CXXIX. The Rubetarian-Serpent is a very noisy Animal, who for its croaking Noise is resembled to a land Toad. It also engages the Attention of the Eye, for it excels in Beauty: It’s known among Country People by these two Characteristicks, viz. Loud and Pretty. Here we see, what is an Offence to the Ear may be a pleasing Entertainment to the Eye; thus the Five Senses agree to differ in their several Perceptions, and to meet in several distinct Apartments of the capital Temple, in the pacifick Empire. But to return to the beautiful Padalica of the Polonians:
It is said of this Serpent, that when it wounds any in the Foot, the Remedy is to put the wounded part into the next Earth, that is inclined to the moist, for twenty-four hours. This seems to differ from the American Rubeta.
CXXX. The Serpent de Boa is another of the monstrous kind; called Boa from Bos, the Latin word for an Ox, which it devours at once: The young ones, which grow to a great Bulk, are nourished by sucking the Cow.
In the Emperor Claudius’s time, in one of them that was killed, they found a Child that was whole. In Calabria are some monstrous Animals, not unlike these, says the Historian; who adds, that not many Years ago a certain Bishop speaks of a large mischievous Serpent, that was shot near St. Archangel, whose Jaws were almost two Palms long, the Portraiture of which is yet seen in a certain Temple there[[303]].
[303]. M. Antonius Cuccinus Episcopus Anglonensis ad Thomasium—in Agro S. Archangeli. In Jonstonus; in Verb.
CXXXI. I Am informed by some Persons, who had it by Tradition from ancient People, that formerly there was in this Country a monstrous Serpent of four or five Yards long, and thicker than a common Axle-tree of a Cart, and very mischievous, preying upon Lambs, &c. Its chief Residence was in a Wood, near Pickopbank, a few Miles from Blackburn, in Lancashire, called Ouse-Castle, wherein there is yet a little Spot of Ground, called Griom’s-Ark, which is a deep Cavern, situated among Rocks, in a Wood, from whence it was seen to come out, and bask itself on a sunny Bank.
The Picture of this Serpent is drawn with Wings, two Legs, and Talons like an Eagle, which is seen in some ancient Houses, (and particularly at Clayton-hall, near Dunkin-hall) by which it appears to be very large and furious.
It’s said, one —— Grimshaw Esq; Proprietor of that Hall, shot the Monster with Arrows, and had an Estate offer’d him for that good Service done to his Country, which he generously refused, and only desired he might have a Passage thro’ that Wood to a Township he had on t’other side of it, which was granted, the Title of which is to be found in old Writings. By another hand I am informed, that it was supposed to be a Griffin, which is a Bird of Prey, and of the Eagle kind, which, I take to be the Ossifrage of Moses, and mentioned Levit. xi.
There is also a fabulous Griffin, represented with four Legs, Wings, and a Beak; the upper part like an Eagle, and the lower a Lion. They conjecture it to watch over golden Mines and hidden Treasures. This Bird was consecrated to the Sun, therefore the Chariot of the Sun was represented as drawn by a Set of Griffins.
This poetick Griffin is frequently seen in antient Medals, and is still bore in Coat-Armor. The antient and honourable Family of the Guillims blazons it rampant, alledging any very fierce Animal may be so blazon’d as well as a Lion. It is observable, says my Author, that in the Front of Clayton-hall are two Figures drawn in Plaister in the form of a Coat of Arms; on the right side of the Escutcheon is a Figure with Wings, four Feet, and a Tail twisted in the Form of a Serpent. The like Figure is drawn in Plaister in several antient Houses in that Neighbourhood, which go under the Name of the Griffin’s Picture, and the Sign is used at Publick-houses: There is a Place in that Wood called the Griffin’s-Ark.