Chicken, Rochester Bestiary, c.1230

Originally from the Indian subcontinent, Chickens have been hybridized with other wild species of junglefowl and today over 20 billion are farmed annually.

Evolving in the jungles of Asia, several wild species of junglefowl have been hybridized to produce the domesticated chicken and today chickens are the most common and widespread domesticated animal with a total population estimated at 23.7 billion in 2018. Chickens were known in ancient Greece from the 5th century BC, and would have been widespread as a domesticated animal throughout medieval Europe.

The medieval bestiary records that the cock gets its name because it is often castrated. The cocks crow is useful as it wakes people up in the morning and can encourage people who are downhearted, comforts the traveler, and could scare a robber (Barber 2008).

Transcription

Translation

Gallus a castratione vocatur. Huic enim soli inter
ceteras aves testiculi adimuntur. Veteres enim ab-
scisos; gallos vocabant. Cuius membra ut ferunt si au-
ro liquenti misceantur; consumi dicunt. A gallo;
dicitur gallina. Gallus non una sola fallina contem-
tus est; sed multas habet coniuges quibus omnibus bene
dnatur. Et homo unam uxorem vix regere potest;
Galli cantus suavis in noctibus et utilis. et multis est.
desiderabilis. Qui quasi bonus cohabitator. et dormi-
entem excitat. et sollicitum admonet et consolatur
viantem; dum processum noctis voce canora protesta-
tur. Hoc canente latro suas relinquit suas insidias;
timens diem. Hoc; ipse lucifer excitatur quodammodo ut
oriatur. celumque illuminet. hoc canente; mesticiam
nauta trepidus deponit. et tempestas nocturna de-
ponitur et mitescit; contra diem. hoc canente. ipsa ecclesie
petra. culpam suam diluit; quoniam priusquam gallus ter can-
taret; ter negando contraxit. Respexit enim dominus
petrum et error recessit. Pulla est negacio; secuta est
confessio. Istius cantu; spes omnibus redit. Egris relevatur

The Gaul is called by castration. For he alone among other birds is deprived of his testicles. For the old ones were cut off; they called the roosters. The members of which are said to be mixed with liquid gold; they say consumed From a rooster, it is called a hen. The Frenchman was not dismayed by a single mistake; but he has many spouses, to all of whom he is well-acquainted. And a man can hardly control one wife; A sweet song of the Gauls at night, and useful, and to many,

desirable Who, like a good companion, wakes the sleeper, and warns and comforts the troubled traveler, while he protests the night's progress with a singing voice. With this song the bandit leaves his trap, fearing the day. This, Lucifer himself is somehow roused to rise and light up the sky by singing this; The troubled sailor lays down the mestice, and the nocturnal storm is laid down and calmed down; against the day, by singing this, the very rock of the church dissolves its guilt; because before the cock crowed three times; he contracted by denying it three times. For the master looked at Peter and the error disappeared. A chicken is a negation; A confession followed. His song; hope returns to all. Egris is relieved

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incommodum. Revertitur fides lapsis. Iesus titu-
bantes respicit. errantes; corrigit. Mucro latronis
conditur. Gallus se prius alis verberat. et sic; vocen-
dat. Profundiori nocte; altius et diutius et inso-
lenti clamat. Appropinquante autem die; omnia
temperantius agit. In die autem; silet. nisi quia
horas observat. Nomine galli predicator sig-
nificatur cui omnia predicta de natura galli; con-
veniunt. Unde iob. Quis posuit in visceribus sapienci-
am. vel quis dedit gallo intelligentiam; Predicato-
res enim in tenebris huius vite futuram lucem nuntiant
dicentes. Nox precessit dies autem appropinquavit et cetera.
Item. evigilate iusti et nolite peccare. Gallus prius noc-
turnas horas tacendo considerat et tunc clamat.
Quia prius predicator cuiuslibet naturam et vitam et
potentiam considerat. et cui que congruere conspex-
erit; predicat. Non enim una omnibus predicatio facien-
da est. sed unicuique iuxta opera sua. Quia levis subilus
equos mitigat. catulos instigat. Et herba que huic
animali vires prebet; alii mortem iiifert. Item gal-
lus profundioribus horis noctis; valentiores et
productiores cantus edit. Cum vero mane appropin-

of inconvenience. Fallen faith returns. Jesus looks at those who are wavering, wandering; corrects It is founded on the snot of a thief. The Gaul first beats himself with his wings, and so; to call out Deeper in the night; he cries louder and longer and insolently. And as the day approached; He does everything in moderation. But in the day; he is silent, except because he observes the hours. By the name of the rooster, the preacher is signified to whom everything was said about the nature of the rooster; they agree Hence the job. Who put wisdom in the entrails, or who gave intelligence to the rooster? For the preachers in the darkness of this life announce the future light, saying The night passed and the day drew near, and so on. Also, wake up the righteous and do not sin. The Frenchman first contemplates the night hours in silence and then cries out. Because the preacher first considers the nature and life and power of each person. and to whom he saw fit; preaches For one preaching is not to be done for all. but to each according to his works. Because a slight suddenness softens the horse. he urges the cubs. And the herb which gives strength to this animal; others bring death. Likewise, the rooster in the deeper hours of the night; produces stronger and more productive songs. As the morning approaches;

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quat; leviores et minutiores et succisiores voces;
format. Quia dum iniquis qui in profundis pec-
catorum tenebris dormiunt predicant; altis et mag-
nis vocibus terrores futuri iudicii et gehenne; cla-
mant. Sed cum lux gracie illis apparet; voces ter-
roris mitigant. et blanda et suavia vite eterne;
annuntiant. et quantum lux fidei et gratie et vir-
tutum in eis plus crescit; tantum minutiora et sub-
tiliora de misteriis divinis predicant. Item gallus
antequam cantet; prius alas excutit. et semetipsum feri-
ens; vigilantiorem reddit. Ita predicatores antequam pre(dot underneath)-
dicatores an(all have dots underneath) predicent aliis; se in bonis acconiiibus
exercent. et pectora penitendo percutiunt. et se ver-
beribus castigant. et cum se prius a sompno torpo-
ris evigilant; demum ad alios evigilando clamant.
Unde apostolus. Castigo corpus meum et inservitu-
tem redigo. ne aliis predicans; ipse reprobus effi-
ciar. Hanc intelligentiam gallo solus deus dedit.
qui omnia pro ut vulte; iuste disponit. De hoc quoque
gallo sive spiritu sancto; in evangelio dicit dominus
petro. In hac nocte antequam gallus cantet; ter

lighter and smaller and more succinct voices; forms Because while the unrighteous who sleep in the deep darkness of sins preach; with loud and loud voices the terrors of the future judgment and hell; they cry But when the light appears to them by grace; they soften the voices of terror, and sweet and sweet life eternal; they announce, and how much the light of faith and grace and virtue grows in them; they only preach more minute and subtle things about the divine mysteries. Also before the rooster crows; first he shakes his wings, and striking himself; makes him more vigilant. Thus preachers before preachers preach to others; they exercise themselves in good armor, and beat their breasts in penitence, and chastise themselves with lashes, and when they first awake from a sleep of torpor; at last they cry out to the others, waking them up. Hence the Apostle. I chastise my body and reduce my servitude, not preaching to others; I myself will be made a reprobate. God alone gave this intelligence to the rooster, who does everything as he pleases; just arranges Of this also the cock, or the holy spirit; in the gospel the Lord says to Peter In this night before the rooster crows; you will deny me three times,

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me negabis. et infra. Postquam petrus ter negasset
dominum. primo videlicet ad vocem unius ancille. secundo ad
vocem alterius alcille(changed to ancille). tercio ad vocem virorum astan-
tium sicut habetur in matheo; statim subiungitur.
Et continuo; gallus cantavit. Et recordatus petrus
verbi iesu; quod duxerat priusquam gallus cantet. ter me
negabis; egressus est foras et flevit amare. Lucas addit
post trinam negationem. Et conversus dominus; res-
pexit petrum. Et recordatus est. petrus verbi domini
et cetera. Attende diligenter. Ecce enim media nocte ne-
gat petrus. gallicantu luce appropinquante; peni-
tet. Post resurrectionem sub luce ter confitetur se
amare; quem tem negaverat. Quia quod in mediis
tenebris oblivionis erravit; sperate iam lucis reiiie-
moratione deflevit. Et eiusdem vere lucis presentia.
plene quicquid mutaverat; correxit et erexit;
Prima ancilla. titubatio est; secunda; consensio. tertius
vir; actus. Sic et nos ter deum negamus; cum in ma-
lo delectamus. et cum consentimus; et cum mala agimus.
Item ter negamus; per malam cogitationem. et malum
sermonem. et malam operationem. Nec resurgere aut

and below. After Peter had denied his master three times, first at the voice of one of the maidservants. secondly to the voice of another maidservant, thirdly to the voice of the men standing by, as is stated in Matthew; immediately joined. And immediately; the rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the words of Jesus; what he had brought before the rooster crowed, you will deny me three times; He went outside and wept for love. Luke adds after the triple denial. And the master turned; He looked at Peter. And he remembered, Peter, the word of the Lord, and the rest. Pay attention carefully. For behold, at midnight Peter denies. the gallic light approaching; he repents After the resurrection, under the light, he confesses three times that he loves; which he had denied. Because he wandered in the midst of the darkness of oblivion; I hope that the light has already faded from memory. And the presence of the same true light, fully changed everything; corrected and raised. The first maidservant is the hesitation; the second; consent, third man, act. Thus we deny God thrice; when we delight in evil, and when we consent; and when we do evil. Again we deny three times; by evil thought, and evil

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deflere possimus que male commisimus; nisi gallus nobis
centet. Idest nisi predicator docuerit nos viam ve-
ritatis. vel spiritus sanctus corda nostra sua inspiratio-
ne visitare dignetur. Et nisi peccatorem respexerit do-
minus oculo misericordie. et nisi fugiamus consortia
malorum. Unde petrus exeunt foras et flevit amare;
Tunc autem nobis gallus cantat; cum predicator vel spi-
ritus sanctus corda nostra ad compunctionem revocat.
Tunc incipimus flere; cum ignimur intus per scintillam
sciencie. Tunc foras eximus; cum extra consuetum
modum vivimus;

speech, and evil action. Nor can we rise again or faint from what we have done wrong; unless the rooster crows against us. That is, unless the preacher teaches us the way of truth, or the Holy Spirit deigns to visit our hearts with his inspiration. And unless the Lord looks upon the sinner with the eye of mercy, and unless we flee from the associations of evil. Whence the stones came out and wept to love. Then the rooster sings for us; when the preacher or the holy spirit e calls our hearts to repentance. Then we begin to cry; when we are ignited within by the spark of knowledge. Then we went outside; when we live outside the usual way.

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Galline nomine; dicitur sapientia dei. que carnem
assumpsit. Unde dominus dicit in evangelio. Ierusalem
ierusalem que occidis prophetas et lapidas eos qui ad
te missi sunt. quociens volui congregare filios tuos
quemadmodum gallina congregat pullos suos sub
ala. et nolvisti. Hoc animal maximum affectum
habet in filios. ita ut eorum infirmitate infecta; ipsa
infirmetur. Et quod in nullis aliis repperitur. eos
alis protegens contra mulvum pugnet. Sic dei sapientia
per carnem infirmata; protegit nos et defendit a
diabolo. Gallina clamando rauca est. Sic et dicit christus.
Laboravi clamans rauce facte sunt fauces mee. et
laboravi sustinens. Gallina pro amore pullorum
hyspidatur et turpis sit. sic et christus ab iectus ab omni-
bus reputabatur. et leprosus dicebatur. Gallina;
precedit pullos. Et christus dicit. Qii vult meus esse. dis-
cipulus; tollat crucem suam et sequatur me. Gal-
lina unguibus pedum terram scarpendo strami-
na deicit; ut grana inveniat pullis. Sic christus per iiica-
nationis sue predicatores terram cordis nostris ape-

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rit. et superflua deicit. ut paleis vitiorum nostrorum
abiectis; granis virtutum nostrarum et bonorum
operum alios filios suos pascat. Gallina granum
ex ore proprio retrahit. et pullis proicit. Sic et christus
dicit. Aperi os tuum et implebo illud. Ale huius gal-
line sub quibus proteguntur pulli eius; sunt duo testamen-
ta. Vel misericordia et veritas. vel timor et amor. quibus
deus incipientes protegit. Dens voluit congregare fili-
os sinagoge sub alis suis; sed ipsa noluit. quia vo-
luntas dei filios eius congregavit et martires fecit;
et dominos mundi; etiam ipsa nolente; Gallina igitur
infirmitata est christus. et mater nostra est sapientia di-
vina. Nulla enim alia avis mater agnoscitur; nisi
in nido fuerit cum pullis. Gallina autem sic infirmatur
cum pullis suis. et ita fit alis demissis. et plumis his-
pida et voce rauca; et omnibus membris demissa et
abiecta; ut se si filios eius non videas nec nidum;
matrem tamen intelligas. Ecce habes infirmum ihesum. Unde
fatigatus ex itinere. sedit sexta hora ad puteum

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samarie. Sed et est. fortis iesus. Quia per ipsum facta sunt
omnia. et sine ipso factum est. nichil. Et dominus virtu-
tum ipse est rex glorie. Fortitudo christi re creavit. in-
firmitas christi; te recreavit. Condidit nos fortitudine
et quesivit infirmitate. Infirmus infirmos nutrit.
omnibus omnia factus; tanquam gallina pullos suos. In-
firmitas illius nos fortes facit. Quia quod infirmum
est dei; fortius est. hominibus. Gallina igitur christi est; pul-
los fidelium nutriens. Ipse est et aquila; pullos suos
protegens. Unde in deuteronomio. Sicut aquila
provocans ad volandum pullos suos et super eos vo-
litans.