IN the begīnynge we haue the Lāme becauſe he is the moſte mekeſt beſte leuinge for it offēdeth nobody / and all that he hathe on him is gode / ye fleſ / ſhe for to eate the ſkynne to make parthemēt or ledder the donge for 〈◊〉 the felde / the clawes & hornes be mede cinable / he dredeth the wolfe ſore / & he knoweth his dāme beſt be her bleting though ſhe be amonge many ſhepe.

YSydorus ſayth that the rāme or wedder is the lodyſman of other ſhepe / and he is the male or man of the oye and is ſtronger than the other ſhepe / & he is alſo called a wedder becauſe of a worme that he hath in his hede / & whan that begīneth for to ſtirre than wyll he tucke and feght / and he fereth naturally the thonder as other ſhepe dothe. For whan a ſhepe is with frute hering the thonder ſhe caſteth her frute and bryngeth it dede to the worlde. and the wedder in the tyme that he be ſpryngeth the oye than is it in the tyme of loue amonge the ſhepe / and the Rāme or wedder wyl feght boldly for theyr wyues one with another.

¶yſaac ſayth that ye weder / ye bucke / & other ſuche lyke beſtes haue eche by thēſelfe an indifferēt foūd of their voyce in callynge of their wyues in ye ty / me of engendrīge & loue / & they yt drynke than ſalte water / thei be wackened or ſtyred to engendrynge ſoner than other be before their tyme comynge. & whan ye olde wethers begyn to engē der before ye yonge wethers / & that the yonge kepe their due tyme yt is a good ſigne in that yere / but whā the yonge begynne before the olde that is a tokē of tocomȳge morayne or dethe amonge the ſhepe

Eſculapius ſaith. Whan an oliphant ſeeth a ramme or wether / he is therof afrayde and gothe from hym

THe Bore is an angry and an on tame beſte & is very curſt whan he companyeth with the ſowe / for the wylde bores whan they accōpany thē with theyr females than be they euer redy for to fight / and they make their ſkinnes harde / for they rōne to rubbe theȳ againſt the trees and than to lay in foule dirt and myre the which they late drye on them & that maketh their ſkinnes very harde / and bothe the bores be moche lyke of cōdicions / & whan they mete comonly they wyll feght yf they be in cōpany of theyr females / ſo longe tyl that the one or bothe of them be ſlayne / and the wylde bore is comō ly blake and he ſtiketh with his longe croked tethe as harde and ſharpe as it were yron. And if the bore be hu • ted on the morninge or he haue piſſed / thā is he lightely wery / but if he haue pyſſed or he be hūted or whyle he is on hū tinge / than wyll he nat lightely be ta / ken. Alſo thoughe he be wery he wyll nat lightely yelde hym but ſetteth hȳ on his hinder loynes to defende him agaynſt the hūter / but he ſhal nat come be the hunter to hurte hym nor to byte hym tyll he be firſt wounded himſelfe of the hunter / and without the hunter geue hym a dethes wounde / without doubt he wyll put the hunter in ieoꝑdye of his lyfe except he be nigh to a tre that he may clȳme vpon for his ſocour The bore hereth better on the right ſyde than any beſte.

AChame is a beſte as grete as an hert / and contrary the nature of all other beſtes he hathe his gall in his eare / and it is a curſed angry beſte.

¶Alches is a beſte that is in the foreſt of Hircinia and is very moche lyke a gote / but it is ſomwhat bygger and it hathe croked iagged hornes / and they haue no ioyntes in theyr legges as other beſtes haue / and whan the hūterſ wyll haue that beſte they folowe him be the fote ſtepe to knowe where he reſteth be night / for he ſtandeth and ſlepeth agaynſt a tre / and they lowſe the tre be the rote and ſo dygge it vp or ellis they ſawe it a ſonder / for he ſlepeth faſt and leneth ſore againſte the trees wherwith he is oftentymes deceyued and falleth to the grounde / and ſo they take hym or ellis they ſholde neuer take him for he is to dangerous to come by / and he is to ſwyft in cōnynge / but whan he is downe he can nat ryle.

AFferatos be ſpringynge and flyenge lytell ſerpentes that hyde them in the trees / and whan ther commeth any bodye be thoſe trees on the wayes / than they flye out with theyr venymous ſtinges and they be red of coloure & they be ſo meruelouſly hote of nature that whoſoeuer be hurte wt them muſt nedis dye / for the bytt is ſo venymous that it rōneth thorugh all the body & the cure of it is like as of the ſerpentt vipera. Affudius and Sabryne be ij. gray ſerpētis and blacke vnd their hede wt white ſpottes / & they haue a ſlouthfull paſe / and their hole yt they byde in is blacke of their / fowle venym / of their bitt or ſtinge is on tempered all a mans body / for of all ye places of the body ye blode ſpryngeth out the bely ſweleth / the brethe ſhorteneth ye ſpeche fayleth / ye lymes retcheth out & ſtyffeneth / the memory or onderſtandynge is loſt / the tethe fall out / & the ꝑſone dyeth And this ſerpentis cure is lyke the cura of the vipera.

AMphibena is a ſerpent yt hath a hede a bouen and another at the tayle / and it goeth wt bothe the he / des togyger / and his body tourned & woūde lyke a cable / and it taketh gret though for her eggis for alway whā the one hede ſlepith ye other wakeneth ¶Armena is a ſerpent / and his operacyon is moche lyke to the baſiliſcus For this ſerpēt kylleth nat only with his bytt or ſtynge but alſo wt his ſight and eke with his baſt or blowyng • for whoſo hereth this ſerpēt blowe muſt nedys dye / and whate beſte that he cometh by can lyue no lenger and it is about ye length of .iij. quarters of a yarde / & for this ſtronge venyn is no cure nor helpe / but ſome ſay that there is helpe therto that ſhold be wt popy ſede and caſtoreū / that is the ſtoues of a beuer. et • et.

THe Aſpis is a venymous beſt or ſerpēt / the whiche kyleth a man at the fyrſt bit / and it is ſomwhat laſſe than the ſerpent vipera And there be many maner of Aſpis / as Dypſa / Ypnalis Preſter / & Seps. Aſpis is a grene ſerpent and hathe very longe tethe lyke a bore / & this ſerpētis abydynge is in drye places where as there commeth no water /

¶ 〈◊〉 who ſo is bitten of this ſerpēt aſpis chaūge thier colours & war defe & haue gret colde / their hed ſwelleth & thir iyen ſwell & thei waxe very ſlepy & to the venymoꝰ bitte or ſtinge of this ſerpēt is no remedi but make a plaſter of lyme hony / & oyie. It is often taken with enchantemētis or ſorcerye & thorugh the ſtrength of this enchantmēt he is ſone wa • e of it / & layeth his one • er to the grounde & ſtoppeth the other with his tayle / & he is ſore deſired for a precious ſtone that is in his hede / and thrugh thenchantement this ſerpent is obedient vnto man / & without any bytinge or venym caſtinge they be taken and entreated as a man lyſt with out any payne.

THe ſpȳner or ſpyder is ſo named becauſe it ſpinneth a gret dele of wel • e or threde / & it worketh alway / & whan it hathe all done with a blaſt of wynde it tereth aſonder and all the labour is loſt that it hath do / & the ſpider hathe many fete at the leſte vi. or viij. & it ſitteh ī the myddes of the webbe redy to take ſuche flyes & vermyn as cometh in it / & their moiſtour they ſucke & therby they loue / whan they engender the female lieth vnder with her bely vpward / & they lay egges & of thoſe egges come yonge ſpynners the whiche ſpynne incontinent.

BOnnacon is a beſte / and bred in the londe of frigia and hath a hede lyke a bull / and a hangynge mane like a hors / & it hath on the hede ſo croked hornes that it can with them do no harme & his here is lyke woll & of colour redde / & it is legged lyke an oxe & hath a ſwete fleſſhe for to eat / and therfore he is oftentymes chaſed & hū ted. & whan the hunters come nyghe hym thā caſteth he vpō them his dirt or donge well .iiij. ſteppes from hym. and what ſo euer it light vpon yt burneth / and they be moche lyke a wilde howe / and whan the female hath yonge than a great many of theſe beſtes gader togyder & make ſo moch donge that it ſemeth a wall wherin ſhe is cloſed and there ſhe layeth very warme.

THe oxce is a cōpanable beſte & amonge his cōpani he is very meke / & alwaye he ſeketh his felowe that was wont to go in the plowghe wyth hym / and whan he fyndeth nat his felow / than cryeth he wyth a lowde voyce makyng gret mone / as it were one yt wolde make a mourninge cōplaynt A bull lyueth .xv· yere. and a oxce .xx. yere ¶Iſaac ſayth that an oxce fleſſh is the dryeſt fleſſhe amonge all other / & his blode is nat holſom to be eten for it wyll nat lightly diſieſte▪ & therfore it fedeth ſore & it maketh euyll hūoures & bredeth melācoly / & they melancolicus that eat moche ſuche metes be like to ſuffer many diſeaſes as to gete an harde mylte / the febris quartayn the dropcy / mangines / lepry. &c̄. Oꝑatio ¶The gal of an oxe with Nitro & Ethimolea mēgyd togeder & therwith the hede waſſhed deſtroyeth the wormes in ye here. Diaſcorides ſaith / ye mylke of the kowe heleth the freſſhe woūdes in the mouthe. The donge or dirt of ye oxe is gode to be layde vpon the ſtinge of a bee or waſpe. The ſepiū of an oxe wt goſe greſe & pith of Ochimi / heleth the cliftes in the lyps or on the mouth the mary of an oxe right legge before brayed & mengyd with his blode / deſtoryeth the euyl heres on the browes & we lyddes. The gall of an oxe with ye ſtale of a gote or bucke / heleth them yt here euyll. Powder of the oxe anclow brēt and rubbed on the tethe maketh thē faſt that ſholde fall out with payn The mylt of the oxe medled with hony is good for the mylt. Nota the mylke of a kowe is good for an impoſtumed mawe / the mangye or ſcabbed hādes ſhalbe heled with freſſhe oxe blode / for that dryeth lightely / & the next daye it muſt be waſſhed af with lye. The oxe gall ī a mānes eare with a ſilken cloth heleth the pypynge & rynginge in the eare / The oxe downge or dyrte layde vpon a rude impoſtume or byle / cauſeth it to breke. Oxe downge brent to aſſhes & that blowen in the noſe ſtaū cheth the blode. Alſo theſame aſſhes tē pered with butt & made plaſterwyſe and ſo layde to the beh • excedith many other medecynes for the dropſy. The lyuer of the oxe brēt to powder & that dronken wtale / bier / or wyne / is gode for the flixe or flode of the blode. The oxe bones brēt to aſſhes & that rubbed vpon the tethe that be weyke maketh them to ſtande faſt.

BOmbex is a worme that ſpȳnes ſylke & the firſt ſubſtance that ſylke cōmeth of & it is fed with the leues of mourbery trees & whan it hath begon to worke than wyll it ete nomore it taketh ſo great pleſure in working. And it maketh yelow woll or ſilke / the which becōmeth whyte with waſſhīg & thāne it taketh what colour ſo euer a man wyl. & whan this worme hath all wrought than reſteth hym & that muſt be kept all the wynter / tyll that the wedder be warme agayne / thāne muſt they be holden betwene ſome bodyes handes or nygh their bodyes in their boſomes tyll that the nature of thoſe ſedes chaungeth.

BOrax is a maner of a tode that hathe a ſtone in his hede / & whan this ſtone is goten out the whyle that the tode dothe lyue / than hathe the ſtone in hymſelfe a fygure of an iye / but if it be taken out whan the tode is ded than hathe the venym taken awaye that iye and enpayred the ſtone This tode / whan that it is ſtered or meued thāne ſwelleth it of his owne venym or poyſon. And they feght againſt the ſpyders and the tode is ouercomen of the ſpyder becauſe the ſpider ſtingeth hym alway and that he can nat gete the ſpyder / he ſw • lleth for anger that he burſteth / and the byt of this tode is ſo venymous that it is nat lightely to be holpen or cured and with rewe thei be ſlayn / & they may nat ſe the brightnes of the ſon̄e / & be night they couyte to be in the fote wayes or pathes / and where the people trede. alſo thei may nat ſmell the bloſſom of ye vynes ſomtyme they be a cubyte of lēgth / of theſe be many in ſpayne.

THe tode is a poyſon worme or • myn & is be kowen of euery man and of a fowle worme it is one of the moſte coldeſt / and it hathe his harte in his throte / therfor it can nat lightly be kylled except it be thruſt in the throte / And ſome ſaye that they be bred of the fowle humours of therthe / ye tode hath a poyſon peſtilent ſyght and defynge and he eteth erthe be meſure & weght foraſmoche as the tode may take in .i of his fore fete / that is his mete all that day / the tode fereth that the erth ſhall fayle hym / & therfore ouer night he taketh his pawe or fore full becauſe yt he ſholde nat myſſe to haue erth ynough for to ete the next daye. Sotyme they feght wt ſpyders and other ſerpentis & if he be bitten of any other venymoꝰ ſerpētis than eteth he an erbe named plātago or plantayn and therwith he helith him ſelfe / & he eteth gladly ſage but the roote of it is his dethe. A tode ſtone found in the hede of the tode and borne about a naturall creature / ſubdueth many venymes and poyſons. A tode brent to aſſhes and thoſe aſſhes abydinge vpon the grounde / of thoſe aſſhes engendereth very many yong and quicke • obes.

A Bufell is a beſte moche lyke an oxe / but he is greter & hyer than an oxe & hathe blacke here and croked hornes / a longe necke / a grete hede / & lenelȳmes / with a ſmalle tayle & hū ble to loke on / but whan he is made angry than dothe he grete ſcathe / & he is very profitable vnto man and dothe gret laboure / and he wyll nat be ledde without a rynge thrugh his noſe / and ſtrynges tyed to the ſame to lede hym with and ſo ye ſhall haue hym where ye lyſt. Alſo the Buffell wyll haue no gretter charge or burdē than he may well bere / for yf he be ouerladē he wyl fall to the grounde & for betīges or ſtrokes he wyll nat ryſe tyll that he be on loden or diſcharged.

BVpreſtis is a lytell worme moch in the londe of Italy haūtinge in paſtures wher as kyne graſe & what kowe or oxe that eteth of him as ſone as he cōmeth at the gall their guttes & belly breſtith a ſonder.

BLata prouideth hym be night becauſe he may ſe no light & deſtroieth the bees / & he ſtaineth any mānes handes that taketh him vp. Bibiois alſo a lytell flye that groweth or is engendred of new wyne.

THe ſtone Bucke is a beſte lyke a buck / & it is a wyld gote & it hath ſmall hornes / & it dwelleth in hye moū taines / & it ſeeth very ſharpe and very farre / & whan it ſeeth any body come nigh hȳ / than it caſteth hȳ ſelfe downe from the hyl & falleth vpon his hornes withouten harme / & ſuche be many in the ylonde of Crete / & if it fele hymſelf hurte with any arowe or quarell of ye hūters / thā ſeketh it an herbe named Pulegiū. & therof it eteth / & as ſone as it hathe eten therof the arowe or quarell fleeth out of it agayne / and it wyll nat lightly be taken / for it is to quicke in ronnynge and lepinge.

THe dogge is an unclenly beſte yt eteth ſo moche that he vomyteth it out & eteth it vp agayn • / it is lightly angry and byteth gladly ſtraūge dogges / he barketh moche / he 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 name well / he is hered 〈◊〉 & a ſlonth • dy he loueth his maſt ſoſte vnder his f • 〈…〉 right ſore 〈◊〉 lerned to many games / & be night he kepeth the houſe. Ther be many hoū des yt for the loue of theyr maiſter they wyll rōne in their owne deth & whan the dogge is ſeke / he ſeketh graſſe or other erbes / & that he eteth and heleth himſelfe ſo / and there be many maner of dogges or hoūdes to hawke & hunt as grayhoūdes / braches ſpanyellis or ſuche other to hunt hert and hynde / & other beſtes of chace & venery. &c. and ſuche be named gentyll hoūdes. The birthe hath mylke .v. or vij. dayes or the litter her whelpes / and that milke is thicker thā any other mylke except ſwynes mylke or hares mylke.

THe catte is a beſte yt ſeeth ſharpe and ſhe byteth ſore / and ſcratcheth right perylouſly / & is principall ennemye to rattis & myce / & her colour is of nature graye / and the cauſe yt they be other wyſe colowred that cōmethe through chaunge of mete as it is well marked by the houſe catte for they be ſelden colored lyke the wylde tatte. & their fleſſhe is bothe neſſhe & ſoſfte

THe Kamell is a lothly beſte / and hathe an hyllocke vpō his backe & he hath a longe necke & a ſlouth full pace / and he is veri ſoſte vnder his fote whyche greueth hym right ſore whā he gothe on an harde waye / and whā he ſhalbe loden he muſt beknocked on his legs & than he kneleth to be lodē or ellis he ſhold be to hy / & whan he is angry he gryndeth his tethe merue / louſly / it leuith an hondred yere & it eteth gladly barly & drinketh troubled water / and it may endure thurſt four dayes & than it drinketh very moche. But the dromodary is another beſte lyke the Kamell and it hathe two hyl lockes vpon his backe like a ſadel and is very ſwyft in rōnynge.

The kamell hathe his yarde of gene / racion hanginge out behynde hym / & therfore it egendreth with his female cōtrary to all other beſtes and turned tayle to tayle and byde ſo faſtened all the holedaye / and though the kamell be • nclenly and fowle in his workes / yet he is very clen • y towardes his dame as it hathe ben proued in a great lordes court that there was ones a kamell diſpoſed to the workes of nature & to her was brought one of her owne yonges and her hede was wonde in a cloute becauſe that her yonge ſholde nat knowe her / Thus engenderynge nat knowynge eche other they were left togeder tyll their tyme was fulfilled and the daye paſt / than was the fe / males hede onbownde and the yong ſeinge that he had engenderyd with his dāme / he dyd make grete heuines & mourninge maners as one beinge ſore aſhamed of the dede & bote of his yarde or member & ſo ſlewe hymſelfe whiche to vs is a grete enſample.

CAmelopardus is a beſte legged & foted lyke an oxe / necked lyke an horſe and heded lyke a kamell / it hath a red ſhinynge coloured ſkynne with whyte ſpottes therin & they be moche in Ethyope / & it is as meke as a lāme.

CApriolus is in maner lyke a gote in the londe of ynde & thei ben ſo ſwifte of rōnynge that they can nat be taken / but ſomtyme it is ſhot & whan it is hurt than it eteth hertis pulegiū and heleth himſelfe for therwith the arowe falleth out agayne. ¶In ye moū taynes of ynde be gotes yt ete wel ſmellynge erbis & aromatick ſpices & they haue lytel holes betwene their clawes wherī they gader a maer of moiſtnes & that ouer groweth wt a lytell ſkynne & than it becometh a maner of a byle / & ſo it rypeneth & than it itchet ſo ſore yt he rubbeth it tyll it falleth of / & that is counted for muſke & of great valure.

CAlapus is a beſte moch haūting about the water of Eufrates becauſe of the coldnes of that water that it therof may drinke alwaye whan it is thurſty / & it is bolde and alſo ſwyfte in rōnynge that the hūters can nat take him with no hoūdes / & it hath longe hornes carued lyke a ſawe wherwith it ſtriketh great trees downe to ye groū de / & than cōmeth he amōge the tough grene buſſhes & thinketh to ſtryke thē alſo with his hornes to the grounde / but therin he is warred ſo that he can nouther out nor in but bydeth therin hāginge / & whan he feleth that he can nat out / for very pure anger he gryndeth his tethe togeder wt ſo grete force that he is herde very farre of / and thei that here him come & take hym / there or ellis they ſholde nat take him lightely for no maner of wayes.

THe hert is a beſte right ſwyft in rōninge / it hathe longe ſharpe tyned hornes / his hornes growe from .ij yere to vi. but than there growe no more tyndes on his hornes / but they wexe bygger and fall out / in his hede he hath a worme that vexeth hī dayly The hert reioyſeth in pypīge and ſynginge / and foloweth gladly the noyſe therof / the whiche oftentimes coſteth him his lyfe / & he fereth ſore the ſonge of the frogge / and whāne ſhe wyll caſt her faune ſhe ſeketh a very ſecrete place for drede of the hunters. ¶Nota the hert feghteth gladly ayenſt them that folowe or chace him / but if he be ouer come / he mekeneth hym lowly to his perſecutour and it leueth longe.

ZElio is a beſte as grete as a wolfe and it is mortall enemy bothe to man and beſte for it woroweth al that it cōmeth by / & it foloweth bothe man and beſte be the ſounde of their voyce it barketh lyke a dogge / wherwith it deceiueth many one and it ouercommeth all maner of dogges / and it commeth of the beſte Hyena and the Ape / and it abydeth gladly in places wheras people be buryed / And it eteth the cadauers or wormes.

CEraſtes is a ſerpēt that vij. hor / nes on his hede / of the whiche hornes in tymes paſt was wont to be made haftes of knyues belonginge to emperours tables for their grete vertue for whan there came any venym to ye table than the kniues heftes dyd ſwet & of the venym was knowlege / & this ſerpent geteth his mete be ſubtyll menes / for he layeth in the ſande as yf he were dede and hydeth ſo moſte parte of all his body / & the fowles and beſtes that ſe hym weneth that he be dede & thynke to eat of him & ſo he taketh thē & that is his mete / and agaynſt his bit is gode to be dronke in wine the ſede of Raphani.

CEphos is a wonderfull monſter in the londe of Ethyope the whiche hathe fete before lyke the very hā des of a man & he hath thē behīde lyke the fete of a man / & this monſter hathe bene ſene in the palays of Pompeyus at Rome / & it is heded & mouthed lyke a blode hoūde. ¶Centrocota is a beſte bodyed lyke an aſſe / breſted & legged lyke a lyon / & it hathe a wyde gapynge mouthe from the one ere to the other & it foloweth man be the voyce.

IT is a beſte full of briſtellis & pynnes lyke an vrchen & facyoned lyke a ſwyne / nothinge bolde / but it wyl geue a dedly bitte.

That is a worme of the erth / & ſom dwell in howſes ī warme places and deſyre the hytte of the fyre / & ſome flye in the felde / & they ſucke the dewe of the graſſe / and they ſinge wel & thei make their holes in the groūde wher as thei haue yōges. There be Cicades that grow only of the cockes ſpe • yll or moyſtnes & thoſe be many in Ytalye.

IT is a beſte that foloweth gladly the voice of man & it cloſeth neuer his iyen & ſome ſay that they be engē dred of a wolfe and a dogge.

A Meruelous beſte is critecus the whiche dwelleth in the erth & is of diuers and many maner of colours on the hede and he hath a redde backe and a whyte bely / and his here may nat be p • u • ked out for the ſkynne wolde go withall / & it is coloured moche lyke a cony / & it hath none eares but it hathe eare holes / and it is curſt & byteth paryllouſly ſore

THe Adder layeth gladly in ye ſonne beames / and it crepeth ſomtyme thrugh a very ſtrayte hole and ſo ſtrepith his ſkyn of and reneweth hȳ It is as lōge as an ele / it glydeth on ye grownde & it geueth venymous blaſtes / and trobeleth them that come in his waye / & ſtyngeth them venemouſly / it flyeth frome the herte & kylleth the lyon The ſkyne that it ſtrepyth of dreſſed in a decoctiō with oyle is very good in ye eares as teſtefyeth phiſiolꝰ.

THe coney is a lytel beſte dwellynge in an hole of the erthe / & thore as he vſeth he encreaſeth very moche and ther fore he is profitable for man for he caſteth oftentymes in the yere

DAmma is a beſte lyke 〈…〉 hath longe ſharpe ſtreight / and ſmothe hornes & it is very ſwyfte ī rō ninge / & the fleſſhe of it is colde & drye in the operaciō & there be many of thē in Arabia.

THe Dragō is ye gretteſt of all ſer / pentes & beſtes / as Yſidorꝰ ſayth in Inde & in Ethyope be many / & he groweth tyll he be .xxvi. cubites of lēgthe & more / & whā he is come to his ful age or ſtrength thā lyueth he longe wt out mete / but whā he beginneth to ete he is nat lightely ſuffyſed. Auguſti. ye dragon dwelleth in depe caues of the grounde / and whan he feleth any reyne cōmynge out of the ayre than commeth he out of his caue or dēne & fleethe in to the ayre & bethe • ī the ayre in ſuche wyſe that it ſemeth to be a gret tempeſt in ye ayre & his wȳges be of a great quātyte accordynge to his body & they be facyoned lyke ye winges of a backe ye flyeth in the twy lyght / & where as ye dragon abideth there is ye ayre darke & full of venymous corrupcion.

THe Gray is a fatt beſte wt a brode backe and ſhort leggis / & they be ſhorter on the lefte ſyde than on the righte ſyde and thei byteth very ſore & is of the moc • nes of the fox / & is ſlowe in ronninge to gete his mete

DIpſa is a maner of a ſerpēt / and it is very lytell / but it ſtingeth man / & whan it hath ſo done incōtinēt it is enflambed wt ſo great hete & thurſte that it muſt nedys drinke / & ſo it rō neth to the water / & th̄ere it drinketh tyll it breſte aſonder / and it is aboute a ſpanne of lengthe

YDra is a ſerpent or dragon with many hedis / and whā any body feghteth agaynſte it and ſtryketh one of the hedis of incōtinente there ſpryngethe thre other hedis for it / but ſome thȳke it but a fable / & he that is venymed with this dragon may be holpen with kowe donge

THe Horſe is a beſte yt engendreth in all places of the world / & amō ge all colours. ye blacke is beſt. ye browne baye next / & the white thirde / but al other colours be taken for worſe. Ariſtoteles ſayth. That ye horſe & ye mare haue more deſyre to theyr engendrīg than ony other beſtes on erth / for it is wryttē that no beſte after that it hath receyued ye nature of frute wyll haue adoe more wt his male or female / ſaue only ye womā and ye mare / & the horſe may make ye generaciō tyl he be .xxxv. yere olde / and ye mare may bere here frute tyll ſhe be .xl. yere of age agaynſt the natuere of all other beſtes / the horſe hath whyte tethe in his age / and he hathe no gall.

THe Olyphant is a gret beſte that lightely wyll be tamed and he is hūbler than any other beſte / and mekeneth himſelfe lowlyer thāne any other beſte and becōmeth ſubiect very lyghtely / and he is cōmonly lerned to do reuerens to kynges and noble princys / & who ſo hurteth or greueth hym that wyll he remember / and reuenge it in longe tyme after / and put him in ieꝑdy yt greued him / theſe beſtes ware wont to do gode ſruice in tyme of war for they be ſo ſtronge that they maye fell downe gret ſtone walles / and they may bere a meruelous great weight Whan the male wyll engender with the female than do they go togeder towardes the Orient partyes as farre as they can / And there they fynde anherbe named Mandragora and therof they ere bothe / but the female eteth firſt / and whan they haue eten therof than they come by eche other and engendreth be the way of nature & whā ſhe ſhall caſt her yonge than gothe ſhe to a great water & caſteth it therupon for feare of the dragon that is hir ennemye & wayteth to deſtroy her and her yong alſo for the whiche cauſe thother neuer departeth frome her tyll ſhe be quite of her burden / the Olyphant lyueth iij.c. yere. & hathe no ioyntes in his legges wherfore he cāne nouther bowe nor knele / and he hath a rounde fote lyke an apple / wherfore whan he reſteth him he leneth to a great ſtrong tree and ſo repoſeth hym and ſlepeth on his fete ſtandīge becauſe that his legges be ſo ſtiffe and will nat bowe / & the hūters yt wyl haue hym do marke the tre that he reſteth to / & whan he is gone thēs / than they get a ſaw & ſawe a ſonder & leueth it ſo ſtāding / & ye next tyme that he cometh for to reſt hym & leneth to the tree / downe cometh ye tre and he togeder / and than he can nat a riſe ſo incontinent he is taken

¶Nota It is wryten alſo that whan the hūters come for to ſtryke him they be agreed / before honde that ye one ſhal ſtryke hym & the other defende hym / & haue a boxe or other veſſell & therin is red colour or wyne / and that he yt is ye defendour is all beſpylt or ſprinked wt the ſame as yf he hath ſhede his blode for the • liphāte / & whā the oliphāt ſpyeth that ye laſt man hath ſhed his blode for hym he foloweth hym mekly & is trewe & obedient vnto hym in all his beſynes vnto the deth / and wyll nat folowe the other hunter whiche is vnto vs wrec • ed • reatures a worthy ēſample for oure lernyng / wherfore late vs thinke in our myndes that we be the Olyphantes an thinke in our hertes what loue this onreſonable beſte ſheweth vnto man for hys goode wylle yt he hath redemed hȳ / whiche was but a fayned mater / what oughte we ſynfull • reatures to thinke yt the very ſon of god is deſcended frome his godhed and hath taken vpon hym the nature of man for to feght agaynſte the firſte hunter that chaſed vs that was oure mortall ennemye the deuill of hell. O lorde god there thou ſheddeſt thy moſt precyous blode for oure redemp • ion & loſed vs from the bādes of euerlaſtinge dampnacion / where fore gyue vs grace thate we maye obſerue and kepe thy preceptis and commandementes / and that we may humble our ſelf to laude and thanke the fore thy gloryous woundes and paſſyon that thou ſuffreddeſt and for thy moſte precious blode that thou ſheddeſt for the redemcyon of all mankinde

ENchires is a beſte lyke a Gulle. and hathe in his necke veri long here lyke the mane of an horſe necke. & hath great hornes mightely armed for to feght / and he hath a ſhort tayle his ſkinne is very herde / & his fleſſhe is ſwete. & whā it is hūted it feghteth agaynſt the hūters / & it caſteth his dō ge & voydeth it well .iiij. ſtrydes from hym for very purefear / & it ſemeth yt it is theſame beſte that bonnacon ſpeketh of before

A Litell beſte is Enidros. & it is moche in ye water of Nilus. & where ſoeuer it fyndeth that ſerpēt cocodryllus before named ſlepīge. ther it doth wentylle & turne hym ſelfe in ſlypery myre & than it ſlippeth betwene the teth of cocodrillus & ſo deſcendeth in to the bely of cocodrillus & there terith it a ſonder all ye intrayls & guttes of his bely & ſo ſleeth it ye cocodrillus. ¶Enitra is a lytell beſte / & of thē be many ī germania / & they make grete holes in ye erth / & they gathre in the ſomer that yt they lyue by in ye winter / the female is alway fatte & the male lene / for ſhe is euer etynge & he is ſo gredy & ſo ſparinge yt he thȳketh that he ſhall neuer haue ynoughe & alſo he hydeth from his female al his mete as moch as he can becauſe ſhe ſhold nat eat of it but ſhe is wilye yt ſhe maketh a hole comȳ ge from another waye to ſtele his mete priuily that he dothe nate knowe of it & ſo deſceyueth him & eteth his mete and that is ye cauſe that he is ſo lene

CIrogrillus & erinatius is all one & it is a lytelle beſte lyke a pigge & his ſkynne is rownde aboute full of ſharpe pinnes ſaue only onder his bely that no man may come nygh hym & it is moche lyke an vrchen / but whā it is layde in luke warme water than it is ſo glad that it ſtretcheth hym ſelfe a brode ¶Ermyne is a lytell beſt lyke muſtela / & in the wȳter on all the partyes of his body he is withe ſaue only on ye back and it eteth fleſſhe and parſecuteth the myſe very ſore.

Emorois is a ſerpent that ſweteth blode / & he that of hym is bittyn or ſtynged bledeth hymſelfe to dethe

EChele is a lytell worme & ſom name it ī engliſſhe a leche / & it is in water moche / & it ſucketh gladly ye blode of man & beſte / & it bydeth cleuynge vnto ye place yt it ſucketh tyl it be ful & than it falleth of / but what tyme of the day yt it be the blode •• ācheth nat light • ely tyll the ſonne be ſette whā it hath ſucked. ¶A caterpiller is a worme of dyuers colours / & it hath many fete / & it is of halfe fynger length or more / or laſſe / & they brede of ſtynkȳge myſtes vpō ye trees & deſtroy ye trees & frutes therof / & ſome take ye aſſhes of a fygge tre yt hath bene burned & ſtrewe it vpō thoſe erbes or trees and therwith deſtroye them.

ANtees or piſmers be very lytell wormes and they be very wyſe / they make their holes in the grounde ande bere the erth out / and they make a narowe entre into their hole & make grete prouiſion to leue vpon all ye yere after / the ante deuideth euery corne or or grayn that he geteth in thre partis that he caryeth into his hole / becauſe it ſholde nat ſhote and waxe grene in his hole or dēne / theſe antes cary eche other out of their holes whan they be dede / and bury them.

THe grete Myris as it is ſaide be in Ethyope and they be in quantite as gret maſtifes and they be foted lyke a lyon and they caſt the golde out of the golden ſande and 〈…〉 nobody dare come by it. In ynde be myris as gret as oxen and they be very daūgerous to come by / and they be alſo be the golden mynes / & they haue four fete with croked clawes / and they wyll tere any man a ſ • nder / but they do nat byte or hurt other beſtes lightely / and for to myniſſhe the ſyn̄ne of couetyſe there be ſo many of them to kepe this gold that no man can com • be it / but Iohn̄ mandeuyll teſtfieth that theſe antes or myris may nat abyde the here of the ſon̄e therfor wha • 〈◊〉 fele the here thei ron̄e to their caues or dennes and in the mene tyme cometh men ſittinge on dromodaris and cary aſmoche of this golde awaye by ſtelth as they may but they be in great ieoꝑdye. Alſo they gete this golde be poli • ye / as thirs / They kepe a mare with hir yonge fole very hōgry / and lay on her two doſſers we • feſtened vnto her body & dryue her out towarde ye place where as this golde is / but the fole bydeth at home tyll they wyll haue the mare home agayne / And theſe antes haue a propertye that they may ſe no emptye holes / wherfore whan they ſe theſe emptye baſkettes vpon the maris backe / they fyll it full of pure golde for they purifye it very well / and whā the owner of the mare dothe thynke that it is tyme than he taketh the fole and bringeth it out / and incōtinent it begin • to ney & crye after the dāme and whan ſhe hereth her yonge ſhe cō meth home as faſt as ſhe can / and in ſuche maner they gete the golde.

A Furet is a beſte longe and ſmall and it is almoſte all whyte of colour and it bryngeth the conys out of their holes whan it fyndeth them.

¶Nota Furo is a beſte that hathe many fete / and it ſeketh and fyndeth many conys in their holes and killeth thē and ſo eteth them be ſtelth.

GAmeleon is a beſte with ij. wynges & foure fete hauinge an hede lyke an adder & a longe wronge tayle lyke a dragon and bereth gere on his backe lyke woll & the clohhe that therof is made can nat burne / & whā this beſte of his ennemye is ſlayne / than it ſleeth his ennemye alſo / for he eteth of it alſo & therof he dyeth in cōtinent.

GLandoſa is a ſerpent right daungerous for what it biteth it rotes in cōtinent & ſtinketh meruelouſly he that tredeth on this ſerpent all the ſole of his fote ſhall fall out / & the ſurgeon that viſyteth the ſame ſhall leſe all the ſkīne of his handes. ¶Gnatrix is a ſerpent that enuenymeth all maner of waters that it cōmeth in.

A Worme there is named grillus whiche worme hathe many fete and wandereth alway / and it perſeth the erthe / & it eteth the antes in the erthe and it is moche lyke a greſhope / & it cōmeth of the great corrupcyons of the trees.

HEricius is lyke an vrchen full of ſharpe pryckels / whan he feleth ought than he rolleth himſelf togeder lyke a fote ball / and it hathe all the condicyons of an vrchen and of hym the wolfe is ſore a frayde.

HIſtrix is a beſte in Ethyope and in ytalie yt hathe longe ſharp briſtels on his backe / & is ſtrong bothe on water & on londe & is lightely angry / and he that foloweth him than / he ſhoteth his briſtellys at the purſuer whether it be man or beſte.

THe Bucke or male of the gote doeth gladly feght wt his ſtrong hornes / and is alway redy to the onclene luſt of the fleſſhe / and his fleſſhe is nat gode to be eten / & it ſtinketh ſore.

HImnulus is the yonge •• fawne of an hert / & it is ſwift in rōning & the dāme hideth it as nigh as ſhe can whyles it is yonge / and ſhe lerneth it to ſpringe ouer dyches & hedges / & if it be gelded whyle it is yong than it ſhal bere no hornes / if it bere his firſt horne or it be gelded / than ſhall it neuer caſt his horne after.

¶Nota. Ipnalis is a ſerpent the whiche is Ebbe vnto the ſerpēt A • is and who ſo euer of him be bitten falleth in continent to the ground on ſlepe / and ſo they dye very ſoftly & withoutē any maner of feare.

ICinus is a beſte on the erthe full of ſharpe pines rounde about his body ſaue only vnder his bely / and it is lyke a yonge pygge.

LAcertus is a ſerpent with foure fete and it hathe a ſplayde tonge and it is ſomwhat hery / her yōges do breſt out of theim to the nomber of xi. and in Ynde thoſe Serpentis become four and twenty fote longe.

LAmya is a great beſte and very curſed of nature / for be night it cōmeth out of the foreſt and it entreth in ye gardens & there breketh aſonder all maer of erbis & trees / & who ſo commeth̄ to dryue hym frome thens he biteth ferſly / of the whiche they can nat lyghtely be heled / and ſome ſaye that they won̄de their yonges or euer they geue them ſucke. ¶Nota Lauſamyn is Alſo angrye beſte yt none other beſte may be fre for it / for it maketh the prince of all beſtes afrayde / that is the lyon / but they hurt nat eche other / but what ſoeuer other beſtes get / this lauzamyn taketh it from them.

THe lyon is a noble beſte for he is prynce of all other beſtes / & he is ſtrong & mighty & of very noble corage / the he / hathe longe curled here and croked clawes & maketh his wa • bacwarde out / yet he lifteth his legge like a dogge & whā he openeth his mouthe there out cōmeth a ſwete ſauour / & he ſlepeth with open iyen / he hath v. clawes in his fore fete / & but four ī his hinder fete / his tethe be ſharpe as a ſawe / and all his bones be very harde / & lytell mary therin / & whan he is chaſed he rōneth faſt before and trayleth his brode tayle after him vpon the groūd and ſo ſtryketh out the ſteppys of his fete that he therby ſholde nat be foūde The female bringeth forth at her firſt warpinge or litteringe .v. yonges / at the next tyme foure / than thre / than .ij and at the laſt time but one. and after that ſhe bydeth euer barayn. & whan ſhe hathe littered hir yonges / they be dede and ſo byde tyll the thirde daye / and than cometh the dāme with hir familye and there they make ſo great a crye / that thrugh the ſoūde of it they become leuinge and be afrayde / and the lyon fereth the mouſe.

LEuithan is a dragō that fleeth in the ayre / it gothe on groūde & ſwȳmeth in the water / & feghteth oftē tymes agaynſte the whale fiſſhe / & all the fiſſhes in the ſee that ſe this batayl come in continent and ſitt vpon ye taile of the whale / and than if the whale be ouercome of the dragon than eteth the dragons all thoſe ſmale fiſſhes / but yf he can nat ouercome him / than wyl he blowe poiſon or venȳ vpon the whale but he defendeth himſelfe wt blowinge of water agayne vpon the dradragon & ſo preſerueth him & all his felowes.

LAnificus is a worme yt maketh ſilke & it is longe & full of ſpottes and hathe many fete / this worme maketh out of his wōbe yt the ſilke is ſpōne of / & he eteth the leues of the more bery tree / the which mete is chaūged in his wombe vnto the naturall wolle that the ſilke is ſpōne of / and it maketh his wolle on a lytell ſtrigge in maner like a ſpyndell / And whan it is full / thāne it gothe out about in a wonderfull maner / and thys worme whiche was before a creping worme with many fete hathe nowe wynges for to flee. And after that cōmeth bothe male & female to geder .iij. dayes longe in the operation of loue / & than dyeth the he. And within a wyle after ye ſhe layeth innumerabli many eggis vpō a fayre white or redde clothe yt is layde vnd her of them that wille haue the profite & thā dyeth ſhe & than thoſe egges be layde away in fayre clowtes ī a warme place where as ye winter can do no ſcathe to thē / & whan the maye beginneth to ware warme than be they layde out in the warme ſonne tyll they gette ye nature of the worme & ſo gets lyfe. Lymar is a worme bred of the nature of ſlyme & is in maner as a ſnayle

COūpted is the Lintworme as of the kynred of ye wolf / but it hath vpō his bake mani ſpottes like ye beſte pardus / & he is ſo ſharpe ſighted that he ſeeth throughout a mānes body & is faſt & ſolidū And he hath a tong like a ſerpent but it is moche greater in ſuche quātite that he caſteth it about his necke / & hath clouē fete wt gret clawes & his piſſe baketh in ye ſonne and that becommeth a ryche ſtone

THe haye ſprynger is a beſte wt .iiij. fete hauynge a greate hede / & they be gode to be eten / and there be many aboute Iheruſalē of the bigneſ of a conye. but they hayſprygers that we haue be graſhoppis & nat like thoſe by Iheruſalem. the whyche we knowe richt well.

THe Wolfe is a gredy grypynge beeſte and full of falſhede. and ſome ſaye that it is a wilde dogge for he is lyke a dogge / & he howleth but he harketh nat lyke a dogge / & he is very bold / & whō he eteth thā he fylleth him ſelfe wt ſo moche mete that he hath̄ no hunger in .iij. dayes after If any beſte piſſe where as he hathe piſt the whyle ye his piſſe be warm ye other beſte ſhall neuer be frutefull afer / and the wolfe eteth no thynge but fleſſhe

A Lytell beſte is Inter moche like ye weſyll of quātite & coloure / his body is wythe / his wolle is as ſofte as downe / his hede is dūne & blacke This beſte woneth by ye water and lyueth of the fiſſhes & it may lyfe longe vnd water / & it is ſo gredi to gete his mete yt it gadereth ſo moche fiſſhe yt it layth by him & rotteth in his erthe & the ſtē / che therof īf etteth ye ayrether rownde aboute & ſomtimes it is taken of ye fyſſhers & tamed & thā they lerne it to fyſſhe in this maner. ye fiſſhes caſteth his nette at ye one ſyde of ye water & this lytell beſte is ſet in at the other ſyde & he dryueth ye fyſſhes ī to ye nette & helpeth his maiſter

Maricomorion is a beſte in orient yt is ſeldē ſene. he is aſmoche as a lyon / tayled lyke a ſcorpiō / faſed / iyed & eared like a man / & rōneth like a herte / & wher it may fynde a mā it tereth hym a ſonder and eteth him.

WEſell is a lytell beſte & whan it hath younges it is dayli be thē to fede thē / & caryeth thē from place to place becauſe they ſholde nat be foūde & it dwelleth in hilles and holes & it ſlepeth very longe And whā it will feght agaynſte the baſiliſcus thā it armeth him wt wilde rewe / and if ſhe finde hir ionges dede than maketh ſhe thē quicke agayn through ye vertue of this be / knowē herbe rewe. & ye pope Clemēs ſaith that this beſt receyueth through hir mouth & caſteth her li • t thrugh her eares. this beſte perſecuteth the ſerꝑē tis & ſleeth ye baſiliſcꝰ but thā he dyeth alſo.

Mamometꝰ or marmoſet is a maner of an ape the whice is brawne on his bake & whyte ond his beli / & wt a herys taile & his necke is as thick as his hede therfore whā he is taken he is bownde aboute the myddell vnd the beli aboue the backe. & it hath a face moche lyke a man but it is blacke & without here / & alwaye there is ſtrife be • wene this beſte & ye ape & daily they feght agaynſt eche other ¶Māticora is a great beſte & very hery & hath fete lyke a lyon. his face iyen & ſteres like a man & a red coloure / & it hathe a tayle lyke a ſcorpion.

A Marter is a beſte as moch as a catte but it is longer & hath .iiij. fete / & it is whyte vnder the bely & the necke and hath ſhorter clawes than a catte / and they be of ij. maners / that is to vnderſtande foynes and marteres but the marters be better yet bothe ye furres be ryche and coſtely. and they be but ſelden ſtylle / and ſomtyme they be tamed.

MElo is a beſte lyke a gray wyth harde here & hath .iiij. fete wyth his clawes welle armed & is as great as a foxe. but Meloſus is a very dangerous great beſte & hath mighty longe tuſkes / & it dothe great harme vn / to man / yet it feareth the innocēcie of the yōge childrē & rōneth away from their voyce. ¶Monocheron is a beſte that hath a body like an horſ / a hede lyke an herte / a tayle like an hogge / and fete like an oliphaunt / & it hath a ſharpe horne in the middes of his forhede & that horne is black and of .ij. cubites of lenghte and it will nat latt him ſelfe be taken quicke.

MIgale is a lytell beſte leſſe than a weſell & it is gredi to his mete / it is alſo fals & ſubtyll / for that it eteth it geteth wt great ſubtylte / whan it ſeeth a beſte it ſprīgeth to it & grypeth it by ye coddis till it haue ouercome ye beſte.

A Muylis goten of an aſſe & born of a mare / & hath longe eares lyke an aſſe & cryeth lyke an aſſe / & hath a croſſe ouer his ſholders / & lytell fete lyke an aſſe. & alle the other partes of his bo • y is lyke a horſe The muyleſſe or female hath neuer yonge or fole for the nature yt they come of is cold out of meſure

A Lytelle beſte is the Mows and eteth gladly bred or othere thynges made of corne or ſuch as mā eteth and it is veri diligent to gete his leuinge wherfore it biteth many an harde thing a ſonder to paſſe through to gete his mete / and it is veri moyſte of nature / therfore yf it drinke moche it dyeth therof. In Orient be myſe as great as foxes / and they be of that nature that they will kyll a man In Arabia be great myſe alſo / & theyr fore fete be as brode as the palme of a mannes han / de and theyr hinder fete be as ſmale aſ a finger ende▪

THe mouſe hounter or catte is an onclene beſte & a poyſon ennemy to all myſe / and whan ſhe hath goten ſhe playeth therwith / but yet ſhe eteth it / & ye catte hath lōge here on her mouthe / and whan her heres be gone than hathe ſhe no boldnes / and ſhe is gladli in a warme place / and ſhe licketh her forefete & waſſheth therwith har face.

NEpa is a the ſerpent the whiche whan ſhe is with her felowe engēdring ſhe byteth of his hede & ſleeth him & ſhe is ſlain again in ye deliuerīg of hir yōges / for whan hir time is com than her yonges bite the inner partis of hir body aſonder / & than they burſt out and therof ſhe dyeth.

NEomon is the ſame that ſinulus is & it hathe briſtels on his body & it can deuyde gode mete from poyſoned mete be the ſmell / & this beſte ꝑſecuteth the ſerpentis / & whan it feghteth wt the ſerpent aſpis / than it lifteth his tayle vp & ſtryketh aſpis greuouſly whan he waiteth leſte for the ſtroke & ſo he is deceyue.

ONager is a wylde aſſe / vpon the xv. day of marche he cryeth xij. times in ye daye / & as many in ye night & therby it is knowen that it is Equinoxiū / than is day & night a lyke lōge In ynde he cryeth euery houre in the day. The wylde aſſe is as gret as one of our aſſes & it is a perylous beſte / & it hathe a horne in his forhede yt is very harde and ſharpe and the houe vnder his fote is meruelouſly harde & he ſtriketh therwt right perylouſly.

ORafflus is a beſt hauinge many colours & the forparte of hys bo / dy is veri hye ī ſuche maner yt he may reche wt his hede .xx· cubites but ye hinder part of hym is very lowe / & it is foted & cayleth lyke an herte. ¶Onocē tijaurus is a beſte & monſter hauinge a hede lyke an aſſe / & all the other par / tes of the body is lyke a man / & whā it beginneth to crye thā it ſemeth that it wil ſpeke but it cā nat / & he throweth ſtones or libertes wt great ſtrength at thē that folowe hym for to take hym. Adellinꝰ ſayth that this beſte was nat made at the beginīge whan all other beſtes ware created of god but yt they comme of a meruelous commixcyon and ſtraunge generacion.

A Beſte is Orix lyke a gote hauinge a berde vnd the chȳne / & they be moche in ye londe of Affrike / ther as lytell watere is or none wherfore this beſte ſuffreth great thurſte. For it is fon̄d yt the morderes of getulia layd & hao no water for to drinke / & they gate this beſte & ſhifted to get a drope of his vryne & ſlaked therwt their thurſt / & it may ſuffer no maner of colde.

PAnthera is a frende to all beſtes 〈…〉 very fayre / & the ſhe is ſtrongeſt & hathe but ones yōges in her lyfe / & he that hūtith him layth fleſſhe in his waye & poiſon theron & he eteth it wherwith he is dece • ued of ye hūters but than he ſeketh the dirtte of man & that he eteth wherby he is ſaued if he fynde it.

PApro is a beſte lyke a foxe / of the which ther be many be ye cite of Ceſariū whan one crieth they crye al & whan one of them is dede thei gader rounde about it & make a meruelous howle or crye as if they dyd complain their felowe that they haue loſt / & ſom ſaye that they rōne gladly in the graues of dede bodies / and therof thei ete and this Beſte is engendered on the foxe be a wolfe.

PAntheon is a beſte to whom nature hathe geuen grea • beautye and brightnes / and it hath a purpure coloure ſhynynge very bright as if it were a ſterre with his gliſhteringe beames / and whan it is dede / than it is redde of coloure / and it is as great as a great maſtyfe dogge / and his bones be very harde and his Senewes can nat lightly be broken

PIloſus is a beſte like a man on ye vper partes / & ye neder partyes lyke a beſte / and it hath a grimme face with .ij. hornes / And this beſte was taken in oriente & brought in Alexan / dria and ther it dyed and was ſalted & ſent to the emperour Frederyke at Cō ſtan • iynople

FLees be bred or they growe out of filthy corners in houſes / and it is a litell blake worme and it byteth ſore whā it is warme or ayenſt rayn / and ſpecyally more be nyght than be daye / whan one wyll take them / they ſpring awaye.

ALous is a worme wt many fete & it cōmeth out of the filthi and on 〈…〉 atendaūce they come • ut of the fleſſhe thr • ugh the ſkȳne or ſwet holes.

¶To withdryue them / The beſt is for to waſſhe the oftētimes and to chaūge oftentymes clene lynen.

PAder is a ſerpēt ī germania as gret & thicke as a mānes arme on the backe it is grene & vnder ye bely like golde / & is ſo venymoꝰ in blowīge that yf a man hewe a branche from a tre & helde it before this ſerpēt is mouthe / through his venymous blaſte the barke of it ſhall rōne vp ī grete bliſters full of venym / but and ye hold or ſet a bright ſworde before him he wyl clym vp to the poynt of it & kylle himſelfe / & though this worme ſtinge a man on ye fote or ellis where / the venym wil clim vpwardes to the hart & than muſt he dye / but the beſt remedye is for a man yt is ſo ſtinged / to be hanged vp by the heles / than this poyſon wil ronne vpwarde & ther as this poyſon feſteneth muſt a pere of fleſſhe be cut out & heled agayn. Parias is a ſerpent that goth vpright makīge a for ough in his way ¶Nota. Preſtes and aſpis be moche lyke of one condicyon.

THe frogge dwelleth in moiſt places / & ſome amonge redis & lowe trees / & they be ſmall & grene and can nat crye. And in auguſt ye froges can nat open their mouthes for nothinge

RAngiſer is a beſte in the londe of Swedia & norway & it is like an hert / but it is greater & very ſwifte in ronnynge & hath iij. maner of hornes & eche be hīſelfe / but ther be ij. fulcomly growē of v. cubites of heght wt xxv. brāches / in middell of the hede they be flat / & on ye ſides & before they be ſharp wherwt they feght againſt their ennemyes Norſula is a beſte greter than a weſyll / red on the backe & whyte on the bely / it dwelleth in the erthe & dōgeth euer in one place whiche ſmelleth lyke muſke but it hathe nat the vertue. Nor it hathe nat ſuche a ſtrengthe as muſcus hathe.

THe ratte is lyke a mouſe / but ſhe is bigger / & there be ij. maner of ratis / a houſe or londe ratte or a water ratte & ſome ſay their tailes be poiſon & whan they be hote & rōne aſſau • / thā do they great ſ • athe to all thinges ther as they be / & ſpecyally yf their vryne fell on any bare place of a mānes body / it ſhold ete it to the bone & neuer be 〈…〉 cauſe it bi • many thinges a ſonder ¶Albertus ſaith make a ſmoke ī your houſe of the leſte houe of a moyle & all the rattes ſhall rōne awaye.

REynocheron is a beſte yt hathe a necke lyke a horſe & through all his body it is fyrye & flambye & whan it bloweth wt his brethe vpō any man it is ſo hote that he muſt dye ¶Monocheron yt is a vnicorne for it hath but one horne ſtandinge in his forhede & it is ſo ſharp yt what ſo euer it touchet wt his horn it tereth it a ſonder or rōneth it thrugh / & it is a beſte wt iiij. fete feringe nothere yron nor ſtele / & it feghteth oftentymes agaynſt ye oliphant & thurſteth hym in ye beli wt his ſharpe horne & ſo ouercōmeth hym.

THe Rutela is lyke a ſpiner & cat 〈…〉 maners / ſome be rede and rdwnce / ſome be wythe wt rownde belyes / ſome be roughe and hery / ſome be blacke ſome be lyke waſpis / and ſome be called Egipciaca. and theyr bytinge is very venymous and therof cōmeth great payne in the hede and cauſeth the parſone ſo ſtynged to be very ſlepye / and than commeth the dethe The bath and tyna wtdryueth ye paynes of ye ſtygne for whan the place ſtygned is wet wt tina than the payne wtdraweth / & whā it is taken of than the payne dothe cō me agayne therfore it muſt be alway bathed.

SAlamādra is a venymous beſte 〈…〉 a hoge & mired with the face of an ape & it lyueth in the fyre / & it quēcheth the flambe / and it bereth a maner of woll lyke a dōne colour / wherof diuers thinges be wouē yt neuer can be brent / but whā they be fowle than they be caſt in the fyre to be clenſed / this beſte is lene and it hathe but lytell blode.

LIke an adder there is a ſerpent and it is named Suara / whan it is olde it waxeth blynde / and than it ronneth againſt a walle towards the eaſt lokinge vpon the vpryſing of the ſōne and therby it geteth ſight again Stello is alſo a maner of an adder the whiche hathe a dedly venym and it is falſe & ſubtile it hateth mā ſore / it hath a longe tayle and a ſmale hede.

SAlpiga is a ſerpent that is ſelden ſene / the ſame is named alſo Scitalis and is of many diuers coloures vpon his backe / and is very fatte / it is ſo hote of nature that in the wynt he caſteth his ſkȳne of. ¶Seps is a lytel ſerpent & is ſo full of venȳ that he poyſoneth nat only the fleſſhe of man but alſo the bone. The man that of him is ſtinged conſumeth & melteth to dethe through the great poyſon.

SCorpio is a beſte ſemynge hūble hauinge a meke regarde or loke. but in his tayle he hathe a venimous ſtyngue & therwith dothe gret harme vnto man whāne he regardeth hym leſte. it lyueth of ye erth / & in may & auguſt it layeth eggys or a ſubſtāce lyke eggis but they be wormes / & ye moder wille ſomtyme ete thē but they hange behinde her on her leggis & fete & ſo ſaue them ſelfe. ¶A black hoge yt is ſtrickē of this worme muſt nedys dye. & o / ne of another coloure may eſcape but nat alway /

ACnbite longe is yt ſerpent Seta & it is a white / & bothe endes be a lyke thicke at hede and tayle / & it crepeth withe bothe the endes. & this ſerpēt is engendred of a veymous wat & who drīketh of this wat ſhall become mad & raue / & ſo ende his lyſe wt payn. Sardina is nat rekened amonge the ſerpētis • but Soliſuga ſardis crepeth in the graſſe / & wher it lihgtneth vpon there it bringeth a ſekenes.

SPoliator colubri is a worme with agoldē colour & though it be ſmal & weke yet it can ouercom a ſnake for whan it ſeeth the ſnake lay in ye ſonne than it crepeth vp at the tayle & ſo to ye hed / but than he claweth him ſoftly be the hede / & or he be ware he feſtneth ſo harde in his hede that ye ſnake with al his might can nat ſhake him of / & this worme ſleeth him & than eteth his fyll of him. This worme is lyke vnto the ſterre / for it ſhyneth moſte be night & it cōmeth neuer forthe but whan it is a great rayne abydynge fayre wedder this worme quencheth the fyre lyke a plate afyce / and yf a mannes body be touched or meued with ye donge of this beſte or worme / all the here of his body ſhall fall out.

Talpa ye moll is a litell blake blind beſte that cōmeth of the erth / & it hathe a ſoft ſkȳne yt is hery / & it liueth of the wormes in the groūde / but whā it ſuffreth grete hunger than it eteth. erthe

TArandus is a beſt as grat as an oxe & hath a hede lyke an hert wt braunched hornes & the ſkinne of hys backe is ſo hard that ſome men make breſte plates of it / & it hathe the coloure of all maner of flores of the trees and erbes there as he haūteth or hydeth hī ſelfe & therfore he can nate lightely be fownden of the place that he is in.

IT is a gray taxus as befor hath ben ſpoken of & his left legges be ſhorter than his right / therfore he can nat rēne ſwiftli except he be in a foroughe & his her is hard & coloured bothe 〈…〉 and he ſtandeth vpright vpon his hinder fete and defendeth hymſelfe wt his tethe and forfete agaynſt ye howndes and ye foxe begyleth hī alſo / for whā he hath made his hole and is ones out of the way the fore commeth and layeth his donge in ye entre of his hole / & whā the gray cōmeth agayn he may nat abyde ye ſtenche & than he leueth his hole & the foxe bydeth in poſſeſcyon

A Wode worm is tere do that is nothinge ſtronge nor grete / & engē dred of corrupcion of the ayre / & it is betwene the barke & the tree & ther it do the oftentymes grete ſcathe & ſpecialli whan the wode is hewen in on ſeſonable tyme or that the tre where plāted at a full mone.

THe Motte bredethe amonge clothes tyll that they haue byten it a ſonder / & it is a maniable worm and yet it hydeth him in ye clothe that it can ſcantly be ſene / & it bredethe gladly in clothes that haue ben ī an euyll ayre or in a rayn or myſt & ſo layde vp with out hanging in the ſonne or other ſwete ayre after.

TIgris is a very meruelous curſey beſte and it hathe many ſpottes / and it is meruelous ſwift and full of rauynge / and whan his yonges be taken frome him / than he foloweth ye hunter but his yonges be taken from him euery yere comonly.

A Maner of ſerpent is Tortuca yt hath no venym of all the tyme yt he lyueth / but after his dethe as Ambroſiꝰ ſayth. If any man trede on his kidney wt his bare fete he ſholde there by be empoyſoned / & it is .ij. fote longe & it hath a hede lyke a tode / & a tayle lyke a ſcorpion. & .ij. herde ſheliys on his body ſo that it ran nat lightely be ſlayne with harde ſtrokis / & it layth egges like an hēne / but they may nat be eten & theſe that be ſpoken of be in ye water but there be on the erth ſome alſo that hath no venym & they be eten of man ¶Tarāte is a ſmale ſerpent & who ſo he ſtīgeth ſhall haue great payne / and excepte triacle hym he muſt dye in the payne

VIpera is a ſerpent that hathe a ſmothe brode hede / a litell ſmale necke & a ſhort tayle / & they betakē of them that make medecines towardes the ende of maye. In ye winter 〈◊〉 he Vipera out of his hele or denne & rubbeth his iyen agaynſte a fenell ſt • ke & therwith ſhe geteth bright iyen / The vryne of a man ſpylt vpon the bitte or ſtīgne of vipera is very medecinable

VRus is a wilde bulle and he is ſo ſtronge thate he thruſteth greet trees to ye groūde / and will bere an armed man away vpon his hornes and they be moche in the montaynes ¶Heliuandus ſaith that in the great wylde foreſtis of Germania be ſuche bulles and thei be ſomwhat leſſe than an oliphant and they be very ſtronge and ſwifte in rōnynge and ſpare nouther man nor beſte and they that wyll haue theym make great pittes in the groūd and couer them with thin gere & whan they go ouer theſe pittes they fall in thē & than the hūters ſle them.

VRſus the bere is a fell beſte & his body is of euyll ſhape / they lay al the winter ſtill hidden / & than he layth ſtill ſucking of his fote wherof he waxeth ſo wonders fatt that he can nat almoſt go / and the beres take eche other in their armes or leges like men and women & ſlepe all the firſt fortnight.

VNcia is an angry beſte / & lyke a dogge / but lōger bodied / & is to hī his mete yt he • eteth he 〈…〉 on a 〈◊〉 it • hāgeth it on a b • aūthe & ſo eteth it / if man fortune of them to be bitten whan they rōne aſſaute / thā com many myſe about him & piſſe on it / & than at ye laſt he muſt dye.

THe Vnycorne is a ſtronge beſte and can nat lightely be taken be no meaners / but yet ſome ſay yt they ye hūte him ſet maydēs in the place that they hunt in / & in the chaſinge whan it ſeeth the mayde / to her it rōneth and layeth the hede in the maydens lappe forgetinge all ye chaſe / & than come the hunters and take her without endred for ſhe ſlepis in the maydens lappe for ioye of her virginite / And whan it wakeneth and fyndeth himſelfe taken of the hunters than dyeth this beſte for very great pride / and the horne of htis beſte is four fote longe and is very coſtely & is a preſeruacyon for many maner of poyſons.

THe ape is a beſte hauinge many likneſſes vnto man / hauīge her breſtis before contrary to all other beſtes & hath handes & fete to ocopye like man or womā but his nature is wt the face dounwardes & mānes towardes heuen / the ape is euer going from one place to another. ¶Plinius ſaith that in Inde be apes that be all whyte. & ye ape plaieth gladly with yonge chylderen / but if he ſawe his tyme he wolde wory them. It hath alſo a natural vnderſtādinge & they dwell in hye trees & they that wyll take thē bringe yong children to the wode wher ye apes be & put ſhone on their fete & make thē faſt in preſens of the apes yt be on ye trees & than put thē of & leue them there & go a ſyde / & thā cōmeth the apes downe & put on thoſe ſhone & ſo they be taken.

ANguilla / the Ele is lyke a ſerpēt of faſcyon & may leue eight yere & without water vi. dayes whan the wind is in the northe / in the wint they wyll haue moche water & that clere / amōge them is nouther male nor female / for they become fiſſhes of ye ſlyme of other fiſſhes / they muſt be flayne / they ſuffer a longe dethe / they be beſt roſted but it is longe or they be ynoughe / the droppīge of it is gode for paines in the eares.

ARanea / as ſaith Auicēna it is a fiſſhe of the ſee / whoſe diſpoſiciō is moche lyke the ſcorpion / he ſmyteth his eares / & the finnes on his backe be venymous. Plinius ſaith that Aries is a fiſſhe.

ASpidochelō / as Phiſiologꝰ ſaith it is a mōſtrous thinge in the ſee it is a gret whale fiſſhe & hath an ouer growē rowgh ſkīne / & he is moſte parte wt his bake on hye aboue the water in ſuche maner that ſome ſhypmen yt ſe hym wene that it is a lytell ylande / & whan they come be it they caſt their ankers vpō him / & go out of theyr ſhippes & make a fyre vpon hym to dreſſe theyr metys / & as ſone as he feleth the hete of the fyre / than̄e he ſwȳmeth fro the place & drowneth them & draweth the ſhippe to the grownde / And his ꝓper nature is whan he hath yonges yt he openeth his mouthe wyde open / & out of it fleeth a ſwete ayre / to ye which the fiſſhes reſorte & thā he eteth them. ¶Aurata is a fiſſhe in the ſee yt hathe a hede ſhinynge lyke golde.

AVſtruam is a fiſſhe that is engē dred in maye & in herueſt of the fome of the rayn as the wormes doth out of the doūge of beſtes / & ſome ſay yt they come of ye ſlyme of the erth & this fiſſhe may nat ſe the brightnes of ye ſon̄ yet they be gladly in warme places / & ſpecyally in warme rayne.

AVreū vellus / ſaith albertus is a fiſſhe of the ſee like a ſponge / but it is moche ſofter & bereth a ſubſtaūce lyke wolle whiche hath a goldē colour & it may be ſpōne & brayd or wouē but they be but ſeiden foūde yet they were foūde in the tyme of the warre betwene the troyans and the grekes.

ALburtiū is a frutefull fiſſhe / & or euer he ſhoteth his roghe he rubbeth him agaynſt the ſande ano there fedeth his yonges.

Nota. Amnis is a fiſſhe that hath in hym a precyoua ſtone / & he is of many coloures & full of ſopttes. Ahanier is a fiſſhe gode to be eten / and his finnes be rede and grene / ſhort than an ele / and nekkes lyke a wode cocke. Afetus is ſo ſmale a fiſſhe that it wyll nat be taken with none angle rodde.

A • ides is a beſte in theſe / where as it leueth firſt / and after that it changeth nature and leueth on the londe and ther ſeketh his mete.

AHuna is a mōſter of the ſee very gloriſſhe as Albertꝰ ſaith / what it etethit tourneth to greas in his body / it hathe no mawe but a bely / & that he filleth ſo full that he ſpeweth it out agayne / & that can he do lyghtely for he hath no necke / whan he is in peryi of dethe be other fiſſhes / than he onfacyoneth himſelfe as roūde as a bowle wt drawynge his hede into his bely / whā he hathe than hounger / He dothe ete a parte of himſelfe rather than ye other fiſſhes ſholde ete him hole and all.

BArchora is a fiſſhe of theſe yt hath ſo ſtrōge a byll that it breketh ſtones therwith a ſonder / it ſwȳmeth be the londes ſdye & eateth graſſe & than he ſinketh again into the wat becauſe his backe ſholde nat drye / and that he than ſholde nat be able to bende at his nede / & he is taken with hokes where as other fiſſhes be feſtened on.

CAncer / the creuyce is a Fiſhe of ye ſee that is cloſed in a harde ſhelle hauyng many fete & clawes / and euer it crepeth bacward / & the he hathe two pȳnes on his bely / & ye ſhe hathe none / whan he wyll engender he clīmeth on her bake & ſhe turneth her ſyde towardes him & ſo they fulfyll their workes In maye they chaunge their cotes / & in wīter they hyde thē fiue monethes duringe / whā the creues hath drōken milke it may leue lōge wtout wat whā he is olde he hathe ij. ſtones in his hed with rede ſpottes that haue great vertue for if they be layde in drynke / they withdryue the payne frome the herte the creuyce eteth the Oyſters & geteth thē be policye / for whan the oyſter gapeth he throweth lytell ſtones in him & ſo geteth his fiſſhe out for it bydeth thā open.

CAab / Iſiidorꝰ ſaith is a ſee dogge yt hathe very ſmal fete to ye quantyte of his body / & he byteth lyke a dog and he is daūgerous & ennemye to all fiſſhes / for he chaſeth the fiſſhes in the ſee as the hoūdes dothe the beſtes on ye londe where as he hathe power ouer / for he driueth them into a narowe corner of the water & there he byteth thē perillouſly / & ſomtyme the fiſhers perceyue it & they ſet nettis roūde about him & ſo take him. Auicēna ſaith that aſmoche as a muſtarde ſede of his gal is ſo venymous that if a man ete it / it ſhold ſle him in a ſe night / ſethe butter of a kowe with Romayne gencyan / & it ſhall helpe him.

CAuciꝰ is a fiſſhe that wyll nat be taken wt no hokes / but eteth of ye bayte & goth his way quyte. Capita • ꝰ is a lytel fiſſhe wt a great hede / a wyde roūde mouthe / & it hydeth him vnder the ſtones. Nota. Carpera is a carpe & it is a fyſſhe that hathe great ſcales / and the female hathe a great rowghe & ſhe can bringe forthe no yonges tyll ſhe haue receyued mylke of her make / & that ſhe receyueth at the mouth / and it is yll for to take / for whan it perceyueth that it ſhalbe taken wt the net / thā it thruſteth the hede into the mudde of the water / and than the nette ſlyppeth ouer him whiche waye ſo euer it come & ſome holde them faſt be the grounde graſſe / or erbis & ſo ſaue themſelfe.

CEtus is the greateſt whale fiſſhe of all / his mouthe is ſo wyde that he bloweth vp the water as yf it were a clowde / wherwt he drowneth many ſhippes / but whan the maryners ſpye where he is / than thei accōpany them a gret many of ſhyppes togeder about him with diuers īſtrumētis of muſike & they play with grete armonye / & the fiſſhe is very gladde of this armonye & cōmeth fletynge aboue the watere to here the melody & than they haue amonge them an inſtrument of yron ye whiche they feſtē in to the harde ſkīne & the weght of it ſynketh downwarde in to ye fatagreſe / & ſodenly wt that al ye inſtrumentes of muſike be ſtyll and ye ſhyppes departe frome thens & anone he ſinketh to the grownde / & he feleth yt the ſalt watere ſmarteth in ye woūde thā he turneth his bely vpwaerd and rubbeth his wownde agaȳſt ye groūd & the more he rubbeth the depere it entreth / & he rubbeth ſo longe yt he ſleeth hymſelf / and whan he is dede than cō meth he vp agayne and ſheweth him ſelfe dede / as he dyd before quicke / and than the ſhippes gader them togeder agayne and take & ſo lede hym to lōde & do theyr profyte with hym.

CElethy is a fiſſhe yt bredeth eueri vi. monthes. & it hathe a rowe / & whā he caſteth his rowe thā it ſemeth that his yonges be all wormes but in cōtinent they waxe great and be like the dāme / but ſhe caſteth be the londes ſyde to haue the hete of the ſōne / & this fiſſhe hathe a great harte / and tethe lyke a bore / and it ſlepeth ſo heuely that men may take it with theyr handes. ¶Ceruleum is a monſter in ye entre of the water / and it hathe .ij. armes of lx. cubytes of lenghte / & he is ſo ſtrōge that whan there cōmeth an olyphant for to drinke at the water ſyde that he pulleth the olyphāt in to the water wt his armes / & they be lyke the creuyces armes. and oftētymes the olyphante leſeth thus his lyfe.

CHilon eteth nat like other fiſſhes or beſtes of theſe / but of them cō / meth a maner of moyſtnes whiche is lymye as it were ſlyme & that they ete and therof they leue / & they may faſt very well / yet they be very ſtrong and myghty. ¶Circhos is a beſte of the ſee that hathe harde blacke ſcales and in ſom place rede / & they be ſmoth / they haue .iiij. fete / the lefte fete be great / & the ryght fete be ſmale / & on euery fote be .iij. clawes lyke fyngers / & hys lefte fete bereth hym more than his ryghte fete. In tempeſtyous and wyndy weder they be weke & feble / & thā they crepe vnder the ſtones & there they holde them faſt on / & whan it is fayre weder than they come out agayne & they be ſ • ronge / it hath an hede almoſte like a man / & the body lyke a ſee dogge

COn • he be abydynge in ye harde ſhellis as ye mone growth or waueth ſo be the conches or muſcles fulle or nat full but ſmale / & there be many ſortes of conches or muſclys / but ye beſt be they that haue the perles in

COo • hele / is a ſnayle dwellīge in the water & alſo on the lōde / they go out of theyr howſes / & they thruſte out .ij. longe hornes wherwith they fele wether they go / for they ſe nat whe / re they crepe.

THe Conger is a ſe fiſſhe facioned like an ele / but they be moche greter in quātyte / & whan it bloweth ſore than waxe they fatte. ¶Polippus is alſo a ſtronge fiſſhe yt onwarſe he wyl pull a man out of a ſhyp. yet ye conger is ſo ſtronge that he wyll tere polippū a ſonder wt his teth / & in winter ye conger layth in ye depe cauernes or holes of the water. & he is nat taken but in ſomer. ¶Eſculapius ſayth. Coretz is a fiſſhe that hydeth hym in the depe of ye water whan it rayneth / for yf he receiued any rayne he ſholde waxe blynde and dye of it. ¶Iorath ſayth. The fiſſhes that be named ſe craues / whāne they haue yōges / they make ſuche noiſe yt through theyr noyſe they be foūde and taken.

THe Dragon of ye ſee is a monſter very myſcheuous & dangerous as the londe dragō / & he is very longe. but he hathe no wynges & he hathe a wrōge tayle / & his ſkȳne is full of harde ſcales / but ī a ſhorte whyle he ouer rōneth a gret wat. The Iuſt of alſo is good for the byte or ſtȳge of ye ſe dragō.

DElphinꝰ is a mōſter of the ſee & it hath no voyce but it ſingheth lyke a man / and towarde a tempeſt it playeth vpon the water Some ſay whan they be taken that they wepe The delphin hath none eares for to here / nor no noſe for to ſmelle / yet it ſmelleth very well & ſharpe. and it ſlepeth vpon the water very hartely that thei be hard ronke a farre of / and thei leue C.xl. yere. & they here gladly plaȳge on inſtrumentes as lutes / harpes / ta / bours / and pypes They loue their yonges very well and they fede them lōge with the mylke of their pappes / & they haue many yonges & amonge thē all be .ij. olde ones that yf it fortuned one of ye yonges to dye thā theſe olde ones wyll burye them depe in the gorwnd of the ſee / becauſe othere fiſſhes ſholde nat ete thys dede delphyn ſo well they loue theyr yonges. There was ones a kinge yt had takē a delphin / whyche he cauſed to be bounde wt chaynes faſt at a hauen where as the ſhippes come in at / & there was alway the pyteouſt wepynge / and lamentynge that the kynge coude nat for pyte / but let hym go agayne

DEntrix is a beſte of the ſee with many gret tethe. / and he is couered with a harde ſtronge ſhellys / and byteth oyſters very ſore / and he eteth other ſmale fiſſhes. Dētrix is the ſame that pagrus is as her after ſhalbe ſpoken of. Nota Dies is a fiſſhe and whan it is full made and full growen than it leueth but a daye / and it hathe ij. wīges & .ij. fete but it hath no blode

ELcus is a ſee calf whyche hathe a hery ſkynne mixed wyth whyte ſpottys and blacke. and this beſte brȳ geth her yonges vpon the erth and fe / deth them with mylke of here pappis and they be .xij. dayes olde or ſhe bryngeth them to the water. this beſte can nat lightely be ſlayne except it be ſtricken in the hede and brayne peryſſhed & this beſte doth ſlepe ſo harde that he ronteth ſo ſore that ſome wene that he cryeth / alſo ſomme ſay that his ryght fynne layde vnder the ſlepe of a mannes hede wyll cauſe a mā to ſlepe well & the here of thys beſte ſkȳne whan it is ſlayn / ryſeth wt the flode / & falleth wt the ebbe or wt the roughe wedere and ſmoche

ECheola is a muſkle / in whoſe fyſſhe is a precious ſtone / & be night they flete to the water ſyde / and there they receyue the heuenly dewe where throughe there groweth in thē a coſtly margaret or orient perle / & they flete a great many togeder / & he yt knoweth ye water beſt / gothe before & ledeth the other / & whan he is taken all the other ſcater a brode and geteth them away

EQuus marinus / that is the ſee hors / and is a monſter of the ſee / & he is before lyke a hors / and behinde like a fiſſhe / and it is very ſtronge / butt whan it is out of the wat than it hath no myght. for Ariſtoteles ſaythe. yf it lacke water it muſte dye / and it leueth of other fiſſhes / and it is daungerous but it is a afryde of man.

¶Equonilus is a beſte veri ſtrōge & is a monſter in the watere of Nylus and is foted and clawed lyke the cocodrillꝰ & doth moche harme vnto man & in thoſe partyes greate ſcathe / & hys ſkȳne is a cubite thyke / and therfore he cā ye worſe be ouercome.

EStinꝰ is a fiſſhe ſomwhat ſibbe to the creues / and is an halfe fote longe and is almoſte of the fygure of ye ſcorpion and thei make .v. egges. and they be bytt & the fiſſhes be venimous & may nat be etē.

ERox is a great fiſſhe in ye danowe & in ſome wats yt this danowe rō neth into / & they of hūgary and the almayns name this fiſſhe huſones / & he hath ye figure of the ſamon / & he hath a croked byll lyke ye hawke / & the vpper parte of his byll hath a hole where as the vnd parte cōmeth into / & ſo cloſeth & his fiſſhe is nat delicious as ye ſamō nor ſo rede nor he hathe no ſcales / and his ſkȳne is wtout pīnes / & it is whyte & whā thei be ful growen thā be they well .xxv fote longe / & ſhorter & ſmaler after yt they be of age / and he hathe no mouth but a greate hole as yf it were perſed wt a great awger / & the mete of hym is lyke calues fleſſhe. & this fiſſhe cōmeth oftentimes be ye ſturgeon and rubbeth him vpō ye ſturgeon & is oftē / tymes ſo takē

Ethynꝰ is a lytell fyſſhe of half a fote longe / & hathe ſharpe prykcles vnder his bely in ſtede of fete & he hath wynges vnder his bely lyke fete. & this litell fiſſhe can holde ſtyl ſtā dinge a ſhype of .ij.c. tōne wt all his ballaſt & berynge all his ſayles though he haue grete ſtrōge wynde that he ſhall nat meue & ther is nat other reaſon to this but that god dothe meruelous thī ges in his creatures / and whā this fiſſhe perceyueth that there ſhalbe any tempeſt thā ſinketh he to the botom of the water and fetcheth there a ſtone & fleteth therwt ſo ſurely that ye wawes of the water can nat caſt hym out

Ezox / is a very grete fiſſhe in that water danowe be the londe of hū garye / he is of ſuche bygnes that a carte with .iiij. horſes can nat cary hym awaye / and he hath nat many bones but his hede is full / and he hath ſwete fiſſhe lyke a porke and whan this fyſſhe is taken thāne geue hym mylke to drynke and ye may carye hym many a myle and kepe hym longe quicke

FOcas is a ſee bulle & is very ſtrō ge & dangerous / and he feghteth euer with his wyf tyll ſhe be dede / and whan he hath kylled her than he caſteth her out of his place & ſeketh a no / ther and leueth with her very well tyl he dye / or tyll his wyfe ouercome him and kylle hȳ / he bydeth alway in one place / he and his yonges leue be ſuche as they can gete. ¶Galata is a beſte that dothe on naturall dedys / for whā ſhe feleth her yōges quycke or ſtere in her body / thā ſhe draweth thē out & lo / keth vpon thē / yf ſhe ſe they be to yōge thā ſhe putteth thē in agayne & lateth them growe tyll they be bygger

GLadiꝰ is a fiſſhe ſo named becauſe he is mouthed after the faſcyō of a ſworde poynt / and ther fore often tymes he perſeth ye ſhyppes thorough & ſo cauſeth them to be drowned. Ariſtotiles. Gaſtarios is a fiſſhe lyke the ſcorpion / and is but lytell greter than a ſpyder / & it ſtyngeth many fiſſhes wt her poyſon ſo that they cā nat endure nowhere / and he ſtyngeth the dolphin on the hede yt it entreth in to ye brayne ¶Iſidorus Glaucus is a whyte fiſſh that is but ſelden ſene except in darke rayne weder / and is nat in ſeaſon but in the howndes dayes.

GObio is a ſmale longe fiſſh with a roūde body full of ſcales and litell blacke ſpottys / and ſome ſaye they leue of droūde caryō / & the fiſſhers ſay contrarye yt they leue in clere watere in ſand ye grauell / and it is a holſom mete. ¶Grauus is a fiſſhe that hath an iye aboue on hys hede / and therwt he loketh vp and ſaueth hym from thē that wyll eat hym

HAimo is a fiſſhe of many maner of colours / & wil nat be takē but wt an angle rodde / & they ſwīme to geder in greate hepys for to haue ſwete metys / and they haue a ſtone in theyr hedys ¶The ſee ſwalowes be like • he ſwalowes on the erth / & they abyde alway vpon the ſee / & they haue wȳges & flee vp to the clowdy firmament

THe ſtone bore of the ſee whoſe ſtones be ſet about wyth ſharpe pynnes lyke the cheſtone growynge on the tre / & it is theſame beſte that is ſpokē of in ye .lxxvij. chapter in ye fyrſt boke of th • p̄ſent volume.

RAlaor is a ſe fiſſhe & whā ye rayn falleth vpon hym thā he waxeth blynd / & can no ſeke his mete / and thā it dieth for hūger. Karbora is a fiſſhe that lyueth longe after he be taken for he hathe freſſhe water laynge on his entrayles wheron he fedeth longe tyme. Kyloch is a ſee fiſhe laynge in a ſhell lyke a ſnayle & his mouthe is in ye myddell of his body / & whan he feleth ought he ſinketh to ye groūde & cleueth faſt to a ſtone.

RArabo Iſidorus ſaithe is a fiſſhe that liueth of the mudde / and hiſ fiſſhe ſtinketh / he hath a brode tayle to turne quickely / and they make partyes agaynſt eche other in great hepys and ſo feght right cruelly / and they take ſomtime fiſſhes and tere them aſonder and than ete them and whan this fiſſhe is afrayd thā it gothe bacward lyke the creuyce / and ellis at all other tymes it gothe as other fyſſhes dothe

LEo marinꝰ / the ſee lyon is lyke the lyon of the londe / but the lyō on the londe is full of pryde / & the lyon of the ſee is very meke / & ellis they be lyke of all condicyons and ſtrengthe / wherfore I wryte nomore of him.

LVdolacra is a meruelous fiſſhe or beſte of nature / and it is meruelouſly ſhapē / for it hath ij. wynges vnder his iawes and ij. wynges on his backe / wherwith he flyeth meruelouſly ſore and well.

LOligo is a meruelous monſter. his ſkinne is full of ſhales he hathe wīges of quilles & feders for to fly he ſwīmeth wt other fiſſhes in ye groū de of theſe / & whan he is wery there he flyeth ſodenly vp into the ayre / but & ye wynde be boyſtous he muſt downe agayne to the groūde of theſe be force. Nota. Sepia & loligo haue eche of thē two longe fete wherwith they grype their mete / They liue but ſelden aboue two yere And ſome ſay that aboute ye moris lande be ſo may that they droū de the ſhippes oftentymes.

LVcius is a pike / a fiſſhe of ye riuer wt a wyde mouthe & ſharpeteth whan ye perche ſpieth him / he turneth his tayle towardes him / & than ye pike dare nat byte of him becauſe of his finnes or he can nat ſwalowe him becauſe he is ſo ſharpe / he eteth venimoꝰ beſtes as todes frogges & ſuche like yet it is ſayde yt he is very holſom for ſeke peple He eteth fiſſhes almoſt aſmoche as himſelfe / whā they be to bigge thā he byteth thē in ij. peces & ſwaloweth the one halfe firſt & thā the other / he is engendered wt a weſterne wynde.

LVpus marinꝰ is moche lyke the londe wolfe for very pure glotonye he foloweth ye other fiſſhes / & whā he is ſet about to be take wt the nette he ſinketh to the groūde & maketh ther a hole depe wt his tayle & therī he ſitteth & whā they drawe the nette it ſlippeth ouer him / but if he be taken wt an hoke he ſtruggeleth & hurteth hīſelfe ſo ſore that the hoke breſteth out agayn / he caſteth his yōges ij. in a yere / in an hard & ſharpe winter they waxe blinde / and oftentymes they be taken whan they be ſo blynde.

MVrir is a fiſſhe in an harde ſhell wherin ſhe can nat hyde all her obdy becauſe of a let that ſhe hathe on her mouthe / the hynder parte of thys fiſſhe is drye & in the fore parte of it is a noble moiſtour to dye purpre ſilke wt whiche muſt be taken out of him whā he is alyue / for whā he dyeth he caſteth it frome him / and they lay hidden thre hōdred dayes or they come forth / they conceyue of the dewe & haue yōges in may.

MVrena is a lōge fiſſhe wt a weke ſkinne lyke a ſerpent / & it conceyueth of the ſerpēt vipera / it liueth longeſt in the tayle for whā that is cut of it dyeth incōtinent / it muſt be ſoden in gode wyne wt herbes & ſpices or ellis it is very daūgeroꝰ to be eten / for it hath many venymous humours and it is euyll to diſieſte.

MVltipes is a ſee fiſſhe that hathe many fete on bothe ſydes / & this fiſſhe maketh a neſte of grene wode / & it layeth but one egge / & it bredeth it xl dayes longe / than cōmeth out of this one grete egge innumerable wormes and they become all fiſſhes / or ellis the kynred ſholde fayle lightely For they ete eche other

MVlus is a ſee fyſſhe yt is ſmale of body / & is only a mete for gentils & there be many maners of theſe / but the beſt be thoſe yt haue ij. berdes vnd the mouthe / & whan it is fayre weder than they ware fatte / whan he is dede than he is of many colours.

NArcos is ſuche maner of fiſſhe / & of ſuche wonderfull propertyes and cōdicyons that whan the fiſſhers caſt out their nettis and wyl take him be policye with the nette / than he doth deceyue theym and tereth the nette a ſonder from vnder vp to the handes of the fiſſhers / and hurteth the fyſſhers handes right perilouſly ſore excepte yt they let the nette go the ſoner.

• Ereydes be monſters of ye ſee all rowghe of body / & whan any of them dyeth thā the other wepe. of this is ſpokē in balena the .xiiij. chapter ¶Orchū is a monſter of ye ſe / whoſe ly / kenes can nat lightely be ſhewed / & he is mortal ēnemye to ye balene & tereth aſonder the bely of the balene / & the balene is ſo boyſtous yt he can nat turne hym to defende him and yt coſteth him his lyfe / for as ſone as he feleth hī ſelfe woūded than he ſinket • • owne to the botom of the water agayne / & the Or / chū throweth at him wt ſtones / & thus balena endith his lyfe

ORbis is a fiſſhe / & is hole roūde & hath no ſhales / & all his ſtrenght is in his hede.

OStren̄ is an oyſter that openeth his ſhell to receyue ye dewe & ſwete ayre In ye oyſter groweth naturali orient perles that oftentymes laye on the ſee ſtronde & be but lytell regarded as Iſidorus ſaith.

Pagrus is a fiſſhe that hath ſo harde tethe yt he byteth ye oyſter ſhelles in peces & eteth out the fiſſhe of thē. Nota Pauus maris is the Pecocke of theſe & is lyke the pecocke of the londe bothe his backe necke & hede / & the nether body is fiſſhe. Nota Pertus is of diuers colours & ſwift in rōnynge in ye water & hathe ſharpe finnes & is a holſome mete for ſeke people. Pecten is a fiſſhe that is in ſandy groūde & whā he is meued or ſtered he wynketh.

PIſtris is a great beſte in the ſee / & there it bloweth ſomtyme ſo moche wat ſtandinge vp right that it putteth often / ſhippes in great daūger.

POrcus marinus / the ſee hoge is moche lyke the londe hogge / for whan it ſeketh his mete / it turneth vp the erth in the groūd of theſe / his mouthe is be ye throte / It hathe briſtels and finnes / wherof ſome be ſtrong poyſon he is moſt parte all greſe The remedy for this briſtell or ſtinge is his owne ꝓper gall

POliyyus hath gret ſtrength in his fete / what he therin cacheth he holdeth it faſt / he ſprīgeth ſomtyme vp to the ſhippes ſyde & ſnacheth a mā wt him to the groūde of the ſee & there eteth him / & that yt he leueth he caſteth it out of his denne agayn / they be moche in theſe about Venis / & he is taken in barellis where hartys hornes be layd in / for he is gladly be thoſe hornes.

PVngitiuꝰ is a litel fiſſhe wt ſharp prickīge finnes & ſome ſay they growe in the water wtout ſede & the he hathe a rede nebbe & nst ye ſhe / & ſome ſay that all other fiſſhes grow of them For if a newe viuer be made & yt theee grow of thoſe fiſſhes in it the firſt yere the next yere there ſhalbe of al maner of other fiſſhes in it yt than of it ſhalbe engendered.

PVrpures be ſee muſcles yt gader togeder in may / & they be of the ſame properties that murix is of in ye lviij. chapter of this leſt boke.

RAite be fiſſhes of theſe named of the gentil fiſſhes & where as many be he is but litel ſet by / he is almoſt rounde & hathe ferfull iyen and is as brode as he is longe & hathe a tayll ful of thornes / & the tayll is lyke a ſnake his fiſſhe is ſlimye and he waxeth fatt with a ſotheren wynde.

Nota. Gachaes is a fiſſhe that wyll make a mā lame that eteth of him.

RAna marina / The ſee frogge hathe wynges & ſhe is longe hiddē or ſhe ſhewe herſelfe: and than gothe ſhe on the grene where theſe dryueth awaye and there ſhe taketh the ſmale fyſſhes that ſhe eteth.

RVbus is a fiſſhe of the grekes ſe & of the ſees of ytaly / they be roū de lyke a ringe & haue many rede ſpottes / & is full of ſharpe finnes & pinnis / he is ſlow in ſwīmynge becauſe he is ſo brode / he gothe be the groūde & wayteth there his praye / & ſuche fiſſhes as he can gete he burieth in the ſandes & it is a very ſwete fiſſhe. Gya • he be fiſſhes that be roūde / ſomtyme they be in length & brede two cubites / & it hath a longe tayle / theron be ſharpe pīnes / & it is ſlowe in ſwīmynge.

SAlmo is a fyſſhe engendred in the ſwete water & he waxeth longe & gret / & alſo he is heuy / & his colour nor ſauour is nat gode tyll he haue ben in the ſalt wat & proued it / thus draweth the ſamon to the water agaynſt ye ſtreme he neuer ſeaſeth tyll he haue ben ī theſe and returned agayn to his olde home as Phiſiologua ſaith / his fiſſhe is rede & he may nat liue in a ſwet ſtā dinge water / he muſt be in a freſſhe riuer that he may playe vp and doūe at his pleſure. Salpa is a fowle fiſſhe and lytell ſet by / for it wyll neuer be y / nough for no maner of dreſſinge tyll it haue ben beten with grete hamers & ſtaues.

SPargus is a ſe fiſſhe that whan ye fiſſher caſteth his nette ta take hȳ than rōneth he into the nette alone or he be taken. Nota. Staurus is a luſty fiſſhe / & he chaweth hia mete lyke ye oxe dothe longe after that he hath etē for he hath but fewe tethe / & of theſe fiſſhes be many amonge the romaynes in the water of Tyber.

SEpis is a fiſſhe that receiueth her ſede thrugh the mouthe / & ſhe layeth egges that becōm ful comly yōges within forty nightis / and they ſwīme payre & payre togeder.

SErra is a fyſſhe with great tethe and on his backe he hathe ſharpe fynnes lyke the combe of a cocke / and iagged lyke a ſawe wherwt thys monſtrous fiſſhe cutteth a ſhip thorough & whan he ſeeth a ſhippe cōmynge than he ſetteth vp his fin̄es & thīketh to ſayl with the ſhippe as faſt as it / but whan he ſeeth that he can nat cōtinue / thā he latteth his finnes fall agayn & deſtroieth the ſhippe with the people and thā eteth the dede bodyes. Nota. Scilla is a monſter in the ſee betwene Italye & Sicill / it is great ennemye vnto mā It is faced & handed lyke a gentylwoman / but it hath a wyde mouthe & ferfull tethe / & it is belied like a beſte & tayled lyke a dolphin / it hereth gladly ſinginge. It is in the wat ſo ſtronge that it can nat be ouercome / but on ye lond it is but weke.

Syrene. the mermayde is a dedely beſte that bringeth a man gladly to dethe / frome the nauyll vp ſhe is lyke a woman wt a dredfull face / a longe ſlymye here a grete body & is lyke the egle ī the nether parte / hauīge fete and talētis cote ar aſonder ſuche as ſhe geteth / her tayl is ſcaled like a fiſſhe / and ſhe ſingeth a maner of ſwete ſong and therwith deceyueth many a gode mariner / for whā they here it they fall on ſlepe cōmonly / & than ſhe cōmeth and draweth them out of the ſhippe and tereth them aſonder / they bere their yō ges in their armes & geue them ſouke of their papis whiche be very grete hā ginge at their breſtis / but ye wyſe maryners ſtoppe their eares whan they ſe her / for whan ſhe playth on the wat all they be in fear & than they caſt out an empty tōne to let her play wt it tyll they be paſt her / this is ſpecifyed of thē yt haue ſene it. Ther be alſo in ſome places of arabye ſerpētis named ſirenes that ronne faſter than an horſe & haue wynges to flye.

SPinatis is a lytell fiſſhe ſet roūde about with ſharpe pinnes ſo that none other fiſſhes may byte hym. Squatinꝰ is a fiſſhe in ye ſe of fiue cubites longe: his tayle is a fote brode & he hideth him in the ſlimy mudde of ye ſe & marreth al other fiſſhes that come nigh him it hath ſo ſharpe a ſkīne that in ſom places they ſhaue wode with it & bone alſo / on his ſkine is blacke ſhort here. The nature hathe made him ſo harde that he can nat almoſte be perſed with nouther yron nor ſtele.

SOlopēdria is a fiſſhe / whan he hathe ſwalowed ī an angle than he ſpueth out al his guttes till he be quyt of the hoke / and than he gadereth ī all his guttes agayne. Tge Scorpion of the ſee is ſo named becauſe whā he is taken in any mannys handes he pricketh him wt his ſtinge of his tayle. Pliniꝰ ſaith that the dede creuyce that layeth on the drye ſonde be the ſee ſyde becōmeth ſcorpyons.

SPōgia marina is of diuers ſortes ſome cleuefaſt to the • ones / ſome flete away: they as growe to ye ſtones whan they be drawen of / of their r • tes doth growe newe: ſome liue in ye muddy water of theſe. Squamis maris is a fiſſhe of fyue fote longe: wt a tayle of halfe a fote brode: he layeth hidden in the mudde of the ſee / whan other fiſſhes go ouer him: them he taketh and eteth: and it is of the nature of ſkīne & hardnes ye ſquitanea is of in ye lxxxiiij chapter. Nota. Scintus is a wat beſte dwellinge in the water of Nilus and it hathe the figure of Cocodrillus / but it is moche laſſe: & of his fleſſhe taken in venymous drynke: voydeth all the venyme and ſheweth the to cōmynge wynde and wedder.

STurio / the ſturgiō is a gret fiſſhe in the rōninge waters / and he taketh no fode ī his body but lyueth of ye ſtyl and ſwete ayres / therfore he hathe a ſmall bely / wt a hede and no mouthe but vnder his throte he hathe a hole yt he cloſeth whan he wyll / he openeth it whan it is fayre weder / & with an eaſt wynde he wareth fat / and whan that the north winde bloweth / than falleth he to the groūde / it is a fiſſhe of ix. fote longe whan he is ful growen / he hath whyte ſwete fleſſhe & yolow fatte / & he hathe no bone in all his body but only in his hede.

STella is a ſe fiſſhe in the we • ſees & is a • erre branched like peecles and ſome ſay al that he meueth dothe brenne / and what he eteth is foūde in him as harde as biſket bre • e.

SVngia is a beſte of the ſee that hā geth with his blode on the ſtones for whan he is cutte of he leueth of his blode behynde him. There be other that ſwȳme in the water be the londe of champanie & thei name them fiſtules / they wyll ete brede in the wat / but no mete where as an hoke is feſtened on

TEcna is a tenche of the freſſhe water and is fedde in the mudde lyke ye ele / & is moche lyke of colours it is a ſwete fiſſhe but it is euyll to diſieſt ¶Tintinalus is a fayre mery fiſſhe & is ſwete of ſauour & well ſmellinge ly / ke the tyme where of it bereth the name ¶Torpido is a fiſſhe but who ſo handeleth hym ſhalbe lame & defe of lȳmes / that he ſhall fele no thyng / & it hathe a maner of Squitana yt is ſpokē of in ye .lxxxiiij. chapter & his nature

¶Trncka / the trowte is a fiſſhe of the ryuer & hathe ſcales and vpō his body ſpottys of yelow and blodye coloure. & his fiſſhe is rede frome ye monthe of Iuly. to the monthe of Nouēber / and is moche ſweter than ye freſſhe ſamō and all the other part of the yere his fiſſhe is whyte

TEſteū is beſte of the ſee that hath ſo harde a ſkȳne in the ſalte wat yt ye naturall hete can haue no power to enter in hym / & therfore he goth to ye freſſhe water & that maketh him neſſhe & ſofte in ſuche wiſe / yt he receiueth ye naturall ayre thoroughe his harde ſkȳnr.

TEſtudo is a fyſſhe in a ſhelle & is in ye ſe of Inde / & his ſhelle is very great & like a muſkle / & be nyght they go out for theyr mete / & whan they ha / ue eten theyr bely full / thā they ſlepe ſwȳmīg vpon the wat. thā ther come iij. fiſſhers botes / of ye wiche .iij. twayn take one of theſe muſkles Solinus ſayth. yt this muſkle hathe his vppermeſt ſhell ſo brode that it may couere a howſe / where many folke may hyde them vnder / And it gothe out the wat vpon the londe / & there it layth an hondred egges as grete as goſe eggis / & couer thē wt erth / & oftentymes be night it gothe to the eggys & layeth vpō thē wt her • reſt / & than become they yōges

TIgruis is a ſee beſt that brīgeth forth her yōges ī ye wat & nat vppō the wat / & ſomtyme thei go out of ye water whan a north wȳde bloweth / & than they be halfe blynde wt the lefte iye / & they folowe the ſhippes to ſe cu / riouſnes of thē & theyr ſayles / whā it is .iij. or .iiij. yere olde thā it waxeth ſo fatte yt it dyeth almoſt for fatnes. Solinꝰ ſayth. In Ethiope be tigruis of yelowe colour that haue .ij. pappys hanginge at theyr breſte and therof theyr yonges dothe ſucke