Natural history in Shakespeare's time : being extracts illustrative of the subject as he knew it / Made by H. W. Seager, M. B., &c. Also pictures thereunto belonging.

  • Seager, H. W. (Herbert West), 1848-
Date:
1896
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Natural history in Shakespeare's time : being extracts illustrative of the subject as he knew it / Made by H. W. Seager, M. B., &c. Also pictures thereunto belonging. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    he findeth none other prey ; and deceiveth sheep more with guile and wrenches [tricks] than with might and strength. He infecteth the wool of the sheep that he slayeth, and his biting maketh the cloth lousy, that is made of that wool. Also a string made of a Wolf's gut, put among harp- strings made of the guts of sheep, destroyeth and corrupteth j them, as the eagle's feathers put among culver's pilleth ^ and gnaweth them, if they be there left together long in one place. Bartholomew {Bertke/et), bk. xviii. i^ 71. A Wolf doth fear greatly stones ; therefore when he is constrained to go by stony places, he treads very demurely or softly ; for being hurt with a very little stroke of a stone, it breeds worms, wherof at length he is consumedJ or brought to his death. Luptoii, Notable Things, bk. v. § 3. The dung of a Wolf, being hidden in a stable or house, where cattle be, especially sheep, it will not only make them leave from eating their meat, but also it will cause them to stir up and down, and to bleat, or to make a noise, and also to quake and tremble, as though their devouring enemy the Wolf were there present. Neither will they cease from doing this, until they feel or perceive that the said dung is taken away {M.i'zaldus). Ibid., bk. vi. g 80. A Wolf first seeing a man doth lift up his voice, and as a victor doth despise him ; but if he perceive that thej man hath espied him first, he lays away his fierceness, and! cannot run. ibid., bk. viii. g 2. If the head of a Wolf be hanged in a dove-house, neither cats, weasels, nor any thing that will hurt pigeons! will enter therein. Uid., bk. ii. i^ 78. Bells covered with the skin of a Wolf do drown thei sound of other bells that are covered with the skin of aj lamb. jhid., § 92. Whosoever anoints his feet or hands with the grease' of a Wolf, he shall not be hurt with any cold of his hands or feet so anointed {Mizaldus). ibid., bk. iii. § 44.