15 * Ci^e MHaiP of 3jute0 ^ or, 
with them in bed are feldome free from difcafes; 
he is a great enemie to ferpents and toads; in time 
of ficknefs he will carry the contagion about him ; 
he hateth no creature more thati mice, and will 
eafily find them out by their fmell, and will fee 
them when they do not fee him; and oftentimes 
when he hath got one, firil he will play with it, and 
afterwards devour it : thus do they ferve birds ; 
he loveth fifh, but cannot endure the water, and 
thefe are the moft noted things that we fhall ob- 
ferve of the Cat ; and I know none that more re- 
femble the than Flatterers: For, i. A? it is 
a common creature, fo there is no place free now 
from Slanderers and Back- biters. 2. As they creep 
into all corners and holes do Tale-bearers prye 
and fearch into all mens aflions; and as they thera- 
felves do not perceive the ftrong fmell that cometh 
from them, thus Back-biters aggravate other mens 
faults, but hide their own, and as the Cat loveth to 
be handled and firoked on the head, thus Flatter- 
ers love thofe that will give eare to their reports ; 
as in the old time i t was one of the ey£gyptian gods, 
fo Back-biters and Flatterers are by too many peo- 
ple honoured and loved; they, like the Cat, where- 
ever they come, leave a ftrong fcent behind them, 
and by the juft judgement of God are often dif- 
covered. 
CHAP. 
