The workes of that famous chirurgion Ambrose Parey translated out of Latin and compared with the French. by Tho: Johnson. Whereunto are added three tractates our of Adrianus Spigelius of the veines, arteries, & nerves, with large figures. Also a table of the bookes and chapters.

THE FIVE and TWENTIETH BOOK. Of Monsters and Prodigies.

THE PREFACE.

WEe call Monsters, what things soever are brought forth contrary to the common decree and or∣der of nature. So we term that infant monstrous, which is born with one arm alone, or with two heads. But we define Prodigies, those things which happen contrary to the whole course of nature, that is, altogether differing and dissenting from nature: as if a man should be delivered of a Snake•• or a Dog. Of the first sort are thought all those, in which any of those things which ought, and are accustomed to be, according to nature, is wanting, or doth abound, is changed, worn, covered or deformed, hurt, or not put in his right place: for sometimes some are born with more fingers then they should▪ othersome but with one finger: some with those parts divided which should be joyned, others with those parts joined which should be divided: some are born with the privities of both sexes, male and female. And Aristotle saw a Goat with a horn upon her knee. No liveing creature was ever born which wanted the Heart, but some have been seen wanting the spleen, others with two spleens, and some wanting one of the Reins. And none have been known to have wanted the whole Liver, although some have been found that had it not perfect and whole: and there have been those which wanted the Gall, when by nature they should have had it: and besides it hath been seen that the Liver, contrary to his natural site, hath lien on the left side, and the Spleen on the right. Some women also have had their privities closed, & not perforated, the mem∣branous obstacle, which they call the Hymen, hindering. And men are sometimes born with their funda∣ments, ears, noses, and the rest of the passages shut, and accounted monstrous, nature erring from its in∣tended scope. But to conclude, those Monsters are thought to portend some ill, which are much differing from their nature.

CHAP. I Of the causes of Monsters; and first of those Monsters which appear for the glorie of God, and the punishment of mens wickedness.

THere are reckoned up many causes of Monsters, the first whereof is the glorie of God, that his immense power may be manifest to those which are ignorant of it, by the sending of those things which happen contrary to nature: for thus our Saviour Christ answered the Disciples (asking whether he or his parents had offended, who being born blinde, received his sight from him) that neither he nor his parents had committed any fault so great, but this so happened only that the glorie and majestie of God should be divulged by that miracle, and such great works.

Another cause is, that God may either punish mens wickedness, or shew signs of punishment at hand, because parents sometimes lie and join themselves together without law and measure, or luxuriously and beastly, or at such times as they ought to forbear by the command of God and the Church, such monstrous, horrid and unnatural births do happen.

[illustration]

The figure of a Colt with a Mans face.

At Verona Anno Dom. 1254. a Mare foaled a colt with the perfect face of a Man, but all the rest of the body like an Horse: a little after that, the wars between the Florentines & Pisans began, by which all Italie was in a combus∣tion.

[illustration]

The figure of a winged Monster.

About the time that Pope Julius the second raised up all Italie, and the greatest part of Christ∣endome, against Lewis the twelfth the King of France, in the year of our Lord 1512. (in which year, upon Easter day, near Ravenna was sought that mortal battel, in which the Popes forces were overthrown) a monster was born in Ra∣venna, having a Horn upon the crown of his head, and besides, two wings, and one foot alone, most like to the feet of birds of prey, and in the knee thereof an eie, the privities of male and female, the rest of the body like a man, as you see by this figure.

The third cause is, an abundance of seed and overflowing matter. The fourth, the same in too little quantity, and deficient. The fift, the force and efficacy of imagination. The sixt, the straight∣ness of the womb. The seventh, the disorderly ••ire of the partie with childe, and the position of the parts of the body. The eight, a fall, strain or s••••••k, especiall upon the belly of a woman with childe, The ninth, hereditary diseases, or affects by any other accident. The tenth, the confusion and mingling together of the seed. The eleventh, the craft and wickedness of the devi••. There are some others which are accounted for monsters, because their original or essence full of ad∣miration, or do assume a certain prodigious form by the craft of some begging companions; there∣fore we will speak briefly of them in their place in this our treatise of monsters.

CHAP. II. Of Monsters caused by too great abundance of seed.

SEeing we have already handled the two former and truly final causes of monsters, we must now come to those which are material, corporeal and efficient causes, taking ou•• begin∣ning from that we call the too great abundance of the matter of seed. It is the opinion of those Philosophers which have written of monsters, that if at any time a creature bearing one at once, as man, shall cast forth more seed in copulation then is necessary to the generation of one body, it cannot be that only one should be begot of all that; therefore from thence either two or more must arise: whereby it commeth to pass, that these are rather judged wonders, because they happen seldome, and contrary to common custome. Superfluous parts happen by the same cause, that twins and many at one birth, contrary to natures course, do chance, that is, by a larger effu∣sion of seed then is required for the framing of that part, that so it exceeds either in number or else in greatness. So Austin tells that in his time in the east an infant was born, having all the parts from the belly upwards double, but from thence downwards single and simple for it had two heads, four eies, two breasts, four hands, in all the rest like to another childe, and it lived a littly while. ••a∣li••s Rhodiginus saith he saw two monsters in Italie▪ the o••e male, the other female, handsomely and ne••rly made through all their bodies, except their heads, which were double; the male died with∣in a few daies after it was born, but the female (whose shape is here delineated) lived twenty-five

years, which is contrary to the common custom of monsters; for they for the most part are very short-liv'd, because they both live and are born, as it were, against natures consent; to which may be added, they do not love themselves, by reason they are made a scorn to others, and that by that means lead a hated life.

But it is most remarkable which Lycosthenes telleth of a * Woman-monster; for, excepting her two heads, she was framed in the rest of her body to an exact perfection: her two heads had the like desire to eat and drink, to sleep, to speak, and to do every thing; she begged from dore to door, every one giving to her freely. Yet at length she was banisht Bavaria, lest that by the fre∣quent looking upon her, the imagination of women with childe, strongly moved should make the like impression in the infants they bare in their wombs.

[illustration]

The effigies of a * Maid with two heads.

[illustration]

The effigies of two a Girls whose backs grew together.

In the year of our Lord 1475. at Verona in Italie, two ^a Girls were born with their backs stick∣ing together from the lower part of the shoulders unto the very buttocks. The novelty and strangeness of the thing moved their parents, being but poor, to carry them through all the chie towns in Italy to get mony of all such as came to see them.

[illustration]

The figure of a man with another growing out of him.

In the year 1530. There was a man to be seen at Paris, out of whose belly another, perfect in all his members except head, hang∣ed forth as if he had been grafted there. The man was fortie years old, and he carried the other implanted or growing out of him, in his arms, with such admiration to the be∣holders, that many ran very earnestly to see him.

[illustration]

The effigies of a harned or hooded monster.

At Quiers, a small village some ten miles from Turine in Savoy, in the year 1578. upon the seventeenth day of Ja∣nuary, about eight a clock at night, an honest matron brought forth a childe having five horns, like to Rams horns, set opposite to one another upon his head: he had al∣so a long piece of flesh, like in some sort to a French hood which women use to wear, hanging down from his fore∣head by the nape of his neck almost the length of his back: two other pieces of flesh, like the collar of a shirt, were wrapped about his neck: the fingers ends of both his hands somewhat resembled a Hawks talons, and his knees seemed to be in his hams: the right leg and the right foot were of a very red colour; the rest of the body was of a tawnie color: it is said he gave so terrible a scritch when he was brought forth, that the Midwives, and the rest of the women that were at her labor, were so frighted that they presently left the house and ran away. When the Duke of Savoy heard of this monster, he commanded it should be brought to him, which performed, one would hardly think what various cen∣sures the Courtiers gave of it.

The monster you see here delineated, was found in the middle and innermost part of an* Egg, with the face of a man, but hairs yielding a horrid representation of Snakes; the chin had three other snakes stretched forth like a beard. It was first seen at Autun, at the house of one Bancheron a Law∣yer: a maid breaking many eggs to butter, the white of this egg given a Cat, presently killed her. Lastly this monster comming to the hands of the Baron Senecy, was brought to King Charls the ninth being then at Metz.

[illustration]

* The shape of a monster found in an Egg.

[illustration]

The effigies of a monstrous b Childe, having two heads, two arms and four legs.

In the year 1546. a woman at Paris in her sixth month of her account, brought forth a ^b Childe ha∣ving two heads, two armes and four legs: I dis∣secting the body of it, found but one heart, by which one may know it was but one infant. For you may know this from Aristotle, whether the monstrous, birth be one or more joyned together, by the principal part: for if the body have but one heart, it is but one; if two, it is double by the joyning together in the conception.

In the year 1569. a certain woman of Towers was delivered of * Twins joyned together with one head, and naturally embracing each other. Renatus Ciretus the famous Chirurgian of tho••e pa••ts, sent me their Sceleton.

[illustration]

The p••rtraiture of * Twins joined toge∣ther with one head.

[illustration]

The effigies of two c Girls being twins j••ined together by their fore-heads.

Munster writes that in the village Bristan, not far from Worms, in the year 1495. he saw two c Girls perfect and entire in every part of their bodies, but they had their foreheads so joined together that they could not be parted or severed by any art: they lived together ten years; then the one dying, it was needful to separate the living from the dead: but she did not long out-live her sister, by reason of the malignity of the wound made in parting them asunder.

In the year of our Lord 1570. the twentieth of Julie, at Paris, in the street Gravilliers, at the sign of the Bell▪ these two infants we••e bo••n, differing in sex, with that shape of body that you see here expressed in the figure▪ They were baptized in the Church of St. Nicolas of the f••elds, and named Lud••vicus and Lud••vica their father was a Mason, his name was Peter Germane, his surname Petit Dieu (i.) little-God; his mothers name was Mathea Petronilla,

[illustration]

The shape of the infants lately born at Paris.

In the year 1572. in Pont de See, near Angers a little town, were born upon the tenth daie of Julie, two girles, perfect in their limbs, but that they had out four fingerr a piece on their left hands: they clave together in their fore parts, from their breast to their navel, which was but one, as their heart also but one; their liver was divided into four lobes: they lived half an hour, and were baptized.

[illustration]

The figure of two girls joined together in their breasts and belly.

[illustration]

The figure of a childe with two heads, and the body as big as one of four moneths old.

Caelius Rhodiginus tells, that in a town of his country called Sarzano, Italie being troubled with civil Wars, there was born a monster of unusual bigness; for he had two heads, having all his limbs answerable in greatness and tallness to a childe of four months old: between his two heads, which were both alike, at the setting on of the shoulder, it had a third hand put forth, which did not exceed the ears in length, for it was not all seen: it was born the 5. of the Ides of March, 1514.

[illustration]

The figure of one with four legs and as manie arms.

Jovianus Pontanus tells in the year 1529. the ninth daie of Januarie, there was a man childe born in Germanie, having four arms, and as many legs.

[illustration]

The figure of a man out of whose belly another head shewed it self.

In the year that Francis the first King of France entered into league with the Swisses, there was born a monster in Germanie, out the midst of whose bellie there stood a great head; it came to mans age, and his lower, and as it were inserted head, was nourished as much as the true and upper head.

[illustration]

The shape of two Monstrous Twins, being but of one only Sex.

[illustration]

The shape of a monstrous Pig.

In the year 1572. the last day of February, in the parish of Vin∣ban, in the way as you go from Carnuta to Paris, in a small village called Bordes, one called Cypria∣na Giranda, the wife of James Merchant a husbandman, brought forth this monster whose shape you see here delineated, which lived until the Sunday following, being but of one only sex, which was the female.

In the year 1572. on Easter Munday at Metz in Lorain, in the Inn whose signe is the Holie Ghost, a Sow pigged a pig, which had eight legs, four ears, and the head of a dog; the hinder part from the belly downward was parted in two as in twins, but the fore-parts grew into one; it had two tongues in the mouth, with four teeth in the upper jaw, and as many in the lower. The sex was not to be distinguished, whe∣ther it were a Bore or Sow pig, for there was one slit under the tail, and the hinder parts were all rent and open. The shape of this Monster, as it is here set down, was sent me by Borgesius the fa∣mous Physician of Metz.

CHAP. III. Of women bringing many Children at one birth.

WOman is a creature bringing usually but one at a birth: but there have been some who have brought forth two, some three, some four, some five, six, or more at one birth. Empedocles thought that the abundance of seed was the cause of such numerous births: the Stoiks affirm the divers cells or partitions of the womb to be the cause; for the seed being va∣riously parted into these partitions, and the conception divided, there are more children brought forth; no otherwise then in rivers, the water beating against the rocks, is turned into divers cir∣cles or rounds. But Aristotle saith there is no reason to think so; for in women that parting of the womb into cells, as in dogs, and sows, taketh no place; for womens wombs have but one cavitie: parted into two recesses, the right and left, nothing comming between, except by chance distin∣guished by a certain line; for often twins lie in the same side of the womb. Aristotles opinion is, that a woman cannot bring forth more then five children at one birth. The maid of Augustus Cesar brought forth five at a birth, and, a short while after, she and her children died. In the year 1554. at Bearn, in Switzerland, the wife of Dr. John Gelenger brought forth five children at one birth, three boyes and two girls. Albucrasis affirms a woman to have been the mother of seven children at one birth; and another, who by some external injurie did abort, brought forth fifteen perfectly shaped in all their parts. Plinie reports that it was extant in the writings of Physicians, that twelve children were born at one birth; and that there was another in Peloponnesus which four several times was delivered of five children at one birth, and that the greater part of those chil∣dren lived. It is reported by Dalechampi•••• that Bonaventura the slave of one Savil, a gentleman of Sena, at one time brought forth seven children, of which four were baptized. In our time, be∣tweeen Sarte and Main, in the parish of Seaux, not far from Chambellay, there is a family and no∣ble house called Maldemeure; the wife of the Lord of Maldemure, the first year she was married, brought forth twins, the second year she had three children, the third year four, the fourth year five, the fifth year six, and of that birth she died: of those six one is yet alive, and is Lord of Mal∣demeure. In the valley of Beaufort, in the countie of Anjou, a young woman the daughter of Ma∣ce Channiere▪ when at one perfect birth she had brought forth one childe, the tenth day follow∣ing she fell in labor of another, but could not be delivered untill it was pulled from her by force, and was the death of the mother.

[illustration]

The Picture of Dorithie, great with childe with many children.

Martin Comerus the author of the Polish historie, writeth that one Margaret, a wo∣man sprung from a noble and ancient familie neer Cracovia, and wife to Count Virboslaus, brought forth at one birth thirtie five live children, upon the twentieth daie of Jan. in the year 1296. Franciscus Picus Mirandula writeth that one Dorothie an Italian had twentie children at two births; at the first nine, and at the second eleven, and that she was so big, that she was forced to bear up her bellie, which lay upon her knees, with a broad and large scarf tied about her neck, as you may see by this figure.

And they are to be reprehended here again, who affirm the cause of numerous births to con∣sist in the variety of the cels of the womb; for they feign a womans womb to have seven cels or partitions; three on the right side for males, three on the left side for females, and one in the midst for Hermophrodites or Scrats: and this untruth hath gone so far, that there have been some that affirmed every of the seven cels to have been divided into ten partitions, into which the seed dispersed, doth bring forth a divers and numerous encrease, according to the varietie of cels fur∣nished with the matter of seed; which, though it may seem to have been the opinion of Hippo∣crates, in his Book De natura Pueri, notwithstanding it is repugnant to reason, and to those things which are manifestly apparent to the eies and senses.

The opinion of Aristotle is more probable, who saith twins and more at one birth, are begot and brought forth by the same cause that the sixth finger groweth on the hand, that is, by the abundant plentie of the seed, which is greater and more copious then can be all taken up in the natural fra∣ming of one bodie; for if it all be forced into one, it maketh one with the parts encreased more then is fit, either in greatness or number; but if it be, as it we••e, cloven into divers parts, it cau∣seth more then one at one birth.

CHAP. IV. Of Hermophrodites, or Scrats.

ANd here also we must speak of Hermophrodites, because they draw the cause of their ge∣neration and conformation from the abundance of seed, and are called so, because they are of both sexes, the woman yeelding as much seed as the man. For hereupon it com∣meth to pass that the forming facultie (which alwaies endeavors to produce something like it self) doth labor both the matters almost with equal force, and is the cause that one bodie is of both sexes.

Yet some make four differences of Hermophrodites; the first of which is the male Hermo∣phrodite, who is a perfect and absolute male, and hath only a slit in the Perinaeum not perforated, and from which neither urine nor seed doth flow. The second is the female, which besides her natural privitie, hath a fleshie and skinnie similitude of a mans yard, but unapt for erection and e∣jaculation of seed, and wanteth the cod and stones; the third difference is of those, which albeit they bear the express figures of members belonging to both sexes, commonly set the one against the other, yet are found unapt for generation, the one of them only serving for making of water: the fourth difference is of those who are able in both sexes, & throughly perform the part of both man and woman, because they have the genitals of both sexes complete and perfect, and also the right brest like a man, and the left like a woman: the laws command those to chuse the sex which they

will use, and in which they will remain and live, judgeing them to death if they be found to have departed from the sex they made choice of; for some are thought to have abu∣sed both, and promiscuously to have had their pleasure with men and women. There are signs by which the Physicians may discern whether the Hermophrodites are able in the male or female sex, or whether they are impotent in both: these signs are most apparent in the privities and face; for if the matrix be exact in all its demensions, and so perforated that it may admit a mans yard, if the courses flow that way, if the hair of the head be long, slender and soft, and to conclude, if to this tender habit of the body a timid and weak condition of the minde be added, the fe∣male sex is predominant, and they are plainly to be judged women. But if they have the Perinae∣um and fundament full of hairs, (the which in women are commonly without any) if they have a a yard of a convenient largeness, if it stand well and readily, and yeeld seed, the male sex hath the preheminence, and they are to be judged men. But if the conformation of both the genitals be alike in figure, quantity, and efficacy, it is thought to be equally able in both sexes: although by the opinion of Aristotle, those who have double genitals, the one of the male, the other of the female, the one of them is alwaies perfect, the other imperfect.

[illustration]

The figure of Hermophrodite twins cleaving together with their backs.

Anno Dom. 1486. in the Palatinate, at the village Robach, near Heidelberg, there were twins, both Hermophrodites, born with their backs sticking together.

[illustration]

The effigies of an Hermophrodite having four hands and feet.

The same day the Venetians and Geneses en∣tred into league, there was a monster born in Italy having four arms and feet, and but one head; it lived a little after it was baptized. James Ruef a Helvetian Cirurgian saith he saw the like, but which besides had the privities of both sexes, whose figure I have therefore set forth, Pag. 647.

CHAP. V. Of the changing of Sex.

AMatus Lusitanus reports that in the village Esquina, there was a maid named Maria Pa∣teca, who at the appointed age for her courses to flow, had instead of them a mans yard, laying before that time hid and covered, so that of a woman she became a man, and therefore laying aside her womans habit, was cloathed in mans, and changing her name, was called Emanuel; who when he had got much wealth by many and great negotiations and com∣merce in India, returned into his country, and married a wife: but Lusitanus saith he did not cer∣tainly know whether he had any children, but that he was certain he remained alwaies beard∣less.

Anthony Loqueneux, the Kings keeper or receiver of his rents of St. Quintain, at Verman∣dois, lately affirmed to me that he saw a man at Reimes, at the Inn having the sign of the Swan, the year 1560. who was taken for a woman until the fourteenth year of his age; for then it happened as he played somewhat wantonly with a maid which lay in the same bed with him, his members (hitherto lying hid) started forth and unfolded themselves: which when his parents knew (by help of the Ecclesiastick power) they changed his name from Joan to John, and put him in mans apparel.

Some years agone, being in the train of King Charles the Ninth, in the French Glass-house, I was shewed a man called Germane Garnierus, but by some Germane Maria (because in former times when he was a woman he was called Marie) he was of an indifferent stature, and well set body,

with a thick and red beard; he was taken for a gi••l until the fifteenth year of his age, because there was no sign of being a man seen in his body, and for that amongst women, he in like attire did those things which pertain to women: in the fifteenth year of his age, whilest he somewhat earnestly pursued hogs given into his charge to be kept, who running into the corn, he leaped vio∣lently over a ditch, whereby it came to pass thar the stayes and foldings being broken, his hidden members suddenly broke forth, but not without pain; going home, he weeping complained to his mother that his guts came forth: with which his mother amazed, calling Physicians and Sur∣geons to counsel, heard he was turned into a man; therefore the whole business being brought to the Cardinal the Bishop of Lenuncure, an assembly being called, he received the name and habite of a man.

Pliny reports that the son of Cassinus of a girl became a boy, living with his parents; but by the command of the Sooth-sayers he was carried into a desert Isle, because they thought such monsters did alwaies shew or portend some monstrous thing. Certainly women have so many and like parts lying in their womb, as men having hanging forth; only a strong and lively heat seems to be wanting, which may drive forth that which lies hid within: therefore in process of time, the heat being increased and flourishing, and the humidity (which is predominant in childe∣hood) overcome, it is not impossible that the virile members, which hitherto sluggish by defect of heat, lay hid, may be put forth; especially if to that strength of the growing heat some vehe∣men•• concussion or jactation of the body be joyned. Therefore I think it manifest by these ex∣periments and reasons, that it is not fabulous that some women have been changed into men: but you shall finde in no history men that have degenerated into women; for nature alwaies intends and goes from the imperfect to the more perfect, but not basely from the more perfect to the imperfect.

CHAP. VI. Of Monsters caused by the defect of Seed.

IF, on the contrary, the seed be any thing deficient in quantity, for the conformation of the infants or infants, some one or more members will be wanting, or more short and decrepite. Hereupon it happens that nature intending twins, a childe is born with two heads, and but one arm, or altogether lame in the rest of his limbs.

[illustration]

The effigies of a monstrous childe, by reason of the defect of the matter of seed.

Anno Dom. 1573. I saw at Saint Andrews Church in Paris, a boy nine years old, born in the village Parpavillae, six miles from Gu se; his fathers name was Peter Renard, and his mother, Marquete: he had but two fingers on his right hand, his arm was well proportioned from the top of his shoulder almost to his wrist, but from thence to his two fingers ends it was very deformed; he wanted his legs and thighs, although from the right buttock a certain un∣perfect figure, having only four toes, seemed to put it self forth; from the midst of the left buttock two toes sprung out, the one of which was not much unlike a mans yard, as you may see by the figure.

In the year 1562. in the Calends of November, at Villa Franca in Gascony, this monster, a head∣less woman, whose figure thou here seest, was born, which figure Dr. John Altinus the Physician gave to me, when I went about this book of Monsters, he having received it from Fontanus the Phy∣sician of Angolestre, who seriously affirmed he saw it.

[illustration]

The figure of a Monstrous woman without a head, before and behinde.

[illustration]

The effigies of a man without arms, doing all that is usually done with hands.

[illustration]

The effigies of a monster with two heads, two legs, and but one arm.

A few years agone there was a man of forty years old to be seen at Paris, who although he wanted his arms, notwithstanding did indifferently perform all those things which are u∣sually done with the hands; for with the top of his shoulder, head and neck, he would strike an Axe or Hatchet with as sure and strong a blow into a post, as any other man could do with his hand: and he would lash a Coach-mans whip, that he would make in give a great crack, by the strong resraction of the air; but he ate, drank, plaid at cards, and

such like, with his feet. But at last he was taken for a thief and murderer, was hanged, and fastened to a wheel.

Also not long ago there was a woman at Paris without arms, which nevertheless did cut, few, and do many other things, as if she had her hands.

We read in Hippocrates, that Attagenis his wife brought forth a childe all of flesh without any bone, and notwithstanding it had all the parts well formed.

CHAP. VII. Of Monsters which take their cause and shape by imagination.

THe Antients having diligently sought into all the secrets of nature, have marked and ob∣served other causes of the generation of Monsters: for, understanding the force of ima∣gination to be so powerful in us, as for the most part, it may alter the body of them that imagine, they soon perswaded themselves that the faculty which formeth the infant may be led and governed by the firm and strong cogitation of the Parents begetting them (often deluded by nocturnal and deceitful apparitions) or by the mother conceiving them; and so that which is strongly conceived in the minde, imprints the force into the infant conceived in the womb: which thing many think to be confirmed by Moses, because he tells that Jacob encreased and bettered the part of the sheep granted to him by Laban, his wives father, by putting rods, having the bark in part pulled off, finely streaked with white and green, in the places where they used to drink, especially at the time they engendred, that the representation apprehended in the conception, should be presently impressed in the young; for the force of imagination hath so much power over the infant, that it sets upon it the notes or characters of the thing conceived.

We have read in Heliodorus, that Persia Queen of Aethiopia, by her husband Hidustes, being also an Ethiope, had a daughter of a white complexion; because in the embraces of her husband, by which she proved with childe, she earnestly fixed her eye and minde upon the picture of then fair Andromeda standing opposite to her. Damascene reports, that he saw a maid hairy like a Bear, which had that deformity by no other cause or occasion then that her mother earnestly beheld in the very instant of receiving and conceiving the seed, the image of S. John covered with a Camels skin, hanging upon the posts of the bed.

They say, Hippocrates by this explication of the causes, freed a certain noble woman from suspition of adultery, who being white her self, and her husband also white, brought forth a childe as black as an Ethiopian, because in copulation she strongly and continually had in her minde the picture of the Ethiope.

[illustration]

The effigies of a maid all hairy, and an infant that was black by the imagination of their Parents.

There are some who think the infant once formed in the womb, which is done at the utmost within two and forty dayes after the conception, is in no danger of the mothers imagination, neither of the seed of the father which is cast into the womb; because when it hath got a perfect figure, it cannot be altered with any external form of things; which whether it be true, or no, is not here to be inquired of: truly I think it best to keep the woman, all the time she goeth with childe, from the sight of such shapes and figures.

In Stequer a village of Saxony, they say, a monster was born, with four feet, eyes, mouth and nose like a calf, with a round and red excrescence of flesh on the forehead, and also a piece of flesh like a hood hung from his neck upon his back, and it was deformed with its thighs torn and cut.

[illustration]

The effigies of a horrid Monster, having feet, hands and other parts like a Calf.

[illustration]

The effigies of an infant with a face like a Frog.

Anno Dom. 1517. in the parish of Kings-wood, in the forrest Biera, in the way to Fonteau-Bleau, there was a monster born, with the face of a Frog, being seen by John Bellanger, Chirurgian to the Kings Engineers, before the Justices of the town of Harmony, principally John Bribon the Kings procurator in that place. The fathers name was Amadaeus the Little, his mothers Magda∣lene Sarbucata, who troubled with a fever, by a womans perswasion, held a quick frog in her hand until it died; she came thus to bed with her husband and conceived; Bellanger, a man of an acute wit, thought this was the cause of the monstrous deformity of the childe.

CHAP. VIII. Of Monsters caused by the straitness of the womb.

WE are constrained to confess by the event of things, that monsters are bred and caused by the straitness of the womb, for so apples growing upon the trees, if before they come to just ripeness, they be put into strait vessels, their growth is hindred. So some whelps which women take delight in, are hindred from any further growth by the littleness of the place in which they are kept. Who knows not that the plants growing in the earth, are hindred from a longer progress and propagation of their roots, by the opposition of a flint, or any other solid body, and therefore in such places are crooked, slender and weak, but on the other part, where they have free nourishment, to be strait and strong? for seeing that by the opinion of Naturalists, the place is the form of the thing placed; it is necessary that those things that are shut up in straiter spaces, prohibited of free motion, should be lessened, depraved, and lamed.

Empedocles and Diphilus acknowledged three causes of monstrous births: The too great or small matter of the feed; the corruption of the seed; and depravation of growth by the straitness or figure of the womb: which they thought the chiefest of all; because they

thought the cause was such in natural births, as in forming of metals and fusible things, of which statues being made, do less express the things they be made for, if the molds or forms into which the matter is poured, be rough, scabrous, too strait, or otherwise faulty.

CHAP. IX. Of Monsters caused by the ill placing of the Mother, in sitting, lying down, or any other site of the body in the time of her being with childe.

WE often too negligently and carelesly corrupt the benefits and corporal endow∣ments of nature in the comliness and dignity of conformation: it is a thing to be lamented and pitied in all, but especially in women with childe, because that fault doth not only hurt the mother, but deforms and perverts the infant which is contained in her womb: for we moving any manner of way, must necessarily move whatsoever is within us. Therefore they which fit idlely at home all the time of their being with childe, as cross-legged, those which holding their heads down, do sow or work with the needle, or do any other labour, which press the belly too hard with cloaths, breeches and swathes, do produce children wrie-necked, stooping, crooked, and disfigured in their feet, hands, and the rest of their joints, as you may see in the following figure.

[illustration]

The effigies af a childe, who from the first conception, by the site of the mother, had his hands and feet standing crooked.

CHAP. X. Of monsters caused by a stroke, fall, or the like occasion.

THere is no doubt but if any injury happen to a Woman with childe, by reason of a stroke, fall from on high, or the like occasion, the hurt also may extend to the childe. Therefore by these occasions the tender bones may be broken, wrest∣ed, strained, or depraved after some other monstrous manner; and more, by the like violence of such things, a vein is often opened or broken, or a flux of blood, or great vomiting is caused by the vehement concussion of the whole body, by which means the childe wants nourishment, and therefore will be small and little, and altogether mon∣strous.

CHAP. XI. Of Monsters which have their original by reason of hereditary diseases.

BY the injury of hereditary diseases, infants grow monstrous, that is, monstrously deformed: for crookt-backt produce crook-backt, and often-times so crooked, that between the bunch behinde and before, the head lies hid, as a Tortoise in her shell: so lame produce lame, flatnos'd their like, dwarfs bring forth dwarfs, lean bring forth lean, and fat produce fat.

CHAP. XII. Of Monsters by the confusion of seed of divers kindes.

THat which followeth is a horrid thing to be spoken; but the chaste minde of the Reader will give me pardon, and conceive that, which not only the Stoicks, but all Philoso∣phers, who are busied about the search of the causes of things must hold, That there is nothing obscene or filthy to be spoken. Those things that are accounted obscene may be spo∣ken without blame, but they cannot be acted or perpetrated without great wickedness, fury and madness; therefore that ill which in obscurity consists not in word, but wholly in the act. There∣fore in times past there have been some, who nothing fearing the Deity, neither the Law, not themselves, that is, their soul, have so abjected and prostrated themselves, that they have thought themselves nothing different from beasts: wherefore Atheists, Sodomites, Out-laws, forgetful of their own excellency and divinity, and transformed by filthy lust, have not doubted to have filthy and abominable copulation with beasts. This so great, so horrid a crime, for whose expia∣tion all the fires in the world are not sufficient, though they too maliciously crafty, have concea∣led, and the conscious beasts could not utter, yet the generated mis-shapen issue hath abundantly spoken and declared, by the unspeakable power of God, the revenger and punisher of such im∣pious and horrible actions. For of this various and promiscuous confusion of seeds of a dif∣ferent kinde, Monsters have been generated and born, who have been partly men, and partly beasts.

The like deformity of issue is produced, if beasts of a different species do copulate together, nature alwayes affecting to generate something which may be like it self: for wheat grows not but by sowing of wheat, nor an apricock but by the setting or grafting of an apricock, for nature is a most diligent preserver of the species of things.

[illustration]

The effigies of a Monster half man and half dog.

Anno Dom. 1493. there was generated of a woman and a dog, an issue, which from the navel upwards perfectly resembled the shape of the mother, but therehence down∣wards the sire, that is, the dog. This monster was sent to the Pope that then reigned, as Volaterane writeth: also Cardane mentions it; wherefore I have given you the figure there∣of.

[illustration]

The figure of a Monster in face resembling a man, but a Goat in his other members.

Caelius Rhodoginus writes that at Siba∣ris, a heards-man called Chrathis fell in love with a Goat, and accompanyed with her, and of this detestible and bru∣tish copulation an infant was born, which in legs resembling the dam, but the face was like the fathers.

[illustration]

The figure of a Pig, with a head, face, hands, and feet of a man.

Anno Dom. 1110. in a certain town of Liege (as saith Lycosthenes) a Sow farrowed a pig with the head, face, hands, and feet of a man, but in the rest of the body resembling a swine.

Anno Dom. 1564. at Bruxels, at the house of one Joest Dictzpeert, in the street Warmoesbroects, a Sow farrowed six pigs, the first whereof was a monster representing a man in the head, face, fore∣feet and shoulders, but in the rest of the body another pig, for it had the genitals of a sow pig, and it sucked like other pigs: But the second day after it was farrowed, it was killed of the peo∣ple together with the sow, by reason of the monstrousness of the thing. Here followeth the figure thereof.

[illustration]

The effigies of a Monster half man and half swine.

Anno Dom. 1571. at Antwerp, the wise of one Michael a Printer dwelling with one John Mol∣line a Graver or Carver, at the sign of the Golcen Foot, in the Camistrate, on St. Thomas his day, at ten of the clock in the morning, brought forth a monster wholly like a dog, but that it had a shotter neck, and the head of a bird, but without any feathers on it. This Monster was not alive, for that the mother was delivered before her time; but she giving a great scritch in the in∣stant of het deliverance, the chimney of the house fell down, yet hurt no body, no not so much as any one of four little children that sate by the fire-side.

[illustration]

The figure of a monster like a dog, but with a head like a bird.

Lewis Gellius writeth that he hath read in

[illustration]

The figure of a three headed Lamb.

an approved author, that an Ew once brought forth a Lion, a beast of an unlike and adverse nature to her.

Anno Dom. 1577. in the town of Blandy, three miles from Melon, there was lambed a Lamb, having three heads, the middlemost of which was bigger then the rest; when one bleated they all bleated. John Bellanger the Chirurgian of Melo affirmed that he saw this monster, and he got it drawn, and sent the figure thereof to me with that humane monster that had the head of a Frog, which we have formerly described.

There are some monsters in whose genera∣tion by this there may seem to be some di∣vine cause, for that their beginnings cannot be derived or drawn from the general cause of monsters, that is, nature, or the errors thereof, by reason of some of the fore men∣tioned particular causes: such are these mon∣sters that are wholly against all nature, like that which we formerly mentioned of a Lion yeaned by an Ew.

Yet Astrologers (lest there should seem to be any thing which they are ignorant of) refer the causes of these to certain constella∣tions and aspects of the Planets and Stars, according to Aristotles saying in his Problems; in con∣firmation whereof they tell us this tale. It happened in the time of Albertus Magnus, that in a certain village, a Cow brought forth a Calf, which was half a man: the towns-men apprehen∣ded the herds-man, and condemned him as guilty of such a crime, to be presently burnt together with the Cow; but by good luck Albertus was there, to whom they gave credit by reason of his much and certain experience in Astrology, that it was not occasioned by any humane wickedness, but by the efficacy of a certain position of the stars, that this monster was born.

CHAP. XIII. Of Monsters occasioned by the craft and subtilty of the Devil.

IN treating of such Monsters as are occasioned by the craft of the Devil, we crave pardon of the courteous Reader, if peradventure going further from our purpose, we may seem to speak more freely and largely of the existence, nature, and kindes of Devils. Therefore first it is manifest that there are Conjurers, Charmers, and Witches, which whatsoever they do, perform it by an agreement and compact with the Devil, to whom they have addicted themselves: for none can be admitted into that society of Witches, who hath not forsaken God the Creator, and his Saviour, and hath not transferred the worship due to him above, upon the Devil, to whom he hath obliged himself. And assuredly, whosoever addicts himself to these Magical vanities and witch-crafts, doth it either because he doubts of Gods power, promises, steady and great good will towards us: or else for that he is madded with an earnest desire of knowing things to come; or else because disdaining poverty, he affects and desires from a poor estate to become rich on the sudden. It is the constant opinion of all, both antient and modern, as well Philosophers as Di∣vines, that there are some such men; which when they have once addicted themselves to impious and divelish Arts, can by the wondrous craft of the Devil, do many strange things, and change and corrupt bodies, and the health & life of them, and the condition of all mundane things. Also experi∣ence forceth us to confess the same; for punishments are ordained by the laws against the profess∣ors and practisers of such Arts; but there are no laws against those things which neither ever have been, nor never came into the knowledg of men: for such things are rightly judged and account∣ed for impossibilities, which have never been seen nor heard of.

Beford the birth of Christ there have been many such people; for you may finde in Exodus and Leviticus laws made against such persons by Moses, by whom God gave the Law to his people. The Lord gave the sentence of death to Ochawas by his Prophet, for that he turned unto these kinde of people. We are taught by the Scriptures that there are good and evil spirits, and that the for∣mer are termed Angels, but the later devils; for the law is also said to be given by the ministry of Angels: and it is said that our bodies shall rise again at the sound of a trumpet, and at the voice of an Arch-Angel. Christ said that God would send his Angels to receive the Elect into the heavens.

The history of Job testifieth that the Devil sent fire from heaven, and killed his sheep and cat∣tel, and raised windes that shook the four corners of the house, and overwhelmed his children in the ruines thereof. The history of Achab mentioneth a certain lying spirit in the mouth of the false Prophets. Sathan entring into Judas, moved him to betray Christ. Devils who in a great num∣ber possessed the body of a man, were called and obtained of Christ that they might enter into Swine, whom they carried headlong into the Sea.

In the beginning God created a great number of Angels, that those divine and incorporeal spirits might inhabit heaven, and as messengers, signifie Gods pleasure to men, and as ministers or servants, perform his commands, who might be as over-seers and protectors of humane affairs. Yet of this great number there were some who were blinded by pride, and thereby also cast down from the presence, and heavenly habitation of God the Creator. These harmful and crafry spirits delude mens mindes by divers jugling tricks, and are alwaies contriving something to our harm, and would in a short space destroy mankinde, but that God restrains their fury; for they can only do so much as is permitted them: Expelled heaven, some of them inhabit the air; others, the bowels of the earth; there to remain until God shall come to judg the world: and as you see the clouds in the air somewhiles to resemble centaures, otherwhiles serpents, rocks, towers, men, birds, fishes, and other shapes: so these spirits turn themselves into all the shapes and wondrous forms of things; as oft-times into wilde-beasts, into serpents, toads, owls, lapwings, crows or ravens, goats, asses, dogs, cats wolves, buls, and the like. Moreover, they oft-times assume and en∣ter humane bodies, as well dead as alive, whom they torment and punish, yea also they trans∣form themselves into angels of light.

They feign themselves to be shut up and forced by Magical rings, but that is only their deceit and craft; they wish, fear, love hate, and oft-times as by the appointment and decree of God, they punish malefactors: for we read that God sent evil angels into Egypt, there to destroy. They houl on the night, they murmure and rattle, as if they were bound in chains, they move benches, tables, counters, props, cupbords, children in the cradles, play at tables and chess, turn over books, rell mony, walk up and down rooms and are heard to laugh, to open windows, and doors, cast soun∣ding vessels, as brass and the like, upon the ground, break stone-pots and glasses, and make other the like noises. Yet none of all these things appear to us when as we arise in the morning, neither finde we any thing out of its place or broken. They are called by divers names, as Devils, evil Spirits, Incubi, Succubi, Hobgoblins, Fairies, Robin-good-fellows, evil-Angels, Sathan, Lucifer, the father of lies, Prince of darkness and of the world, Legion, and other names agreeable to their offices and natures.

CHAP. XIV. Of the subterrene Devils, and such as haunt Mines.

LEwis Lavater writes, that by the certain report of such as work in Mines, that in some Mines there are seen spirits, who in the shape and habit of men, work there, and run∣ning up and down seem to do much work, when notwithstanding they do nothing indeed. But in the mean time they hurt none of the by-standers, unless they be provoked thereto by words or laughter. For then they will throw some heavy or hard thing upon him that hurt them; or injure them some other way.

The same author affirms that there is a silver Mine in Rhetia, out of which Peter Briot, the Go∣vernour of the place, did in his time get much silver. In this Mine there was a Devil, who chiefly on Friday, when as the Miners put the Mineral they had digged into tubs, kept a great quarter, and made himself exceeding busie, and poured the Mineral as he listed, out of one tub into another. It happened one day that he was more busie then it used to be, so that one of the Miners reviled him, and bad him be gone on a vengeance to the punishment appointed for him. The Devil offended with his imprecation and scoff, so wrested the Miner, taking him by the head, twining his neck about, he set his face behinde him, yet was not the workman killed there∣with, but lived, and was known by divers for many years after.

CHAP. XV. By what means the Devils may deceive us.

OUr mindes involved in the earthy habitation of our bodies, may be deluded by the Devils divers waies: fot they excel in purity and subtilty of essence, & in the much use of things: besides, they challenge a great preheminence, as the Princes of this world, over all sublunary bodies. Whereof it is no marvel if they, the teachers and parents of lyes, should cast clouds and mists before our eyes from the beginning, and turn themselves into a thousand shapes of things and bodies, that by these juglings and tricks they may shadow and darken mens mindes.

CHAP. XVI. Of Succubi and Incubi.

POwerful by these fore-mentioned arts and deceits, they have sundry times accompanied with men in copulation, whereupon such as have had to do with men were called Succubi; those which made use of women, Incubi. Verily St. Augustine seemeth not to be alto∣gether against it, but that they, taking upon them the shape of man, may fill the genitals, as by the help of nature, to the end that by this means they may draw aside the unwary, by the flames of lust, from virtue and chastity.

John Rufe in his Book of the conception and generation of man, writes that in his time, a certain woman of monstrous lust, and wondrous imprudency, had to do by night with a Devil, that turned himself into a man, and that her belly swelled up presently after the act; and when as she thought she was with childe, she fell into so grievous a disease, that she voided all her en∣trails by stool, medicines nothing at all prevailing.

The like history is told of a servant of a certain Butcher, who thinking too attentively on Venerous matters, a Devil appeared to him in the shape of a woman, with whom (supposing it to be a woman) when as he had to do, his genitals so burned after the act, that becomming en∣flamed he died with a great deal of torment.

Neither doth Peter Paludanus, and Martin Arelatensis think it absurd to affirm that Devils may beget children, if they shall ejaculate into the womans womb seed taken from some man either dead or alive. Yet this opinion is most absurd and full of falsity, mans seed consisting of a seminal or sanguinous matter, and much spirit: if it run otherwaies then into the womb from the testi∣cles, and stay never so little a while, it loseth its strength & efficacy, the heat and spirits vanishing a∣way; for even the too great length of a mans yard, is reckoned amongst the causes of barrenness, by reason that the seed is cooled by the length of the way. If any in copulation, after the eja∣culation of the seed, presently draw themselves from the womans embraces, they are thought not to generate, by reason of the air entring into the yet open womb, which is thought to corrupt the seed. By which it appears how false that history in Averrois is, of a certain woman that said she conceived with childe by a mans seed shed in a bath, and so drawn into her womb, she en∣tring the bath presently after his departure forth. It is much less credible that Devils can copulate with women, for they are of an absolute spirituous nature; but blood and flesh are necessary for the generation of man. What natural reason can allow that the incorporeal Devils can love corpo∣real women? And how can we think that they can generate, who want the instruments of genera∣tion? How can they who neither eat nor drink be said to swell with seed? Now where the propaga∣tion of the species is not necessary to be supplied by the succession of individuals, Nature hath given

no desire of Venery, neither hath it imparted the use of generation; but the devils once crea∣red were made immortal by Gods appointment: If the faculty of generation should be granted to devils, long since all places had been full of them. Wherefore if at any time women with childe by the familiarity of the devil, seem to travel, we must think it happens by those arts we mentioned in the former chapter, to wit, they use to stuff up the bodies of living women with cold clouts, bones, pieces of iron, thorns, twisted hairs, pieces of wood, serpents, and a world of such trumpery, wholly dissenting from a womans nature: who afterwards, the time, as it were, of their delivery drawing nigh, through the womb of her that was falsly judged with childe, be∣fore the blinded, and, as it were, bound up eies of the by-standing women, they give vent to their impostures. The following history, recorded in the writings of many most credible authors, may give credit thereto.

There was at Constance a fair damosell called Margaret, who served a wealthy Citizen: she gave it out everywhere that she was with childe by lying with the devil on a certain night. Where∣fore the Magistrates thought it fit she should be kept in prison, that it might be apparent both to them and others, what the end of this exploit would be. The time of deliverance approach∣ing, she felt pains like those which women endure in travel; at length, after many throws, by the midwives help, in stead of a childe, she brought forth iron nails, pieces of wood, of glass, bones, stones, hairs, tow, and the like things, as much different from each others as from the nature of her that brought them forth, and which were formerly thrust in by the devil to delude the too credulous mindes of men.

The Church acknowledgeth that devils, by the permission and appointment of God punishing our wickedness, may abuse a certain shape, so to use copulation with mankinde. But that an hu∣mane birth may thence arise, it not only affirms to be false, but detests as impious, as which be∣lieves that there was never any man begot without the seed of man, our Saviour Christ excep∣ted. Now what confusion and perturbation of creatures should possess this world (as Cassianus saith) if devils could conceive by copulation with men? or if women should prove with child by accompanying them, how many monsters would the devils have brought forth from the be∣ginning of the world? how many prodigies by casting their seed into the wombs of wilde and bruit beasts? for by the opinion of Philosophers, as often as faculty and will concur, the effect must necessarily follow: now the devils never have wanted will to disturbe mankinde, and the or∣der of this world: for the devil, as they say, is our enemy from the beginning; and as God is the author of order, and beauty, so the devil, by pride, contrary to God, is the causer of confusion and wickedness.

Wherefore if power should acrew equall to his evil minde and nature, and his infinite desire of mischief and envy; who can doubt but a great confusion of all things and species, and also great deformity would invade the decent and comly order of this universe, monsters arising on every side: But seeing that devils are incorporeal, what reason can induce us to believe that they can be delighted with Venerous actions: and what will can there be whereas there is no delight, nor any decay of the species to be feared? seeing that by Gods appointment they are immortal, so to remain for ever in punishment: so what need they succession of individuals by generation? wherefore if they neither will nor can, it is a madness to think that they do commix with man.

CHAP. XVII. Of Magick and supernatural diseases and remedies.

THat I may refresh the minde of the Reader, invited to these histories of monsters raised up by the art of the devil, witches, and conjurers, his servants, I have thought good to add the following history of certain diseases, and remedies supernatural, and wholly magical out of Fernelius. There are diseases, which as they are sent amongst men by God being offended, so they cannot expect cure otherwise then from God, from whence they are thought su∣supernaturally to have their essence and cure. Thus the air oft-times, yet chiefly in the time of King David, being defiled with the pestilence, killed sixty odd thousand persons.

Thus Hezechias was stuck with a grievous disease: Job was defiled with filthy ulcers by Sathan at Gods command. And as the Devil, the cruel enemy of mankinde, commonly useth by Gods permission to afflict those: so wicked persons by the wondrous subtility of the devil, offer violence and do harm to many. Some invoke I know not what spirits, and adjure them with herbs, oxor∣cisms, imprecations, incantations, charms: and others hang about their necks, or otherwise carry certain writings, characters, rings, images, and other such impious stuff. Some use songs, sounds or numbers: sometimes potions, perfumes, and smells; sometimes gestures and jugling. There be some that make the portraiture of the absent party in wax, and boast that they can cause or bring a disease into what soever part thereof they prick, by the force of their words and stars, in∣to the like part of the party absent; and they have no few other tricks to bring disease.

We know for certain that magicians, witches, and conjurers, have by charms so bound some that they could not have to do with their wives; and have made others so impotent, as if they had been gelt or made eunuchs. Neither do wicked men only send diseases into mans body, but also devils themselves. These truly are soon distracted with a certain fury, but in this one thing they differ from simple madness, for that they speak things of great difficulty, tell things past and hid, disclose the secrets of such as are present, and revile them m••ny waies, and are terrified, trem∣ble and grow angry by the power of divine words.

One not very long agon, being by reason of heat exceeding drie in the night time, ri••ing out of his sleep, and not finding drink, took an apple that he found by chance, and eating it he thought his jaws were shut and held fast as by ones hands, and that he was almost strangled: and also now possessed of a devil entring into him, he seemed in the dark to be devoured of a huge exceeding black dog, which he, afterwards restored to his former health, orderly related to me. There were divers, who by his pulse, heat and the roughness of his tongue, thought him to be in a fever, and by his watching, and the perturbation of his minde, thought him only to rave.

Another young Noble man, some few years since, was troubled at set times with a shaking of the body, and as it were, a convulsion, wherewith one while he would move only his left arm, another while the right arm, and also some times but one finger only, somewhiles but one leg, some times the other, and at other times the whole trunk of his body, with such force and agility, that lying in his bed, he could scarce be held by four men; his head lay without any shaking, his tongue and speech was free, his understanding sound, and all his senses perfect even in the height of his fit. He was taken at the least ten times a day, well in spaces between, but wearied with labour: it might have been judged a true Epilepsie, if the understanding and senses had failed.

The most judicious Physicians who were called to him, judged it a convulsion, cosen-germane to the falling sickness, proceeding from a malign and venemous vapor impact in the spine of the back, whence a vapor disspersed it self over all the nervs, which pass from the spine every way into the limbs, but not into the brain. To remove this, which they judged the cause, fre∣quent glysters are ordained, and strong purges of all sorts, cupping-glasses are applied to the be∣ginnins of the nervs, fomentations, unctions, emplasters, first to discuss, them to strengthen and wear away th•• malign quality: These things doing little good, he was sweated with bathes, stoves, & a decoction of Guajacum, which did no more good then the former, for that we were all far from the knowledg of the true cause of his disease: for in the third moneth, a certain devil was found to be the author of all this ill, bewraying himself by voice, and unaccustomed words and sen∣tences, as well Latin as Greek (though the patient were ignorant of the Greek tongue): he lay∣ed open many secrets of the by-standers, and chiefly of the Physicians, deriding them for that he had abused them to the patients great harm, because they had brought his body so low by need∣less purgations.

When his father came to visit him, he would cry out long before he came at him, or saw him, Drive away this visitant, and keep him from comming in here; or else pluck his chain from about his neck: for on this (as it is the custom of the French order of Knights) there hangs the image of St Michael. If holy and divine things were read before him, he shook and trembled more vio∣lently. When his fit was over, he remembred all that was done, and affirmed that he did it against his will, and that he was sorry for it. The devil, forced by ceremonies and exorcisms, denied that he was damned for any crime, and said that he was a spirit: being asked who he was, and by what means and power he did these things, he said that he had many habitations into which he could betake himself, and in the time of his rest, he could torment others: that he was cast into this body by a certain person whom he would not name, and that he entred by his feet up to his neck, and that he would go forth again the same way, when as his appointed time was come. He spoke of sundry other things, as others which are possessed use to do.

Now I speak not these things as new or strange, but that it may appear that devils sometimes entring into the body, do somewhiles torment it by diverse and uncough waies; other whiles they do not enter in, but either agitate the good humors of the body, or draw the ill into the prin∣cipal parts, or with them obstruct the veins or other passages, or change the structure of the instru∣ments, from which causes innumerable diseases proceed: of these, devils are the authors, and wretch∣ed and forlorn persons the ministers: and the reason of these things is beyond the search of nature.

Pliny tells that the Emperor Nero in his time, found magical arts most vain and false: but what need we alledg profane writers, when as those things that are recorded in Scripture of the Pytho∣niss, of the woman speaking in her belly, of King Nebuchodonozor, of the Magicians of Pharoah, and other such things not a few, prove that there both is, and hath been Magick. Pliny tells of Denar∣chus, that he tasting of the entrails of a sacrificed childe, turned himself into a Wolf. We reade in Homer that Circe, in the long wandring of Ʋlysses, changed his companions into beasts, with an inchanted cup or potion: and in Virgil, that the growing corn may be spoiled or carried away by inchantments: which things, unless they were approved and witnessed by many mens credits, the wisdome of Magistrates and lawyers, would not have made so many Laws against Magicians, neither would there have been a mulct imposed upon their heads by the law of the twelve ta∣bles, who had inchanted other mens corn. But as in magical arts the devil doth not exhibit things themselves, as those which he cannot make, but only certain shews or appearances of things: so in these which are any waies accommodated to the use of Physick, the cure is neither certain, nor safe, but deceitful, captious, and dangerous.

I have seen the Jaundise, over the whole body, cured in one night, by a written scroul hanged about the neck: also I have seen Agues chased away by words and such ceremonies, but in a short while after they returned again and became much worse. Now there are some vain things, & verily the fancies of old women, which because they have long possessed the mindes of men, weakned with too much superstition, we term them superstitious. These are such as we cannot truly say of them,

wherefore and whence they have the faculties ascribed to them: for they neither arise from the temperament, neither from the other manifest qualities, neither from the whole substance, nei∣ther from a divine or magical power, from which two last mentioned, all medicines beyond na∣ture, and which are consequently to be used to diseases, whose essences are supernatural, must pro∣ceed. Such like old wives medicines and superstitious remedies are written figures and characters, rings, where neither the assistance of God or Spirits is implored. Let me ask you, is it not a su∣perstitious medicine to heal the falling sickness, to carry in writing the names of the three Kings, Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthasar, who came to worship Christ? To help the tooth-ache, if one whilst Mass is in saying, touch his teeth, saying these words, Os non comminuetis ex eo? To stay vomiting with certain ceremonies and words, which they absent pronounce, thinking it suffi••ient if that they but only know the patients name?

I saw a certain fellow that with murmuring a few words, and touching the part, would stanch blood out of what part soever it flowed: there be some who to that purpose say this, De latere e∣jus exivit Sanguis & Aqua. How many prayers or charms are carried about to cure agues? some taking hold of the patients hand, say, Aequè facilis tibi Febris haec sit, atque Maria vigini Chri∣sti partus. Another washeth his hands with the patient before the fit, saying to himself that so∣lemn Psalm, Exaltabo te Deus, meus Rex, &c. If one tell an Ass in his ear that he is stung by a Scorpion, they say that the danger is immediately over.

As there are many superstitious words, so there are many superstitious writings also. To help sore eyes, a paper wherein the two greek letters, Γ and Α are written, must be tied in a thread, and hanged about the neck. And for the tooth-ache this ridiculous saying, Strigiles facilesque dentatae, dentiumdolorem persanate. Also oft-times there is no small superstition in things that are outward∣ly applyed. Such is that of Apollonius in Pliny, to scarifie the gums in the tooth-ach, with the tooth of one that died a violent death: to make pils of the skul of one hanged, against the bitings of a mad dog: to cure the falling sickness by eating the flesh of a wilde beast, killed with the same iron wherewith a man was killed: that he shall be freed from a quartain ague who shall drink the wine whereinto the sword that hath cut off a mans head, shall be put; and he, the pa∣rings of whose nails shall be tied in a linnen cloth to the neck of a quick Eel, and the Eel let go into the water again. The pain of the Milt to be asswaged, if a beasts Milt be laid upon it, and the Physician say that he cures or makes a medicine for the Milt. Any one to be freed from the cough, who shall spit in the mouth of a Toad, letting her go away alive. The halter wherein one hath been hanged put about the temples, to help the head-ach. This word Abracadabra, written on a paper, after the manner described by Serenus, and hanged about the neck, to help agues or fevers, especially semitertians. What truth can be in that which sundry affirm, that a leaf of La∣thyris, which is a kinde of Spurge, if it be plucked upwards, will cause vomit, but broken down∣wards, will move to stool? You may also finde many other superstitious fictions concerning herbs, such as Galen reports that Andreas and Pamphilus writ, as incantations, transformations, and herbs dedicated to conjurers and devils.

I had thought never in this place to have mentioned these and the like, but that there may be everywhere found such wicked persons, who leaving the arts and means which are appointed by God to preserve the health of mans body, fly to the superstitious and ridiculous remedies of sorcerers, or rather of divels, which notwithstanding the devil sometimes makes to perform their wisht for effects, that so he may still keep them ensnared and addicted to his service. Nei∣ther is it to be approved which many say, that it is good to be healed by any art or means, for that healing is a good work. This saying is unworthy of a Christian, and savors rather of him that trusts more to the devil then in God. Those Empericks are not of the society of Sorcerers and Magitians, who heal simple wounds with dry lint, or lint dipt in water: this cure is neither magi∣cal nor miraculous, as many suppose, but wholly natural, proceeding from the healing fountains of nature; wounds and fractures, which the Surgeon may heal by only taking away the impedi∣ments, that is pain, defluxions, inflammation, an abscess and gangrene, which retard and hinder the cure of such diseases. The following examples will sufficiently make evident the devils mali∣ciousness, alwaies wickedly and craftily plotting against our safety and life.

A certain woman of Florence (as Langius writes) having a malign ulcer, and being troubled with intolerable pain at the stomach, so that the Physitians could give her no ease: behold on a sudden she vomited up long and crooked nails, and brass needles, wrapped up with wax and hairs, and at length a great gobbet of flesh, so big that a Giants jaws could scarce swallow it.

But that which happened in the year of our redemption 1539. in a certain town called Fugen∣stal, in the Bishoprick of Eistet, exceeds all credit, unless there were eye-witnesses of approved integrity yet living. In this town, one Ʋlrich Nusesser an husbandman, was tormented with grie∣vous pain in the one side of his belly; he suddenly got hold of an iron key with his hand under the skin, which was not hurt, the which the Barbar-Surgeon of the place cut out with a razor; yet for all this the pain ceased not, but he grew every day worse then other: wherefore expecting no other remedy but death, he got a knife and cut his throat. His dead body was opened, and in his stomach were found a round and loggish piece of wood, four steel knives, part sharp, and part too∣thed like a saw, and two sharp pieces of iron, each whereof exceeded the length of a span; there was also as it were a ball of hair. All these things were put in by the craft and deceit of the devil. Thus far Langius.

CHAP. XVIII. Of the Cozenages and crafty Tricks of Beggars.

HAving treated of Monsters, it follows that we speak of those things which either of them∣selvs, by reason of their nature full of admiration, have some kind of monstrousness in them, or else from some other wayes, as by the craft and cozenage of men. And be∣cause to the last mentioned crafts of the Devill, the subtle devices of begging companions are somewhat alike, therefore I will handle them in the next place, that the Surgeon being admo∣nished of them, may be more cautious and cunning in discerning them when he meets with them.

Anno Dom. 1525. when I was at Anjou, there stood a crafty beggar begging at the Church door, who tying and hiding his own arm behind his back, shewed in stead thereof, one cut from the body of one that was hanged, and this he propped up and bound to his brest, and so laid it open to view, as if it had been all enflamed, so to move such as passed by unto greater commiseration of him. The cozenage lay hid, every one giving him mony, untill at length his counterfeit arm not being surely fastened, fell upon the ground, many seeing and observing it: he being apprehen∣ded and laid in prison, by the appointment of the Magistrate, was whipped through the Town, with his false arm hanging before him, and so banished.

I had a brother called John Parey, a Surgeon, who dwelt in Vitre in Britain; he once observed a young woman begging, who shewed her breast, as if it had a cancrous ulcer thereon, looking fearfully by reason of much sordid filth, wherewith it seemed to defile the cloth that lay under it. But when as he had more diligently beheld the womans face, and the fresh color thereof, as also of the places about the ulcer, and the good habit of the whole body agreeable to that color (for she was somewhat fat, and of a very good habit of body) he was easily hereby induced to suspect some roguery and deceit. He acquainted the Magistrate with this his suspicion, and got leave that he might carry her home to his house, so to search her more narrowly. Where opening her breast, he found under her arm-pit, a sponge moistned with a commixture of beasts blood and milk, and carried through an elder-pipe to the hidden holes of her counterfeit cancer. Therefore he foments her breast with warm water, and with the moisture thereof looseth the skins of black, green, and yellow frogs, laid upon it, and stuck together with glew, made of bole armenick, the white of an egg, and flower; and these being thus fetched off, he found her breast perfectly sound.

The beggar being cast for this into prison, confessed that she was taught this trick by a beggar that lay with her, who himself also, by putting about his leg an Oxes Milt, and perforating it in sundry places, that so the forementioned liquor might drop out, counterfeited an ulcer of a monstrous bigness and malignity, covering the edges of the Milt on every side with a filthy cloth. This beggar was diligently enquired after, but could not be found; and so she was whipped and banished.

Within less then a year after, there came into the same city a notable crafty companion, who presently taking up the Church doors, laid open his wares; to wit, a Kercher with some small pieces of mony lying thereon, a wooden Barrel, and Cliquets, where-with he would ever now and then make a great noise: his face was spread over with great thick pustles, being of a black∣ish red color, and made with glue like those that have the Leprosie: this his ghastly look made him to be pitied by all men, which was the cause that every one gave him mony. Then my bro∣ther came somewhat nearer him, and asked him how long he had been troubled with this so cruel disease; he answered with an obscure and hoarse voice, that he was born a Leper from his Mothers womb, and that his parents both died of this wicked disease, so that their members sell away piece-meal. Now he had a woollen swathe about his chaps, wherewith (having his left hand un∣der his cloak) he so straitned his chaps, that much black blood rose into his face, and made him so hoarse that he could scarce speak; yet he could not contain himself, but that in speaking he ever now and then slackned the swathe with his hand, the freelier to draw his breath; which when my bro∣ther had observed, suspecting some cozenage, he obtained leave of the Magistrate to search and ex∣amine the man whether he were truly leprous, or no. First therefore he took away his swathe or rowler that was about his neck, then washed his face with warm water, so that the counterfeit glewed pustles were dissolved, and his face (free from all tainture) shewed it self of a good and natural colour and shape. Then he laid bare his whole body, and diligently viewed each part, and found no sign of a Leprosie, one or other. Which when the Magistrate once heard, he made him to be put in prison, and to be thrice whipped through the streets of the city, with his barrel hanging before him, and his cliquets behind him, adding thereto the punishment of perpetual ba∣nishment. It hapned that as he was whipped the third market-day, the people cried out to the hang-man in jest, that he should not fear to lash him soundly, for being leprous he could not feel it: the executioner incited by this cry of the people, did so be labor him, that the wretch died of his whipping within a short while after, having a just reward for his wickedness. For these impostors besides that they live like drones, feigning this or that disease and so being idle enjoy the fruits of others labors▪ they also divers times conspiring together, take away the lives and goods of ho∣nest and substantial citizens▪ and other people: for there are some of them, that in an evening, as men that have no habitation, desire lodging for a night, and it being granted them, they, when as the master of the house and his family are asleep, open the doors to their comrades, men as wi••ked as themselves, and kill and carry away all they can.

Certainly we may justly affirm, that this crafty begging is the mother and school of all dish∣onesty: for how many acts of bawdry and poisoning everywhere corrupt the wells and publick fountains? How many places have been burnt under the shew of begging? Where can you get more fit spies? where more fit undertakers and workets of all manner of villany, then out of the crew of these beggers?

Some of them there are, who besmear their faces with foot laid in water, so to seem to have the Jaundise. But you may at the first sight finde out the deceit, by the native whiteness of the ut∣ter coat of the eie, called Adnata, which in such as truly have the Jaundise, useth to be died and overcast with a yellowish colour; also you may be more certain thereof, if you wet a cloth in water or spittle, and so rub the face; for the adventitious yellowness will quickly vanish, and the true native color shew it self.

Some there be, who not content to have mangled, and filthily exulcerated their limbs with cau∣stick herbs, and other cauteries; or to have made their bodies more swoln, or else lean, with me∣dicated drinks; or to have deformed themselves some other way, but from good and honest Ci∣tizens, who have charitably relieved them, they have stoln children, have broken or dislocated their arms and legs, have cut out their tongues, have depressed the chest, or whole breast; that with these, as their own children, begging up and down the country, they may get the more re∣lief, pitifully complaining that they came by this mischance by thunder, or lightning, or some o∣ther strange accident.

Lastly, they part the Kingdome amongst themselves as into Provinces, and communicate by letters one to another, what news or new quaint devices there are to conceal of advance their ro∣guery: to which purpose they have invented a new language only known to themselves, so to discourse together, and not to be understood by others. [We here vulgarly term it Canting]

Dr. Flecelle, a Physitian of Paris, entreated me to bear him company to his country-house at Champigny, four miles from Paris. Where assoon as we arrived, and were walking in the Court, there came presently to us a good lusty well flesht manly woman, begging alms for St. Fiacre sake, and taking up her coat and her smock, she shewed a great gut hanging down some half a foot which seemed as if it had hanged out of her fundament, whereout there dropped filth like unto pus, which had all stained her legs and smock, most beastly and filthy to look upon. Flecelle asked how long she had been troubled with this disease: she answered that it was four years since she first had it. Hence he easily gathered that she played the counterfeit: for it was not likely that such abundance of purulent matter came forth of the body of so well flesht and colored a woman; for she would rather have been very lean and in a consumption. Wherefore provoked with just anger, by reason of the wickedness of the deceit, he run upon her and threw her down upon the ground, and trod her under his feet, and hit her divers blows upon the belly, so that he made the gut, which hung at her, to come away, and by threatning her with more grievous punishment, made her confess the cozenage, and that it was not her gut, but of an ox, which being filled with blood and milk, and tied at both ends, she put the one of them into her fundament, and let the filth flow forth at very little holes.

Not very long ago, a woman equally as shameless, offered her self to the overseers of the poor of Paris, entreating that she might be entred for one of their Pensioners, for that her womb was fallen down by a dangerous and difficult birth, wherefore she was unable to work for her living. Then they commanded that she should be tried and examined, according to the custom, by the Surgeons which are therefore appointed. Who seeing how the whole business was carried, made report she was a counterfeit; for she had thrust an oxes bladder, half blown and besmeared with beastly blood by the neck, whereto she had fastened a little sponge, into the neck of her womb, for the sponge being filled and swollen up by the accustomed moisture of the womb, so held up the oxes bladder that hanged thereat, that she might safely go without any fear of the falling of it out, neither could it be pulled forth but with good force. For this her device she was put into pri∣son, and being first whipped, was after banished. This cozenage is not much unlike theirs, who by fitly applying a sheeps paunch to their groin, counterfeit themselves to be bursten.

Anno Dom. 1561. there came to Paris a lusty, stout, and very fat Norman woman, being about some thirty years old, who begging from door to door, did cast to meet with rich women, and very familiarly and pitifully would relate unto them her misfortune; saying, she had a snake in her belly, which crept in at her mouth as she slept in an hemp-land: she would let one feel her stir, by putting their hand unto her belly, adding also that she was troubled day and night with its un∣cessant gnawing of her guts. The novelty of this sad chance, moved all to pity and admiration; wherefore as much as they could, they assisted her with means and counsel. Amongst the rest, there was a woman of great devotion and charity, who sending for Dr. Hollerius Chevall, and mee, asked us if this snake could by any means be gotten forth. Hollerius gave her a strong purgation, hoping that by stirring up the expulsive faculty, the serpent might be cast forth together with the noxious humors. But this hope had no such success. Wherefore when as we met again, we thought it fit to put a Speculum matricis into the neck of her womb, so to see if we could discern either her head or tail: but I making large dilatation of her womb, could see no such thing; only we observed a certain voluntary motion, whereof she her self was the author, by contracting and dilating the muscles of the lower belly. Which when as we had observed, perceiving the deceit and imposture, we thought good so to terrifie her, and make her confess the deceit, to tell her that she must take another, but that a more strong purgation; that what we could not

do by the former, as more gentle, we might attain to by the later, as far stronger. She dissembling all fear, and conscious of her craft and dissimulation, after we were gone in the evening, pack∣ing up her stuff, and a great deal more then her own, she secretly stole away, not bidding her hostess farewell: and thus ar length the fraud was apparent, to the loss of the honest Gentlewo∣man. I saw this baggage, six daies after, sitting lustily upon a Pack-horse, at the gate Mont∣martrae, and laughing heartily with such as brought Sea-fish to Town: and she was returning (as it war most likely) into her country, seeing her cozenage was discovered here.

Such as feign themselves dumb, draw back and double their tongues in their mouths. Such as falling down counterfeit the falling sickness, binde straitly both their wrests with plates of iron, tumble and rowl themselves in the mire, sprinkle and defile their heads and faces with beasts blood, and shake their limbs and whole body. Lastly, by putting sope into their mouths, they foam at the mouth like those that have the falling sickness. Othersome with flour make a kinde of glue, wherewith they besmeare their whole bodies, as if they had that Leprosie or Scab that is vulgarly termed Malum sancti manis. Neither must we think this art of counterfeiting and cheating begging to be new, and of late invention; for long ago it flourished in Asia, even in the time of Hippocrates, as may appear by his book De Aere, Locis, & Aquis. But by how much this disease hath taken more deep root, and grown more inveterate by process of time, by so much it must more diligently and carefully be looked to and prevented, by cruelly punishing such counterfeits: for that by this feighned begging, as the nourisher of sloth, and shop of all dishonesty, that which is taken from the good is bestowed upon the ill, and one wicked and coun∣terfeit begger hurts all other wretched people.

CHAP. XIX. Of strange or monstrous accidents in Diseases.

WHat monstrousness soever was in the last mentioned parties, it was made up by the craft of beggars for filthy gain. But if there be any monstrousners in the following narrati∣ons, it is of nature, but working as it were, miraculously, by some secret and occult means; for thus there are ofttimes monsters in diseases. Before the town of St. John de Angeley, a souldier called Francis, of the company of Captain Muret, was wounded with a Harquebuz-shot on the belly, between his navel and sides; the bullet was not taken out, because the Surgeons, who searched him diligently, could not finde it: wherefore he was troubled with grievous and tor∣menting pains, untill the ninth day after he received the wound, the bullet came forth at his fun∣dament: wherefore within three weeks after he was perfectly whole. He was healed by Simon Crinay, the Surgeon of the French companies.

James Pope, Lord of St. Albans in Dauphine, was wounded at the Skirmish at Chasenay, have∣ing three harquebuz-bullets entring into his body, one whereof pierced under his throat, where it buncheth out as with a knot, neer to the pipe of his lungs, even to the beginning of the vertebrae of the neck, in which place the leaden bullet stuck, and as yet doth remain. Hereupon he was afflicted with many and fearful symptoms, as a fever, and a great swelling of his whole neck, so that for ten whole daies he could swallow nothing but broaths and liquid things. Yet he recove∣red, and remaineth well at this present, by the cure of James Dalam the Surgeon.

Alexander Benedictus makes mention of a certain country-man, who, shot into the back with a dart, drawing out the shaft, the head was left behind, being in length about the bredth of two fingers, but hooked and sharp on the sides. When as the Surgeon had carefully and diligently sought for it, and could by no means find it, he healed up the wound, but two months after this crooked head came forth at his fundament.

The same author telleth that at Venice a virgin swallowed a needle, which some two years after she voided by urine, covered over with a stony matter, gathered about viscous humors.

Catherine Perlan, the wise of Williaem Guerrier, a Draper of Paris, dwelling in the Jewry, as she rode on hors-back into the country, a needle out of her pin-cushion, got under her by accident, ran so deep into her right buttock, that it could not by any art or force be plucked forth. Four months after she sent for me to come to her, and she told me that as often as she had to do with her husband, she suffered extreme pricking pain in her right groin; putting my hand thereto, as I felt it, my fingers met with something sharp and hard: wherefore I used the matter so, that I drew forth the needle all rusty: this may be accounted a miracle, that steel, naturally heavy, should rise upwards, from the buttock to the groin, and pierce the muscles of the thigh, without causing an abscess.

Anno Dom. 1566. the two sons of Laurence Collo (men excellent in cutting for the stone) took forth a stone of the bigness of a Wall-nut, in the midst whereof was a needle, just like those that shoo-makers use: the Patients name was Peter Cocquin, dwelling in the street Galand at the place called Maubert at Paris, and I think he is yet living. This stone was shewed to King Charls the ninth, for the monstrousness of the thing, I being then present, which being given me by the Sur∣geon, I preserve amongst my other rarities.

[illustration]

The figure of a Stone taken forth of the bladder of a Confectioner.

Anno Dom. 1570. the Dutchess of Fer∣rara at Paris, sent for John Collo, to take a stone out of a Confectioner. This stone, though it weighed nine ounces, and was as thick as ones fist, yet was it happily taken out, the pa∣tient recovering, Francis Rousset, and Joseph Javelle, the Dutchess Physici∣ans, being present. Yet not long af∣ter this Confectioner died by the stop∣page of his water, by reason of two other little stones, which about to descend from the kidnies to the blad∣der, stayed in the midway of the Ure∣ters. The figure of the extracted stone was this.

Anno Dom. 1569 Laurence Collo the younger, took three stones out of the bladder of one dwel∣ling at Marly, called commonly Tire-vit, because being troubled with the stone from the tenth year of his age, he continually scratched his yard, each of the stones were as big as an hens egg; of colour white, they all together weighed twelve ounces. When they were presented to King Charles, then lying at Saint Maure des Faussez, he made one of them to be broken with a ham∣mer, and in the middest thereof there was found another, of a chesnut colour, but otherwise much like a Peach stone. These three stones, bestowed on me by the brethren, I hare here represented to the life.

[illustration]

The effigies of the three fore-mentioned stones, whereof one is broken.

I have in the dissecting of dead bodies, observed divers stones, of various forms and figures, as of pigs, whelps, and the like. Dalechampius telleth that he saw a man, which by an abscess of his loins, which turned to a Fistula, voided many stones out of his kidnies, and yet notwithstanding could endure to ride on horseback, or in a coach. John Magnus, the Kings most learned and skil∣ful Physician, having in cure a woman, troubled with cruel torment and pains of the belly and fun∣dament, sent for me, that by putting a Speculum into the fundament, he might see if he could per∣ceive any discernable cause of so great and pertinacious pain: and when as he could see nothing which might further him in the finding out of the cause of her pain (following reason as a guide) by giving her often glysters and purgations, he brought it so to pass, that she at length voided a stone at her fundament of the bigness of a Tennis-ball: which once avoided, all her pain ceased.

Hippocrates tells that the servant of Dyseris in Larissa, when she was young, in using venery, was much pained, and yet sometimes w••thout pain, yet she never conceived. But when as she was six∣ty years old, she was pained in the after-noon as if she had been in labor. When as she one day be∣fore noon had eaten many leeks, afterward she was taken with a most violent pain, far exceeding all her former, and she felt a certain rough thing rising up in the orifice of her womb. But she falling into a swound, another woman putting in her hand, got out a sharp stone of the

bigness of a whirl, and then she forthwith became well, and remained, so.

In a certain woman, who, as Hollerius tells, for the space of four months was troubled with an incredible pain in making water, two stones were found in her heart, with many abscesses, her kidnyes and bladder being whole.

Anno Dom. 1558. I opened in John Bourlier a Tailor, dwelling in the street of St. Honorè, a wa∣try abscess in his knee, wherein I found a stone, white, hard, and smooth, of the thickness of an Almond; which being taken out, he recovered. Certainly there is no part of the body wherein stones may not breed and grow.

Anthony Benevenius a Florentine Physician writes, that a certain woman swallowed a brass nee∣dle without any pain, and continued a year after without feeling or complaining of it: but at the end theteof she was molested with great pains in her belly; for helping of which she asked the advice of all the Physicians she could, making, in the interim, no mention of the swallowed nee∣dle. Wherefore she had no benefit by all the medicines she took; and she continued in pain for the space of two years, untill at length the needle came forth at a little hole by her navel, and she recovered her health.

A Scholar named Chambelant, a native of Bourges, a student in Paris, in the Colledge of Presse, swallowed a stalk of grass, which came afterwards whole out between two of his ribs, with the great danger of the Scholars life. For it could not come there unless by passing or breaking through the lungs, the encompassing membrane, and the intercostal muscles; yet he recovered, Fernelius and Haguet having him in cure.

Cabrolle Chirurgian to Mounsieur the Marshall of Anville, told me that Francis Guillenet the Chi∣rurgian of Sommiers, a small village some eight miles from Mompelier, had in cure, and healed a certain Shepherd, who was forced by theeves to swallow a knife of the length of half a foot, with a horn handle of the thickness of ones thumb: he kept it the space of half a yeer, yet with great pain, and he fell much away, but yet was not in a consumption, untill at length an abscess rising in his groin, with great store of very stinking quitture, the knife was there taken forth in the pre∣sence of the Justices, and left with Joubert the Physician of Mompelier.

Mounsieur the Duke of Rohan had a Fool called Guido, who swallowed the point of a sword of the length of three fingers, and he voided it at his fundament on the twelfth day following, yet with much ado: there are yet living Gentlemen of Britany, who were eye-witnesses thereof.

There have been sundry women with childe, who have so cast forth piece-meal children that have died in their wombs, as that the bones have broke themselves a passage forth at the navel, but the flesh, dissolved as it were into quitture, flowed out by the neck of the womb and the fun∣dament, the mothers remaining alive, as Dalechampius observes out of Albucrasis.

Is it not very strange that there have been women, who troubled with a fit of the Mother, have lien three whole daies without motion, without breathing, or pulse that were any way apparent, and so have been carried out for dead?

A certain young man, as Fernelius tells, by somewhat too vehement exercise, was taken with such a cough, that it left him not for a moment of time, untill he therewith had cast forth a whole impostume of the bigness of a pigeons egg, wherein, being opened, there was found quit∣ture exquisitely white and equal. He spit blood two daies after, had a great fever, and was much distempered, yet notwithstanding he recovered his health.

Anno Dom. 1578. Stephana Chartier, dwelling at St. Maure des Faussez, a widow of forty yeers old, being sick of a tertian Fever, in the beginning of her fit vomited up a great quantity of choler, and together therewith three hairy worms, in figure, colour, and magnitude like the worms cal∣led Bear-worms, yet somewhat blacker; they lived eight whole daies after without any food: the Chirurgian of this Town brought them to Dr. Milot, who shewed them to Feure, Le Gross, Marescot and Courtin Physicians, and to me also.

This following history, taken out of the Chronicles of Menstrele, exceeds all admiration. A certain Franck-Archer of Meudon, four miles from Paris, was for robbery condemned to be han∣ged: in the mean time it was told the King by the Physicians, that many in Paris at that time were troubled with the stone, and amongst the rest the Lord of Boscage, and that it would be for the good of many, if they might view and discern with their eyes the parts themselves wherein so cruel a disease did breed, and that it might be done much better in a living then in a dead bo∣dy, and that they might make trial upon the body of the Franck-Archer, who had formerly been troubled with these pains. The King granted their request; wherefore opening his body, they viewed the breathing parts, and satisfied themselves as much as they desired, and having diligent∣ly and exactly restored each part to its proper place, the body, by the Kings command, was sew∣ed up again, and dressed and cured with great care. It came so to pass, that this Franck-Archer recovered in a few daies, and getting his pardon, got good store of mony besides.

Alexander Benedictus tells that he saw a woman called Victoria, who having lost all her teeth, and being bald, yet had others came up in their places, when as she was fourscore yeers old

Stephen Tessiter a Chirurgian of Orleance, told me that not long ago he cured one Charls Verig∣nol, a Serjeant of Orleance, of a wound received in his ham, whereby the two tendons bending the ham, were quite cut in sunder. He took this order in the cure; he caused the patient to bend his leg, then he sewed together the ends of the cut-tendons, then placed the member in that site, and handled with that art, that at length he healed the wound, the patient not halting at all. Truly this is a memorable thing, and carefully and heedfully to be imitated by the young Chirurgian.

How many have I seen, who wounded and thrust through the body with swords, arrows, pikes, bullets, have had portion of the brain cut off by a wound of the head, an arm or leg taken away by a cannon-bullet, yet have recovered? and how many on the contrary, have died of light and small wounds, not worth the speaking of?

A certain man was shot near to his groin with an arrow, whom we have seen, saith Hippo∣crates, and he recovered beyond all mens expectation; The arrows-head was not taken forth, for it was very deep in, neither did the wound bleed very much, neither did he halt: but we found the head, and took it forth six years after he was hurt. Now Hippocrates gives no reason of its so long stay, but that he saith it might be suspected it lay hid between the nerves, and that no vein or artery was cut thereby.

CHAP. XX. Of the wonderful original, or breeding of some creatures.

WEE have read in Boistey, that a certain work-man of Avignion, when as he lived in that city, opened a leaden coffin, wherein a dead body lay, that was so closely sau∣dered, that the air could not get in; and as he opened it, he was bitten by a Ser∣pent that lay therein, with so venemous and deadly a bite, that it had neer to have cost him his life. Yet the original of this creature is not so prodigious as he supposeth, for it is an usual thing for a Serpent to breed of any putrified carcass, but chiefly of mans.

Baptista Leo writes, that in the time of Pope Martin the fifth, there was a live Serpent found en∣closed in a vaste, but solid Marble, no chink appearing in such dense solidity, whereby this living creature might breathe.

Whilest in my vine-yard, that is at Meudon, I caused certain huge stones to be broken to pie∣ces, a Toad was found in the midst of one of them. When as I much admired thereat, because there was no space wherein this creature could be generated, increase, or live; the Stone-cutter wished me not to marvel thereat, for it was a common thing, and that he saw it almost every day. Cer∣tainly it may come to pass, that from the more moist portion of stones, contained in places moist and under ground, and the celestial heat mixing and diffusing it self over the whole mass of the world, the matter may be animated for the generation of these creatures.

CHAP. XXI. Of the wondrous nature of some marine things, and other living creatures.

THe last mentioned creatures were wonderful in their original, or rather in their growth: but these which follow, though they be not wonderful of themselvs, as those that consist of their own proper nature, and that working well and after an ordinary manner; yet they are wondrous to us, or rather monstrous, for that they are not very familiar to us. For the rarity and vastness of bodies, is in some sort monstrous. Of this sort there are many, especially in the Sea, whose secret corners and receptacles are not pervious to men: as Tritons, which from the middle upwards are reported to have the shape of men. And the Sirens, Nereides, or Meremaids, who (according to Pliny) have the faces of women, and scaly bodies; yea, whereas they have the shape of man; neither yet can the forementioned confusion and conjunction of seeds take any place here, for as we lately said, they consist of their own proper nature.

When Mena was President of Egypt, and walked on the banks of Nilus, he saw a Sea-monster in the shape of a man, comming forth of the waters: his shape was just like to a man even to the mid∣dle, with his countenance composed to gravity, his hair yellow, yet intermixed with some gray, his stomach bony, his arms orderly made and jointed, his other parts ended in a fish. Three dayes after in the morning, there was seen another Sea-monster, but with shape or countenance of a wo∣man, as appeared by her face, her long hair, and swoln breasts: both these monsters continued so long above water, that any one might view them very well.

[illustration]

The effigies of the Triton and Siren of Nilus.

In our times, saith Rondoletius, in Norway was a monster taken in a tempestuous Sea, the which as many as saw it, presently termed a Monk, by reason of the shape which you may see here set forth.

[illustration]

The figure of a fish resembling a Monk.

[illustration]

The figure of a fish in the habit or shape of a Bishop.

Anno Dom. 1531. there was seen a Sea-monster in the habit of a Bishop, covered over with scails: Rondoletius and Gesner have described it.

Gesner professeth that he received from Jerome Cardane this monster, having the head of a Bear the feet and hands of an Ape.

[illustration]

The effigies of a Sea-monster headed like a Bear.

Not long before the death of

[illustration]

The effigies of a Lion-like scaly Sea-monster.

Pope Paul the third, in the midst of the Tyrrhene sea, a monster was taken, and pre∣sented to the successor of this Paul: it was in shape and big∣ness like to a Lyon, but all sca∣ly; and the voice was like a mans voice. It was brought to Rome to the great admiration of all men, but it lived not long there being destitute of it's own natural place and nourishment, as it is reported by Philip For∣rest.

Anno Dom. 1523. the third day of November, there was seen at Rome this sea-monster, of the higness of a child of five years old, like to a man even to the navel, except the ears; in the o∣ther parts it resembled a fish.

[illustration]

The effigies of a Sea-monster with a mans face.

Gesner makes mention of this Sea-Monster, and saith that he had the figure thereof from a Painter, who took it from the very fish, which he saw at Antwerp. The head looks very ghast∣ly, having two horns, prick-ears, and arms not much unlike a man, but in the other parts it was like a fish. It was taken in the Illyrian Sea, as it came ashore out of the water to catch a little childe: for being hurt by stones cast by fisher-men that saw it, it returned a while after to the shore from whence it fled, and there died.

[illustration]

The effigies of a Sea-Devil.

Gesner tells that a Sea-monster with the head, mane, and breast of a horse, and the rest of his body like a fish, was seen and taken in the ocean-Sea, brought to Rome, and presented to the Pope.

O••aus Magnus tells that a Sea-monster taken at Bergen, with the head and shape of a Calf was given him by a certain English Gentleman. The like of which was presented lately to King Charls the ninth, and was long kept living in the waters at Fountain-Bleau, and it went oft-times a shore. This is much different from the common Sea-calf or Seal.

[illustration]

The effigies of a monstrous Sea calf.

This great monster was seen in the Ocean-sea, with the head of a Bore, but longer tusks, sharp and cutting, with scales set in a wonderful order, as you may see by this figure.

[illustration]

The effigies of a Sea-bore.

Olaus Magnus writes that this Monster was taken at Thyle an Island of the North, Anno Dom. 1538. it was of a bigness almost incredible, as that which was seventy two foot long, and four∣teen high, and seven foot between the eyes: now the liver was so large that there with they filled five hogssheads; the head resembled a swine, having as it were a half-Moon on the back, and three eyes in the midst of his sides; his whole body was scaly.

[illustration]

The effigies of a monstrous Sea Swine.

The Sea-Elephant, as Hector Boetius writes in his description of Scotland, it is a creature that lives both in the water and ashore, having two teeth like to Elephants, with which as oft as he desires to sleep, he hangs himself upon a rock, and then he sleeps so soundly, that Mariners seeing him at sea, have time to come ashore and to binde him, by casting strong ropes about him. But when as he is not awakened by this means, they throw stones at him, and make a great noise; with which awakened, he endeavors to leap back into the sea with his accustomed violence, but finding himself fast, he grows so gentle, that they may deal with him as they please. Wherefore they then kill him, take out his fat and divide or cut his skin into thongs, which because they are strong and do not rot, are much esteemed of.

[illustration]

The effigies of a Sea-Elephant.

The Brabians of Mount Mazoven, which runs alongst the Red Sea, chiefly feed on a fish cal∣led Orobone, which is very terrible and much feared by other fish being nine or ten foot long, and of the breadth agreeable thereto, and it is covered with scales like a Crocodile.

A Crocodile is a vast creature, comming sometimes to be fifteen cubits long, and seeing it is a creature that doth not bring forth young, but eggs, it useth at the most to lay some sixtie eggs, no bigger then Goose eggs, rising to such such bigness from so small beginnings (for the hatched young one is proportionable to the egg) she is very long lived.

It hath so small and useless a tongue, that it may seem to have none at all. Wherefore seeing it lives both on land and water; as it lives on land it is to be taken for a tongue, but as it lives part of the life in the water, it hath no use of a tongue, and therefore is not to be reputed one. For fishes either wholly wane tongues, or else have them so impedite and bound, that they serve for little use. The Crocodile only of all other things moves the upper jaw, the lower remain∣ing unmovable: for her feet, they are neither good to take nor hold any thing; she hath eyes not unlike those of swine, long teeth standing forth of the mouth, most sharp claws, a scaly skin, so hard that no weapon can pierce it. Of the land-Crocodile (resembling this both land and water one) is made the medicine Crocodilea, most singular for sore eyes, being annointed with the juice of leeks, it is good against suffusions or dimness of the sight; it takes away freckles, pustles, and spots; the Gall annointed on the eyes helps Cataracts, but the blood clears the sight.

Thevet saith they live in the fountains of the river Nilus, or rather in a lake flowing from the same fountains, and that he saw some that were six paces long, and a yard cross the back, so that their very looks were formidable. They catch them thus; when as the water of Nilus falls, the Egyptians let down a line, having thereto fastned an iron hook of some three pound weight, made very large and strong; upon this hook they put a piece of the flesh of a Camel or some other beast; which when as he sees, he presently falls upon it, and devours it hook and all, wherewith when he finds himself to be cruelly pulled and pinched, it would delight you to see how he frets and leaps aloft; then they draw him thus hooked, by little and little to the shore, and fasten the rope surely to the next tree, lest he should fall upon them that are about him; then with prongs, and such things they so belabor his belly, whereas his skin is soft and thin, that at length they kill him, and uncaseing him, they make ready his flesh, and eat it for delicious food. John Lere∣us, in his history of Brasil, writes, that the Salvages of that country willingly feed upon Croco∣diles, and that he saw some who brought into their houses young ones, wherewith their children gathering about it, would play without receiving any harm thereby.

True (saith Pliny) is that common opinion, Whatsoever is brought forth in any part of Na∣ture, that also is in the Sea, and many other things over and above, that are in no other place. You may perceive that there are not only the resemblances of living creatures, but also of other things; if you look upon the sword, saw, cucumber, like in smell and color to that of the earth, that you may less wonder at the Sea-feather and grape, whose figures I have here given you out of Rondoletius.

The sea-feather is like those feathers of birds, which are worn in hats for ornament, after they are trimmed and drest for that purpose. The fishermen call them sea-pricks, for that one end of them resembleth the end of a mans yard, when the prepuce is drawn off it. As long as it is alive it swells, and becomes sometimes bigger and sometimes lesser; but dead, it becomes very flaccid and lank: it shines bright on the night like a star.

You may by this gather, that this which we here express, is the Grape whereof Pliny makes mention, because in the surface and upper part thereof it much resembles a fair bunch of Grapes; it is somewhat longish, like a mis-shapen club, and hangs upon a long stalk; the inner parts are nothing but confusion, sometimes distinguished with little glandules, like that we have here figu∣red alone by itself.

[illustration]

The figure of the Sea-feather and Grape.

In the Sea near the Island Hispaniola in the West Indies, there may be seen many monstrous fishes, amonst which Thevet in his Cosmography thought this most rare and observ••ble, which in the vulgar language of the natives is termed Aloes. For it is just like a goos, with a long and strait neck, with the head ending sharp, or in a Cone, not much unlike a sugar-pear, it is no bigger than a goose, it wanteth scales, it hath four fins under the belly for swimming; when it is above wa∣ter you would say that it were a goos.

The Sarmatian, or Eastern German Ocean contains fishes unknown to hot countries, and very monstrous. Such is that which resembling a snail, equals a barbel in magnitude of body, and a stag in the largeness and branches of her horns: the ends of her horns are rounded as it were into little balls, shining like unto pearls, the neck is thick, the eyes shining like unto little candles, with a roundish nose set with hairs like to a cats, the mouth wide, whereunder hangs a piece of flesh very ugly to behold. It goes on four legs, with so many broad and crooked feet, the which with a long tail, and variegated like a Tiger, serves her for fins to swim withall. This creature is so timerous, that though it be an Amphibium, that is, which lives both in the water and ashore, yet usually it keeps it self in the sea, neither doth it come ashore to feed, unless in a very clear season. The flesh thereof is very good and grateful meat, and the blood medicinable for such as have their livers ill affected, or their lungs ulcerated, as the blood of great Tortoises is good for the Leprosie. Thevet in his Cosmography affirmeth that he saw this in Denmark.

In a deep lake of fresh water, upon which stands the great city or town of Themistitian, in the Kingdom of Mexico, which is built upon piles, like as Venice is, there is found a fish of the big∣ness of a calf, called by the Southern Salvages, Andura, but by those of the place, and the Spani∣ards the conquerors of that place, Hoga. It is headed and eared almost like a swine; from the chaps hang five long bearded appendices, of the length of some half a foot, like the beard of a Barbel. It hath flesh very grateful and good to eat. It bringeth forth live young like as the Whale. As it swims in waters, it seems green, yellow, red, and of many colours, like a Chameleon: it is most frequently conversant about the shore-sides of the lake, and there it feeds upon the leavs of the tree called Hoga, whence also the fish hath its name. It is fearfully toothed and a fierce fish, kil∣ling and devouring such as it meeteth withal, though they be bigger then her self: which is the reason why the Fishermen chiefly desire to kill her, as Thevet affirmeth in his Cosmography.

[illustration]

The monstrous fish Hoga.

Andrew Thevet in his Cosmography writes that as he sailed to America, he saw infinite store of flying fishes, called by the salvages Bulampech, who rising out of the water, flie some fifty paces, escaping by that means from other greater fish that think to devour them.

This kinde of flying fish exceeds not the bigness of a Mackrel, is round headed, with a blew∣ish back, two wings which equal the length of almost all their body. They oft-times flie in such a multitude, that they fall foul upon the sails of ships, whilest they hinder one anothers flight, and by this means they fall upon the decks, and become a prey to the sailers: which same thing we have read confirmed by John Lereus in his history of Bresil.

In the Venetian gulf, between Venice and Ravenna, two miles above Quioza, Anno Dom. 1550. there was taken a flying fish, very horrible and monstrous, being four foot long, it had a very great head, with two eyes standing in a line, and not one against another, with two ears, and a double mouth, a snout very fleshy and green, two wings, five holes in her throat, like those of a Lamprey, a tail an ell long, at the setting on whereof there were two little wings. This monster was brought alive to Quioza, and presented to the chief of the city, as a thing whereof the like had not been formerly seen.

[illustration]

The figure of a monstrous flying Fish.

There are so many and different sorts of shels to be found in the Sea, that it may be truly said, that Nature, the hand-maid of the Almighty, disports it self in the framing of them. In so great diversity I have chiefly made choice of three to treat of here, as those that are worthy of the grea∣test admiration. In these lie hid certain little fishes, as snails in their shels, which Aristotle calls Cancelli, and he affirmeth them to be the common companions of the crusted and shell fishes, as those which in their species or kinde are like to Lobsters, and use to be bred without shels; but as they creep into shels, and there inhabit, they are like to shell fishes. It is one of these that is ter∣med the Hermite. He hath two somewhat long and slender horns, under which are his eyes, al∣waies standing out of his head, as those which he cannot pluck and draw in, as Crabs can. His sore∣feet have claws upon them, wherewith he defends himself, and carries meat to his mouth, having two other on each side, and a third being a lesser, the which he useth in going. The female layes eggs, which hang forth at her back part as if they were put upon a thread, being joined together by certain little membranes. Lastly, in the opinion of Aelian, the Cancellus or small Cray-fish is born naked and without a shell, but within a while after, she of many which she finds empty, makes choice of a fit one, and when as grown bigger, she cannot be contained or dwell any longer there∣in, or else being stimulated with a natural desire of copulation, she removes into a more capaci∣ous and convenient one. These little Gray-fishes oft-times fight together for their habitation, and the stronger carries away the empty shell, or else makes the weaker to quit possession. Now the shell is either of a Nerita, or Turbo, and oft-times of a small Purple; and entring into pos∣session she carries it about, there seeds and grows, and then seeks a more capacious one, as Ari∣stotle saith in the formerly-cited place.

[illustration]

The effigies of the empty shels whereinto the Cancelli use to creep to dwell.

Some think that this Bernard the Hermit is that kinde of Cancellus which is by Pliny termed Pinnoter; but in truth the Pinnoter is not a kind of Cancellus, or Cray-fish, but of a little Crab. Now in Aristotle there is much difference between Cancellus and Cancer parvus, though Pliny may seem to confound them; for he is bred naked, having his crust only, but without a shell: wherefore seeing that by nature he wants it, he diligently searches for it, and dwells in it, when as he hath found it: But the Pinnoter is not bred by it self alone, but in Pinnae and some others, and he chan∣geth not his habitation, because (as Aristotle thinks) being of the kind of dwarf Crabs, it never grows big, neither dwells it in empty shells. Now the Pinna, or Pin is a kinde of shell-fish, it breeds in muddy places, and is alwaies open neithet is it at any time without a companion, which they therefore call the Pinnoter, or Pinnophylax, (i. e.) the Pin-keeper, as Pliny saith. Verily that these things are thus, you may plainly perceive by these words of Athaeneus. Chrysippus Solensis 5. de Honest. & Volupt. saith, the Pinna and Pinnoter assist and further each other, neither can they live

asunder. The Pinna may be referred to the kindness of oisters, but the Pinnoter stands by, observing if Pinna opens her shell for the little fishes to enter thereinto; the Pinnoter stands by, observing if any come in; which if they do, he gives the Pin notice thereof by biting, who presently there∣upon shuts her shell, and so they feed together upon that they catch by this means. Thus Athe∣naeus. She is also for this her craft mentioned by Plutarch in his writings. The Pinnoter is some∣times called by Pliny, Cancer dapis affectator.

But that which by these authors is attributed to the dwarf-Crab, the same by Cicero is ascribed to the little shrimp: Now the Pinna (saith he) opening her two large shells, enters into confe∣deracy with the little shrimp for getting of food; wherefore when little fishes swim into her ga∣ping shell, then the Pinna, admonished by the shrimps biting her, shuts her shell; thus two unlike creatures get their living together. But Plutarch seems to make the Pinna to be the Pearl-oister in that work of his, whereas he inquireth whether the craft of water or Land-beasts be the greater.

[illustration]

The effigies of Bernard the Hermite housed in his Shell.

[illustration]

The figure of him out of his Cell.

But amongst the most miraculous fishes may fitly be placed the Nautilos, or Sailer; of some cal∣led Pompylos (it is thought to be a kinde of Polypus) it comes with the face upwards to the top of the Sea, raising it self by little and little, that casting forth all the water by a pipe, as if it had a Pump, it easily floats; then put∣ting

[illustration]

The shape of Nautilos, or Sailor-fish.

back the two first tendrils or arms, it extends between them a membrane of wondrous fineness or thinness, which ga∣thering air like as a sail, and she rowing with the rest of her arms, guides her self with her tail in the midst, as a Rudder. Thus she sails along in imitation of Pinna∣ces, and if any thing affright her, she presently takes in water, and sinks her self.

The better to store this Treatise of Monsters, abusing the name with the Poets, we will rec∣kon up the whale amongst the Sea-monsters, by reason of his monstrous and wondrous magnitude. Now the Whale is the greatest by much of all the fishes of the Sea; for most commonly this beast is thirty six cubits long, eight high, the slit of his mouth is eighteen foot long, teeth they have none, but in stead thereof in each Jaw horny black excrescences or fins [which we vulgarly term Whale-bones] which by little and little end in small hairs like to a swines bristles, which com∣ming and standing out of his mouth, are in stead of Guides, lest whilest he swims with a blinde and rapid violence, he might run against a rock. His eyes are distant one from the other the space of four ells, which outwardly appear small, but inwardly they are bigger then a mans head; where∣fore

they are deceived that say that they are no bigger then an Oxes eyes: his nose is short, but in the middle of his fore-head he hath a pipe whereat he draws in the air, and casts forth a whole shower or river of water, that therewith he will even sink the vessels or boats of Mariners; when he hath filled himself beyond measure, he cries out or roars with so great or strong a voice, that he may be heard two miles off. He hath two very large fins upon his sides wherewith he swims, and under which in the time of danger he hides his young; he hath none upon his back. His tail in site is like to the tails of Dolphins, neither is it much unlike in shape, which when he moves, he so tosseth the Sea, that he drowns and overturns the boats that he toucheth. You may by dissecting them find that a Whale brings forth live-young, and gives them suck; for the male hath testicles and a yard, but the female a womb and dugs. They are taken in divers places about winter, but chiefly about the coast of Aquitaine, at a small town which is vulgarly called Biarris, some six miles distant from Bayon: whereunto I being sent by King Charles the ninth when he was at Bayon, to cure the Prince of Roche Sur-You, I was an eye-witness how they are caught; and also I confirmed that which I had formerly read to that purpose, in that excellent and most true history of fishes set forth by Rondoletius. Now at that Town there is a little hill, in the top whereof there is a Tower of very great antiquity, from which as from a watch-tower they keep watch whether or no any Whales swim that way. Wherefore the watch-men from the tower, either seeing, or by the horrible noise hearing a Whale to pass that way, they give warning thereof to the inhabitants by the beating of Drums, and ringing a Bell: which sign once given they all run forthwith, as to extinguish the City if it were on fire, being furnished with weapons and all things fitting for that purpose. For the people of that country are very diligent and ex∣pert in catching the Whale. Wherefore in each of the boats furnished with all things either to assail or flie, there are put ten lustie rowers, and divers others furnished with harping irons to strike the Whale; which being cast and fastned in her, they loose out huge long ropes fastned to them, untill such time as he be dead, then together with the ropes, and assisted by the waves of the Sea, they draw the Whale (wearied with running and laboring, and fainting by reason of the magnitude and multitude of his wounds, being in the time of their conflict diligently chased and driven toward the shore) a land; and merrily part the prey, each whereof hath his share, accor∣ding to the number of the irons thrown, the magnitude of the wound, and the necessity and ex∣cellency of the wounded part for life: each of their harping-irons are known by their peculiar marks. In the heat of the skirmish many stand up and down in boats, only for this purpose, to take up such as chance to fall into the Sea, lest they should be drowned. The males are caught with more difficulty, the females more easily, especially if their young ones be with them; for whilst they linger to help and succour them, they lose the occasion of escaping. The flesh is of no esteem, the tongue only is commendable; for being very large, and of a very lax substance, it is powdered, and by most Gentlemen accounted for a dainty. The lard is dispersed over many countries, to be boiled and eaten with fish in the time of Lent, that Gourmandizers may have somthing to serve them in stead of flesh which is then forbidden. There is great store of fat in them in the parts under the skin and belly, which melted, concretes not again, by reason of the subtilty; they keep it to burn in lamps, and to use about their ships. The houses of the fish-eaters are builded with their bones; also orchards in the coast of Aquitane are fenced with these bones. The sins that stand forth of their mouths, which are commonly called Whale-bones, being dried and polished, serve to make busks for women, whip-staves, and little staves, as also to stiffen gar∣ments. Many make seats or stools of the vertebrae, or spondilsor the back bone.

[illustration]

The manner of cutting up the Whale.

In the river Scalde, ten miles from Antwerp, Anno Dom. 1477. the second day of July, there was a Whale taken, of a blackish blue color, she had a spout hole in the top of her head, out of which she cast great store of water: she was fifty eight foot long, and sixteen foot high, her tails was fourteen foot broad; from the eye to the end of her nose was some sixteen foot. Her lower jaw was six foot on each side, she had twenty five teeth, which she could hide in her upper jaw, there being holes for them, it being wholly toothless; for which one thing this Whale

may be judged monstrous, for that nature hath denied them teeth, and for that in creatures that are not horned, it is so ordained by nature, that when they have teeth in their lower jaw, they should have others also in the upper to answer to them, so to chaw their meat. The longest of these teeth exceed not six inches.

There is (as Pliny reports) a very small fish accustomed to live upon rocks, it is called Eche∣neis, never exceeding the length of a foot; it is thought that ships go more slowly if this stick to them: wherefore the Latines have also given it a name of Remora, for that a ship being under sail with a good wind, may by the Echeneis seizing on her as if she would devour her, be stayed against the Sailers wills, and stand still as if she were in a safe harbor. Wherefor she is said in the Acti∣an fight to have staied the ship of Marcus Antonius, hastening to go about and encourage his souldiers, so that he was forced to enter into another ship, and thereupon Cesars navie came upon them too hastily, and before they were provided.

She also staid the ship of of the Emperor Caius, comming from Astura to Antes, his ship of all the navy making no way; neither did they long wonder at this stay, the cause being present∣ly known; some forthwith leaping into the Sea to find the cause thereof, there found her about the ship, even sticking to the Rudder, and they shewed her to Caius, being wroth that this so small a thing should stop him, and countermand the endevour of forty Rowers.

Therefore this little fish tames and infringes the violence and madness of the world, and that with no labor, not without holding or any other way, but only by sticking thereto. Certainly however it comes to pass, who from this example of holding of ships, can doubt of any power or effect of nature, in medicines which grow naturally? Yea, and without this example, the Tor∣pedo out of the sea also may be sufficient, who a far off, and at a distance, if it be touched with a a spear or rod, will benumb even the strongest arms, and retard the feet, how ever nimble to run away.

CHAP. XXII. Of the admirable nature of Birds, and of soms Beasts.

THat there be divers things not only in the Sea, but also in the air and earth, which by the wonderful condition of their own nature may equal that of Monsters, the only Estrich may serve for a witness. It is the biggest of Birds, though indeed it partly resembles a bird, and partly a beast (and it is familiar to Africa and Aethiopia) as which contrary to the nature of beasts hath feathers, and against the custom of birds cannot flie aloft; for it hath not feathers fit to flie, but like unto hairs, yet will it out-run a horse. The natural force of the stomach in concoct∣ings is miraculous, as to which nothing is untameable: she laies eggs of a wondrous largeness, so that they may be framed into cups: their feathers are most beautiful, as you may perceive by this following figure.

[illustration]

The figure of an Estrich.

Any one may easily gather of what a prodigious magnitude an Estrich is, by the greatness of his bones. Three of these birds were kept at the Kings charge, by the Mareschalde Rets: one whereof dy∣ing, it was bestowed upon me, whereof I have with great diligence made a Sce∣leton.

[illustration]

The delineation of the Sceleton of an Estrich.

• A. Shews the head, which was somewhat thicker then the head of a Crane, of the length of ones hand, plain from the crown even to the beak; the beak being divided to the middle region of the eye, being roundish at the end thereof.
• B. The neck, a yard long, consisting of seventeen Vertebrae, each whereof on each side is furnished with a transverse process locking downwards, of some fingers length, excepting the two which are next the head, as which want these, and are joyned together by Ginglymos.
• C. The back is of a foots length, consisting of seven Vertebrae.
• D. The holy-bone of two foot long, in whose top there is a transverse process, under which there lies a great hole.
• E. Three more, but less.
• F. G. H. After which there follows the cavity or socket, whereinto the head of the thigh bone is re∣ceived and hid. This externally and on the side produceth a perforated bone, noted with the letter, I perforated I say at the beginning, for it is presently united at the letter, K. then it is forked and divi∣ded into two other bones, whereof one is bigger then the other. The less is noted with the letter, L. then they are both united at the letter M. each of them is half a foot and four inches long. But from that part whereas they first begun to be divided, to what whereas they are united, there is a hole some four fingers broad, but the length of ones hand, or more, and it is noted with the letter, N. The residue of the bone is like to a pruning knife three inches broad, but six in length: the end whereunder is the letter, O. it is joyned by coalition.
• P. The rump consisting of nine Vertebrae, like to a mans. The thigh bones are two, whereof that which is noted with the letter Q. is of the length of a foot, and of thickness equal to a horses thigh. The other next under (which peradventure you may call the leg-bone) noted with R. is a foot and half long: it hath joyned thereto the Fibula, or lesser focil of the length, but which grows smaller as it comes lower.
• S. Is the leg, to which foot adheres, being one foot and a half long, divided at the end into two claws, the one bigger, the other less, whereof each one consists of three bones.
• T. Eight ribs, which are inserted into the Sternon, the three middlemost of these have a bony production like to a hook.
• V. Is the Sternon, consisting of one bone of some foots length, representing a buckler; to this there is joyned another bone which stretched over the three first ribs, is in stead of clavicles or collar-bones.
• X. The fi st bone of the wing, which is one foot and half long.
• Y. Two bones under this, equivalant to the ell and wand, under which there are six other bones composing the point of the wing, noted with Z.

This whole Sceleton is seven foot long, and so many foot or more high from the feet to the beak; there are many other observable things in his composure, but I have thought fit to omitt them for brevitie sake.

Jerom Cardane in his books De subtilitate, writes, that in the Iland of the Moluccas you may sometimes finde lying upon the ground, or take up in the waters, a dead bird called a Manu∣codiata. that is i•• Hebrew, the bird of God, it is never seen alive. It lives aloft in the air, it is like a Swallow in body and beak, yet distinguished with divers colored feathers: for those on the top of the head are of a golden colour, those of the neck like to a Mallard, but the tail and wings like Peacocks; it wants feet:

[illustration]

The effigies of a Manucodiata, or bird Paradise.

Wherefore if it become weary with flying, or desire sleep, in hangs up the body by twining the feathers about some bough of a tree. It passeth through the air, wherein it must remain as long as it lives, with great cele∣rity, and lives by the air and dew only. The cock hath a ca∣vity deprest in the back, wherein the hen laies and sits upon her eggs. I saw one at Paris which was presented to King Charls the ninth.

We have read in Thevets Cosmography, that he saw a bird in America, which in that country speech is called Touca, in this very monstrous and deformed, for that the beak in length and thick∣ness, exceeds the bigness of the rest of the body; it feeds on pepper, as the black-birds and fel∣fars with us do upon Ivie-berries, which are not less hot then pepper.

A certain Gentleman of Provence brought a bird of this kinde from that country, ro present it to King Charls the ninth, but dying in the way he could not present it alive. Wherefore the King wished the Mareschal de Rets to give her to me, that I might take forth her bowels and embalm her, that she might be kept amongst the Kings rarities. I did what I could, yet not long after she rotted; she resembled a crow in body and feathers, but had a yellowish beak, clear, smooth, and toothed like a saw, and of such length and thickness as we formerly mentioned. I keep it yet as a certain monstrous thing.

Thevet writes, that in the Island Zocotera there is frequently found a certain wilde beast called Hulphalis, of the bigness of an Ethiopian Monky. It is a very monstrous creature, but in nothing more then that it is thought to live upon the air only; the skin, as if it were died in grain, is of a scarlet colour, yet it is in some places spotted and variegated: it hath a round-head like to a boul, with feet round, broad, and wanting hurtful nails. The Moors kill it and use to eat the flesh of it, being first bruised, that so it may be the more tender.

In the Realm of Camota, of Ahob, of Benga, and other mountains of Cangipa, Plimatiq and Catagan, which are in the inner India, beyond the river of Ganges, some five degrees beyond the Tropick of Cancer, is found a beast, which the Western Germans call Giraff. This beast in head, ears and cloven feet, is not much unlike our Doe; it hath a very slender neck, but is some six foot long, and there are few beasts that exceed him in the length of their legs: his tail is round, but reacheth no further them his hams, his skin is exceeding beautiful, yet sowewhat rough, having hair thereon somewhat longer then a Cow, it is spotted and variegated in some places with spots of a middle colour, between white and chesnut, so as Leopards are: for which cause by some Greek Historians it is called Cameleopardalis: it is so wilde before it be taken, that with the good-will it will not so much as be seen. Therefore it inhabits & lives only in desert and secret places, unknown to the rest of the beasts of that region; she presently flies away at the sight of a man, yet he is taken at length, for that he is not very speedy in running away; once taken he is as easily and spee∣dily tamed as any wilde beast whatsoever. He hath above his crown two strait horns covered with hairs, and of a foot length. When as he holds up his head and neck, he is as high as a-Lance. He feeds upon herbs and the leaves and boughs of trees; yea, he is also delighted with bread.

[illustration]

The effigies of a Giraffa.

Such as sail in the red sea along the coast of Arabia, meet with an Island called by the Arabi∣ans Cademota; in that part thereof where the river Plata runs, is found a wilde beast, called by the barbarous inhabitants Parassoupi, being of the bigness of a Mule, headed not unlike one, yet rough and haired like to a Beat, but not of so dark a colour, but inclining to yellow, with cloven feet like a Hart: she hath two long horns on her head, but not branched, somewhat resembling those to much magnified horns of Unicorns. For the natives of the place, bitten by the ve∣nomous tooth of either beast or fish, are presently helped and recovered by drinking the water wherein such horns have been infused for six or seven dayes space, as Thevet in his Cosmography reports.

In one of the Islands of the Moluccas there is found a beast living both on land and water like as a Crorodil••; it is called Campurch, it is of the bigness of an Hart, it hath one horn in the fore∣head, moveable after the fashion of the nose of a Turky-cock: it is some three foot and a half long, and never thicker then a mans arm; his neck is covered over with an ash colour; he hath two feet like to a gooses feet, wherewith he swims both in fresh and in salt waters. His fore-feet are like to a stags, he lives fish. Many have perswaded themselves that this beast is a kinde of Unicorn, and that therefore his horn should be good against poysons. The King of the Island loves to be called by the name of this beast; and so also other Kings take to themselves the names of the wilde beasts, fishes, or fruits, that are most precious and observable in their dominions as Thevet reports,

Mauritania and Aethiopia, and that part of Africk that is beyond the deserts and Syrtes, bring forth Elephants; but those of India are far larger. Now although in the largness of their body they exceed all four-footed beasts, yet may they be more speedily and easily tamed then other beasts. For they may be taught to do many things above the common nature of beasts. Their skin is somewhat like to a Buffles, with little hair upon it, but that which is, is ash-coloured, his head large, his neck short, his ears two handfuls broad, his nose or trunk very long, and hanging down almost to the ground, hollow like as a trumpet, the which he useth in stead of an hand, his mouth is not far from his breast, not much unlike a swines, from the upper part whereof two large teeth thrust forth themselves, his legs are thick and strong, not consisting of one bone as many formerly

have falsly beleived (for they kneel to admit their Rider, or to be laden, and then rise up again of themselves) his feet are round like a quoit some too or three hands bredth, and divided into five clefts. He hath a tail like a Buffle, but not very rough, some three hands bredth long; where∣fore they would be much troubled with flies and wasps, but that nature hath recompenced the shortness of their tails by another way; for when they finde themselves molested, they contract their skin so strongly, that they suffocate and kill these little creatures taken in the wrinkles there∣of; they over-take a man running by going only, for his legs are proportionable to the rest of his body.

[illustration]

The figure of an Elephant.

They feed upon the leaves and fruits of trees, neither is any tree so strong and well rooted, which they cannot throw down and break. They grow to be sixteen handfuls high, wherefore such as ride upon an Elephant are much troubled as if they went to sea. They are or so unbrideled a na∣ture, that they cannot endure any head-stall or reins; therefore you must suffer them to take the course and way they please. Yet do they obey their country-men without any great trouble; for they seem after some sort to understand their speech, wherefore they are easily governed by their known voices and words. They throw down a man that angers them, first taking him up with theit trunk and lifting him aloft, and then letting him fall, they tread him under foot, and leave him not before he be dead. Aristotle writes that Elephants generate not before they be twenty years old: they know not adultery, neither touch they any female but one, from which they also diligently abstain when they know she hath once conceived. It cannot be known how long they go with young; the reason is for that their copulation is not seen, for they never do it but in secret. The females bring forth resting upon their hind legs, and with pain like women; they lick their young, and these presently see and go, and suck with their mouths, and not with their trunks. You may see Elephants teeth of a monstrous and stupendious bigness, at Venice, Rome, Naples, and Paris; they term it Ivory, and it is used for Cabinets, Harps, Combs, and other such like ••••es.

We have read in Thevet, that in Florida there are great Bulls, called in that country tongue Beautrol, they have horns of a foot long, a bunch on their backs like a Camel, their hair long and yellow, the tail of a Lion; there is scarce any creature more fierce or wilde, for it can never be tamed, unless it be taken from the dam. The Salvages use their hides against the cold, and their horns as an Antidote against poyson.

The same author affirms that whilst he sayled in the red sea, he saw a monster in the hands of a certain Indian Merchant which in the bigness and shape of his limbs was not unlike a Tiger, yet had the face of a man, but a very flat nose: besides, his fore feet were like a mans hands, but the hinde like the feet of a Tigre; he had no tail, he was of a dun colour: to conclude, in head, ears, neck and face it resembled a man, but in the blackish and curled hair, a Moor: for the other parts they were like a Tiger; they called it Thanacth.

[illustration]

The figure of a beast called Thanacth.

This following monster is so strange that it will scarce be believed, but by those that have seen it: it is bred in America, and by the Salvages called Haiit, of the bigness of a Monky, with a great belly, almost touching the, ground and the head and face of a childe: being taken, it mourns and sighs like to a man that is troubled and perplext; it is of an ash-colour, hath the feet divided into three claws, four fingers long, and sharper then those of a Lion: it climbes trees, and lives there more frequently then upon the ground, the tail is no longer then the bredth of three fingers. It is strange and almost monstrous that these kinde of creatures have never been seen to feed upon or eat any thing: for the Salvages have kept them long in their houses to make trial thereof, where∣fore they think them to live by the air.

[illustration]

The figure of the beast called Haiit.

I have taken this following monster out of Leo's Affrican history; it is very deformed, being round after the manner of a Tortoise too yellow lines crossing each other at right angles, divide his back; at every end of which he hath one eye, and also one ear, so that such a creature may see on every side with his four eyes, as also heare by his so many ears: yet hath he but one mouth, and one belly to contain his meat, but his round body is encompassed with many feet, by whose help he can go any way he please without turning of his body, his tail is something long and very hairy at the end. The inhabitants affirm, that his blood is more effectuall in healing of wounds then any balsom.

[illustration]

It is strange that the Rhinoceros should be a born enemy to the Elephant; wherefore he whets his horn, which grows upon his nose, upon the rocks, and so prepares himself for fight, wherein he chiefly assails the belly, as that which he knows to be the softest: he is as long as an Elephant, but his legs are much shorter, he is of the colour of box, yet somewhat spotted. Pompy was the first, that shewed one at Rome.

[illustration]

The figure of the Rhinoceros.

[illustration]

The figure of the Chameleon.

Affrica produceth the Cameleon, yet is it more frequent in India: he is in shape and greatness like a Lizard, but that his legs are strait and high∣er, his sides are joyned to the belly as in fish, and his back stands up after the same manner, his nose stands out not much unlike a swines, his tail is long, and endeth sharp, and he foulds it up in a round, like a serpent, his nails are crook∣ed, his pace slow like as the Tortoise, his body rough, be never shuts his eyes, neither doth he look about by the moving of the apple, but by the turning of the whole eye. The nature of his colour is very wonderful, for he changeth it now and then in his eye and tail, and whole body beside; and he alwayes assimilates that which he is next to, unless it be red or white. His skin is very thin, and his body clear; there∣fore the one of these two, either the colour of the neighbouring things in so great subtility of his clear skin, easily shines as in a glass; or else various humors diversly stirred up in him, accor∣ding to the variety of his affections, represent divers colours in his skin, as a turky-cock doth in those fleshy excrescences under his throat, and under his head: he is pale when he is dead. Ma∣thiolus writes that the right eye taken from a living Chameleon takes away the white spots which are about the thorny coat of the eye; his body being beaten, and mixed with Goats milk, and rubbed upon any part, fetcheth off hairs; his gall discusseth the Cataracts of the eye.

CHAP. XIII. Of Celestial Monsters.

PEradventure it hath not been strange that monsters have been generated upon the earth and in the Sea: but for monsters to appear in heaven, and in the upper region of the air, exceeds all admiration. Yet have we often read it written by the antients, that the face of heaven hath been deformed, by bearded, tailed, and haired Comets; by meteors representing burning torches, and lamps, pillars, darts, shields, troups of clouds, hostilly assayling each o∣ther; Dragons, two Moons, Suns, and the like monsters and prodigies.

Antiquity hath not seen any thing more pro∣digious

[illustration]

The figure of a fearfull Comet.

then that Comet which appeared with bloody hair in Uverstine, on the ninth day of October, 1528. for it was so horrible and fearful a spectacle, that divers died with fear, and many fell into grievous diseases going from the East to the South; it endured no longer then one hour & a quarter: in the top whereof was seen a bending arm holding a great sword in a threat∣ning hand; at the end thereof appeared three stars, but that over which the point of the sword directly hanged was more bright and clear then the rest: on each side of this Comet were seen many spears swords, and other kindes of weapons dyed with blood, which were inter∣mixed with mens heads, having long & terrible hair and beards, as you may see in this figure.

Also there have been seen great and thick bars of Iron to have faln from heaven, which have presently been turned into swords and rapiers. At Sugoliah in the borders of Hungaria, a stone fell from Heaven wich a great noise, the seventh day of September? Anno Dom. 1514 it weighed two hundred and fifty pound: the Citizens hang∣•••••• up with a great iron-chain put through it, in the midst of the Church of their City, and used to shew it as a miracle to travellers of better, note that pass that way. Pliny reports that clashing of armour, and the sound of a trumpet were heard from Heaven often, before and after the Cimbrian war. The same author writes that in the third Consul-ship of Marius the Amarines and Tudortines saw the heavenly armies comming from East and West, and so joyning, those being vanquished which came from the East. Which same thing was seen in Lusalia, at a town called Jubea, too hours after midnight, Anno Dom. 1535. But in Anno Dom. 1550. upon the 19. day of Julie, in Saxony, not far from Wittenburg, there appeared in the air a great Stag, in∣compassed with two armed Hosts, making a great noise in their conflict, and at the same instant it rained blood in great abundance; the Sun seemed to be cloven in two pieces, and the one of them to fall upon the earth. A little before the taking of Constantinople from the Christians, there ap∣peard a great army in the air appointed to fight, attended on with a great company of dogs and other wilde beasts. Julius Obsequius reports that in Anno Dom. 458. it rained flesh in Italy, in great and lesser pieces, part of which were devoured by the birds before they fell upon the earth: that which fell upon the earth kept long unputrified, and unchanged in colour and smell. A. Dom. 989. Otho the third being Emperor, it rained corn in Italy. A. Dom. 180. it rained milk and oyl in great abundance, and fruit-bearing trees brought forth corn. Lycosthenes tells that in the time of Charles the fifth, whilst Maidenburg was besieged, three suns first appeared about 7. a clock in the morning, and then were seen for a whole day, whereof the middlemost was the brightest, the two others were reddish, and of a bloody colour; but in the night time there appeared three Moons. The same appeared in Bavaria, Anna Dom. 1554

But if so prodigious and strange things happen in the Heavens besides the common order of na∣ture, shall we think it incredible that the like may happen in the earth; Anno Dom. 542. the whole earth quaked, mount Aetna cast forth flames and sparks of fire, with which many houses of the neigh∣bouring villages were burn'd. Anno Dom. 1531. in Portugal there was an earthquake for eight dayes, and it quaked seven or eight times each day; so that in Lisbone alone it cast down a thousand and fifty houses, and more then six hundred were spoyled. Ferrara lately was almost wholly demo∣lished by a fearful earthquake. Above all which ever have been heard is that prodigie which happe∣ned in the time of Pliny, at the death of Nero the Emperor in the Marucine field, the whole O∣live-field of Vectius, Marcellus a Roman Knight going over the high way, and the fields which were against it comming into the place thereof. Why should I mention the miracles of waters, from whose depth and streams, fires and great flames have oft broke forth; They tell out of St. Angustine, that the fire of the sacrifice, which for those seventy years of the Babylonian capti∣vity endured under the water, was extinguished, Antiochus selling the priest-hood to Jason. What miracle is this, that the fire should live in the water, above its force and natural efficacy, and that the water should forget the extinguishing faculty! Verily Philosophers truly affirm that the e∣lements which are understood to be contrary, and to fight in variety among themselves, are mutu∣ally joyned and tied together by a marvellous confederacy.

The end of the Twenty fifth Book.

Notes

• What a Mon∣ster is. What a Prodi∣gie is.
• Lib. 4 gen anim. cap. 4.
• Var. lect. lib. 24. cap. ••.
• 4 De gen. anim. c. p. 4.
• Lib. 7. Cap 11. Cap 3.
• The ninth Book of the Polish Histo∣rie.
• Lib. 4. de gen. anim cap. 4.
• Lib. 4. de gener. anim. cap. 5.
• The force of imagination upon the body and humors.
• Gen. cap. 30.
• That the straitness or littleness of the womb▪ may be the occasi∣on of monsters
• Cardan lib. 14. de var rerum. cap 94.
• There are sor∣cerers, and how they com so to be.
• What enduceth them thereto.
• Exod. cap. 22. Levit. cap. 19.
• Hebr. 1.14. Gal 3 19. 1 Thes. 4 16.
• Job 13. Mar. 16 34.
• The power of evil spirits o∣ver mankinde. The differen∣ces of devils.
• The delusions of devils.
• Their titles and names,
• What the De∣vils in Mines do.
• Devils are spi∣rits.
• The reason of the name. Lib. 15 de civit. Dei cap. 22. & 23.
• An historie,
• Another.
• An opinion confuted.
• Averrois his hi∣story c nvict of falshood.
• The illusions of the devil.
• A history.
• Our sins are the cause that the devils a∣buse us.
• Lib. 2 de abdit. caus. cap. 16.
• Witches hurt by the devils assistance.
• A historie.
• A historie.
• The devil shews himself by speaking of greek.
• Devils wax angrie, and are terrified by di∣vine things.
• It is but a de∣ceitful cure that is perfor∣med by the de∣vil.
• O••d wives su∣perstitious me∣dicines against divers diseases.
• Lib. 6. de simp.
• Lib. ep••st 38. ep.
• An history of a counterfeit arm.
• Another of a cancrous brest.
• Of one feign∣ing himself le∣prous.
• Ciquets are things made somewhat re∣sembling a small woo••catd, but have two or three little pieces of bo••rds so fast∣ned together wi••h leather, that they will make a great noise with them and these are used by the French beg∣gars.
• A multitude of beggars hurt∣ful to the city.
• How to disco∣ver such as counterfeit the Jaundise.
• Of one coun∣terfeiting the falling of the fundament.
• Of one feign∣ing the falling down of the womb.
• Of a begger that ••eigned her self to have a s••••ke in her belly.
• The craft of such as feign themselves to have the fal∣ling sickness. Of such as feign them∣selves leprous.
• Monsters hap∣pen also in di∣s••ases. A bullet shot into the belly came forth at the fundament
• A bullet stick∣ing in the throat and the patient recove∣ring.
• Lib. 3. anatom. cap. 9 A crooked ••ron sh••t into the back came forth at the fundament. A swa lowed needle voided by u••ine. A needle run∣ning in at the bu••tock came forth at the groin.
• A needle in the midst of a stone taken forth of the bladde••.
• A stone by the force of purg∣ing m••dicines voided by the fundament.
• 5. Epid. A stone com∣ing out of the neck of the womb.
• Lib. 1. cap. de palp. cond.
• No part of the body wherein stones may not be found.
• A needle swal∣lowed, came forth at the navel some two years after.
• A sprig of gras swallowed came forth whole again between the ribs.
• A knife swal∣lowed, came forth at an ab∣scess in the groin.
• The point of a sword swallow∣ed came forth at the funda∣ment.
• Wonderful ex∣cretions of in∣fants out of the womb.
• Women trou∣bled with the Mother laid out for dead. An impostume spit out, of the bigness of a Pigeons egg.
• Worms cast up in the fit of an Ague.
• This narration exceeds not only all admi∣ration, but al∣so belief.
• Pract. lib. 64. cap. 1.
• 5. Epidem.
• Boist in. histor. prodig.
• I is a common thing for a ser∣pent to breed of the dead corps of a man.
• A live serpent in a solid Mar∣ble.
• The cause of such wonder∣ful genera∣tions.
• Lib. 9.
• Lib. 5. Chron.
• This here fi∣gu••ed is the sea-Morse, ta∣ken commonly by our men in their Green∣land voiages▪ and I judg the Sea-Bo e and Elephant to be the same, but that the Painter hath shewed his skill too much in the one: and the other is an old Morse, as this here figu∣red is a young one.
• The Crocodile only moves the upper jaw.
• Expende dili∣genter Plimi lo∣cum lib 28. c. 8.
• Cosmograph. tom 1. l 2. c 8. How they take Crorodiles.
• Cap. 10.
• Lib. 9. cap. 2.
• The blood of great Tortoises good for the leprosie. Tom lib. 20.
• 4. de hist. anim. cap. 4.
• By crusted is meant Cr••b••, Lobsters, Shrimps, and such like. The descripti∣on of the Her∣mite cray-fish.
• Lib. 7. cap. 31.
• They change their habitati∣on for two causes.
• What the Pin∣noter, or dwarf-crab is.
• What the Pi••∣na is.
• Lib. 9 cap. 42. Lib. 3 Deipno.
• The familiari∣ty and craft of the Pinna and Pinnoter.
• Lib. 2. de nat. deorum.
• Plin lib. 9 cap. 29.
• How the Whale may be reckoned a∣mongst mon∣sters.
• A Whale brings forth young, and suckles them.
• How they are caught.
• Why the fe∣males are more easily caught then the males.
• Whale-bone.
• Lib. 9. cap. 25. & lib. 32. cap. 1. The wondrous power of the Remora.
• The wondrous force of the Torpedo.
• The Estrich is between a bird and a beast.
• The wondrous force of her stomach.
• The descripti∣on of the bird of Paradise.
• Whosoever desires to know more of the t••uth of this bird, let him read Clau∣sius in the Au∣ctarium ad lib. 5 cap rexotico∣rum.
• Tom. 2. l. 21. cap. 22.
• Tom. 1 cap 11. lib. 4.
• Thevet tom 1. lib. 11. cap. 13.
• The Indian Elephants are bigger then the Affrican.
• How they keep flies form them.
• .bLi 9 de hist anim. cap. 28.
• It is not known how long an Ele∣ph••nt goes with young.
• Tom. 2. lib. 23. cap. 2.
• Their horns good against poyson. Tom. 1 lib. 2 cap. 10.
• Blood as good as balsom.
• Plin. 18. c. 29.
• Plim. lib. 8. c. 33.
• Arist lib. 2. hist. anim. cap. 12.
• The strange nature of the colour of the Chameleon.
• L. 2. c. 57.
• Presages of the taking of Constantinople. Monstrous rains.
• Earthquakes.
• Lib. 2 cap. 73.