought lambs that were rough, and had the colour of their Sire: but these then afterward coupling with the Ewes of Tarentum, begot lambs that had a thinner and a softer fleece. And afterward, all their succeeding generations resembled the colour of their Sires, and Grand-sires, but the gentle∣nesse and softnesse of their Dams. The like is experienced in Swine: for we may bring forth

Of a wild and a tame Swine, the beast called Hybrides:

for a Boar is exceeding hot in lust, and wonderfully desires coition; insomuch, that if the female refuse to couple with him, either he will force her, or kill her. And surely howsoever, some wilde beasts being made tame, are thereby unfit for generation, as a Goose, a Hart brought up by hand from his birth; and a Boar is hardly fruit∣full in such a case: yet there is no kind so apt for generation, the one being wilde, and the other tame, as the kind of Swine is. And those which are thus gendred, these half-wilds, are called Hybrides, happily because they are generated in re∣proachful adultery: for Hybris signifies reproach.

CHAP. XI.

Of some other commixtions, whereby other beasts of divers kinds are generated.

WE will speak yet farther of the commixtion of divers beasts differing in kinde; as also of other mixtions derived from these, so to find out all such kinds: and moreover we will shew, that of their young, some take after the Sire most, and some after the Dam. And first, that

A Leopard is gendred of a Libard and a Lioness.

The Lionesse is reported to burn in lust; and because the Lion is not so fit for copu∣lation, by reason of his superfluity of heat, therefore she entertains the Libard in∣to the Lions bed: but when her time of bringing forth draws neer, she gets away into the Mountains, and such places where the Libards haunt: for they bring forth spotted whelps, and therefore nurse them in thick woods very covertly, making shew to the Lions, that they go abroad only to seek some prey; for if the Lions at any time light upon the whelps, they tear them in pieces, as being a bastard brood, as Philostratus writes. In the wilde of Hircania, there are Leopards, as it were, ano∣ther kind of Panthers, which are known well enough, which couple with the Lio∣nesse, and beget Lions; but they are but base Lions, as Solinus writes. Isiodore saith,

that the Libard and the Lionesse coupling together, procreate a Leopard, and so make a third kind. Pliny saith, That those Lions which are generated of Li∣bards, do want the mones of Lions. And Solinus saith, that the Lion can find out by his smell, when the Lionesse hath played the Harlot; and seeks to re∣venge it upon her with all his might: and therefore the Lionesse washes her self in some River, or else keeps aloof from him, till the scent be wasted. Now as there are two sorts of Mules, one of a Horse and an Asse, the other of an Asse and a Mare; so there are two sorts of Leopards, one of a Li∣bard and a Lionesse, the other of a Lion and a Panther, or She-libard: that is in body like a Lion, but not in courage; this is in body and colour like a Libard, but not in stomack: for all double-kinded creatures, take most after their mother, especially for shape and quantity of their bodies. Claudianus saith, that there is a kinde of Libard, which he calls a Water-libard, that is gene∣rated of a mingled seed, when a strong and vigorous Libard meeteth with a Lionesse, and happily coupleth with her: and this kinde of Libard is like the Sire for his spots, but his back and the portraiture of his body is like his Dam. Now there is another copulation of the Lionesse, when the

Hyaena and the Lionesse gender the beast Crocuta;

for the Lionesse is very furious in lust, (as we shewed before) and couples with divers kinds of beasts: For Pliny writes, and Solinus writes the same, That the Hyaena and the Lionesse of Aethiopia, gender the beast Crocuta. Like∣wise the Panther is a most lustful beast, and she also couples with beasts of divers kinds; with a Wolf especially: of both which, the

Hycopanther, or beast called Thoes, is gendred;

for the Panther, when her sacoting is come, goeth up and down, and makes a great noise, and thereby assembles many, both of her own kind, and of o∣ther kinds also. And amongst the rest, the Wolf oft-times meets and cou∣ples with her, and from them is generated the beast Thoes, which resembles the Dam in the spots of his skin, but in his looks he resembles the Sire. Oppianus saith, That the Panther and the Wolfe do gender this Thoes, and yet he is of neither kinde: for, saith he, oft-times the Wolfe cometh to the Panthers Den, and couples with her; and thence is generated the Thoes: whose skin is very hard, and is meddled with both their shapes; skinned like a Panther, and headed like a Wolfe. There is also a

Thoes gendred of a Wolf and a female Hyaena.

This medley, Hesychius and Varinus have described; That of them comes this Thoes, as the Greeks call it. The Scholiast upon Homer saith, That it is like to the Hyaena: and some call it Chaos. Pliny saith, That this Chaos, which by the French is called Raphium, was first set forth for a shew, in the games of Pompey the Great: and that it hath spots like a Leopard, but is fa∣shioned like a Wolf. But the Greeks make mention of a very strange adul∣tery, that

The Bactrian Camel is gendred of a Camel and a Swine;

for Didymus, in his workes called Geoponica, reporteth, that in certain Mountaines of India, Boares and Camels feed together, and so fall to co∣pulation, and gender a Camel: and this Camel so gendred, hath a double rising, or two bunches upon his back. But as the Mule which is generated of a Horse and an Ass, is in many qualities like the Sire, so the Camel which

is begotten of a Boar, is strong and full of stiffe bristles like a Boar; and is not so soon down in the mud as other Camels are, but helps himself out lustily by his own force; and will carry twice so great a burthen as others. But the reason of their name, why they are called Bactrian Camels, is this; Because the first that ever was so generated, was bred in the Country of Bactria.

CHAP. XII.

Of sundry copulations, whereby a man genders with sundry kinds of Beasts.

I Am much ashamed to speak of it, that Man being the chief of all living Crea∣tures, should so foully disparage himself, as to couple with bruit beasts, and procreate so many half-savage Monsters as are often seen: wherein Man shews himself to be worse then a beast. I will relate some few examples hereof, thereby to make such wicked wretches an obloquie to the World, and their names odious to others. Plutark saith, That bruit beasts fall not in love with any, but of their own kinde; but man is so incensed with lust, that he is not ashamed most villanously to couple himself with Mares and Goats, and other Beasts; for Man is of all other Creatures most leche∣rous, at all seasons fit and ready for copulation; and besides, agrees with ma∣ny living Creatures in his time of breeding: all which circumstances make much for the producing of monstrous, and half-savage broods. And howsoever the matter we speak of is abominable, yet it is not fruitlesse, but helps much to the knowledge of some other things in the searching out of the secrecies of na∣ture. Plutark in his Tract, which he calls the Banquet of the wise men, sheweth, that a shepherd brought into the house of Periander,

A Babe gendred of a Man and a Mare,

which had the hands, and neck, and head of a Man, but otherwise it was like a Horse; and it cried like a young child. Thales, as soon as he saw it, told Periander, that he did not esteem it as a strange and monstrous thing, which the gods had sent to portend and betoken the seditions and commotions likely to ensure, as Diocles thought of it; but rather as a naturall thing: and therefore his advice was, that either they should have no Horse-keepers; or if they had, they should have wives of their own. The same Author in his Parallels, reporteth out of Agesilaus his third book of Italian matters, that Fulvius Stella loathing the company of a woman, coupled himself with a Mare, of whom he begat a very beautiful maiden-child; and she was called by a fit name, Ep••na. And the same Plutark reporeth also of

A maiden that was generated of a Man and an Ass;

for Aristonymus Ephesius, the Son of Demonstratus, could not away with a womans company, but made choice of an Asse to lie with; and she brought him forth after a certain time, a very comely maiden, and in shew exceed∣ing beautiful: she was called Onoscelis, that is to say, one having Asses thighes: and this story he gathered out of Aristotle, in the second of his Paradoxes. But Galen cannot think this possible; nay, it is scarce possible in nature, seeing a Man and an Asse differ so much as they do: for if a man should have to do with an Asse, her wombe cannot receive his seed, because his genitories are not long enough to convey it into her place of conception: or if it were, yet she would presently, or at least not long

after, marte his seed. Or, if she could so conceive, and bring her birth to per∣fection, how, or by what food should it be nourished after the birth? But, though this can hardly be, yet I do not think it altogether impossible, seeing all men are not of a like complexion, but some may be found, whose complexion doth not much differ from a horses; and some men also have longer and larger genito∣ries then others; as also some Mares and Asses have lesse and shorter genitories then others have: and it may be too, that some celestial influence hath a stroke in it, by enliving the seed, and causing the Dam to conceive it, and bring it forth in due time. And because all these things do very seldom concur together, there∣fore such births are very seldom seen. Aelianus writeth another story, That there was once generated

A half-beast of a Man and a Goat.

There was a certain young man in Sybaris, who was called Crachis, a luster after Goats; and being over-ruled by his lust, coupled himself with a fair Goat, the fairest he could light upon, and lived with her as his Love and Concu∣bine, bestowing many gifts upon her, as Ivy and Rushes to eat; and kept her mouth very sweet, that he might kisse her; and laid under her soft grasse, that she might lie easie, and sleep the better. The He-goat, the Ring-leader of the Herd, espying this, watcht his time when the young man was on sleep, and fell upon him and spoiled him. But the She-goat, when her time was come, brought forth an infant that had the face of a man, but the thighs of a Goat. The same Author writes, That

Women lie with He-goats, and with the Cynocephali;

for the He-goats are so lecherous, that in the madnesse of their lust, they will set upon Virgins, and by force ravish them. Herodotus in his second book, writeth of a He-goat, that had to do with a woman openly, and in the sight of many men standing by. Strabo saith, that in the Mediterranean Sea, a little without the mouth of a River neer to Sebenis and Pharnix, there is an Island called Xoas, and a City within the Province of Sebenis, and the Cities Hermopo∣lis and Mendes, where Pan is honoured for a God, and with him is likewise honoured a He-goat; and there, as Pindarus reports, He-goats have to do with women: In the utmost corner of the winding of the River Nilus, saith he, are fed certain Herds of Goats; and there the lecherous He-goats are mingled with women. Aelianus also writes of the Indians, that they will not admit into their Cities any red Apes, because they are oft-times mad in lust towards women; and if at any time they find such Apes, they hunt and destroy them, as be∣ing adulterous beasts. Pliny writes also, That

Man couples with divers kinds of beasts:

for some of the Indians have usual company with bruit beasts; and that which is so generated, is half a beast, and half a man.

CHAP. XIII.

That divers kinds of birds may be generated of divers birds coupling together.

BEfore we come to speak of the commixtion of birds, it is meet to pre∣scribe certain observations for the more easie effecting thereof; that if we have need to supply any defects in any birds, we may be the better

instructed how to perform it readily, to make them fitter for our uses. Se shewed before out of Aristotle, that if we would mingle Creatures of divers kinds, we must see that they be of like bignesse, of a like proportion of time for their breeding, of a like colour; but especially, that they be very lecherous; for otherwise they will hardly insert themselves into a strange stock. If a Falconer be desirous to pro∣duce fighting Hawks, or Cocks, or other birds, he must first seek our good lusty males, such as be strong and stomackful, that they may derive the: same qualities in∣to their young ones. Next, they must procure strong and couragious females: for if but one of them be stomackful, the young ones will rather take after the dulnesse and faint-heart of the one, then after the quicknesse and courage of the other. When you have thus made choice of the best breeders, before their copulation, you must keep them together within doors, and bring them by little and little ac∣quainted with each other; which you may best do, by causing them to feed and to live together. Therefore you must prepare a pretty little cottage, about ten foot long, and ten foot broad; and let all the windows be made out toward the South, so that there may good store of light come in at the top of the house. In the mid∣dle you must make a partition with lattises or grates, made of Osiers: and let the rods stand so far asunder, as that the birds head and neck may go in between them: and in one side of the room, let that bird be alone by her self, which you would make tame; in the other side, put the other birds which you purpose to join in co∣pulation with the strange bird. So then, in the prime of the Spring, (for that is the time wherein all Creatures are most eager in lust) you must get you fruitful birds, and let them be of the same colour, as is the bird which you desire to become tame. These you must keep certain daies at the same boord as it were, and give them their meat together, so that the strange bird may come at it through the grate: for by this means she will learn to be acquainted with them, as with her fellows, and will live quietly by them, being as it were kept in prison from doing them any wrong: whereas otherwise she would be so fierce upon them, that she would spare none, but it she could, destroy them all. But when once by tract of time, and continu∣al acquaintance with his fellows, this male-bird is become somewhat gentle, look which of the females he is most familiar with, let her be put in the same room where he is; and give them both meat enough. And because commonly he either kills, or doth not care for the first female that is put unto him, therefore, lest the keeper should lose all his hope, he must keep divers females for supply. When you perceive that he hath gotten the female with young, presently you must divorce one of them from the other, and let him in a new mate, that he may fill her also: and you must feed her well till she begin to sit upon her egges, or put the egges under some other that sits. And thus shall you have a young one, in all respects like the Cock: but as soon as the young ones are out of the shell, let them be brought up by themselves, not of their mother, but of some other Hen-bird. Last of all, the females of this brood, when they be come to ripenesse, that they stand to their Cock, their first or their second brood will be a very exact and absolute kinde.

CHAP. XIV.

Divers commixtions of Hens with other Birds.

WE will begin with Hens, because they are in great request with us, and are houshold-birds, alwayes before our eyes; and besides, they may be very pro∣fitable and gainful, if we can tell how to procreate and bring up divers kinds of them. Cocks are of all other most lecherous; and they spend their seed, not only at the sight of their Hens, but even when they hear them crake or cackle; and to represse their lust, they are oftentimes carved. They tread and fall to their sport, almost all the year long. Some Hens are very lusty, and withal very fruitful; inso∣much that they lay three-score egges before they sit to hatch them: yea, some that are kept in a pen, do lay twice in one day; and some bring forth such store

of egges, that they consume themselves thereby, and die upon it. We will first shew

How to couple a Partridge with a Hen.

Partridges are much given to lust, and very eager of coition, and are mingled with other birds of divers kinds, and they couple betwixt themselves, and so have young ones; as first with Hens, of whom they procreate certain birds, which partake of both kinds in common, for the first brood; but in processe of time, when divers generations have successively passed, they take meerly after the mother in all respects, as Aristotle writeth. The field-cocks are usually more lustful then houshold-cocks are, and they tread their Hens as soon as ever they are off the roust; but the Hens are more inclinable to coition, about the middle of the day, as Athenaeus writes, out of Aelianus and Theophrastus: of which circumstances we may take our best advan∣tage in coupling them with Partridges. After the same manner

A Hen and a Pheasant may gender together;

for, as Florentius writes, the Pheasant and the Hen agree both in their time of lay∣ing, either of them bringing forth egges one and twenty daies after conception. And though she be not so wanton as other birds are, yet in their treading time they are glad of coition, and not very wilde, especially those that are of the smaller sort: for these may easily be made tame, and suffered to go amongst Hens; but at their first taking they are very fierce, insomuch that they will not only kill Hens, but even Peacocks too. Some men bring up Pheasants to make a game of them: but some breed them for delight and pleasure, as I saw at Ferraria in the Princes Court, where was brought up very great store, both of Hens and Pheasants too. And this hath been an old practice: for in Athenaeus we find a saying of Ptolomy, that not on∣ly Pheasants were sent for out of Media, but the Country Hens, they also afforded good store of them, the egges being conceived in them by the treading of a Cock∣pheasant. First then, you must take a Cock-pheasant, and be very careful in keeping of him tame amongst your Hens: after that, you must seek our Country-hens of di∣vers colours, as like the colour of the Hen-Pheasant as you can, and let them live with the Cock-Pheasant, that in the Spring-time he may tread the Hens; and they will bring forth speckled egges, everywhere full of black spots, far greater and good∣lier then other egges are. When these are hatched, you must bring up the chicken with barly-flour, and some leaves of smallage shred in amongst it; for this is the most delightful and nourishing food that they that they can have. There is also

A Chick gendred of a Pigeon and a Hen:

the Pigeon must be young, for then he hath more heat and desire of copulation, and much abundance of seed; for if he be old, he cannot tread: but young Pigeons do couple at all times, and they bring forth both Summer and Winter. I had my self at home a single Pigeon, & a Hen that had lost her Cock: the Pigeon was of a large size, and wanton withal; the Hen was but a very small one: these lived together, and in the Spring-time the Pigeon trode the Hen, whereby she conceived, and in her due season laid egges, and afterward hatched them, and brought forth chicken that were mixt of either kind, and resembled the shape of them both. In greatnesse of body, in fashion of head and bill, they were like a Pigeon; their feathers very white and curled, their feet like a Hens feet, but they were overgrown with fea∣thers; and they made a noise like a Pigeon: and I took great pleasure in them; the rather, because they were so familiar, that they would still sit upon the bed, or nuzzle into some womans bosom. But there is, yet another mixture, when

A Cock, and a Pea, gender the Gallo-Pavus;

which is otherwise called the Indian-hen, being mixt of a Cock and Pea, though the shape be liker to a Pea then to Cock. In body and greatnesse it resembles the Pea, but it hath a combe and chackels under the chin like a Cock: it hath the voice of a Pea, and spreads forth her tail, and hath such varietie of colours as she hath. The taste of her flesh relishes like a compound of them both; whereby it ap∣pears, that both kinds are not unfitly matcht together. But afterward, when the she Gallo-pavus and the Pea-cock were brought up tame together, we had of them very fruitful egges, which being hatcht, yeelded very goodly chickens, whose feathers were of a most orient and glistering colour: and these young ones after∣ward growing bigger, were mingled in copulation with Pea-cocks and Pea-hens, and the brood which was so generated of them, were in a manner all of the kind and fashion of the Pea. The like a man may conjecture of other kinds of birds.

CHAP. XV.

How to generate Hawkes of divers properties.

WE will shew some commixtions of Hawks, by the example whereof, you may imagine of your self the like in other birds: and hereby it shall appear how we may amend divers faults and defects in Hawks, and engraffe in them some new qua∣lities to be derived from their sundry progenitets. And first, how

The bird Theocronus is gendred of a Hawk and an Eagle.

Hawks are exceeding hot in lust; and though there be divers kinds of them, yet they all couple together among themselves without any difference, as Aristotle writeth: they couple with Eagles, and thereby engender bastard Eagles. Eagles are most le∣cherous: and whereas among other creatures, the famale is not alwayes ready and willing to yeeld to the male for coition; yet the Eagles never refuse it: for though they have been trod never so oft, yet still, if the male desire copulation, the female presently yeelds unto him. Aelianus accounts ordinary and common Hawks in the kind of Eagles. Oppianus in his Ixeutica saith, that there is a bird known well enough, called Theocronus, which is generated of a male Hawk, and a female Ea∣gle. There is a kind of Hawks so wholly given over to lust, that in the Spring-time they lose all their strength, and every little bird snaps at them; but in the Summer, having recovered her strength, she is so lusty, that she flies up and down to revenge her self upon those little birds; and as many of them as she catches, she devours. If the male of this kind do but hear the voice of the female Eagle, presently he flies to her, and they couple together: but the egges which she conceives by this base copu∣lation, she scorns to hatch and sit upon▪ and that she may not be known of it to the male Eagle, she flies far away from him: for the male Eagle, if once he perceive that she hath played the harlot, divorces her from him, and is throughly revenged upon her. These birds are now commonly called Sea-eagles. There is also a com∣mixtion, whereby the Hawk mingles himself

with a Faulcon, and with a Buzzard, and the Eagle Nisus;

for Hawks do not only couple with their own kind, but with Faulcons, Buzzards, and Eagles of divers kinds, as also with most of those fowles that live upon the prey and spoil of other birds; and according to the diversity of those kinds, divers kinds of Hawks are generated. Besides, they couple with strange Faulcons of other Countries, and other kinds: for as soon as they be hatcht and Pen-feather∣ed, if their parents see that they are not right Faulcons, presently they beat them a∣way; and so partly because they cannot endure their parents rage, and partly to

get their living, they flie away into strange places; and there finding no mates of their own kind, they seek out a mate of another kind, the likest to her own kind that the can meet with, and couples with them. So then, if you have Hawks that descend from the right and best kind, art may more easily work upon them, then upon such as come of the baser sort. In like manner there may be generated of divers kinds of Eagles divers fowles, as

The Osprey, the fowl called Ossifragus, and Ravens also.

Pliny discoursing of the Osprey, saith, That they have no proper kinde of their own, but are descended from divers sorts of Eagles mingled together: and that which cometh of the Osprey, is of the kind of Ossifragi: and that which cometh of the Ossifragi, is a kind of little Ravens, and of these afterward is generated a kind of great Ravens, which have no issue at all: the Author of which assertions before Pliny, was Aristotle in his book of Wonders. Oppianus saith, that Land-eagles are a bastard brood, which their parents beat out of their nests, and so they are for a while nourished by some other fowles, till at length they forsake the Land, and seek their living in the Sea.

CHAP. XVI.

Of the commixtion of divers kinds of fishes.

IT is a very hard thing for a man to know, whether divers kinds of fishes be min∣gled together or no; because they live altogether under the waters, so that we cannot observe their doings; especially such as they practise against the ordinary course of nature. But if we rightly consider that which hath been spoken, before, we may easily effect their commixtion, namely, if we take such fishes as are much given to venery, and match those together which are alike in bigness; in time of breed∣ing, and in other such conditions as were before required. Aristotle in his book of living Creatures, saith, that divers fishes in kind never mingle their seeds to∣gether: neither did ever any man see two fishes of divers kinds couple in generati∣on, excepting only these two,

The Skate and the Ray, which engender the Rhinobatos;

which is so called of both his parents names compounded together. And out of Aristotle, Pliny reporteth, that no fishes of divers kinds mingle their seeds, save only the Skate and the Ray; of both which is gendred the fish Rhinobatos, which is like the Ray in all his former parts, and hath his name in Greek answerable to his nature; for it is compounded of the names of both his parents. And of this kind of fish I never read nor heard any thing besides this. Theodorus Gaza translates the word Rhinobatos into Squatin••-raia in Latine, that is, a Skate-ray: and though some deny that there is any such fish, yet surely it is found in the Sea about Naples; and Simon Portus, a very learned Philosopher of Naples, did help me to the sight of one of them; and the picture thereof is yet reserved, and it is to be seen.

CHAP. XVII.

How we may produce new and strange Monsters.

STrange and wonderful monsters, and aborsements, or untimely births, may be gendred of living Creatures, as by those wayes of which we spake before, name∣ly, the commixtion of divers kinds; so also by other means, as by the mixture of divers seeds in one wombe, by imagination, or such like causes. Concerning Ima∣gination, we will speak hereafter. Now at this time let us see the wayes of en∣gendring such monsters, which the Ancients have set down, that the ingenious Rea∣der

may learn by the consideration of these wayes, to invent of himself other wayes how to generate wonderful monsters. Democritus, as Aristotle saith, held that the mixture of many seeds, when one is received into the wombe before, and another not long after, so that they are meddled and confounded together, is the cause of the generation of many Monsters, that sometimes they have two heads, and more parts then the nature of their kinde requires. Hence it is that those birds which use often coitions, do oftentimes bring forth such births. But Empedocles, having forecast all scruples and doubts within himself, seems to have attained the truth in this case: for he saith, that the causes of the generation of monstrous Creatures, are these; either if the seed be too much, or if it be too little, or if it light not in the right place, or if it be scattered into many parts, or if the congredients be not rightly affected to procreate according to the ordinary course of nature. And Stra∣ton assignes many reasons, why such monsters are generated; as, because some new seed is cast upon the former, or some of the former seed is diminished, or some parts transposed, or the wombe puffed up with winde. And some Physitians ascribe it principally to the place of conception, which is oft-times misplaced, by reason of inflations. Aristotle saith, that such Creatures as are wont to bring forth many young ones at one burthen, especially such as have many cells or receipts for seed in their wombe, do most commonly produce monsters: for in that they bring forth some that are not so fully perfect, thereby they degenerate more easily into mon∣sters: especially of all other, the Pigs that are not farrowed at their due time, but some certain dayes after the rest of the litter; for these cannot chuse but be mon∣sters in one part or other; because whatsoever is either more or less then that which the kind requires, is monstrous, and besides Nature. And in his book of Problems he saith, that small four-footed Creatures bring forth monsters: but Man, and the greater sorts of four-footed beasts, as Horses and Asses, do not produce them so of∣ten. His reason is, because the smaller kinds, as Bitches, Sows, Goats, and Ewes, are far more fruitful then the greater kinds are; for, of those, every one brings forth at least one, and some bring forth for the most part, many at once. Now Monsters are wont to be produced then, when there is a commixtion or confusion of many seeds together, either by reason of sundry copulations, or because of some indisposition in the place of conception. Hence it is, that birds also may bring forth monsters; for they lay egges sometimes that have a double yelk: and if there be no small skin that keeps both the yelks asunder, then the confusion of them causeth the breed to become monstrous. Nature is earnest in the fashioning of a living Creature; and first shapes out the principal parts of the body: afterwards she worketh sometimes more, sometimes lesse, as the matter can afford which she works upon, still framing her self thereunto: whereby it cometh to passe, that if the matter be defective, then she cannot have her forth; if it be overmuch, then is na∣ture overcome, and so both wayes hindered of her purpose, and thereby brings forth monstrous broods, as in artificial births hath been often seen; some being defective, as having but one leg, or but one eye; some exceeding the ordinary course, as having four eyes, or four arms, or four feet, and sometimes having both sexes in them, which are called Hermaphrodites: and so, look how your art disposes and layes things together, and after the same manner, Nature must needs accomplish her work, and finish your beginnings. But whosoever wouldst bring forth any mon∣sters by art, thou must learn by examples, and by such principles be directed, as here thou mayest find. First, thou must consider with thy self, what thing are likely and possible to be brought to passe: for if you attempt likely matters, Nature will assist you, and make good your endeavours, and the work will much delight you: for you shall see such things effected, as you would not think of; whereby also you may find the means to procure more admirable effects. There be many reasons and wayes, whereby may be generated

Monsters in Man.

First, this may come by reason of inordinate or unkindly copulations, when the

seed is not conveyed into the due and right places: again, it may come by the narrownesse of the wombe, when there are two young ones in it, and for want of room, are pressed and grow together: again, it may come by the marring of those thin skinnes of partition, which nature hath framed in a womans wombe, to distinguish and keep asunder the young ones. Pliny writes, that in the year of Caius Laelius and Lucius Domitius Consulship, there was born a maid-child that had two heads, four hands, and was of double nature in all respects: and a little before that, a woman-servant brought forth a child, that had sour feet, and four hands, and four eyes, and as ma∣ny ears, and double natured every way. Philostratus in the life of Apollonius writes, that there was born in Sicily, a boy having two heads. I my self saw at Naples, a boy alive, out of whose breast came forth another boy, ha∣ving all his parts, but that his head only stuck behind in the other boyes breast; and thus they had sticken together in their mothers wombe, and their navils also did cling each to other. I have also seen divers children having four hands and four feet, with six fingers upon one hand, and six toes upon one foot, and monstrous divers other wayes, which here were too long to rehearse. By the like causes may

Monsters be generated in Beasts.

We shewed before, that such beasts as bring forth many young ones at one burthen, especially such as have many cells or receits in their wombe for seed, do of∣tenest produce Monsters. Nicocreon the Tyrant of Cyprus, had a Hart with four horns. Aelianus saw an Oxe that had five feet; one of them in his shoulder, so absolutely made, and so conveniently placed, as it was a great help to him in his going. Livy saith, that at Sessa-Arunca a City in Italy, there was eaned a Lambe that had two heads; and at Apolis, another Lambe having five feet; and there was a kitling with but three feet. Rhases re∣ports, that he saw a Dog having three heads. And there be many other like matters which I have no pleasure to speak of. But it may seem that

Monsters in Birds may be more easily produced;

both in respect that they are more given to lust, and because also they bear in their bodies many egges at once, whereby they may stick together, and easily cleave each to other: and besides this, those birds that are by nature very fruitfull, are wont to lay egges that have two yelkes. For these causes, Co∣lumella and Leontinus the Greek, give counsel to air and purge the houses where Hennes are, and their nests, yea and the very Hennes themselves, with Brimstone, and pitch, and torches; and many do lay a plate of iron, or some nailes heads, and some Bay-Tree boughs upon their nests; for all these are supposed to be very good preservatives against monstrous and prodigious births. And Columella reports farther, that many do strew grasse, and Bay-Tree boughs, and heads of Garlick, and iron nails, in the Hens nests; all which are supposed to be good remedies against thunder, that it may not marre their egges; and these also do spoil all the imperfect chickens, if there be any, before ever they grow to any ripenesse. Aelianus reporteth out of Apion, that in the time of Oeneus King of the South, there was seen a Crane that had two heads; and in another Kings daies, another bird was seen that had four heads. We will shew also how to hatch

A chicken with four wings and four feet,

which we learn out Aristotle. Amongst egges, some there are oft-times that have two yelkes, if the Hennes be fruitful: for two conceptions cling

and grow together, as being very near each to other; the like whereof we may see in the fruits of Trees, many of them being twins, and growing into each other. Now, if the two yelks be distinguished by a small skinne, then they yield two perfect chickens without any blemish: but if the yelks be med∣dled one with another, without any skinne to part them, then that which is produced thereof, is a Monster. Seek out therefore some fruitful Hennes, and procure some of the perfectest egges that they lay: you may know which are for your purpose, by the bignesse of them; if not, then hold them against the Sun, and you shall discern, both whether there be in them two yelks, and also whether they be distinguished or no: and if you finde in them such plenty of matter, that you see they are for your turn, let them be sitten upon, their due time, and the chickens will have four wings and four legges: but you must have a special care in bringing them up. And as some egges have two yelkes, so there are some that have three: but these are not so common; and if they could be gotten, they would yield chickens with six wings and sixs legges, which be more wonderful. There hath been seen a small Duck with four feet, having a broad thin bill, her fore-parts black, her hinder-parts yellow, a black head, whitish eyes, black wings, and a black circle about her neck, and her back and tail black, yel∣low feet, and not standing far asunder; and she is at this day kept to be seen at Torga. No question but she was generated after the same manner as we spake even now of chickens. So they report of a Pigeon that was seen which had four feet. And many such monsters we have oft-times hatcht at home for pleasure sake. So also are Serpents generated, having many heads and ma∣ny tailes. Aristotle writes of certain Serpents, that they may be generated after the same manner, to have many heads. The Poets, and the ancient de∣visers of Fables, do speak much of that Hydra L••rnaea, which was one of Hercules labours to overcome: which Fiction was without all question occa∣sioned by these kinds of Monsters. And whilst I was imployed about the writing of this present work, there was in Naples a Viper seen alive, which had two heads, and three cloven tongues, and moved every one of them up and down. I my self have seen many Lizards that had two or three tails, which the common people most foolishly esteem to be a jest; and it cannot be but these were generated of such egges as had two yelks.

CHAP. XVIII.

Of certain other waies how to produce monstrous births.

WE may also produce Monsters by another way then that which we spake of before; for even after they are brought forth, we may fashion them into a monstrous shape, even as we list: for as we may shape young fruits as they grow, into the fashion of any vessel or case that we make for them to grow into; as we may make a Quince like a mans head, a Cucumber like a Snake, by ma∣king a case of that fashion for them to grow in; so also we may do by the births of living Creatures. Hippocrates in his book of Air, and Water, and Places, doth precisely set down the manner hereof; and sheweth how they do it, that dwell by the River Phasis, all of them being very long-headed, whereas no other Nation is so besides. And surely Custom was the first cause that they had such heads; but afterward Nature framed her self to that Cu∣stome; insomuch that they esteemed it an honourable thing to have a very long head. The beginning of that Custome was thus. As soon as the child was new born, whiles his head was yet soft and tender, they would pre∣sently crush it in their hands, and so cause it to grow out in length; yea they would bind it up with swathing bands, that it might not grow round, but all in length: and by this custom it came to passe, that their heads afterward

grew such by nature. And in process of time, they were born with such heads, so that they needed not to be so framed by handling; for whereas the generative seed is derived from all the parts of the body, sound bodies yielding good seed, but crazie bodies unsound seed; and oftentimes bald fathers beget bald children; and blear-eyed fathers, blear-eyed children; and a deformed father, for the most part a deformed childe; and the like also cometh to passe concerning other shapes: why should not also long-headed fathers generate long-headed children? But now they are not born with such heads, because that practise is quite out of use; and so nature, which was upheld by that custom, ceaseth together with the custom. So if we would produce a two-legged Dog, such as some are carried about to be seen; we must take very young whelps, and cut off their feet, but heal them up very carefully: and when they be grow to strength, join them in copulation with other dogs that have but two legs left; and if their whelps be not two-legged, cut off their legs still by succession, and at the last, nature will be overcome to yield their two-legged dogs by generati∣on. By some such practise as you heard before, namely by handling, and often framing the members of young children, Mid-wives are wont to amend imperfections in them; as the crookednesse or sharpnesse of their noses, or such like.

CHAP. XIX.

Of the wonderful force of imagination; and how to produce party-coloured births.

PLutark in his rehearsal of the opinions of Philosophers, writes, that Empedocles held that an infant is formed according to that which the mother looks upon at the time of conception: for, saith he, women were wont to have commonly pictures and images in great request, and to bring forth children resembling the same. Hippo∣crates, to clear a certain womans honesty that had brought forth children very unlike their parents, ascribed the cause of it to a certain picture which she had in her chamber. And the same defence Quintilian useth on the behalf of a woman, who being her self fair, had brought forth a Black-moor, which was supposed by all men to be her slaves son. Damascen reports, that a certain young woman brought forth a child that was all hairy; and searching out the reason thereof, he found the hiary image of Iohn Baptist in her chamber, which she was wont to look upon. Heliodorus begins that excellent history which he wrote, with the Queen of Aethi∣opia, who brought forth Chariclea a fair daughter; the cause whereof was, the fable of Andromeda pictured in that chamber, wherein she lay with the King. We read of some others, that they brought forth horned children, because in the time of their coition they looked upon the fable of Actaeon painted be∣fore them. Many children have hare-lips; and all because their mothers being with child, did look upon a Hare. The conceit of the mind, and the force of Imagination is great; but it is then most operative, when it is excessively bent upon any such thing as it cannot attain unto. Women with child, when they long most vehemently, and have their minds earnestly set upon any thing, do thereby alter their inward spirits; the spirits move the blood, and so imprint the likenesse of the thing mused upon, in the tender substance of the child. And surely all children would have some such marks or other, by reason of their mothers longing, if this longing were not in some sort sa∣tisfied. Wherefore the searchers out of secrets have justly ascribed the marks and signes in the young ones, to the imagination of the mother; especially that imagination which prevails with her in the chiefest actions, as in coition, in letting go her seed, and such like: and as man of all other living creatures, is most swift and fleeting in his thoughts, and fullest of conceits; so the variety of his wit affords much variety of such effects; and therefore they are more in mankind, then in other living creatures: for other creatures are not so divers minded, so that

they may the better bring forth every one his like in his own kind. Iacob was well acquainted with this force of imagination, as the Scriptures witnesse: for en∣deavouring

To bring forth party-coloured Sheep,

he took that course which I would wish every man to take, that attempts any such enterprize. He took certain Rods and Poles of Popler, and Almond-tree, and such as might be easily barked; and cut off half the rine, pilling them by white strakes, so that the Rods were white and black in several circles, like a Snakes co∣lour. Then he put the Rods which he had pilled, into the gutters and watering-troughs, when the Sheep came to drink, and were in heat of conception, that they might look upon the Rods. And the Sheep conceived before the Rods, and brought forth young of party-colours, and with small and great spots. A delightful sight it was. Now afterward, Iacob parted these Lambes by themselves, and turned the faces of the other Sheep towards these party-coloured ones, about the time of concep∣tion: whereby it came to passe, that the other Sheep in their heat, beholding those that were party-coloured, brought forth Lambs of the like colour. And such experiments might be practised upon all living Creatures that bear wool; and would take place in all kinds of beasts; for this course will prevail even in

Generating party-coloured Horses;

A matter which Horse-keepers, and Horse-breeders do practise much; for they are wont to hang and adorn with tapestry and painted clothes of sundry colours, the houses and rooms where they put their Mares to take Horse; whereby they procure Colts of a bright Bay colour, or of a dapple Gray, or of any one colour, or of sun∣dry colours together. And Absyrtus teacheth the same in effect; counselling us to cover the Mares body with some stuff of that colour, which we would have the Colt to be of: for look what colour she is set forth in, the same will be derived into the Colt; for the horse that covers her, will be much affected with the sight of such co∣lours, as in the heat of his lust he looketh on; and will beget a Colt of the same hue as the example then before his eyes doth present unto him. Oppianus in his first book of Hunting, writes the same argument. Such is, saith he, the industry and pra∣ctisednesse of mans wit, that they can alter the colour of the young ones from the mother, and even in the wombe of their Dam procure them to be of divers colours: for the Horse-breeder doth paint the Mares back with sundry colours, (even such as they would procure to be in the Colt,) against the time that both she desires horse, & the Stallion is admitted to cover her. So the Stallion, when he cometh and sees such goodly preparation as it were for his wedding, presently begins to some at the mouth, and to neigh after her, and is possessed with the fire of raging lust throughout his whole body, raving and taking on, that he cannot forthwith satisfie himself upon his bride. At length the Horse-breeder takes off their fetters, and lets them loose to∣gether; and the Mare admits him, and afterward brings forth a Colt of as many colours as she beheld in the time of her copulation; for as she conceives the Colt, so withal she conceives those colours which she then looks upon.

How to procure white Pea-cocks.

Informer times, white Pea-cocks were such a rare sight in Colen, that every one admired them as a most strange thing: but afterward they became more common, by reason that merchants brought many of them out of Norway: for whereas black or else party-coloured Peacocks were carried into that Country to be seen, presently as they came thither, they waxed white; for there the old ones sit upon their eggs in the air, upon the tops of very high mountaines, full of snow; and by continual sitting there, it causeth some alteration in their own colour; but the young which they hatch, are white all over. And no doubt but some such courses will

take good effect in all kinds of birds; for if we take their Cages or Coops wherein they are kept, and their nests wherein they sit, and white them on the inside with some plastering work, or else cover them all over with white clothes or curtains, and so keep them in with grates, that they may not get out, but there couple and sit, and hatch their egges, they will yeeld unto us white broods. So if you would▪

Procure Pigeons of party colours,

you must take that course which Oppianus hath set down. At such time, as they fall to kissing their mate, and are desirous of copulation, let him that keeps them lay before their eyes sundry clothes of the bravest colours they can get, but especially purple: for the pigeons will in their heat of lust be much affected and delighted with the sight thereof, and the young ones which they bring forth, shall resemble the same colours. The subtil Fowler, saith he, that gives himself to take and to bring up birds, is well acquainted with, and is wont to practise such experiments, and very artificially procures fine colours in young Pigeons: he casteth before their spark∣ling eyes fine wrought tapestry, and red coverlets, and purple garments; and so whiles he feeds their eyes with pleasing sights, he steals away their imagination to the co∣lours which they look upon, and thereby derives the very same colours into the young ones.

How to procure a shag-hair'd Dog.

In ••a••ting time you must strew their kennels, and the places where they lie and couple, and usually haunt, with the fleeces and hides of beasts; and so, while they continually look upon those sights, they will beget shag whelps like Lions. This we heard came to passe by chance, and without any such intended purpose, that a little Bitch lying continually in a Rams fleece, when she came to be with whelp, she brought forth puppies of the like hair as the fleece was.

How to procure Swine, and other beasts to be white.

Swine-herds, and Keepers of beasts, when they would have white litters, are wont to beautifie, and to build the stables and places whither the beasts resort to lye, with white roofs and white eaves; and the Swine which were brought forth in such white sties, and the other beasts likewise that were brought forth in such whi∣ted places, became thereby white all over.

CHAP. XX.

How it may be wrought, that Women should bring forth fair and beautiful children.

BY this which hath been spoken, it is easie for any man to work the like effects in mankind, and to know how to procure fair and beautiful children. Nay, Writers make mention, that these things which we speak of, have oftentimes fallen out by chance. Wherefore it was not here to be omitted. The best means to pro∣duce this effect, is to place in the bed-chambers of great men, the images of Cu∣pid, Adonis, and Ganymedes; or else to set them there in carved and graven works, in some solid matter, that they may alwayes have them in their eyes: whereby it may to passe, that whensoever their wives lie with them, still they may think upon those pictures, and have their imagination strongly and earnestly bent thereupon: and not only while they are in the act, but after they have conceived and quickned also: so shall the child when it is born, imitate and expresse the same form which his mother conceived in her mind, when she conceived him, and bare in her mind, while she bare him in her wombe. And I know by experience, that this course will take good effect; for after I had counselled many to use it, there was a woman,

who had a great desire to be the mother of a fair Son, that heard of it, and put it in practise; for she procured a white boy carved of marble, well proportioned eve∣ry way; and him she had always before her eyes: for such a Son it was that she much desired. And when she lay with her Husband, and likewise afterward, when she was with child, still she would look upon that image, and her eyes and heart were continually fixed upon it: whereby it came to passe, that when her breeding time was expired, she brought forth a Son very like in all points, to that marble image, but especially in colour, being as pale and as white, as if he had been very marble indeed. And thus the truth of this experiment was manifestly proved. Ma∣ny other women have put the like course in practise, and their skill hath not failed them. Oppianus mentions this kind of practise, that it is usual amongst the Lace∣daemonians: for they, saith he, when they perceive that their wives are breeding young bones, hang up fine pictures, and place goodly images in their sight; some, of the most beautiful and handsome young men that ever mankind afforded, as of Nireus, Narcissus, and valiant Hyacinthus, and of other young lusty gallants that were most comely and beautiful in face, and very sightly for all the parts of their body; and some, of such excellent gods as was Apollo crowned with a garland of fresh coloured Bay, and Evan that had a Diadem of Vine-leaves about his head, and goodly hair hanging down under it: and this they did, that while their Wives stood gazing continually upon such brave pictures, and comely portraitures, they might breed and bring forth children of the same comlinesse and beauty.

CHAP. XXI.

How we may procure either males or females to be generated.

EMpedocles was of opinion, That males or females were generated according to the heat or cold that was in them; and thence it is, saith he, that the first males are reported to have been generated in the Eastern and Southern parts of the earth, but the first females in the Northern parts. But Parmenides quite contrary affirm∣ed, That males were especially generated towards the North, as having in them more solidity and thicknesse; and females especially towards the South, as being more loose and open, according to the disposition of the place. Hipponax held, That males and females are generated, according as the seed is either strong and so∣lid, or fluid, weak and feeble. Anaxagoras writes, that the seed which issueth out of the right parts of the body, is derived into the right parts of the wombe; and likewise that which issueth out of the left parts of the body, falleth into the left parts of the wombe: but if they change courses, and the right seed fall into the left cell or receit in the wombe, or the left seed into the right cell, then it ge∣nerates a female. Leucippus held, That there was no cause either in the seed or heat, or solidity, or place, that they should be different sexes, but only as it pleases nature to mark the young ones with different genitories, that the male hath a yard, and the female a wombe. Democritus affirms, that either sex in every part proceeds indifferently from either parent; but the young one takes in sex after that parent which was most prevalent in that generation. Hipponax saith, if the seed whereof the young is begotten, prevail most, then it is a male; but if the nourishment which it receives in the breeding, prevail more then the seed, then it is a female. But all Physitians with one consent affirm, that the right side hath most heat in it; wherefore if the woman receive and retain the generative seed in the right side of her wombe, then that which she conceives, is a male; but if in the left side, it is a female. The experience whereof may be evidently seen in such living Creatures as bring forth many at one burthen: for if you cut open a Sow that is great with Pig, you shall find the Boar-pigs lying in the right side, and the Sow-pigs in the left side of her wombe. And hence it is, that Physitians counsel women, as soon as they have taken in mans seed, to turn them presently on their right side. And hence it is, that if you knit up a Rams right stone, he begets Ewe-lambs only, as Pliny wri∣teth. A Bull, as soon as he hath rid a Cow, gives evident signs to any man to con∣jecture

whether he hath begotten a Cow-calf or a Bulchin; for if he leap off by the right side, it is certain that he hath begotten a Bulchin; if by the left side, then a Cow-calf. Wherefore the Aegyptians in their Hieroglyphicks, when they would signi∣fie a woman that hath brought forth a daughter, they make the character & likeness of a Bull looking toward the left side; but to signifie the birth of a son, they make his cha∣racter as looking toward the right side. But if you desire to have a male generated, A∣fricanus, Columella, and Didymus counsel you to knit up the left stone of the Sire; if a female, then to knit up his right stone; at such times as he is to be coupled for generation. But because this would be too muchto do, where there is great store of cattel, we may assay it by another means. Northern blasts help much to the conception of a male, and Southern blasts to the conception of a female, as Pliny reporteth: the force of the Northern air is such, that those beasts which are wont to procreate females only, this will cause to bring forth males also. The Dams at the time of their copulation, must be set with their noses into the North: and if they have been used to coition still in the morning, you must not put them to it in the afternoon, for then they will not stand to their mate. Aristotle, a man most subtile, and exquisitely seen in the works of nature, willeth us, that about the time of gendering, we should wait for some Northern blasts in a dry day, and then let the flock feed against the winde, and so let them fall to copulation: if we would procure females to be generated, then we must so wait for Southern blasts, and let them stand with their heads towards the South as they are in copulation; for so not only Aristotle counselleth, but Columella and Aelianus also: for it is a rule that Aelianus, Pliny, Africanus and Didymus do all give, that if the cattel, as soon as they have been covered, do turn themselves toward the Southern winde, then certainly they have conceived females. There is also some cause of the procreation of a male, or of a female, in the begetters themselves; nay further, some cause thereof may be the force and operation of some waters: for sometimes the waters cause that a male or female be generated. There is, not far from the City Pana, a certain River called Milichus; and not far from that, another River called Chara∣dius; whereof if the beasts drink in the Spring-time, they commonly bring forth all males: for which cause the Shepherds there drive away their flocks at that time, and feed them in that part of the Country which lieth farthest off from that River; as Pausanias writeth in his Achaica.

CHAP. XXII.

Of divers experiences that may be, and have been practised upon divers living Crea∣tures.

THere remain now certain experiments of living Creatures, both pleasant, and of some use, which we have thought good here to set down, to save a labour of seek∣ing them any further. And first,

How to make Horses have white spots on them.

It is a thing required in the art of trimming of Horses, to be able to cause white spots to grow in some parts of them; for crafty Horse-coursers are wont to coun∣terfeit white spots in the forehead, or left thigh, or right shoulder of an Horse, thereby to deceive such men, as are wont to gesse at the goodnesse and qualities of a horse, by the conjecture of such marks. And this their counterfeit practise hath been derected by this chance; that the hair of a horses skin being galled off in any place, after a while hoary hairs have grown up there of themselves; and it is not unlikely but that this chance taught them that practise. The manner of the doing it, is, first to shave off the hair in that place where you would have a white spot; and then rub off, or cut the upper skin, and so you shall there have a white patch. But Oppianus speaking of the same experiment, shews that it is to be done by fire. There be some Horses, saith he, that are full of white round spots intermingled

with their black colour: it cometh by the industry of the Horse-breeder, who when they are yet tender and young, cunningly burns off their hair with an hot iron. But on the contrary, if you would have

The hairs of a wounded or galled place, to grow up of the same colour, as the other hair is of,

Tiberius hath taught the way how to do it. You must knead three pints of bruised or ground barley, and put to it the froth of nitre and a little salt, and make it into loaves; then you must put them into an Oven till they are burned to coals; after∣ward crush them, and beat them to powder, and then mix them with oyle, and anoint the sore or the scar therewith; and this you must do for twenty daies. But what should be the reason that this barley ashes should cause, not white hairs, but the like in colour to the rest, to grow upon the scars or sores of horses whereupon it is cast, that, Alexander Aphrodisaeus ascribes to this, because barley hath in it a purga∣tive and cleansing force, and so wasteth and expelleth the humors, and all the naughty stuff, that was gathered by the sore into that part, because it was maimed, and con∣sequently not so well able to relieve it self. Neither yet will I here omit that toyish experiment whereby we may

Procure in Oxen a counterfeit shew of fatnesse.

If you take an Oxe well grown in years, and make a hole into his thigh, and blow wind thereby into him, and afterward give him meat, he will shew fat, though indeed he be very lean. We may also, by giving them some kind of water to drink

Cause the fleeces and hides of cattel to be of divers colours,

as Aelianus sheweth. The River Crathis affords one channel that makes beasts white: for Oxen and Sheep, and all four-footed beasts, as Theophrastus saith, as soon as they drink of it, become white, though before they were red or black. In Euboea, all for the most part, are white Oxen by nature. Sheep, by reason of the diversity of mater which they drink, do diversly change their colour; the force and nature of the Rivers working this change in them, especially at every ramming time. Some are turned from black to white, and contrariwise, some are turned from white to black: these alterations are commonly seen neer to the River Antandrus, and neer also to a certain River in Thracia. The River Scamander, which is neer unto Troy, makes as many Sheep as drink of the water thereof, to become yellow. We may also conjecture and foresee by certain outward bodily signs in the Dam or Sire,

What colour their young ones will be of.

To foreknow the colour of young Mules, we must take special example of the hairs of their Dams ears and eye-lids: for howsoever the rest of their body is of one and the same colour, yet in those two parts we may discern so many and such co∣lours as the foal shall have, as Columella writeth. So if you look under the Rams tongue, you shall there find certain veins; which if they be black, then will the Lambs be black also; but if they be white, then he hath begotten white Lambs: for look what colour these veins are of, with the same colour will the fleece of the Lambe be overspread; insomuch that if there be sundry colours in them, there will be also sundry like colours upon the Lambes, as Aristotle, Democritus and Didymus do witnesse. Now, how we may

Know by the egge, whether the chick when it is hatcht, will be a Cock or a Hen,

Aristotle teacheth us: for, saith he, if the egge be exactly round, then it will yield

a Cock-chicken; but if it be somewhat long, then it yields an Hen-bird: the rea∣son is, because in things that are round, the natural heat is more kindly and strongly compacted together.

How to make a bird sociable and familiar with thee.

Now we will speak of the sociablenesse and familiarity which a certain Pie had with a friend of mine: who by this pretty device did make the Pie so well acquainted with him, and so serviceable to him, that she would flie unto him, not only for the supplying of her daily wants, but as it were for love, never forsaking him night or day. The device was this. While she was yet unfeathered in the nest, he broke off her lower beak, even to her very jaws, that the poor wretch could not eat any meat but that which was put into her mouth with hands; and he himself gave her with his own hands all the meat she did eat. After that, she would flie to his tren∣cher at dinner and supper, and would prate and chat unto him very flippant; inso∣much that nothing could be spoken in the house, but she would imitate it, and speak it again; and not only frame her tongue to their words, but her body also to the imitating and resembling of their actions. And he was wont still to leave her loose at home, and she would flie about everywhere; but still at dinner and supper times she would return home. It fell out that the man had occasion to go from home fifteen or sixteen days journey: she would alwayes bear him company, now and then flying a great way before him, and would sit still upon a bough till he came at her; and then she would leap upon his cap and his shoulders, frisking about him for very joy; and sometimes staying behind him; and then when he was gone a great way before, she would in all haste flie away after to overtake him: and she was also his continual bed-fellow; and yet to this day he hath her, and enjoyeth her familiar company. But, concerning the general transmutation and change of living creatures, let these things be sufficient which we have already spoken.