it is by authority of all authors writing in that kinde,
mortal and deadlie; as one thus saith,

'Noxia serpentum est admixto sanguine pestis.--LUCAN.'

The serpent, or dragon as some call it, is reputed to be nine feete
or rather more, in length, and shaped almost in the forme of an
axle-tree of a cart, a quantitie of thickness in the middest, and
somewhat smaller at both ends. The former part which he shootes
forth as a necke, is supposed to be about an ell long, with a white
ring as it were of scales about it. The scales along his backe,
seeme to be blackish, and so much as is discovered under his bellie,
appeareth to be red: for I speak but of no nearer description than a
reasonable ocular distance; for coming too neare, it hath already
been too dearely paid for, as you shall heare hereafter. It is
likewise discovered to have large feete, but the eye may be deceved,
for some suppose that serpents have no feete, but glide along upon
certain ribbes and scales, which both defend them from the upper part
of the throat unto the lower part of their bellie, and also cause
them to move much the faster. For so this doth, and rids away as we
call it, as fast as a man can run. He is of countenance very proud,
and at the sight or heareing of men and cattle, will raise his necke
upright, and seem to listen and looke about with great arrogancie.
There are likewise on either side of him discovered two great
bunches, so big as a large footeball, and as some think will grow to
wings, but God I hope will so defend the poor people in the
neigbourhood, that he shall be destroyed, before he growe so
fledge.--He will cast his venome about 4 roddes from him, as by
woeful experience it was proved on the bodies of a man and woman
coming that way, who afterwards were found dead, being poysoned and
very much swelled, but not preyed upon. Likewise a man going to
chase it and as he imagined to destroy it with two mastiff dogs as
yet not knowing the great danger thereof, his dogs were both killed,
and he himself glad to returne with haste to preserve his own life:
yet this is to be noted that the dogs were not preyed upon, but
slaine and left whole, for his food is thought to be for the most
part in a conie warren, which he often frequents, and it is found to
be much scanted and impaired, in the encre