CURIOUS CREATURES. 309 



" There was a man of that Towne whose name was 

 Winckkriedf, who was banished for manslaughter : this 

 man promised, if he might have his pardon, and be re- 

 stored againe to his former inheritance, that he would com- 

 bat with that Dragon, and by God's helpe destroy him ; 

 which thing was granted unto him with great joyfulnes. 

 Wherefore' he was recalled home, and in the presence of 

 many people went foorth to fight with that Dragon, whom 

 he slew and overcame, whereat for joy hee lifted uppe 

 his sword imbrued in the dragon's blood, in token of 

 victory, but the blood distilled downe from the sword 

 uppon his body, and caused him instantly to fall downe 

 dead." 



"There be certaine beasts called Dracontopides, very 

 great and potent Serpents, whose faces are like to the 

 faces of Virgins, and the residue of their body like to 

 dragons. -It is thought that such a one was the Ser- 

 pent that deceived Eve, for Beda saith it had a Virgin's 

 countenance, and therefore the woman, seeing the like- 

 nes of her owne face, was the more easily drawne to 

 believe it : into which the devill had entred ; they say 

 he taught it to cover the body with leaves, and to shew 

 nothing but the head and face. But this fable is not 

 worthy to be refuted, because the Scripture itself, dooth 

 directly gaine-say everie part of it. For, first of all it is 

 called a Serpent, and if it had been a Dragon, Moses 

 would have said so ; and, therefore, for ordinary punish- 

 ment, GOD doth appoint it to creepe upon the belly, 

 wherefore it is not likely that it had either wings or feete. 

 Secondly, it was impossible and unlikely, that any part of 

 the body was covered or conceiled from the sight of the 

 woman, seeing she knew it directly to be a Serpent, as 

 shee afterward confessed before GOD and her husband. 



