condition of her. Pliny writes, that Unicorns are for the fashion of their bodies like to an Horse; that is, as Cardane interprets it, of the bigness of an Horse, with the head of an Hart, the feet of an Elephant, the tail of a Bore, with one black horn in the midst of his fore-head, of the length of two cubits. Munster, who (as Matthiolus jests) never saw Unicorns besides painted ones, doth on the contrary affirm them not to be of the bigness of an Hors, but of an Hinde-calf of three months old, not with feet like an Elephant, but cleft like those of Goats, with an horn not only of two, but oft-times of three cubits long, of a Weazle-colour, with a neck not very long, nor very hairy, but having few and short hairs hanging to the one side of the neck, the legs are lean and small, the buttocks high, but very hairy. Cardane dissenting from both these, writes that he hath an horn in the midst of his fore-head, but that it is only of the length of three fingers. Andrew Thevet menti∣ons an Unicorn seen by a certain Turkish Sangjach, which was of the bigness of a Bull, of five or six months old, and had one horn, but that not, in the midst of the fore-head, but upon the top of the crown of the head; he was legged and footed like an Ass, but longer haired, and had ears not much unlike the Rangifer, a beast not unknown in the subpolare or northern countries.
Thus various therefore is the report concerning the shape of this Beast. Neither is there less di∣ference concerning her nature and conditions. For Pliny writes, that the Unicorn is a most fierce beast, and hath a great bellowing voi••e, and that she cannot therefore be taken alive. Cardane ten∣ders a reason of this fierceness, Because (saith he) it inhabits the deserts of Aethiopia, a regten squa∣lid, and filthy, abounding with Toads, and such like venomous creatures. Others on the contrary af∣firm her to be of a most milde, amiable, and gentle nature of all others, unless one purposely of∣fend her, or use her too harshly: for seeing she seeds not by hooping her head to the ground, be∣cause she is hindred there-from by the length of her born, she must necessarily feed upon the fruit that hangeth upon trees; out of cratches or mans hand she fearlesly and harmlesly takes all man∣ner of fruits, herbs, sheaves of corn, apples, pears, oranges and pulf. And herein they have procee∣ded so far, that they feign they will love Virgins, entised by their beauty, so that staied in the con∣templation of them, and allured by their entisements, they by this means are often taken by hun∣ters. In this opinion is Lewis Vartoman, who denies that Unicorns are wild or fierce; for he saith, that he saw two, which were sent out of Ethiopia to the Sultan, who kept them shut up in Penne, in Mecha, a city of Arabia Felix, renowned by the Sepulcher of Mahomet. Thevet travelling thi∣ther, tells that he diligently inquired of the inhabitants, what their opinion was of such a beast, yet could he never hear any tidings thereof. Whence it is easie to discern, that such beasts have nei∣ther been in our, not in Vartomans times. The so great variety of dissenting opinions, easily indu∣ceth me to believe that this word, Ʋnicorn, is not the proper name of any beast in the world, and that it is a thing only feigned by Painters, and Writers of natural things, to delight the rea∣ders and beholders. For as there is but one right way, but many by waies, and windings, so the speech of truth is but one, and that alwaies simple and like it self; but that of a lie is diverse, and which may easily refel it self, by the repugnancy and incongruity of opinions, if one should say nothing. What therefore (will some say of what creatures) are these horns, which we see wholly different from others, if they be not of Unicorns? Thevet thinks them nothing else then Elephants bones turned and made into the fashion that we see them, for thus in the Eastern Countries, some crafty merchants and cunning companions turn, hollow, and being softned, draw to what length these please the teeth of the fish Rohard, which lives in the Red and Ethiopian Sea, and being so handled, they sell them for Unicorns horn. Verily that which is termed Unicorns horn, being burnt, sends forth a smell like to Ivory. Now Cardanus affirms that the teeth and bones of Ele∣phants made soft by art, may be drawn forth, and brought into what form you please like as Ox∣bones are. For what is there in the world which the thirsting desire of gold will not make men to adulterate and counterfeit? But it is time that we come to the third scope. Grant there be Unicorns; must it therefore follow that their horns must be of such efficacy against poysons? If we judg by e∣vents, and the experience of things, I can protest thus much, that I have often made trial thereof, yet could I never find any good success in the use thereof against poysons, in such as I have had in cure. If the matter must be tried by witnesses and authorities, a great part of the Physicians of better note have long since bid it adieu, and have detracted from the divine and admirable vertues for which it formerly was so much desired. And this they have done, moved thereto by many just, but two es∣pecial reasons. The first is of Rondoletius, who in this case affirms that horns are endued with no taste nor smell; and therefore have no effect in physick, unless it be to dry: Neither (saith he) am I ignorant that such as have them, much predicate their worth, so to make the greater benefit and gain by them, as of the shavings or scrapings of Unicorns horn, which they sell for the weight in gold, as that which is singular good against poysons & worms; which things, I think, Harts-horn and Ivory do no less effectually perform; which is the cause why, for the same disease, and with the like success, I prescribe Ivory to such as are poor, and Unicorns horn to the rich, as that they so much desire. This is the opinion of Rondoletius, who, without any difference, was wont, for Unicorns horn, to prescribe not only Harts horn or Ivory, but also the bones of Horses and Dogs, and the stones of Myrabalanes, Another reason is, that whatsoever resists poyson is cordial, that is, fit to strengthen the heat, which is chiefly assailed by poysons; but nothing is convenient to strengthen the heart, unless it be by laudable blood or spirit, which two are only familiar to the heart, as being the work-house of the arterious blood and vital spirits: For all things are preserved by their like: as they are destroied by their contraries, for all things that generate, generate things like themselvs. But Unicorns horn, as it contains no smell, so neither hath it any aery parts, but is wholly earthy and dry; neither can