Frog, moth, flea and hornet, Rochester Bestiary, c.1230

Rochester Bestiary

15 Oct

Written By KAS

Frogs, known as rānae, are famous for their incessant croaking around swamps and marshes, producing sounds that can be quite irritating. They come in various types:

Water frogs: Typical of aquatic environments.

Swamp frogs: Found in marshy areas.

Land frogs, rŭbētae: These are larger, venomous frogs living in brambles and bushes, known for being particularly harmful.

Among these, the term cruxaveium is used for a particular species, whereas călāmītes refers to small, mute frogs that dwell among reeds and are the greenest and smallest of all. Additionally, the agrēdŭlae are small frogs inhabiting dry places or fields, with a peculiar belief that dogs do not bark when these frogs are included in their food. Metaphorically, the word for frog, rāna, symbolises poets whose grandiose and empty odes resemble the croaking of frogs, regaling the world with their dramatic tales.

The moth, tĭnĕa, is known as the worm of garments because it clings to and destroys clothes, being born from the very fabric it consumes. Symbolically, it represents luxury that arises from the flesh and consumes the flesh, similar to how gambling is viewed as a vice.

Fleas, pūlices, thrive in dusty environments. When pursued, they leap and escape, symbolizing the saints who, despite being rejected by the world, fled from persecution according to God's command. This is emphasised in the Bible where David refers to himself as a dead dog and a single flea in his plea to King Saul.

Hornets, crābrones, emerge from the decaying flesh of horses. The term derives from cabo (stallion) and căballus (horse), reflecting their origin from decomposition. From hornets, scarabs, scărăbei, are born, linking them by name. Hornets are symbolic of fear and terror. In the Bible, particularly in Deuteronomy, hornets were sent among the inhabitants of the Promised Land to drive them out before the Israelites, aiding in their conquest of the land.

Rane a garrulitate sic vocate; eoquod circa ge-
nitales strepunt paludes et sonos vocis inportu-
nis clamoribus reddunt. Ex hiis quedam dicuntur aqua-
tice. quedam palustres. quedam terrestres que di-
cuntur rubete. ob id quia in vepribus vivunt gran-
diores ceteris pessime et venenose. Quod gemis
vulgo dicitur cruxaveium. Alie calamites vocantur.
Quoniam in palustrubis inter arundines et frutices vivunt;
et sine voce sunt et mute. et minime omnium.
et viridissime. Egredule sunt rane pervule in sicco
vel in agris morantes. Negant quidam canes latra-
re. quibus in offa hee rane fuerint date. Nomine
igitur rane significantur carmina poetarum. qui
inani et inflata modulatione velut ranarum sonis
et cantibus. mundo; direptionis fabulas intulerunt.
Ad nichil enim animal illud utile est; nisi quod sonum
vocis inprobis et inportunis clamoribus reddit;
Tinea est. vestimentorum vermis. sic dicta quod tene-
at vestimentum donec erodat. et ex ipso vestimento quod

Frogs, rānae, are so named after their garrulous nature, for they croak around swamps and marshes and produce irritating sounds. Among them, there are water frogs, swamp ones and land frogs called rŭbētae, tree frogs, for they live in brambles and bushes: they are venomous, larger and more harmful than the other frogs. The species commonly called cruxaveium[1] pertains to these. Others are called călămītes[2], for they live among reeds and shrubs in marshes: they are voiceless and mute, the smallest of all and the greenest. The small frogs, called agrēdŭlae[3] live in dry places or fields. Some say that dogs do not bark when these frogs are given to them as food. Therefore, the word for frog, rāna, is used metaphorically to symbolise the odes of poets, who, with empty and inflated tunes like the sounds and croaks of frogs, regale the world with tales of devastation. This poor creature is of no use, except that it utters bad and irritating sounds.

The moth, tĭnĕa, is the worm of garments: it is so called, for it clings to the garment until it wears it out and is born from that very garment.

consumit; oritur. Unde aliquando significat luxuriam
que ex carne nascens ipsam carnem consumit. et
alea similiter carnis vicia. Aliquando penam eternam.
Aliquando hereticum. aliquando vindictam dei.
Pulices vocati sunt; quod ex pulvere magis nu-
triuntur. Qui cum persecutionem sentiunt psal-
tum dant et evadunt. Et ideo significant sanctos.
qui mundo contemptibiles dum persecutionem passi sunt
fugerunt de civitate in civitatem ex precepto domini.
Unde in libro regum dicit david ad saul. Quem per-
sequeris rex isrel quem persequeris; Canem portuum
persequeris et pulicem unum.
Scrabones volant et nascuntur de equorum carni-
bus putridis. Et dicuntur scrabones. a cabo id est a caballo.
a quibus creantur. Ex scrabonibus nascuntur scarabei.
Unde et cognominate sunt. Nomine scrabonis dicuntur
timoris punctiones. Unde in deuteronomio. Dominus misit
scrabones in habitatores terre promissionis ante faciem
filiorum israhel; donec habitatores terre paulatim defi-
cerent.

Thus, it sometimes symbolises luxury being born from the flesh and consuming the flesh itself; similarly, gambling is a vice of the flesh. Sometimes, it symbolises eternal punishment, sometimes heretics, other times the vengeance of God.

Fleas, pūlices, are so called, for they are more nourished by dust. When they are being chased, they leap and escape. Therefore, they symbolise the saints who were contemptible in the eyes of the world and fled from city to city when they suffered persecution, according to the command of the Lord. Hence, in the book of Kings, David says to Saul, "Whom do you pursue, king of Israel? Whom do you pursue? You pursue a dead dog and a single flea."

Hornets, crābrones[5], are flying creatures, born from the rotting flesh of horses. The word derives from cabo (stallion) and căballus (horse), for they originate from the decomposition of horses. From these hornets, scarabs, scărăbei, are born; therefore, they are named similarly. The hornet symbolises the stings of fear. Thus, in Deuteronomy[6], the Lord sent hornets among the inhabitants of the Promised Land before the face of the children of Israel, until the inhabitants of the land gradually perished.

Endnotes

[1] It is most probably referring to the Crucifix toad, also known as the holy cross or Catholic frog, from crux = cross. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crucifix_toad

[2] According to Pliny, the călămītes were the green frogs, Lithobates clamitans. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithobates_clamitans

[3] It is not known exactly what the meaning of the words agrēdŭlae[4] 1 Samuel NKJV 24:14: "Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A flea?" In this passage, David is speaking to King Saul, addressing Saul's pursuit of him. David is emphasising the futility of Saul's pursuit by comparing himself to a dead dog and a flea, suggesting that he is of no significant threat or value.

[5] The word for hornet has variants: crābro, scrābro, scarabo.

[6] Deuteronomy NKJV 7:20: "Moreover, the Lord your God will send the hornet among them until those who are left, who hide themselves from you, are destroyed."

KAS

Frog, moth, flea and hornet, Rochester Bestiary, c.1230

Further Reading

Endnotes

Kent Archaeological Society

Frog, moth, flea and hornet, Rochester Bestiary, c.1230

Further Reading

Endnotes

Millipede, leech, silkworm and caterpillar, Rochester Bestiary, c.1230

Gnat and mosquito, Rochester Bestiary, c.1230

Kent Archaeological Society