317 
A Dangerous Serpent. 
it were, of scales about it. The scales along his backe seem to be- 
blackish, and so much as is discovered under his bellie, appeareth tq 
be red ; for I speak of no nearer description than of a reasonable ocular 
distance, for coming too neare it, hath already beene too dearely payd 
for, as you shall heare hereafter. It is likewise discovered to have 
large feete, but the eye may be there deceived; for some suppose that 
serpents have no feete, but glide upon certain ribbes and scales. . . . 
He is of countenance very proud, and at the sight or hearing of men or 
' cattel will raise his necke upright, and seem to listen and looke about, 
with great arrogancy. There are likewise on either side of him dis¬ 
covered two great bunches so big as a large footeball, and as some 
thinke will in time grow to wings; but God, I hope, will so defend the 
poor people in the neighbourhood that he shall be destroyed before he 
grow so fledge. 
“ He will cast his venome about four rodde from him, as by woefull 
experience it was proved on the bodies of a man and a woman coming 
that way, who afterwards were found dead, being poysoned and very 
much swelled, but not prayed upon. Likewise a man going to chase 
it, and as he imagined, to destroy it with two mastive dogs, as yet not 
knowing the great danger of it, his dogs were both killed, and he him- 
selfe glad to returne with hast to preserve his own life. Yet this is to 
be noted, that the dogs were not prayed upon, but slaine and left 
whole: for his food is thought to be, for the most part, in a conie- 
warren, which he much frequents; and it is found much scanted and 
impaired in the encrease it had woont to afford. Three persons, whose 
names are hereunder printed, have seene this serpent, beside divers 
others, as the carrier of Horsam, who lieth at the White Horse in 
Southwarke, and who can certifie the truth of all that has been here 
related. 
“ John Steele, 
“ Christopher Holder ; 
“ And a widow woman dwelling nere Faygate.” 
The names snake, serpent, adder, and worm were 
used indiscriminately, and little attempt was made to 
identify the various species. Batman includes as worms, 
adders, serpents, all creeping beasts that pass from place 
to place by stretching of the body and drawing together 
again. He uses the word adder as the generic name for 
all kinds of serpents. Quoting Pliny, he states that in 
India “ be so great adders that they swallow up both 
