Phillips.] 14b [Jan. Hi, 



somewhat of a Divine essence, for it kindles fire in running streams which 

 nothing but oil can extinguish, if any one should drink the water in which 

 i his stone lias been steeped, if there lias been any stain upon the chastity of 

 such a one, he 'or she will Immediately be compelled to micturate, nor can he 



(or she) possibly avoid it: but if it is drunk by one who is pure, no such evil 

 effects will result."* 



The English language is thus spoken of: "It is a mixture of many 

 tongues, especially German and Gallic. Formerly, as we learn from Bede, 

 it was entirely Germanic, who thus writes : 'The ancient inhabitants of 

 England were accustomed to reckon their months according to the course 

 of the moon, calling the moon Mona (which the Germans call Mon), and a 

 month, Montha. December was called Ilaleg monath (i. e., Holy month), 

 and April, Eotfer monath, from a goddess named Eostre, to whom the 

 Teutonic tribes were wont to sacrifice in this month in Pagan times. May 

 was called Tlvri melci (thrice milked), because in that month they usually 

 milked their cattle so often.' This passage," continues Munster, "is not 

 to be in the printed copies of Bede's works, but I found it in a manuscript 

 which Glareanus ex Nigra Silva in 1545 sent here to Basle." 



Scotland possesses yet another wonder (p. 49) : 



"Here there are trees which produce afruit enveloped in leaves ; this when the 

 proper time arrives falls down into the water below and is turned into a living 

 bird which is called the Tree Goose. This tree grows in the island of Pomonia 

 which lies to the north of Scotland at a short distance therefrom. This: tree is 

 mentioned by ail the old Cosmographers, especially Saxo Grammaticus, so you 

 must not think we have made up this account. JEneas Sylvius writes in this 

 manner concerning it: 'We have formerly heard that there was a tree in Scot- 

 land growing on a river's bank, whose fruit was in the form of aniseed, which 

 when it had come to maturity fell of its own accord, some on the land and some 

 into the water; and those which fell on the land petrified, but those that alighted 

 in the water soon receiving life began to swim and afterwards on their wings 

 and pinions took to flight. When we were in Scotland in the reign of King 

 .lames hearing of these things we endeavored to investigate them, all persons 

 uniting in affirming the marvel, but the further to the north we traveled the 

 further was removed the place of the miracle so that it was finally said not. to 

 exist in Scotland at all but in the Oread es Islands.' " 



The description is accompanied by a wood-cut representing the tree with 

 its fruit in various stages of development. Some are entirely closed, some 

 are a crack open, some have the heads of the birds peeping out of them. 

 At the base of the tree is water within whose vivifying influences a num- 

 ber of these rare exotics may be seen disporting themselves. Owing to the 

 favorable position of the tree, only two of its fruits are threatened with 

 premature extinction by falling upon the dry land. 



There is a map and metrical description of the city of Paris, dated 1548, 

 and on page 185 is a large two page plate representing the theatre at 

 Verona, in its perfect state as it formerly appeared, but of which "only 

 ruins now remain." It is a huge edifice built upon arcades and around it 



*The Venerable Bede speaks of a stone called gagates, and says : "It(Britain) 



hath much and excellent jet. which is bl »ck and sparkling, glittering in the 

 fire, and, when heated, drlveth away serpents." 



