456 The Animal-Lore of Shakspeare’s Time. 
syde: theyr legges are thyn and slender, lyke a fawne or hynde: the 
hoofes of the fore feete are divided in two, much like the foot of a 
goat, the outwarde part of the hynder feete is very full of heare. 
This beast doubtlesse seemeth wylde and fierce, yet terqpereth that 
fiercenesse with a certain comelinesse. These unicornes one gave to the 
Soltan of Mecha, as a most precious and rare gyfte. They were sent 
liym out of Ethiope by a kyng of that countrey, who desired by that 
present to gratifie the Soltan of Macha.” ( Hakluyt , vol. iv. p. 5 62.) 
This account occurs in a narrative of the travels of 
Lewes Vertomannus, “G-entelman of the Citie of Rome, 
in the yeere of our Lorde 1503. Translated out of 
Latine into Eng'lyshe, by Richarde Eden, 1576.” 
“The home of Windsor,” referred to by previous 
writers, is mentioned also by Shakspearean dramatists as 
one of the stock curiosities of the time. Paul Hentzner, 
in his account of a visit to England, in 1598, writes of 
Windsor Castle. 
“ We were shewn here among other things, the horn of a unicorn, 
of above eight spans and an half in length, valued at above 10,0002.” 
( Dodsley’s Fugitive Pieces , vol. ii. p. 244.) 
Topsell gives a minute description of this most 
precious article, which was, in all probability, the horn 
or tusk of a narwhal. 
“ I doe also know,” he writes, “ that [horn] the King of England 
possesseth to be wreathed in spires, even as that is accounted in the 
Church of S. Dennis, then which they suppose none greater in the 
world, and I never saw any thing in any creature more worthy praise 
then this horn. ... It is of so great a length that the tallest man can 
scarcely touch the top thereof, for it doth fully equal seven great feet. 
It weigheth thirteen pounds, with their assize, being only weighed 
by the gesse of the hands it seemeth much heavier. The figure doth 
plainely signifie a wax candle, being folded and wreathed with it selfe, 
being farre more thicker from one part, and making it selfe by little 
and little lesse towards the point, the thickest part thereof cannot be 
shut within one hand, it is the compasse of five fingers, by the circum¬ 
ference, if it bee measured with a thred, it is three fingers and a span. 
. . . That part which is next unto the heade hath not sharpenesse, the 
other are of a polished smoothnes. The splents of the spire are 
