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The excellent and pleasant worke of Iulius Solinus Polyhistor Contayning the noble actions of humaine
creatures, the secretes & prouidence of nature, the description of countries, the maners of the people:
with many meruailous things and strange antiquities, seruing for the benefitt and recreation of all sorts of
persons. Translated out of Latin into English, by Arthur Golding. Gent.
Solinus, C. Julius, 3rd cent.?, Golding, Arthur, 1536-1606.
Table of contents  |  Add to bookbag
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The excellent and pleasant worke of Iulius Soli∣nus Polyhistor. Contayning the
noble actions of hu∣maine creatures, the secretes & prouidence of nature, the
description of Countries, the maners of the people: with many meruailous things
and strange antiquities, seruing for the benefitt and recreation of all sorts of
persons. Translated out of Latin into English, by Arthur Golding. Gent.
[illustration]
At London Printed by I. Charlewoode for Tho∣mas Hacket. 1587.
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[illustration]
The Right Hon ble . Charles Viscount Bruce of Ampthill (Son & Heir Apparent of Thomas
Earl of Ailesbury) & Baron Bruce of Whorleton
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THE LIFE OF SOLI∣NVS, VVRITTEN BY IOHN CAMERTES.
T
Here is no certain∣tie left in writing by them that are skilfull, in what time
Iulius Solinus florish∣ed. which thing I beleeue to haue happened because the
monuments of such as writ after him perrished al∣most vniuersally, at such time
as the barbarous na¦tions made hauock of all things. I maruel that the cōpiler of
the Supplement of Chronicles (in all o∣ther respectes a base wr•ter.) hath reported
that this Solinus floris•ed in the time of Augustus Caesar to whom he surmiseth
him to haue dedicated hys Polyhistor. For it is euident that in this woorke, Solinus
maketh mentiō of the Emperor Vespasians dooings. Furthermore, hee speaketh of
Suetonius Paulinus, whō Plinie saw as he witnesseth himself. Besides this,
Solinus hath drawn almost all his mat¦ter out of Plinies fountaines, and yet
neuerthelesse in wryting these things, hee desireth hys freendePage  [unnumbered]
in the beginning of his worke, to beare wyth hys simplicitie. But forasmuch as he
no where maketh mention of Plinie, (by whom he was furthered) I coniecture that
Solinus wrate this work while Pli ∣ nie was yet aliue. And therevppon (by
likelihoode) it comes to passe, that hee made no mention of hys author at that
time liuing. By like reason it might fall out, that Plinie no where maketh mention
of Dioscorides a famous wrighter of the same time that he was, when
notwithstanding it is apparant, that Plinie borowed many thinges out of him into
his work. The same fault also might bee imputed to Dioscorides (for it might bee
founde in Ammon which of them purloyned from other) if hee sup∣pressing the
name of Plinie, haue filched so manie thinges out of him. They that haue written
moste precisely of the liues and manners of Xenophon and Plato, and sundry
other things of thē, report that in al the nūbers of Volumes which eche of thē
wrate, neyther Plato made once mention of the name of Xenophon, nor Xenophon
of the name of Plato.
Beleeue •e such is Enuies kind, that Readers very seeld.
To wryters in their present times deserued thanks do yeeld.
For En•y feedeth on the quick: but when that men be dead,
The sting of Enuie stints, and hath no poison more to shead.
VVhich saying of Naso is very true. VVhat may be sayd of Macrobius, who
diuers times ta∣keth whole leaues out of Gellius? Or of Placidus, who boroweth
of Ser•ius? or of Acron, who stea∣leth
Page  [unnumbered]
from Porphyrio? What shall wee say of sixe hundred others, who in long
treatises, suppressing the names of them from whome they borowed them, haue
word for word attributed all things to themselues? No mā doubteth but that Aulus
Gel ∣ lius the very Diamond of the Latin tongue, profi∣ted greatly by reading Liuie,
and yet he wil not in any wise that Liuie the prince of Latin Historio∣graphers,
should be partaker of his Nights. Yet am I not of the opinion of some mē, which
thinke that Solinus made no mention of Plinie, in hope that Plinies works should
vtterly haue perished, & so his collections onely haue remained, and in processe
of time no mā shold haue bin able to dis∣couer his filchings, as Florus & Iustine
are thought to haue trauelled to the like end & purpose▪ would God there were
none other cause then this of the losse of so many good Authors. Then to passe
o∣uer the Greekes by the way, the monuments of Cato, Varro, Nigidius, Salust,
Higinius, Celsus, Enni ∣ us, Furius, Varrius, Actius, Neuius, and Pacuuius, all
noble Authors, (which now are perrished, to the great hinderaunce of Students)
shoulde haue re∣mained vnto this day. But howsoeuer the case stā∣deth, Solinus
courteously confesseth, that whatsoe∣uer he hath comprehended in hys Polyhistor,
pro¦ceedeth out of most allowable Authors, & hecha∣lengeth nothing for his
owne, in as much as (sayth he) the diligence of men in olde time hath beene such,
that nothing hath continued vntouched to
Page  [unnumbered]
our dayes. And againe he sayth plainly, that hee leaueth the auouchi•g of the
trueth of thinges, to such Authors as hee hath followed in this worke. Neither is itto be vpbraided to Solinus as a shame, that hee hath euery where followed Plinie,
more then Virgill is to be found fault with for translating into his worke the verses
of the auncient Poets, & specially of Homer. For it is no small commenda∣tion to
counterfet singulerly a singuler Author.
That Solinus was a Romaine, it is to be coniectu∣red both by his phrase of
wryting, and also for that commonly when occasion serueth to speake of the
Romaines, hee is wont in most places to call them our men, or my countrymen.
Not onely the latter wryters, (as Sipontinus, Perottus, Domitius, Calde ∣ rinus,
Angelus Politianus, Hermolaus Barbarus, Ianus Parrhasius, and diuers others
such like, whom not without cause a man might account among the auncient
wryters.) But Seruius also in his seconde booke vpon Virgills Husbandry, and
Priscian, two of the sixe notable Gramarians, haue cited the au∣thoritie of Solinus
by name. Also the interpreter of Dennis, (whither it were Priscian or Rhemninus)
hath oftentimes put whole sentences of Solinussis in his verses. If I be not
deceiued, all that which Macrobius reciteth of the diuision of the yeere, and of the
odde dayes, are Solinussis. Moreouer, the Doctors of the Church, Ierom,
Ambrose, and Au ∣ •ten, and other Doctors also, haue many times bo∣rowed
sentences worde for worde out of Solinus.
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There are some that terme Solinus by the name of Plinies Ape, in like manner as
Iulius Capitolinus Plinius Caecilius, and Sidonius Apollinaris reporte, that Titian
was called the Ape of the Orators, and Arulen the Ape of the Stoiks. But these
men consi∣der not, that such are wont to be called Apes, as ey∣ther repeate things
writtē by others altogether in the same order without alteration, or els such as
counterfet, not the Authors but theyr shadowes. But Solinus hath so followed
Plinies phrase, that (vnder correction bee it spoken) there may scarce any other be
found, that hath approched neerer to the maiestie of Plinies stile. He intitled his
Booke (as is found in certaine old Coppies) to his freend Autius, to who also he
deliuered it to be corrected. Some hold opinion, that he left other monumēts also
of hys wyt, which eyther by force of time are perished, or els perchaunce lie hyd
in some blinde corner among Mothes.
Finis.
Page  [unnumbered]
¶C. Iulius Solinus sendeth hartie commendations to his freende Autius.
F
Orasmuch as certain persons rather of too much eagernesse then of good
vvill, haue hasted to snatch vp this little peece of vvorke that I was in hande
withall, and haue pulished it, beeing yet vnpullished, before the matter that I had
begunne, could be fullie finished: & now also do blaze abroad in corrupted
copies, the things that are disalowed, as though they had beene well allowed:
slightlie ouerpassing such things as by further aduise haue beene ad∣ded for the
increase of knowledge: Least peraduenture such a rude and vnperfect hochpotch
should be brought vnto your handes as a •ooke by mee well ouerlooked: I haue
sent you this worke in such sort, as you may knowe it to bee by myne owne
aduise set in order. First, for that the processe of the whole discourse was to be
referred to your discretion, and secondlie to the intent that the ilfauorednesse ofthat rustie publication might by the true edition bee abolished. The ty∣tl• of this
vvorke therfore shall be Polyhistor. For it is my mind that the title which I had
purposed vppon at the be∣ginning, (that is to say, A collection of things woorthy
remembrance) should be abolished vvith the rest of those thinges that I haue
disallowed. Wherefore when you shall compare this Epistle with the Epistle
which is in the begin∣ning of the other coppie, you shall vnderstande that I have
made the same account of you, as of him to vvhō I haue de∣dicated the whole
substaunce of my trauell.
Farewell.
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❧ THE EPIS∣TLE DEDICATORIE of the Author written to the same Autius.
I
Nasmuch as I vnderstande, that both in fauourable perusing the dooings of
other men, and also in knowledge of the li∣berall Sciences, you excell all others,
wherof I my self also haue had so good expe∣riēce, so as I cannot seeme to haue
presumed vnadui¦sedly vpon your courtesie, any further then becom∣meth me: I
thought to dedicate the web of thys my little worke specially vnto you, as at
whose hande I hoped eyther for your learnings sake to bee the soo∣ner allowed, or
for your courtesies sake to bee the easier borne withall. The booke is framed to a
breefenesse, and (as farre as reason woulde suffer) so moderatlye abridged, that
there is not in it, eyther too lauash a∣boundaunce,
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or to nigardly skantnesse. And if you consider it aduisedly, you shall finde it
rather leuened with knowledge, then vernished with eloquence. For I confesse my
selfe to haue studied earnestly certaine choyse Bookes, to the intent to digresse
further of frō thinges knowne, and to make longer tariance in things more strange.
Recitall of places occupyeth the most part of this worke, as whereunto the whole
mat∣ter is somewhat inclined of it selfe. And heereof I minded in such wyse to
entreate, as I might set out the platts of the famous Lands, & the notable Bayes of
the Sea, euery one in theyr order, keeping the ac∣customed distin•tion of the
world.
Also I haue interlaced many thinges some what differing (but not disagreeing)
from the matter, to the intent that (if nothing els, yet at leastwyse) the varietie it
selfe myght ease the wearines of the Rea∣ders▪ Heerewythall I haue expressed the
natures of men and other lyuing things. And not a few things are added
concerning straunge Trees and Stones: cō∣cerning the shapes of farborne people:
and concer∣ning the diuersities of customes of vnknown nations. Moreouer, there
are diuers thinges worthy to be in∣treated of, which to passe ouer, I thought had
beene a poynt of negligence, inasmuch as they be auouched by the authority of
most allowed wryters, which thing inespecially I would your wysedome shoulde
vnder∣stand. For what can wee callenge properly for our owne, sith the dilygence
of menne in olde tyme hath beene such, that nothyng hath remayned vntouched
Page  [unnumbered]vnto our dayes. VVherefore I beseech you waygh not the credite of this woorke
that I put foorth, in the ballance of thys present tyme. For I ensuing the print of
the olde stampe, thought good rather to take my choyse of all the olde opinions,
then to alter them. Therefore if any of these thynges shall sound other∣wyse to
your vnderstanding, then I wysh they shold: I pray you beare wyth my
vnskylfulnes, and let those Authors which I haue followed stande to the
auouch∣ing of the trueth. And euen as they that drawe the Images of men, setting
all the rest aside, doo first and formost proportion out the head, & meddle not
with portraying out the other limbes before they haue ta∣ken theyr begynning (as
yee woulde say) at the very topcastle of shape and proportion: So wyll I also take
my begynning at the heade of the world, (that is to weete) the Cittie of Rome.
And although the best learned Authors haue left nothyng that may bee spo∣ken a
newe to the prayse thereof, and that therefore it be almost a superfluous matter to
trace the pathe, that hath beene troden ouer in so many Chronicles. yet
neuertheles, because it shal not be altogether ouer slipped, I wyll set forth the
Originall thereof wyth as much faythfulnesse as may be.
Farewell.
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The fyrst Chapter
of Caius Iulius Solinus Polyhi∣stor, entreateth of the first foundation of the Cittie
Rome.
T
Here are some which would haue it séeme, * that the name of Rome was
giuen first of all by Euan ∣ der: who finding there a Towne built before by the
young men of Latiū which they called Valentia, * kept the signification of the first
name, & called it in Gréeke Rhome, which is the same that Valentia is in Latine.
And forasmuch as the Arcadians planted themselues there vppon the highest
toppe of an Hill, it came to passe that euer after the Latines termed the strongest
places of Citties by the name of Arces. Heraclides is of opinion, that after the
taking of Troy, certaine A ∣ chiues came by the Riuer Tyber, and arriued in the place
where Rome is nowe: and that afterwarde by perswasion of one Rome a noble
Lady (who was pry∣soner among them and at y • time in theyr companie) they did
set fire on their Shippes, setled themselues to abide, reared the wals, and called
the Towne Rome, after the name of the Ladie. Ag•thocles wryteth, that it was not
this Rome the prisoner as is a•oresaid, but the daughter of Ascanius and
graundchild to Ae ∣ n•a•, that was the cause of this foresaid name of thys Cittie.
There is also registred a peculiar name of Rome: but it is not lawful to be
published, forasmuch as it is enacted among other secretes of our Ceremo∣nies,
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that it should not be blazed abrode, to the intent that the reuerence giuen to the
inacted secrecie, might abolish the knowledge thereof. And Valerius Soranus
(because he durst be so bold as to disclose it contrary to the Law) was put todeath in recompence of his ouer-liberall talke. Among our auncientest Religions,
we worship the Chappell of Angerona, to whom wée doo sacrifice before the *
twelfth day of the Calends of Ia∣nuarie, which Goddesse (as the Gouernour of
silence) hath her Image there with mouth closed, and lyppes sealed fast together.
As concerning the times of the building of the Cittie, * it hath raysed doubtfull
questi∣ons, inasmuch as certayne things were builded there long before the time
of Romulus. For Hercules * (accor∣ding to the vowe that hee had made for the
punishing of Cacus, * and the recouerie of his Oxen,) dedicated an Altar to his
Father Iupiter, whom he surnamed y e fin∣der. This Cacus inhabited a place named
Salines whereas is now the Gate called Trigemina. Who (as Coelius reporteth)
béeing sent to ward by Tarchon * the Tyrrhenian (to whom he came of Ambassade
from King Marsias, * accompanied with Megales the Phry ∣ gian) brake out of
prison, and returning from whence he came, raysed a greater puissaunce, and
subdued all the Country about the Riuer Vulturnus & Campane. Wherewith
béeing not content, as he attempted the conquest of those thinges that were come
in possession of y • Arcadians, * he was vanquished by Hercules, who by chaunce
was there at the same time. And the Sa ∣ bines receyuing Megales again, were
taught by him the art of Byrdspelling. Hercules also hauing lear∣ned of Nicostrate
the mother of Euander (who for her skill in prophesying, * was also called
Carmentis) that he should become immortall, erected an Altar to hys owne
maiestie, which among our Byshops is had in
Page  [unnumbered]
very great reuerence. Moreouer he made the consept, within the which he taught
the Potits, howe they shoulde solemnize his rites and ceremonies in offe∣ring
Oxen. Hercules Chappell is in the Oxe-market, * wherein are remayning the
monuments of hys ban∣quet and maiestie, euen vnto this day. For such a gyft is
giuen it from Heauen, that neither dogs nor flyes can enter into the place. For at
such time as hee was offering the inwards of his sacrifice, it is sayd that he cursed
the God Myagrus, * and left his Clubbe in the Porche, at the smell whereof dogges
ran away, and so it continueth to this howre. The Church also which is called the
Treasory of Saturne, * was builded by hys companions in the honor of Saturne,
whō they had lear¦ned to haue béene an inhabiter of that Country. Fur∣thermore
they named the Hill where now is y e Capi∣toll, Saturnes Hyll. Of the Castle also
which they builded, they named the Gate Saturnes Gate, * which afterward was
called Pandangate. At the foote of the Hill Capitoline, was the dwelling of
Carmentis, and there is nowe the Chappell of Carmentis, wherof the Gate of
Carmentis taketh his name. * As for y e Pallace it is not to be doubted but that the
Arcadians were founders thereof, who also before that time builded the Towne
Palanteum, which the Aborigens inhabi∣ted a whyle, but afterward (for the
noysomnesse of the fenne and marrys which the Tyber running by it had made)
left it vp and remooued to Rhaeatee. There are that thinke thys Hill tooke hys
name of the blea∣ting of shéepe by chaunging of Letters, or of Pale the Goddesse
of Shéepeheardes, or (as Silenus prooueth) of Pallas the daughter of
Hyperboreus, whom Hercules de∣flowred on that Hyll. But howsoeuer these
thyngs agrée: it is manifest that the glorye of the Romaine name did chéefely
spring out of that * luckye fore•o∣ken: specially séeing that the account of the
yéeres
Page  [unnumbered]bringeth good reason to ground the trueth vppon. For (as Varro a most exquisite
Author affirmeth) Romulus the sonne of Mars and Rhaea Siluta, or (as diuers
o∣ther suppose) of Mars and Ilia, builded Rome. And at the first Rome was called
square, because it was plat∣ted out by line and leuell. It beginneth at the Groue
that is in the floore of Apollo, and endeth at the vpper brew of Cacus staiers,
where as was y e cotage of Fau ∣ stulus. And there dwelled Romulus that luckely
layd the foundation of the walles in the 18. yere of his age, the * eleuēth Calends
of May betwéene two & thrée of the clock, as Lucius Tarutius the famous
Mathema∣tick hath left in wryting. Iupiter béeing at that time in Pisces. Saturne,
Venus, Mars, & Mercurie in Scor ∣ pio: the Sonne in Taurus: and the Moone in
Lybra. And it was euer after kept for a custome, that no sa∣crifice should be
slayne by men on theyr birth dayes, to the intent that that day should be pure from
blood∣shed. The signification whereof (men holde opinion) was taken of the
deliueraunce of Ilia. The said Ro ∣ mulus raigned thirty and seauen yéeres. * He
ledde the first tryumph that euer was. And first hee tryumphed ouer the
Ceninenses, and spoyled Acron theyr King, whose Armour he first dedicated to
Iupiter F•retrius, and hung it vp in hys Temple, terming it by y • name of a rich
spoyle. Secondly he triumphed ouer the An ∣ tenua•s: and lastly ouer the Vien•s.
Finally at y e Fen of Caprea he vanished away, the * Nones of Iuly.
Now will I shew in what places the other Kinges dwelt. * Tatius dwelt in the Towre
where as nowe is the Temple of Iuno Moneta: who in the fift yeere af∣ter his
comming into the Cittie, béeing murthered by the Laurents, departed out of this
lyfe, the 27. Olim∣piad. Numa dwelt first on Quirins Hyll, * and after∣ward by
Vestaas Church, in the Court, which yet still
Page  [unnumbered]
beareth the same name. Hee raigned 43. yéeres, and is buried vnder Ianiculum,
Tullus Hostilius * dwelt in Ve ∣ lia, where afterward was made the Temple of
Hous∣hold Gods. He raigned two and thirty yéeres, and di∣ed in the thirty fiue
Olympiade. Ancus Martius * dwelt in the vpper ende of the holy stréete, wher now
is the Temple of the Gods called Lares. Hee raigned thirty and foure yéeres, and
dyed the 41. Olympiade. Tarquine * the elder, dwelt at the Gate Mugonia, aboue
the New stréete, and raigned seauen and thirty yeres. Seruius Tullius * dwelt in the
Exquilies aboue Olbyes Hyll, and raigned forty and two yéeres. Tarquine * the
proude dwelt in the Exquilies also, vpon Mount Pul ∣ lus, by the Béechie Lake, and
raigned twentie & fiue yéeres. * Cincius thinketh that Rome was builded in the
twelfth Olympiad. Fabius •ictor thinketh it was builded in the eyght. N•epos and
Lactātius approouing the opinions of Eratosthenes and Apoll•dorus) suppose it
was builded in the second yéere of the seuenth O∣lympiad. Pomponius Atticus,
and Marcus Tullius C••ero, hold opinion, that it was builded y e third yéere of the
sixt Olympiad. Therefore by conferring our time• with the Gréekes, wee finde
that Rome was builded in the beginning of the seauenth Olympiad, the foure
hundred and thrée and thirty yéere after the taking of Troy. For the gaming of
Olympus (which Hercules made in y • honor of Pelops hys great Grand∣father by
the mothers side,) béeing left of, was by Iphiclus (one of hys posteritie) renued
after the de∣struction of Troy, the foure hundred and eyght yéere. Wherevpon it
commeth to passe, that the first Olym∣piad is reckoned from Iphiclus. So letting
passe sixe Olimpiads betwéene Iphiclus & the building of Rome, * of which euery
Olympiad contayneth foure yéeres, séeing that Rome was builded in the
beginning of thePage  [unnumbered]
seauenth Olimpiad, it must néedes fall out that there were iust foure hundred
thirty and thrée yéeres be∣twéene the destruction of Troy, and the foundation of
Rome. To the proofe of this argument maketh, that when Caius Pompeius Gallus,
and Quintus Verani•s were Consuls, it was the eyght hundred and first yere from
the building of the Cittie: which time of theyr Consulshipp was registred in the
common Recordes, to be the two hundreth and seuenth Olimpiad. Nowe multiplie
two hundred and sixe. Olimpiads by foure▪ and they shall amount to eyght
hundred and twentye foure yéeres, to the which must bee added y • first yeers of
the seauenth Olimpiad, to make vp full twenty and fiue aboue eyght hundred. Out
of the which summe, abate twenty and foure yéeres for the sixe Olimpiads that
were behind: and the remnant shall appeare to be eyght hundred and one yéeres.
Wherefore séeing that the beginning of the two hundred and seauen O∣limpiad is
accounted for the eyght hundreth and firste yéere of the building of the Cittie, it is
to bee beléeued that Rome was builded the first yéere of the seauenth Olimpiad.
The which was gouerned by Kinges two hundred and one and forty yéeres. * The
estate of the Tennement was erected the thrée hundred and second yéere. The first
Punick warre was begun the foure hundred fourescore and ninth yéere. The
second Pu∣nick war, the fiue hundred and thirty fiue yéere. The third Punick
warre, the sixe hundred and foure. The warre of the Confederats, the sixe hundred
thréescore and second yéere. Unto the yéere that Hircius and Pa•¦sa were
Consuls, there had passed seauen hundred and tenne yéeres. In the time of whose
Consulship, Cae ∣ sar Augustus * was created Consull in the eyghteenth yéere of his
age. Who so behaued himselfe in the en∣trye of his raigne, that through hys
circumspect∣nesse,
Page  [unnumbered]
the Empyre of Rome was not onely in quiet, but also safe and frée from all
danger. The which time was almost alone to be found, wherein warres for the
most part had longest discontinuance, and wits chiefly florished. Undoubtedly to
the intent that during thys vacation time, when warres ceased, the exercises of
vertue should not growe out of vre.
CAP. II.
Of the diuision of the yeere, and of the odde dayes added in the Leape-yeeres.
A
Bout thys tyme was the orderly course of the yéere perceiued, which from
the beginning of the worlde hadde béene déepely hidden in darknesse. For before
Augustus Caesar, men reckoned the yéere diuerslie and vncertainely. The
Ae ∣ giptians determined it in foure monethes. The Arca ∣ dians in thrée. The
Acarnanians in sixe. The Lauini ∣ ans of Italy in thirtéene: and this their yéere was
re∣ported to be of thrée hundred threescore and fourteene dayes. The Romaines at
the firste, accounted ten mo∣nethes for a yéere, beginning at March. In so much
that in the firste day thereof, they kindled fire on the Altars of Vesta, they shifted
theyr olde Baye Gar∣landes for Gréene, the Senate and people chose newe
Officers, the Matrons serued theyr seruaunts at the Table, in like sort as the
Masters did at the feaste of
Page  [unnumbered]Saturne: the Matrons to the intent through this cour∣tesie to prouoke thē to y •
more obedience, the Maisters as it were to rewarde them in respect of theyr
paynes taken: specially seeing this moneth is the first, and chiefe of all the rest,
which may wel be prooued, in that the fift moneth from it was called Quintilis, &
when the full number was fulfilled. December did close vp the whole circuit
within the three hundred and foure day. For at that time thys number of dayes
accom∣plished the yeere, so that sixe monethes were of thirty dayes a peece, and
the other foure had thirty and one a peece. But forasmuch as that account before
the comming of Numa differed from the course of the Moone, they supplyed the
yeere to the computati∣on of the Moone, by putting thereto one and fiftye dayes.
To the intent therfore to make vp full twelue monethes, they tooke from eche of
the sayd sixe mo∣nethes one day, and put them to these one and fiftye, and so
made iust fifty and seauen, the which were de∣uided into two monethes, whereof
the one contained twentie and nine dayes, the other twenty and eyght. So the
yeere began to haue three hundred fiftye & fiue dayes. Afterward, when they
perceiued the yéere to be vnaduisedly determined within the foresayd daies,
forasmuch as it appeared that the Sunne finished not hys ful course in the
Zodiack, before y e three hundreth threescore and fift day, wyth the ouerplus
welneere of a quarter of a day: they added that quarter and tenne dayes, to the
intent the yéere should consist of ful thrée hundred threescore and fiue dayes, and
the fourth part of a day. Whereunto they were the rather induced for obseruing the
odde number, which (according to the doctrine of Pythagoras) ought to be
preferred in all thinges.
And heerevpon it commeth to passe, that Ianuary
Page  [unnumbered]
for hys odde dayes is dedicated to the Gods supernal, and February for hys euen
dayes as vnlucky is allot∣ted to the Gods infernall. Therefore when as thys order
of account séemed alowable to the whole world, for the exacter keeping of the
sayd quarter, it was of diuers Nations diuersly added, and yet it could neuer be
brought to passe, to sal out euen with ths time. The Greekes abated out of euery
yeere eleuen dayes, and the fourth part of a day: which beeing eyght tymes
multiplyed, they reserued to the ninth yeere, to the intent that the number of nine
béeing gathered into one grosse summe, might be deuided into 3. monethes of
thirty dayes a péece. The which being restored a∣gaine the ninth yeere, made
foure hundred forty and foure dayes, which they called odde or superfluous
dayes. The Romaines liked well of this reckoning at the first. But afterward
mislyking it in respect of the euen number; they neglected it, and within short
space forgot it, committing the order of the addition to the Priestes: who to
pleasure the tolegatherers in theyr accounts, did after theyr owne fancy shorten or
leng∣then the yeere as they lysted.
Whyle thinges stoode in this case, and that the manner of adding was sometime
too short, and some∣time too long, or els dissembled and let slip altogether: it
happened oftentimes that the monethes which had beene woont to passe in
Winter, fell one whyle in Sommertime, and another while in the fal of y • leafe.
Caius Caesar therefore to the intent to set a stay in this variablenesse, did cutte of
all this turmoyling of the tymes. And that the error foreslypped myght be
redu∣ced to some certaine staiednesse: he added twenty and one dayes and sixe
houres at a time, by meanes wher∣of the monethes being drawn backe to theyr
accusto∣medPage  [unnumbered]
places, might from thenceforth kéepe theyr Or∣dinarie and appointed seasons.
That onely yéere ther∣fore had thrée hundred and foure and forty daies, and all the
rest afterward had thrée hundred thréescore and fiue daies, and sixe howres. This
notwithstanding, then also was a default committed by Priestes. For whereas
order was taken that they shoulde euerye foure yeere adde one daie, which ought
to haue beene doone at the ende of the fourth yéere, before the fifte yéere began,
they reckoned it in the beginning of the fourth yéere, and not in the ende. By
meanes wherof, in thirtie and sixe yéeres, whereas nine daies had béen sufficient,
twelue daies were reckoned. The which béeing espied, Augustus reformed in this
wise. Hee commaunded that twelue yéeres should passe without leape, to the
intent y • those thrée daies aboue the nine, which were superfluously added, might
by this means be recompensed. Uppon which discipline was after∣ward grounded
the order of all times. Notwithstan∣ding, albeit that for these and many other
thinges, we may thinke our selues beholding to the raigne of Au ∣ gustus, * who was
almost péerelesse in his gouernment: yet there are to be found so manie mis-
fortunes in his life, that a manne can not easily discerne whither hee were more
miserable or happy. First, for that in his sute to his Uncle for the Lieuetenantship
of the hors∣men, Lepidus the Tribune was preferred before him, not without a
certaine foyle of his first attempts. Se∣condlie, for that he was greatlie anoied by
the autho∣ritie of Antony ioyned with him in the office of the Thréemen, and with
the battell at Philippo. Thirdly for the hatred that hee raised against himselfe for
pro∣clayming the Noblemen Traytors: The disheriting of Agrippa, (borne after the
decease of his Father) whom he had adopted before to be his Sonne, and the
Page  [unnumbered]
great repentance he tooke thereof afterward, for the desire he had vnto him. His
shipwracks in Sicill: his shamefull lurking in a Caue there: the often muti∣nies of
his Souldiours against him: the thought hee tooke in the siedge of Perusium: the
detecting of hys * Daughters aduoutrie, and of the intent shee had to murther him:
and (as shamefull a matter as y • other) the infamie of his Néece, blamed for the
death of her Sonnes: the gréefe of his solitarinesse for the lesse of his Children,
which was not a corzie alone: The pe∣stilence y • raigned in the Cittie. The famine
through all Italie, in the time of his warres in Illirick: the nar∣rowe shifts that he
was driuen to for want of Soul∣diours: the crazednes of his body which was
alwaies sicklie: the spightfull discention of Nero hys Wyues Sonne: the
vnfaithfull imaginations of his wife and her Sonne Tiberius: and manie other
thinges of the same sort.
Notwithstanding, as though the World hadde be∣wailed this mans ende, the euils
hanging ouer mens heades, were shewed before by tokens nothing doubt∣full. For
one Fausta a woman of the meaner sorte, brought foorth at one burthen foure
Twinnes, * two Sonnes, and as manie Daughters: prognosticatinge by her
monstrous fruitfulnesse, the great calamitie that was to come. Howbeit that
Trogus the wryter of Histories affirmeth that seauen are borne together at one
burthen in Aegypt: * which thing in that Country is not so great a wonder,
forasmuch as the Ryuer Nilus with his fruitfull water, maketh plentifull, not
onelie the soile of the grounde, but also mens bodyes. Wée reade that Cneus
Pompeius did shewe openly in the Theater at Rome, one Eutichis a woman of
A ∣ sia, * with her twentie Children, which she was cer∣tainlie knowne to haue
beene deliuered of at threePage  [unnumbered]
burthens onelie. And therefore I thinke it exp•di∣ent to treate in thys place
concerning the generation of Man.
CAP. III.
Of Man and of his byrth: of men of wonderfull strength: and of the stone Alectorius,
or the Cockstone.
F
Or inasmuch as we are minded to make a note of thinges woorthy to be
touched, concerning ly∣uing creatures, as y • Coun∣tries of eche of them soue∣rally
shal put vs in remem∣braunce. Reason would we should begin chiefly at that
creature which nature hath preferred before al others in iudgement of
vnderstanding, and capacitie of wise∣dome. Of Women, some bee barren for euer:
other∣some by change of Husbandes become fruitfull. Many beare but one
Childe: and diuers bring forth eyther onely Males, or onelie Females. After fiftie
yéeres the fruitfulnesse of them all is at a point: but Men be∣gette Children vntill
they be fourescore, like as King Masinissa begat his Sonne * Metymathnus, when
he was of the age of fourescore and sixe yéeres. Ca•• when he was full fourescore
yéere old and vpward, be∣gat the Grandfather of Cato that killed himselfe at
V ∣ ti•a, vpon the Daughter of his Client Salonius. Thys is also found to be of a
truth, that when two are con∣ceiued
Page  [unnumbered]
one somewhat after another, the Woman go∣eth out her full time of them both:
like as hath beene séene in Hercules and his broth•r Iphiclus, * who béeing
carryed both in one burthen, had notwithstanding like distaunce of time betwéene
their birthes, as there was distance betwéene their begetting. And likewise in a
wench called Proconesia, who committing aduou∣try with two sundry men, was
deliuered of a payre of Twinnes eche of them resembling his Father. This Iphiclus
begat Iolaus, who entering the Iland Sardinia and there alluring vnto concord the
wauering minds of the inhabitants, builded Olbia and other Greeke Townes. They
which after his name were called Iolenses, reared a Temple ouer his Tombe,
because he folowing the vertues of his Uncle, * hadde deliuered Sardinia from
manie euilles. The tenth day after cō∣ception will by some paine put the Mothers
in remē∣braunce that they be with Child. For from that tyme forward, their heads
shall begin to bée disquieted, and their sight shal waxe dimme. Also the appetite
of their stomack shall abate, and they shall beginne to loathe meate. It is agréed
vpon among all men, that of the whole flesh, the first part that is formed is the
harte, and that it increaseth vnto the thréescore and fift day, and afterwarde
diminisheth againe: and that of gri∣stles are made the backbones: and therefore it
put∣teth them in daunger of death if eyther of bothe those partes be hurt.
Doubtlesse if it be a Malechild that is in fashioning, the Women that beare them
are better coloured, and their deliueraunce is more spéedy, and finally it beginneth
to stirre at the fortie day. The Female stirreth not before the fourescore and tenth
daie, and the conception thereof dyeth y e countenaunce of the Mother with a pale
colour, and also hindereth the legges with a faint slownesse in going. In bothe
Page  [unnumbered]kindes, when the heare beginneth to growe, then is the greater disease, and the
paine is more bréeme in the full of the Moone, w t time also is alwaies noysome to
thē when they are borne. Wh•n a Woman wyth Child eateth meates that are
ouersalt, the Child shal∣be borne without nayles. At such time as the byrth béeing
fully rype approcheth to the instant of deliue∣raunce, it greatlie auaileth the
Woman that laboreth to hold her breath, for asmuch as yawning dooth wyth
deadlie delay prolong the deliuery. It is againste na∣ture for the byrth to come
foorth with his féete for∣ward: and therefore as Children hardly borne, * they are
called in Latine, Agrippae. Such as are so borne, are for the moste parte
vnfortunate and short liued. Onely in one Man, namely Marcus Agrippa, it was a
token of good lucke: howbeit not altogether so misfortunelesse but that hee
suffered more aduersitie then prosperity. For with miserable paine of his féete,
and the open aduoutry of hys wife, and certaine other marks of ill luck, hee did
abye y e foretoken of his awke byrth. There is also an vnfortunate manner of byrth
in the Female kinde, like as was séene by Cornelia the Mother of the
Gracchusses, who made satis-faction for her monstrous byrth, * wyth the
vnluckye ende of her Children. Againe the byrthe is the more luckie where the
Mother dyes of it: as was seeme by the first Scipio Affricanus, who after y e death
of his Mo∣ther, because hée was ript out of her wombe, was the firste of the
Romaines that was called Caesar. Of Twynnes, if the one remaine still and y e
other per∣rish by béeing borne before his time, hee that is borne at hys full tyme is
called Vopiscus.
Some are borne wyth téeth, as Cneus Papirius, Carbo, and Marcus Curius, who
for the same cause was surnamed the toothed. Some instéede of téeth haue
Page  [unnumbered]
the roome supplied with one whole bone. After which manner Prusias King of
Bythinia had a Sonne. The téeth differ in number according to the difference of
the kind. For in men are moe, and in women are few∣er of those téeth which are
called dogtéeth. Unto such as haue two double téeth growing vp vppon the right
side of theyr mouth, it behighteth the fauour of For∣tune. And vnto such as haue
them on the left side, it betokeneth the contrary.
The firste voyce of Children after they bee borne is wayling. For the declaration
of myrth is delayed to the forteth daie. Wee knowe of none that laughed the same
howre he was borne, * but onely one: that is to wéete, Zoroastres, who became
moste skilfull and cunning in all good artes. But Crassus, the Graund∣father of
him that was slayne in the battell againste the Parthians, because he neuer
laughed, was surna∣med * Agelastos. Among other great thinges y • were in
Socrates, this is worthy to bee noted, that hee conti∣nued alwayes in one manner
of countenaunce, euen when hee was troubled with aduersitie. * Heraclitus and
doggysh Diogenes did neuer abate one whitte of theyr stiffe stomackes, but
treading vnder foote the stormes of all casualties, continued vnchaungable in one
purpose, against all gréefes and miseries. It is Registred among other examples,
that Pomponius the Poet, such a one as hadde béene Consull, did neuer rasp.
It is verye well knowne, * that Antonia the Wyfe of Drusis didde neuer spette.
Wée haue heard of dyuers that haue beene borne wyth whole boanes not hollow
wythin, and that such are wont neither to sweat nor to be a thirst: of the which
sort Ligdamus of Syracuse is reported to be one: who in the thyrtie and thrée
Olimpiad caried away the firste Garl•nd of vic∣toryPage  [unnumbered]
in the * fiue exercises of actiuitie, from y • gaming of Olympus, and his bones were
founde to haue no maroe in them. It is most certaine that the greatest substaunce
of •trength commeth of the sinewes: and that the thicker they bee, so much the
more dooth the strength increase. Varro in his Register of monstru∣ous strength,
noted that there was one Tritanus a Swordplayer a Samnite borne, that had
sinewes both right out, and crosse ouerthwart, and that not only the bulke of his
breast, but also his handes and his armes, were as it were lattised with sinewes:
who foyled all his aduersaries with a fillippe, and almost with care∣lesse
encounters: And that the Son of the same Man a Souldiour of Cneus Pompeiussis,
beeing borne in the same sort, did set so light by an enemie that did chal∣lenge
him, that béeing himselfe vnarmed, he ouer came him, and taking him prisoner,
carried him with one of his fingers into his Captaines Pa•ilion. Milo also of
Croton is reported to haue doone all thinges aboue the reache of Mans power. Of
whō this is left in wry¦ting, that with the stroke of his bare fist, hee felled an Oxe
starke dead, and eate him vpp himselfe alone the same day that he killed him,
without ouercharging his stomack. Hereof there is no doubt. For vppon hys Image
is an inscription in witnesse of the facte, wyth these wordes. Hee died a
conquerer in all attempts. There is a stone called * Alectorius, of the bignes of a
Beane, like vnto Christall, founde in the bellies of Cockes, méete (as is reported)
for them that goe to battell. Moreouer, Milo florished in the time of Tar ∣ quine the
Elder.
Page  [unnumbered]
CAP. IIII.
Of the likenesse of shape and fauour: of the tallnesse of certaine personages: of the
measure of a Man: and of the reuerence of the deade.
N
Ow who so ben∣deth hys minde to consider the causes of likenesses, shall
perceiue the wonder∣full disposition of the work∣manshippe of nature. For
somtime such likenesses be¦long to some stocke, and de∣scende from issue to
issue, into the succession: like as diuers times young Chil∣dren beare sometime
Molles, sometime scarres, and sometime any other marks of theyr auncestors. As
a∣mong the Lepids, of whom thrée of the same line (but not successiuelie one
after another) are found to haue béene borne after one sorte, with a * filme ouer
theyr eye. As in the famous Poet of Byzance, who hauing a Mother that was the
bastarde of an Aethiopian, al∣though there were nothing in her resembling her
Fa∣ther, yet did he degenerate againe into the likenesse of the Aethiopian that was
his Grandfather. But this is the lesse wonder, if wee consider those thinges that
haue béene séene betwixt méere straungers. One Ar ∣ temon a man of the baser sort
in Syria, * did so resemble King Antiochus in face, that afterwarde the Kinges
wyfe Laodice, by shewing this rascall fellowe, kept
Page  [unnumbered]
close the death of her Husbande so long, vntill such a one was ordeyned
successor of the Kingdome as shee listed to appoynt. There was such likenesse to
all re∣spects in personage and making, betwéene Cneus Pom ∣ peius, and CaiusVibius a man of meane byrth, that the Romaines called Vibius by the name of
Pompey, and Pompey by the name of Vibius.
Rubrius the Stage-player did so fully expresse the Orator Lucius Plancus, that y e
people called him Plan ∣ cus also. Mirmillo a Neatehearde, and Cassius Seue ∣ rus
the Orator did so resemble one another, that if they were séene together at any
time, they coulde not be discerned which was which, vnlesse there were a
difference in theyr apparell. Marcus Messala Cen ∣ sorius, and Menogenes a
fellowe of the verye rascallest sort, were so like, that euery Man thought Messala
to bée none other then Menogenes, nor Menogenes anie other than Messala.
A Fysherman of Sicill was likened to the Pro∣consull Sura (besides other things,)
euen in the draw∣ing or wringing of his mouth also. So fully dyd they agrée, in
the same impediment of spéeche, and slowe brynging foorth of theyr wordes,
through the default of nature. Sometime also it hath béene a wonder to sée the
vndiscernable likenesse of countenaunces, not onely in straungers, but also euen
in such as haue béene brought together from the furthest partes of the whole
worlde. For where as one Thoranius solde vnto Antony bearing at that time the
office of Tri ∣ umuir, for thréehundred Sesterties, two Boyes of ex∣cellent beautie
for Twynnes, of which he had gotten the one in Fraunce and the other in Asia,) so
resem∣bling eche other in all poynts, that they might haue béene taken bothe for
one, if theyr spéech hadde not be∣wrayed them: and that therefore Antonie was
dis∣pleased,
Page  [unnumbered]
thinking hymselfe to haue béene deluded, be∣cause they were not Twynnes
indéed. Thoranius plea¦santlie auouched, that that thing was chiefely to be
e∣stéemed, which the Chapman founde fault wyth. For it had béene no wonder to
haue had two Twyns like: But this was it which could by no meanes be prysed
according to the value, that béeing of two diuers Coū∣tryes so farre distaunt, they
were borne more like one another then any Twinnes. With which aunswere
Antonie was so appeased, that euer after hee woulde tell men, he had not any one
thing of all hys possessi∣ons, that he did sette more store by.
Nowe if wee shall mooue question concerning the personages of menne, * it will
manifestly appeare, that antiquitie hath vaunted no lyes at all of it selfe: but that
the ofspring of our time béeing corrupted by suc∣cession growing out of kinde,
hath through y e decrease of them that are nowe borne, lost the comlinesse of the
auncient beautie. Therefore although dyuers doo con∣clude, that no man can
excéede the stature of seauen foote, because that Hercules was no hygher then so:
yet notwithstanding, it was founde in the time of y e Ro ∣ maines vnder the
Emperour Augustus, * that Pusio and Secundilla were tenne foote high and more:
the cor∣ses of whom, are yet to bee séene in the Charnelhouse of the Salusts.
Afterward, in the raigne of Claudius, there was one named Gabbara * brought out
of Araby, that was nyne foote and as many inches hygh. But almoste a thousande
yeeres before Augustus, there was no such personage séene, neither after y e time
of Claudius. For what is he in our dayes y • is not borne lesser then his Parents?
As for the hugenes of menne in olde time, the Reliques of Orestes * doo testifie.
Whose bones béeing founde of the Lacedemonians at Tegaea by the
Page  [unnumbered]information of the Oracle the fiftie and eyght Olym∣piad, wee are assured were
full seauen cubites long. * Also there are wrytings Registred in remembraunce of
thinges doone in auncient time, which auouch the assurednesse of the trueth,
wherein it is specified, that in the Candian warre, at such time as y e Riuers more
outragiously flowing than freshe waters are woont, had broken vp the ground
there, after the fall of y e sayd waters, among many clifts of the grounde, there
was found a body of thrée and thirty cubits. For desire to sée the which, Lucius
Flaccus the Lieuetenant and Metellus himselfe also, béeing wonderfully amazed
at the straungenesse thereof, went thither, and beheld the wonder wyth theyr eyes,
which they thought a Fable to heare reported. I may not let passe the Son of
Euthymines of Salymis, who grewe thrée cubits high in thrée yéeres. * But he was
slow of gate, dull wytted, boystrous of voyce, too soone rype, and immediatly
be∣set with many diseases: so as hee recompensed hys o∣uerhasty growth with
vnmeasurable punishment of sicknesse.
The manner of measuring agréeth two wayes. For looke how much a man is
betwéene the endes of his two longest fingers stretching hys armes out. * so longe
is hee betwéene the sole of hys foote and the crowne of his head: and therefore
the naturall Phi∣losophers déeme man to bee a little Worlde. Unto the ryght side is
ascribed the handsomer moouing, and vnto the lefte side the greater firmen•sse.
And there∣fore the one is more apt to dauncing and other exer∣cises of lyghtnesse,
and the other better able to beare burthens.
Nature hath decréed a kinde of reuerence to bee obserued euen of bodyes
disceased: * so that if at anie time it happen the carkasses of such as are kylled,
Page  [unnumbered]
to bée borne vppe wyth the waues, Mennes bodyes fléete with their faces
vpwarde, and Womens with theyr faces downewarde.
CAP. V.
Of swiftnes: of sight: of the valiantnesse of certaine Romaines: and of the excellency
of Caesar the Dictator.
B
Vt to the intent we may passe to the title of swiftnesse: * the pricke and
prise in that behalfe, obtay∣ned one Ladas, * who ranne in such wyse vpon the
loose dust, that the sande houered still vp, and he left no printe of his footesteppes
behinde him. Polymestor * a Boy of Miletum béeing sette by his Mother to feede
Goates, ranne after a Hare in sporte and caught it. For the which deede within a
while af∣ter the owner of the hearde brought him to y e gaming in the forty and
sixe Olimpiad, (as Bocchus reporteth) and there in the race he gained the Garland.
Phylippi ∣ des * ranne one thousand, two hundred and fortye fur∣longs from Athens
to Lacedaemon in two dayes. An ∣ tistius a Lacedaemonian and Philonides the
Lackies of great Alexander, * iournied a thousande and two hun∣dred furlongs
from Sycion to Elis, in one day. The same yéere that Fonteius and Vipsanus were
Consuls, a Boy in Italy of eyght yéeres olde, went 45. myles betwéene noone and
night.
Page  [unnumbered]The quickest of sight was one Strabo, * whom Varro auoucheth to haue
ouerlooked a hundred thirty & fiue miles, and that hee was wont exactlie to viewe
from the watch Towre of Lyliby in Sicill, y e Punicke fléete •etting out of the
Hauen of Carthage, and to reporte the iust number of their Shippes. Cicero
maketh re∣port, that the Ilias of Homer was so finely written in Uelame, that it
might be closed in a Nutshell. Calli ∣ crates * carued An•s of Iuory so finely, that
some of thē could not be discerned from other Ants. Apollonides declareth that in
Scythia there is a race of Women called Bythies, which haue two balles in eche
eye, and doo kill folke with their sight, * if they happen to cast an angry looke
vppon anie body. Such there bee also in Sardinia.
That Lucius Sicinius the toothed excelled in va∣liantnesse among the Romaines, *
the number of hys titles doo declare. This man was one of the Protec∣tors of the
cominalty, not much after the dryuing out of the Kinges, when Spurius Tarpeius,
and Aulus Thermus were Consuls. Hee béeing vanquisher in eyght challenges
hand to hande, hadde fiue and fortie scarres in the forepart of his bodye, and on
hys backe part not one. He tooke spoyle of his enemie foure and thirtie times. In
horsetrappers, pure speares, Brace∣lets and Crownes, hee earned thrée hundred &
twelue rewards. Hee followed nyne Grandcaptaynes in try∣umphe that had
conquered by his meanes. Next after him Marcus Sergius * seruing twice in the
warres, in the first time receiued thirty and three wounds on the forepart of his
body, and in the second lost his ryght hande, and therefore made him a hande of
yron. And whereas almost none of both his handes were able to doo him any
seruice in sight, yet notwithstanding hee fought foure times in one day, and gotte
the victorie
Page  [unnumbered]
with his left hand, hauing had two Horses slayne vn∣der him. Béeing twise taken
prisoner by Hanniball, he scaped awaie, when by the space of twentie moneths in
which he had béene prisoner, he had at no time been without Giues and Fetters. In
all the sharpest bat∣tels which the Romaines tasted of in those dayes, he béeing
honoured with warlike rewards, brought Ci ∣ uill Crownes from Thrasymenus,
Trebia, and Pauy, At the battell of Canuas also, (out of the which it was counted a
poynt of valiantnesse to escape wyth lyfe) he onelie receiued a Crowne. Happie
doubtlesse had hée béene in so manie aduauncements of honor, if Ca ∣ tiline his
next heyre by lineall descent, had not defaced his so renowined praises with the
hatefulnesse of hys cursed name.
As much as Sicinius or Sergius excelled among the Souldiours, * so much among
the Captaines (or rather among all men) excelled Caesar * the Dictator. Under his
conducte were slaine eleuen hundred, fourescore and two thousand enemies. For
he would not haue it noted howe manie hee ouerthrewe in the ciuill wars. He
fought in piched fielde two and fiftie times, alone∣ly surmounting. Marcus
Marcellus, who in like sorte had fought nine and thirtie times. Besides this, no
man wrote more swiftly, nor no man read more spée∣dilie. Moreouer, hee is
reported to haue indited foure Letters at once. He was of so good a nature, that
such as he subdued by battell, he more ouercame them with gentlenesse.
Page  [unnumbered]
CAP. VI.VVho were notable for memorie: who loste theyr speech by mischaunce, or gotte it
by chaunce, who florished in eloquence: of the prayse of manners, of godlinesse, of
chastity, and who hath beene iud∣ged happy.
C
Yrus was nota ∣ ble for the good gifte of me∣morie, * who in the most
po∣pulous armie whereof hee was Captaine, coulde call euerie seuerall personne
by his name. The same thing did Lucius Scipio * amōg the people of Rome. But
wee may beleeue that bothe Scipio and Cyrus were furthe∣red by custome.
Cyneas * the Ambassador of Pyrrhus, the next day after he was entered into Rome,
saluted both the Knights and also the Senators by their propper names.
Methridates * King of Pontus ministred iustice without an interpreter, to two and
twenty Nations that were vnder his dominion. It is manifest that memorie may be
made by arte, * like as in the Philo∣sopher Metrodorus that was in the time of
doggyshe Diogenes: who furthered himselfe so much by dailie practise, and
beating with himselfe, that he kept in remembrance what many men spake at
once, not on∣ly in order of sence, but also in order of wordes. Not∣withstanding
Page  [unnumbered]
it hath béene often séene, * that nothing may easiler be perished by feare, by
falling, by chance, or by sicknesse. We haue founde that he that was but striken
with a stone, forgot to reade. Surely Messala Coruinus * after a disease that hee
had endured, was so striken with forgetfulnesse, that he remembred not his owne
name, and yet otherwise his wit was freshe enough. Feare astonieth y e memorie.
And again feare * is an enforcement of spéeche, the which it not onelie
sharpeneth, but also extorteth although there were none before. Surely when
Cyrus in the eyght and fif∣tie Olympiad entred by assault into Sardis, * a Towne of
Asia, where Craesus at that time lay hidden, Athis the Kinges Sonne (who vnto
that instaunt hadde al∣waies béene dumbe,) burst out into spéech by force of
feare. For it is reported, that he cryed out: Cyrus spare my Father, and learne to
know (at leastwise by our casualties) that thou art a Man.
Nowe remaineth to intreate of manners, * the ex∣cellentnes whereof appeared
moste in two men. Cato the founder of the stocke of the Portians was a verye
good Senator, a very good Orator, and a verie good Captaine. Neuerthelesse, for
diuers quarrelles pic∣ked vnto him of malice, he was endited and arrayned fortie
and foure times, but yet was alwaies quitted. The praise of Scipio Aemilianus * is
yet greater: who besides the vertues for which Cato was renowmed, surmounted
also in loue towards the common weale. Scipio Nasica * was iudged to bee the
best man then ly∣uing, not onely by the voice of the commons, but also by the
othe of the whole Senate, inasmuch as none coulde bee founde worthier then he,
to be put in truste with a misterie of chiefe Religion, when the Oracle gaue
warning to fetch into the Cittie the holy Cere∣monies of the mother of the Gods
from Pessinus.
Page  [unnumbered]
Many among the Romaines florished in eloquence, * but this gift was not heritable
at any time, sauing to the house of the Curios, in the which, three were Ora∣tors
successinelie one after another. * Surely thys was counted a great thing in thosedayes, when eloquence was had in chiefe estimation both of God and manne. For
at that time Apollo bewrayed the murthers of the Poet Archilocus, and the déede
of the felons was detected by God.
And at such time as Lysander King of Lacedaemon besieged Athens (where y e
body of Sophocles the Trage¦die * wryter lay• vnburied) Bacchus sundry times
war∣ned the Captaine in his sléepe, to suffer hys darling to be buried, and neuer
ceased calling vppon him, vntyll Lysander hauing knowledge who it was that was
de∣parted, and what the God demaunded, tooke truce with the Athenians, vntill so
worthy a corse might be buried accordinglie. Castor and Pollux standing
wyth∣out the dore in the sight of all men, called Pindarus * the Harper out of a
place where he was making merrie, (which was at the point to fall) to the intent
he should not perrish with the rest. Whereby it came to passe, that hee onelie
escaped the daunger that hunge ouer their heads. Next vnto the Gods is Cneus
Pompeius to be reconed: who when he should enter into the house of
Possidonius, * the notablest professor of wysedome in those dayes, forbadde his
Mace-bearer to strike y e dore as the custome was: and so holding downe his
sheaf, albeit hee hadde at that time dispatched the warre a∣gaynste Methridates,
and was Conqueror of y e East. yet of his owne frée wyll he gaue place to the Gate
of Learning. The firste Scipio Affricanus commaunded that the Image of Quintus
Ennius * shoulde be sette vp¦pon his Tombe. Cato that slewe himselfe at Vtica,
brought vnto Rome two Phylosophers, one when he
Page  [unnumbered]
was Marshall of the Hoste, and another when he was Ambassador in Cyprus:
alledging that in so dooing, he had greatlie benifited the Senate and people of
Rome albeit that hys great Grandfather had oftentimes de∣créede, y • al Greekes
should be vtterly driuen out of the Citty. Dennis y • Tyran of Sicill sent a Shyppe
decked wyth Garlonds to méete Plato, * and hée himselfe in a Charyot drawne
with foure White steedes, enter∣tained him honorably at his first comming to
lande. Perfect wisedome was adiudged onely to Socrates * by the Oracle of
Apollo.
The proofe of godlinesse * and naturall affection to∣ward the parents shined in the
familie of the Metels. But it was found moste euident in a poore childbea∣ring
Woman. This Woman who was of lowe de∣gree, * and therefore not altogether so
famous, béeing with much adooe (and after much serching oftentimes of the
Gaolers, leaste shee shoulde haue carryed any meate in with her) suffered to goe
to her father, (who was condemned to the punishment of perpetuall pry∣sonne)
was founde to séede him with the milke of her breasts: which thing consecrated
bothe the déede and the place. For the Father which was condemned to death,
béeing gyuen vnto his daughter, was reserued in remembraunce of so woorthy a
déede, and the place béeing dedicated to the power that wrought the déede, was
made a Chappell, * and entitled the Chappell of godlines. The ship that brought
the holy misteries out of Phrygia, in following y e hearelace of Claudia, gaue vnto
her the preheminence of chastitie. But Sulpitia the daughter of Paterculus and
wyfe of Marcus Ful ∣ uius Flaccus, was by the verdite of all the Ladyes in Rome
aduisedlie chosen out of a hundred of the ver∣tuousest of them, to dedicate the
Image of Venus ac∣cording as y • bokes of Sybill gaue warning to be done.
Page  [unnumbered]As touching the title of happinesse, * hee is not yet found that may rightly be
iudged happy. For Corne ∣ lius Sylla * was happie rather in name then in déede.
Surelie Cortiua iudged onelie Aglaus * to be blessed: who béeing owner of a
poore péece of ground in y • nar∣rowest nooke of all Arcadie, was neuer founde to
haue passed out of the boundes of his naturall soyle.
CAP. VII.
Of Italy and the prayse therof: and of many peculiar thinges that are founde
therein.
A
S concerninge Man I haue saide suffici∣ent. Now to the intent we may
returne to our deter∣mined purpose, our stile is to be directed to the recital of
places: and chiefelie and principally to Italy, y e beau¦tie whereof we haue
alrea∣die touched lightly in the Cittie of Rome. But Italie hath béene written of so
throughlie by all menne, and specially by Marcus Cato, that there cannot bée
found that thing which the diligence of former Authors hath not preuented, for the
Country is so excellent, as it ministreth matter of praise aboundantly, while the
notablest writers consider the healthfulnesse of y • pla∣ces, the temperatenesse of
the ayre, the fruitfulnes of the soyle, the open prospects of the Hills, the coole
sha∣dowes of the woods, the vnhurtful lowe grounds, the plentifull increase of
Uines and Oliues, the Sheepes
Page  [unnumbered]
courses, the pasture groundes, so manye Riuers, so great Lakes, places that beare
flowers twice a yéere, together with the Mountaine Veseuus, casting vppe a breath
of flaming fire as if it had a soule, the Bathes with their springes of warme water,
the continuall beautifing of the Land with newe Citties, so goodlie a sight of
auncient Townes, which first y e Aborigens, Arunks, Pelasgians, Arcadians,
Sicilians, and lastlie the inhabiters of all parts of Greece, and aboue all o∣thers,
the victorious Romaines haue builded. Besides this, it hath shoares full of
Hauens, and coastes with large Bayes and harbouring places, meete for traf∣ficke
from all places of the world. Neuerthelesse, least it may séeme altogether
vntouched of our part, I think it not vnconuenient to busie my wittes about those
thinges that haue béene least beaten, and slightly to trauell through those thinges
y e haue béene but lightly touched and tasted by others. For who knoweth not that
Ianiculū was either named or builded by Ianus? Or that Latium was called so, * &
Saturnia of Saturne? Or that Ardea was builded by Danace? Polydee by the
companions of Hercules? Pompeios in Campane by Hercules himselfe, because
that after his victory in Spayne hee draue his Oxen with a pompe that way? Or
that the stonie fieldes in Lombardy tooke theyr names of that, that Iupiter fighting
against y e Gyants, is supposed to haue rayned downe stones thither? Or that the
Region Ionica tooke his name of Ionee the daughter of Naulochus, whom
Hercules is reported to haue slaine, because he malepartlie stopped y e waies
a∣gainst him? Or that Alcippe was builded by Marsi ∣ as, king of the Lidians, which
béeing afterward swal∣lowed with an Earthquake, was dissolued into the Lake
Fucinus? Or that the Temple of Iuno of Argos was founded by Iason: Pisae by
Pelops: the DawniansPage  [unnumbered]
by Cleolans the Sonne of Minos: the Iapigians by Ia ∣ pix the Sonne of Daedalus:
the Tyrrhenians by Tyr ∣ rhenus King of Lydia: Cora by Dardanus: Argilla by the
Pelasgians, * who also brought Letters first into Latium: Phalisca by Halesus the
Argiue: the Phale ∣ rians by Phalerius the Argiue: Fescininum also by the Argiues:
the Hauen of Parthenium by the Pho ∣ censes: Tybur (as Cato witnesseth) by
Catillus the Ar ∣ cadian the Admirall of Euanders fléete: or (as Sextius saith) by
the youth of Argos? For Catillus the Sonne of Amphiaraus, after the monstrous
destruction of his Father at Thebae, béeing sent by his Grandfather Oe ∣ cleus with
all his issue or ceremonies into Italy, begot there thrée Sonnes: Tyburtus, Cora,
and Catillus, who dryuing out of the Towne the Sicanes of Sicill y • ann∣cient
inhabiters thereof, called the Cittie after the name of the elder brother Tyburt.
Anon after was the Temple of Minerua builded by Vlisses, among the Bru¦tians.
The Ilande of Ligaea tooke his name of the bo∣die of the Meremaid Lig•a cast a
land there. Parthe ∣ nopee was so called of the Meremaide Parthenopees Tombe:
which towne it pleased Augustus afterward to call Naples. Prenestee (as
Zenodotus reporteth) tooke his name of Praenest the Nephewe of Vlisses, and
Sonne of Latinus: or (as the bookes of y • Prenestines make mention) of Caeculus
whom the Sisters of the Digitians found by the fatall fires, as the bruite goeth. It
is knowne that Petilia was founded by Philoctete, Arpos and Beneuent by
Diomed, Padua by Antenor, Metapont by the Pylians, Scyllace by the Athenians,
Sybaris by the Troyzenians, and by Sagaris the sonne of Aiax, of Locres,
Salentum by the Lycians, Ancon by the Sicilians, Gabye by Galace and Bius of
Sicill, brothers: Tarent by the posteritie of Hercules, the
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Ilande Te•sa by the Ionians, rest by the Dorians, Croton by Myscell and Archia,
Rhegium by the Chal¦cidians, Cawlon and Terin, by the Crotonians, Lo ∣ cros by
the Naritians, Heret by the Greekes, in the ho∣nour of Iuno whom they call Hera,
Aritia by Archi ∣ locus the Sicilian, whereof the name (as liketh Cassius Hermina)
is deriued.
In thys place Orestes by admonishment of the O∣racle hallowed the Image of
Diana of Scythia which he had fetched from Taurica, before hee went with it to
Argos. The Zanclenses builded Metawre, and the Locrines builded that Metapont
which is now called Vibo. Baccbus saith plainelie, that the Vmbrians are the
auncient of-spring of the Galles, Marcus Antonius affirmeth that they were called
Vmbrians in Greeke, because that in the time of the generall destructiō that was
by water, they escaped the daunger thereof. Lici ∣ nius is of the opinion, that the
originall of Messapia (which was giuen by Messapus a Gréeke) was after∣warde
turned into the name of Calabrie, which in the first beginning Peucerius the
Brother of Oenotrius had named Pe•ceria.
The like agreement also is among Authors, that Palynure tooke that name of
Palynure the Pylotte of Aenaeas his Shyppe, and Misene of hys Trumpetor
Misene, and the Iland Leucosie of his Systers daugh¦ter Leucosia.
It is fully agréed vppon among all menne, that Caiet tooke that name of Caieta ▪
Aenaeassis Nurce, and Lauine of his wyfe Lauinia, which Towne was buil∣ded
the fourth yéere after the destruction of Troy, as Cussonius auoucheth. * Neither
must it be omitted that Aenaeas arryuing on the coast of Italy the second som∣merafter that Troy was taken (as Hemina reporteth) wyth no moe then 600, in hys
companie, piched hys
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Campe in the fieldes of Laurent, and there while hee was dedicating the Image
that he had brought wyth him out of Sicill, vnto his Mother Venus by the name of
Aphroditee, he receiued the Image of Pallas of Di ∣ omed, and anon after receiuing
fiue hundred Acres of ground of King Latinus, hee raigned thrée yéeres in e∣quall
authoritie with him. After whose decease, when he had raigned two yéeres, he
went to the Riuer Nu ∣ micius and was neuer séene more.
The seauenth yéere after, was giuen to him the name of Father I•diges. Afterward
were builded, by Ascanius, Alba longa, Fidenee, and Antium: by the
Tyrians, * Nola: and by the Eubaeans, Cumes. There is the Chappell of the same
Sybill which in the fift O∣lympiade was present at the Romaine enterprises, whose
booke our Bishops resorted to for Counsell, vn∣till the time of Cornelius Sylla:
for then was it toge∣ther with the Capitoll consumed with fire. As for her two
former bookes, shee hadde burned them with her owne handes, because Tarquine
the proude did offer her a more niggardly price then she had sette them at. * Her
Tombe remaineth yet in Sicill. Bocchus auouch∣eth that Sybell of Delphos
prophesied before the battel of Troy, and he declareth that Homer did put many of
her verses into his worke.
After her, within fewe yéeres space, followed He ∣ riphylee of Aerythra, * who was
also called Sybill for the affinity she had with y • other in the same kind of
know¦ledge: who among other great thinges, warned the Lesbians that they
should loose the dominion of y • Sea, many yéeres before the thing came to passe.
So y • very order of the time prooueth, that Sybill of Cumes was third after
this. * Italy therefore (wherein sometime the auncient Country of Latium stretched
from the mouth of Tyber, vnto the Ryuer Lyris) ryseth whole
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together from the sides of the Alpes and reached to the toppe of the Promonorie
or headlonde of Rhegium, and the Seacoast of the Brutians, where it shooteth
Southward into the Sea. Procéeding from thence, it rayseth it selfe by little and
little at the backe of the Mountaine Appen•ne, lying in length betwéene the
Tuscane Sea and the Adriatish Sea, that is to saye, betwéene the vpper Sea and
the neather Sea, like an Oken leafe, that is to say, larger in length than in breadth,
When it commeth to the furthest, it deuideth into two hornes: whereof the one
butteth vppon the Ionish Sea, and the other vppon the Sea of Sicill. Betwéene
which two heades it receiueth not y • wind∣ing Sea in with one whole and maine
shoare, but shooting foorth as it were sundrie tongues, it admit∣teth the Sea
disseuered by the heads running forth in to the déepe.
There (to the intent we may note thinges heere and there by the way) are the
Towres of Tarent, the Countrye Scyllaea with the Towne Scylleum, and the Riuer
Crathis the mother of Scylla as antiquitie hath fabled: the Forrests of Rhegium,
the Ualies of Pesta: the Meremaids Rocks, the most delectable coast of Campane,
the playnes of Phlegra, the house of Cir ∣ c•: the Iland of Tarracine, sometime
enuironed with the wauing Sea, but nowe by continuance of time landed vppe to
the firme grounde, hauing cleane con∣trarie fortune to the Rhegines, whom theSea by thrusting it selfe betwixt, hath violently disseuered frō the Sicilians. Also
there is Formy inhabited somtime by the Lestrigones, and many other thinges
entreated of at large by pregnant wittes, the which I thought more for mine ease
to passe ouer, then not to set them out at the full. But the length of Italy, * which
runneth from Augusta Pr•toria through the Cittie and Capua
Page  [unnumbered]
vnto the Towne of Rhogi•••,〈◊〉 to a thou∣sand and twenty miles. The breadth of it
where it is broadest, * is foure hundred and ten myles: and where it is narrowest, a
hundred and sixe and thirtie miles, sauing at the Hauen which is called
Hanniballes Campe, for there it exceedeth not fortie miles. The hart of the
Realme is in the fieldes of Rheatee (as V•r ∣ ro testifieth.) The compasse of the
whole circuite to∣gether, * is two thousand, foure hundred, fourescore and tenne
miles. In the which circuit ouer againste the Coast of Locres, is finished the first
Coast of E•rope. For the seconde beginning at the heade of Laciuium, endeth at
the Cliffs of * Acroceraunia. Further more Italie is renowmed with the Riuer Po, *
which Mount Vesulus one of the toppes of the Alpes, powreth out of hys bosome
from a spring that is to be séene in the borders of * Ligurie: from whence Po
issueth, and sinking into the ground, ryseth againe in the fieldes of Vibo, not
inferior to any Ryuer in same, and it is called of the Greekes, Eridanus. It
swelleth in the be∣ginning of the dogge dayes at such time as y • snow•• and
hoarefrosts of the former Winter begin to melt: and so beeing increased with y e
surplusage of waters: it carrioth thirtie Ryuers with him into the Adria ∣ tish Sea.
Among other thinges woorthy of remembraunce, * this is famous and notably
talked of in euery Mans mouth, that there are certaine housholds in the
Coun∣tryes of the Phalisks, (which they call Hirpes ▪ ) These make yéerely
sacrifice to Apollo at the Mountaine So ∣ ractee, and in performing thereof, doo in
honor of the diuine seruice frisks and dawnce vppe and downe vp∣on the burning
wood without harme, the 〈◊〉 sparing them. Which religious and deuout kinde of
ministra∣tion the Senate rewarding honourably, priuiledged
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the Hirpes from all taxes, and from all kind of seruice for euer. * That the Nation
of the Marsyes can not bee hurt by serpents, it is no maruell. For they fetch their
pedegrée from the Sonne of Circee, and of the power descended to them from
their auncestors, they vnder∣stand that venemous thinges ought to stande in awe
of them, and therefore they despise poysons. C ▪ Caelius saith, that Octas had
thrée daughters: Augitia, Mede ∣ a, * and Circee, and that Circee possessed the
Hilles called Circes Hilles, there practising to make sundry shapes and fashions
through her sorceries and charmes. And that Augitia occupyed the Country about
Fu•num, and there (after practising the wholesome sciences of Léechecrast
against maladies and diseases) when shée forewent this life, was reputed for a
Goddesse. And that Medea was buried by Iason at Buthrote, and her Sonne
raigned among the Marsyes. But although that Italy haue this customable
defence: yet is not al∣together frée from Serpents. Finally, the inhabiters chased
the Serpents from Amycle which the Amy ∣ cleans of Greece had builded before.
There is great store of a kinde of Uyper whose byting is incurable. * They be
somewhat shorter then the reste of Uipers that are founde in other places of theworld, and therefore while they bee not regarded, they hurt the sooner. Calabrie
swarmeth with Snakes that liue bothe by water & by land, called Chersydres: and
it bréedeth the Boa, * which is a kinde of Snake re∣ported to grow to an
vnmeasurable bignesse. First, it seeketh after Heardes of mylche Kyne, and what
Cowe soeuer yeeldeth most milke, her dugs dooth hée draw. And batling with
continuall sucking of her, in processe of tyme hee so stuffeth out hymselfe wyth
ouerglutting hym tyll hee bée readie to burste, that at the last no power is able to
withstande hys hugenesse.
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So that in fine rauening vp the lyuing creatures, hee maketh the Countries waste
where he keepeth. And in the raigne of Claudius there was séene a whole Chylde
in the mawe of a Boa that was kylled in the •ilde which nowe is called Vaticane.
Italy hath Wolues which are vnlike the Wolues * of other Countryes, and therefore
if they sée a Manne before a Man sée them, he becommeth dumbe, and bee∣ing
preuented with theyr hurtfull sight, although hee haue desire to crie out, yet hath
he no vse of voice to doo it withall. I passe ouer manie thinges willingly
con∣cerning Wolues. This is moste certainly tryed, that in this beastes tayle is a
very fine hare, that hath the power of loue in it, the which hee is willing to loose,
and therefore casteth it away when he feareth to bee caught, for it hath no vertue
vnlesse it be pulled from him while he is aliue. Wolues goe to sault not aboue
twelue dayes in all the whole yéere. In time of fa∣mine they féede themselues
with earth. But those that are called Hartwolues, * although after long fasting
when they haue hardly founde fleshe, they fall to ea∣ting it: yet if they happen to
cast theyr eye vpon anie thing by chaunce, they forget what they are in dooing,
and forsake theyr present aboundance, gadde to séeke n•we reléefe wherewith to
fill theyr bellyes. In thys kind of beastes is also rekoned the Lynxes, * whose
U∣rine such as haue narrowly searched the natures of stones, doo vphold to
congeale into the hardnesse of a precious stone. Which thing that the Linxes
them∣selues doo well perceiue, is proued by thys tryall: that as soone as the water
is passed from them, by and by they couer it ouer (as much as they can) with
heapes of sande: verily of spight (as Theophrastus auoucheth) least such matter
issuing from them shoulde turne to our vse. This stone hath the coloure of Amber.
It
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it draweth vnto it thinges that bee néere at hande, it qualifieth the gréefe of the
raynes: it remedieth the Kinges euill, and in Gréeke it is called * Lyncution.
Grashoppers are dumbe among the Rhegines, and not elswhere, which silence of
them is wonderfull: and good cause why, séeing the Grashoppers of y • Lo ∣ crines
theyr next neighbors, cry louder then all others. Granius reporteth the cause
thereof to bee this: that when they made a yelling about Hercules as he rested
there, he commaunded them to cease their chyrping, wherevpon beginning to
holde theyr peace, they con∣tinued mute from thenceforth to thys day.
The * Ly ∣ gusticke Sea bringeth foorth shrubbes, which so soone as they be in the
déepes of the water, are lushe and al∣most like a grystle to touch. But assoone as
they come aboue the water, by and by degenerating from theyr naturall sappe,
they become stones. And not onely the qualitie, but also the colour of them is
turned, for straight way they looke Redde as Scarelette. The braunches of them
are such as we sée on Trées, for the most part halfe a foote long, but seldome tobee found of a foote long. Of them are carued many prety things to were about
folkes. For (as Zoroastres sayth) thys substaunce hath a certaine singuler power,
and there∣fore whatsoeuer is made thereof, is counted among those thinges that
are wholesome. Other folke call it Corall, and Metrodorus nameth it Gorgia. The
same man affyrmeth also that it withstandeth whirlwinds and thunder and
lightning. There is a precious stone dygged vp in a part of Lucanie, * so pleasant
to behold, that it casteth a Saffron colour vpon the starres dim∣med inwardly and
glimmering vnder a myste. The same stone is called a Syrtite because it was
founde first vpon the Seacoast of the Syrts. There is also the Veientane stone, * so
named of y e place wher it is found,
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the colour whereof béeing blacke, for the more beautie of varietie, is enterlaced
distinctly with white lynes, and whitish strakes. * The Ilande which faceth the
coast of Puell, is renowmed with the Tombe & Tem∣ple of Diomed, * and alonely
nourisheth Diomeds birds. For this kind of Foule is no where els in al y e worlde
but there. And that thing alone might séeme woorthy to bée recorded, though
there were not other thinges beside not méete to bee omitted. They are in fashion
almost like a Coote, of colour whyte, with fierie eyes, and •oothed bylles. They
flie in flocks, and not with∣out order in theyr setting forth. They haue two
Cap∣taines, that rule theyr flight: of whom the one flyeth before, and the other
behinde: the sormost as a guyde to direct them certainly which way to flie, the
hinder∣most as an ouerséear to haste forward them that lagge behinde, with
continuall calling vpon them. And this is the order that they keepe in theyr
fléeting. When bréeding time is at hande, they digge pits with their billes: and
then bending wickers ouer them after the manner of Hardles, they close in that
which they haue made hollow vnderneath.
And least they might bee vncouered if paraduen∣ture the windes should blowe
awaie theyr woodden roofes, they coope this watling ouer with the earthe which
they hadde throwne out when they digged the pittes. So they build theyr nestes
with two entryes, and that not at a venture: insomuch that they caste their entries
in and out, according to y e quarters of the heauen. The dor• that they goe out at to
their féeding, openeth into the East: and that which receiueth them home againe,
is towarde the West. To the intent the light may both hast them when they make
tariaunce, and also not faile them to return home by. When they will purge their
paunches, they mount aloft against
Page  [unnumbered]
the wind, to the intent it may carrie their ordure the further from them. They
discerne a straunger from a man of the Country. For if he be a Gréeke, they
ap∣proche vnto him, and as far as may bee vnderstanded, doo fawne gentlie vppon
him as their Countriman. But if he be of anie other Nation, they flye vpon him
and assault him. They frequent the holy Church euery day after this maner. They
wash their feathers in the water, & when they haue wet their wings throughlie,
they come flocking al on a deaw, & so shaking the moi∣sture vppon the Church,
doo purge it. Then they rouse their feathers, & afterwarde, as hauing doone their
de∣uotion, depart again. Here vppon it is reported y • Dio ∣ medes cōpanions were
•urned into birds. Certainely before y • comming of y • Aetolian Captaine, they
were not called Diomedes birds, but euer since they haue had that name.The running forth of Italy through the L•burni ∣ ans (which are a people that came
out of Asia,) * exten∣deth to the foote of Dalmatia, and Dalmatia vnto the borders
of Illyrick, in which coast y • Dardanians haue their dwelling, a people descended
of the line of Troy, but growne wilde and sauage, and degenerated into barbarous
manners. On the otherside it extendeth by the marches of Lombardie vnto the
Prouince of Nar ∣ bone, * in which the Phocenses (beeing in olde time chased out of
theyr Countrey by the comming of the Persians,) builded the Cittie of Marsills in
y e fiue and forteth Olympi•d.
Caius Marius in the tyme of the warre against the Cymbrians, did let in y e Sea in
Channels made wyth mans hand, & mittigated the dangerous sayling of the riuer
Rhone, * which faling down frō the Alps rusheth first through Swicerland carying
with him a nūber of
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waters that meete him by the way, and afterward by his continuall encrease
becommeth more troublesome then the very Sea wherinto it falleth, vnlesse it bee
when the Sea is raised with the wyndes. Rhone is rough euen in calme wether,
and therefore they ac∣count him among the greatest Ryuers of Europe. In the
same place also florished Sexties bathes, sometim• the Consulles winter garrison,
and afterward garni∣shed with walles: the feruent heate whereof beeing breathed
out, is vanished awaie by continuaunce of time, and it is not nowe according to
the auncient re∣port thereof. If we haue a mind to the Greekes, it is best to looke
to the Seacoast of Tarent, from whence, (that is to saie from the Promontorie or
Headlonde * which they call * Acra Iapigia) is the shortest cutt for such as wil
sayle to Achaya-ward.
CAP. VIII.
Of certaine base Iles of the Tyrrhene Sea, which lye against Italy: Of Corsica, and of
the stone Catochites.
F
Rom hence our style is to bee directed ano∣ther waie, and other lands call
vs to treate of their matters, & it were a long péece of woorke to goe ley∣surelie
along the Seacoast to all the Ilandes that face the Promontories of Italy, although
for that they bee scattered in most delectable
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outnookes, and set by nature as it were to the shewe▪ they were not to be omitted.
But how farre should I steppe aside, if delaying the chiefe thinges, I should of a
certaine slothfulnesse treate of * Pandataria, or of * Prochita, or * Ilba plentifull of
yron, or * Capraria, which the Greekes call Aegila, or * Planasia so called of the
leuelnesse of the Sea, or of Vlisses straying: or * Dooue. Ilande, the mother of the
byrdes that beare that name, or Ithacesia, which is reported to haue been the
watch towre of Vlisses, or * Anaria named of Ho ∣ mer Iuarimee, and other no lesse
fruitfull then these. Among which, manie hauing some what more largely treated
of Corsica in wryting, haue moste exquisitlie comprised it to the full, and nothing
is omitted which were not superfluous to be touched againe. As howe the
Ligurians sent first inhabiters thither: how towns were there builded. How Mariusand Sylla sent peo∣ple a newe to refresh it: and howe it is beaten vpon with the
Saltwater of the * Lygustick sea. But let all this géere passe. Neuerthelesse the
Country of Corsi ∣ ca, (which is a peculiar thing to that land) doth onely bring
forth the stone which they call Catochites, most worthie to be spoken of. It is
bigger thē the rest, * that are ordeined to decking, and it is not so much a Iew∣ell as
a common stone. If a man lay his handes vppon it, it holdeth them downe, so
fastening it selfe vnto se∣uerall substances, that it cleaueth to the thinges that it is
touched of. For there is in it I cannot tell what, a kinde of clammy glew and
gummishnesse. I haue heard say, that D•mocritus the Abderite didde often∣times
vse to boast of this stone, to proue the hid pow∣er of nature, in the contentions
that he hadde against the wyzardes.
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CAP. IX.
Of the Ile Sardinia: of the Shonnsunne: of the hearbe Sardonia: and of the
wonderfull power of waters.
S
Ardinia which we reade of in Timaeus, by the name of Sandaliotes, and in
Chrysippus by the name of Ichnusa, is sufficiently kno∣wen in what Sea it lyeth,
and who were firste inhabi∣ters thereof. Wherefore it is to no purpose to tell howe
Sardus was begotten of Hercules, and Norax of Mer¦curie: and howe the one
comming from Lybye, and the other from as far as Tartesus in Spaine into these
quarters: the Lande tooke his name of Sardus, & the Towne of Nora tooke his
name of Norax: Or howe anon after, Aristaeus reigning ouer them, vnited the
people of bothe the races together into the next Cittie Caralis which himselfe had
builded, and knitt the two sundry Nations which hetherto had béene disseuered,
together into one order of lyuing: in such sorte as the strangnesse thereof made
them not disdaine to become hys Subiects. This Aristaeus also begatte Io•aus,
who inhabited the Countrie thereabouts. Further more, wée wyll passe ouer both
the Ilians and Locrines.
Sardinia is without Serpents. But looke what noysomnesse Serpents bring to
other places, * the same noysomnesse bringeth the Shonsunne to the Countrey of
Sardinia. It is a verie little Worme and like to a
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Spyder in shape, and it is called a Shonsunne because it shunneth the daie light. It
lyeth moste in Syluer Mynes, for the soile of that Land is rich of Siluer. It
tréepeth priuily, and casteth the plague vppon such as sitte vpon it vnwares. To
the furtheraunce of thys mischiefe cometh also the Hearbe Sardonia, * which
groweth much more plentifully thē néedeth, in groues where springes runne. If it
be eaten, it draweth to∣gether the sinewes, and wryeth the mouth, so y • such as
thereby draw vnto death, doo die with resemblance of laughter. Contrariwise, all
the waters of that Ile, * doo serue to diuers commodities. The standing pooles are
full of fish. The Winters rayne is kept to releeue the Sommers browght, and the
Men of Sardinia haue much aduauntage of raynie water. For they gather it and
kéepe it in store, that it may doo them ease when the springes faile them which
serued them for theyr meate & drinke. In some places doo bubble vp warme andholes•me springes, which serue for cures in knit∣ting of broken bones, * or
expulsing y • poyson•e shead∣ded by the Shonsunnes, or in dryuing away diseases
of the eyes. But those that remedy y • eyes, haue pow∣er also to discouer théeues.
For whosoeuer denyeth the theft wyth an oath, washeth his eyes with thys water.
If hys oath bee true, his sight becommeth the clearer: if he forsware himselfe, the
fact is detected by blindnesse: and he is driuen to confesse hys faulte in
darknesse, with the losse of hys eyes.
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CAP. X.
Of Sicill, and the Land Pelorias, and the nature of the waters there: of the
Mountaine Aetna, and many other wonders of that Ile: and of the seauen Iles called
Vulcanes Iles.
A
Nd if wee haue respecte to the order of the times or of the places: af∣ter
Sardinia, the matters of Sicill doo call vs next.
First, because that bothe those Iles béeing broughts in subiection to the Ro ∣ mains,
were made Prouin¦ces both at one time. For Marcus Valerius was made
Gouernour of Sardinia, and C. Flaminius Pre∣tor of Sicill all in one yéere: and
secondly for that im∣mediatly after you are out of the straighte of Sicill, the Sea
beareth the name of the Sardine Sea. Sicill therefore. * (which thing is firste and
formost to bee marked) by reason of his heads shooting foorth, is plat∣ted thrée
cornered. a Pachynnus lookes toward, b Peloponnesus and the South coast. c Pelorus
behold∣eth Italy, butting Westward vppon it. d Lylibye shooteth towarde Affrick.
Among which, the Coun∣trey about Pelorus is commended, for the temprature of
y e soyle, inasmuch as it neyther washeth away into durt through ouermuch
moysture, nor crumbleth into dust through ouermuch drynesse. Where it goeth
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further into the maine land-warde, and enlarg••h in wydenesse, it hath three
Lakes Of the one, * that it is well stored with fish I count no great wonder. But the
next vnto it, for that in the thirke groues among the shadowy shrubbes of young
trées, it nourisheth wilde beastes, and admitteth hunters by drye pathes wherein
they may haue accesse a foote by land, seruing to bothe vses of hunting &
fishing, is numbred among the notable thinges. * The third is prooued to bee holie
by an Altar standing in the mids, which deuideth the shallowes from the deepes.
All the waie that leadeth vnto it, the water is but midde legge déepe. Whatsoe∣uer
is beyonde, may neither be gaged nor touched. If it be: he that attempteth it is
punished for his labour and looke howe much of himselfe he putteth into the
water, so much he goe•h about to destroy. They say that a certaine man threw a
line as farre as he coulde into the déepes, and y • as to recouer it againe he thrust
his arme into the water to the intent to haue y e more strength to pull, his hand
became rotten. The coaste of Polorias is peopled with inhabitants of Tauromi ∣ u•
which Men in old time called Naxus. The towne of * Messana is sette di•ectly
oueragainst Rhegium of Italy, vnto the which Rhegium the Greekes gaue that
name, by reason of the breaking of that place.Pachinnum is moste plentifull of Tunnyes and al∣other Sea fish, and therefore
there is alwaies great fishing. The beautie of the Headlond of Lyliby, is the Towne
Lyliby with the Tombe of Sybill. Long be∣fore the s•edge of Troy, * King Sicanus
arryuing in the Ile with an Hoste of Spanyards, named it Sicanie. Af∣terwarde
Siculus the Sonne of Neptune called it Si ∣ cill. Into this land re•o•ted many of the
Cor•nthyans, Argiu•s, 〈 ◊ 〉 , Dorians and Men of Candy. Among whom also the *
Master of all Carpenters & Masons
Page  [unnumbered]
hath the chiefe Cittie, Syracuse, in which euen in win¦ter season when fayre
wether is hidden, the Sunne shyneth euery day. Moreouer the Fountaine Ar• ∣ thusa
is in this Cittie. The highest hylles in it, are Aetna and Eryx * Aetna is hallowed
vnto Vul•ane, and Eryx, vnto Venus. In the toppe of Aetna are two chinkes which
are named Cuppes, at which the vapor bursteth out, with a great roaring going
before. which runneth rumbling a long while together in the bowels of the earth,
through the burning brakes of hollow holes within. Neither doo the flake of
stror•se out, vntill such time as the roaring & rumbling wyth∣in haue gone before.
This is a great wonder. And it is no lesse wonder that in that burning heate, nature
is so stubborne, that it bringeth foorth snowe mingled wyth the fire: and that
although it boyle in outragi∣ous heare, yet the toppe of it is whyte with snowe, as
if it were continuall winter.
There is therefore aninuincible force in bothe, so that neyther the heate is abated
by the colde, nor the colde asswaged by the heate. There are also two hyls:
Buckhyll and Neptunes hyll. Uppon Neptunes is a watchtowre that looketh into
the Tuskane and A ∣ driatish Seas. Buckhyll taketh hys name of the store of redde
and fallowe Déere that walke vp and down there in heards.
Whatsoeuer Sicill bringeth foorth, whither it bee by the nature of the soyle, or by
the d•uice of Man, it is next those thinges that are iudged to be the best: sa∣uing
that in the fruits of the earth, there is none com∣parable to the fruite of * Centuripe.
Heere was the Commedy inuented: heere came the sporting of Ie∣sters firste
vppon the Stage: heere was the house of Archimedes, who accordynge to the
Sryence of Astronomie, was the fyrste inuenter of Engynes.
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Héere was that Lais that hadde rather choose her Countrey then bee knowne of
her Countrey. The great Caues vnder the grounde beare witnesse of the race of
the Cyclops. The place wherein the Lestry ∣ •o•s dwelt, beareth theyr name still. Of
that Country was Ceres the Ladie of ••llage and husbandry. In the selfe same
place is the fielde of * Aenna continuallie full of Flowres, and freshe like the spring
euerye day of the yeere, by which there is a hole sunken into the grounde,
whereat Dis the Father of Hell hadde frée passage into the worlde (as •ame goeth)
when hee ra∣•ished Proserpine.
Betwéene * Catina and * Syracuse is contention for the memoriall of the two
famous Brethren, whose names eche part chale•geth seuerallie to themselues. If
we giue eare to the Ca•nenses, it was Anapias and Amphinomus. If we credite
that which the S•acusans would willingly haue, we must thinke they were
Ac ∣ •••nthius and Crit•o. Neuerthelesse, the cause of y • déede procéeded from the
Countrie of Catina. Into which at such time as the fire of Aetna had burst out, *two young¦men taking vppe theyr Parents, carryed them out through the flames
vnhurt of the fire. They y • came after, didde so reuerence the memorie of these
younge men, that the place where they were buried, was na∣med the field of the
godly.
As touching Ar•thusa and Alpheus, * it is true vn∣to thys day, that the fountaine &
the Ryuer méete both in one channell. In the Riuer is the greatest store of
wonders. If any man that is not of chast & cleane life take of y • water of y •
fountaine Diana, * which runneth by Camerine, the liquor of the wine, and the
liquor of the water will not ioyne in one substance. Among the Segestans, * the
Ryuer Herbesus séething vp suddainlye in the mids of the streame, becommeth
excéeding hote.
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Acis, * for all that it issueth out of the Mountaine Aet ∣ na, yet can no Riuer be
colder then it is. Hyme•us is altered with the Coast of the ayre. For while it
run∣neth Northward it is bytter: but when it turneth in∣to the South if is swéete.
There is not more strange∣nesse in the Waters then in the Saltmynes. * If yee
throwe the Salt of Arigent into the fire, * it me••cth in burning: and if ye put water
to it, it cracke•h as if it were burned.
Aena beareth salt of a purple colour. In Pachyn ∣ nus it is founde so shéere, that yée
may sée through it. The other Saltmynes that are néere eyther to Ari ∣ gent or
Centuripe serue in sté•de of quarries. For out of them they haue Images to the
likenesse of men or Gods. In the places where the who•e waters are, is an Ilande
that groweth full of Reedes vorye mée•e to make pypes of all manner of sortes:
whither they be Precentories whose vse is to play before the shrynes of the Gods:
or Vasks, which excéede the Prerentories in number of holes: or maydenpipes,
which haue that name of their cléere sounde: or Gingrynes, w t though they be
shorter. yet haue they a shriler sound: or Mil∣uines which haue sharpest sounde of
all: or Lydians which they call also Turaries: or Cor••thyans, or A• ∣ giptians, or
any others, howe diuerslie soeuer they bee named by Musicians, according to the
diuers and sun∣drie vs•s which they serue for. * In the Country Hale ∣ sine there is a
Fountaine at all times quiet & calme▪ when no noyse is made, which riseth vpp if
a S•alme be plaid vpon, leaping at the sound and swelling ouer his brimmes as
though he were in loue with y • swéet∣nesse of the Musicke. The Poo•e of •e•on
with hys stinking sauour, * dryueth away such as come night Al∣so there are two
springes, whereof if a barraine Wo∣man taste the one, she shall become fruitfull
and if a
Page  [unnumbered]
childbearing Woman taste of the other, shee becom∣meth barrain. The Poole of
the Petrenses is hurtfull to serpents, but wholsome to men. In the Lake of A ∣ rigent
swimmeth an Oyle aboue. This fatnes throgh the continuall wauing of the Réedes,
cleaueth to the coppes of them: out of the sedgie heare wherof is ga∣thered a
medicinable oyntment against the diseases of great Cattell. * Not farre from thence
is Vulcans Hyll, vpon which when men doo sacrifice, they lay Uyn•∣sticks vppon
the Alters, without putting fire thereto when they cast on the offalles.If the God like well of it, (for that is the tryall of the sacrifice) the sticks (bee they
neuer so gréene) doo take fire alone, and the God to whome the sacrifice is made,
causeth it to burne without kindling. And as they are making mery, the flame
playeth with them, and scoping out in wreathed flakes among them sind∣geth not
any man whom it toucheth. but sheweth it selfe to be none other thing then the
Image of fire, de∣claring that the vowe is rightfully performed. In the same field
of Arigent, doo burste out quagmyres of mudde. And as y • vaines of Fountaines
serue to make Riuers, so in this part of Sicill the soile neuer faileth, and earth with
continuall vtterance casteth out earth. Sicill yéelded first the stone * Achates,
founde in the banks of the Ryuer Achates, which was of no small price as long as
it was found no where els. For the vaines imprinted in it do portrait such natural
shapes therein, that when it is of the best making, it repre∣senteth the likenesse of
many thinges. For which con∣sideration the Ring of King Pyrrhus * that made war
against the Romaines, was not meanely spoken of, the stone whereof was an
Agate, wherein were to bée séene the nine Muses, euerie one with theyr seuerall
cognisaunces, and Apollo with hys viall in hys hand,
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not ••grauen by arte, but growne by Nature. But nowe it is founde in diuers other
places. Candy yéel∣deth a kind of them which they call Corallagats, * be∣cause
they are like Corall. It is powdered with drops glistering like Golde, and it
resisteth Scorpions. Inde yéeldeth of them expressing the proportions of For∣rests
and Beastes: the sight whereof comforteth the eyes. And béeing receiued into the
mouth, it staunch∣eth thyrst. There are also of them which béeing bur∣ned doo
cast a sent like Myrrhe. The Achate is ful of redde spots like bloode. But those
that are most sette by, haue the cléerenesse of Glasse as the Achate of Cy ∣ prus.
For those that looke like ware, (because there is aboundance of them) are as little
estéemed as y • stones in the stréetes.
The circuit of all thys whole Ile, is thrée thou∣sand furlonges about. * In the
narrowest Sea of Sicill, are the Iles Hephestiae, fiue and twenty myles di∣stant
from Italy. The Italians cal them Vulcans. Iles. * For these by reason of the whole
nature of their soile, doo eyther borrow fire of the Mountaine Aetna, or els
minister fire vnto it by priuie intercourse vnder the grounde. Héere was appointed
the dwelling place of the God of fire. They are in number seauen. Lypara tooke
that name of King Lyparus, who gouerned it be∣fore Aeolus. Another they
called * Hiera. The same is chéefely halowed vnto Vulcane, and burneth moste in
the night time wyth an exceeding hygh hyll. The thirde named * Strongyle which
was the Pallace of Aeolus, standeth toward the Sunne rysing. It is least couered,
and it differeth some what from the reste in cléerenesse of flames. Héere vppon it
commeth to passe that chiefely by the smoake thereof, the inhabiters vn∣derstand
before, what windes are like to blowe three daies after. And this is the cause why
A•olus was be∣léeued
Page  [unnumbered]
léeued to be the God of wyndes. The rest, Didymee, * Ericusa, * Phaenicusa, and
Euonimon, because they be like the other, we haue as good as spoken of them
already.
CAP. XI.Of the thyrd Coast of Europe: of the Countryes and places of Greece: of many
thinges worthy to be re∣counted in them: and of the Nature of Partriches.
T
He third Coast of Europe beginneth at the Mountaines of * Cerau ∣ nii, and
endeth at Helle ∣ spont. In this coast among the Molossians (where as is the Temple
of Iupiter of Do•on) is the Mountaine Tomarus, renowmed for y • hundred
Fountaines y • are about the foote of it, as Theopompus reporteth. In * Epyre is a
holy wel, cold aboue all other waters, and of approoued contrarietie. For if yée
dippe a burning brand therein, it quencheth it: and if you hold it a good way of
without any fire on it, of it owne nature it kindleth it. Dodon * (as Maro sayth) is
hallowed vnto Iupiter. Delphos * is renow∣med with the Riuer Cephisus, the
Fountaine Casta ∣ lie, * & the mountain Parnasus. Acarnania vawnteth of
Aracynth. This Country is deuided frō Aetolia wyth the Mountaine Pindus, which
bréedeth Aclelous a ry∣uer anciently renowmed among the chiefe Riuers of
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and not vnworthely, considering that among the little stones that lye glistring in
his bancks, there is founde the * Galactite, which béeing it selfe blacke, if it bee
chased yéeldeth a whyte iuyce that tasteth like Milke. Béeing tyde about a woman
that gyueth sucke, it ma∣keth her breasts full of milke: béeing tyde to a Chyld, it
causeth more aboundant swallowing of spettle, and béeing receiued into the
mouth it melteth, but there∣withall it perisheth the gyft of memory. Thys stone is
founde in Nylus and Achelous, and not in any third place. * Néere vnto the Towne
of Patrae, is a place cal∣led Scioessa shadowed with the couert of nine Hylls, and
not renowmed for any other cause, then that the beames of the Sunne come
almoste neuer there. In * Laconia is an issue out of the earth, called Taenarus.
Taenarus is also the Headlonde against Affricke, where as is the Chappell of
Arion of Methymna, * who was brought thither by a Dolphin, as hys Image of
brasse witnesseth there portrayted out liuely accor∣ding as the chaunce happened,
and as the thing was doone indéede. Moreouer, y • very time expressed there,
namelie the twenty and nine Olympiad (in which the same Arion is recorded
victor at the gaming in Sicill) a•oucheth the selfe same thing to haue béene doone.
There is also a Towne called Taenaron of noble antiquitie. Furthermore there are
certaine Citties, and among them Leutrae, somewhat famous by rea∣son of the
shamefull ende that the Lacedemonians made there of late: and Amyclae brought
to destruction in olde time through theyr owne silence: and * Sparta renowmed
with the Temple of Castor and Pollux, and also with the tytles of Otryas a manne
of greate fame: And Theramu•• from whence first sprang the worshipping of
Diana: and Pitan• which Arch•silaus
Page  [unnumbered]
the Stoicke (who was borne there) did bring to lyght by the desert of his
wyse•ome: And Anthea and Car ∣ damilee, where was sometime y • Cittie Thyre,
which now is but the name of a place, where was fought a notable battell
betwéene the Lacedemonians and the Argyues, the seauentéenth yéere of the
raigne of Ro ∣ mulus. For the Mountaine Taygeta and the Ryuer Eurotas are better
knowne then that they néede to bée written of. * Inachus a Ryuer of Achaia cutteththrogh all the Country of Argoly, which tooke his name of Inachus the first
founder of the nobility of Argos. * The beautie of Epidaurus is the Chappell of
Aesculapius, where sicke and diseased personnes lodging, are infor∣med by
dreames of remedyes for their maladies. It is sufficient to put you in
remembraunce, that there is in Arcady a towne called Pallanteū, which by
meanes of Euander the Arcadian, gaue the name to our Pal∣lace.
In Arcady are the Mountaines Cyllen, Ly•aeus, * and Menalus renowmed with the
Gods that were fo∣stered in them, among which, Erymanthus is not ob∣scure. Also
among the Riuers is Erymanthus spring∣ing out of the Hill Erymanthus, and the
famous La ∣ don. Héereabouts the encounters of Hercules are ap∣parant. Varro
affirmeth that there is a * Fountaine in Arcady which killeth as manie as drinke of
it. In this part of the world we finde this thing not vnwor∣thy to be mentioned
concerning byrds, that whereas in other places Mauisses be yellowe as golde, *
about Cyllen they are as whyte as milke. Neyther is the stone to be despised
which Arcady sendeth. * The name thereof is Asbest. It is of the colour of yron:
and bée∣ing sette on fire, it cannot be quenched. Into the Baye of Megara shooteth
the Isthmos which is renowmed with gamings kept there euery fift yéere, * & wyth
the
Page  [unnumbered]
Temple of Neptune. The said gamings (as is repor∣ted) were instituted in
resemblance of the fiue coastes of * Peloponnesus which are beaten vpon wyth fiue
sundrie Seas. On the Northside with the Ionian sea, on the West with the Sicilian
Sea, on y • Southweste with the Aegean Sea, on the Northeast with the Myr¦toan
Sea, and on the South with the Candian Sea. This pastime béeing put downe by
the Tyrant Cyp ∣ selus, was by the Corinthians restored to the former solemnitie, in
the fortie and nine Olimpiad. But the name of Peloponnesus declareth that Pelops
was king of that Countrey. * The platforme of it, is like y • leafe of a Plane trée
with Créekes and nookes, and it ma∣keth a diuorce betwéene the Ionian Sea, and
the A• ∣ gaean Sea, disseuering the one shore from the other, with a slender balke
not aboue foure myles broade, which for the narrownesse thereof man call
Isthmos. From hence beginneth Hellas, which properlye they would haue to bée
the true Greece. * That Countrey which is nowe called Attick, was in former time
cal∣led, Actee. Ther•in is the Cittie Athens, néere wher¦to adioyneth Scyrons
Rocke, * extending sixe myles in length, so named in honour of Theseus his
victorie, and in remembraunce of the notable punishment of Sey ∣ ron. From this
Rocke Ino casting her selfe headlonge into the déepe▪ increased the number of
the Goddes of the Sea. But we will not so slightlie passe ouer the Mountaines of
Attick. There are Icary, Brilesse, Ly ∣ cabet, and Aegialus. * But Hymet dooth most
woorthelie beare the bell among them all, because that béeing ve∣rie full of
flowres, the Honny therof excelleth y • Hon∣nie of all other places, not onely of
forraigne Lands, but also of the same Countrey, in pleasaunt sauor and taste.
They wonder at the Fountaine Callyrhoee, * & yet
Page  [unnumbered]
they make not therefore the lesse account of another Fountayne called ••unesos.
The place of iudgment among y • Athenians is called Ariopagus. * The plaine ofMarathon was made famous by y • report of a most bloody battell foughten there.
Manie Iles lye ouer a∣gainst the maine Lande of Attick, but Salamis, Suni ∣ um,
Cos, and Ceos which (as Varro witnesseth) yéel∣ded the first Garments of fine
spynning y • were made of wooll for the decking of Women) are almoste
su∣burbes to the Cittie. * Baeotia is renowmed with The ∣ bae, which Cittie was
builded by Amphion. * Not that he drew stones together with the sound of his
Harpe, (for it cannot séeme likely that anie such thing should be doone) but for
that with the swéetnesse of his elo∣quence, he allured menne that dwelt in Rocks
(who were altogether sauage and vnnurtured,) to become obedient to ciuil order
and discipline. This Citty glo∣rieth in the Godds that were borne within her wals,
as they affirme which with holy verses doo set out the commendations of
Hercules and Bacchus. At Thebae is the Grou•Helicon, * the Forrest Cytheron, the
Ri∣uer Ismenius, and the Fountaines Arethusa, Ocdi ∣ pus, Psamatee, and Dircee:
but before all others Aga ∣ nippe and * Hippocren•e, which because Ca•mus the first
inuenter of Letters founde out as he rode about to searche what manner of
Country he was come vn∣to, the Poets ranne vpon the brydle of liberty,
publi∣shing in theyr writinges, bothe that the one of them was raised by the
stamping of a winged Horses hoofe, and that the other béeing tasted of, did endue
mennes mindes with eloquence: and also that the winged Horses hoofe was
opened, and that the waters there of beeing dronke, inspired folke wyth learning.
The Ilande * Eub•a by shooting his side against the Coaste of the maine Lande,
dooth make the
Page  [unnumbered]
Hauen of Aulis, * renowmed in all ages for remembe∣raunce of the confederacie of
Gréece. The Baeotians are the same people that were the Lelegs, through whose
Country runneth the Riuer Cephisus & falleth into the Sea. In this land is the Bay
of Oxus, the Towne of Larissa, and Delphiramne also, wherein is the Chappell of
Amphiaraus, and the Image of Dia ∣ na, which the Caruar Phidias did make. Varr•
sup∣poseth that there are two Riuers in Baeotia, * though of nature vnlike, yet
nothing differing in wonderful∣nesse. If shéepe drinke of the one, theyr fléeces
change into a Russet colour. If they drinke of the other: as manie of their fléeces
as were of a browne coloure, be∣come whyte. He addeth moreouer that there is a
pitte to be séene, that killeth as manie as drinke of it.
Where as Partriches in all other places are frée like as the rest of birds be, * in
Baeotia they are not frée: neither are they at liberty to flye where they list, but but
haue boundes in the verie ayre, which they dare not passe, Insomuch that they
neuer goe beyond theyr appointed limits, nor neuer flie ouer into y • Marches of
Athens. * This is peculiar to the Partriches of Bae ∣ otia. For such things as are
common to all other Par∣triches, we will treate of generally héereafter. Par∣triches
are slie in trimming and fencing their nestes. For they hedge in their haunts with
pricking shrubs, and sharpe sprigges, to the intent such beastes as are noysome
vnto them may bee kept off with the sharp∣nesse of the thornes. Under their
Egges they lay dust: and they come and goe priuily, least theyr often haun∣ting
should bewray the place. Many times y • Hennes re•ooue the egges out of the way,
to deceiue y • Cocks, who trouble them out of all measure with theyr con∣tinuall
flickering about them. There is fighting a∣mong the Cocks for the Hens: and it is
thought thatPage  [unnumbered]
those which are ouercome, doo abide the other to tread them as if they were
Hennes. They are so ranke of nature, that if the winde doo but blow from y •
Cocks, the Hennes become with egge, euen wyth the verye sent of them. And if
anie manne come néere the place where they sitte, the Hennes springing forth doo
offer themselues of their owne accorde to the commers, and feygning some
default in their féete or their winges, (as though they might be by and by caught)
they coū∣ter•et a slowe pace before them. By which subtiltye they eg foorth such
as they méete, and mocke them vn∣till they haue tolled them and drawne them a
greate way of from theyr neste. Neyther are their yong ones lesse carefull for
theyr parte, howe to saue themselues. For when they perceiue that they are séene,
they caste themselues vpon their backes, and take vp cloddes in theyr féete, with
the couert whereof they hyde them∣selues so subtillie, that they escape euen when
they are founde.
CAP. XII.
Of Thessaly & Magnesia, and of the Townes ther∣in: of the Riuer Peneus: of the
plesantnes of Tem∣pee: of the heyght of the Mountaine O∣limpus: and of him that
stroke out King Philips eye.
T
Hessaly is the same coun ∣ try y • beareth y • name of Aemonia, which
Homer calleth Argos Pelasgicū, where Hellen was borne, of whom the Kinges
were called Hellens. At the backe héereof
Page  [unnumbered]
stretcheth Pieria toward Macedonie: which béeing cō∣quered, came in subiection
to the Macedons. Manie Townes and many Ryuers are there. Of Townes the
notablest are Phthia, Larissa, Thessaha, & Thebae. Of Ryuers, the notablest is
Peneus, which running downe by Ossa and Olimpus, by meanes of the Hyls
bowing gently on bothe sides with wooddy bottoms, maketh the Thessalian
Tempee: and swéeping thence wyth broader streames through Macedonie &
Mag ∣ nesia, falleth into the Gulfe of Thermy. Unto Thessa ∣ lie belong the playnes
of Pharsaly, wherein were the thundring stormes of the * ciuill wars. And to the
in∣tent we goe not altogether to knowne hyls: let them buzie themselues about
Othrys & Pindus, which séeke for the originall of the Lapythes: or about Ossa
which delight to linger in the Fables of the Centaures. As for Pelion, the mariage
feast of Peleus and Thetis haue brought it so much to knowledge, that it may be a
mar¦uell howe it should be kept in huggermugger. For the thinges that are to bee
séene in Olympus, * doo declare that Homer did not celebrate it throgh vnaduised
rash∣nesse. For it ryseth so bigge, with so hygh a toppe, that the dwellers by doo
call the knappe of it heauen. Ther is on the top of it an Altar dedicated to Iupiter,
where vpon if any part of the inwards be layd, they are ney∣ther blowne a sunder
wyth blastes of the wynde, nor washed away with rayne: but when the yéere
comes about againe, they are founde the selfe same that they were left. And
whatsoeuer is once consecrated there vnto the God, it is priuiledged for euer frō
corruption of the aire. Letters written in the ashes continue tyll the Ceremonies of
the next yéere. In the Country of Magnesia is the Towne of * Methone, in the
••edge wherof Phillip the Father of great Alexander of Ma ∣ cedonie, lost hys eye
by the stripe of an Arrow, whichPage  [unnumbered]
a Townsman named Aster shot at him with his own name, and the name of the
party that he shot it at, and the place that he wounded written thereuppon. That
this people could skyll of Archery, we may beléeue by Philoctetes, forasmuch as
Melibaea is reckoned in the foote of thys Country. * But to the intent we procéede
no further then wee haue Poets for our defence, the fountaine Libethrus also
appertaineth to Magnesia.
CAP. XIII.
Of Macedonie, and the successyon of the Kinges thereof: and of the stone Peantis.
T
He people which were sometime the Edoni ∣ ans, and that which was the
Lande of Migdony, or the Countrey of Pieria, or Ae ∣ mathia, is nowe in one
en∣tyre terme the Realme of Macedonie. And the parti∣tions which héeretofore
were seuerally disioyned, * béeing nowe vnited in the name of Macedo•es, are
become all one body. Macedo ∣ nie therefore is bounded on the forepart with y •
Mar∣ches of Thrace. The South Countrey of Thessaly is inhabited by the Epirots.
On the Westside are the * Dardanians and Illyrian•. Where the North beateth vpon
it, it is fenced in with Paeony & Pelagony From the Triballs it shooteth foorth in
Mountaines to the colde Northeaste wynde. It is deuided from Thrace by the
Riuer Strymon which runneth from y • Moun∣tayne Haemus.
Page  [unnumbered]
But to passe Rhodopee with silence which is a Mountaine of Mygdony, and Athos
sayled through by the Persian fléete, and cutt of frō the maine Land, by the
mountenaunce of a myle & a halfe, together wyth the vaines of Gold and Siluer,
wherof there are dig∣ged vppe verie good and great store in the fieldes of
Macedonie, I wyll speake of the Countrey Orestide. There are a people which
take the name of Orestides heerevpon. Orestes fléeing like an outlawe from
My ∣ cene after he had killed his mother, * forasmuch as he• hadde determined to
goe further of, commanded that a yong Sonne of hys, borne in Aemathia of
Hermione whom he had taken to be his companion in all aduen∣tures, should be
brought vp priuilie héere. The Childe bearing his Fathers name, as he grew to
mans estate so also grewe in courage and stomacke méete for hys royall race: and
conquering all that extendeth to the Coast of Macedony, and the Adriatish Sea,
hee called the Land (whereof he was ruler) Orestide.
Phlaegra (in which place, before there was anye Towne there, * the report goeth y •
a battell was fought betwéene the hoste of Heauen and the Gyants,) dooth put vs
in minde to declare throughlie with how great proofes of soueraigntie there, the
tokens of that Hea∣uenlie warfare haue and doo continue it vnto thys day. If at any
time (as it commeth to passe indéede) the brookes ryse with foule weather, and
the excesse of waters breaking theyr bankes doo shoote themselues ouer violently
into the fields: they say that euen now through the gulling of the water, are
discouered ben•s like to mens carkasses, but farre bigger, which for the
vnmeasurable hugenesse of them, are reported to haue béene the bodies of that
monstruous Army. And thys opinion is furthered with the euidence of excessyue
great stones, wherewith heauen was thought to hauePage  [unnumbered]
béene assaulted. I will procéede to the residue which extende into Thessaly and
Aemony. For they be heigh¦er then that in anie place, the height of the Mountain is
able to reache therunt•. Neither is there any thing in anie Land vnder Heauen, that
may woorthely bee compared héere•nto in height, as wherevnto only the rage of
water neuer attained when y • flood ouerwhel∣med all thinges els with woozie
moistnesse. There re∣maine yet prints of no small credite, whereby it ap∣peareth
that these places were aboue the stormy flood. For in the darke Caues of the
Hilles, which at that time were eaten hollow with the strugling of the wa∣ter, the
shelles of Fishes are left behinde, and many o∣ther things which are cast vppe by
the working of the rowgh Sea: so that although (to sée to) the places bée mayne
Land: yet they haue a resemblaunce of y • Sea shore.
Nowe will I speake of the Inhabiters. * Aema ∣ thius who was the first that obtained
soueraigntie in Amathia, (whither it be because the knowledge of his pedegrée is
worne out by time, or because it is a mat∣ter farre fette) is counted to bee bredde
of the earth. After him the name of Aemathia which procéeded frō him, continued
to the Realme of Macedony. But Ma ∣ cedo the Nephewe of D•ucalion by the
Mothers side, (who onelie with the familie of his housholde scaped from the
general destruction) chaunged the name, and called it Macedony, after himselfe.
After Macedo followed Caranus Captaine of a companie of Pelopo ∣ nesians: who
according to the aunswere gyuen by A ∣ pollo, builded a Citty in the same place,
where he had séene a hearde of Goates sitte, and named it * Aegaea, in which place
the custome was to bury theyr Kings: neyther was it lawfull among the auncient
Mace ∣ dones, to burie their chiefe states in anie other place
Page  [unnumbered]
than there. After Caranus succéeded Perdicas in y • two and twentith Olimpiad,
who was the firste that bare the name of King: after whom came Alexander the
Sonne of Amintas, * who was counted rich, and not without cause. For he had so
good successe in encrea∣sing his substaunce, that he first of all men, sent Ima∣ges
of cleane golde for a gyft, one to Apollo at Del ∣ phos, and another to Iupiter at
Elis. He was greatlie giuen to delight hys hearing: insomuch that for hys
pleasures sake, he entertained with honourable pensi∣ons as long as he liued
manie that were cunning vp∣pon Instruments, among whom was Pyndarus the
Harper. From this man Archelaus receiued the king∣dome, * who was a politick
Prince in feates of warre, and the firste deuiser of battell vppon the Sea. Thys
Archelaus was so great a louer of learning, y • he made Euripides the Tragicall
Poet, one of his priuie Coun∣sell. At whose burial, he was not content to follow
the Herse onelie, but also he shore his hayre, and vttered in countenau•ce the
sorrowe that he conceiued in hys hart. The same Archelaus winning the wager in
run¦ning with Chariots at the gaminges of Pythia and Olimpus, shewed himselfe
rather to haue the hart of a glorious Greeke then of a royall King, in séeking that
kind of prayse. After Archelaus the state of Macedony béeing troubled with
dissention, at last was stayed in the raigne of Amyntas, who had thrée Sons, of
whom Alexander succéeded his Father: who béeing dispat∣ched out of the way,
the fruition of that great prehe∣minence was first giuen to Perdicas: by whose
decease the Kingdome was left by inheritance vnto his Bro∣ther Philip, who (as
we tolde you before) lost hys right eye at Methone, of which maine there had
gone a fore token before.For at his marriage •easte it is reported that the
Page  [unnumbered]
Musitians which serued that daie, sung (as it were in sport) a song of the one eyed
Gyants, called Cyclops. Thys Phillip begat great Alexander, * howbeit that
O ∣ lympias Alexanders Mother, coueting to purchase hym a nobler Father,
auouched him to haue béene begotten by a Dragon. But howsoeuer the case
stoode, * Alexan ∣ der so behaued himselfe, that he was beléeued to be the Sonne of
a God. He trauailed ouer the worlde, vsing the direction of Aristotle and
Callisthenes. Hee conque∣red Asia the lesse, Armeny, Iberia, Albany,
Cappado ∣ cia, Syria, and Aegypt. He passed ouer y e Mountaines Taurus and
Caucasus: He subdued the Bactrians: hée raigned ouer the Medes and Persians:
Hée wan Inde, and went beyond all that Liber and Hercules reached vnto. He was
of personage more statelie than Man, with long and straight necke, chéerefull &
cléere eyes, chéekes ruddy with a pleasantnesse, and comely featu∣red in all
proportions of bodye, not without a certaine maiestie. Béeing conqueror of all
men, hee was hym∣selfe a thrall to wyne and wrath. Through surfette of
drunkennesse he died at Babylon, somewhat after a more base and vncomely
sorte then he had lyued. Wée finde that those that came after him, were borne
ra∣ther to increase the glory of the Romaines, then to in∣herite so great renowne.
Macedony bringeth foorth a stone which they call Paeantis. The common reporte
goeth, * that this stone doth helpe Women, bothe in the time of theyr conception,
and in the time of their la∣bour. It is founde much about the Tombe of Tyresias.
Page  [unnumbered]
〈1 page duplicate〉
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〈1 page duplicate〉
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CAP. XIIII.
Of the manners and customes of the Thracians. Of the places and peoples of Thrace.
Of Cranes and Swallowes. Of Hellespont. Of the Ilande Clarob, and of the Aegaeum
Sea.
N
Ow it is time to take our iourneye into * Thrace, and to sette sayle toward
the puissantest Na∣tions of Europe: * which whosoeuer will looke vpon aduisedlie,
shall easily finde that there is a contempt of life in the barbarous Thra ∣ cians,
through a certaine discipline of moother wytt. They agrée all to die willingly:
some of them belée∣uing that the soules of them that decease returne a∣gaine, and
othersome thinking that they die not, but are in a more happie and blisful state.
Among most of them, the birth daies are sorrowfull, and contrariwise the burialls
are ioyfull. In somuch that the Fathers and Mothers fall a wéeping when theyChildren are newe borne, and reioyce when theyr are deade. The Menne doo
glorie in the number of theyr Wiues, and count it an honour to haue manie
bedfellowes. Such Women as are chare of their chastitie, doo leape into the fires
where their dead Husbandes are burned, and (which they thinke to be the greatest
token of chastity that may bee) runne headlong into the flame. When Women
come to the time of marriage, they take not
Page  [unnumbered]
Husbands at the appointment of their Parents: but such of them as excel others in
beautie, set themselues foorth to sale, and making Proclamation who wyll giue
moste, they marrie not to him that is of best con∣ditions, but to him that is best
Chapman. Those that are foule or deformed, bring dowries with them to bie
Husbandes withall. When they feast, bothe sexes of them goe about the harthes,
and cast the séede of cer∣taine Hearbs growing among them into the fire. The
fume of which Hearbes so striketh vp into their heads that it woundeth theyr
sences, and maketh them like drunken folke, whereat they haue a good sporte.
Thus much concerning their customes. Nowe shall ensue of their places and
peoples. Along the Ryuer Strymo on the right hande thereof, inhabite the
Denselats. There are also manie kinreds of the Besses, euen vn∣to the Ryuer
Nestus, which runneth about the foote of the Mountaine Pangaeus. The soyle of
the Odryses sendeth foorth the Ryuer Hebrus which runneth amōg the
Briants, * Dolonks, Thynes, Corpills, and other barba∣rous nations, & toucheth also
y e Cycones. Then is there Mount Haemus, * sixe myles high, the back part wher∣of
is inhabited by the Maesians, Gets, Sarmats, Scythi ∣ ans, and manie other Nations.
On the sea coast of Pontus dwelleth the people of Sythony, the renowne whereof
is augmented by Or ∣ pheu• the Poet and Prophette that was borne there, who is
reported to haue practised the secrets (whither it were of his Musicke or of his
Ceremonies,) in the Promontorie Sperchius. Afterwarde is the Poole of Biston,
and not farre from thence the Country of Ma ∣ rony, wherein was the Towne of
Tyrada sometime the stable of Diomeds horses. But nowe it hath giuen place to
time, and there remaineth no more but the foundation of the Towre. Not farre
from thence is
Page  [unnumbered]
the Citty Abdera which Diomeds sister builded, * & cal∣led so after her owne
name. Anon after, it became the house of Democritus y e natural Philosopher, * &
therfore to (say the truth) it is the more renowmed. This Ab ∣ dera béeing by time
decaied, was restored to a greater countenaunce by the Clazomenians comming
out of Asia, the hundreth and one and thirty Olympiad, who abolishing the things
that had passed before, restored it to the olde name againe. The comming of
Xerxes made the place of Doriscon famous, because he mu∣stered hys Armie
there. Mount Haemus hath y e tombe of Polydore to shewe, on that side which the
Scythians Ar•teres doo inhabit, and it hath the Cittie which in olde time was
called Gerania, and is now called of the barbarous people Cattruza, from whence
the reporte goeth that the Pygmaeans were dryuen by Cranes.
Surely it is manifest that Cranes in the wynter time doo flye in great heards
towards the North, * and it shall not gréeue me to declare whither, and in what sort
they direct their sight. They march in araye as it were an Armie vnder an Ensigne.
And least the vio∣lence of the windes should driue them from the coaste to whichthey direct theyr course, they gorge thēselues wyth Sande, and balace themselues
by taking vppe stones of a measurable waight. Then they mount as high as they
can, to the intent •rom thence (as from a hygh watchtowre) to aime the Landes
which they would goe vnto. He that is surest of wyng goeth be∣fore the Hearde,
and with his clarying rebuketh their slothfulnesse, and causeth the trayne behinde
to make haste after. When he wexeth hoarce, another takes his roome. When they
shall passe the Sea of Pontus, they séeke for the narrowest places, which they
may easilie finde by eye sight, and they are betwéene Tauri ∣ ca and Paphlagonia,
that is to say betwéene Carambis
Page  [unnumbered]
and the Rammes head. As soone as they knowe them∣selues to be past the mid
channell, they disburden thē∣selues of the stones in theyr féete. So the Shipmenne
report, who by suddaine aduenture haue oftentymes béene rayned vppon wyth
theyr stonie showers. As for theyr Sande, they put it not vp againe before they be
well assured of theyr abyding. They are all alike rarefull for such as are weary.
Insomuch that if any of them tyre, the rest flocke altogether and beare them vppe
that faint, vntil they may recouer their strength by resting. Neyther are they lesse
circumspecte vppon the Land. For they kéepe watch a nights, in such wise that
euery tenth of them waketh. Those that watche, holde little weyghts in their
clawes, which reprooue them of sléepe if they happen to let them fall. If aught be
to be auoyded, they giue warning thereof by clary∣ing. Theyr colour bewrayeth
their age, for the elder they growe, the blacker they wexe.
Let vs come to the Promontorie * Chrysokeras, renowmed with the Cittie * Byzance
héeretofore cal¦led Lygos, which is distaunt from * Dyrrachium sea∣uen hundred
and eleuen miles. For so much is y e space betwéene the Adriatish Sea,
and * •ropontis. In the Country of Cenik not far from Flauiople a Towne builded
and peopled with Romaines, is the Towne of Byzia in tymes past the Palace of
King Tereus, now hated and vnhaunted of Swallowes, * and so foorth of other
byrds: although it bee so that Swallowes doo shunne to come within Thebae also,
because the wals thereof haue béene so often taken. For among other thinges: that
they haue a kinde of foreknowledge, it is knowne héereby, that they wyll not
come neere a house that is like to fall, nor come vnder the roofe that by any
means shal perish. Surely they are not chaced by rauening foules, neither are they
a pray to any, but are as holy birds.
Page  [unnumbered]
There is an other * Isthmos in Thrace of lyke straightnesse, and hauing a narrow
Sea of like wyde∣nesse to that of Peloponnesus, vpon the shores wherof stande
two Citties, on either side one. The shore to∣ward the Sea of Constantinople is
beautified wyth the Towne of Pactie, and Melane bay with the Cittie * Cardy:
which hath that name because the platt of it is in fashion like a hart. All the great
Sea of Helle ∣ spont is streightned into seauē furlonges, which space disseuereth
the coast of Asia from Europe. Héere also stande two Citties, Abidos in Asia, and
Sestos in Eu ∣ rope. And harde by are two Promontories one ouer against the other:
Mastusia of Chersonesus, where en∣deth the thirde coast of Europe, and Sygeum
of Asia, where is a little Hill called * Cynossema the Tombe of Hecuba, and the
Tower of Protesilaus, put to y • vse of a Chappell.On the Northmarches of Thrace, beateth the Ri∣uer * Ister, on the Easte Pontus and
Propontis: and on the South, the Aegaean Sea. Betwéene Tenedos and Chius, is
the Iland Cla•os situate at such place as the Aegaean Sea wydneth. On the ryght
hand, as men sayle to Antandros, there is a Rock (for so it deserues to be called
rather then an Ile) which (to them that beholde it a farre of) séemeth to haue the
shape of a Goate, which the Greekes call Aega, that is to saye a Goate. Of this
Rocke the Aegaean Gulfe taketh hys name. From Phalarion a Promontorie
of * Corcyra, hangeth out a Rock of the likenesse of a Ship, into the which Vlysses
bys Shyppe was beléeued to haue béen• trans-formed. Cythera which is •lue
myles from Ma ∣ lea, was héeretofore named Porphyris.
Page  [unnumbered]
CAP. XV.
Of Creta, and of many other thinges pertay∣ning thereunto.
M
Ore easie it is to to treate fully of * Creta, thē to say expresly in what Sea
it lyeth. For y e Greeks haue so mingled the names of the Sea that enuironeth it,
that while they thruste one in an others place, they haue almost drowned
altogether. Neuerthelesse, I will bestowe my trauell with as much faithfulnesse as
I canne, in buttelling it out, to the intent that nothing may hang in vncertain¦tie. It
stretcheth out a great length betwéene y e Easte * and the West, hauing Greece
butting against it on the one side, and Cyrene on the other. On the North∣side it is
beaten vpon with the * Aegaen Sea▪ and on the South with the Libicke and
Aegiptian Seas. It was garnished with a hundred Citties (as they report which
haue lauash tongues of theyr owne) but indéede with a hundred great and Lordly
proud Townes: the chiefe whereof were Gortim, Cydon, Gnoson, The ∣ rapne, * and
Scylletion. Dosiades reporteth that it was named Crete, of the Lady Crete, the
daughter of Hes ∣ perus. Anaximander saith, it was so called of Cretes K. of the
Curets. Crates auoucheth that it hyght, first Ae ∣ ria, and anon after Curetis. And
manie also affyrme, that of the temperatenesse of the ayre, it was called
Page  [unnumbered]
* Macaronesus.
It was the first that could skil of sea∣matters and of shooting. It
was the first that compre∣hended words in writing. It was the first that taught
dauncing in Armor, called the Pyrrhicke daunce, of Pyrrhus the first deuiser
thereof. It was the first that trayned troopes of Horsmenne to winde and vnwinde
themselues in way of sport and daliance, whereuppon was afterward founded the
vse of warlike discipline. The arte of Musicke began first there, by meanes of the
Dactyles of Ida, who finding out the distinction of tunes by the sounding and
tinckling of brasse, brought it in order of songe, and sunge ditties to it. It looketh
whyte by reason of the snowie toppes of the Moun∣taines. Dictimus and Cadiscus,
which are so excéeding white, that vnto such as sayle a farre off, they séeme
rather clowdes then hilles. Besides the others, there is Ida, * which before the
rysing of the Sunne, séeth the Sunne.
Varro in his worke intituled of the Seacoasts, af∣firmeth that in his time, * the
Tombe of Iupiter was there to be séene. The people of Crete doo very de∣uoutlye
worshippe Diana, whom in their owne moo∣ther tongue they cal Brithomartis,which is as much to saie in our language, as Swéete maide. No man may
lawfullie enter into the Goddesses Temple, but bare∣footed. The saide Temple
sheweth the workmanship of Daedalus. By Gortyn runneth the Riuer Laethey, at
the which the Gortynes saie, that Europa was brought in vppon a Bulles back.
The same Gortynes doo worshippe Cadmus, Europas brother, of whō they report
thus. He is séene, and méeteth folke, but in the shutting in of the Euenings toward
night, * he offereth himselfe to sight, with a countenaunce of much grea∣ter
maiestie. The Gnosians account the Goddesse Mi ∣ nerua to be a Countriwoman of
theirs, and affyrme
Page  [unnumbered]
that Corne was firste sowne among them, standing boldlie in contention with the
A•henians for that mat¦ter. * The fieldes of Crete are well stored wyth wylde
Goates: but it wanteth Redde déere. It bréedeth not anie where Wolues, Foxes,
and other fourefooted Beasts that be scarefull. There is no kind of serpents there.
There is great store of Uynes. The soyle is wonderous batling. The increase of
fruites of trées is aboundant. For in a part of this Ile onely, Cypresse Trées béeing
felled doo spring againe. There is an Hearbe called * Alimos, whereof if a man
champe a little, it kéepeth him from béeing a hungred for one whole daie, and
therefore this also is pe∣culiar to Crete. There is a kinde of Spider, called
Phalangium. If yée demaund what force it hath, there is no strength at all in the
bodie of it, but if you would learne what power it hath, the man whom it stingeth
dyeth of the poyson. The stone also which is called * Idaeus dactylus, is sayde to
growe in this Ilande. It is of the colour of yron, and it is in shape like a mans
thombe.
Crete hath no night Owles, and if any by brought thether, they dye out of hand.
Page  [unnumbered]
CAP. XVI.
Of Caristos, and the hote waters therein, and of the byrds called Carists. of Chalcis,
of the Circle Iles, and of the Ilands Ios, and Delos,
C
Aristos hath hote Bathes which they call Hellops, and byrdes called
Carists, which flye into the fire without sindging their feathers: and also a kynde
of fine Lynnen which re∣maineth in the fire without perishing. This Ilande (as
Callidemus auoucheth) was in olde time taken for * Chalces, because Brasse was
there first founde. That the Titans raigned there time out of minde, the rytes of
theyr Religions doo declare. For the Caristians doo diuine seruice to Briareus,
like as the Chalcideans doo to Aegaeon. For in a maner all * Euboia was in
sub∣iection to the Titans. It is supposed that those Ilands tooke the name of
Cyclads, because that although they be situate some further then some
from * Delos: yet they stand all in a Circle round about Delos, and the Greekes call
a circle Cyclos. Ios is more famous then the rest by reason that Homer is buried
there. It is héere to be remembred, that after the first flood, which is noted to haue
béene in the time of Ogyges, when the day had continued as darke as night, by the
space of nyne Monethes together: Delos before all otherPage  [unnumbered]
Landes was lightned with the Sunne beames, and thereof gate hys name, in that it
was y • first that was restored to light. Nowe betwéene Ogiges and Deuca ∣ lion is
accounted the space of sixe hundred yéeres.
CAP. XVII.
Of the Ilande Ortygia, and of Quayles.
D
Elos is also called * Ortygia, the most renow∣med of all the Cyclads,
bée∣ing it selfe one of the num∣ber of them, and is named diuersly: sometime
Asteria, of the honouring of Apollo, there: sometime Lagia, of hunting: and
Cynethus, and Perpole because fire pannes, * and fire it selfe also were founde
there. In thys Iland were Quayles séene first which byrds the Greekes cal Ortyges.
Men think that these foules are in the tuition of Latona. They are not to bée séene
at all seasons, but haue theyr time of comming, which is when Sommer is gone.
When they passe ouer the Seas, they flye leysurely at y e first, cherryshing theyr
strength wyth flying softly for feare of a longer iourney. But as soone as they spy
Lande, they cluster on a flock, and thronging close together, make all the spéede
they can: which hast of theyrs doth oftentimes turne to the destruction of them
that are vpon the Sea. For it happeneth in the nights, that they rende the tackling,
and bearing the sayleclothes
Page  [unnumbered]
before them by viole•ce & turne the bottomes of the kéeles vpwarde. They neuer
sett• foorth whyle the Southerne winde bloweth, for feare of the force of a more
swelling foggie blaste. They commonly cōmitt themselues to the Northerne
wyndes, to the intent that the gale thereof béeing more drie and more vehe∣ment,
may the easlyer carrie their bodies which are somewhat fatte, and by reason
therof somewhat slow also. Hée that guydeth the flocke, is called * Ortygo ∣ metra.
As soone as he draweth towarde the Land, the Gossehawke (which watcheth for
the nonce) seazeth vppon him, and therefore it is all theyr séeking to get them a
guyde of a straunge broode, by whom to escape the first daunger. Their chiefe
delight is to féede vpō the séede of venemous hearbs, and therefore wisemen haue
forbidden them their Tables. And thys lyuinge creature onely (sauing manne)
suffereth the falling sicknesse.
CAP. XVIII.
Of the Ile Eubaea, nowe called Nigropont.
T
He Ile of Eubaea is disseuered with so small a cut from the maine land of
Baeotia, that it is to bee doubted whether it bee to be numbred amōg Ilands or no.
For on that syde which they call Eurypus, it is ioyned to the Lande with a brydge,
and is gone vnto a foote by the frame of
Page  [unnumbered]a very short Engine. It shooteth into the North with the Promontorie Caeneum,
and with two other it ex∣tendeth into the South, whereof Gerastus faceth the
Countrey of Athens, * and Caphreus looketh into Hel ∣ lespont, where after the
destructiō of Troy (whether it were through the wrath of Minerua, or (as the
certainer report goeth) through the influence of the Starre Arcturus) the Grée••i•h
Nauie suffered great losse by shipwrack.
CAP. XIX.
Of the Ilande Paros, and the stone Sarda.
P
Aros is renow ∣ med for the Marble that is in it. Next Delos it is the beste
inhabited w t townes. But before it hadd y • name of Paros, it was called Mi ∣ noia.
For béeing conquered by Minos, as long as it cō∣tinued vnder the Cretish
dominion, * it was called Minoia. Besides the Marble, it yéeldeth the stone Sarda,
which is better then Mar∣ble, but yet accounted as basest of all Iewels. Eygh∣téene
myle from Delos is the Ile of Naxos, wherin is the Towne of Srongyle. But before
it was called Naxus, * it bare the name of Dyonisia, eyther because it was the
harborough of Bacchus, or els because it ex∣celled the rest in fruitfulnes of Uines.
Besides these, there be many moe of y e Circle Iles, but y • things that are chiefly
worthy to be remembred are in the Iles a∣foresaid.
Page  [unnumbered]
CAP. XX.
Of the Ilande Icaros, and of the Phylosopher Py∣thagoras: of the Ilands Melos,
Carpa∣thos, Rhodes, and Lemnos, and of the shaddowe of Mount Athos.
I
Caros also is one of the Ilands called Spora ∣ des, * and gaue the name to the
Icarish Sea. Thys Ile shooting forth in Rocks be∣twéene Samos and Myco ∣ nus, is
altogether harbour∣lesse: and because it hath no Bay nor Hauen to ar∣ryue at, it is
ill spoken of for the daungerousnesse of the Coastes of it. Varro therefore is of
opinion, that Icarus of Crete perished there by shipwrack, and that the place
tooke hys name of the mis-fortune of the man. In Samos * nothing is more notable
then y • Py ∣ thagoras * was that Countryman borne: who béeing •ffended at the
Lordlinesse of the Tyrants, forsooke hys natiue Country, and arryued in Italy in
the tyme that Brutus which draue the Kings out of Rome was Consull * Melos
(which Callymachus calleth Melanis) hard by A•olia, is the roundest of all the
Iles. For * Carpathus is the same whereof the Carpathian sea hath hys name. The
ayre is neuer so clowdye but the Sunne shyneth vppon the Rhodes. The Lemnians
worshippe V•ulcane, and therefore the chiefe Cittie of
Page  [unnumbered]
Lemnos is called Haephestia. There is also y • towne of Myrina, into y e
Marketsted wherof, the Mountaine Athos casteth his shaddowe out of
Macedonie, * which thing (not without cause) men haue noted for a won∣der,
*forasmuch as Athos is fourescore and sixe miles of frō Lemnos. Surely Athos is of
such a height, y • it is supposed to bee higher then from whence the rayne falleth.
Which opinion hath got credite héere vpon, for that the ashes which are left vpon
the Altars y • stande on the toppe of it, are neuer washt awaie, nor doo in anie wise
diminish, but doo alwaies continue euen in the same heape that they were raked
vppe in. On the toppe of it was sometime y • Towne Acrothon, wher∣in the
Inhabiters liued halfe so long againe as the in∣habiters of other places: and
therfore the Greekes cal the people thereof Macrobians, which is as much to say
in our language, as longliued.
CAP. XXI.
Of Hellespont, Propontis, the Bosphor of Thrace and of the maruellous nature of the
fishes called Dolphins.
T
He fourth coast of Europe beginneth at * Hellespont, and endeth at the
mouth of Maeotis. Al the saide widenesse which de∣uideth Europe and Asia a
sunder, gathereth into a straight of seauē furlongs. This is Hellespont, héere
Page  [unnumbered]
did Xerxes make a brydge of shippes and passe ouer a foote. From thence
stretcheth a narrowe arme of the Sea to a Cittie of A•ia called Priapus, which
Alexan¦der the great sayled vnto, and gotte it into his handes, when he went about
to conquer the worlde. From thence wydning into a mayne Sea, it groweth
nar∣row againe toward * Propontis: and by and by ga∣thereth into halfe a mile
breadth, and is called the * Bosphor of Thrace, at which place Darius conuaied
o∣uer his armie. These Seas haue manie Dolphins, which haue in them many
straunge things to be won¦dred at. First and formost, the Seas bréede not anie
thing swifter or nimbler then them: insomuch as oft∣times in their leaping vpp, *
they shóote thēselues quite ouer the topps of the maine sailes of the ships.
Wher∣soeuer they become, they goe by couples. They bring foorth pigs, and the
tenth month is the ful time of their farrying, and they farroe euer in Sommertime,
and giue their pigs sucke, and while they bee verie yonge they take them in at
their mouth, and they wayt vpon them for a time till they wexe strong. They liue
thir∣tie yéeres as hath béene tryed by experience in cutting of theyr tailes for a
marke to knowe them by. They haue theyr mouthes not in y e same place where
other Beastes haue, but almost in theyr bellies, and contr•¦rie to the nature of
Fishes they onely mooue theyr tongues. They haue sharpe prickes on their
backes, which stand vppe stife when they be mooued to anger, and are hidden as
it were in a sheath whē their minds be quiet. Men say they dont not in the water,
nor take any breath but aboue in the aire. When y e Northwind bloweth they be
light of hearing, & contrariwise thick of hearing whē y e wind is in the South.
They delight in Musicke, reioysing to heare shalmes, & whersoeuer is harmonie,
thither flo•k they together in heards. In
Page  [unnumbered]
the raign of Augustus, a boy in Campane, first trayned a Dolphin w t shiuers of
bread, & did so much by custom that he was contented to be fedde by hand.Afterward when y e boy wexed bold in playing with him, he carry∣ed him frō the
land into y e lake of Laurine, & beare the boy as it were on horsback frō the shore
of y • bay, vnto * Puteolis. This was doone many yeeres together, so long til y e
continual beholding therof made it to séeme no wonder. But when the lad was
dead, the Dolphin mourning for y e want of him, died for sorow in y • sight of al
men. I wold be l••he to vouch this thing, but y • it is registred in y e wrytings of
Mecaenas, & Fabian, & ma∣ny others. Anon after, vppon the seacoast of Affrick
at Hippon Dyarrhyton, a Dolphin beeing fed by y e men of Hippon, offred himself
to be handled, and euer now an then caried such as were set vpō his back. And
this thing was not doon by y e peoples hands only, for Flaui ∣ anus y e Proconsul of
Affrick handled him himselfe, and anointed him w t ointments, insomuch as the
Dolphin being cast a sléepe with y • strangnes of the smell, was tumbled hither &
thither for dead, and many monethes after desisted frō his accustomed kéeping of
cōpany. At Iassus a cittie of Babilon, a Dolphin fel in loue with a lad, & in
folowing him ouer eagerly after their accu∣stomed sporting together, shot himself
into y e sand and there stuck fast. Alexander y e great interpreting it to haue béene
y • loue of the * God of the sea, made the lad chiefe priest to Neptune nere vnto y e
said citty, as Ege ∣ sidemus maketh report. Another childe named Hirmias likewise
riding on a Dolphins back in the sea, & being drowned by violence of the waues,
was caryed backe againe to lande by the Dolphin, who tooke such repen∣tance,
that he punished the fact with wilfull death, and neuer returned more into the Sea.
There are store of other such examples, & yet I wyll not speake of Arion, whose
aduenture is credibly auouched by Chronicles.
Page  [unnumbered]
Furthermore, if theyr yong pygs at any time playe the wantons, theyr auncients
sette one of the elder sorte to be guyde ouer the Hearde, by whose instructi∣on
they learne to slippe from the assault of greater fi∣shes that rush in vppon them,
howbeit that in those Seas there be very few great Fyshes except it be the Seale.
In Pontus there is great store of Tunnyes, and they bréede not lightlie els where. *
For there is no place that they come sooner to their full growth in, then there: and
y • is by reason of the plenty of swéete waters. Their comming into the Sea is in y •
spring∣time, and they enter in by the right side of the shore, and goe out by the
left side: which thing they are thought to doo, because they sée better wyth the
right eye then with the left.
CAP. XXII.
of Ister: of the beaste called a Beuer, and of the precious stone of Pontus.
I
Ster riseth in the Hylles of Germanie, * and issueth out of a Mountaine that
lieth ouer against Tur¦gew, a part of the ancient Gall. It rec•iueth into it thréescore
Ryuers, almoste all able to beare Shippes, and it falleth into Pontus with seauen
mouthes, wherof the first is called Peuce, the second Narcustoma, the thirde
Calostoma, and the
Page  [unnumbered]fourth Pseudostoma: for Boreostoma the fift, and Ste ∣ nostoma the sixt, are slower
then the rest: and as for the seauenth, it is so dull and like vnto a Poole, that it
hath not anie likelihoode of a streame. The firste foure are so great, that by the
space of forty miles together they are not intermedled with the Saltwater, but
kéepe theyr swéete taste with vncorrupted sauoure.
Through all Pontus there is great store of Beuers, * which they call by the names
of Fiber & Castor. Thys Beaste is like an Otter, and is a very sore byter,
inso∣much that if he fasten vpon a man, hee will not let goe his holde vntill he
féele the bones crash betwéene hys téeth.
His stones are greatly coueted for the medicina∣blenesse of them, and therefore
when he findeth hym∣selfe put to the pinch, he byteth of his owne cods, and eateth
them vp, to the intent men should haue no good of them when he is taken.
•ontus yeeldeth also precious stones of sundrye sortes, which of the Countrey wee
call Pontiks: * for some haue starres of the colour of Golde, and some of the
colour of bloode in them, and they are counted a∣mong the sacred: for they are
gathered rather for a showe, then for anie vse that they serue to. They are not
besprent in droppes, but are interlyned with long strokes of sundry colours.
Page  [unnumbered]
CAP. XXIII.
Of the Ryuer Hypanis, and the Fountaine Exampeus.
T
He Ryuer Hy ∣ panis springeth among the * Auchets. It is the prince of
Riuers in Scythia, pure and verye wholesome to drink•, vntill such tim• as it
entr•th into the bo••ers of the * Ca••pods, where the Fountaine Exampeus (which is
iustly defamed for the bytternesse of hys spring) béeing mingled wyth the cléere
streame, infer∣teth the Riuer with hys fault, so that hee falleth into the Sea vnlike
to himselfe.
Héereuppon groweth diuersitie of opinions among folke concerning Hypanis. For
they that know hym at the beginning, doo prayse him: and they that tast of hym at
the ende haue good cause to curse hym.
Page  [unnumbered]
CAP. XXIIII.
Of the Ryuer Bo•isthenes, and the people that dwell thereby: of the nature of
dogges: of the man∣ners of the Scythians: of the precious stones called the Emerawd,
Cyanie and Cry∣stall.
W
Ithin the Coun ∣ trey of the * Neuers spring∣eth the Ryuer * Borysthe ∣ nes,
wherein are Fyshes of excellent taste, without any bones, hauing nothing but very
tender grystlys. But the Neuers (as wee haue heard) in the• Sommertime are
trans-formed into Wolues: and afterward when they haue passed a certaine time
limitted for the con∣tinuaunce in that state, they returne to theyr former shapeagaine. The God of this people is Mars: in st•dde of Images they worshippe
Swordes: they off•r menne in Sacrifice and wyth theyr boanes 〈◊〉••re to burne the
Sacrifices wy•hal•. Next Neyghbours to these are the * Gelones: They make bothe
rayment for themselues and furniture for their horses of theyr enemyes shinnes.
Page  [unnumbered]
Uppon the Gelones border the * Agathyrses, painting their faces with a blewe
colour, and dying theyr hayre into a blewe colour. And this is not doone without a
difference. For the better man he is, y • dée∣per colour he dyeth himselfe: so that it
is a token of lowe degrée to bee lightlie painted. After them are the
* Anthropophags, who like cursed caytiues féede on Mans fleshe. The which
custome of that wicked nati∣on, the Countryes adioyning beare witnesse of, by
ly∣ing continuallie waste, the inhabiters of them aban∣doning them, and running
away for feare of that cru∣ell outrage: and this is the cause that from thence to the
sea which they cal Tabis al along that coast which lyeth toward the Northeast, the
land is vtterly with∣out inhabiter and altogether wyldernesse, vntill yee come to
the Seres.
The Chalibyes and Dahyes which inhabit a part of that Scythia that is in Asia, doo
differ nothing in cruelnesse from the most outragious of all. But the * Albanes
inhabiters of the Seacoast by the Caspian Sea, who will haue themselues thought
to be the po∣steritie of Iason) are borne with white hayre, and haue hore heads as
soone as theyr hayre buddeth, the colour whereof hath) giuen name to the nation.
The apple of theyr eyes is of colour bright gray, and therefore they sée better by
night then by day. The dogges that are bredde in this Countrey, * excell all other
beastes, for they pull downe Bulles, kill Lyons, and hold whatso∣euer they are put
at. In consideration whereof, they deserued to be spoken of in Chronicles. We
read that as Alexander was going toward Inde the King of Al ∣ banie sent him two
dogs for a present. Of which the one so disdained Swine and Beares brought
before him, that béeing offended with the basenes of the pray he lay still a great
while and would not once •turre at
Page  [unnumbered]
them: Alexander thinking him to bee but a cowardly curre (because he knewe not
hys properties) comman¦ded him to be killed. But the other at the information of
them that brought the present, béeing put to a Lyon kylled him. And anon after,
spying an Oliphant, hee made a great leaping and skypping for ioy, and beeing
put to him, first tyred the Beaste with cunning fyght, and afterward (to the great
feare of them that looked on) pulled him downe to the grounde. These kinde of
Dogs groweth to a very large syse, and make a farre terribler noyse in theyr
barking, then is the roaringe of a Lyon.
These things are peculiar to y • dogs of Albanie: * the rest are common to all
dogges. All dogs generally doo loue their Maisters, as is manifest by examples.
In * Epyre a dogge descrying the murtherer of his Master in a great thronge,
bewrayed him by barking. When Iason of Lycia was slayne, hys dogge forsaking
meate dyed for hunger. When the fire was kindled wherein the corse of King
Lysimachus should be burned, his dog threwe himselfe into the flame, & was
consumed wyth him. Two hundred dogs brought home the King of the
Garamants out of exile, and ouercame them in bat¦tell that withstoode them. The
Colophonians & Ca ∣ stabalenses carryed dogges with them to the warres, * andmade theyr foreward alwayes of them. In the time that Appius Iunius, and Publius
Silius were Con∣sulles, a dogge folowed his Master that was condem∣ned to
pryson, and could not bee driuen away: and a∣none after, when he was executed,
hee followed how∣ling after him. And when the people of Rome for pit∣tie gaue
him meate, he carryed and layd it to his dead Masters mouth. Lastly when the
carkasse was caste into Tiber, he swamme to it, and endeuoured to beare it aboue
the streame. Onely dogges know their owne
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names, and remember the wales that they haue gone. The Indians when their
Bitches goe proud, tie them in the Forrestes to haue them limed by Tygers: of
whom they caste away the firste litter, and likewise the seconde, as the which will
serue to no purpose be∣cause of their excéeding cruelnesse: the thyrde they kéepe
vppe. The dogs of Aegypt neuer lap of the Nyle but running, for auoyding the
Crocodiles which lye in wait for thē. Among the Anthropophags in y e part of Asia
are numbred the Essedons, who likewise are embrewed with the same vngracious
foode. It is the manner of the Essedons to follow the corses of theyr Parents
singing: * and calling together a knot of their next Neighbours, to teare the
carkesses a sunder with their téeth, & dressing them with other flesh of beastes, to
make a feast with them. The skulles of them th•y binde about with Golde, and vse
them as mazers to drinke in. The Scythotaurians offer vppe straungers in
sacrifice. The * Nomades giue themselues to gra∣zing.
The * Georges that are situate in Europe occu∣pie Tillage. The Axiaks béeing
likewise situate in Europe, neyther couet other mens goods, nor set anye store by
their owne. The Satarches vtterly conden•∣ning the vse of Gold and Siluer, haue
banished coue∣tousnes out of their Cōmon weale for euer. The Scy ∣ thians that
dwell more into the firme lande, liue much more straightlie. They kéepe in Caues:
they make themselues drinking Cuppes, not as the Essedons do, but of the skulls
of their enemies: they loue fighting: they sucke the blood out of the woundes of
them that are slayne: * their reputation encreaseth by the num∣ber of slaughters,
from which it is a reproche among them to haue cléere handes: they make leagues
by drinking eche of others bloode: wherein they not one∣ly
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keepe the custome of theyr owne Countrey, but also borrowe the manner of the
Medes. In that warre that was helde the fortie and nine Olympiade, which was the
sixe hundred and fourth yéere after the wyn∣ning of Troy, betwéene Alyattes King
of Lydia, and Astiages King of Media, the league was confirmed af∣ter the same
fashion. Amphitus and Telchius, the wa∣goners of Castor and Pollux,
builded * Dioscorias the chiefe Cittie of Colchos, from whence the nation of the
Henioches had their beginning. Beyond the Sau ∣ romats that are in Asia, where
Methridates hid him∣selfe, and from whence the Medes had theyr origi∣nall.
The Thalians march vpō those nations, which East ward lie vpon the entring of
the Caspian Sea, * which entrance (after a maruellous manner) dooth emptye 〈◊〉,
and encrease by drowght. Out of the Moun∣tains of y e Henioches issueth Araxes,
& out of y e moun∣taines of the Moscouits, issueth Phasis. * But Araxes rayseth his
head a little way from the spring of Eu ∣ phrates, and from thence runneth into the
Caspian Sea. The Arimaspes, * which are •ituat about Gesgli ∣ thron, are a peoplethat haue but one eye. Bey•nde them and the Mountaine Ryphey is a Countrey
con∣tinually c•uered with Snowe, called * Pteropheron. For the incessant falling of
the hore frosts and Snow maketh there a likelihood of fethers: a damned parte of
the worlde is it, and drowned by nature it selfe in the clowde of endlesse darknes,
and vtterly shut vppe in extreame colde as in a pryson, euen vnder the very
Northpole. Onelie of all Landes it knoweth no di∣stinction of times, neyther
receyueth it any thynge else of the ayre, then euerlastyng Winter. In the the
Asiatik Scythia are rich Lands, but notwythstan∣ding vninhabitable.
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For wheras they abound in gold and precious stones: the Gryffons possesse all, * a
most fierce kinde of foule, and cruell beyond all cruelnesse: whose
outragious∣nesse is such a stoppe to all commers, that hardlie and seldome arryue
any there: for as soone as they sée thē they teare them in péeces, as creatures
made of pur∣pose to punish the rashnesse of couetous folke.
The Arymaspes fight with them to get away theyr precious stones, the natures
whereof I wyll not re∣fuse to treate of. Thys Land is the natiue soyle of the
Emerawdes, * to which Theophrast gyueth the thyrd place of estimation among
precious stones. For al∣though there be of them in Aegypt, at Chalcedon, in
Media, and about Lacedemon, yet those of Scythia are of chiefest reputation. The
eye canne beholde nothing more pleasaunt, nor nothing more wholesome than
them, first they glister gréene aboue the moyste grasse, and aboue the hearbes that
are in the Ryuers, and se∣condlie with the mildnes of theyr colour, they refresh the
eyes that are wearyed with beholding other thin∣ges. For they relieue and sharpen
the sight that was dymmed or dulled w t the glosse of another stone. And there is
none other cause why men think it not good to haue ought ingraued in them, but
least the beautye of them should be perished wyth the cuttings of imagry: albeit
that the right Emerawd wyll hardly bee cutte. They are tyred in this wise: if a man
may sée throgh them, if béeing rounde they caste theyr colour vpon the things
that are next them by reflexion of the ayre, or if béeing holow they resemble the
faces of them that be∣holde them, or if neyther in the shaddowe nor by
can∣dlelight, nor in the sunnelight is founde any alterati∣on in them. Neuerthelesse
they are of the best fashy∣on, which are plaine and leuell long. They are founde
when the Eastern wyndes called Etesiae * doo blowe, for
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then the wynde discouereth the ground, and they gly∣ster through the fine sande
easily: for those Easterne wyndes doo verie much remooue the sandes. Other of
lesse valew appeare in the seames of stones in Rocks, or in brassemynes, which
they call brazen Emerawds. The refuse sort of them haue certaine pranes within,
like eyther to leade, or to hayre, or to salt. They are eased with Uineger, but they
are much better amen∣ded with gréene Oyle, although they be spotted of na∣ture. *
And the best sort of the stone called Cyanie com∣meth out of Scythia, it is of the
colour of a bright A∣zure. They that be skilful Iewellers make two kinds of it, the
Male and Female. * The Females are of shéere brightnesse: but the Males are
fretted wyth little sparkes beautifull to beholde, hauing as it were dust of golde
scattered betwixt them. There is also Crystall, * which although the greater part of
Europe, and some part of Asia also doo yéelde, yet Scythia yéel∣deth the best.It is much vsed to make drinking Glasses of, for it abydeth heate best, although it
cannot well suffer a∣ny thyng but cold. It is found sixe cornered. They that choose
it, couet the purest that no rednesse, no clowdy∣nesse, nor frothinesse, hinder a
man to sée through it: and moreouer that the ouermuch hardnes therof ma∣keth it
not subiect to brittlenes. Some think y • Ise con¦gealeth and hardneth into Crystall,
but y • is false. For if it were so, neither Alaband of Asia, nor the Ile of Cyprus
shoulde engender thys kinde of stuffe, foras∣much as the heate in those Countreys
is mos•e ve••∣ment. Liuia the wyfe of Augustus dedicated among the gifts of the
Capitoll, a Crystall of a hundred and fiftie pounde weight.
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CAP. XXV.
Of the people called Hiperboreans.
S
Vndrye thinges that haue béene reported of the Hyperboreans had béen but
a fable and a flying tale if y e thinges that haue come from thence vnto vs hadde
béene beléened rashlie. But séeing the best Authors and such as are of sufficient
cre∣dite doo agrée in one constant report, no man néedes to feare any falshod. * Of
the Hyperboreans they speake in this wise. They inhabite almost the Pteropheron,
which wee heare sa•e lyeth beyond the North pole, a most blessed Nation. They
ascribe it rather vnto A ∣ sia then vnto Europe, and some doo place it midwaie
betwéene the Sunne rysing and the Sunne sette, that is to wete, betwéene the West
of the Antipodes, and our Easte, which thing reason reprooueth, considering what
a waste Sea runneth betwéene the two worlds. They are therefore in Europe, and
among them are thought to be the poles of the worlde, and y e vttermost circuit of
the starres, and halfe yéere light, lacking the Sunne but one day. Howbeit, there
are that think the Sunne riseth not day by daie to them as it doth to vs, but that it
riseth in the springtime, & goeth not downe againe before the fall of the leafe, so
that they haue cō∣tinuall daie by the space of sixe monthes together, and by the
space of other sixe moneths continuall night. The aire is very milde, the blasts
wholesome, and no
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hurtfull winde. Their houses are the wylde fieldes or the woods, and the trées
yéelde them foode from daie to daie. They knowe no debate, they are not troubled
with diseases, all men haue one desire, which is to liue innocentlie. They hast
death, and by wilfull fordooing thēselues, preuent the long taryance of their
decease. For when they haue liued as long as they wold desire, then feasting and
annointing themselues, they throwe themselues headlong from some knowne
Rocke into the déepe Sea, and they beléeue this to be the best kind of buriall. The
report goeth also, that they were accu∣stomably wont to send the first fruits of
their increase to Apollo of Delos, by the handes of their most chaste Maydens.
But for because those Maides through the trecherie of them in whose houses they
lodged, retur∣ned not vndefiled: they erected a Bishopricke wythin their owne
Countrie for that deuotions sake, for the performance whereof they were faine
before to sende abroade.
CAP. XXVI.Of the Arimphaeans, of the Caspian Sea, of the Tygers, Panthers, and Pards.
A
Nother Nation there is in Asia furthest Northeast, where the ridge of the
Mountaine Ryphey fayleth, like the Hyperbo ∣ reans, which are called
A ∣ rimpheans. * These also de∣light in the leauie woodes, and féede vpon berryes.
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The Men and women are both alike weary of their bayre, and therefore bothe
sexes of them d•o poll theyr heades. They loue quietnes and not to doo anie
harme They are counted holie, and euen the wildest nations that be, doo thinke it
an offence to touch them. Whoso∣euer feareth anie daunger among his owne
Countri∣men, * if he flye to the Arimphaeans, hee is as safe as in a Sanctuarie.
Beyond these are the Cimmerians, and the nation of the Amazons, extending to
the Caspian Sea, which slyding along the backe part of Asia, faleth into the
Scythish Ocean. * A great way of from thence is the mouth of the Ryuer Oxus: and
there inhabite the Hircans, a Country full of rowgh woods, plentiful of cruell
wilde Beastes, and stored aboundantly with Tygers, * a kinde of Beastes notable
for the goodlye spottes wherewith their coates are powdred, and for theyr
swiftnes.
Their colour is a bright yellowe: which béeing powdred with drops of black,
make a very trim show by reason of the varietie therof. I am not able to say
whither it be their nimblenesse or their eagernes that furthereth their swiftnes. For
nothing is so long but they passe it ouer in short time: nothing is gone so farre
afore them but they ouertake it by and by. But most of all they show what they
are able to doo, when they haue littered, and when they pursue them that haue
stolne away their whelps. For though poste hor∣ses be layd by the way, and that
they worke neuer so subtillie to goe cléere away with theyr bootie, yet if the Sea
•e not at hand to rescue them, all their ende∣uour is in vaine. And it is noted in
them oftentimes, that if perchaunce they sée the stealers that haue car∣ryed away
their welppes sayling away againe: after they haue raged in vaine, they cast
themselues head∣long into the Sea, as it were to punish their owne
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slownesse by wylful drowning themselues, and yet of all their whelps (which are
manie in number) scarsely may one be cō•eied awaie. Of Panthers also is great
store in Hyrcanie, * which are spotted with little round specks, in such sort that the
hayre of their skins, which is either white or of a skye colour, is beset with round
eyes of yellow. It is reported that cattell are wonder∣fullie delighted with the sent
& beholding of thē, and that as soone as they perceiue them, they hearde toge∣ther
in hast, and are not afraid but onely of the grim∣nesse of their looke. For which
cause the Panthers hi∣ding their heads, * sette forth the rest of their bodyes to
looke vpon, to the intent that when the Cattell are a∣stonied in gazing, they may
fall vpon them and deuour them without danger.
But the Hyrcans (as mans nature is euer full of deuises) kill them more
commonly with poyson then with weapon. They stéepe flesh in y e iuyce of
Lybard∣bane, * and caste it in the waies where diuers pathes meete: the which as
soone as the Panthers haue ea∣ten, by & by their throats are troubled with y esquince, and therfore the wéede is called in Gréeke Pardalian ∣ ches. But the
Panthers against this venome deuoure mans dunge, and so by a remedie of their
own finding withstande their destruction. They are very long in dying: in so much
that they liue a greate while after that their bowels are taken out. In these wooddy
coū∣tries, are also Lybards a second kind of Panthers, * suf∣ficientlie knowne, and
therfore not to be entreated of with further circumstaunce. Betwéene these and
the Lyonesses matching against kinde, are engendred ba∣starde Lyons without
force or courage.
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CAP. XXVII.
From whence the Midland Seas haue theyr beginning.
F
Orasmuch as we are in the matters of Pon ∣ tus, it is not to bee omitted from
whence the Mydland Seas doo rayse theyr heads. For some are of opiniō that they
take their beginning at the streights of Marrok, and that they haue none o∣ther
originall than the waues of the Ocean breaking in at that place, the liuely
operation wherof sheading it selfe abroade, canseth the flowings & ebbings of the
tydes on diuers coasts of the mayneland; as for exam∣ples sake in a part of Italy.
They that are of the con∣trarie opinion, say how all that flowing cōmeth from the
mouth of Pontus: and thys they auouche wyth no tryfling argument, because the
tyde that commeth out of Pontus neuer ebbeth backe againe.
CAP. XXVIII.
Of certaine Iles in Scythia.
F
Ourscore myles from the Bosphor of Thrace, is y • Ile of the Apollonits,
situate on thys side Ister, frō whence Marcus Lucullus brought vn∣to vs the Apollo
of the Capitoll.
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Against the mouth of * Borysthenes is the Iland of Achilles, with a Church wherein
commeth no byrde: and if any come by chaunce, shee flyeth away againe with all
the spéede she can make.
CAP. XXIX.
Of the North Ocean, of the Caspian Sea, and of the Iland Baltia,
T
He North Oce ∣ an on that part where Pa ∣ ropamisus a Ryuer of Scy ∣ thia
washeth into it, * is na∣med of Hecataeus Amal ∣ chium: which in y e language of
that nation, signifieth the Frozen sea. Phylaemon saith, that from the Cimbrians to
the Promontorie Rubeas, it is called Morimarusa, which is as much to saie, as the
dead Sea. Whatsoe∣uer is beyonde Rubeas is called Cronium. That the CaspianSea on the otherside of Pontus beyonde the Massagets and the Scythians called
Apellaeans, * in the coast of Asia, is swéete of taste, it was tried by Alex ∣ ander the
great, and afterwarde by Pomp•y the great, who in his warres against Methridates
(as Varro one of his fellow Souldiours reporteth) would néedes knowe whither it
were true or no by drinking of it himselfe. It is reported that it commeth so to
passe by reason of the number of Riuers, whereof there falleth such a sort into it,
that they alter the nature of y e Sea.
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I must not let passe, that at the same time the said Alexander was able to come in
eyght daies out of Inde from Bactria vnto the Riuer I•arus, which run∣neth into
the Riuer Oxus, and from thence to y e Cas ∣ pian sea, and so by the Caspian to
passe into y • streame of the Ryuer Cyrus which runneth betwéene the mar¦ches of
Iberia and Armenie. From Cyrus also conuey∣ing his Shippes after him by lande,
hee came in fiue daies at the most to the Channell of Phasis: at whose issue it is
manifestlie proued, that those which come out of Inde may be brought into
Pontus. Xenophon of Lampsacum affirmeth that we may saile from the sea coast
of Scythia, to the Ilande * Baltia in thrée dayes, the greatnesse whereof is
vnmeasurable, and almoste like vnto a maine land, from whence it is not farre to
the Ilands called Oones, the inhabiters whereof, liue by egges of Sea-foules, and
the séede of wylde Dates: and that other Iles adioyning therevnto doo liue af∣ter
the same sort: or which, the people that are called * Hyppopodes, * béeing shaped
in all points like men downe to the instep, haue féete like horses. He sayth al¦so
howe there are other Ilandes, and a nation called Phanesians, whose eares are of
such an vnmeasurable syse, that they couer the rest of theyr bodyes with thē, and
néede none other apparrell to clothe theyr limbes with, * then theyr owne flappes.
Page  [unnumbered]
CAP. XXX.
Of Harts and Tragelaph•s.
B
Before we steppe aside frō Scythia, me thinks it a matter of conscience, to
passe ouer what beastes are peculiar to that Countrey. There is greate store of
Harts in this lande, & there∣fore we wil treate of Harts * firste. The male Déere of
this kinde, when rutting time comes, are madd fonde ouer the Hyndes. Although
the Hyndes bee bukt be∣fore, yet are they not wyth fawne vntill the star Arc ∣ turus
ryse, neither doo they bring vp their yong •alues at aduenture. For they hyde them
very charily while they be yong, and beate them with their féete to make them lye
still in the thicke bushes or wéedes where they haue laid them. When their
strength will serue them to followe about, they teache them to runne by exercise,
and enure them to leape through places.
When they heare the opening of a Hound, they flie with the winde, that the sent
may goe away with thē. They like well the noyse of pypes. When their eares
stande vp, they heare verie lightly, and when they bée down, they heare nothing
at all. They gaze at al thin∣ges, and therfore it is an easie matter to haue a shoote
at them. If they swymme ouer the Seas, they aime to lande, not by sight but bysmelling. They sette the weakest behind, and beare vp the heade• of them that are
wearie vpon theyr haunches by turnes. Of theyr
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hornes the right hath moste efficacie in Medicine. If thou wilt driue away
Serpents, burne which of them thou wilt, and besides that, the fume that ryseth of
the burning thereof, will euidentlie bewray if the falling sicknesse be in anie
bodie. According to their yéeres the tynes of their hornes increase, which
multiplying cō∣tinueth sixe yéeres. For after that time, their hornes cannot
increase in number of tynes, but they may bee thicker or broader palmed. If they
bee gelded theyr hornes neuer increase, neyther doo they caste them.
Their téeth bewray their yéeres: for if they haue few or none then they be olde.
They swallowe Ser∣pents, and with the breath of theyr nostrells draw thē out of
their l•rking hooles. * The hearbe Dyttaine they brought to light, while by féeding
theron they cast out arrowes & darts sticking in their bodyes. The hearbe also
which men call an Artechoke they doo eate of a∣gainst hurtfull wéedes. * The
curds that are in y e maw of one of their Fawnes killed in his dammes belly, is a
wonderfull preseruatiue against poyson. * It is mani∣festlie knowne, that they are
neuer troubled with any Feuer: and therefore oyntments made of their mar∣roe,
asswage the burning fits of those that haue the A∣gew. * We reade that very many
which were wont to breake their fast a mornings with redde Déere liued a long
time, and neuer hadde Ague: but it taketh not effect, vnlesse the Hart be killed at
one stripe. To dys∣cerne the continuaunce of theyr life, great Alexander put
collers about many Stagg•s ne•kes, which were caught a hundred yéeres after, &
yet had not any lyke∣lihoode of age in them. In maner of the same shape are those
which the Greekes call Tragelaphes, * (but they are not to be séene els where thē
about Phasis) sauing that they haue long haire on their shoulders, and long rough
beards vnder their chynnes.
Page  [unnumbered]
CAP. XXXI.
Of Germanie, and the wonderfull byrdes therein, and of the Bugles, Vres▪ and
Alces. wylde Beastes.
G
Ermanie takes his beginning at y • Mountaine Seuo which is greate of it
selfe, * and not lesse then the Hilles of Ryphey. This hill is inhabited by
the * Inge ∣ uons, at whom first next af∣ter the Scithians beginneth the name of
Germaines. It is a land rich of men, and inhabited with peoples innu¦merable and
altogether sauage. It stretcheth from the Forrest of * Hercinia, to the Hils of
Sarmatia. Where it beginneth it is watred with Danow, and where it endeth it is
watred with the Rhyne. Out of the in∣ward parts thereof, * Albis, Guttallus,
and * Vistula very déepe Ryuers runne into the Ocean. The For∣rest of Hertswald
bréedeth byrds, whose •ethers shyne and giue light in the darke, though the night
be neuer so close and clowdy. And therefore men of that Coun∣trey, doo for the
most parte so laye theyr outgoings by night, that they may vse thē for a helpe to
direct theyr iourney by: and casting them before them in y e open pathes, doofinde howe to kéepe theyr way by the gly∣string of those feathers, which shewe
them which way to goe. In this Region and in al the North coast, * there is verye
greate store of Bugles: which are in manner lyke Oxen, brystled, wyth rough
manes on their neckes, they are farre more swyfter then
Page  [unnumbered]
Bulles, and which béeing taken wil not by any mean• be made to come to hand.
There are also Ures which the vnskilfull common sort cal Buffles, wheras Buf∣fles
are bredde in Affrick almoste altogether like a Hart. * But these which we call
Ures haue hornes like Bulles, of such length, that for the great receit therof, they
are taken to make Cuppes for Kinges to drinke in. There is also a beast called
Alce much resembling a Mule, * with such a long vpper lippe, that he cannot
féede but he must goe backward.
CAP. XXXII.
Of the Ilande Scandinauia, of Amber, of the stone Callais, and of the precious stone
called Ceraunius.
O
Ver against Ger ∣ manie is the Ilande Scandi ∣ nauia, * which bréedeth a beast
much resembling an Alce, which like y e Oliphant bow∣eth not the nether ioyntes
of his legs, and therefore lyeth not downe when he sléepeth, but resteth himselfe
when he is drowsie, against a Trée, the which is sawne almost a sunder, ready to
fall, that when the beast leaneth to his accustomed staie, he may fall downe: and
so is hee caught, for otherwise it is a hard matter to catch hym by hand. For
although hys ioynts be so stiffe, yet is he of incomparable swiftnesse.
*
Page  [unnumbered]
Of the Germaine Iles, the greatest is Scandinauia, but there is nothing in it great
sauing it selfe. The I∣lande * Glessaria yéeldeth Crystall, and also Amber, which
the Germaines in their Country spéeche call Glesse. The qualitie of this kinde of
stuffe is touched briefly before. But at such time as Germanicus Caesar searched
all the corners of Germanie, there was found a Trée of the kind of Pynes, out of
whose pyth euerie haruest issued a Gumme. Ye may vnderstande by the * name of
it, that it is the iuyce of a Trée: and if yee burne it, the smell will bewray y • it
comes of a Pyne Trée. It is woorth the labour to procéede somewhat further, least
men might surmise that the woods about Po, did wéepe stones. The barbarous
nation brought Amber into Illyrik, which through intercourse of Merchandise
with the Paunonians, came to y e handes of the Italians beyond the Po, nowe
because our Men sawe it there firste, they beléeued it had also growne there.
Through the bounteousnesse of the Emperour Nero, no attire was gorgeous
without Amber, which was no hard matter for him to doo, sithence that at the
same time, the King of Germanie sent him thrée and thirtie thousande pounde
thereof for a present. At the first it groweth rugged and with a barke, and
after∣ward it is boyled in the greace of a sucking Pigg▪ and and so is pollished to
that brightnesse that wee sée. Ac∣cording to y e colour, it hath diuers names. It is
called Melleum and Phaleruum, bothe which names it hath giuen vnto it for the
likenesse it hath to that kinde of wine, or to honnie. It is manifest that it gathereth
vp leaues and draweth chaffe vnto it: and the arte of phisicke hath taught, that itremedieth manie inconue¦niences of men. Inde also hath Amber, but Germanie
hath the best, and best store. Because we were come to the Ile of Glessaria, we
began with Amber: for in the
Page  [unnumbered]
i•ner parts of Germanie is founde a stone called Cal ∣ lais, * which men preferre
before the precious stones of Arabie: for it passeth them in beautie. The Arabians
saie it is not found anie where but in the nestes of the birds which they
call * Melancoryphes: which no mā beléeueth, forasmuch as they are to be found
in the Re∣gions of Germanie among stones, although very rare∣lie. In respect of
the estimation and value of the Eme ∣ rawd, it is of colour a faint gréene. Nothing
dooth bet∣ter beséeme golde. Furthermore, of the Ceraunies are diuers sorts, * that
of Germanie is white, with a bright blew: and if yée haue it abroade, it draweth
the bright∣nes of the starres to it.
CAP. XXXIII.
Of Gallia, of the Countryes of Rhetia and Nori∣cum, of Pannonie and Masia, and of
the medicinable Oyle.
C
Allia is situat be ∣ twéene the Ryuer Rhyne and the Mountaines Py ∣ renyes, *
and betwéene the Ocean and y • Mountaines * Gebenua and * Iura, for∣tunate for the
fatnes of the soyle, and rich of increase of fruits, in many places also replenished
with Uines and Orchyardes, and blessed with store of all things for the behoofe of
manne. It is well watred with Ryuers and Fountaines, & of those Fountaines some
in times past sacred and hote.
Page  [unnumbered]
It is ill spoken of for the custome of the inhabiters, who (as is reported) for I
auouch not my selfe to haue had triall of the truth, after a detestable manner, (not
to the honor, but rather to the iniurie of Religion,) of∣fer men in sacrifice. Out of
this Country yée may goe into what part of the world yée wil: Into Spayne and
Italy both by sea and lande: into Affrick by sea onely. If ye iourney into Thrace,
yée must come to the fayre and fruitfull fieldes of * Rhetia, renowmed with the
Lake * Brigantine: from thence into * Noricum, a colde Countrey and lesse fruitfull,
but where it is far from the Alpes verie plentifull: Then * Pannonie, puissaunt in
men, the soyle champion and rich, and in∣closed with the two famous Riuers
Drauus & Sauus, and lastlie the * Maesians which our auncestors called worthelie
the Gardner of Ceres. In one part wherof, * (namelie of that which is toward
Pontus) there grow¦eth 〈◊〉 hear•e wherwith they make an Oyle that they call the
Chirurgions Oyle. This béeing sette a fire, if yée goe about to quench it with
water, burneth the more, and cannot bee put out otherwyse then by cast∣ing on of
duste.
CAP. XXXIIII.
Of Britaine and the other Iles about it, of the stone called Geate.T
He Sea coast of Gallia had béene the ende of the worlde, * but that the Ile
of Brytaine for the large∣nesse therof euery way, deserueth the name almoste of
an other Worlde,
Page  [unnumbered]
for it is in length eyght hundred myles and more, so we measure it to the angle
of * Calydon, in which nooke an Altar engrauen with Gréeke Letters for a vowe,
beareth witnes that Vlisses arriued at Calydon. It is enuironed with many Iles, and
those not vnre∣nowmed: wherof Ireland draweth néerest to it in byg¦nesse, *
vnciuill for the sauage manners of the inhabi∣ters, but otherwise so full of fat
pasture, that if theyr Cattell in Sommer season be not now and then kept from
féeding, they should run in daunger of bursting. There are no Snakes, and fewe
byrdes: the people are harbourlesse, and warlike. When they haue ouer∣come
theyr enemies, they first be sméere their faces in the blood of them that be slayne,
and then drinke of it. Be it right or be it wrong, all is one to thē. If a Wo∣man be
deliuered of a manchilde, shee layes his firste meate vppon her Husbands sworde,
and putting it softlie to his pretie mouth, giueth him the first h•msel• of his foode
vppon the very point of the weapon, pray∣ing (according to the manner of their
Countrey) that he may not otherwise come to his death, then in battel and among
weapons. They that loue to bee fine, doo trimme the hylts of theyr Swords with
the téeth of monsters that swymme in the Sea: for they bee as white and as cléere
as Iuorie. For the men doo chiefly glorie in the beautie of their Armour. There is
not a∣nie Bée among them: and if a man bring of the duste or the stones from
thence, and strow them among Bée hyues, * the swarmes forsake y e combes. The
Sea that is betwéene Ireland and Brytaine, béeing full of shal∣lowes and rough all
the yéere long, cannot be sayled but a fewe dayes in the Sommertime. They sayle
in Kéeles of wicker doone ouer with Neats leather. How long soeuer their passage
continueth, the passengers abstaine from meate. Such as haue discussed the
cer∣certaintie
Page  [unnumbered]
of the matter according to reason, haue estée¦med the breadth of that narrow Sea,
to be a hundred and twentie miles. The troublous Sea also deuideth the * Iland of
the Silures, from the coast of Brytaine: the men of which Ile kéepe their olde
customes euen vnto this day. They vtterlie refuse buying and selling for money,
and giue one thing for another, prouiding things necessary, rather by exchaunge
then for ready mony. They worshyppe the Gods very deuoutly. As well the
Women as the Men boast of the knowledge of prophesying.
The Ile * Thanatos is beaten vpon with y • French Sea, and is deuided from
Brytaine with a verye nar∣rowe cutte, luckie for corne fieldes and fatte soyle, and
not onely healthful to it selfe, but also to other places. For inasmuch as there is no
snake créeping there, the earth thereof to what place soeuer it be• carried from
thence, killeth snakes. There bee many other Iles a∣bout Brytaine, of which * Thule
is y e furthest of, wher∣in, at such time as the Sun is at the hyghest in Som∣mer,
and passeth through the signe of Cancer, there is almost no night at all. Againe in
the deade of wynter, when the Sunne is at the lowest, the day is so shorte, that the
rysing and going downe of the Sunne is both together. Beyond Thule wee learne
is the deade and frozen Sea. From the Promontorie of Calydon, * to the IlandThule, is two dayes sayling. Next come the Iles called * Hebudes fiue in number,
the inhabiters wherof, know not what corne meaneth, but liue one∣ly by fishe and
milke. They are all vnder the g•uern∣ment of one King. For as manie of them as
bee, they are seuered but with a narrowe groope one from an∣other. The King hath
nothing of hys own, but taketh of euery mans. Hee is bounde to equitie by
certaine lawes: and least he may start from right through co∣couetousnes,
Page  [unnumbered]
he •earneth Iustice by pouertie, as who may haue nothing porper or peculiar to
himselfe, but is found at the charges of the Realme. Hee is not suf∣fered to haue
anie woman to himselfe, but whomsoe∣uer he hath minde vnto, he borroweth her
for a tyme, and so others by turnes. Wherby it commeth to passe that he hath
neither desire nor hope of issue. The se∣conde Harborough betwéene the maine
lande and the Hebuds, is the * Orc•des: which are frō the Hebuds, seauen dayes
and as manie nyghts sayling. There bée but thrée of them: no man dwelleth in thē:
they haue no 〈...〉 are ouergrowne with rushye wéedes: and the rest of them is
nothing but sand and bare Rocks. From the Orcades vnto Thule is fyue dayes and
fiue nights sayling. But Thule is plentiful in store of fruits that will last. Those
that dwel there doo in the b•ginning of the spring time liue on hearbs among
Cattell, and afterward by milke, and againste Winter they lay vppe the fruite• of
their trées. They vse their women in common, and no manne hath any wife. The
whole circuit of B•itaine, is foure thousand eyght hundred, thréescore and fiftéene
miles. In which space are great and 〈...〉 and ho•e Bathes, * finelie kept to the vse
of men, the souer 〈◊〉 of which Bathes is the Goddesse Minerua, in whose
Chappell the fire burneth continuallie, and the •oles do neuer •urne into ashes, but
as soone as y e embars wexe dead, it is turned into •alles of stone. Moreouer, to
the in∣tent to passe th• large aboundance of sundry mettals, (wherof Britaine hath
many rich veyn•s on all sides) Here is store of the stone called Geate, * and y e best
kind of it. If ye demaund y e beautie of it, it is a black Iew∣ell: if the qualitie, it is
of no weight: if the nature, it burneth in water, and goeth out in Oyle: if the
pow∣er, rubbe it till it be warme, and it holdeth such things
Page  [unnumbered]
as are laide to it, as Amber doth. The Realme is part¦lie inhabited of barbarous
people, who euen frō theyr childhoode haue shapes of diuers beastes cunninglye
impressed and incorporate in theyr bodyes, so that bée∣ing engraued as it were in
theyr bowels, as the man groweth, so growe the marks painted vpon him, ney∣ther
doo those Nations cou•t any thing almost to be a greater token of patience, then y •
their bodyes shoulde by manifest scarres drinke in the déepest colour.
CAP. XXXV.
Of Spayne, and the Iles about it: Of the Ocean, and the Midland Sea, and of theyr
sundry names, and what the Phylosophers haue left in wryting, concerning the
ebbing and flowing therof.
N
Owe that I am come again to y e maine lād the matters of Spayne call
me. * The coast of this Coū∣trey is cōparable with the the beste, and inferiour tonone, whether yee haue re∣specte to the fatnesse of the soyle, or to the reuenewes
of the Uyneyardes, or to the fruitfulnes of the Trees. It aboundeth in all kind of
things, whatsoeuer is cost∣lie of price, or necessary to be occupyed. If yee séeke
sil∣uer or golde, it hath thē: the yron mynes neuer wast: it gyueth place to no
Countrey for Uines: and for O∣liues it passeth all others.
Page  [unnumbered]
It is deuided into thrée prouinces, and in the second warres against Carthage it
became ours. Nothing is in it idle, nothing barraine. Whatsoeuer grounde is not
able to beare corne, beareth good pasture, euen the places that are drye and
barraine, yéelde stuffe for ship men to make Cables of. They séeth not salt there,
but dyg it out of the grounde. They scoure the fine sparks of dust and make
Sinople of it, and therwith dye theyr wooll, that they may afterward make it the
better in∣to a scarlet engraynde.
In * Lusitania is a Promontorie which some cal Artabrum, and some call it the
Promontory of Lys ∣ bone. It disseuereth both ayre, land, and Sea. By land it
finisheth the one side of Spayne: and it deuideth the ayre and the Seas in such
wyse, at the circuit thereof the French Ocean and the North coast begin, and the
Athlantish Ocean and the West doo end. There is the Cittie of Lysbone builded by
V lisses: and there is the Ryuer Tagus, preferred before other Ryuers for hys
golden sandes. In the marches of Lysbone the Mares excéede in fruitfulnesse after
a wondrous manner. For they conceiue by the blaste of the Southwest wynde, *
and theyr lust is as well spedde with the breath of the ayre, as if they were
couered wyth Horses. The Ry∣uer Iberus gaue name to y e whole Realme of
Spaine, and the Ryuer * Baetis to the prouince of * Baetica, bothe of them are
famous streames. The Cittye Car ∣ thage in Spayne, was builded by the
Carthagenenses of Affrick, and replenished also with people of that Countrey.
The Scipios builded Tarracon, and there∣fore it is the head of the prouince
called * Tarraconen¦sis. The Seacoast of Lusitania hath greate plenty of the
precious stones called * Ceraunie, which is pre∣ferred before the Ceraunie of Inde.
The colour of this Ceraunie is like the Carbuncle: and the vertue ther∣of
Page  [unnumbered]
is tried by fire: the which if it be able to abide with∣out perrishing or blemish, it is
thought to bee good a∣gainst the force of ligtning. The Iles * 〈 ◊ 〉 rid•s but against y •
side of * Celtiberia very fertile of leade: so 〈◊〉 also the * fortunate Iles: of which
there is no∣thing worth the noting saue the name onely. * Ebu ∣ sus, one of the Iles
called Baleares, which is distant frō Dianiu• sea•en hundred furlongs, hath no
Serpent, for the soile thereof driueth away Serpents. But the Ile * Colubra••• which
is towarde Sucro, swarmeth with Snakes. The * Baleares were sometime y e king
dome of Boccharis, and there was such store of Con∣nyes, that they vtterlie
destroyed all kinde of fruites. At the Hearde of * Betica where as is the vttermoste
point of the knowne world, there is an Ilande about seauen hundred paces from
the mayne land, which the Tyrians (because they came from the red Sea) called
* Erythraea, and the people of Affrick in theyr lan∣guage called Gadir, that is to
say the Hedge. There are many monuments to prooue that Gerion dwelled héere,
albeit some think that Hercules fetched his kyne out of another Iland, which lyeth
ouer against * Lu ∣ sita•••. But the narrowe Sea betwéene Affricke and Spayne, tookehis name of the Ilands called * Gades. At that place, the Athlantish Ocean sendeth
in our Sea which deuideth the world. For the Ocean (which the Greekes so call
because of the swiftnesse thereof,) breaking in at the Sun going downe, raseth
Europe on the left side and Affricke on the right: and hauing cut a sunder the
Mountaines Calpe and Abila (which are called Hercules Pyllars) rusheth in
betwéene the Mores and the Spanyards. And at this streight (which is in length
fiftéene miles, and in breadth scarcely sea∣uen,) as it were at a gate, he openeth
the barres of the inner Sea, and wyndeth himselfe into the mydlande
Page  [unnumbered]
coasts, which he beateth vppon from place to place, e∣uen vnto the East. Where it
beateth vppon Spaine, it beareth y e name of the Spanish & Balearish Sea, where
it runneth by the prouince of Narbon, * it is called the Sea of Gall: then *
Lygusticum: & from thence to Si ∣ cill, Tuscane, which y • Greekes call Ionian, or
Tyrrhae ∣ niā, and the Italians the nether sea. From Sicill to the Ile of Candy it is
called the sea of Sicill: from thence to Pamphylia and the Aegiptian Sea, * it is
called the Cretish sea. The same gull of waters wrything hys side first into the
North, and fetching great circuits by the Greeke lands, and by Illyrik
through * Hellespont draweth into the straights of * Propontis: the which Propontis
disseuering Europe and Asia, extendeth to * Maeontis. Of the originall of the
names there is no one vniforme reason. It is called Asiaticke and Phae ∣ nician of
the Countries: Carpathian, Aegaean, Icari ∣ an, Balearick, and Cyprian of the
Ilands: Ausonian, Dalmatian, Lygustian, and Thuscane of the nations: Adriatish,
Argolicke, Corynthian, and Tyrian of the Townes: Myrtoan or Hellespontian of
the mischan∣ces of men: Ionian in remembraunce of a King of that name:
Bosphor of the passing ouer of an Oxe, or of the streights which an Oxe might
swim through: of the natures of the dwellers by * Euxinus, or as it was called
before * Axenus: and of the order of the flowing Propontis. The Egyptian sea is
allotted to Asia: the Gallik sea to Europe, and the Affrick sea to Lybia: and as the
sea approcheth to any of the seueral parts of these Countries, so taketh it name
therafter. These are in the bowels of the world. But the Ocean beclippeth the
vttermost coastes, which according to the shoares it beateth vpon, is named
Arabick, Persi ∣ an, Indian, Easterne, Serick, Hercanish, Caspian, Scy ∣ thick,
German, French, or British, Athla•tish, Lybick
Page  [unnumbered]
and Aeth•opick. * The flowing of the tydes whereof, doth rise exceeding high
about the Sea coasts of Inde, and make verie great breaches ther, which
happeneth eyther because the waters swelling by force of heate, are helde vp
beyond their stint, or els because that in that part of the world. is farre greater
aboundance of springs and Ryuers. The matter is yet in question, what should be
the cause that the Ocean should swel or why it should fal again into it selfe, *
considering the s•perfluitie thereof: and it is euident y • many things haue béene
vttered, rather to showe the wits of y • dis∣puters, then to the setting forth of the
trueth. But to omitte the doubtfull debatings of the Demurrers, we haue found
th•se opinions to haue most likelihoode of trueth. The naturall Philosophers hold
opinion, that the world is a liuing creature, and that being compact of the diuers
bodies of the Elements, it is mooued by a soule, and gouerned by a minde: bothe
which béeing shed through all the members, doo put in vre the force of theyr
eternal• moouing: and therefore that like as in our bodies there is an intercourseof the breath and the soule, so in the déepes of the Ocean, there are as it were,
certaine nostrils appointed, at which y e breache béeing sent out, or drawne in
againe, dooth one whyle puffe vppe the Seas, and another while call thē backe
againe. But they that folow the knowledge of Astro∣nomie, affyrme that these
goings and comminges are mooued by the course of the Moone, and that the
in∣terchaungablenesse of the ebbings and flowinges, de∣pende vppon the
increasing and decreasing of her, in∣somuch as they keepe not alwaies one
ordinary stint, but altar from tyme to tyme, according to her appro∣ching or going
away.
Page  [unnumbered]
CAP. XXXVI.
of Lybia: of the Orchyardes of the Sisters called Hesperides: and of Mount Atlas.
O
Vt of Spayne my next start is into Lybia. * For when yee are loosened from
Belon which is a Towne of Betica, the next arriuall on the furtherside of that Sea
which is thrée & thirty miles broade, is * Tingie nowe a Towne inhabited with
peo∣ple of Mauritanie, * wherof Antaeus was the founder. Moreouer, because in
that circuit the Sea of Aegypt endeth, and the Sea of Lybie beginneth, it hath
sée∣med good to mē, to call Affrick by the name of Lybie. Some notwithstanding
haue auouched, that Lybie was so named of Lybia, the daughter of Epaphus, and
Affrick of Afer the Sonne of Hercules the Lybian.
Li•. * also another newe inhabited Towne standeth on the same coast, where was
sometime the Palace of Antaeus: who béeing perfecter in wynding & vnwind¦ing
of knots vpon the ground then els where, as if he had béene the natiue Sonne of
the earth, was there vanquished and put to death by Hercules. As concer∣ning the
Orchyardes of the Hesperides, * and y e waking Dragon, least the liberty of Fame
might be infringed this is the very truth. Out of the Sea commeth a croo∣ked arme
with so wreathed and wynding banks, that
Page  [unnumbered]
to such as beholde the broken turnings of it a far of, it resembleth the glyding of a
Snake: and it enuiro∣neth the place that they called the Orchyard. Where∣vppon
interpreting it to bee the kéeper of the Apples, they opened a gappe to deuise lyes
vpon. But thys I∣land so wreathed about with the wynding Channell running
forward and backward, which is situate in a certaine circle of the Sea, hath
nothing in it to pro∣long the memoriall of antiquitie with, sauing a fewe Trées like
wylde Olyues, and an Altar consecrated vnto Hercules. But this is a greater
wonder then the golden fruite Trées or the leauie gold, that though the grounde be
lower then the leuell of the Sea, yet the tyde neuer ouerfloweth it: but the water
béeing kept off by the prouidence of nature as by a Iettie, stayeth at the very
brimme, and the waues of theyr owne ac∣corde stand still in a circle at the
innermost brewes of the Sea bankes: and so through the wonderfull dis∣position
of nature, the leuell grounde continueth styl dry, though the Seas come falling
downeward vpon it. Upon the Ryuer Sala standeth the Towne of Sala. From
hence by the nation of the Autolians the way lyeth to the * wyldernes of Atlas.The Mountaine Atlas rising out of the mids of the waste and sandy Countries, *
and growing into a circle like the halfe moone, lifteth his head aboue y e c•wdes.
Where it reacheth to the Ocean that is named after him, no Fountaines spring out
of him, but all lyeth horrible wast, all is stéepe cliffs and Rocks all is loth some
and barraine: the grounde bare, and no grasse growing thereon. But where he
turneth backe to Af ∣ frick warde, he is rich of all kinde of fruites spring∣ing of
theyr owne accorde, and he is shadowed with bygh Trées, the sent whereof is
ranke, and y e leaues like Cypresse leaues, and they are couered with a kind
Page  [unnumbered]
of * downe, of no lesse value then silke. On that side al¦so groweth plentiously the
hearbe ••phrobia, y e iuyce whereof cléereth the eye sight, and many wayes
pre∣serueth health, and greatly expulseth the force of ve∣nims. The top of this hyll
is euermore couered wyth snowe, the launes thereof are haunted with foure
foo∣ted beastes, and Serpents, wyld beastes & Olyphants together. All day long
there is no noyse▪ but al is whist not without an horror. But in the night time he
gly∣streth wyth fires, * and rings with the noyse that the Aegyptians make in
dauncing on a ryng. There are also hearde the sounde of shalmes, and playing
vppon Cymballs all along the Seacoast, it is distaunt from Lyx two hundred and
fiue miles, and Lyx is from the straights of Marock a hundred & twelue myles:
some∣time it was inhabited as the plat of the place witnes∣seth, and throughly
occupyed, as where there remaine a fewe Uines and Date trées for a token.
Perseus and Hercules made themselues passage ouer the toppe of it, but no man
els came euer there, as the inscriptions of the Altars doo plainly manifest. Where
it looketh Westward, betwéene it and the Ryuer Anatis by the space of foure
hundred, fourescore and sixtéene myles together, is nothing but woods full of
wylde beastes. There are Riuers about him, not to bee passed ouer wyth silence,
which though they be seperated a greate waie one from another, yet they serue all
after a sort to doo the Mount Atlas pleasure. Asaua is brackish of fast like the Sea
water. Bambothum swarmeth with Waterhorses and Crocodiles: * and beyond
them ano∣ther Ryuer, which béeing of colour blacke, runneth through the
innermost and scorched deserts, that are broyled continually wyth vnmeasurable
heate of the parching sunne burning, hoter then any fire, and is ne¦uer
wythdrawne from the heate.
Page  [unnumbered]
Thus much of Atlas: which the Mores call Dyris, according to the instructions of
the Books of Hanno of Carthage, and of our owne Chronicles, and also of Iu ∣ ba
the Sonne of Piolome, who helde the kingdome of both the Mauritanies.
Suetonius Paulinus also hath fi∣nished the certaintie hereof, who first (and almost
on∣ly of all the Romaines) aduaunced hys banners be∣yonde Atlas.
CAP. XXXVII.
of Mauritanie, * and of Oliphants, and Dragons and whereof Cinnabar is made.
D
Iuers are the pro∣uinces of Mauritanie. The prouince of Tingie where it
butteth vpon y e Northwest, and where it extendeth to∣ward the midland Sea,ry∣seth with seuen Mountains which of their likenesse one to another, are called
Bro∣thers, and butt vpon the Sea. * These Mountaines are full of Oliphants. Thys
kinde of beast putteth me in remembraunce from the beginning to intreate of thē.
Oliphants therefore, according to mans perceiue∣raunce, haue vnderstanding, and
excell in memory, and obserue the discipline of the starres. When the Moone
shineth bright, they goe in heards to the riuers and there hauing washed
themselues with water they •alute the sunrysing with such gestures as they can,
and then return againe into the Forrests. There are two kindes of them: the nobler
sorte are knowne by theyr greatnes, the lesser sort are called bastards.
Page  [unnumbered]
By the whytenesse of their téeth it is known that they be yong: whereof the one is
euer occupyed, and the other is spared, least béeing made blunt with con∣tinuall
chaufing, it shoulde haue no force when they haue néede of it in fighting. When
they bee chaced in hunting, they breake them both, to the intent y • when the
Iuorie is gone, they may be pursued no further: for they vnderstand that that is the
cause of their dan∣ger. They goe together in heards. The eldest of them leadeth the
bande, and the eldest next him followeth the trayne. When they passe a Ryuer,
they sende the smallest before, least the treading of the greater sorte should weare
the channell, and make déepe gutts in the Foordes.
The Females goe not to make before they bee ten yéeres olde, nor the Males
before they bee fiue. Two yéeres they giue themselues to generation,
wherea∣bouts they spend fiue dayes in eche yéere & not aboue: and they returne
not to the heard, before such tyme as they haue washed thēselues in running
water. They neuer stryue for the Females: for there is no adulte∣ry knowne among
them. They haue in them the ver∣tue of pittie. For if they happen to finde a man
going astray in the wildernesse, they guide him into some beaten and knowne
way. Or if they méete wyth any Heards of Cattell as they are trauelling,
themselues, they make way gentlie and courteously with theyr hand, because they
woulde not kill any beast that mee∣teth them.
But if it so chaunce that they must fight, they haue no small regard of them that
be wounded: for they re∣ceiue the wearyed and wounded into the middes of them.
When they are taken and come into mennes hands, they become tame with
drinking meshes made of Malt. When they shall passe the Seas, they wyll
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not take shypping before it bee sworne to them that they shall return. The
Oliphants of Mauritanie feare the Oliphants of Inde, and as though their
conscien∣ces grudged at theyr owne •malnesse, they are afraide to come in their
sight. They growe in their dams bel∣lies, not tenne yéeres (as the common reporte
go∣eth) but two yéeres as Aristotle determineth. And they neuer ingender but one
time, nor bring forth mo then one at that once. They liue thrée hundred yeres, but
in anie wyse they can not awaie with cold. They eate the bodies of Trees,
swallowe stones, and loue aboue all things to feede of Dates. Most of all things
they shunne the sauour of a Mouse: and they wyl not eate of anie thing that Mise
haue touched. If anie of them by chance deuoure a Camaeleon (which worme is a
poyson to Olyphants) he remedieth the mischiefe by eating a wilde Oliue. The
hyde on theyr backs is very hard, and the skinne on their bellies is but soft, and
they are altogether smooth without haire. Be∣twéene them and the Dragons is
continuall enmitie, and the ambush is laide for them in this wilie sorte. TheSerpents lurke by y e waie sides, where the Oly∣phants vse to goe customablie:
and letting y e formoste slippe by, they assaile the hindermost, to the intent the
first should not be able to rescue the last, and first they wrythe their tailes in
knottes about theyr féete, that hauing snarled their legges, they may staie them
from going awaie. For the Oliphants if they be not preuē∣ted and staied by this
winding about their féte, doo leane themselues to trées or stones, and there with
en∣forcing themselues, treade the Dragons to drath. The chiefe cause of their
fighting is (as men saie) for that Olyphants haue great store of blood, which is
colder then the blood of other beastes, and therefore the Dra∣gons doo
vnsatiatiably desire it in the excesse of heate. Finallie, they neuer sette vpon
them, but when they
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haue drunk theyr bellies full, to the intent when their vaynes be well stuffed with
moysture, they may suck the more out of them when they haue ouercom them.
They séeke nothing so much as the eyes of thē, which alonelie they know may be
perished: or els the inner parts of their eares, because that part cannot be
defen∣ded with their snow•e. But when the Dragons haue sucked out their bloode,
they themselues are also ouer∣whelmed with the fall of the beaste: and so the
bloode that is shedde from them both soketh into the ground, and all the earth that
is stéeped therewith, becommeth a vernish to paint withall, called Cinnabar. The
firste time that euer Oliphants were séene in Italy, was the fourehundred,
thréescore and twelfth yéere after the building of Rome, when Pyrrhus king of the
Epirhots made warre against the Romaines: and because they were séene in
Lucanie first, they called them Oxen of Lucanie.
In the Prouince Caesariensis is the Towne of Caesarea, peopled wyth Romaines,
sent thither by the Emperour Claudius, héeretofore the Pallace of king Bocchus,
which Towne afterwarde by the bountiful∣nesse of the Romaines, was gyuen to
King Iuba for a rewarde. There is also the Towne * Siga, where Syphax dwelled.
But wee must not passe mute from * Icosium. For as Hercules passed that way,
twentie that forsooke his companie, chose a place, and laid foun∣dation of the
walles, and because no man should boast peculiarlie of gyuing the name by
hymselfe alone, the name was gyuen it of the number of the builders.
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CAP. XXXVIII.
Of Numidia and of the Beares therein.
H
Owe much soe ∣ uer is from y • Ryuer Amp ∣ saga, is attributed to Nu ∣ midia.
The Inhabiters heereof, as long as they straied abroade in grazing like wanderers,
were cal∣led * Nomades. In it are many noble Cittyes, but Cirta excelleth them all,
and next Culloo, comparable to Tyre in dying Purple. All this Region bordereth
wholie vpon the marches of Zeugitane. In such part of it as is wooddie, it
nourisheth wilde Beasts, where it is high ground, it bréedeth Horses, also it is
cōmen∣ded for the excellent Marble that it hath. The Beares of Numidie excell all
other Beares onely in fiercenes and déepe hayre, * for the littering of them is like
in all places, wheresoeuer they be bred. I will speake therof by and by. They
couple not in like sort as other foure footed beastes doo: but inasmuch as they areformed apt to embracinges, they couple together as man and woman do. Winter
stirreth vp their desire of genera∣tion. The Males seuering themselues for the
tyme, doo reuerence the Females when they are bagged, and although they lie all
in one den, yet they lie seuerallye by themselues in couches deuided one from an
other with diches. The time of their whelping is very swift for they goe not past
thirtie daies, whereby it cōmeth to passe, that their ouerhastie littering maketh
them bring forth deformed whelps.
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The things that they bring forth are little lumps of flesh, of colour white, without
eyes. And (by reason of the hastie comming foorth before it be ripe) it is no∣thing
but a shapelesse matter, sauing that it hath the proportion of nayles. These they
fashion by little and little with licking, and sometimes they cherrish them by
laying their warme breastes to them, to the intent that through the heate of their
continuall rucking vp∣pon them, they may gather the breath of lyfe. All that while
they fast. Surelie for the first fouretéene daies, the dammes fall into so heauie a
sléepe, that they can∣not be waked with woundes. After they haue whel∣ped, they
kéepe home by the space of foure months to∣gether. Afterward when they goe
abroade into the o∣pen daie, they can so ill awaie with the vnaccustomed light,
that a man would think they were blinded.
Beares haue weake heades, and their greatest strength is in their fore pawes, and
in their loynes, wherby it commeth to passe, that sometimes they will stande
vpright vppon their hinder féete. They lye in waite for Béehiues, lusting greatlie
for the Combes, and they snatch at nothing more gréedilie then at hon∣nie. If they
taste of the Apples of Mandrake they die. Neuerthelesse, they preuent the
mischiefe before it growe too strong, and deuoure Ants to recouer theyr health. If
at anie time they sette vppon Bulles, they knowe vppon what parts it is best for
them to catche holde: and therefore they catch at no parte, but their hornes and
theyr nostrils: their hornes to the intent to weigh them downe, theyr nostrilles to
the intent to put them to greater payne in so tender a place. In the time that
Marcus Messala was Consull, Lu ∣ cius Domitius Aenobardus béeing Curulis
Aedilis, showed a hundred Beares of Numidie, and as manie Huntsmen of
Aethiop, in y • great Theater at Rome:
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and that syght was regystred among hys honoura∣ble tytles.
CAP. XXXIX.
Of Affrick, of Lyons, of the Hyene, of the sundry sorts of Serpents, of precious
stones, of monstrous kindes of creatures, and of other notable thinges of that
Countrey.
A
Ll Affricke be∣ginneth at the foote of Zeu ∣ gitane, facing the Ilande Sardinia
from the Promon¦torie of Apollo, and butting towarde Sicill from y • Pro∣montorie
of Mercurie.
Thus shooteth it foorth wyth two heades, whereof the one is called the whyte
Promontorie, and y • other which is in the region Cyrenaica, is called Phycus. Thesame béeing situate directlie against the Ile of Crete by the Cretish Sea, shooteth
into the sandes to∣ward Taenarus of Lacedemon. * Catabathmos windeth into
Aegypt. The next Country whereunto (which is Cyrenaica) lyeth betwéene the
two Syrts, which the shallowe and vncertaine Sea maketh vnaccessible.
The rysing and falling of which Salt water, it is no easie matter to finde: so
vncertaine is the moouing thereof, one while breaking into shallow shelues, and
another whyle ouerflowing like a spring tyde. Varro affyrmeth that the ground
béeing there loose, is readye
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to be perced with euery wynd, by meanes wherof the suddaine force of the swift
blastes, dooth eyther puffe out or sowpe in the Seas. All this coast is deuided frō
Aethiope & the borders of Asia, by the Ryuer * Ny ∣ gris, which is the mother of
Nilus, and from Spayne by the narrowe Sea. On that side that enclyneth to the
South, it is voide of springs & altogether drough∣tie. On the other side that lyeth
towarde the North, it is watred aboundantly, insomuch that in the Coun∣trye
Bizacene which is two hundred myles ouer or more, the soyle is so rich, that the
séede there sowne yéeldeth increase of a hundred times as much fruite. That
many straungers haue resorted thither to inha∣bite, we will showe you for a proofe
the Cittyes and places there. The Promontorie Boreon which is bea¦ten vppon
wyth the Northwynde, was so named by Greeks that came thither. The Towne
of * Hyppon, (which afterward was called Rhegium, and the other Hyppon called
afterward Dyarrhyton of the narowe sea running by it, two noble Townes, were
builded by Knights of Greece. The Sicilians builded the Citie * Clypea, and
named it first Aspis, they builded Vene ∣ rie also, whereunto they trans•ferred the
religion of Venus of Eryx. The Achaeans in their language gaue the name of
Trypolis, because of the number of y e thrée Citties Taphre, * Abrotone, & the
greater Lextis.
The Philene brethren tooke that Greeke name, of the desire of praise. The people
of Tyre were foun∣ders of Adrymet and Carthage. But now wyll I de∣clare what
true bookes haue reported of Carthage. * This Cittie (as Cato in his Oration before
the Se∣nate, affirmeth) was builded at such time as Hiarbas raigned in Lybia.
Elyssa a Lady of the Country Phae ∣ nicia, who called it Carthad, which in the
Phaenician tongue, is as much to say as a newe Cittie.
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Anon after as theyr spéeche turned into Punicke, both she was called Elissa & the
Cittie Ca•thage: which was vtterly rased seauen hundred thirty and seauen yéeres
after it was builded. Within a while after, be∣ing repayred againe by Caius
Gracchus, and peopled wyth Italians, it was named by him Iunonia, and
con∣tinued for a certain time without estimation, in a low and faint state. At
length after a hundred and two yéeres respit, in the time that Marcus Antonius and
Publius Dolobella were Cons•lls, it reco•ered the ho∣nour to be called the second
Carthage, the second bea•¦tie of the whole world next Rome. But to the intent to
returne againe to * Affrick, it is an Angle seueral∣ly enclosed by it selfe. The inner
partes thereof are possessed with manie kyndes of wylde beasts, but spe∣ciallie
with Lions, * which alonely of y • kind of beastes y • men call toothed beastes, w t
they (as Aristotle affyr∣meth) doo sée as soone as they bee whelped. Of them
there is reckoned thrée sortes. For y • shorter sort with curled manes, are for themoste part weake and cow∣ardlie. The longer sorte with smooth hayre, are more
fierce and strong. But those that the Lybards begette, are of the rascallest sort, and
haue no manes at all. All of them alike forbeare gorging of themselues: firste for
that one day they féede, and another day they drink by turnes, and oftentimes, if
they haue not good dige∣stion, they forbeare meate a day longer: and secondly for
that if they féele themselues gréeued with raue∣ning too much flesh, they put their
pawes into theyr mouthes, and pull it out againe. And euen the like al∣so doo they
when they flée, if they bée to full. The fal∣ling away of their téeth, argueth age.
And there bee many proofes of theyr pittifulnesse.
For they spare them that humble themselues be∣fore them: and shewe theyr
crueltie rather against
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men then women. As for sucking Children they kyll them not, vnlesse it be for
extreame hungar. Neyther are they without mercie. For by dailie examples from
time to time it is manifest y • they haue shewed mercy inasmuch as manie
prisoners méeting with some Ly∣ons by the way, haue notwithstanding returned
vn∣touched into theyr Countryes. And in the Bookes of King Iuba is recorded the
name of a Woman of Ge ∣ tulia, who by entretaunce escaped vnhurt from y • Ly∣ons
that she mette. They engender backwarde: and not they onely, but also Lynxes,
Camels, Oliphants, Rhynocerots, and Tygers. The Lyonesses at y • firste lytter
bring forth fiue Whelps, and euery yéere after they diminish their number by one,
and at the length when the dammes come to bringing forth but one at once, they
become barraine for euer. The looke and the taile declare the courage of the
Lyons, like as the sto∣macke of a horse is knowne by hys eares. For nature hath
gyuen these two markes to euerie notable beaste to be knowne by. Their chiefest
force is in their brest, and their chiefest stedinesse is in their heades. When they
be chaced with dogs, they goe away disdainfully, and now and then staying,
dissemble theyr force wyth pretence as though they cared not whither they went
away or no: and this they doo when they be followed in open and champion
fields. But in woody places (as though they thought no body were able to beare
wyt∣nesse of their cowardlinesse) they runne away as fast as theyr legs can beare
them. When they themselues pur•ue any thing, they further their pace with
leap∣ping. When they goe at leysure, they hyde the hookes of their talants
betwéene the fleshe of their toes, as it were in sheathes. And this they obserue so
warelye, that they runne not but wyth their talants turned in∣ward. When they are
enuironed and beset with hun∣ters,
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they looke stedfastlie vpon the ground, to the in∣tent they will not be made afraid
with the sight of the hunting staues. They neuer looke a squint, neyther can they
abide that one shoulde looke a squint vppon them. They feare the crowing of a
Cock, and the rat∣ling of whéeles, but most of all they feare fire. * Wee reade that
there are little beasts called Lyonsbanes, which are caught and vncased, to the
intent that flesh béeing powdred with the ashes of them, and caste in the pathes
where wayes méete, may kill the Lyons, if they taste neuer so little thereof. And
therefore Ly∣ons pursue them with a naturall hatred, & when they get them at
aduauntage, they forbeare byting of them but they teare them all to péeces with
theyr pawes. Scaeuola the Sonne of Publius was the first that made a showe of
them, in the time that he was Curulis Ac ∣ dilis. Affrick bréedeth the Hyene, * whichbeast cannot wrythe his necke a side, vnlesse h•e mooue his whole bodie, because
his backbone is without ioyntes, and runneth so whole through his necke. Many
wondrous things are reported of it. Firste that it haunteth shep∣heards cotages, and
by continuall harkning, learneth some name, the which he expresseth by
counterfeyting mans voyce, to the intent to worke his wrath vppon the man whom
he tolleth out by his policie in y • night time. Also he counterfetteth the vomiting
of men, and thereby alluring out the dogs with his false sobbing, deuoureth them.
Which dogs if perchance they touche his shaddowe in hunting of him, they loose
their voice, and cannot barke. The same Hyene in séeking mens carkasses,
scrapeth vpp theyr graues: and therefore it is the easier matter to take the Males.
For the Fe∣males are of nature more subtill. There is great va∣rietie in their eyes,
and chaungablenes of colours, and in the balles of them is founde a stone called
Hyenie,
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endued with such power, * y • vnder what mans tongue soeuer it be put, he shall
prophesie of thinges to come. But what lyuing thing soeuer a Hyene compasseth
in thrice about, cannot moue it selfe: and therfore it hath béene auouched for a
certaintie, that there is a magi∣call power in him. In a parte of Aethyop it coupleth
with a Lyonesse, and betwéene them is engendred a Monster named a Crocute. *
Which in likenesse also counterfetteth the spéech of man. He neuer stirreth the
balles of his eyes, but star•th continually without twinckling.
He hath no gummes at all in hys mouth, but one whole and maine tooth, which is
naturally closed vpp as it were in Caskets, because it should not be blun∣ted.
Among those kinds of beasts that are called Gra∣zers, the same Affrick hath wyld
Asses, in which kind euery Male hath his heard of Females. * They cannot abyde
that any other shoulde haue to doo where they like. And therefore they wait very
narrowly vppon their Mares when they be with foale, that (if it bee possible they
may byte of the genetoryes from the Colts when they be new foaled: to the end
they be not apt for generation. Whereof the Mares béeing ware, hyde their young
ones out of the way. * Affrick swar∣meth in such wise with Serpents, that it may
wor∣thelie challenge the preheminence in that mischiefe from all the worlde. The
Caerasts péere with foure lit∣tle hornes, * by shewing whereof (as it were wyth a
bayse) they allure birds to them, and deuoure them. For they hide the rest of their
bodyes for the nonce in the sand, discouering no part of thēselues sauing that
onely part wherwith they entice the birds deceitfully to féeding, * when they lie in
wait to kill them for theyr labor. The Amphisbene riseth with two heads wher∣of
one is in his accustomed place, and the other where
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his taile should bee. Wherevpon it commeth to passe, that with both heads
forward at once hee créepeth in a roundell. * The Darters clymbe vp vppon trées,
from whence whirling themselues with as much violence as may be, they péerce
through what beast soeuer hap∣peneth to come within their dint. * The Scytale hath
such a glystering and speckled hide, that the beautie of the spots staie such as
behold it, by means whereof, hee catcheth them as they stande gazing and
wondring, whom he cannot ouertake by his slownes in créeping.
Notwithstanding, as beautifull as his scales be, he is the first that casteth his
wynter coate. * There are ma∣ny and sundry kinds of redde Adders, but they hauediuers effects in hurting. * The Dipsas killeth w t thirst The Hypuale killeth with
sléepe, * and Cl•opatra may beare witnesse, that it is bought to kill folke. The
poy¦sons of others, forasmuch as they bee curable deserue lesse fame. The
Hemorrhoyd byteth till it bléedes, * and thereby breaking the intercourse of the
vaynes, draw¦eth out the life wyth bléeding. * Whomsoeuer the Pre ∣ ster stingeth
he is bloune, and béeing puffed vp to vn∣measurable hugenesse dyeth with
swelling. Immedi∣atlie vppon the stinging of the Seps ensueth rotting. * There are
also, * Ammodits, * Cheuchries, * Oly ∣ phantyes, * Chersydres, and * Chamedraconts.
And finally as many sundry names as there bee, so manye sundry deathes there
are.
For Scorpions, Scinks and Lucerts, are accounted among vnhurtfull wormes, and
not among serpents. These Monsters, if they drinke, doo sting the gentli∣er. They
haue affections, for lightly they goe not but by couples. If the one be caught or
kylled, the other that scapeth runneth madde. The heads of the Fe∣males are finer,
theyr bellyes rownder, and theyr venime more hurtfull.
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The Male is a like rounde in all places, and high∣er also, and more méeke. All
Serpents are dull sighted They seldome looke right before them: and not wyth∣out
a cause, forasmuch as their eyes stand not in theyr foreheads, but in their temples,
so as they are lighter of hearing, then of séeing any thing. As concerning the
precious stone called Helitrope, * there hath béene con∣tention betwéene Aethyop,
Affrick, & Cyprus, which of them should yéelde the excellentest of that kynd: and
it is founde by mani• trayals, that the stone of Aethiop or of Libie hath y •
prerogatiue. It is of a gréene colour not altogether verye fresh, but somewhat
more clow∣die and déepe, powdred aboue with spots of scarlett. The st•ne taketh
hys name of hys operatiō and pow∣er. Béeing cast into a brasse panne, it altereth
y e colour of the Sunne beames, making them to haue a bloody reflexion: and it
casteth the glymering brightnesse of the ayre out of the water, and turneth it
aside. Moreo∣uer it is reported to haue this vertue, y • beeing ming∣led wyth the
herbe of the same name, and consecrated before with the accustomable
enchantmēts, it maketh the bearer thereof to goe inuisible. They that trauell the
Syrts, * though theyr iourney lie by lande, yet must they direct theyr course by the
starres, otherwise they shall neuer come to the place appointed. For y e ground is
so rotten, that the aire altereth the vpper part ther∣of, and if there whiske neuer so
small a wynd, y e blaste thereof maketh such an alteration, that it leaueth no token
whereby to knowe a mans way. For it euer∣more turneth vpside downe, the plats
of the places in such wyse, that those which were euen nowe full of hygh hils,
sinck into vallies: and those that euen now were vallies, are heaped vp with sande
like hyls. And the maine land beareth the nature of the sea that bea∣teth vppon it.
Neyther makes it any matter where
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stormes rather bée, séeing that the elements conspyre the destruction of
trauellers, * so as the wynd rageth vp¦pon the land, and the land as the sea. The
two Sy•ts are seperated two hundred and fiftie myles a sunder: the lesse of them is
somewhat calmer. Wee reade that in the time that Cneus Seruilius, and Caius
Sempronius were Consuls, * the Romaine fléete passed harmles be∣twéene theseshallowes. In this Coast is the Ile Me ∣ ninx, where Caius Marius hid himself after
he came out of the Fennes of Minturue. * Beyonde the Gara ∣ mants were the
Psylls, forti••ed with a wonderfull strength of body against hurtfull poyson. They
onelie dyed not of the byting of Snakes: and although they were stunge with their
deadly tongues, yet they con∣tinued in vnappayred health. Yea they layde theyr
newe borne babes to Serpents, and if they were mis∣begotten, the adulterie of the
Mothers was punished wyth the destruction of y • Children. But if they were right
begotten, the priuiledge of theyr fathers bloode saued the innocent babes from
death. Thus they put the assurance of theyr issue to the triall of poyson. But the
Nasamons conquered this country, and destroyed it, insomuch that now• the
Psylls haue left nothing whereby to be remembred, * sauing onely theyr bare
name. The Nasamones yeelde a stone which is cal∣led a Nasamonite, altogether
bloode shaddowed with blacke vaynes. In the innermost part of the big∣ger Syrt, *
about the Philenes Altars, (as we learne) inhabited the Loteaters, and it is so
indeede. Not farre from the Philenes Alters, is a Lake whereinto y • Ry∣uer Tr•ton
runneth, where men haue beléeued that * the Goddesse of arts was first seene▪ The
greater Syrt•aunteth of a Cittie called Cyrene, * which Battus the Lacedemonian
builded. the fiue and fortith Olimpy∣ade, when •ncus Marcius raigned ouer y •
Romains,
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the fiue hundred, •ours•ore and sixe yéere after she de∣struction of 〈 ◊ 〉 the which
Cyrene was the natyue Country and dwelling place of Callimachus the Poet.
Betwéene this Towne and the Temple of Ammon, are fourehundred myles, harde
by the Temple is a Fountaine consecrated to the Sunne, which with the moysture
of his water byndeth the ground, and hard∣neth ashes also into a clod, wherin (not
without won∣der) the place glistreth rounde about none otherwyse then if it were
the gréene fields. There is also gathe∣red the stone called Ammons horne. * For it
is so warp∣ped and crooked, that it is shaped like a Rams horne. It is as bright as
gold. Béeing layde vnder a mannes head when he sléepeth, it is said to represent
vnto him heauenly dreames. * Also there is a Trée called Metops out of which
floweth a clammy gumme, which of the place it commeth fro, we call
Ammoniack. Further∣more among the Cyrenenses groweth Syrpe y e rootes
whereof haue a pleasant flauor, * and it is more like a shrubbie hearbe then a fruite
Trée. Out of the stalke thereof, yssueth in the summer time a fatte dew, which
cleaueth to the beards of Goates that feede thereon, and when it is there throughly
dryed, it is gathered in dropps like Isickes to serue vppon Tables, or rather to
serue for medicine.
It was first called the mylke of Syrpe, because it •zeth in the manner of Mylke.
Afterward (custome drawing it thereunto,) it was named Laser. Thys Herbe was
afterwarde almoste vtterlie dygged vppe by the Inhabiters of the Countrey, by
reason of the in¦tolerable burth•n of trybute that was layde vppon them, when
their Countrey was wasted at the firste inuasion of strange nations.
On the left hande of Cyrene is * Affrick, on the right side Egypt, on the foreside the
rough and har∣borowlesse
Page  [unnumbered]sea, on the backpart diuers barbarous na∣tions, and a wildernesse not to be come
vnto, vninha∣bited and forlorne which bréedeth the Cockatrice, such a singuler
mischiefe as is not in all the whole worlde beside. * It is a serpent almost halfe a
foote long, white, wyth, as it were a little myter, proportioned in lynes on his
heade. Hee is giuen to the vtter destruction not onely of man and beast, or
whatsoeuer hath life▪ but also euen of the earth it selfe, which he stayneth &
bur∣neth vppe, and seareth away, wheresoeuer he hath his deadlie denne. To be
short, he destroyeth hearbs, kyl∣leth Trées, and infecteth the very aire: insomuch
that no byrd is able to flye ouer the place which he hath in fected wyth hys
pestilent breath. When hee mooueth himselfe, he créepeth wyth hys one halfe,
and wyth the other halfe auaunceth himselfe aloft. All other Ser∣pents are horiblie
afraide to heare his hyssing: and as soone as they heare him, they flee euerye one
wyth as much haste as they can, euery one hys way. Whatsoeuer is kylled of his,
byting, no wylde beaste will feede of it, no foule wyll touche it And yet for all
this, * he is ouercome of Weasels, which menne bring thether, and sende them into
the dennes, where he lur¦keth. Notwithstanding, he wanteth not power euen when
he is dead. The Cittizens of •ergamus gaue a full * Sestertium for the carkasse of
a Co•katrice, * and hanged it vpp in a nette of gold in the Temple of A ∣ pollo,
which was notable for the great workmanshypp thereof: to the intent that neyther
Spyders shoulde spynne there, nor byrds flye in there About the vtter∣most nooke
of the Syrts, there runneth by the Cittye Berenice the Riuer Lethon, * which (as is
supposed) issueth from the springes of hell, and is renowmed a∣mong the auncient
Poets for his forgetfull waters. *
The foresaide Cittie was builded and fortified in
Page  [unnumbered]
the great Syrte by Berenice that was marryed to the third P•olomie. All the large
contry that lyeth betwéen Egypt Aethyope, and Lybia, as farre as there is anye
woods to cast shaddowe, is replenished wyth sundry kyndes of Apes: and I would
not that any man shold be greeued at the mistaking of the name. For surely it is
not expedient to omit any thing, wherein the pro∣uidence of nature is to be séene. *
Among these is the common sorte of Apes which we sée euery where, not
without great aptnesse to counter•et, by means wher of they are the easier taken.
For while they desirouslie practise the gestures of Hunters, who for the nonce
leaue byrdlime to noynt them withall, they dawbe vp theyr eyes as they had séene
them pretende to doo be∣fore, and so when theyr sight is stopped vppe, they are
easie to be caught.
They make merry at the newe of the Moone, and they become sadde when shee is
in the wane. They loue their yong ones out of all measure in so much as they
easiler loose the whelps that they are most chare ouer and carry in theyr armes,
because those that are not set by, doo euer folow their dam hard at her bréech.
The Moonkyes haue tayles: * and this is the onely difference betweene them and
the Apes. The Dog∣heads are also of the number of Apes, most plenteous in the
parts of Aethyop, sprightish in leaping, cruel in byting, neuer so tamed, but that
they be more rather wyld.
Among Apes are also accounted the Sphinxes, * shacke hayred, side and déepe
dugged, apt to be taught to forget theyr wyldnesse. * There are also that menne
call Satyres, very swéetefaced, and full of mopping and toying continually. * The
Callytriches are almost alto∣gether vnlike the other. On their face is a bearde, and
on their rumpe a broade tayle. To catch these is noPage  [unnumbered]
hard matter, but so bring them out of the Country is a rare thing. For they liue not
but in the soyle of Ac ∣ thiop, that is to say in their owne soyle.
CAP. XL.
Of the nation of the Hammanients, and of the houses therein builded of salt.
B
Etween the Na ∣ samonits and the Troglo ∣ dits, * is the nation of the
Hammanients, which build theyr houses of Salt, which they heawe out of y e
Moun∣taines in manner of stone, and laye it with morter. Such is the aboundance
of this vaine, that they make them houses of Saltstones. These are the
Hammanients which haue intercourse of Merchandise wyth the Troglodits. * The
precious stones called Carbuncles are on this side the Hamma ∣ nients, * more
néerer the Nasamones. The Asbysts lyue by Laser. This is their nourishment, and
this is their •oode.
CAP. XLI,
Of the Garaments, and of a wonderfull fountayne among them.
Among the Garamants is the Towne Debris, * with a wonderfull Fountaine in it,
which by turnes is
Page  [unnumbered]
•old a day times and hote a night times, one while sée∣thing like water on the fire,
and another while becom¦ming as cold as Ise, both contrarieties procéeding out of
y • selfe same veynes. It is a meruailous thing to be spoken of, y • in so short a
time, nature should so strang∣ly disagrée with her selfe, that whosoeuer tried her
do∣ings in the dark, would think there were a continuall fire in the spring: and he
that felt it in the day, would beléeue it were none other thing then a winters
Wa∣ter continually frozen. By meanes whereof (not with out good cause) Debris
is famous among those nati∣ons, for that the waters change their propertie
accor∣ding to the moouing of the heauen, though after a ma∣ner cleane con•rarie
to the disposition of the Planets. For whereas the euentide asswageth the heate of
the world: this spring beginneth to heate in such wise at the Sunne going downe,
that if yee touch it, yee shall find it scalding. Againe, when the Sunne is rysen
a∣boue the ground, and all things are chauffed with hys rayes, the water thereof is
so excéeding colde, that no man is able to drinke it, be he neuer so thirstie. Who
then would not wonder at a Fountaine y • becommeth cold through heate, * and
hote through cold? The heade of the Garamant Regyon is Garaman ▪ wherevnto
for a long whyle the way was very combersome, and not able to be passed. For
the théeues couered the pyts with sande, so the intent that withdrawing y e waters
deceitfully for a time, no man might be able to trauell to them for famine and
thirst. But in the raigne of Vespasian, in the warre that was against the Oyans, this
distresse was taken away, by finding a nerer pas∣sage. Cornelius Balbus was the
first that subdued the Garamants, and for his victory firste tryumphed ouer them
Surely he was the first of 〈◊〉 (for 〈◊〉 was borne in one of the Ilands Gades) that
attaynedPage  [unnumbered]
the honor of a tryumphant conqueror. * The great cat∣tell of this Countr•y féede
with their necks awry, for if they should graze with their heads right forwarde,
their hornes bowing downe, with the tynes into the ground, * would hinder their
féeding. On the same part that Cercina lyeth, the reporte goeth that there is an Ile
called Gaulos, wherein bréedeth no serpent, ney∣ther lyueth any y t is brought in
thither. And therefore the dust thereof béeing strewed in any place of the worlde,
kéepeth away Snakes: and béeing cast vppon Scorpions, it killeth them out of
hande.
CAP. XLII.
Of Aethyop: of the filthy fashions of the people of that Countrey, and of theyr
monstrous shapes: of the Dragons, and other wylde beastes of wonderfull nature
there: of the spyce Cinnomom, and of the Iacint stone.
T
He Aethiopians, and the Nations that inhabite the Countryes bounding
vpon the Mountaine Atlas, are parted a sunder with the Ryuer * Ni ∣ gris, which is
thought to bee parte of Nyle.
It is so gréene with Rushes wherof paper is made it is so clad wyth Reede, it
bringeth forth y • same kind
Page  [unnumbered]
of liuing thinges, it floweth ouer at y • same times, and returneth againe with his
banks euen then when Ni ∣ lus is content with his own channel. * The Garamants of
Aethyop know no seuerall marriage, but vse their women in common, who that
list. Thereon it cōmeth that the Children acknowledge onely their mothers. For
the name of Father hath no reuerence at all a∣mong them. For who is able to
knowe hys Father, where such incestous lecherie runneth at large. Ther¦fore are
the Garamants of Aethyop counted a bastard people among all nations: and not
without cause, con¦sidering how they haue infringed the discipline of cha∣stitie, *
and by a wicked custome destroyed the know∣ledge of their succession. The name
of Aethiopians ex¦tendeth large.
On Affrick side, where Lybie faceth the Ilande Meroe, there be many and sundry
nations of them. Of the number of them the Nomades * liue by the mylk of the
Dogheades. The Syrbots * are lazie things of a 12. foote long. The Asaches * take
Oliphants in hunting, and deuoure them. Among the Sambres * no fourfooted
beast hath eares, no not so much as the Olyphants. Theyr next neighbours, make a
Dog theyr King: by whose gesture they diuineg what he cōmayndeth them to doo.
The Aethiopyans on the Sea coast are repor∣ted to haue foure eyes a péece, but the
trueth is other∣wyse, namelie that they are verye sharpe s•ghted, and ayme the
throwing of theyr darts most certainly. * To∣ward the West dwell the Agriophags
which feede onely on the flesh of Lybards and Lyons, and haue a King that hath
but one eye, which standes in hys for∣head. * There are also Pamphags who féede
of al things that may be chewed, and all things that grow vnse•t. There be also
Anthropophages, whose name expres∣seth their conditions. They say that the
CynamolgiesPage  [unnumbered]
haue chaps like Dogs, and long snowts. The Artha ∣ bathits, goe groueling like
foure footed beas•es, * and wander abroade without dwelling place, as beastes
doo. The borderers vpon Mauritanie gather Loeusts, in time of yéere, and
powdring them, doo lay them vp as their onely foode to liue by: But none of them
ly∣ueth aboue fortie yéeres. From this Ocean vnto * Meroe (which is an Ilande that
Nyle maketh where be first parteth and meeteth againe) are sixe hundred and
twenty miles. Beyond Meroe toward the Sunne rysing, are the * Macrobian
Aethyopians. For theyr life is longer then ours by the one halfe. These
Ma ∣ crobians, execute Iustice, loue vpright dealing, excell in strength, are very
comely and beautifull of perso∣nage, are decked wyth brasse, and make giues of
golde for offenders. There is among them a place called * Heliutrapaeza cōtinually
furnished with dainti• fare, whereof all men eate without difference, for they
vp∣holde that they are encreased by the power of God. There is also in the same
place a Lake, wherwith the bodyes that are washed, shyne as if they were
anoin∣•ed wyth Oyle. This Lake is moste wholesome to drinke. * Surely it is so
shéere, that it wyl not beare the leaues falne from the Trées, but letteth them sinke
downe to the bottome, by reason of the thinnes of the liquor. Beyond these lye
desert and vninhabited wil∣dernesses, * euen vnto the coast of Arabie. And then in
the furthest part of all the East, are nations of Mon∣strous shape, some hauing yll
fauoured visages, alto∣gether plain without noses: & othersome hauing theyr
mouthes growne together sauing onely a little hole to put in an Oaten Réede,
whereat they draw in their sustenaunce. Some haue no tongues: but vse
beck∣nings and gestures in stedde of spéeche. Certaine of these nations neuer
kn•we the vse of fire, before the
Page  [unnumbered]
〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉Lathyrus King of Egypt. Aethyop contayneth all y • is from the South
east, to the South west. As much of it as is vnder y • South coast, is gar∣nished
wyth thicke woods, which are gréenest in win∣ter. On the South part there hangeth
into the Sea a high Hall▪ continually hote with gentle fire, and bur∣ning on the
toppe wyth restlesse flames, among which co•tinuall 〈◊〉▪ fires, there is great store
of Dragons. Furthermore, * the true Dragons haue smal mouthes, and not ga•ing
wyde to byte with, but of a narrowe conduit, by which they drawe breath, and
spirt out their tongues. For their force lyeth not in theyr téeth, but in their tayles,
and they hurt with beating, rather then with •yting. * There is cut out of the
Dragons •raynes a Stone called Dracon••, but it is not a stone vnlesse it be taken
from them while they are alyue. For it the Serpent die before, the hardnesse
resolueth and vanisheth away wyth hys life. The Kinges of the East doo chiefely
v•unt themselues of the wearing thereof, although it be so hard, that no man can
deuise to imprint or engraue any thing in it: and whatsoe∣uer is beautifull in it, is
not made by mans hand, be∣cause there should none other colour stayne the pure
naturall whitenesse thereof. An Author named So ∣ th••us, sayth that he hath sée•e
this Iewel, & declareth by what meanes it is come by. Men of excellent cou∣rage
and audacitie serche out by holes where the Ser¦pents lie, and also their haunts.
Then watching •yll they come forth to féede, and passing by them wyth as much
apéede as they can, they cast them hearbes stée∣ped in thinges that haue as much
force as may bee so prouoke sléepe. So when they be fast a stéepe, they cutt the
stones out of their heades, and getting the booty of their heady enterprise, enioythe•reward of their rash∣nesse. The places which the Aethyopians possesse, is full
of wyld Beastes, whereof one is the Nabis which
Page  [unnumbered]
we call a Cameloparda•is. * It is necked like a horse, footed like an Oxe, headed
like a Camell; & of a bryght •ay colour powdred with white spottes. This beast
was shewed first in Rome at the gamings that Caesar the Dictator made in the
Lysts. Almost about y e same time also were brought from thence monsters called
Celphies, * whose hinder féete from the ancle vpp to the toppe of the calfe, where
like a mans legge, and lyke∣wyse hys forefeete resembled a mans hande:
notwith¦standing, these were neuer séene of the Romaines but once. * Before the
showes of Cneus Pompeius: the Ro ∣ maines had neuer seene the Rhynoceros
openly. Thys •east is of a pa•e ru••et colour: in hys nose is a horne that boweth
vpward: the which hee maketh sharpe poi•ted like a bo•kyn, by whetting it vpon
stones, and •ighteth wyth it against the Olyphants, béeing almost ful as long as
they, but some what shorter legged, and with this his naturall weapon he pusheth
at theyr bell yes, * as the onely part which he 〈◊〉 may bee perced with 〈...〉. By the
Riuer Nigris bréedeth the Catoblepe, a little s•uggish beast, with a great hea¦uie
ioll, and a venemous sight For they that happen to come in hys sight die. * There
bee Ants as big as a Ma∣stiffe, that haue talents like Lyons, wherewyth they
scrape vp sand of golde, which they 〈◊〉 that no man may fetch it away, & if any
man 〈◊〉, they pur∣sue them •o death. * The same Aethiop bréedeth y • Ly ∣ caon,
which is a woolfe with a mane on his necke, & so pied, y • men say there is no
colour, but he hath parte of it. It bréedeth also y • Tarand, of the bignes of an Oxe,
clouen footed, with tined hornes, headed like a stag, co∣loured like a Beare, * &
shacke hayred. It is saide y • thys Tarand changeth his complexion for feare, and
y • whē he hideth himself, he becōmeth like vnto the thing y • he is next vnto,
whither it be a quarrie of white stone, or a groue of gréene trées, or what thing
soeuer it be, of a¦ny other likenes.
Page  [unnumbered]
The same thing also dooth the Fyshe Polypus in the Sea, * and the * Chameleons on
the lande. But the Polypus and the Chameleon haue a sheere skinne, and therefore
it is the easier for them to resem¦ble things next vnto them, because of theyr thin
smug skynnes, which are like glasse. But it is a straunge and singuler case, that
harsh hayre should alter colour, heereby it comes to passe, that they are hardly
taken. * It is a peculiar propertie to the Wolues of Aethyop, to be as nimble in
leaping, as a byrde, so as they ridde not more ground by running, then by going,
but yet they neuer assault a man. In Winter time they are hayrie, and in
Sommertime naked. Menne call them Thoes.
The Porkpine also is very ryfe in those Countries a beast like a Hedghog, * wyth a
hyde full of rough bry∣stles, which he oftentimes looseneth of his owne ac∣corde,
and darteth them foorth so thicke as it were a showre of pricks, * and therewyth
woundeth the Dogs that pursue him. Of that coast is the byrde Pegasus: but this
bird hath nothing of a horse but his eares. So is also the Tragop, a byrde bigger
then an Egle, vaun¦ting himselfe with an armed head, * besett with hornes like a
Rammes hornes. * The Aethiopyans gather Cynnamom. Thys shrub groweth on a
short stalke, wyth low and flatte boughes, neuer aboue two cu∣bits high. Thatwhich groweth slenderest is counted the excellentest: and that that swelleth into
thicknes, is nothing sette by. But it is gathered by the priestes, who make sacrifice
before. Which doone, they take good heede that they beginne not theyr haruest
before the Sunne rise, nor continue it after the Sunne sette. He that is Primate
among them, deuideth the heapes of sticks wyth a speare, which is consecrated to
y • same vse. And so a portion of the faggots is dedicated to the
Page  [unnumbered]
Sunne, which if it bee rightlie deuided, taketh fire a∣lone. Among these things that
we haue treated of, is found the Iacin•, in colour a bright azure, * a precious stone,
if it may be found faultlesse: for it is not a little subiect to faultines. For diuers
times it is eyther ver∣nished with a violet colour, or darkned with a misty∣nesse, or
wanzing into a watry shéerenesse, the best fa∣shion of it is, if it be not dimmed
with two déepe a die nor ouer lighth with too pure a shéerenesse, but haue a
swéete orient colour of lightsomenesse and purple e∣quallie mixed together. This
is he that féeleth y • ayre, and altereth with it: insomuch as it is not a like bright
when the wether is clowdy, as whē it is fayre. More∣ouer, béeing put into ones
mouth, it becommeth col∣der. And for ingrauing it is nothing méete, because it
wyll abide no cha•ing, yet is it not altogether inuinci∣ble: for with a Diamonde a
man may write in it, * and drawe what he list in it. Where as is the Iacint, there is
also the Chrysolamp, which stone the light hydeth, * and the dark discouereth. For
this diuersitie is in him that in the night he is fierie, and in the day he is pale. Out
of that soyle also we take the Haematite, a stone as redde as blood, and therfore
called the Haematite.
CAP. XLIII.
VVonderfull things of the nations of Lybia, and of the stone called Hexacontaly thos.
W
Hatsoeuer lieth between Mount Atlas and the mouth of Nile cal∣led
Canopitane, which beareth the name of Canopus the Master of Menelau• ship
who was buried in that Ilande, whych
Page  [unnumbered]
lyeth against the said mouth of Nyle, where Libie en∣deth, and Egypt beginneth, is
inhabited by nations of sundry languages, which are withdrawne into way∣lesse
wildernesses. * Of these the Athlantians are alto∣gether void of manners méete for
men. None hath a∣nie proper calling, none hath any speciall name. They curse the
Sun at his rising, and curse him likwise at his going downe: and because they are
scorched wyth the heate of his burning beames, they hate the God of light. It is
affirmed that they dreame not, and that they vtterlie abstaine from all thinges
bearing lyfe. The Troglodits dig them caues vnder the grounde, * and house
themselues in them. There is no couetous∣nesse of getting, for they haue bound
themselues from riches, by wilful pouertie. * Onely they glory in one stone which
is called Hexacontalythos so powdred with diuers sparks, y t the colours of
thréescore sundrie stones are perceiued in his little compasse. All these liue by
the flesh of Serpents, and béeing ignoraunt of spéech, * doo rather iabber and
gnarre then speake. The Augyles worship none but the deuils. The first nyght thatthey are married, they compell theyr wyues to haue to doo with as many as will
come: and from that time forward, they bind them by most straight lawes to
continuall chastitie. The Gamphasants abstayne from warres, * eschew intercourse
of merchandise, and will not abide to intermedle with any straunger. It is thought
that y e Blemmyes (but not those Blemmyes that dwell by the Red sea) are borne
headlesse, * & that they haue theyr mouth and eyes in their breste. * The Satyres
haue no resemblance of manne sauing onely shape. The Egypanes are the very
same that wée see them painted. The Hymamtopodes hauing y e ioynts of their
legges bowed, doo rather créepe then goe, and in walking vse rather to slyde then
to steppe.
Page  [unnumbered]
The Pharusians hauing brought Hercules on the waie as he was going toward the
Hesperids, * were so wearie of the iourney, that they taryed there. And thus much
of Lybie.
CAP. XLIIII.
Of Egypt, of the head, encrease, & mouthes of Nile, of the Oxe Apis: of the
Crocodiles: of the bird Tro∣chyle: of the Skinks, waterhorses, and the bird Ibis, of
the wonderfull trees of Egypt, of Alexandria, and of Pyra∣myds or Broches.
E
Gypt runneth to the South inward, vntill it méete with the Aethiopy ∣ ans. *
Behind it floweth Nile about the lower part there∣of. The which Riuer béeing
deuided at the place that is named Delta, embraceth a péece of groūd within it
like an Ile, and it is almost vnknowne where the head is from whence it commeth,
as we shall declare. It hath hys beginning from a Mountaine of the lower
Mau ∣ ritanie, that is n•ere the Ocean. Thus affirme the Punick bookes, and so
reported King Iuba as I vnder¦stand. By and by therefore it maketh a Lake which
they call Nilides.
And it is coniectured that Nile commeth frō thence.
Page  [unnumbered]
because thys Poole bringeth forth the same kinds of hearbs, fishes, and beasts that
we sée in Nyle, and that if Mauritanie from whence it hath his originall, hap∣pen
to bee watred eyther with ouer déepe snowe, or rage of raine, the flood in Egypt is
thereby increased: But the Nyle when he runneth out of his Lake is suc∣ked into
the sandes, and hydden in the loose moulde of the earth▪ and afterward, bursting
foorth in the Caue of Caesarea, larger then hee was before, bringeth the same
tokens with him which we noted in him at hys first spring.
Afterward hee sinketh downe againe, and venteth not aboue the ground, till after
a long weary iourney, he come to the Aethyopians. Where it ryseth vppe a∣gaine,
it maketh the Ryu•r Nygris which we told you before bounded the borders of
Affrick. The Inhabi∣ters there call it Astapus, which is as much to say, as a water
flowing out of darknesse. It inuironeth many and great Iles, whereof some are of
so large and huge bignesse, that a man can scarce lakey through them in fiue
dayes, * runne he as fast as he can. The noblest of them is * Meroe, about which,the Ryuer béeing de∣uided, is named on the right Channell Astusapes, and on the
left Astabores. Then also trauelling through great Countryes a long iourney, as
soone as y e Rocks méeting him by the way make him rough, hee caryeth his
waters with such violence through the cragged cliffs, that he may séeme to fal
rather then to flow, and at lenght when he hath passed the last leape (for so the
Egyptians call certaine straights of hys) there is no daunger in him. Then leauing
the name of Syris be∣hinde him, he runneth from thenceforth playne wyth∣out any
stoppe. Lastly he is deuided into seauen chan∣nels: and so turning towarde the
North, is receiued into the Sea of Egypt.
Page  [unnumbered]
Such as are ignorant of Astronomie and Cosmogra∣phie, * haue aledged manie
causes of his increase. Some affyrme that the East wyndes called Etesiae, do
driue great store of clowdes to the place where the Ryuer springeth, and that the
spring rysing by the moysture comming from aboue, afoordeth so much water to
the flowing of the Riuer as the clowdes haue let fal moy∣sture to the féeding of
the spring. Othersome reporte, that béeing driuen backe by the violence of
wyndes, when hee cannot vtter his waues, which kéepe their accustomed
swiftnesse, the water béeing pent in the straight ouerfloweth his banckes, and the
more the blasts of the contrarie wynds resist, so much the high∣er dooth the swift
Riuer (being beaten backe) mount aloft, because that neyther the accustomed
course can emptie the channel, and yet the weyght of the streame commeth on
still from the head of the spring vpon the Ryuer which is dammed vp: And that
thus by the a∣gréeable violence of the Element on the oneside stry∣uing forward,
and on the otherside beating backward, the waues swell, and gather into a heape,
whereby is made the floodde.
Diuers hold opinion, that this spring which is cal∣led Phiala, is raysed by the
influence of the stars, and that béeing haled out by the Sunne beames, it is
hea∣ued vpp by the celestiall fire, but not wythout a sure and orderly custome, that
is to say, at the newe of the Moone, howbeit that the Sunne is the verye grounde
of hys excesse. For the first rysing and swelling thereof beginneth when the
Sunne mooueth through y • signe of Cancer: and afterwarde, when the thir•y
partes thereof are runne out, so as the Sunne is entred into Leo, and the starre
called Sirius ryseth: then the Riuer flushing forth wyth so great a violence,
brea∣keth ouer his bancks: which time the Priests iudged
Page  [unnumbered]
to be the byrth day of the worlde, that is to wéete be∣twéene the * thirtéenth of the
Calends of August, and the eleuenth day of August, and that afterward all the
excesse is called back againe, when the Sunne passeth into Virgo, and is driuen
cleane againe within hys banks, when the Sunne is entred into Libra. They adde
this moreouer, that he hurteth both wayes, whe∣ther he swell too high or too lowe,
forasmuch as hys scantnes bringeth small store of increase, and his ouer great
aboundance hindreth the tyllage by to long con∣tinuance of moistnes. They say
that his greatest ex∣cesse riseth to eightéene cubits, and his measurablest to
sixtéene: and y • at fiftéene wanteth no store of fruite. But if it be vnder, it causeth
derth. They attribute al∣so this maiestie vnto him, that hee shoulde foreshewe
thinges to come: grounding their argument héerevp∣pon, that at y • battell of
Pharsalie, it excéeded not fyue fathome. This is most certaine, that hee onely of
all Riuers breatheth forth no ayres. It beginneth to ap∣pertaine to the Realme ofEgypt from Syene, where∣in is y e vttermost bounde of Aethyop, & so from thence
vntill it fal into the Sea, it keepeth the name of Nyle. Among all the thinges that
Egypt hath woorthye to be spoken of, they make a wonder specially of the Oxe
which they call Apis.
Him they worshyppe as a God, * and hee is notable for the whyte specke which
groweth naturally on hys right side, representing the likenesse of the horned
Moone. The time is appointed howe long hee shall liue, which beeing expyred,
hée is drowned in the bottome of a holy Well, because hee shoulde not liue any
longer then is lawfull for him. By and by not wythout solemne mourning of all
the whole Realme another is sought.
Assoone as he is founde, a hundred Priestes wayte
Page  [unnumbered]
vpon him to Memphis, to the intent that taking or∣ders there, he may begin to
become holye. The Tem∣ples into which he entereth or where he resteth, they
misticallie name bryde Chambers. Hee giueth mani∣fest foretokens of things to
come: * and that inespecial∣ly if he take meate of their handes that come to aske
counsel. By refusing Germanicus• Caesars hande, hee be∣wrayed that which
hung ouer his head, for it was not long after, but Caesar was dispatched of his
life. The boyes followe flocking after Apis, and suddainly, as though they were
mooued with some spirit, they tell of things to come. Once in a yéere a Cowe is
shewed him, and shée also is not without certaine marks, the which is kylled the
same day that she is found, assoone as she hath béene shewed to him. The people
of Mem ∣ phis solemnize the byrth day of Apis, by casting a cup of golde into Nyle.
This solemnitie is helde seauen dayes together, during which time the Crocodyles
kéepe as it were a truce with the Priestes, and touch them not in their washings.
But the eyght day, when the Ceremonies are nowe finished, (as though open
warre were proclaimed again) they take to thē theyr former crueltie. * The
Crocodile a fourefooted mys∣chiefe, hath force both vpon land and water alike.
Hée hath no tongue, and he mooueth y • vpper Iaw. Where he byteth he taketh
horrible fast holde, his téeth shut∣ting Checquer wise one wythin another. For the
most part he groweth to the bignes of twenty fathoms, and they lay Egs like
Géece Egs. Hee chooseth a place to builde his neste in, where the water of Nyle
cannot come when it is at the fullest. In cheryshing vp theyr young, the Male and
Female kéepe theyr turnes. Be∣side hys wyde chappes, hée is also armed with
outra∣gious long talants. A nights hee kéepeth in y • waters, and a dayes he resteth
vppon the lande.
Page  [unnumbered]
He is clad in a meruailous strong hyde, in so much as a péece of artillarie shotte
at him out of any engine reboundeth backe againe from hys skynne. There is a
little prettie byrde called Trochylos, * which in see∣king to féede vpon the flesh
that sticketh in the Croco∣dyles téeth, dooth by little and little scrape his mouth,
and so delyghting him easily with hys soft tyckling, maketh him gape, that hee
may stande betwéene his chappes. * Which thing the Enhydre (which is a kynd of
water Ratte) perceiuing, whyppeth into the beasts belly, and eateth vp hys
inwardes, and then grating through his paunche commeth out againe. There is
also a kind of Dolphins in Nyle, * that haue finnes like sawes vpon theyr backs.
These Dolphins egge foorth the Crocodiles for the nonce to swymme, and thendi∣uing subtillie, they poppe vppe vnder them, and cut∣ting theyr bellies kyll
them. Moreouer in a certaine Iland of Nyle, there dwell men of a very low stature,
but of such a boldnesse, that they offer to méete y • Cro∣codyles, for these
Monsters pursue them that flée from them, and flée from them that follow them.
Therfore are they caught, and béeing made tame become slaues in their owne
waters, and when they be throughlye brought in awe, they are so obedient for
feare, that for getting their wildnesse, they carry theyr Maisters ry∣ding on their
backs. As soone therefore as they escrye this Iland or this nation by the smell,
they flée far of. In the water they are dull of sight, and on the lande most sharpe
sighted. All the Winter long they eate no meate: but from the beginning of the
short dayes, they continue fasting by the space of foure Monethes together. Ther
is also about Nile great store of Skinks which are like Crocodiles, * but of a lesser
making, and shorter, howbeit they are very necessarye for the pre∣seruation of
helth. For Physicions make drinkes of
Page  [unnumbered]
them to ease the numnes of sinewes, and kil the force of poyson. In the same
Ryuer, and in the same soyle, bréedeth the Water horse, lyke a Horse in back,
mane, and neying: wyth a snoute turning vpwarde, * clouen clées, tushes like a
Boare, and a writhed tayle. Hee eateth vppe the Corne in the night, whereunto of
a subtiltie hee goeth backwarde, that by the deceitfull print of his foote, hée may
not bee laide for in hys way homeward.
The same beast, when he is ouerfull with féeding gettes him to the Réedes that
are newe cutte downe, and trots so long vppe and downe vppon them, vntill the
sharpe stumppes haue so wounded his féete, that with bléeding he may abate the
burthen of his bellye. Afterwarde hée stoppeth the wounde with clay, vntill it
growe to a dry scarre. Marcus Scaurus was y • first that brought Water horses and
Crocodiles to Rome. About the same bankes is a Byrde called Ibis, * which
maketh hauocke of Serpents Egges, and carryes them as a most delectable meate
to her young ones in her nest: by meanes whereof the increase of hurtfull thinges
is diminished. Neyther doo these birdes good wythin y • coast of Egypt onelie. For
wheras swarms of winged Snakes come out of the Fennes of Arabi• whose
poyson is so swift of operation, that menne dye of their stinging before they féele
anie paine, the birds béeing mooued with a certaine foresight (wherewith they are
endued for the same purpose) goe altogether in aray, and before the saide forraine
mischiefe canne waste the bounds of theyr owne Country, they méete the
pestilent flocks in the ayre, and there deuoure all the whole hoste of them. For
which deserte they are counted holie, and no man may hurt them. They lay their
Egges at theyr mouth. Onelie Pelusium bree∣deth them blacke, the reste of Egypt
bréedeth them
Page  [unnumbered]
white. Of the trées which only Egypt beareth, y • chiefe is the Figge trée of Egypt,
which hath leaues lyke a Mulberrie Trée, * and beareth fruite not onely on the
boughes, but also on the body of the Trée. It is so •o••∣teous in fruitfulnesse, that
in one yéere it beareth sea∣uen times. Wheresoeuer yée pull of one Fyg, by and by
buddeth vppe another. The woode thereof beeing put into the water sinketh
downe to the bottome: and afterward, when it hath lyen long soking in the wa∣ter,
as though it were made lighter, it ryseth vppe and fléeteth vpon the brym: and
cleane contrary to the na¦ture of all other woods, moistnes maketh it dry. TheDate trée of Egypt, * is also a thing worthy to bee spo∣ken of, properly it is called
Adipsos, and so it ought to bee called: for béeing tasted it putteth away thirste.
The sauor therof is like a Quince: but it stauncheth not thirst, vnlesse it be
gathered somwhat before it bée ripe. For if it be taken full ripe, it perisheth the
me∣morie, takes away ones going, makes ones tongue trippe, and weakening the
powers both of the minde and of the body, coūterfetteth the vice of drunkennes. *
The Marches of Egypt where it ryseth in height to∣ward the vppermost point of
Kakecaumen, are inha∣bited by a people, which find out the moment wherin the
yéere beginneth first his ordinarie course by thys deuice. There is chosen a holy
groue, whereinto they driue beastes of all kinds. These beastes, at such time as
the motion of heauen is come about to his deter∣minate point, expresse their
vnderstandings by such outward signes and tokens as they are able. Some howle,
some lowe, some roare, some bray, and di∣uers runne together into the myre, and
theyr wal∣lowe.
Thys experiment is a rule to them, wher∣by to finde out the beginning of the time.
The same
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people reporte also, that it hath béene left vnto them for a certaintie by the first
founders of their Nation, that the Sunne rysing was there, whereas is now the
going downe. * Among the Citties of Egypt, Thebe is notable for the number of
Gates, vnto which Cittie the Arabians bring merchandise from all parts of the
worlde. Hereof the Countrey Thebaica taketh hys name. * Abydos also sometime
renowmed wyth the Palace of Memnon, and nowe beautified with the Temple of
Osyris. Both the hugenesse of the work it¦selfe, and the King of Macedonie the
founder thereof, doo •nnoble Alexandria, * and Dimocrates the maister of the
workes, deserued the seconde place of fame next vnto the builder, for setting out
the platt thereof. Alexandria was builded in the hundred and twelfth Olympiade,
when L. Papyrius the Sonne of Spurius and C. Petilius the Sonne of Caius were
Consulles of Rome, not farre from the mouth of the Ryuer Nyle, which some call
Heracleotick, and othersome Cano ∣ pick. There is also Pharos ▪ * peopled with
inhabiters sette there by Caesar the Dictator, where lights are sette vppe a nights
for men, to sayle safely in and out of the Hauen by. For the comming to
Alexandria is subtill, full of deceitfull shelues, an vntertaine Sea, and arriuable
onely at thrée Channels, Tegamus, Po ∣ sidonius, and Taurus. Hée•e upon therefore
such bea∣kons or engines as are framed in Hauens to giue light, are called Phari. *
The * Pyramides are Broches in Egypt, raysed with sharpe spyres aboue the
height of any thing that can be made by mans hand: and for asmuch as they passe
the measure of shaddowes, they haue no shadowes at all. Now let vs turne our
talke from Egypt.
Page  [unnumbered]
CAP. XLV.
Of Arabie and of the Frankencence and Myrrhe in it, of the byrds called Phaenix
and Cynamolgies Of the manners of the Arabians, and of the kynds of theyr
precious stones.B
Eyonde the mouth of Nylus called Pelusiacum is Arabie stretching to y •
Red sea, * which Varro affirmeth to be called Erythraeum, of King Erythrus the
sonne of Perseus & Andromeda, and not onely red of the colour, thereof. The
sayde Author, auoucheth also, * that on y • shore of this Sea, is a Foun∣taine,
whereof if Shéepe drinke, they chaunge the co∣lour of theyr fléeces: and wheras
they were white be¦fore, they lose that which they had vntill they drunke, and
afterward become a déepe yellow colour. Uppon the Redde Sea, standeth •he
Cittie Arsinoe. And thys Arabie extendeth to that spicebearing and rich Land, *
which the Cutabanes and * Scaenits possesse. The Ara ∣ bians are renowmed with
the Mountain Casius. The cause why these Scaenits are so named, is for that they
dwell in Tents, and haue none other houses. Theyr Tents are couered with haires
made of Goates haire wouen.
Moreouer, they vtterly abstaine from Swynes flesh. Surelie if this kind of beast
bee brought thither,
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it dieth by and by. This Arabie the Greekes call * Eu ∣ daemon, and we call it by
interpretation blessed. It is inhabited wyth a Hyll made by hand, betwéene y •
Ry∣uer Tygris, and the Riuer Eulaeus: which springing among the Medes, * is so
renowmed for the cléerenesse of hys water, that all the Kings of that Realme,
drink none other thing then the liquor thereof. That it was not vnworthelie
surnamed Eudaemon or blessed, yee may gather héereby: that besides the spyces
whereof it hath great store, that Countrey onely and none o∣ther, yéeldest,
Frankencence, and yet not al the whole Countrey neither. For in the mids of it are
the Atra ∣ nits a shiere of the Sabaeans, * from whence about eight remoouings of,
is the Countrey that beareth y • Fran∣kencence. It is called Arabie, that is to say
holy, for so the name signifieth by interpretatiō. * These low trees are not cōmon:
but (which is a strange thing among barbarous nations) they goe by right of
inheritaunce in the succession of certaine Families. And therefore those that haue
the possession of thys groue, are called in the Arabian tongue holy. The same
persons also at such time as they doo eyther crop or fell•these groues, come not
nigh any coarse, nor defile themselues wyth the companie of women. Before the
trueth of the mat¦ter was certainlie knowne, some likened thys trée to the Mastick
Trée, and some to the Turpentine Trée, vntill such time as by the Bookes of King
Iuba, wryt∣ten to Caesar the Sonne of Augustus, it was plainlie declared, that it
was a Trée wyth a crooked stock, and boughes like a Maple, yéelding a iuyce like
y • Almond Trée, and that it is wont to be cutte in the beginning of the Dogdaies,
when the Sunne burneth hotest. In the same lands groweth also Myrrhe: * the
rootes wher of doo thriue with dyging, and delight to bee proyned: and when they
be layd bare, they yéelde y • fatter gum.
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The iuyce that issueth of his owne accord is y • more precious: and that which is
drayned forth by slitting the barke, is counted the worser. The barke wyndeth
rounde like a whirlepoole, and is full of rough pricks: the leafe is like an Olife,
sauing that it is somewhat more rough. The vttermost height that it groweth vnto,
is fiue Cubits. The Arabians make fire wyth the shreddes of it: the fume whereofis so noysome, that if they preuented not the mischiefe with the sent of burnt
Storax, diuers times they shoulde catch vn∣curable diseases. Among the same
people bréedeth the byrd called the Phaenix, * of the bignesse of an Eagle, his
head garnished with a plume of feathers sticking vppe like a crest, with tufted
chéekes, and with a ring about his necke, shyning like gold. All his hinder part is
purple, sauing his trayne, the feathers whereof are of a rose colour, medled with a
bright Azure. It is prooued that he lyueth fiue hundred and fortye yéeres. Hée
maketh hys herse of Cynnamom, which he trim∣meth néere vnto Panchaia,
bringing his pyle of sticks into the Cittie of the Sunne, * and there laying it vp∣pon
the Altar: It is a matter of doubtfull credite a∣mong Authors, whither a great yéere
be accomplished with the life of this yéere or no. The most part of thē affyrme,
that a great yéere consisteth not of fiue hun∣dred and fortie, but of twelue
thousand, nine hundred fiftie and foure of our yéeres. Finally, when Quintus
Plautius, and Sext•• Papinius were Consuls, the Phae ∣ nix•lewe into Egypt, and
béeing taken the eight hun¦dreth yeere after the building of the Cyttie, was by the
commaundement of Claudius the Emperour, shewed openlie at the election of the
Officers. The which deede, besydes the decrée that remaynes con∣cerning the
same, is also enrolled among the Acts of the Cittie.
Page  [unnumbered]
The Cynnamolgus likewyse a byrd of Arabia, * ma∣keth hys neste of the twygges
of Cynnamom in the trées that be highest, whereunto because there is no
clymbing by reason of the height of the trées, and brit∣tlenesse of the boughes, the
inhabiters throwe lynes with plummets of lead on the endes of them into the
nestes, and so pulling them downe, sel them farre dée∣rer, because the Merchants
like that Cynnamom bet¦ter then any other. * The Arabians haue a large and a
wyde Countrey euery way, and liue after diuers ma∣ners, with diuers kinds of
Religion. Many goe wyth powled heads, and hoodes like myters, and in apparel
fashyon like to the same: and some shaue their beards to the hard skyns. They
giue themselues to Merchan¦dise: not bying other folks wares, but vttering they•
owne. For they bee rich bothe in woods and waters. The shadowes which lye to
vs on the ryght hande, * lie to them on the left. Some of them that liue hardlye eate
Snakes flesh. They haue neither regard of body nor soule, and therfore they are
named Ophiophags. From the Seacoast of thys Countrey was brought vnto King
Polycrates, a precious stone called a Sardo ∣ nix, which first stirred vppe the
firebrand of excesse in our part of the worlde. * But the Sardonix * is so well
knowne of all men, that I thinke not méete to make long processe about it. The
vpperpart thereof is al∣lowable if it be a shéere red: but it is reprooued if it be
thicke like dregges. The mids of it is girded wyth a whytish circle, the grace
whereof is if it neither shed his colour into the next, nor he himselfe borrow of
the other. The rest of him is finished with a black, which (if it giue a light through
it,) is counted a fault: but if it let from séeing through, it giueth it the greater
grace. * The Arabian also findeth the Molochite of a deeper greene then is the
Emerawde, hauing a
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natiue vertue against the perrills of infants. Hee fin∣deth likewise the Iris in the
Red sea, sixe cornered as the Crystall: * which béeing touched with the
Sunne∣beames, casteth out of him a bryght reflexion of the ayre like the
Raynebowe. The same Arabians gather the Androdamant bright as Siluer, * withsides equal∣lie square, which yée would thinke to haue borowed somewhat of the
Diamond. It is thought y • hys name is gyuen him of that hee asswageth y e
passions of hote mindes, and restrayneth the rage of anger. Wee haue from thence
also the Arabish * Pederote: which (to sée to) is like Iuorie, and will not be filed. It
helpeth them that beare it, against paines of the sinewes. In the Pederote is
conueyed whatsoeuer is excellent, with a certaine prerogatiue of comlines. It is
cleere, like Crystal: it is ruddy like purple: glystring in the vttermost verges as it
were out of water, with a bor∣der yellowe like Saffron. With this swéetnesse it
ra∣uisheth the eyes, allureth the sight, deteyneth the be∣holders: and for this
beautie, it pleaseth also the Indi ∣ ans. This is inough concerning Arabie, nowe let
vs retyre againe to Pelusium.
Page  [unnumbered]
CAP. XLVI.
Of Mount Casius: of the great Pompeis tombe: and of the Towne Ioppa.
F
Rom Pelusium is Mount Casius, and y • Chap∣pell of Iupiter Casius, and
al¦so the place of Ostracina, ennobled with the Tombe of the great Pompey. From
thence beginneth * Idu ∣ maea, fruitful of Date trées. Afterward comes * Ioppa, the
auncientest Towne in all the worlde, as which was builded before the generall
flood. In that Towne is to be séene a Rocke, which kéepeth yet the print of the
chaynes of Andromeda, who (as is reported, * and that by no vaine rumor) was
sette foorth there to bee deuoured of a Monster.
For Marcus Scaurus in his Aedileshyppe show∣ed the bones of that Monster
openly at Rome. The thing is regystred in Chronicles. The measure of thē also is
contayned in true Bookes: that is to say, that the length of his ribbes was more
then fortie foote, and that hee was farre higher then the Olyphants of Inde.
Moreouer, euery ioynt of hys ridgbone were aboue halfe a foote broade.
Page  [unnumbered]
CAP. XLVII.
Of Iewry: of the Ryuers and Lakes therein: of Balme: of Sodom and Gomor•he: and
of the Essaene Nations.
I
Ewrie is famous for waters, but all the wa∣ters are not of one nature. * The
Ryuer Iordan béeing of excellent sweetnes, and flowing out of y e fountaine
Peneas, runneth by moste pleasant Countries, vntill that falling into the Lake
*
Asphaltites, which ingendreth Bitumen, it is there corrupted with the standing
water. This Lake hath no lyuing thing in it, nothing can drowne in it. Buls and
Cammels swym without daunger in it. There is also a Lake called Genezar, *
sirtéene myles long, besett with many goodly Citties, and himselfe fellowe with
the best. But the Lake of Tyberias * is preferred be∣fore all these, wholsome for his
milde tast, and effectu∣all of operation for health. The heade of Iewry hath béene
Ierusalem, * but it is vtterly destroyed. In stedde thereof, succéeded Iericho, * andthis also hath ceased to be the head, since it was conquered in the warres of
Artaxerxes.
Néere vnto Ierusalem is the Fountaine * Callyr ∣ hoe, greatly commended for the
medicinable heate thereof, which taketh hys name of the renowne of his water. *
Onely in thys Lande groweth Balme, which
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kynde of Trée was not to be founde out of y • compasse of twenty acres of
grounde, vnto the time that wee conquered the Countrey. But after that we had
got∣ten Iewry, those groues were so spredde abroade, that nowe very large Hylles
doo yeelde vs Balme.
The stocks of them are like vines: they are sette of slyppes: they we•e lustie with
dygging about the rootes: they delight in water: they loue proyning, and are
shadowed continually with their own leaues which stick fast.
The wood of the stemme béeing touched wyth y∣ron, dyeth without delay: and
therefore they be cun∣ningly slytted eyther with glasse or with Knyues of boane,
and that onely in the Barke, out of which is∣sueth a Gumme of excellent
swiftnesse. Next after the Gum, the second place of price is gyuen to y e Ap∣ples,
the thyrd to the rynde, and the last to the woode. A great way from Ierusalem
lyeth a sorrowful coaste, which was striken from heauen, as appeareth by the
soyle thereof, which is black, and resolued into A∣shes.
There were two Townes, the one named So ∣ dom, * the other Gomorrhe: and there
groweth an Apple which though it séeme to bee rype, yet canne it not bee eaten.
For wythin the skynne that goeth about it, there is contayned a cindrye soote,
whych at euerye lyght touch puffeth out lyke a smoke, and crumbleth into loose
dust.
The inner partes of Iewrye towarde the West, * are possessed by y e Essaenes: who
vsing a notable trade of dyscypline by themselues, haue departed from the
custome of all other Nations, ordeyned heereunto (as I thynke) by the prouidence
of the diuine ma∣iestie.
There are no Women among them: they haue
Page  [unnumbered]
vtterly renounced fleshlie lust: they occupy no mony, they liue by Dates: no
manne is there borne, and yet there wanteth no store of men. The place it selfe is
deputed to chastitie: wherevnto though many resorte from all places about, yet is
none admitted vnlesse his approoued chastitie and innocent life make him
woor∣thie. For hee that is guiltie of neuer so light a fault, cannot get in there,
make he neuer so much sute: but is remooued by the power of God.
Thus time without minde (a wonderfull thing to bée spoken) the nation
continueth, and yet no chyld∣beddes among them. Beneath the Essaenes was the
Towne of Engaddie, which nowe is vtterly rased. Neuerthelesse, the notable
woods kéepe theyr reputa∣tion still, and the high groues of Date trées are no∣thing
at all defaced, neither by time nor by warres. The vttermost bounde of Iewry is
the Castle of Mas ∣ sada.CAP. XLVIII.
Of the Towne Scythopolis, and the Moun∣taine Casius.
I
Passe ouer Da ∣ masco, Philadelphia, and Raphana, and will tel who were
the firste inhabyters, and who was the founder of S•ythopolis. * At suche time as
Bacchus had buried his Nourse, he builded this Towne, to the intent by
Page  [unnumbered]
rearing the walles thereof, to aduaunce the renowme of her Sepulture. And
forasmuch as inhabiters wan∣ted, he chose out of his company the Scythians: and
the more to encourage them to defende the Cittie, hee gaue it their name.
In the Countrey Selucia is another Mount Casius, harde by Antioche, from the
toppe whereof a manne may in the fourth watch sée the Globe of the Sunne, * and
with turning his body about a little aside, behold day on his one side, by meanes
of the Sun dispersing the darknesse wyth his bright beames, & on hys other side
still night. Such a prospect is there out of Mount Casius, that yée may sée the
light before the day ap∣peare.
CAP. XLIX.
Of the Ryuers Euphrates and Tygris, and of sundry sorts of precious stones.
E
Vphrates cōmeth out of the greater Armenia, * rysing aboue Zimara vnder
the foote of a Mountayne that is next Scythia, which the dwellers by call
Capo ∣ tes. This Riuer receiuing certaine others vnto him, wexeth bigge, and
béeing en¦creased with forraine waters, wrestleth wyth the straights of the
Mountaine Taurus, whom he cutteth through at Eligea, albeit he withstand hym
twelue
Page  [unnumbered]
myles broade: and so running still foorth a long way, leaueth Comagene on his
right side, and Arabie on his left. Afterwarde, swéeping by many Nations, hee
deuideth Babylon sometime the heade Citty of Chal ∣ dey. Hée enricheth
Mesopotamia with the excesse of his yéerely ouerflowing, and maketh the soile
fruitful by shedding himselfe vpon the land, in the like sort as the Riuer of Egypt
doth. He passeth ouer his bankes in a manner the same time that Nylus doth,
namelye when the Sunne is in the twentye degrée of Cancer. And it falleth againe
at such time as the Sunne ha∣uing trauailed ouer Leo, is setting foote into the
vt∣termost Marches of Virgo.
The Cosmographers holde opinion, that it hap∣peneth so vnto like paralleles,
which by the plat bothe of the heauen and of the earth, méete iust and euen
to∣gether, according to the order of the imaginitiue line. Whereby it appeareth that
these two Ryuers, béeing situate plomme vnder one parallele, albeit they flowe
out of sundry quarters, haue neuerthelesse one selfe same cause of both theyr
increasings. * It is conueni∣ent also to speake of Tygris in this place. In the Realmeof the greater Armenie, it lyfteth vppe hys head wyth a meruailous fayre and
cléere spring, in a hygh ground, which is named Elongosine: and yet is hee not
bygge from the beginning.
Fyrst he goeth slowly, not wyth hys owne name: but as soone as he entreth the
borders of Medea, hee is forthwyth called Tygris: for so doo the Medes call an
arrowe. Hée runneth into the Lake Arethusa, which sustaineth all weyghts: * the
Fysh whereof ne∣uer come within the Channell of Tygris, lyke as the Fysh of
Tygris neuer passe into the Poole of Arethu ∣ sa, through which hee shooteth
vnlyke of colour, and a very swift pace.
Page  [unnumbered]
Anon after béeing letted by the Mountaine Tau ∣ rus, hée sinketh into a déepe
Caue, and so running vn∣der him, venteth againe on the otherside of hym at
Zoroanda, bearing before him wéedes & other drosse, and a little way of sinketh
againe, and afterwarde a∣uauncing himselfe, hee runneth by the Adiabines and
Arabians, embraceth Mesopotamia, receiueth the no∣ble Ryuer Choaspes into
him, and carryeth Euphra ∣ tes into the Sea of Persia. As many Countryes as
drinke of Euphrates, doo glyster wyth sundry preci∣ous stones. * The Smilax is
gathered in Euphrates owne Channell, a Iewell like to the Marble of
Pro ∣ comiesus, but that in the belly of thys stone, there shynes a yellow, like the
ball of ones eye. The Sagda commeth to vs from the Chaldyes, not easie to bee
founde, but that (as they affyrme) it offereth it selfe to be taken. For by the
naturall operation of the spy∣rite thereof, it ryseth out of the bottome to the shyps
that sayle ouer it, and cleaueth so fast to theyr Kéeles, that it can hardly bee
seperated from them wythout scraping away part of the timber. * This Sagda for
the effects that they knowe it hath, is hyghly estéemed of the Chaldyes: and it
hath such an orient gréene, that the beauty thereof maketh it to bee liked aboue all
o∣thers. * The Myrrhite is common among the Parthy ∣ ans. If yée should iudge
thys stone by the eye, it is of the colour of Myrrhe, and hath nothing that may
de∣light the sight. But if ye try him throughly, and chafe hym tyll hée bee hote,
hee hath as sweete a flauor as Nardus. In Persia is such aboundance of stones,
and such varietie, that it woulde bee a long matter to re∣porte theyr names. The
Mythridax béeing stryken wyth the Sunne, * glystereth wyth sundry sorts of
colours.
The Tecolythe * beeing lyke the kernell of an
Page  [unnumbered]
an Oliue, is despised in sight: but in goodnes for me∣dicine it excelleth the beautie
of other stones. For bée∣ing beaten into powder and drunke, it breaketh the stone,
and easeth the diseases of the rayne and y e blad∣der. * The Ammochryse béeing
medled wyth sparkes of golde and fine grauell together, hath héere and there little
square spots of goldfoyle and dust. The Aetite is both yellow, and round of
proportion, contayning an∣other stone within it, which maketh a noyse when it is
styrred, albeit that the cunningest Iewellers say, it is not the little stone within it
that maketh that ting∣ling, * but a spirite. This Aetite Z•roaster preferreth before all
other stones, and attributeth very great vertue vnto it. It is founde eyther in Egles
nestes, or els on the shoares of the Ocean: but most of all in Persia. Béeing worne
about a woman wyth chylde, it preserueth her from deliuerance before her time.
The Pyrrhite is of the colour of golde, and wyll not suffer himselfe to bee heldeouer close in ones hande, for if it chaunce to be strayned ouer hard, * it burneth y e
fingers. * The Chalazias pretendeth both the whytnes and the fashyon of a
Haylestone, of hardnesse most sounde and inuinsible.
The Echite is spotted like a Uiper. The Dyonisi ∣ as is browne, * besprinckled with
red specks: the same béeing broken in powder and mingled with water, * hath the
flauor of wyne, and (which in that sent is a wonder) it resisteth drunkennes. * The
Glossopetre falleth from the skye in the wane of the Moone, lyke to a mans
tongue, and it is of no small power as the Magicians affirme: who thinke that the
motions of the Moone are stirred out of it. The Iewell of y e Sun is very white, *
after the manner of a streaming starre and spreadeth out ruddy beames. The hayre
of Venus is of glossy black, resembling inwardly the likenes of
Page  [unnumbered]
red hayres. The Selenite is of a shéere white colour, * medled with the colour of
honny, contayning in it the Image of the Moone, which is reported to growe or
diminish from day to day, * according to the course of the Planet.
The Meconite resembleth Poppie. * The Myr ∣ mecite is marked with the likenesse
of an Ant créep∣ing. * The Chalcophthong ringeth like Brasse beaten vppon.
Béeing carryed chastly, it preserueth the voice cléere. * The Syderite (to sée to)
differeth nothing from yron: but like a makebate, wheresoeuer it is brought in, it
styrreth discorde. * The Phlogite representeth as it were flames of fire burning
within it. * The Anthra¦cias glistereth as it were with sparkling stars. The Enydros
sweateth in such wyse, * as yée woulde thinke there were some spring of water
shut vp within it.
CAP. L.
Of Cilicia, and the Denne Coricium, and of the Mountaine Taurus.
C
Oncerning Cili ∣ cia which now is in hande, if wee treate of it as it is nowe,
we shall séeme to dis∣credite antiquitie. Againe, if we •ollowe the bounds it had
in olde time, it is cleane contrarye from the state of thinges present. And
there∣fore
Page  [unnumbered]
to auoyde both inconueniences, the best that wee can doo is to report the states of
both times. In olde time Cilicia extended euen vnto Pelusium of Egypt, * and the
Lydians, Medes, Armenians, Pamphilians, and Cappadocians, were vnder the
dominion of the Cilicians. Anon after, béeing subdued by the Assyri ∣ ans, it was
streightened into a narower roome. It ly∣eth for the most part in Champion
ground, receiuing the Sea of Issos in a large Bay: and on the back it is enclosed
wyth the ridges of the Mountaines Taurus, and Amanus. It tooke the name of
Cilix, whom aun∣cient time hath hidden quite beyond the reache of
re∣membraunce. They say he was the Sonne of Phae ∣ nix, who is counted
auncienter then Iupiter, and one of the first that euer was bredde vppon the earth.
It hath the mother of Citties Tarsus, * which Perseus the noble ympe of Danaefounded. * The Ryuer Cydnus cutteth through thys Cittie. Some haue left in
wry∣ting, that this Cydnus falleth from the Mountaine Taurus: and othersome say
it is deriued out of the Channell of Choaspis: * the which Choaspis is of so swéete
tast, that as long as it runneth wythin y e bor∣borders of Persia, the Kinges of
Persia reserued it on∣ly for their owne drinking: and when they should go a
progresse any whither, they carryed of the water of it with them. Of such parent
therefore doth Cydnus take hys wonderfull swéetnes. Whatsoeuer is white the
Syrians in their natiue language call it Cydnus: wherof the name was giuen this
Ryuer. Hee swel∣leth in the spring time when the snowes are melted, the rest of
the yéere he is slender and quiet. About Corycus in Cilicia groweth much
Saffron, and very good, * for though Sicill, though Syrena, though Lycia yéelde
Saffron to, yet is the Saffron of Cilicia y e most principall. It hath a more fragrant
smell, it is of a
Page  [unnumbered]
more golden colour, and the iuyce thereof is more ef∣lectuous in medicine.
There is also the Towne Coricus, * and a Caue which maketh hollow the
Mountaine that butteth vp¦pon the Sea, from the very toppe to the hard bottom,
wyth a most large and open roome wythin. For ha∣uing both sides pitched fast in
the déepe of the ground, it commeth ouer the midspace that is emptie in man∣ner
of a vault, wyth greene trées hanging inwarde wyth their toppes downe. The
descent into it is two myles and a halfe long, hauing the open day al y e way, and
springes of fountaines flowing out on both sides. When ye come to the bottome of
the first vault, there openeth againe another Caue: the entry whereof is at the first
wyde and lightsome, but after warde in go∣ing further in, it waxeth darke by
reason of the nar∣rownes.
In it is a holye Chappell of Iupiter: in the in∣nermost retreit whereof, the dwellers
by doo beleeue that the cowche of the Gyant Typhon standeth. There was in
Cilicia an auncient Towne called Soloe: * the natiue place of Chrysippus Prince of
the Stoick Phi∣losophers: which béeing wonne by Tygranes King of Armenia, was
long after named Pompeyople by Cneus, Pompeyus the great, who conquered
Cilicia to the Romaine Empire. The Mountaine Taurus riseth first at the Indian
Sea, * and so bearing hys ryght side towarde the North, and his left side toward y e
South, and hys frunt full into y e West, shooteth himselfe be∣tweene the Sea of
Egypt and the Sea of Pamphilia at the Rocks of Chelidonie.
It is manyfest hee woulde haue contynued the mayne Lande styll foorthe, but for
the deepe Seas, which wyll not suffer hym to extend his rootes any further.
Page  [unnumbered]
Surelie they that treate of the natures of places, doo prooue that with his
promontories, he hath assaide all meanes possible, to finde passage. For
wheresoe∣uer he is washed with the Sea, hee runneth out in Promontoryes. But he
is stopped, sometime by the Phaenician Sea, sometime by the Sea of Pontus,
som∣time by the Caspian or Hyrcan Sea: through whose resistaunce béeing often
broken of hys wyll, hee wry∣theth towarde the Lake of Maeotis: and béeing as it
were tired with so manie distreses, ioyneth hymselfe wyth the Mountaines
Riphaei. According to the di∣uersitie of nations, * and varietie of tongues that heepasseth by, he is diuerstie named. Among the Indians he is called Imaus, and
afterwarde Paropanisus: a∣mong the Parthians, Choatras: from thence Nipha ∣ tes:
then Taurus: and where hee ryseth of greatest height Caucasus. By the way also
he taketh names of peoples. On the right side he is called Caspius or Hir ∣ canus,
and on the left side Amazonicus, Moschicus, and Scythicus. Besides these, he hath
also many other names, where he gapeth with riuen cliffs, hee maketh Gates,
whereof the first is called the Armenian, the seconde the Caspian: and the thyrd
the Cilician. Hée beareth hys heade towarde Greece also, where hée is called
Ceraunius. From the Coast of Cilicia, hee loo∣keth downe into the Marches of
Affricke. As much of him as lyeth to the South, is scorched wyth the Sun, and
whatsoeuer butteth vpon the North, is punished with winde and frost. Where it is
woodye, is is re∣plenished wyth wylde Beastes, and most cruell Ly∣ons.
Page  [unnumbered]
CAP. LI.
Of Lycia, and the Fable of the Mon∣ster Chymaera.
T
Hat which Vesu ∣ uius is in Campane, * & Aet ∣ na in Sicill, the same is
Chi ∣ •era in Lycia. This Hyll breatheth vp smokie flames in the night times.
Where∣vpon rose the Fable of the thréeformed monster amōg the common people,
belée∣uing that Chimaera was a liuely beaste. And because the place is of a firie
nature, the Lycians dedicated the next Citty vnto Vulcane. and called it Ephaestia,
after the originall of his name. Among other thinges, there was also the noble
Towne of Olympus: but it is de∣••yed, and nowe it is but a Castle.
Beneathe the which are the Kinges waters, a wonder to such as beholde them, for
the beautiful∣nesse of them.
Page  [unnumbered]
CAP. LII.
Of the lesser Asia: of the Temple of Di•na at Ephe∣sus: of the birth of great
Alexander, of the famous wryters of Asia: of Phrygia, of the fourefooted beast called
Bonasus, of the tymes of Homer and Hesiodus, of Memnons byrds, of the
Chameleon, of Storks: and of the originall of the Gala∣thians.
N
Owe followeth Asia: * but I meane not that Asia which béeing the thyrd
part of the worlde, is from the Egyptian Sea bounded wyth the Ryuer Nyle, and
from the Lake Maeotis with the Ryuer Tanais: but I meane that Asia which
beginneth at Telmessus of Lycia, from whence the Gulfe, of Carpathus also
ta∣keth hy• beginning. This Asia therefore is enclosed on the East wyth Lycia and
Phrygia, on the West wyth the 〈 ◊ 〉 Sea, on the South with the Egyp ∣ tian Sea, and
on the North with Paphlagonia. * In it is the most famous Cittie Ephesus. The
beauty of Ephesus is the Temple of Diana, buylded by the A ∣ mozons, such a
royall péece of worke, that when Xerx¦es〈◊〉 fyre on all the T•mples of Asia, thys
one on∣lie hee spared.
But thys gentlenesse of Xerxes exempted not thysPage  [unnumbered]
holy Church vtterly from that mys-fortune. For one Herostratus to the intent (to
purchase himselfe an e∣uerlasting fame by hys mischieuous déede) did sette this
noble péece of work on fire wyth his own hands, * and when he had doone it,
confessed it to wyn hymselfe a continuall name.
It is therefore noted that the Temple of Ephesus was burned the selfe same day
that Alexander the great was borne in Pella, * which (as Nepos reporteth) was in
the Consulshyppe of Marcus Fabius Ambu ∣ stus and Titus Quintius Capitolinus,
the thrée hundred fourescore and fift yéere after the building of Rome. At such
time as the Ephesians afterward repayred it, more beautifull and stately then it
was before. Dino ∣ crates was chiefe maister of the workes, * euen y e same
Dinocrates who by the commaundement of Alexander builded Alexandria in
Egypt, as we tolde you before. The great ruines of Asia beare wytnesse that there
neuer happened so continual earthquakes, and so ma∣nie ouerthrowes of Citties in
any place of the whole worlde, * as in Asia. In somuch that in the raygne of
Tiberius, twelue Citties were ouerthrowne at one tyme wyth earthquake.
The wyts of Asia haue béene renowmed ouer all the world. Fyrst for Poetrie
Anacreon: then Mim ∣ nermus and Antimachus: * after them Hipponax: then
Alcaeus: and among them also one Sapp•o a wo∣man.
For wryting of Hystoryes, Xanthus, Hecateus, Herodotus, * and wyth them
Ephorus and Theopom ∣ pus. Also of the seauen Sages, there were Bias, Thales and
Pittacus, and of Philosophers, * Cleanthes one of the excellen••st Stoicks,
Anaxagoras a sercher of nature, and Heraclitus also that bestowed all hys tyme in
the secrets of a subtiler doctrine.
Page  [unnumbered]
Next Asia,〈◊〉 in Phrygia: * wherein was Celenae ▪ which hauing abolished hys
former name, fléeted into Apamaea, a Towne builded afterward by Seleucus.
Héere was Ma•••as borne, and héere was hee bu∣ried: of whom the Ryuer thereby
tooke his name. For in remembrance of his vngracious chalenge, and ouer
malapart contention wyth the God of Musicke, in playing vpon a shalme, there is
a Ualley wyth a Well in it not far from thence, which beareth marks of the thing
that was doone, and is a tenne myles of from Apamaea, bearing the name
of * Aulocrene vn¦to thys day. * Out of a Mount of this Towne, the Ry∣uer
Maeander lifteth his heade: which running for∣warde and backward in crooked
banks, falleth head∣long betwéene •aria, and Iconia, into the Gulfe that deuideth
Miletum and Priene.
Phrygia it selfe lyeth aboue Troas, * and bordereth Northwarde vpon Galatia, and
Southwarde vppon Lycaoma, Pisidia, and Mygdonia. The same is on the Easte,
next Neighbor vnto Lydia, and on y e North to Mysia and Caria. On that side that
is towarde the midday, is the Mountain Tmolus florished ouer with Saffron, and
the Riuer Pactolus, * whom they call by another name * Chrysoroa, because he
caryeth golde in his streame. In these Countries bréedeth a beaste called Bonasus,
who hath the heade and all the bod•e foorth on, like a Bull. Onely hee hath a
mane lyke a Horse, and hys hornes are so manie times twysted rounde one withinan other, that if a man light vppon them h• cannot be wounded. But that defence
that the fro•〈...〉, hys pau•che recom••n∣ceth. 〈...〉 ground: the heate whereof is
such, that it scaldeth
Page  [unnumbered]
whatsoeuer it toucheth, and so with his mischieuous squirt, hée kéepeth of such
as pursue him. The head of Ionia is Miletus, * sometime the house of Cadmus, the
same that first founde the order to wryte in prose. Not farre from Ephesus is the
Cittie Colophon, renow∣med with the Oracle of Apollo Clarius. And wythin a
little way of that, * ryseth Mount Mimas, which giueth knowledge of the alteration
of the wether by the clowdes that flye ouer the toppe of it. The heade of Maeonia
is Sypilus, * called héertofore Tantalis, and for the longer continuaunce of that
name, commeth Nio ∣ be, borne to the losse of her husbande and children. A∣bout
Smyrna runneth the Ryuer Melas, * without all controuersie, the prince of all the
Ryuers in Asia.
Through the fieldes of Smyrna, cutteth also the Ri∣uer Hermus: which rysing at
Dorilaum in Phrigya, cutteth Phrigya of from Caria. Antiquitie was in a beléefe, *
that this Hermus also flowed with golden streames.
Smyrna (which is the greatest beautie of all to it) was the Countrey of the Poet
Homer, who departed out of this world, * the two hundred, thréescore, & tenth
yeere after the taking of Troy, Agrippa Siluius, the Sonne of Tyberinus then
raigning in Alba, which was the hundred and threescore yeere before the buil∣ding
of Rome. * Betwéene whom and the Poet Hesio ∣ dus (who dyed in the beginning of
the firste Olympi∣ad,) there were a hundred and eyght & thirty yeeres. In the
Rhetaean shore, the Athenians and Mytilene ∣ ans at the Tombe of the * Thessalian
Captaine buil∣ded the Towne Achylleon, which is almost decayed. And about a
forty furlonges from thence, in another nooke of the same shore, the Rhodians
builded another Towne in the honor of Aiax the Sonne of Telamon, which they
named Aeantion.
Page  [unnumbered]
But hard by Troy standeth the Tombe of Mem ∣ non, whereunto come certaine
Byrds flying continu∣allie out of Aethyop in flocks, * which the Troyans cal
Memnons Byrdes. Cremutius is mine Author that these Birds euerie fifth yéere,
assemble in flocks from all quarters wheresoeuer they be in all the worlde, to the
Palace of Memnon. In the vplande Countrey, a∣boue a part of Troas, * lyeth the
region of Teutranie, which was the first dwelling of the Mysians. Teu ∣ tranie is
watred wyth the Ryuer Caicus. Through all Asia is great store of * Chameleons, a
fourefoo∣ted beast, in making like a Lucert, but that hee hath straight and
somewhat longer legges growing to hys belly, wyth a long tayle wrythed rounde
in, with hoo∣ked talants finely bowing inwarde, slowe of gate, and in a manner
trayling like a Snayle: rough bodyed, wyth such a hyde as we sée Crocodiles
haue, and hol∣lowe eyes suncke farre into his head, which he neuer shadoweth
wyth twinckling. Moreouer, he beholdeth thinges not wyth rolling the bals of his
eies, but with staring continually forward. His mouth is euer ga∣ping, and serueth
to doo no kind of thing wyth all: for he neyther eateth meate, nor is nourished
with drink but liueth onely by drawing in the ayre, which is hys onely
sustenaunce. Hys colour is variable, and euerie moment chaungable: so that towhat thing so euer he leaneth himselfe, hee becommeth of the same colour. Two
colours there are which hee is not able to coun∣terfett, redde and white: all other
he counterfetteth with ease. Hys body is almost without flesh, and hys intrailes
without spléene: neither is there any blood to be founde in him, saue in his hart,
and thereof is ve¦rie little. He hydes himselfe in wynter, and comes a∣broade in
the spring time. The Rauen hath greate spight at him, but if he taste of him, hee
béeing deade,
Page  [unnumbered]
kylleth his enemie that hath kylled hym. For if the Rauen eate neuer so little of
him, he dyeth by and by. But the Rauen hath his defensiue, by meanes of na∣ture
it selfe, which putteth foorth her hande to heale him. For as soone as he féeleth
himselfe diseased, hee eateth a Bay leafe, and so recouereth hys health.
There is in Asia a ground called Pythous * Come, a plott in the Champion fieldes,
to which at the very firste time of theyr arriuall, the Storks assemble, * and there
all of them fall vppon him that commeth laste, & teare him in péeces. They say
these foules haue no tongues, but that the crocking which they make, is rather a
sounde of the mouth then a voyce. There is in them a singuler naturalnesse. For
looke how much time they bestowe in bringing vppe theyr yong birds, so much
time doo their birdes bestowe in cherrishyng them againe. For they are so fonde
in kéeping theyr nestes, that by continuaunce of sitting, they cast theyr feathers.
They thinke it a haynous matter in all pla∣ces to hurt them, but specially in
Thessaly, where is vnmeasurable store of Serpents, which they persecu∣ting to
feede vppon, doo greatly ease the Countries of Thessaly of that mischiefe.
Galatia was in auncient time conquered by the olde Inhabyters of Gallia, *
namely by the Tolisto ∣ bogians, Voturians, and * Ambians, which names remaine
vnto this day, albeit that Galatia by the verye sounde of the name, declareth from
whence it is deriued.
Page  [unnumbered]
CAP. LIII.
Of Bythinia, and the rauishing of Hylas: and of the death and buriall of Han∣niball.
B
Ithinia at the en∣terance of the Sea Pontus, toward the Sunne rysing,
oueragainst Thrace, wel∣thie, and garnished richlye with Citties, taketh hys
beginning at the heade of the Riuer Sangarius. * It was in olde time named
Bebrycia, afterwarde Mygdonia, and lastly (of King Bithynus) Bithynia.
In this Countrey by the Cittie Prusias, runneth the Ryuer Hylas, and likewyse
there is the Lake Hylas, wherein it is thought that the Chylde Hylas Hercules
delight whom the Nimphes hadde rauished was drowned. In remembraunce of
whom, the peo∣ple vnto this day runne solemnlie a scatterloping a∣bout the Lake, *
and cry Hylas as loude as they can. In Bithynia also is a place called Lybissa,
néere to Nico ∣ media, registred in the Booke of fame for the Tombe of Hanniball,
who after the iudgment gyuen vppon him at Carthage, resorting first to King
Antiochus, and after the vnfortunate battell of Antiochus at Ther¦mopyles and hysvtter discouragement through the vnconstancie of Fortune, béeing retayned a
guestwise by King Prusias, because hee woulde not bee deliuered
Page  [unnumbered]
to Titus Quintius who was sent into Bithynia for the same purpose, and bée
caryed prisoner to Rome: poy∣soned hymselfe, and by wilfull death defended his
bo∣die from the yrons that should haue béene laide vppon hym by the Romaines.
CAP. LIIII.
Of the Coast of Pontus.
I
N the Coast of Pontus beyond y e straights of Bosphorus, and the Ry∣uer
Rhaesus, and the Ha∣uen of Calpas: the Ryuer Sangaris (called of manye
Sangarius) which ryseth in Phrigya, * maketh the begin¦ninge of the Mariandine
Gulfe, wherein is the Towne of Heraclea, standing vppon the Ryuer Lycus, and
the Hauen Acone, * so no∣table for the increase of wycked wéedes, that of the
name of that Towne, wee call all hurtfull hearbes Aconite. Next vnto that is the
Caue of Acheruse, * where (as men say) is a darke déepe hole, that goeth downe to
hell.
Page  [unnumbered]
CAP. LV.
Of Paphlagonia, and of the originall of the Venetians
T
He Marches of Galatia inclose Paphlago ∣ nia on the backe part. Thys
Paphlagonia from the pro∣montorie of Carambis, loo∣keth vnto * Taurica
Cher ∣ sonesus. It ryseth in height with the Mountaine Cyto ∣ rus, the space of
thréescore and thrée miles, * famous for the place called Henett, from whence (as
Cornelius Nepos affyrmeth) the Pa ∣ phlagonians passing ouer into Italy, were
anon after named Venetians. The Milesians builded many Cit∣ties in that Realme.
And Mithridates builded Eupa ∣ toria, which béeing subdued by Pompey, was
named Pompeyople.
CAP. LVI.
Of Capadocia, and the nature of horses in the same.
O
F all the Realmes that border vpō Pontus, Cappadocia draw∣eth furthest
into the firme land. * On the left side it lyeth all along both the Ar ∣ menies and
Comagene: on the right¦side
Page  [unnumbered]it hath the Marches of many people of Asia. It ryseth at the rydges of Mount
Taurus, and the sunne rysing. It passeth all along by Lycaonia, Pisidia, and
Cilicia. It goeth beyond the Coast of Syrya that is a∣bout Antioche, stretching
euen vnto Scythia at ano∣ther part of the Realme, and is deuided from y e grea∣ter
Armenie wyth the Ryuer Euphrates, which Ar ∣ menie taketh hys beginning at the
Mountaines Pari ∣ edrie. There be manie famous Cities in Cappadocia: But to
passe ouer the rest, the Ryuer Halys runneth by Archelais, which Claudius
Caesar peopled. The Ry∣uer Lycus washeth by Neocaesaria. Semyramis buil∣ded
Melita. Mazacha which is situate vnder Mount Argaeus, the Cappadocians call
the mother of Citties. The which Argaeus beeing very high, * hath his tops so
couered wyth snowe, that euen in the whotest of all Sommer he is frozen, and the
Inhabiters of the coun∣trey beléeue there is a God dwelling in it. This coun∣trey is
a speciall bréeder of horses, and most commodi∣ous for increase of them, the
natures of whome I thinke meete to be treated of in this place. * For it is manifest
by the sundry proofes, that there is discretion in horses, forasmuch as there haue
béene some founde, that woulde not bee acquainted wyth any but wyth theyr first
owners: vtterly forgetting theyr accusto∣med tamenes, if at any time they
happened to change their olde maisters. They knowe who bee enemies to theyr
syde, in so much that in incountering in bat¦tell, they runne vppon them with open
mouth to byte them. But this is a greater matter, that when they haue lost theyr
former Keepers whom they dyd caste a loue vnto, they starue themselues for
hungar. These conditions are founde in the excellentest kinde of hor∣ses: for those
that are of the baser sorte, haue shewed no examples of themselues.
Page  [unnumbered]
But because we will not séeme to take liberty to speake more then we are able to
auouche, wee will propounde diuers examples.
Great Alexanders horse which (eyther of the stowrenesse of his looke, or of hys
marke because hee hadde a Bulles heade bronded on hys shoulder, or els because
certaine bunches like little hornes swelled in hys forehead when he was angry,) *
was called Beu ∣ cephalus, whereas at all other times he would gent∣lie suffer hys
kéeper to ryde him, as soone as the kings saddle was sette vpon his backe, hée
disdained to beare any man at all sauing his Lord and Master. He shew∣ed manie
proofes of himselfe in battels, by bringing Alexander safe, out of most sharpe
incounters: for which his desert it came to passe, that when hee dyed in Inde, the
king kept his funeralls, and made a costly Tombe ouer him, and moreouer builded
a Cittye which in remembraunce of hys horses name he called Bucephala.
The horse of Caius Caesar would suffer no man to take hys backe but Caesar. *
And it is said, that his fore∣féete were like the féete of a man, as shoulde séeme by
the Image of the horse, which was placed by hym in that shape, before the Image
of his mother Venus.
When one that killed a King of Scythia in combatt hande to hande, * woulde haue
spoyled hym, the Kinges horse felled him with hys héeles, and tare him in pée∣ces
wyth hys téeth. The Country of Agrigent also hath many Tombes of horses in it,
which buriall they think was no more then the horses had deserued. The sights in
the great Theatre beare witnes y • they haue a delight in pleasant thinges. For
some of them at the playing vppon shalmes, some at singing, some at the varietie
of colours, and diuers also at the sight of bur∣ning Cressets, are prouoked to
running.Page  [unnumbered]
That there is affection in horses their teares doo declare. * After that King
Nicomedes was slaine, hys horse dyed for hunger. When Antiochus had
vanqui∣shed the Galathians in battel, as he was about to haue gotten vppon the
horse of their Captaine Centaretri ∣ us, (who was slaine in the fielde) to haue
vaunted him¦selfe in a lustie brauerie: the horse did sette so little by hys rayning
of him, that falling downe for the nonce, he threwe hymselfe and hys ryder both
to the ground. The sights that Claudius Caesar shewed in the greate Theatre,
declared the wytt of horses, for when y • wa∣goner was ouerthrowne, they
ouerranne theyr aduer¦saries that contended with them, not more by swyft∣nesse
then by pollicie• and after running theyr full course orderlie, staied of themselues
at the races ende, as it were to claime the reward of victorie. Moreouer hauing so
cast of theyr Ruler (who was named Ratu ∣ mena) they forsooke the gaming place,
and ranne full flyght to the Capitoll, neuer stinting (although they •ad manie lets
by the way) before such time as they had gone thrise about Iupiter Tarpeius
righthandwise. In this kynde of beast the Males are longest lyued. We reade that a
horse hath liued full thréescore and tenne yéeres. And this is out of all question,
that they ingender till they be thrée and thirtie yéeres olde, and that after the
twentith yéere they are purposely kept to couer Mares. * Also we finde it noted,
that a Horse named Opus, did hold out in seruing the race, vntil he was fortie
yéeres olde.
The lust of Mares is extinguished by shearyng their manes: and in the foles there
bréedeth a poyson that prouoketh loue, which is in the Colts foreheade when he is
newe fol•d▪ and is of colour yellowe lyke a dry Figge, and it is
named * Hyppomanes: and if the same be taken from the Colt, the Damme wyll
neuer
Page  [unnumbered]
giue it su•k. The ••ercer that anie horse is, and of grea¦ter courage, the déeper
dooth he thrust his nose into the water when he drinketh. The Scythians neuer
bring horses to battell, but Mares: because the Mares can state and ru• neuer the
lesse. Mares doo conceiue and bring forth Colts by the wind, but those neuer lyue
a∣boue thrée yéeres.
CAP. LVII.
Of Assyria, and of the first comming vppe of oyn•ments.
T
He beginning of Assyria is Adiabene in a part whereof is the Coun∣trey
Arbelite, * which place the victorie of great Alex ∣ ander will not suffer to bee
foreslipped. For there he vā¦quished the power of D••i ∣ us, and 〈◊〉 him, and in
ryffling his Campe, among other of his princelye furniture, * found a Caskettfull
of Oyntments, which thing afterward opened first the gappe of excesse vnto the
Romains, to delight in forraine perfumes. Neuer∣thelesse we were defended for a
while from the allure¦ment of vices, by the vertues of our auncestors, and that
euen vnto the Censureshippe of Publius Crassus, and Iulius Caesar, who in the
fiue hundred thréescore and fift yéere of the building of the Cittie, forbidde by
open proclamation, that no ma• should bring forraine Oyntments into the Cittie.
Afterward our vices gott the vpperhand, and the Senate grew to such a delightPage  [unnumbered]
in the pleasantnesse of the sents, that they vsed them euen in theyr 〈◊〉 Chambers:
as it appeared by Lucius Plo•ius the brother of Lacius that hadde binne twise
Consull: whom béeing proclaimed Traytor by the Thréem•n, the •ent of his
oyntments be wrayed where he lay hidden in a hole at Salerne.
CAP. LVIII.
Of the tree called Medica.
A
Fter this rowe of Countryes followeth Me ∣ dia, the Trée whereof hath
béene celebrated euē by the verses of Virgill. It is a great trée, and hath leaues
almost like the leaues of a Crab•e Trée, sauing onely in this one poynt, that they
bee rough with sharpe pricks. It beareth an Apple which is enemie to venim, * of
harsh taste, and of won∣derfull bytternesse▪ The sent of this odour is very fragrant
and excéedingly pleasant, and 〈◊〉 a farre of. But the Trée is so plentifull of
bearing, that it is alwaies ouercharged with the burthen of his fruite. For as soone
as euer his fruite is ripe and falne of, newe spring forth, and it tarrieth no longer
without increase, then while the first growne fruite may fall of. Other nations
haue endeuoured to plant these Trées in their grounds, and slips and ymps haue
béen fetched from thence and graffed. But nature is so coye in that behalfe, that
no other soyle coulde borrowe that benefite from the Land of Media.
Page  [unnumbered]
CAP. LIX.
Of the Gates of Mount Caspius.
A
Ll the Caspian Gates are a way cut out by mans hande, eight myles of
length: and it is scarce so broade as a Carte may goe through. In these streights
among other things, this al∣so is verie difficult: that y e stones on eache side which
are ragged, by meanes of the vaynes of salt that melt in them, yeelde foorth
moysture aboundantly, which soone after beeing hardened by force of heate,
congea∣leth into Ise. By meanes whereof it becommeth so slypperie, that no man
can passe them. Moreouer, by the space of eyght and twenty myles, all the
Coaste. which way soeuer ye goe from thence, hath no welles nor springs, but dry
ground without any reskewe a∣gainst thirst. Also the Serpents that bréede in all
coū∣tries there about, flocke thither as soone as euer the spring time beginneth.
Thus through the conspiracie of the difficultnesse and of the daungerousnesse,
there is no comming to the Caspians but in the wynter.
Page  [unnumbered]
CAP. LX.
Of Direum, and of the Countrey Margiana.F
Rom the Caspi ∣ ans Eastwarde, is a place that they cal Direum, to the
plentifulnesse wherof, there is no place any where to be cōpared: about which
dwel the Tapyres, the Anariaks, and the Hyrcanes. There bordereth also vppon it,
the Countrey Margiana, not able for the wholsomnesse of the ayre, * and
commodities of the soyle, in so much as in all that large Coast, y • Countrey onely
hath vynes It is enclosed round about like a Theatre with hyls, the compasse of a
thousand and fiue hundred •urlongs, almost vnpossible to be come vnto, for the
sandy de∣sert, which enuironeth it euery way round about, by the space of a
hundred and twenty myles. Alexander the great liked so well of the pleasantnesse
of this Re∣gion, that he builded the first Alexandria there, which was anon after
rased by the barbarous people, and repayed againe by Antiochus the Sonne of
Seleucus, who according to the name of hys progenie called it Seleucia: the
circuit of which Cittie containeth thrée∣score and fiftéene furlongs. Into this Citie
did Orodes conuey the Romaines that were taken at the slaugh∣ter of Crassus ▪
Alexander reared another Towne al∣so among the Caspians, which was called
Heraclea as
Page  [unnumbered]
long as it stoode. But this also béeing beaten down by the same nations, was
afterward repayred by A•tio ∣ chus, and (as it liked him best) was named Achais.
CAP. LXI.
Of the Ryuer Oxus, and the nations about it: of the voyages of Liber Parer, Hercules
and Semyramis, of the bounds of King Cyrus, and of the nature of Cammels.
T
He Ryuer Oxus springeth out of the Lake Oxus, the brimmes wherof are
inhabited about by the Henioches, Batenes, & Ox ∣ istages: but the chiefest part is
inhabited by the Bactri ∣ ans. The Bactrians also haue a peculiar Riuer of theyr
owne called Bactrus, * and a Towne thereupon which they inhabit named
Bactrum. The nations that are behynde this, are enuironed with the hyls of
Paropa ∣ misus, which endeth against the heade of the Ryuer Indus: the rest is
enclosed by the Ryuer Oxus. * Be∣yond these, is Panda a Towne of the Sogdians,
in the borders of whom great Alexander builded the thyrde Alexandria, to testifie
the bounds of hys iourney. For this is the place where Altars were erected first by
Liber Pater, secondly by Hercules, thirdly by Semyra ∣ mis, and lastly by Cyrus:
and therefore it was counted one of the greatest commendations of Alexander,
that he set out the bounds of his voyage so farre as y • place.
Page  [unnumbered]
The Ryuer Iaxa•tes disseuereth the borders of all the Countryes that lie in that
tract onely: which Ry∣uer neuerthelesse the Bactrians onely call Iaxartes, * for the
Scythi•ns call it Silys. The Souldiours of great Alexanders hoste, tooke this
Iaxartes to be the same Ryuer that is •anais. * But Demodamas a Captaine of
Seleuchus, and Antiochus, a sufficient Author in thys behalfe, passing ouer this
Ryuer, went beyond the ty∣tles of all that were before him, and found it to be
an¦other Ryuer then Tanais: in remembrance of which hys renowmed enterprise,for the more aduaun•ment of his owne fame, he reared Altars to Apollo
Didy ∣ maeus in the same place. This is the battable grounde where the Marches of
Persia and Scythia, meete. The which Scythians, the Persians in their language
call Saks, and the Scythians on the otherside name y e Per ∣ sians Chorsars: and the
Mountaine Caucasus they cal Graucasus, that is to say white with snowe.
Numbers of people innumerable héere abouts keepe the same Lawes and customs
that the Parthians doo, if an vni∣uersall consent from the beginning, without
breaking or alteration of order. Of which the famousest are the Massagets, the
Essedons, the Saks, the Dahes, and the Assaeans. Beyond whom by reason of
most cruell and barbarous nations that lye betwixt, we finde great vncertaintie in
the reporte of the customes of other nations.
Out of Bactria come strongest Cammels, * albeit that Arabie bredde of them too.
But this is the diffe∣rence betwixt them: that the Camels of Arabie haue two
bunches on theyr backs, and they of Bactria haue but one.
These doo neuer were theyr feete: for the féete of the other haue as it were little
palmes of fleshe tur∣ning backe againe. By meanes whereof they haue a
Page  [unnumbered]
contrary fault in theyr going, in that there is no help for them to sette theyr feete
stedfast vpon the ground, They serue to double vse. For some bee good for the
burthen, and some are light & swyft in running. But neither wyll those receiue
more then a reasonable burthen, nor these goe aboue their ordinarie pace. For
desire of generation they become madd, in so much as they are outragious cruell
when they woulde goe to make. They hate horses, and they will forbeare drink by
the space of foure dayes together. But when the time serues that they may drink,
they hale in as much as wyll bothe staunche the drought that is past, and moyst
them for the thirst that is long to come. They couet soyled waters, and refuse the
cléere. And if it bee not muddie of it selfe, they will rayse vppe the mudde with
continual stamping, & make it troubled. They endure an hundred yeeres, vnlesse
it be so that they be conueied into strange Countryes, and so the chaunge of ayre
make them diseased. The Females are pre∣pared for the warres, and meanes is
found howe to kill the desire of generation in them by gelding them. For it is
thought they become the stronger, if they be kept from the Males.
Page  [unnumbered]
CAP. LXII.
of the Seres and of theyr silks.
A
S yee turne from the Sythick Ocean, and the Caspian Sea towarde the East
Ocean: from the be∣ginning of this Coast, firste déepe snowes, then long de∣serts,
beyond that the Can ∣ nibals a most cruell kind of people, and lastly places ful of
moste outragious wilde Beastes, make almost the one halfe of the way vnpassible.
The which distresses haue their ende at a Mount that butteth vppon the Sea,
which the barbarous people call Tabis, beyonde which, the wyldernesses doo
neuerthelesse continue a great way on styll. * So in that Coast which faceth the
Northeast, beyond those waste & vninbabitable Coun∣treys, the first men that we
haue heard of, are the Se ∣ res: who sprinckling water vppon the leaues of theyrTrées, doo by the helpe of that liquor kembe of certain fléeces, and wyth
moysture so carde that fine Cotten, that they make what they wyll thereof. This is
that silke admitted to be worne commonly, to the hinde∣raunce of grauitie, and
wherewith the luste of excesse hath perswaded first women, and nowe also
menne to apparell themselues, rather to sette out the bodyes to sale then to cloth
it. The Seres are meeke and very quiet among themselues: but otherwise they
eschew the company of all men besides: insomuch that they
Page  [unnumbered]
refuse to haue any traffick or intercourse of Merchan¦dise with other nations. For
those that occupy y • trade of merchandise with them, doo passe ouer the first
Ry∣uer of their Countrey: vpon the banks wherof (with out anie communication of
talke betwéene the Chap∣men, the Seres considering by eie-sight, the price that
they bid for the things laid downe, vtter theyr owne wares, but by not ours.
CAP. LXIII.
of the Attacene Nations.
N
Owe followeth the Coast of Attacene, and the nation of the Attacenes
who haue a singuler prero∣gatiue for the temperat•es and gentlesse of theyr ayre.
The hilles kéepe of the hurt¦full blasts: which hils bee∣ing cast rounde about them
euery way, doo with theyr wholsome opennesse to the Sunne, fence them from all
pestilent ayres. And ther∣fore (as Amomaetus affyrmeth) their life and the life of
the Hyperboreans is a like. Betwéene these and In ∣ de, the skylfullest
Cosmographers haue placed the Cycones.
Page  [unnumbered]
CAP. LXIIII.
of Inde, and the maners of the Indians of the tem∣perate ayre of that Country, of the
Ryuers of Inde, of the wonderfull beasts, trees, kynds of odours, and precious stones
in the same.
I
Nde beginneth at the hyls called Emodii, * and extendeth from y • south sea to
the East Ocean, and from the North to y e Moun¦taine Caucasus, most health¦full
wyth the blastes of the South west winde. It hath Sommer twyse a yéere, and
twyse a yéere haruest: and in stedd of Wynter, it hath the Eastern wyndes called
Etesiae. Posidonius placeth this Countrey directly against Fraunce, and surely
there is no doubt at all in the matter. For firste béeing found by the warres of great
Alexander, and since hys time trauelled through and through by the diligence of
Kings, it is nowe come full and wholy to our knowledge.
Megasthenes hauing continued a good whyle a∣mong the Kinges of Inde, wrate
the acts of y • Coun∣trey, to the intent to leaue to his posterity the certain¦tie of
those things that himselfe hadde seene wyth hys eyes. Dennys also (who in
likewise was by king Phi ∣ ladelphus sent to sée whither those things were true or
no,) wrytt the like.Page  [unnumbered]
Bacchus was borne of Iupiters thigh. Without the mouth of the Ryuer Indus, are
two Ilands, * Chryse and * Argyre, so plentiful of mettals, that diuers haue reported
them to haue soyles of gold and siluer. * All the Indians weare long hayre, stayned
with a blewish or yellowish colour. Their chiefe attyre is in precious stones.
No coste is bestowed in buriall of the deade. Furthermore (as is expressed in the
bookes of King Iuba and King Archelaus) as much as the people disa∣grée in
manners and conditions, so great difference is there in theyr attyre. Some weare
lynnen garments some wollen, some goe all naked, some couer but theyr priuie
members, and many goe clad in barks of trées. Some people are so tall, that they
wyll as easily vault ouer Oliphants, as if they were horses. Many thinke it good
neyther to kill anie lyuing thing, nor to eate anie flesh. Some eate only fish, & liue
by y e Sea. There are that make as it were a sacrifice of theyr Parents and
kinsfolke, before they become bare with sicknes or age, and then make a feast
wyth their flesh, which thing in that Countrey is not counted a wyckednesse, but a
godlinesse.
There are also that in extremitie of sicknesse, or when diseases lynger vppon
them, get themselues in∣to some secrete corner farre from resorte, and there
quietlie abyde for death.
The Nation of the Aspagones * haue goodly woods of greene Bay and Box, and as
for vynes and all o∣ther trées, wherein is pleasure and beautie to delight, it hath
most plentious store of them. The Indians haue Philosophers whom they call
Gynmosophists, * who from the rysing of the Sunne to the gooing down therof,
behold the Globe of that burning Planet with fixed eyes, serching in that fierye
circle for certayne
Page  [unnumbered]
secrete thinges, and standing all day long vppon the scalding sande, nowe on the
one foote and nowe on the other. * At the Hyll that is called Milo, dwell people
that haue their féete turned backward, wyth eyght toes on eche foote.
Megasthenes sayth, that in diuers Mountaines in Inde, are Nations that haue
hands like Dogs, ar∣med wyth talants, clad in hydes, hauing no likelihoode of
mans speeche, but vttring a noise of barking, wyth rough chappes. We reade in
C•esias, that certayne Women beare Childe but once, and that the Babes as soone
as they be borne, become by and by grayhea∣ded: and that there is againe another
nation which in theyr youth are hoare headed, and wexe black in their age, which
endureth farre beyonde the race of our yeres. We reade also of a people called
Monoscelans, * borne there wyth one legge a péece, of singuler swyft∣nesse: who
when they will defende themselues from the heate, lay themselues downe vppon
their backes, and shadow them with the largenesse of theyr feete. They that dwell
at the fountaine of Ganges, néede no maner of victuals to féede vpon. They liue
by the sent of stubfruite and Crabbes, and when they haue anie long iourney to
goe, they carry the same with thē for theyr baite, to refresh themselues with the
smel of thē And if it happen them to take any corrupt ayre, cer∣tain it is, that they
die of it by & by. There is reported also to be a nation of women which beare
Children at fiue yéeres of age, but their life endureth not aboue 8. yeeres. There
are y • want heades, and haue their eyes in their shoulders. There are also wild
menne, rough skinned, toothed like dogs, & that make a terrible goar¦ring. Butamong them that haue some more care to liue according to reason, many women
are marryed to one man, and when the husband is deceased, each of
Page  [unnumbered]
them pleadeth before most graue Iudges, concerning her deserts, & she that by
the sentence of y • Iudges is deemed to haue béene more dutifull & seruicable then
the rest, receiueth thys reward of her victory, that at her pleasure shee may leape
into the fire where her Husbande is a burning, and offer herselfe as a sacrifice
vpon hys herse. The rest lyue wyth infamie.
The hugenesse of theyr Serpents is so excessyue, * that they swallow vp Harts,
and other beasts of lyke bygnesse whole, yea and as great as the Indian Ocean is,
they swym through it, and passe ouer into Ilands a great way distant from the
firme •ande to séeke fee∣ding. And the selfe same thing is a good argument to
proue theyr hugenesse, that they haue force to passe o∣uer such a bredth of salt
water, and to attaine to the places that they ayme at. There are many and
won∣derfull beasts, out of the which multitude I wyll pick some to treate of.
The Leucocrote passeth all wylde Beastes in swiftnesse. * It is of the bygnesse of
an Asse, haunched like a Stagge, breasted and legged like a Lyon, hea∣ded like a
Cammell, clouen cléed, mouthed vp to bothe the eares, and wyth one whole
round bone instéede of téeth. Thus much as to his shape. In voyce hee
coun∣terfetteth the spéech of man. * There is an Eale, other∣wyse like a horse,
tayled like an Olyphant, of colour blacke, chapped like a Bore, armed with hornes
aboue a cubit long, plyable to what vse soeuer he lyst to put them. For they are
not stife, but are bowed as neede shall require in fighting: of which he putteth out
the one when he fighteth, and rolleth vp the other, that if by any stripe the point of
the one be blunted, the o∣ther may succéede sharpe in hys roome. He is compa∣red
to the Waterhorses, and to say y e truth, he deligh∣teth in waters to.
Page  [unnumbered]
The Bulls of Inde are of colour bright yellowe, * excéeding wight of foote, with
their hayre growing the contrarie way, and as much mouth as head. These al∣so
beare hornes plyable to what purpose they liste, so hard hyded, that nothing is
able to enter, so vnmerci∣fullie cruell, that béeing caught, they kill themselues for
moodinesse.
Among these bréedeth also y • Manticora, * wyth three sette of téeth in his head
checkquerwise one against a∣nother, faced like a man, gray eyed, sanguine
coloured bodied like a Lyon, tayled like a Scorpion wyth a stinging pricke in the
ende, with so shrill a voyce that it counterfetteth the tunes of pypes, and the
harmony of Trumpets. Hée séeketh most gréedilie after mans flesh. He is so swift
of foote, and so nimble in leaping, that there is no space so long that may
forslowe hym, nor anie thing so broade that can let him of hys way. * There are
also O•en with one horne and thrée horns, whole hooued, and not clouen cléed.
But the cruellest is the Unicorne, a Monstar that belloweth horriblie, * bodyed like
a horse, footed like an Oliphant, tayled like a Swyne, and headed like a Stagge.
His horne stick∣eth out of the midds of hys •orehead, of a wonderfull brightnesse
about foure foote long, so sharp, that what∣soeuer he pusheth at, he striketh it
through easily. Hée is neuer caught aliue: kylled he may be, but taken he cannot
bée.The waters also bréede no lesse wonders. * Ganges bréedeth Eeles of fortie foote
long, and Statius Sebosus saith, that the same Ryuer (among the chiefest
mira∣cles) swarmeth with wormes bothe in name and co∣lour gray. These haue as
it were armes not vnder sixe cubits long a péece, so boystrous of strength, that
with the hande thereof, they take holde of Olyphants that come thither to drinke,
and hale them so rudelye,
Page  [unnumbered]
that they pull them vnder the water. The Indian Seas haue Fyshes called
Thyrlpooles, aboue the byg¦nesse of foure Acres of grounde. There are also which
they call * Physeters, which béeing huge beyonde the measure of great Pyllars, lift
themselues aboue the sayleyards of Shyppes, and puffe out the water that they
haue haled in at theyr venting pipes, in such wise that many times they sink• the
vessels wyth the rage of water, that they let fall vppon the Marryners. On∣ly Inde
bréedeth the Poppiniey, * of colour gréene, wyth a redde list about hys neck,
whose byll is so hard, that when he is throwne from high vpon a stone, he saueth
himselfe vppon his byll, vsing it as an extraordinary defence of hys infirmitie.
And his heade is so stronge that if at any time he haue néede of stripes to put him
in mind of hys lesson, (for he learneth to speake like a man) he must be knockt on
the pate wyth a wande of yron. While he is a Chicken, and as yet vnder two
yeeres old, he learneth the things that are taught him more spéedilie, and beareth
them more stedfastly in re∣membraunce. Aboue that age hee is somewhat more
slow of taking, forgetfull, and v•apt to be taught. The number of toes maketh the
difference betwéene the nobler and the rascaller sorte. The better haue fiue toes
on a foote, the worse haue thrée. Hys tongue is broade, and much broader then
the tongues of other byrds: and that is the cause of his perfection in vtte∣ring
words so distinctly. This na•ure of his made the Romaines to haue so great
pleasure and delight in him, that the barbarous people made a merchandise of
their Poppinieyes. The trées if Inde grow vp in such an excessiue height, that they
cannot shoote an arrowe ouer them. The Orchyards haue Fig trées, the bodies
whereof are thréescore paces about, * and theyr boughes shadow two furlongs
euerie way, the largenesse of
Page  [unnumbered]
their leaues is compared to the shielde of the Ama ∣ zons, and the fruit is of verie
singuler swéetnes. The Fenny grounds bring foorth a Réede * of such grosenes,
that betwéene knot and knot they make boates of thē to rowe in. Out of the rootes
whereof, is pressed a swéete iuyce, as pleasant as honny. * There is an Iland of
Inde called Tylos, which beareth Date trées, bring∣eth forth Olyues, and
aboundeth in Uynes. It sur∣mounteth all landes in this one wonder, that what tree
soeuer groweth therein, is neuer without leaues.
There beginneth Mount Caucasus, which wyth his continuall ridge, peirceth
through the most part of the worlde. The same hyll on hys front that faceth the
Sunne, beareth Pepper Trées: which men affyrme to be like the Iuniper Trée, and
to bring forth sundrie fruits. * That fruite that commeth forth first, is like the
agglets of Hasles, and is called long Pepper. That which is vncorrupted, is called
white Pepper. That which hath the skynne wrinckled and scorched wyth the heate,
is called black Pepper. Lastly, that which falleth downe and is parched with the
burning Sun, taketh •ys name of hys colour. But that which is stripped of the Trée
as it is, is called white Pepper. And as onely Inde yéeldeth Pepper, so alonelyyéeld∣deth it Ebonye: * & yet not in all places but in a verie little part of the
Countrey doth it yéelde thys kynd of woode.
The Trée for the most part is slender, and growing manie together, thin branched,
swelling to the bignes of the stock, with a houen rinde, and very full of holes with
open veines, insomuch that for all the vttermost barke, the very wood is scarce
couered with a thynne rynde. All the woode of it is medicinable, & it is, almost of
the same fashion & colour that is in the Yeat stone.
The Kinges of Inde haue theyr Scepters heereof,
Page  [unnumbered]
and they make the Images of their Gods of none o∣ther wood then Ebonye. They
report also that no noy¦some liquor can be contained in this kind of s•uffe, and
that whatsoeuer is hurtfull, is disapointed by the tou∣ching heereof. And for this
pleasure they make Cups of Ebonye, wherefore it is no maruell though it be had
in great price in forraine Realmes, considering it is so much honoured in the place
it comes from, and where it growes. The great Pompey brought Ebonye first out
of Inde and shewed it in Rome, when he try∣umphed for vanquishing Methridates.
Inde yeeldeth also Calamus odoratus, * a special remedy against gréefes in the
bowels. It giueth many other swéete Odours, acceptable for the pleasantnesse of
their wonderfull flauor.
Of the Iewels of Inde, the chiefe preheminence is in the Diamond, * as which
driueth away franticknes, resisteth venims, and expulseth vaine feares from such
as haue qualmes comming ouer their harts. Thys I though was to bee spoken first,
of those thinges that haue respect to profit. Now will shewe howe many and what
sorts of Diamonds there be, and what co∣lour is best to be liked in eche of them.
In a certayne kinde of Crystall, there is founde this kinde of stuffe: which
groweth after the likenes of most shéere water gently gathering sharpe at both
endes to a sixcornered poynt, and it is neuer found aboue the bygnesse of a
Filberd kernell. The next vnto this is founde in the excellentest golde, somewhat
paler, and shyning more toward the colour of siluer. The thyrd is found in the
veynes of Copper, * drawing towarde the coloure of brasse: which is very
effectuall in medicine, and is called Siderites. The fourth is gathered in yrō mines,
of weightier substance then the rest, but not like them in vertue. For bothe this
and that which is founde in
Page  [unnumbered]
Copper may be broken, and for the most part they are peirced through with
another Diamond. But those that we spake of first, can neyther bee broken wyth
y∣ron nor hurt with fire. Notwithstanding, if they bee stéeped long in Goats blood,
(so it be warme & freshe bléeding from the beast,) at length (with the breaking of
some Hammers, and stythes before) they yéelde and shyuer in péeces: which
sparks are greatly sought for of engrauers to drawe in any precious stone withall.
Betwéene the Diamonde and the Lodestone is a cer∣taine priuie dissention of
nature, * in so much as if they bée layd néere together, the Diamonde will not
suffer the Lodestone to drawe yron vnto him: or if y • Lode∣stone haue alreadie
drawne a péece of yron to it, the Diamond snatcheth and pulleth away as hys
bootye whatsoeuer the Lodestone hath taken hold of. Moreo∣uer, Inde bringeth
forth the Lychnite, the freshnes of whose light is furthered by the brightnes ofburning candles: * and therfore the Greeks haue called it Lych ∣ nits. There are of
two sorts: for either it is of an o∣rient purple colour, or els it is shadowed
somewhat with a shéere scarlett. If it bee pure, it admitteth an vnstayned
cléerenesse through all the inward parte of it. Also it if be heat wyth the Sunne
beames, or catch warmth by chasing betwéene ones fingers, it draweth harde to it
eyther the husks of chaffe, or the shreds of paper, and it resisteth stoutly against
engrauing. And if at anie time it be engrauen, when a manne sealeth therewith, it
holdeth part of the wax still, as it were some liuelie thing shold byte it. The
Indians do grind their Beryll in peeces sixe square, to the intent by re∣flexion of
the corners, * to chéere vp the dulnesse of hys weake colour. Of Beryll are sundry
sorts. The excel∣lentest doo with a certaine equall mixture of ruddines and déepe
blew, ouershadowed with a gréene, resem∣ble
Page  [unnumbered]
the grace of the pure Sea. A degrée beneath these are the Chrysoberyes, * which
hauing a fainter glosse, are shadowed about wyth a golden clowde. The
Chry¦soprases also (whose glosse is of golde and Léekgréene mixed together) are
iudged to the kinde of Beryll as well as the other. The bastard Iacints, that is to
say, those which in manner resemble the Iacints, are also allowed for Beryls. But
as for those that are like Cry∣stall, and are stayned with little hayres running in
and out, (for that is the name of theyr fault) the skil∣fullest Lapidaries haue
accounted for y • meanest sorte. The Kinges of Inde loue to fashion this kind of
Iew∣els into very long rols: & making holes through them they hang them at the
brystles of their Olyphants in stedde of poytrels and trappers, or els at theyr eares,
on both sides of theyr heads, sette in bosses of golde, to the intent to florish their
withered colour with a more fulsome brightnesse, by meanes of the mettall
cun∣ningly wrought about them, (which as a foyle) may cause them to gather a
more glystring light.
CAP. LXV.
Of the Ile Taprobane, and by what meanes it came first to knowledge: what manner
of sayling is there: what is the custome of that Countrey in choo∣sing theyr King,
also of the shelfishes Margarits, and perles.
V
Ntil such time as the rash¦nes of man serching the Sea throughlye found
the trueth of the matter, * menne thought a great while, that the Ile of Taprobane
had béene another world, and y • very same
Page  [unnumbered]
which the Anticthones were beléeued to inhabit. But the valiantnes of great
Alexander, suffered not the ignoraunce of the common error to continue any
lon∣gar: but he spred the renowne of his name euen into these vnknowne places.
For One sicritus Admirall of the fléete of Macedonie serching out this land,
brought vnto our knowledge howe bigge it is, what it bréedeth and in what case it
stood. It extendeth seauen thou∣sand furlongs in length, and fiue thousande in
bredth. It is deuided into two parts with a Riuer. For part thereof is replenished
with beastes and Olypyants, greater than Inde beareth, and the rest of it is
posses∣sed by men. It is aboundantly stored with moother Perles and all preciousstones. * It is situate betwéene the Easte and the West. It beginneth at y • Easterne
Sea, and lyeth full before Inde. From the Parsians a nation of Inde it hath béene
twenty dayes sayling thi∣ther. But forasmuch as they went in boates of Reede and
shyps of Nyle, * it is now abridged to seauen daies sayling of one of our shyps.
Betwéene them and Inde lyeth a shallow Sea, not aboue sixe fathom déepe, and
yet in certaine Channels of such an excéeding depth, that there was neuer Ancor
yet that coulde come to the bottome thereof. There is no héede to bee taken of the
starres in sayling there. For neither is Charles wayne séene there, neither doo the
seauen stars called * Vergiliae at any time appeare there. They sée the Moone
aboue the earth, only from the 8. day to the 16. There shineth Canopos a bright
star, & of very great largnes. They haue the sun rising on their right side, and y e
sun setting on their left. * Wherefore as there is nothing for men to obserue
whereby they may saile to arriue at y e appointed place: birds lead thē whose flight
in making to y • landward, they vse as a lodestar to di∣rect their course. Ther is no
sailing thither but 4. mo∣moneths
Page  [unnumbered]
monethes in all the yéere. Héere is all that we knewe of Taprobane vntill the
raigne of the Emperor Clau ∣ dius, at which time fortune opened a wyder gappe of
knowledge. For one that late before was the seruant of Annius Plocamus (who
then was customer of y e red Sea) as he was sayling toward Arabie, was dryuen by
violence of the North wynde along the Coaste of * Carmanie, and the fiftéenth day
arriued at this shore and tooke harbrough in a Hauen called Hyppuros. There
learning the language in sixe moneths, and be∣ing admitted to the Kinges spéeche,
hee brought worde againe, what he had found. That is to say, howe the king
wondred at the mony that was taken with him, because the same béeing stamped
with diuers faces, had neuerthelesse like weight. At the contemplation of which
equalitie, when hee coueted more earnestlye the fréendhip of the people of Rome,
he sent Ambassa∣dours to vs, * of whom the chiefe was Rachias, by whō all things
were brought to our knowledge. Those men excelled all others in talenesse of
personage, and making. They dye theyr hayre, they are gray eyed, grym of
countenance, and haue a terrible réere in spea¦king.
Such of them as are short liued, continue to the age of a hundred yéeres: all others
liue much longer, and farre beyonde the reache of mans frailtie. They sléepe not
from before the day breake till the night be shutte in, for they euer ryse before
day. They make theyr houses but a little height aboue the grounde. Corne holds
alwayes at one stay. They knowe not what Uynes meane. They haue aboundaunce
of Apples, and such other kind of fruites. They worshyp Her ∣ cules for theyr
God. * In choosing theyr King, nobilitie auaileth not, but the generall consent of
the Country. For the people chooseth such a one, as is of approoued
Page  [unnumbered]
good behauiour, and rooted in gentlenesse from hys cradle, and at that time an
olde man. And this is chief∣lie requisite in him, that he haue no children. For hée
that is a Father, though his life be neuer so vertuous he is not admitted to the
kingdome. And if perchance in the time of his raigne he beget a childe, hee is
depo∣sed. For aboue all thinges this is most straightly ob∣serued, that the
kingdome goe not by inheritance. * Fur¦thermore, although the King séeme to be
neuer so good a Iusticer, yet they will not let him haue the Law in his ownehande. And therefore hee admitteth fortye Moderators, because he shall not sitt
alone vpon mat∣matters of life and death. Yea and if the iudgment shall then also
be misliked: appeale is made to y e peo∣ple, who appoint thréescore and ten
Iudges, to whose determinatiō there is no remedy but they must nedes stand. The
King is apparelled in rayment vnlike the common fashion, * called Syrma, a robe
wherewyth we sée Liber Pater was wont to be clad. If it happen that the King
himselfe be taken tardie in any offence, and thereof conuicted, he is punished
with death: how∣be it, not so that any man layeth handes vppon him. But by the
common consent of the whole Realme, hée is vtterly forbidden the vse of all
thinges: yea euen communication wyth any manne is denyed him after he is cast. *
They giue themselues to good nurture vni∣uersallie. Sometime they spende the
time in hunting, and that of no rascall game, for they séeke onely for Tygers or
Oliphants. * Moreouer they ransacke the Seas in fishing, for delight to catch the
Sea Tortoy∣ses: the hugenesse of whom is such, that the shell of one of them wyll
make a house able to receiue a great housholde of many persons wythout
pestring. The greater part of this Ile is parched with heate, and en∣deth in waste
wyldernesse.
Page  [unnumbered]
The Sea that beateth vppon the one side thereof, groweth so full of shrubs (and
those of very gréene co∣lour) that sometime the tops of the trées are brushed away
with the sternes of shyps. From the toppes of their Mountaines they beholde the
Sea cost of y • Se ∣ res. They delight greatlie in golde: and to garnishe their Cups
withall, they set them full of all kynde of Iewels. * They hewe out Marble that is
checkered, and gather great store of Moother perles, and those of the greatest sort.
They be shelfishes in whome thys kinde of stones is sought, which at a certaine
time of the yéere when desire of conception pricketh them for∣ward, doo thirst
after the deawe as after their milter: for desire whereof they gape, and when the
Moone sheadeth most aboundance of moisture, they draw the desired humour by
a certaine sucking, whereby they conceiue and are great with youg, and according
to the qualitie of the thing they haue glutted in, such is the disposition of the
perles that they bréede. For if it bee pure that they haue taken in, their little
rounde stones are white: if it were troubled, either they haue a faint pale colour▪
or els are stained with a red. Thus haue they their séede rather of the ayre then of
y • Sea. Finally, as often as they receiue in the morning dew the pearle becommeth
cléerer: and when they suck in the euening dewe, they become dimmer, and the
more they haue haled in, so much the stone groweth greater If it chaunce to
lighten vpon the suddaine, they shutte for feare, and closing fast for suddaine
fearefulnes, they take in that which they loose againe ere it be ripe: for then they
haue very small stones, or els none at all. And the shelfishes themselues haue a
kinde of vnder∣standing, for they are afraide to haue their issue stay∣ned:
insomuch as when the day is at y • hotest, because their stones shoulde not bee
dimmed with the heate,
Page  [unnumbered]
they ducke vnder the water, and diue into the déepes to saue them from the heate.
Neuerthelesse, age fore∣standeth this foresight of theirs. For the whitnes de∣cayeth
by age, and as the shelfishes wexe greater, the perles wex• more yellowe. While
the perle is in the water it is soft, and as soone as it is taken out of the shell it
becommeth harde. There are neuer founde a∣boue one in shell, and therefore theLatins call them Vnions. * They say they be neuer found aboue halfe an inche big.
The shelfishes are afraide to be layde for by the Fyshers: and thereon it comes to
passe, that they hide themselues for the most part, eyther among the Rocks or els
among the Dogfishes. They swymme in scoles. Some one is Captaine of the
whole scole. If he be taken, euen those that escaped returne into the nett againe.
Inde yéeldeth perles, * and so doth the Seacoast of Brytaine, as Iulius Caesar (by
the inscription y • was written vpon if) witnesseth, that the brestplate which be
dedicated to his mother Venus in her Temple, was made of British perles. It is a
thing cōmonly knowne that Lollia Paulina, the wy•e of the Emperour Caius, had
a gowne of perles valued then at foure hundred thousande Sestertius: through
couetousnes in getting whereof, her father Marcus Lollius for spoyling the Kinges
of the East, offended Caius Caesar the sonne of Augustus, and was put out of the
Princes fauor, for sorrow whereof •e poysoned himselfe. This is also re∣gistred by
the diligence of old men, that perles were first brought to Rome in the time of
Sylla.
Page  [unnumbered]
CAP. LXVI.
The Iournall of Inde.
F
Rom the Ilande * Ausea there is a directe cut to the firme land. Ther∣fore
from the Iland Tapro¦bane let vs returne back to Inde: for the thinges of In ∣ de are
worth the seing. But if I shoulde make tariance about the Citties & nations of
Inde, I should passe the bounds of my prepurposed abridgment. Next vnto the
Ryuer Indus, they had a Cittie named Capissa, * which Cyrus rased. Arachosia
standing vppon the Ryuer Arachota was builded by Semyramis. Alexander the
great builded the Towne of Cadrusi• by Mount Caucasus ▪ wheras also is
Alex¦andria which is thirty furlongs wyde. There are ma∣nie other also, but these
are of the most renowmed. After the Indians the * I•thyophags possesse the Hill
Countryes: whom great Alexander subduing, forbad them to eate fish, for they
liued thereby before. Be∣yond these are the deserts of Carmania, then Persia, and
so a iourney by Sea, * wherein is the Iland of the Sunne which is alwayes red, and
not able to be come vnto by any liuing creature: for it killeth all lyuing things that
are brought into it. As men returne out of Inde, the first sight that they haue of
Charlsis waine is at Hy•anis a Ryuer of Carmania. They say that the dwelling of
Achaemenides was in this Coaste. * Be∣twéene the Promontorie of Carmania and
Arabie, is
Page  [unnumbered]
fifty miles. Then are there thrée Iles: about which there come forth salt water
Snakes of twenty cubits long. * H•ere it is to be declared, howe the way lyeth from
Alexandria in Egypt vnto Inde.
Fyrst yée must goe by water vppe the Nyle wyth a Northeast wynde vnto Copton.
Then by lande vnto Hydreum. From thence passing ouer certaine mansi∣ons, ye
come to Berenice wheras is a Hauē of the red Sea. After that, ye must arriue at a
Hauen of Arabie called Ocelis. The next arriuall vnto that is Muzirū, a Marte
Towne of Inde, diffamed for Sea Rouers. Afterward by diuers Hauens yée cometo Cottonare, to which Towne they conuey theyr pepper in boates made of one
whole Trunke. Those that goe to Inde take water eyther before the beginning of
the dogge dayes, or immediatly after the beginning of them, in the mids of
Summer. And when they come backe a∣gaine they saile in December. The
spéediest wynd out of Inde ▪ warde is the Northeast. But when they come to the
Red sea, then must eyther a Southeast or a full South winde serue. The largenesse
of Inde is repor∣ted to be seauen thousand and fifty myles. The space of Carmania
is a hundred myles, a part wherof is not wythout Uynes. Moreouer, they haue a
kind of men that liue by nothing els but by the flesh of Tortoyles, rugged and
hayrie all sauing the face, which alonelie hath a thynne skinne, and they be clad
in skynnes of fishes. They are named * Chelonophages.
Page  [unnumbered]
CAP. LXVII.
of the Gulfe of Persia, and the Gulfe of Arabie, and of the Azanian Sea.
T
He red sea brea ∣ keth into these Coasts, and is deuided into two Gulfs. *
Whereof, that which is to∣ward the East, is called the Gulfe of Persia, because the
Persians inhabit that coast. It is in compasse sixe thou∣sande and twenty myles
a∣bout. The other Gulfe oueragainst which lyeth Ara ∣ bie) is called the Arabick
Gulfe, * and the Ocean that floweth in there, is called the Azanian Sea. Uppon
Carmania ioyneth Persia, * which beginneth at the I∣lande Aphrodisia, welthy of
sundry sortes of ryches, translated sometime into y • name of Parthians,
stretch¦ing fiftie myles along the sea coast, where it faceth the West. The noblest
Towne of that Realme is Susa, * in which is the temple of Susia Diana. A hundred
and fiue and thirty myles from Susa, is the towne Baby ∣ tace, all the inhabiters
whereof (for the hatred they beare to golde,) doo bye vp this kynde of metall, and
delue it déepe in the ground, to the intent they shoulde not be defiled with the vse
thereof, and so worke vn∣righteously for couetousnesse sake. Héereabouts is most
vncertaine measuring of grounds, * and not wyth¦out cause, inasmuch as some
nations about Persis méet theyr lands by Schaenes, some by Parasanges, and
o∣thersome
Page  [unnumbered]
after an vnknowne manner, so that theyr vncertaine order in méeting, maketh that
a man can∣not tell what measure to trust vnto.
CAP. LXVIII.
of Parthia, and of King Cyrus tombe.
P
Arthia is so large a Country, that on y • south∣side it encloseth the red sea,
and on the North side the Hyrcanian Sea. In it are eightéene Kingdoms which are
deuided into two parts. Eleuen of them which are called the vpper kingdoms,
beginne at the borders of Armenie, and passe along the Caspian sea coast, to the
land of the Scithians, with whom they liue like good peaceable neighbors. Theother seauen nether kingdoms (for so they terme thē) haue on the East the Aries
and Arians, on the South Carmania, on the West the Medes, and on the North the
Hyrcanians. And Media * if selfe, running ouer∣thwart on the west side, encloseth
both the kingdoms of Parthia. On the North it is bounded with Arme ∣ nia, on the
East it beholdeth the Caspians, on y • South Persis, and from thence this Coast
passeth foorth to a Castle which the Wysemen call Passargada, and here is the
Tombe of King Cyrus.
Page  [unnumbered]
CAP. LXIX.
of Babylon, of the Athlantish Ocean▪ of the I∣lands of the Gorgons, and of the
fortunate Iles.
T
He heade of the Countrey Chaldea is Ba ∣ bylon, * builded by Semyra ∣ mis,
so renowmed that for the noblenesse thereof, both the Assyrians and
Mesopo¦tamians yéelded into the name of Babilon. the Cit∣tie is in compasse
thréescore myles, enuironed wyth walles two hundred foote hygh and fiftie foote
broade, euery foote béeing longer then the foote which we measure wyth, by the
bredth of thrée of our longest fingers. The Ryuer Euphrates runneth through it.
There is the Temple of Belus lupiter whom euen the religion it selfe that
beléeueth there is a God, reporteth to haue béene the founder of that heauenly
discipline. * In spyght of thys Citty, the Parthyans builded Ctesiphon. But nowe it
is time to retyre to the Coasts of the Ocean, and to call backe my penne into
Aethyop. For as wee haue alreadye tolde howe the Athlantish Sea taketh his
beginning at the west and at Spayne: so it is also conuenient to be declared, from
whence hee beginneth first to beare the name of Atlas in these partes of the
worlde also. The Azanian Sea holdeth on vnto the Coaste of Ae ∣ thyop. The
Aethiopian Sea continueth from thence
Page  [unnumbered]
to the Promontorie Mossylicum, and from thence forth it taketh againe the name
of the Athlantish O∣cean. Therefore, whereas many haue helde opinion, that all
that part is not possible to bee sayled by reason of the excéeding heate: Iuba
auoucheth the contrarye. And for assured proofe that the matter is so indéede, *
hée maketh a rehearsall of the Nations & Ilandes by the way: giuing vs to
vnderstande, that all that Sea is saylable from Inde vnto the straights of Marrock:
so as it be when the wynde lyeth Southwest & by west, the blast whereof is able
to driue anie Nauie by Ara ∣ bie, Egypt, and Mauritanie, so they direct theyr course
from that Promontory of Inde which some call Lep ∣ ten acran, and othersome
name Drepanum. Moreo∣uer, he added the places of harbrough and the distance
of them one from another. For from the promontorie of Inde to the Ilande
Malachus, they affyrme to bee fiftéene hundred myles. From Malachus to
Scaeneon two hundred twenty fiue miles. From thence to the Ilande Sadanus a
hundred and fiftie myles: and so is made to the open Sea, eyght hundred
thréescore and fiftéene myles.
The same I•ba so striueth against the opinion of manie which saie that most parte
of this Coast is vn∣inhabitable of mankind by reason of the heate of the Sunne,
that he affyrmeth the Merchantmen to bee troubled in their passage out of the Ilesof Arabie, which the Arabians called Ascitae possesse, * who haue that name of
their dooings. For they ioyne borders to∣gether, and couer them ouer with Leather,
and say∣ling forth in this kinde of Shyppe, assaile the passen∣g•rs with venom•d
Darts.
And hee affyrmeth also that the scorched Countries of Aethiop are inhabited by
the nations of the I•thyo¦phages and Troglodits, of whom the Troglodits * are
Page  [unnumbered]
so swift a foote, that they ouertake the wilde Beastes whom they chace. The
Icthyophags are able to swim in the salt water as well as the verye Beastes of the
Sea.
In serching the Athlantish Sea euen to the west bee maketh mention of the Iles of
the Gorgons * also. The Gorgon Iles (as we vnderstand) are ouer against the
Promontorie which wee call * Hesperionkeras. These are inhabited by the
Monstars called Gor ∣ gons: and surelie a monstrous nation possesseth them yet.
They are distant from the maine land two dayes sayling. Xenophon Lampsacenus
hath reported that Hanno King of the Afers wasted ouer into them, and founde
women there as swyft as byrds and that of all the number that were séene, but two
could bee taken, which were so rough and rugged of bodye, that for a
remembraunce of the strange sight, hee hung vp theyr two skinnes for a wonder
among other gyfts in the Temple of Iuno, which continued there vnto the
de∣struction of Carthage.
Beyond the Gorgons are the Iles of the Hesperi ∣ des, which (as Sebosus affyrmeth)
are withdrawn for∣tie dayes sayling into the innermost hart of the Sea. They
report that the fortunate Iles lye against the left side of Mauritanie, * which Iuba
sayth are situate vnder the South, but next vnto the West. By reason of the names
of these, I suppose a great wonder is looked for: but the matter is not equall to the
same of the worde.
In the first of them which is called Ombrion, nei∣ther is nor hath béene anie
houses. The toppes of the Hyls are watry with Pooles. Réedes growe vp to the
bygnes of Trées. Those of them that be blacke, when they be pressed yéelde a
most bitter liquor, but thos• that bée white, yéeld a iuyce good to make drinke of.
Page  [unnumbered]
They say that another of those Iles is named Iuno ∣ ma, wherein are a fewe cotages
ilfauoredly pyked at the toppes. The third is néere vnto this and of y • same name,
but all is bare and naked. The fourth is called * Capraria, which swarmeth beyond
al measure with monstrous great Lucerts.
Next followeth * Niuaria, where the ayre is thick and clowdie, and therefore euer
snowing. And lastlie * Canaria replenished with Dogs of excéeding huge∣nesse,
whereof two were presented to King Iuba. In that Ile remain some foundations of
buildings. Ther is great plenty of byrds, fieldes full of fruitful Trées, places
bearing Dates, great store of Pyneapples, a∣boundance of Honney, and Ryuers
swarming wyth Fyshes called Silures. * Also it is sayde that the wauing Sea
casteth vppe monstrous beastes vppon the land, which lying styll there androtting, infect all thinges wyth an horrible stinche, and therefore the qualitie of
those Ilands agrée not altogether to their name.
FINIS.
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