CURIOUS CREATURES. 287 



creepe into them, but the smell of garlick, as Erasmus 

 saith, driveth them away. No serpents were ever yet 

 scene to touch the herbe Trifolie, or Three-leaved-grasse, 

 as jEdonnus wold make us believe. And Cardan the 

 Phisitian hath observed as much, that serpents, nor any- 

 thing that is venemous will neither lodge, dwell, or lurk 

 privily neere unto Trifolie, because that is their bane, 

 as they are to other living creatures: and therefore 

 it is sowne to very good purpose, and planted in very 

 hot countries, where there is most store of such venom- 

 ous creatures. 



" Arnoldus Villanonanus saith that the herb called 

 Dracontea killeth serpents. And Florentinus affirmeth 

 that, if you plant Woormwood, Mugwort, or Sothernwood 

 about your dwelling, that no venomous serpents will 

 ever come neer, or dare enterprise to invade the same. 

 No serpent is found in Vines, when they flourish, bear- 

 ing flowers or blossoms, for they abhor the smell, as 

 Aristotle saith. Avicen, an Arabian Phisitian, saith, that 

 Capers doe kill worms in the guts, and likewise serpents. 

 If you make a round circle with herbe Betonie, and 

 therein include any serpents, they will kill themselves 

 in the place, rather than strive to get away. Galbanum 

 killeth serpents only by touching, if oyle and the herbe 

 called Fenell-giant be mixt withall. There is a shrubbe 

 called Therionarca, having a flower like a Rose, which 

 maketh serpents heavy, dull and drousie, and so killeth 

 them, as Pliny affirmeth." 



There are more plants inimical to serpents, but 

 enough have been given to enable the reader, if he have 

 faith in them, to defend himself; and it is comforting to 

 think, that although the serpent is especially noxious, when 

 alive, he is marvellously useful, medicinally, when dead. 



