Tortoise, frog and trout, Rochester Bestiary, c.1230

15 Oct

In the natural world, the tortoise is a creature protected by a shell, like a vault. There are four types: land, sea, swamp, and freshwater tortoises. Legend has it that a ship carrying a tortoise's right foot moves more slowly—though it is hard to believe. Meanwhile, frogs are known for their constant croaking in swamps, where they thrive. Water frogs, marsh frogs and bush-dwelling frogs (rŭbētae) make up the chorus. Interestingly, the greener varieties of frogs are mute. Some frogs, called agrēdulae, live in dry fields and it is said that feeding a dog a live frog will stop it from barking.

Fish are an equally diverse group. Some lay eggs in the water, such as the larger tructa fish, whereas others, like whales, dolphins and seals, give birth to live young. When these creatures sense danger, they act protectively, even going so far as to carry their young in their mouths or bring them back into their bodies to hide them. It is marvellous what fish can do, which human mothers sometimes fail to do. History shows tragic stories of mothers driven by jealousy or hunger, even killing or eating their own children, yet fish keep their offspring safe, using their own bodies as shields.

However, man is guilty of disturbing the natural order, especially in the way he forces different species into unnatural unions—acts he calls industriousness. He demands from animals what he cannot from humans: the crossbreeding of species and worse, turning men into eunuchs, stripping them of their manhood for cruel experiments that nature forbids.

The bond between parent and child is one that fish illustrate well, as they cannot survive if separated from their nurturing mother, just as they cannot live without water. Even their teeth are shaped by their environment: unlike grazing animals, fish have sharp, double-sided teeth to quickly devour food before it washes away.

In the fish world, the smaller ones serve as food for the bigger, which are, in turn, preyed upon by even larger fish—a cycle of life that teaches humans a lesson. Just as fish feed on one other, so too do human vices consume us. Those who harm others eventually set their own downfall in motion. Beware: while you pursue others, you may be led into a trap set by someone stronger. Before they even fear your attack, they are focused on surviving their own battles.

Testudo dictus; quod tegmine teste sit coopertus in
camere modum. Sunt autem quatuor genera testudinum.
Terrestres. maritimi. lutarii id est in ceno et palude vi-
ventes. quartum genus fluctuale. quod in dulci aqua vi-
vit. Tradunt aliqui quod incredibile est; tardius ire navi-
gia; testudinis pedem dextrum vehentia.
Rane a garrulitate dicte. eoquod circa genitales strepunt
paludes. et sonos vocis inportune; clamoribus reddunt.
Ex quibus quedam aquatice dicuntur; quedam palustres

The tortoise is so called, for it is covered with a shell, like a vaulted chamber. There are four kinds of tortoises: land, sea, swamp and freshwater tortoises. Some claim, though it seems unbelievable, that vessels carrying the right foot of a tortoise on board move slower.

Frogs, rānae, are named after their garrulousness, for they croak around the marshes (swamps) that gave birth to them, making loud and constant noise. Some of these are water frogs, some live in marshes and

quedam rubete. eoquod in veperibus vivunt. Commune
omnium. et viridissime. mute et sine voce sunt. Agredu-
le rane parvule sunt. in sicco vel agris morantes. Unde et
nuncupate; Negant quidam canes latrare quibus in offa
rana fuerit viva data. Innumeri itaque usus; innumera
piscium genera. Alii ova generant. ut varii maiores.
quos tructas vocant. et aquis fovenda committunt. Aqua igitur
animat(corrected) et creat. et adhuc mandati illius tanquam legis
perpetue munus exequitur. blanda quidam mater animan-
tium. Alii vivos fetus edunt de suo corpore. ut cete ingen-
tia. Delphines et phoce. aliaque cetera huiusmodi. que cum
ediderint partus; si quid forte insidiarum terrorisque presen-
serint circa catulos suos; numquam molliri quo tueantur
eos vel tenere etatis pavorem materno affectu compri-
mant; aperire ora. et innoxio(changed from innoxia) dente partus suos suspendere.
Interno quoque recipere corpore feruntur. et alvo ab scondere genitali;
Quis non miretur et stupeat. ut servet natura in piscibus.
quod non servat in hominibus; Plerumque in suspitione no-
vercalibus odiis appetiti; suos occiderunt filios. Alie pre-

others are called rŭbētae[2], for they live in bushes. The common ones, especially the greener ones, lack voice; therefore, they are mute. Agrēdulae (field frogs) refers to small frogs living in dry fields or farmland wherefrom they take their name, from ăger (field, farm). Some claim that dogs will not bark if a live frog has been given to them in their food.

There are countless uses for the many kinds of fish. Some lay eggs, such as the larger fish known as tructa[3], which deposit their eggs in water to be nurtured. Water animates and creates life and accomplishes its task, like an eternal law, acting as a gentle mother to living creatures. Other creatures give birth to their offspring from their bodies, such as the enormous whales, dolphins, seals and others of the kind. When these creatures give birth, if they sense danger or terror approaching their young, they act fiercely to protect them. They overcome any fears they have regarding their young’s age with maternal affection, open their mouths and carry their offspring in their harmless teeth. They are even believed to take them back into their own bodies and hide them in their wombs. Who would not be amazed at how nature allows fish to do what humans do not? Many a human mother has killed their children when driven by suspicion or hatred.

fame ut legimus proprios partus comederunt. huma-
nis pignoribus mater sepulcrum facta est. piscium proli
uterus parentis sicut muro quodam intimorum
viscerum pignora inoffensa conservat. Nam utique
maius est quod nature colluvione committitur; quam quod
in persone iniuria. Et o homo ista procuras; interpres adul-
terii iumentalis. Et illud animal pretius putas quod
adulterinum quam quod verum est. Ipse genera aliena confun-
dis. diversaque miscens semina. et ad vetitos coitus ple-
rumque cogis invitos. Et hoc industriam vocas. quia de
hominibus hoc facere non potes ut diversi generis com-
mixtio; fetum possit excludere. Tollis homini quod na-
tus est. et virum de viro exuis. abscisaque corporis parte
sexum necas. spadonem efficis. ut quod natura negavit
in hominibus impleret audacia. Quam bona mater
sit aqua; hinc homo considera. Tu homo docuisti pa-
trum in filios separationes. odia. offensas. Disce que sit
parentis et filiorum necessitudo. Vivere pisces sine
aqua non queunt. nec a sue parentis consortio separari.

Some, as we read, have even eaten their own offspring due to hunger, turning their womb into a grave for their children. The fish, however, protect their offspring in the safety of their bodies and their innards act as walls. What is committed by the disorder of nature is certainly greater than the injury done to an individual person. Oh, man, you are responsible for these wrongs and are the perpetrator of animal adultery. You consider an adulterated animal of more value than a true one. You mix different species, forcing them into unnatural unions, often against their will. You call this industriousness, for you cannot make men do what you force on animals, that is, the crossbreeding of different species that prevents them from generating offspring. You take away from men what they are born with; you strip men of their manhood by cutting off parts of the body, you kill his sex and gender and make him a eunuch to force this bold and unnatural act, which nature has forbidden to men. Henceforth, consider and learn how good a mother water is. You have taught the separation between fathers and sons, creating enmities and offenses. Instead, learn what the true bond is between parents and children. Fish cannot live without water, nor can they be separated from their mother’s companionship or nurturing,

neque a sue altricis discerni munere. et fit hoc natura
quadam. ut separati; moriantur ilico. Quid autem de den-
sitate dentium dicam; Non enim ut oves aut boves. ex una
parte dentes habent. sed utraque pars armata est dentibus eorum
qui in aqua sunt. et si diutius cibum versarent et non
cito transmitterent; aquarum alluvione dentibus eorum
esca(changed from escam) posset auferri. ac dilui. Inde densos et acutos
habent dentes. ut cito incidant. citoque conficiant cibum.
et ut facile et sine aliqua mora transmittant. Denique
non ruminant. Solus tamen escarius ruminare perhi-
betur; de cuius natura superius tractatur. Sunt pis-
ces qui invicem se devorant. et sua carne pascuntur.
Minor apud illos esca maioris est; et rursus ipse maior
a validiore invaditur. et fit esca alternis; preda
alieni. Itaque usu venit ut cum ipse alium devoraverit
ab alio devoretur. et in unum ventrem utrumque conveni-
at. Hec quoque in signum hominibus sunt. ut in hiis;
nostrorum mori videantur vitia. et eorum caveamus
exempla. Ne quis fortior inferiorem invadat. Da-

for if they are separated, they will die immediately. What should I say about the density of their teeth? Unlike sheep or oxen, which have teeth only on one side, fish have teeth on both sides of their jaws. If they were to chew their food for a long time without swallowing quickly, the water might wash away and dilute the food. That is why they have dense, sharp teeth to bite quickly and finish eating without a break. Fish do not ruminate. The only exception is the escarius fish, which has been previously discussed. Some fish devour one other, feeding on their own kind. The smaller fish serve as food for the larger ones and in turn, the larger fish are attacked by even stronger ones and become prey for others. This cycle continues, with each devoured fish meeting its end in the belly of a larger predator. This serves as a lesson to humans: just as fish prey on one another, so should our own vices be consumed and extinguished and we should avoid following their example, lest the stronger invade and oppress the weaker.

turus in se potentiori(e erased) exemplum iniurie. Itaque
qui alium ledit; sibi laqueum parat in quem ipse incidat.
Et tu piscis es qui viscera invadis aliena qui demer-
gis infirmum. qui persequeris credentem usque in profun-
dum(corrected from dundum). Cave ne dum alium persequeris incidas;
ipse in validiorem. et deducat(changed from deducas) te in alienas insidias;
qui tuas vitat. priusquam tuam expectet erumpnam;
qui te persequente propriam reformidabat.

Those who harm others prepare a trap for themselves wherein they will eventually fall. You, too, are like fish, invading the profundity of others, dragging down the weak and persecuting the faithful to the end. Whilst pursuing someone else, be careful lest you fall into the hands of someone stronger: they may lead you into a trap that is not your own as they avoid yours. Before they worry about your attack, they are more concerned with their own situation, even though you are pursuing them.

Endnotes

[1] The word gĕnĭtālis refers both to the genitals (and means reproductive or regarding insemination) and to birth (and means to be the birthplace of something or someone). In this case, it refers to the marshes that give birth to the frogs.

[2] Rŭbētae is used to describe tree frogs or toads that live in damp places or are active during the evening and live in bushes.

[3] A kind of trout.

Jacob Scott

Tortoise, frog and trout, Rochester Bestiary, c.1230

Further Reading

Endnotes

Kent Archaeological Society

Tortoise, frog and trout, Rochester Bestiary, c.1230

Further Reading

Endnotes

Octopus, cuttlefish, snail, murex, crab, oyster and mussel, Rochester Bestiary, c.1230

Urchin, Rochester Bestiary, c.1230

Kent Archaeological Society