Which gives a View of most Serpents that are known in the several Parts of the World, describ’d by their various Names, different Countries, Qualities, &c.

The Serpents are a numerous Tribe, and their Dominions of large Extent, lying both in Sea and Land: No part of the World but what is replenish’d with them, more or less, in some form or other. In describing them, I shall begin with,

I. The Viper, or Adder, a subtle and poisonous Creature, slender in Body, about a Foot and half long, with fiery and flaming Eyes, a long and cloven Tongue, which when irritated, it darts forth with Violence, and looks like a glowing Firebrand; has a big Head, and flattest of the serpentine kind.

It is slow in its motion, and does not leap like other Serpents, but is very nimble to bite when provok’d. The Scales under the Body resemble that of well-polish’d Steel. They appear in divers Colours, yellow, ash, green; and others of Libya, like the Inhabitants, of a blackish Hue; its Front not unlike that of a Hog.

VIPERS of other Nations, are supposed to be larger than the European, especially the Troglodite-Viper^[99], which is said to be above fifteen Cubits long: and the Historian adds, viz. That there are no domestick Vipers. I presume, he means they are not brought up among the Children of the Family, as some Serpents are said to have been; this little venemous Reptile being of a more mischievous Nature^[100].

The Viper differs from the Snake in bulk, being not so large, and their Scales more sharp, and Head more large: They also differ in this, viz. Snakes lay their Eggs, twenty, thirty, sixty, and a hundred sometimes, in one Nest, not quite so large as that of a Magpye (which are inclosed with a whitish Skin, but not with Scales) in Dunghills and other warm Situations, where they are hatch’d by adventitious Heat, commonly call’d Adders in this Country; whereas Vipers make use of their own Matrix, and bring forth live Vipers: Their young ones come forth wrapt up in thin Skins, which break on the third day, and set the little venemous Creatures at liberty, therefore rank’d among the viviparous Animals.

Their Births are much like young Snigs for Bulk; they generally bring forth about twenty young ones, but only one each day. It is observ’d of the Viper, that its Internals are not fetid, like those of some other Serpents, that are intolerable. The Eggs of Lizard-Serpents, which are so much esteem’d in the French-Islands of America, are of the same Size and Figure as those of Pigeons, and are generally used in all sorts of Sauces: When the Females lay their Eggs, they make a Hole in the Sand, and cover them with it, and the Heat of the Sun is sufficient to hatch them^[101].

ALBERTUS is quoted for a Battle between a Viper and a Magpye, occasioned by her creeping up into a Magpye’s Nest, and devouring her Brood in the Mother’s absence, who upon her Return made a hideous clattering, which soon brought in its Mate; whereupon both, with united Beaks, fell upon the Plunderer, and after a sharp Engagement demolish’d the Enemy.

Father Fevillee in the Woods of the Island Martinique, “being frighted by a large Serpent, which he could not well avoid, his Dog immediately fell on, and took the Serpent by the Head: The Serpent surrounded him and press’d him so violently, that the Blood came out of his Mouth; and yet the Dog never ceased till he had entirely tore it to pieces. The Dog was not sensible of his Wounds during the Fight, but soon after, his Head prick’d by the Serpent swell’d prodigiously, and he lay on the ground as dead; but his Master having found hard by a Bananier, which is a very watry Tree, he cured him with the Juice of it, and some Treacle^[102].”

The Viper is common in some parts of France, especially in Dauphiny and in Poictou, from whence all the Vipers come that are sold in Paris. They are usually taken with wooden Tongs, or by the end of the Tail, which may be done without danger; for while held in that Position, they can’t wind themselves up to hurt their Enemy. The Viper-Catchers have their Specificks, in which they can safely confide, as not to be afraid of being bitten; which they say is the Fat of a Viper, immediately rubb’d into the Wound, which is one of the most venemous in the animal World.

These Vipers are usually put and kept in a Box with Bran or Moss; not that these Ingredients serve to feed upon, as some may fancy; because ’tis said, they never eat after they are taken and confin’d, but live on the Air, and will live so, many Months: But more hereafter. The Destruction of Vipers by human Spittle, the Coition of the Marine with Lampreys, the pregnant Viper biting off her Companion’s Head, and the Revenge of it by the Younglings——I place among vulgar Errors.

II. The Amodytes is a Serpent very venemous and fierce, of a sandy Colour, black Spots, and of about a Cubit long. The Wound given by the Female, the weaker Vessel, is said to be most dangerous: Its Jaws are larger than the common Vipers, and from some Eminencies upon the Head, like a Tuft of Flesh, is called Cornutus. Its Wounds prove fatal without a speedy Cure. It is found in Lybia, a Limb of Africa, and also in Illyricum, and in some parts of Italy^[103].

This Serpent is called Cornutus, a horned Beast^[104]. Of this Form, is a numerous Herd; we read, that in the Roman Army was a Band of Foot Soldiers called Cornuti.

Upon the Continent of America are Bulls and Cows, that have no Horns, says Dr. Ch. Leigh——who adds,

“The Defect of Horns in these Beasts, brings into my mind a remarkable Phenomenon of one Alice Green, whose Picture I have seen in Whalley-Abby, in Lancashire. This Woman had two Horns which grew out of the back-part of her Head; they grew backwards like those of Rams, and were about three Inches long; these she cast once in three Years, and had always intolerable Pains, before the Horns broke out^[105].”

He might have mentioned another innocent Creature, on whose Head a treacherous Companion inoculates a Scion, which intitles him to the Title of Cuckold, a word derived from Cuckows, who having no Beds of their own, invade their Neighbour’s. Of the Cuckow ’tis said, that having no Nest, she takes possession of some other Bird’s Nest, destroys the Eggs, and lays in it an Egg of her own, which the innocent Bird brings forth and nurses for its own^[106].

III. The Cerastes is a Serpent of the viperine Kind; its Head resembles the Cornigerous; it belongs to the Libyan and Nubian Family: Its Teeth are like those of the Viper, and it brings its Successors into the World after the same manner.

Its Constitution is very dry, which refines and exalts its Poison, and makes it more dangerous; the Wound is generally attended with Distraction, and continual pricking as with Needles. Some say, ’tis of a whitish Colour, others arenaceous; it loves sandy Habitations, where it often surprises the unwary Traveller: And all agree ’tis of a most cruel Nature; and therefore in some Places ’twas made the Executioner of Malefactors^[107], as the Juice of the Cicuta, (an Herb like our Hemlock) was among the Athenians.

Some say ’tis of the aspick kind, as the Arabians; in length a Cubit or more, with two Horns on the Head, resembling Snail-Shells: It lies perdue near travelling Paths, and is very crafty in decoying little Birds into the Snare.

Its Wounds soon kill, if one of the Psyllian People be not immediately called in. N. B. These Psylli are a noted People of Syrenaica in Africa, endued with a natural Faculty of destroying Serpents upon sight, and curing their Wounds by a Touch of the Hand of whom we have this Account, viz. ... Crates of Pergamus says, that about Parium in the Hellespont, there were Men, named Ophiogenes, who cured those wounded by Serpents with a Touch. Varro testifies there were some of them in his time.

AGATHERCIDES writes, that in Africa the Psyllians (a People so called from King Psyllus, from whom they were descended, and whose Sepulchre is to be seen at this day in the greater Syrtes) did in the same manner heal People wounded by Serpents. ’Tis said they had some extraordinary Quality in their Nature, that would suddenly kill all Serpents.

It was by these they tried the Chastity of their Wives, thus, viz. When a Child was born, and its Legitimacy questionable, they laid it in a great Vessel full of these cerastick Serpents, that immediately breathed Destruction; but when they came near the Child, their Rage soften’d, and they immediately fled from it; which proved the Legitimacy of the Child, that he was a true Psyllian, born in lawful Wedlock, because Serpents could not poison it, nor endure its Presence^[108].

However this romantic Account may appear, it may doubtless be philosophically accounted for by Effluviums emitted from their Bodies, that proved fatal to Serpents.

The English Annotator upon Lucan, who was Nephew to Seneca, observes much to the same purpose, when he says, These Psylli (a People inhabiting those parts of Africa called Marmarica, bordering on the Nile) are fortify’d by Nature with an incredible Privilege against the Strength of Poison, and sustain no Harm by the biting of Serpents.

The Serpents, says Pliny, are afraid of them, and when others are bitten by them, these Psyllians by sucking the Wounds, cure them.

The Marsians in Italy, ’tis said, are still in possession of this natural Power against Serpents, and are supposed to descend from the Son of Circe, the famous Enchantress.

The Trial of Childrens Legitimacy by Serpents, puts me in mind of Hereditary Right; whose Title was try’d by the Fatal-Stone, on which the Irish Monarchs used to be inaugurated on the Hill of Tarah; and which being inclosed in a Wooden-Chair, was made to emit a Sound under the rightful Candidate, when he sat in it; but was quite silent under one who had no Title, or not a good one; that is, one who was not for the Druidick Priest’s Turn.

“This Stone was sent to confirm the Irish Colony in Scotland, where it continued to be the Coronation-Chair till in the Year 1300, Edward I. of England brought it from Scoon, and placed it under the Coronation-Chair at Westminster^[109]; and there it still remains, is used in the Coronation, the antientest respected Monument in the World^[110]. The Vulgar call it Jacob’s Stone, as if this had been his Pillow at Bethel.”

Note, Antique Appearances often give birth to popular Superstitions.

Such natural Power against Diseases did in our Days appear in the celebrated Mr. Greatrix, before whose Hand they fled. In the Philosophical Transactions we have the following Account of it, received from Eye-Witnesses,—e. g.

“... My own Brother, John D——n, was seized with a violent Pain in his Head and Back: Mr. Greatrix (coming by accident to our House) gave present Ease to his Head, by only stroaking it with his Hands. He then rubb’d his Back, which he most complain’d of, and the Pain immediately fled from his Hand to his right Thigh; then he pursued it with his Hand to his Knee, from thence to his Leg, Ancle and Foot; and at last to his great Toe. As it fell lower, it grew more violent; and when in his Toe, it made him roar out, but upon rubbing it there, it vanish’d.

“A young Woman being seiz’d with a great Pain and Weakness in her Knees when a Girl, used divers Means to no effect: After six or seven years time, Mr. Greatrix coming to Dublin, he stroak’d both her Knees, and gave her present Ease, the Pain flying downward from his Hand, till he drove it out of her Toes; the Swelling that always attended it, did in a short time wear away, and never troubled her after.

“... A certain Gentlewoman being much troubled with a Pain in her Ears, and very deaf, Mr. Greatrix put some of his Spittle into her Ears; which, after chafing them, soon cured her, both of the Pain and Deafness.... Her Uncle was cured by him of the same Malady, and in the same manner.

“... A Child, being extremely troubled with the King’s-Evil, was touch’d by King Charles II. and was nothing better; but was soon and perfectly cured by Mr. Greatrix.^[111]”

IV. The Hemorrhous Serpent is an Egyptian of the viperine kind; of sandy and bright Colour, enamel’d with black and white Rays on the Back; flaming Eyes, corniculated Brows, and is defended by an Armature of rough and sharp Scales; which by one is given as the Reason of making some Noise as it goes, which another denies, because it wants the Sonalia^[112].

This Creature is little in Body, but great and terrible in its Executions; for when it wounds any Persons, all the Blood in the Body flows out, at all the Apertures of it, which is immediately follow’d with Convulsions and Death^[113].

The Atlas from Ribeyro mentions an Indian Serpent of the same malignant Nature, whose Poison operates with such Violence, that the Person wounded by it bleeds at the Eyes, Nostrils, Ears, and all the Pores of the Body, and the miserable Patient is irrecoverable.

The Poet laments the Death of the brave and noble Tullus^[114], by this bloody Serpent; which is also found in India (according to Diodorus Siculus) in that part where Alexander the Great conquer’d Porus, the Great King of the Indies. The Conqueror bid Porus ask of him whatever he desired; who answered, That he only desired to be treated as a Prince: with which Alexander was so charm’d, that he not only gave him his Kingdom again, but some of the Provinces he had conquered in that Vicinity.

N. B. On the Bank of the River Hydaspis, Alexander built a Town, which he call’d Bucephala, in remembrance of Bucephalus his great Horse, which died and was buried there.

V. The Serpent Seps, which by some is said to be the same with Sepedon, is about two Cubits long, the Head broad, and of divers Colours. Both these are of the smaller Species, but most venemous, and therefore are rank’d in the second Class of Serpents. The Virulency of the Poison is not in proportion to their diminutive Stature.

When any are wounded by these venemous Animals, the Hair of the Head immediately falls off, the whole Body turns scurfy, leprous and putrid; yea, the very Bones, as well as the Flesh, putrify and corrupt; therefore some call it the putrid Serpent^[115]. The Poet accounts for the Symptoms of its Poison^[116].

These Serpents are Asiaticks, Inhabitants of the Rocks in Syria; Syria, the supposed western Porch of Paradise. These resemble the Hemorrhous in Colour and external Figure: According to Ælian, they change into the Similitude of the Things they light upon. He might, I think, as well have said, they chang’d their Notes on different Trees, since there is a kind of relation between Musick and Colour, as the Learned Newton observes.

VI. KOKOB Serpent, is between three and four Foot long, of a dusky Colour, and made beautiful by Spots of red and light Blue. Its Wounds are terrible, and the Effects not very dissimilar to those of the Hemorrhous. Nierembergius observes, that it resides among Stones; and when it rambles out, and hears any Noise, makes towards it like a mighty Hero. Thus the Gallic Monarch, upon Debates among Princes, marches out as sovereign Umpire of Europe, and never returns home but by way of Lorrain, Corsica, Palatine, or Spanish Flanders.

VII. The Asp, so called from the Asperity of its Skin, as Arnoldus, or from aspiciendo, because of the Acuteness of its Eyes. A Serpent well known, but not accurately describ’d, says the Learned Mr. Ray: Some make it a small Serpent, others say ’tis several Feet long; and both may judge right, for according to Ælian, there are various Species of Asps; some a Foot and half long, and others six.

Among these different Proportions, the least of them is said to be most hurtful, and kills the soonest. Its Poison is so dangerous and quick in its Operation, that it kills almost in the very Instant that it bites, without a Possibility of applying any Remedy: They die within three Hours, says my learned Author^[117]; and the manner of their dying by Sleep and Lethargy, without Pain, made Cleopatra chuse it as the easiest way of dispatching herself. (More of this further on.)

These Aspick Serpents, are the Growth of several Climates: Olaus observed some of them in the northern Parts, of rugged and rough Skins, ash Colour, sparkling Eyes, three or four Cubits long^[118]; tho’ Lovers of warm Situations, yet delight in shady Retirements^[119]. Many of them are found in the Spanish Islands[TN]; but Egypt, Libya, and other Places in Africa claim the greatest Right to them, for there they are most numerous and venemous.

When provok’d, the Neck of this Creature swells, and the Wound then given, is most dangerous. Its Teeth are of considerable length, growing out of the Mouth like the Tusks of a Boar. The Historian says, that two of the longest Teeth have little Cavities in them, covered with a thin Skin, that slides up when it bites, by which means the poisonous Liquid runs out, and drops into the Puncture; after which, it recovers its Station.

In America, says a celebrated Historian, are found Asps with Stings in the Tail, wherewith they strike and kill^[120].

The Banks of Nilus abound with Asps, who have Sagacity enough to remove their Habitations to a place of Safety, several days before that River overflows the Rising-Grounds about it: ’Tis also said the Crocodile and Tortoise recede with their Eggs, to a Situation not accessible by that mighty Flood; a Flood that makes the Land of Egypt, a Region of Fertility, a Flood dreaded by these Animals, and ador’d by the Egyptians, those Sons of Contradiction, who consecrated their Animals to the Gods, and then worshipped them, and upon Occasions kill’d them. (Can we behold such Instincts in the Crocodile, &c. without acknowledging the Divine Wisdom that ordain’d ’em!) No Nation more knowing, and more sottish, e. g. Upon the Statue of Minerva, or the Goddess Isis, was this Inscription, viz. I was she that was, that am, and shall be, and that am every thing. Which being an exact Interpretation of the Word Jehovah, and the same Definition the Almighty appropriates to himself, I can’t, says the Learned Jurieu, conceive, how a Nation that was arrived to such a high Degree of Knowledge, should have worship’d Bullocks—as Gods.

PLUTARCH gives a strange relation of them, viz. that in case of any extraordinary Calamity, as War, Plague, Famine, the Egyptian Priests used to threaten the sacred Beasts most horribly: If they failed to help them, they whipt them till the Blood follow’d; and if the Calamity did still continue, they kill’d those sacred Beasts by way of Punishment^[121]. The Reverse of this is given us in a Clan of Tartars, who, when exposed to any imminent Calamity, sacrifice their Priests, in order to intercede for them with the Gods in the other World.

It has been said, that the Asp, when exasperated, did, with an erected Head, cast out of its Mouth liquid Poison; but it now appears, it darts it only by its Bite, or by Poison taken from it by Force, and poured into a Wound made by another; and both the Wounds so made, soon terminate in an easy pleasant Exit; which is supposed to be the reason why Queen Cleopatra chose this kind of Death, that is, to poison herself by an Aspick Dose. This reminds me of a certain Herb I have read of, in Arabia, which (according to the Tradition) if a Man slept upon, he died in his Sleep without any Pain.

A certain learned Pen, makes this Remark upon Cleopatra’s Case, viz. that she was not bit by an Asp, as some have asserted, but did that which was more secret and sure; that is, after she had bit her own Arm, infused Poison into the Wound, expressed before-hand from an Asp by Irritation, and preserved in a Phial for that purpose: Or, as Dio says, she wounded her Arm with a Needle, or Dressing-pin, and then poured the Poison into the bleeding Wound. This seems probable, because no Serpent was found in her Chamber or near it.

The Queen, in order to find the most easy Passage out of this Life, made an Experiment upon Criminals by various kinds of Poison, and Application of diverse sorts of Serpents, and found nothing came up to Aspick Poison, which throws Persons into a pleasant Sleep, in which they die^[122].

Obj. If it be said, that in the Triumphs of Augustus, Queen Cleopatra is drawn with an Asp in her Hand:

I answer, That I apprehend that Device might only be Pictorial-Licence, or a Flourish of the Painter to affect the People, by displaying the Heroism of a Woman, who to prevent the Disgrace of Captivity, embraced Death at the hands of a Serpent, a terrible Creature, to which none has so great an Aversion as the female Sex. Excuse a poetick Digression.

Some are of Opinion, that the Asp is David’s deaf Adder, Psal. lviii. 45. They are like the deaf Adder that stops her Ear, which will not hearken to the Voice of Charmers, charming never so wisely. They are like the deaf Asp, says the Hebrew and the Septuagint. The word in the Original is ^[124] Pethen, q. d. Unpersuadedness; hence, wicked Men are called Απειθεις in the New Test. unpersuadable, which the English Translation renders Disobedient, Tit. i. 16.

The common Tradition is, that when Men by Inchantments and Charms have attempted to take these Serpents, they stopt one Ear with the Tail, and the other was either deaf, or made so by laying it close to the Ground. Some are of Opinion, that there is a sort of Asp that really is deaf, which of all others is the most dangerous, and is meant by the Royal Prophet here.

That there was a Practice of charming Serpents by some Art or other, so that they could neither bite nor sting, seems evident from the sacred Writings, e. g. Eccl. x. 11. Surely the Serpent will bite without Inchantment. Jer. viii. 17. I’ll send Serpents, Cockatrices, among you, that will not be charmed, and they shall bite you, says the Lord.

Among other Things the word Charmer, some say, signifies one that conjoins and consociates; that is, that by Sorcery gather’d Serpents together, and made them tame and familiar; or the Person may be so call’d, because by Magick Art, he associated with Demons, the Lords of Serpents.

We are inform’d by History, of some, who have summoned together a hundred Serpents at once; but by what method, I leave the Reader to judge. Montanus, a famous Physician, and Professor at Padua in Italy, says he saw this Coadunation of Serpents.

The learned Doctor Casaubon tells us, he had seen a Man, who from the Country around him, wou’d draw Serpents into the Fire, which was inclos’d in a magical Circle: When one of them, bigger than the rest, would not be brought in, upon repeating the aforesaid Charms, it submitted to the Flames.

We read of a famous Charmer at Saltsburgh in the Circle of Bavaria; that, when (in sight of the People) he had charm’d a great Number of Serpents into a Ditch, where he kill’d them; there came a Serpent of great Bulk, supposed to be the Devil, that leapt upon the Charmer, and immediately slew him^[125].

Answer me, says Paracelsus, (the celebrated Swiss Physician, who did wonderful Cures by Liquids extracted from Vegetables) from whence is it, that a Serpent of Helvetia, Algovia, or Suevia, does understand the Greek Idiom, Osy, Osya, Osy; that they should, at the first Sound of these Words, stop their Ears, remain immoveable, and do us no hurt with their Poison? From whence he infers, there was a Power in Words to operate upon the Ear, without Superstition. The Antients seem to have entertain’d some favourable Thoughts of the Power of Spells upon Serpents: Their Poets speak often of these Charms and Incantations.

PHILOSTRATUS describes particularly how the Indians charm Serpents—they take a Scarlet-Coat embroider’d with golden Letters, and spread it before the Serpent’s Hole; and these golden Letters have a fascinating Power over it, and therewith its Eyes are overcome and laid asleep^[126].

If we consider the strange Things done by Force of Words, so much extoll’d in Antiquity, it will be no wonder to see Letters, out of which Words are form’d, made the Rudiment and first Study of human Life: But as to the Mode of Operation by Words, the Learned are not agreed.

Some say, there is a natural Virtue and Efficacy in Words, and appeal to the notable Feats done by Force of Eloquence. This was the favourite Study and View of Orators; in this they triumph’d, and never wanted Acclamations and loud Applauses.

In Plutarch, we have, among others, one remarkable Instance, viz. Cæsar, upon the Accusations brought in by Tubero against Quintus Ligarius (Pompey’s Friend) he was resolved to sacrifice that Rebel, till he was charm’d by the Words of the Orator that pleaded in his favour—No sooner did Cicero begin his Oration in his defence, but Cæsar’s Countenance chang’d, and his Indignation begun to soften ... but when the Orator touch’d upon the Battle of Pharsalia (where Cæsar was Conqueror) Cæsar’s Heart tender’d, his Body trembled with Joy, and certain Papers in his Hands dropt to the ground.—And when Cicero had finish’d his Oration, Cæsar’s Wrath against his Enemy was intirely extinguish’d; and Ligarius was set at liberty^[127]. The same Orator, by the Dint of Eloquence, overthrew the Constitution of the Decemviri.

Others say, there is a mighty Force in Words in such a Tone, and Talismanical Characters, rightly-adapted Figures, and Images under certain Constellations^[128].

Some affirm that Magick consists in the Spirit of Faith, for Faith is the Magnet of Magicians, by which they draw Spirits to them, and by which Spirits they do wonderful Things, that to vulgar Eyes appear like Miracles. No doubt but several extraordinary Effects have been ascrib’d to the Devil, that in reality were natural, and artfully disguised: The Story of Sieur Brioche, a famous Puppet-player, is well known, who in a Town in Switzerland, where that Show had never been seen before, he was apprehended as a Warlock or Magician, and ran the hazard of being punish’d as such^[129].

Others affirm, that Charms by Words are but means to heighten the Imagination; and the strange Effects produced by ’em, flow’d only from the Activity of an exalted Thought, or Fancy of heated Brains. In proof of this ’tis said, that if a Woman at a certain Season, strongly fix her Imagination upon any particular Object, the Child will bear the Image thereof.

I think ’tis pretty obvious, that those extraordinary Impressions made by Pagan Sophists upon the Minds of their Audience by the Charms of Rhetorick, past for a divine Afflatus or Inspiration; and therefore in such Cases, we shall find this Formula (Aliquis nescio quis Deus) frequently used by Enthusiastical Orators, as well as their Poets: Thus Cicero, speaks of himself, that he was mov’d by a certain Impetus or Ardour^[130]: Apollonius Tyanæus, who was looked upon by the Christians as a notorious Magician, being ask’d by the Governor of Rome under Nero, what was his Profession? he answer’d, θειασμος, an Enthusiast, q. d. Fanatic, Conjurer.