BOOK II.] History of Nature. 77 



but by many Experiments in Men's Bodies, and Accidents to 

 Plants in the Country. For some Men are struck by the 

 Planet, and blasted : others are troubled at certain Times in 

 their Bowels, Sinews, Head, and Mind. The Olive Tree, the 

 White Poplar, and Willows, turn their Leaves about at 

 Midsummer, at the Solstice. And contrariwise, in Mid- 

 winter, the Herb Pennyroyal flowereth fresh, even as it 

 hangs dry within the House. At which Time all Parch- 

 ments are so stretched with the Wind that they burst. A 

 Man might marvel hereat who marketh not by daily Expe- 

 rience, that one Herb called Heliotropium 1 , looketh toward 

 the Sun, ever as he goeth, turning with him at all hours, 

 notwithstanding he be shadowed under a Cloud. It is cer- 

 tain also, that the Bodies of Oysters, Mussels, Cockles, and 

 all Shell-fishes, grow and waste by the Power of the Moon ; 

 and some have found out by diligent Search, that the Fibres 

 in the Livers of Rats and Mice answer in Number to the 

 Days of the Moon's Age : also that the very little Creature, 

 the Emmet, feeleth the Power of this Planet, and always in 

 the Change of the Moon ceaseth from Work. It is the more 

 Shame to Man to be ignorant, especially seeing that he must 

 confess, that some labouring Beasts have certain Diseases in 

 their Eyes, which with the Moon do grow and decay. How- 

 beit the excessive Greatness of the Heaven and exceeding 

 Height thereof, divided as it is into seventy-two Signs, make 

 for him, and serve for his Excuse. These Signs are the 

 Resemblances of Things, or living Creatures, into which the 

 skilful Astronomers have digested -the Firmament. For Ex- 

 ample, in the Tail of Taurus there be seven, which they 

 have named Veryilice*; in the Forehead other seven called 

 SuculcB : and Bootes who followeth after the great Bear 

 (Septentriones). 



1 This plant is again referred to (b. xxii. c. 21) as a good country- 

 man's weather-glass. It is a question whether it belong to the genus 

 Heliotropium of Linnaeus, or be not rather the Caltha PalustriSj or Marsh 

 Mary gold. Wern. Club. 



3 Better known by the name of Pleiades. Wern. Club. 



