The tenth Booke of 



% and Icccpc v^ithin the campe. Thcfe were they that gave the fignall, and foretold the ilTue of G 

 all ihofe famous foughten fields, whereby wee have atchievcdall ourvidories throughout the 

 whole world : and in one word, thefe birds commaund thofe great commaunders of all nations 

 upon the earth: as acceptable to the gods infacrificc with their foal fibres and filaments of their 

 inwards, as the greateft andfaiteft oxen that are killed for facrifice.Overand befidcs,thcir crow- 

 ing out of order jtoo foone before their houre ^ or too late, and namely in the evening, porren- 

 dethalfoandprefagethfomewhatbyitfelfe. For well knowneitis,that by their crowing atone 

 time all night long, they fore-fignified unto the Boeotians, that noble vi6torie of theirs atchie- 

 ved over the Laced^mdnians.For this interpretation and conjedure was given thereupon of a 

 fortunate day,bccaufe that bird never croweth if he be beaten and overcome . If they be once 

 carved and made capons, they crow no more. And this feat ispradifed upon them two manner H 

 of waics: namely, either by burning their loynes tov^ard their kidneys with a red hot yron,or 

 clfe by cauterizing their legges beneath, and their fpurres, and then prefently applying aplai- 

 ftcr unto the exulcerate and bliftcred place, made of potters white clay or chalkie earth. And 

 beeing thus (erved, they will fooner feedandbefat. At Pergamus,everie yeere there is a fo- 

 lemnefhew exhibited openly to the people,ofCoGk-fighting, as iffword-fencers were brought 

 within the lifts to fight at outterance. We find in record among our Annales, that within the 

 territorie of Ariminumjinthatycarc when U^. a-'C^ Lepii/u^ ^nd ^mtf^ Caluls^'S vicie Cdn- 

 fuls, there was a dunghill- cocke did fpeake : and it was about aferme-houfe in thccountrcy 

 belonging mtoonQGJerm , But this happened never but once, for ought that I could ever 

 heare or learne.. j 



Chap. XXII. 



OfGeefe: mdwhofrfleattheGoofeUver.AlfiDf theleafcofiiCoofi 

 of Comagtna, 



THe Goofe likewife is very vigilant and watchful!, Witnefle the Capitoll of Rome, which 

 by the meanes of Geefe was defended and favcd : whereas at the fame time^ through the 

 default of dogs,(who fliould have given warning) all had like to have been loft. And cher- 

 fore the firft thing that the Ccnfors doe by vertue of their officcjis to take order for the Geefe of 

 the Capitoll, and to appoint fome one man of purpofe to fee unto them that they have meat K 

 ynough. Moreoverjthey arc faid to be given much to love : For at Argos there was a Goofe that 

 was wonderoufly enamoured of a faire boy named olmm : as alfb of a Damofell, whole name 

 \^;3s Glance ^vAio ufed to play on the Lute before king Ptobmam : at] d by report at the fame time 

 aRam made court unto the faid wcnch,and was in love with her.It may be credibly thought alfo, 

 that this creature hath fbme fparkcs (as it were)of reafbn3underfianding,andlearning.F9r Lacy- 

 ^ifjthePhilofopherhadoneof them about him, which would never leave him night nor day, 

 neither in the open ftrect abroad, nor in private houfe at home: but would follow him even to 

 his clofe and fecret baines where he ufed to bath.But our countrymen and citizens of Rome(be- 

 leeve me)are wifer now adaies : who know^orfooth how to make a daintie difh of iheir liver. For 

 inthofeGeefethatarekeptupand crammed fat in coupe, the liver groweth to bee exceeding ^ 

 great : and when it is taken forth of the bellie, it waxeth bigger fliil, it it be fleepcd in milke and 

 iweet mead togeiher.Good caufe therefore it is,that there be fbme quefiion and controverfie a- 

 bout the firfl inventor of this great good and fingularcommoditie tomankindiwhetheritwere 

 Scfpio Metellm^z man who lately was called to be Con{\x%oi MJ^Fitu^ who in thole daies was by 

 his birth a gentleman of Rome.But to leave that M\ undecided,this is for ce.ttaine knowne,thac 

 MeJJalinm Cotta^ fonne to that MeffaUxht Orator, found out the fecret to broile and f rie the flat 

 broad feet of geefe,and together with eockes combes to make a (avorie difh of meat tliereof be- 

 tweene two platters. For furcly I for my part will give every man his due and right : and will not 

 defraud them of their fingular praifeand honour who have been benefactors tothekitchin, and 

 proceeded maiflers in cookerie. A marvellous thing of thefe birdsj that a fiocke of them fhould jvl 

 come all the way bare foot,from ^Terwin and Torney in France as farre as to Rome.Their order 

 was,who had the condud of them in this large voiage,' to bring thofe forward that were wearie 

 and lagged bchind,intothc vaward and forefront:and fb the reft by a certaine thick united fqua- 

 clr6n,(which naturally they make when they go to|ether)ddYe the -Qthers before them. A fecond 



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