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THE ANATOMY OF MELANCHOLY
about the full moon in July); so gathered and borne, or hung about the neck, it mightily helps this
affection, and drives away all fantastical spirits." Philes, a Greek author that flourished in the
time of Michael Paleologus, writes that a sheep or kid's skin, whom a wolf worried, Hædus
inhumani raptus ab ore lupi, ought not at all to be worn about a man, "because it causeth
palpitation of the heart," not for any fear, but a secret virtue which amulets have. A ring made of
the hoof of an ass's right fore foot carried about, &c. I say with Renodeus, they are not altogether
to be rejected. Paeony doth cure epilepsy; precious stones most diseases; a wolf's dung borne
with one helps the colic, a spider an ague, &c. Being in the country in the vacation time not
many years since, at Lindley in Leicestershire, my father's house, I first observed this amulet of a
spider in a nut-shell lapped in silk, &c., so applied for an ague by my mother; whom, although I
knew to have excellent skill in chirurgery, sore eyes, aches, &c., and such experimental
medicines, as all the country where she dwelt can witness, to have done many famous and good
cures upon diverse poor folks, that were otherwise destitute of help: yet among all other
experiments, this methought was most absurd and ridiculous, I could see no warrant for it. Quid
aranea cum febre? For what antipathy? till at length rambling amongst authors (as often I do) I
found this very medicine in Dioscorides, approved by Matthiolus, repeated by Alderovandus,
cap. de Aranea, lib. de insectis, I began to have a better opinion of it, and to give more credit to
amulets, when I saw it in some parties answer to experience. Some medicines are to be exploded,
that consist of words, characters, spells, and charms, which can do no good at all, but out of a
strong conceit, as Pomponatius proves; or the devil's policy, who is the first founder and teacher
of them.
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