The beaste Canips which is some what like an Ape , but that he is more greater and more puissant , and his head more like vnto a Dog : is of a wonderfull strange nature : for besides that they haue a voice like a man , they shewe euery houre of the day and night by their making of water , for at euery houre doe they pisse : to wit foure and twentie times in a naturall day . Also they so lament the wane of the Moone , that during the time of her darknes before her change they neuer wil look vpward or eate any thing , but hanging downe their heads show a countenance of sorrow .

There bee people vnder the great Cham which haue heads like vnto our dogs .

In A●…thiope by a towne called Debris is a Well of a strange property , for the water in the day time is cold as y●…e , and in the night it is boyling hote .

The Dolphin is so wonderful swift in swimming , that wer it not that his mouth is so nere his belly no fish might escape him , but by reson of his mouth he can tak no fish but lying with his belly vpward : his m●…uable tong is apt for voyce , & is greatly delighted with musick & is thought of all fishes best to loue mankinde .

Certaine people called Derli●…es , haue this custome : when their friends come to the age of 70. yeres , they slay them & eat them calling all their neighbors to the feast , but the women they strangle and then burie them as they doe others that die within that age : they punishe euerie offence bee it neuer so little euen with death .

There is a stone to be had in the heade of a Dragon if you sodainely strike off the Dragons head , for otherwise the stone dissolueth while the Dragon dieth .

The Dromedarie beeing in iournying , can endure from anie drinke , for the space of three dayes .

In the roote of an Oake is founde a little worme of so mischieuous poyson , that if one tread on him barefooted , foorthwith the skin commeth o●… and all the legge swelleth , and which is more to be maruailed at they that do handle him that is hurt looseth his skin .

In Solinus you may finde it mentioned , that in Affricke there bee certaine people which if they praise faire 〈◊〉 , goodly corne , prettie children , goodly cattell , and such like they die presently . And Plinie also writeth of some , which beholding any person stedfastlye with an angry countenance they destroy them ; and this is founde true man●…etimes heere euen amongst vs .

Of all foure footed beastes the Elephant is the greatest 〈◊〉 ▪ and most 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and of most vnderstanding ▪ ●…his age is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dred yeares . Plinie saith that 〈◊〉 none aduontrie , and that if they meete with a man in the Wildernes being out of anie waie , they will gently goe before him and bring him into the plaine way . To this Solinus seemeth to agree .

The Elephant is at continuall warre with the Dragon , who like an enuious person will not be satisfied but with the blood of the Elephant , and therefore lying in waite as the Elephant passeth by the Dragon , beeing of an exceeding length , windeth his taile about the hinder legges of the Elephant and so letteth his going , and then thrusteth his head into the Elephants nose and sucketh or exhausteth his breath , or els biteth him in the eare , whereto he may not reach with his nose , and when the Elephant is faint , so that he can no longer indure , hee falleth downe vppon the Dragon which is full of blood and with the poysen of his bodie breaketh him : so that the blood of the Dragon and of the Elephant , runneth about mingled together , which is that which we call Sinopre .

If one doe stedfastly behold the birde Ealgulus that hath the yeallow Iaundise ▪ foorthwith the partie is dliuered and the birde hath the disease .

Amongst manie strange thinges found in India , this is to be remembred . There is a beast called Gazella , which naturally hath a superfluous blood congealed on his belly and groweth like an impostume , and when it is ripe , the beast goeth to a tree , or a stone and rubbeth his belly thereon vntill that humor breaketh out like vnto corrupt matter , which at the first doth stinke filthely , but when it hath beene hanged in the ayre for a season it waxeth ripe , and than hath it an odoriferous sauour , and that is it which wee commonly call muske .

That which wee call Ciuet is nothing else but as it were a superfluous sweate found betweene the flanks of a beast much like vnto a Cat.

It is reported that the Hearing liueth only by water .

The tree whereof groweth the wood Ebenus which is as black as ieat , beareth neither leafe nor fruit which is rare .

There are people called Hippopodes dwelling in the Scithicke Ocean , which haue feet like vnto horses .

In Iudye they haue euer two summers , and fruites and graine is twise a yeere gathered , the winds are alwaies there very calme , temperate , and not troubleus : their beasts and foules more greater than in other Countries , and of many more kinds .

Straunge is the nature of the Larix tree which perisheth not neither by totting nor by eating of wormes , neither will it burne in a flame , nor be brought into coales , neither will it swim vppon the water as other trees doo , and therefore they are either carried in ships or laid vppon firre trees , and so pinned together close that they may not stirre one from an other when they are brought at any time ouer the sea .

The vrine of the beast called Linx who is faced like a Lion and spotted like a Panther , hath this quality in his vrine , that immediatly after the making or comming away from it sodainely turneth to a stone .

It is said that there is a certain kind of fish which in latine is called Loligo , wee haue no english name for it , this fish hath his head placed between his feet & his belly most strangly , and hath two bones one like a knife , and the other like a pen .

Among thinges of woonder this is not the meanest , that is written of the tree called Lutos , which groweth in Affrick , for if any stranger doth eat of the frute therof , he doth incontinently forget his owne Country wherein l , ●… was borne .

In the Iles of Maniolae beyonde the riuer Ganges , are such rocks all of Load stones that they draw euen whole shippes that haue yron nailes in them .

There haue been diuers men by report that haue had no teeth but onely one bone , so had king Phirrus and Monodos .

In the east parte of the worlde are men ha●… but one legge , wherewith they goe by ●…apes , and that more swiftly than any beast .

Such like also are saide to bee in Ind●…e that one legge being so great that therewith they they couer themselues from the sun●…e .

It cannot be but strange that the vermine called a Shrew going ouer anie beast , should make that part lame which she toucheth , yea and if shee bite aniething it swelleth vp to the hart , and the beast dieth thereof .

Strabo writeth of a certaine kind of Calkey clay , whereunto if fire bee put it kindleth in such wise , that if a little water be cast thereon it burneth more feruently , and may onely be 〈◊〉 with abundance of water or viniger , allume and birdlime . Plutarche saith there is ●…ore thereof in Babilon .

They that inhabitite in the countrie of Hungarie , report that they haue a certaine riuer , in the which if Iron be often dipped it wil turne to copper .

Strange it is that all beasts so marueslously delight with the sweete 〈◊〉 that commeth from the Panther : in somuch that smelling the sweete aire where they haue their resort , thither will all beasts come , and are not afraide but onely of the Panther his fierce lookes : wherein also marke as strange a secrete in nature , the Panther perceauing this , of a subtiltie hideth his head suffering the rest of his bodie to be gazed vpon , that he may at the better aduantage take his pray of the sillie dismaied cattell .

These Panthers the Hircanes rather poison with a poyson called acoint than with weapon : wherein also see an other secret in the nature of the Panther , feeling himselfe to be poysoned , hasteth immediatlie to finde the ordure or dunge of mankind , and by the eating thereof are preserued . If all the bowelles of these beastes bee quite taken out of their bodies , yet will they liue a long while as some report .

Who can but woonder at the Birde called a Phoenix shoulde liue sixe hundred yeares , and 〈◊〉 carrying sweet spices vp to a mountaine 〈◊〉 the heat of the sunne & labour of hir wings , kindleth fire , whereby shee being all consumed and burned , of her ashes riseth another of that kinde , and it is supposed that there is but onely one of them .

What should I say of the Giant Polycrates , who in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 suffred any griefe , 〈◊〉 ) into the Sea , to the intent hee 〈◊〉 suffer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and thereby 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But marke the ende , the ring cast into the sea the fish deuoured the ring , and the same day was caught of the fisher and giuen to the King for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thereof , and being opened the ring was found in the fishes belly , wherat as well he and all other about him maruailed greatly .

The fly Pytalis is ingendred of the fire , and as long as it is in the fire it liueth , but when it is far from it , it dyeth incontinently .

The Robin-red-brest if he find a man or woman dead , will couer all his face with mosse , and some thinke that if the body should remaine vnburied , that hee woulde couer the whole body also .

Plinie sayth , that if a traueller binde Mugwort to any part of him , it keepeth him from being weary in trauell .

The Sicamore tree beareth not fruit out of the toppes of the boughs as the figge tree doth vnto which it is like neither will the graine nor fruit ripen except it be scraped with an yron instrument .

It is straunge that in the Ile Tiros which is in the Indian sea , should be trees whose leaues doo neuer fall . Also woo●… groweth there vpon trees which doo beare gourds of the 〈◊〉 of Quinces , which being ripe , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 is contained the wooll whereof is made very fine cloaths .

In the Riuer Ganges , men say are certaine fishes called Vermes , three score Cubits in length hauing such strength that when Oliphants come to the water and do drinke , they will take them by the nose , and by great force draw them vnto them .

All beastes doo detest the female Pimpernell and not the male : Also it is reported , that Pimpernell laid vnder the threshold of the doore driueth away all manner of inchantments and witchcraft .

Chickwood beginneth to spring in the middle of winter , and in the middle of summer it vanisheth away .

Fuchius writeth that that house is neuer stroken with Thunder nor Lightning , vppon the which doth growe Housleeke , or Syngreene .

Prickmadam floureth thrise euery yeare .

Plinie reporteth that Mugwort is of woonderfull effect for womens diseases , in so much as if women doo but vsually carry it about them they shall not at any time be hurt neither of corrupt medicines , nor of any beast , nor of any beast , nor of the sunne his heate .

If you tye a browne threed , packthreed , or other like about the brim or outer edge of a bell , if that bell bee so rong , it will breake incontinent .

It is to be maruailed at , that vppon Midsomer Eue which is the Eue of the feast day of saint Iohn Baptist , iust at noone is to bee founde vnder euery Roote of Plantine and also of Mugwort , a Coale ether of Charcole or else a seacole , which cole as diuers affirme is profitable to be borne about one against the plague , the ague and other like diseases . In credit it is that it should then bee founde and at no time els but euen iust at noone . I dare be bold to'note it for truth , for that I my selfe haue founde it diuers times in the presence of many at that houre , and hauing sought for the same at other times , it is not to be found : but whether it hath such vertue as some affirme , I cannot iustlie affirme : yet doe I coniecture that it may well be , for the strange finding of it at such an houre , in my iudgement is more wonderfull than the vertues , yea and I dare assure you that I neuer knewe any that euer carried it about them , that euer had the plague or was troubled with any kinde of ague .