DECLAMATIO IN LAUDEM nobilissimae artis medicinae.  
A Declamation in the praise and commendation of the most high and excellent science of physic/ made by the right famous clerk doctor Erasmus of Rotherdam/ and newly translated out of Latyn into english.  
CUM PRIVILEGIO REGALI.   

The praise of physic.  
THe ofter the science of physic with curious and laboured orations hath been here in this place before the more ꝑt of you commended, 
Attention  & that of men of singular eloquence (most noble audience) so much surely the less trust and confidence have I, that I shall either satisfy so great a thing, or answer to the expectation of your delicious ears. For neither a thing in manner divine, our rude infancy shall easily attain, nor a vulgar and comen oration of a thing so oftentimes herd may in any wise escape painful tediousness to the hearers. But yet, lest I should seem to be defectyfe, & disobedient to the right wholesome ordinance of our fathers, which have judged it meet and expedient with solemn orations the hearts and courages of youth to be awakened, kindled, and inflamed to the study, admiration and love of this noble science/ myself also purpose to assay, to my power (if so be your attentifnes and gentleness will vouchsafe to help me in my speaking, tenderly favouring whom your authority hath driven to take this office upon me) of the right excellent science of physic the dignity, the authority, 
The proposition,  profit and necessity, I will not say to open and expound, which were utterly an infinite business, but in a brief sum only to knit up, and as it were to show to the sites of the studious youth a glimmering (as a man might say) through a lattes●e window of the most copious and plenteful treasures of a rich queen. 
Per transennam.  Of whom truly this (if there were nothing else) is a sovereign and excellent praise, first that she needeth not at all that any man should her commend or set forth, being set forth sufficiently of her own self with the utility, 
The exceeding praise of this science.  and profit, which mankind taketh by her, and also by the necessity and need that we have of her. secondarily that where as she hath been already so oft-times of excellent witted commended, yet she findeth of herself always to wits also that be not very pregnawt new matter to praise her, so that it needeth nothing to praise here (after the comen usage) with envious and hateful comparisons not without the prejudice and slander of other learnings and crafts. Nay rather this thing is more to be feared, lest her own proper and domestical gifts and qualities, lest her natural and german amplitude, left her majesty greater than is man's estate and capacity, no mortal man's speech of tongue can compass or attain. So that she needeth nothing at all to be advanced and lifted up, other with any despiteful rebukes of other crafts, other with some borrowed and painted colours of the rhetoricians, or with the juggling casts of amplifications. It appertaineth to mean beauties, 
A sentenc●  by comparison of the fowler, or by gorgeous decking and painting, to be set forth and commended. But things truly and of themselves exceedingly and passing beautiful, it is enough to have showed them ye naked to the eye.  
☞ For now first of all (to haste us to 
The dignity and the authority of physic.  our matter) the other sciences I can not deny because there is none of them but hath brought some great commodity and profit to the life of man, have been in high prise and reputation. But of physic in times passed so wondered to mankind hath been the invention, 
The invention of physic.  so sweet the experience that the authors and first inventors thereof, have other been taken plainly for gods (as Apollo, 
Apollo.  and his son Aesculapius) ye rather, 
Aesculapius.  as Pliny witnesseth, every thing invented in this faculty and science was a cause sufficient to deify and make gods those that were the inventors, or at lest, they were esteemed worthy of heavenly and divine honours, as Asclepiades, 
Asclepiades.  whom the I●●iricans receiving in manner as a god, gave him equal honour with Hercules. Surely I do not allow that the antiquity did in this thing, 
The zeal of the old fat●er toward physicians  but yet I can not but praise and commend their affection, zeal and judgement, which rightly both thought and declared that to a konning and faithful physician no sufficient nor worthy reward can be yielded. For, if a man rec●unteth with himself, how manifold diversity there is in the bodies of man, how great variety of ages, 
The difficult of physic.  of male and female, of regions, of airs, of education, of studies, of customs, how infinite difference in so many thousands of herbes● (though I speak nothing at this time of the other remedies) which grow in sundry countries, some in one place and some in an other, Than how many kinds of diseases, which Pliny writeth were reckoned up in old time iii. hundreth by their names, beside the membres and parts of every kind, of which all, how innumerable a multitude there is, he shall easily guess which only knoweth how many forms and fashions the fevers or ague hath (so that of one the residue may be esteemed) beside those which daily increase new and new, nor none otherwise increase, than if of purpose they seemed to have taken upon them open wars with our craft. Beside, more than a thousand perils of poisonings of which how many sorts there be even so many kinds of deaths therebe, requiring as many differentes of remedies, Beside the daily casualties of falls, 
Casualties.  of ruins, of bra●tynges, of burnings, of wrestings out of joint, of wounds and such like which in manner do compare in numbered with the very wrought of diseases, finally he that pondereth with him self, 
The knowledge of Astronomy is requisite to a physician  how great difficulty is in the observing the heavenly Planets which, whiles the physician knoweth, aftentymes that shallbe a poynson which is given for remedy. I will not here rehearse the oft deceivable tokens of diseases, other whether ye behold the haviour of the colour, or enserche the signs of the urine or observe the harmony of the pulse, eue● as who should say the evils of mankind were all together bend and set to deceive and mock their enemy the physician. So great a quantity of difficulties and hardenesses on every side come about and oversprede themselves that it is hard for me them all with my words to compass. But, as I began to say, all these varieties of things with study to attain, these obscur●ties with wit to comprehende● these difficulties with labour to overcome, and piercing through the bowels of the earth, bulting out every where the privities of all the hole nature, out of all herbs, shrubs, trees, beastes● precious stones ye finally out of even the very venyms & poisons, to all the evils of man's life, lively & effectual remedies to s●ke, & of these the right & due vs● out of so many authors, so many scienties ye even out of the very stars & planets to fetch, These I say so hid, with care to rote out, so hard, with the powers of the mind to win, so many, with memory to compass, so necessary to the preservation of all mankind to bring forth abroad, do it not seem utterly beyond man's compass, & plainly a certain divine thing? 
Physic is a certain divine thing.  Let no man have envy at my sayings. Suffer me boldly to speak that which is true as the evangel, I do not boast myself, but I extol & magnify the very science. 
The effect of physic.  For if to give life is the proper & peculiar benefit of god, surely to keep & preserve it when it is once given, and to retain it still when it is even now fleeing away, we must of necessity confess to be a gift and benefit next unto gods, how be it not so much as that former benefit which we will have appropriate only to god, the plucked not away from the phisiciens craft, which antiquity although they were light of credence giving, yet undoubtedly they were full of gratitude and kindness. For by the help of that worthy physician Esculapius, 
It was thought in old time that the craft of physicians raised the deed again to life.  it was thought in old time that Tyndarides and after him many more returned forth out of hell into life and light again. Xanthus' an historiographer leaveth to us in whitting that a young Lion which was slain, and also a man whom a dragon had killed were restored again to life by the virtue of a certain herb which they called Ha●in. More over one juba witnesseth that in A●rike a certain person was called again to life by an herb. 
juba.  Nor I do not greatly pass although some persons peradventure will give little credence to these. Surely (the thing that we go about) these wonderful effects of physic do so much the rather augment and increase the admiration of the science, the more that they appear to be beyond the credence of the truth and they constrain men to grant that thing to be of an incomparable excellency, which in manner seem to surmont the truth. How be it concerning him which is restored to life, what recketh it, whether the soul be put again by god's handwork into the forsaken limbs, or by the craft a●d cure of the physician, the life or soul of man utterly buried as it were in the body and oppressed with the powers of the disease which like a conqueror hath gotten the upper hand, be raised and subtilely fetched out & hold still, which else should without fail forth with have departed away? be not these two things in manner of like virtue and equal power, to restore the deed, and to save him which by and by should have died about Pliny rehearseth very many and that by name in the seventh book of the history of the world, 
Pliny.  which after ●hey were deed and borne out on the bear revived again partly in the very pit where as they should be buried or (according to the usage of the country in the pile of wooed wherein they should have been burned, which pile was called of them Rogus) & partly they revived many days after they were deed and before any burial. This we take for a miracle and a wonderful thing/ which a chance and a casualty hath given to a few. And is not it than much more to be wondered of/ which daily our science giveth to many? how be it I can not deny but the goodness of god is to be thanked for this our science, to god we own it/ to whom, there is nothing but that we owe● lest perchance a man would think these to be spoken more presumptuously and arrogantly than truly. Of many diseases such is the violence and strength, that death is certain whiles the present help of the physician be at hand, as that kind of trance which is wont to chaunc● most to women, and as a deep and profound syncopis, the palsay, with such● like. Nor there is commonly none but that ones in his time other seeth or heareth of such examples of what nation so ever he be. He than which in this case driveth away death which even now hangeth over the pacientes heed and ready to strike with his dart, he (I say) that thus calleth again life suddenly oppressed/ is not he always to be had and reputed in a manner as a certain merciful god? yes undoubtedly. How many men, think ye, were buried before their day in old time before or the witty invention of physicians had found out the strengths of diseases & the natures of remedies? how many thousands of men at this day do live and farewell which should never have been borne whiles the same our craft had invented aswell remedies for so many dangers of chyldbaring, as the feat & policy of mydwyving? So even forth with in the very entry into life aswell the woman that lieth in and laboureth● as the child that is in bearing with lamentable voice cry for the wholesome aid of physicians. To the physicians craft he oweth his life, ye which as yet hath not received life, while through it abortions be prohibeted, while power is given to the woman of receiving & retaining man's seed, finally while the power also of delevering and bringing forth the child into this world is given. That if it be truly spoken of them in old tyme. Deus est iuvare mortalem, that is to say. 
A Latyn proverb.  To help mortal men, is to be a god or the proꝑte & work of a god, truly in my mind that noble proverb of the Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is, 
A Greak proverb.  that man is a god to man, other hath no where his place, or upon a faithful and good physician it shallbe principally verified and have place, which not only helpeth, but also saveth And is not he than an exceeding unkind person and in manner unworthy to live which physic the second (next god) parent of life, the defendresse, the saveresse, the protectress can not find in his heart to love, to honour, to magnify, to worship? Of whose aid and succour there is no person but needeth continually, for o● the rest of crafts neither we all, nor yet always have nede● but in the profit and utility of this, all the hole life of man standeth, for imagine diseases were gone, imagine prosperous health to be with every one, yet how shall we keep it, whiles the physician taught us the diversity of wholesome and unwholesome meats, whiles he taught a way and a form to diet ourselves? Age is a grievous and painful burden to mortal creatures, which to escape is no more lawful for us than death itself. 
Physicians' craft keepeth back age.  But yet this age through the help and pain of the physician chanceth to many men, both later than it should else have done● and also much more easilier and lighter. For it is no fable, that by the quinte essentie (as they call it) agedness driven away, man doth flourish and wax a young man again by casting a way (as it were) his old skin, sith there be both in writings and other wises, many records of the same. Nor again not only of the body which is the viler part of man this our craft taketh cure, nay rather it taketh the cure of the hole man● although that the divine and professor of Theology shall take his beginning of the mind, and the physician of the body. For truly, 
The physician cureth the hole man.  because of the most straight alliance and knot of familiarity of them twain together, like as the vices of the mind do redounded into the body, so again on the other half the diseases of the body other do let, or else do utterly quench the strength and power of the soul. who is so stiff and strong an entyser and mover of abstinence● of sobrenes● of mesuring ire, of fleeing heaviness, of eschuing surfetes, of casting away love, of refraining the lust of body, as is the physician? who more lyveshely and effectually counseleth the syckman that if he will live and feel the wholesome help and aid of the physician that first he repurgeth his mind from the filthiness of vices? The same physician so oft as he by giving and prescribing a form and manner o● diet, or by ministering of medicines do minish the collar or black jaundice, refresh the feeble powers of the heart, underset the spirits of the brayne● purge the instruments of the mind, mend the wit, repair the habitation of the memory, and change the hole ha●●our of the mind into better, do he not by the outward man (as they call it) save also the inward? He that restoreth the frantic, the mad man● the lethargike, the siderate, the lymphat do he not restore the hole man? The divines effect and work is, that men convert themselves from vices, but the physician bringeth to effect that there may be one that may convert himself and forsake his evil living. In vain were he a physician for the soul, if the soul already be fled, for whom the salve was prepared● when the palsay, the apoplexia, or any other sudden scourge do take a wicked man which disease will sooner take life away than suffer him to think of the amendment of his life he that restoreth this person which else should have been miserably buried in his sinfulness, doth he not in manner call back again from hell both body and soul? Surely he setteth again the man in that plight & state, that now it may be in his election whether he will flee or not eternal damnation, what shall the divine persuade the person that raveth, or is in such taking that his wits & senses be clean taken from him, if he can not hear him that goeth about to persuade and counsel him? what shall the preacher or the curate move the frantic, if the physician do not first of all repurge the colour? Charity and the other virtues wherein the felicity of a christian man's life doth stand & hinge chiefly and principally of the mind I deny not, but hycause this mind being so knit and copeled with the body must of necessity (will he or will he not) use the instruments corporal, it cometh to pass that a good part of a good mind doth depend upon the navour & temperature of the body. An unhappy temperature of the body which we call commonly a complexion (the Greakes call it crasis or sistema) draweth many men to sinfulness yea in manner against their wills & stroggeling & wra●tyng against it, 
The physician doth amend an evil complexion.  while the mind which ●ytteth on the horse back guideth the bridal in vain, dig the spurs in vain but maugre his will is constrained to follow heedlong the wild and furious horse. I grant it is the power of the mind which seeth, it is the power of the mind which heareth, but yet if any infirmity take the eyes, if th● poors and issues of the ears be stopped & besieged with any gross humour, in vain & all for nought hath the mind his power. The mind hateth, the mind is angry I agree well/ but yet the vicious & corrupt humour besieging the organs or instruments of the mind is the very cause why thou hatest him whom thou judgest worthy to be beloved and art angry with him with whom thou wouldest not. Plato confesseth the sum & chief of philosophy to consist and lie here in, 
Plato.  if the affections obey the reason, but to bring this matter about the physician is the chief helper whose work and labour it is that that part of man should have his strength and savour by whose arbitrement and guiding all things be done, whice be done well and laudable If they be judged unworthy to bear the name of man which after the fashion of brute beasts be drawn and carried with lusts and sensualities, surely than we own to the physicians a great part of the worthiness of this name● which being an high and great thing in private and common persons, how moche more greater and nobler benefit is it being wrought in a prince. 
A physician most necessary to princes  None estate is more encumbered with such evils than the estate of most fortunate and blessed kings. what array what business and mischief shall the corrupt brain of one person styer? In vain may they that be of his counsel cry out against him, thou art mad sir ●ynge, come to thyself again, if so be that the physician with his c●afte restore not his mind and wits again unto him, neither it willing nor feeling. I● the Emperor Caligula had had a trusty and faithful physician, 
Caligula  he should not so with poisonings & prive murders have raged to the great destruction of mankind. And for this very cause it is commonly used through out all the vations of the world that the prince keep nor abide in no place without his phesicians wherefore the wise princes in times past have given to no science more honour or reverence than unto physic. 
The honour had in times pa●t unto physic.  For Erasistratus (to pass over with silence the residue) nephew by the daughters side to Aristotle for the heling o● king Ant●ochus was rewarded with an hundredth talents of Ptolomeo his son. More over also the holy escripture of god commandeth due honour to be had to the physician not only for the profit and utility which thereby ariseth but also for the necessity so that the ingratitude and unkindness which is toward other well doers and weld servers, 
Honora medicum  is against the physician an impiety or ungodliness, sith that the physician as it were the helper of divine benefit save up and defend that with his art and science which god hath given to man most dear and best, that is to say life. we have nothing but we may thank our father and mother for it● because by them we seem in manner to have received the benefit of life. But we own more in my mind to the physician to whom we own oft-times the thing which we own only but ones to our parents, if yet we own any thing at all unto them. we own charity and a certain natural zeal to them which drive away the enemy from our neck, and do we not owe moche more to the physician which for our health and preservation fighteth daily with so many mortal & capital enemies of our life? we adore & worship kings even like gods, because it is thought that they have power of life and death, which yet although they may kill yet surely they can none otherwise give life but in as much as they bereave and take it not away, ●uen as we say that thieves do save those men's lives whom they murder not, nor these princes can give none other life, but the life of the body. But how moche nearer doth the benefit of the physician approach to the benignity and goodness of god, which draweth even out of the mouths of death with his craft, wit, cure, and faithfulness the man which was even now destinat & appointed to the fire of hell. In other things to profit man, we call it an humanity or a gentylnes● but to save a man even in the very daungeer of body and soul is more than a piety or godliness. Put here unto, that what so ever is great and excellent in man, as learning, virtue the gifts of nature or what other thing so ever it be, of altogether we thank the arte of physic, in so much as it saveth and maintain that thing without which we could not keep up the residue. If all things be for man, 
Argumē●ations.  and the physician preserveth man undoubtedly we may thank the physician for all. If he liveth not, which liveth accumbered with diseases, and the physician is he which restoreth & preserveth the prosperous health is it not convenient to recognize him as the parent of life? If immorta●●te be a thing greatly to be desired & wished for, the industry of the physicians doth (as much as may be) counterfeit it, which with their diligence attempt to prolong i● so far as is possible, for what shall I here recount unto yo● t●e comen●y known examples, Pythagoras/ Ch●●●pp●s/ Plato/ Cato sensorius/ Antonius/ ●astor● & beside these innumerable other of whom the most part by the observation and marking of physic did prolong their life beyond an hundred years without sickness, neither the freshness of wit endulled nor abated, nor the sureness and styfnes of memory not shaken, nor yet the senses bruised or enfeabled. I pray you is not this to show as it were even now here in this present life a certain spyse, representation, or image of immortality? Also christ self him the only author redeemer and conqueror of immortality took a body upon him which though it was mortal, 
Christ was never sick  yet it was cumbered with no disease he abhorred not the cross but he abhorred diseases. And were it not a fair & a godly thing for us, also in this part to follow to our power our prince & lord? The apostles lived in manner all a long life, 
The apostles.  we read them beaten, we read them slain, but we read not they were sick. By what means so ever this thing chanced unto them, surely the physicians craft perform the same to us, which their felicity performed unto them For I count not them worthy to be herd which no less unlearnedly than unshamefastly are wont to cast this in our teeths, 
A confutation.  Virtus in infirmitate perficitur. That is to say, virtue is perfected in infirmity, dreaming that Paul was cumbered with grievous heedage, where as he calleth the infirmity, either the temptation of the mind, or which is nigher to the truth the bacbyting & persecution of wicked persons. But the same self Paul, among the apostolical gifts rehearseth also the gift of curing or healing. 
Donun curationis.  More over this also augmenteth the glory of physic not a little, that aswell the majesty of the emperors laws, as the authority of pope's laws do freely submit themselves to the judgement of physicians as in cases of nonage which they call puberty, in cases of chyldbyrthes, and poisonings, also in certain questions touching matrimony. O a new and strange dignity of physic. They go upon life and death of a man, and the sentence of the judge hengeth upon the forejudgement of the physician. The charity of the pope when he pardoneth any thyng● he pardoneth or license the none otherwise whiles the phesician alloweth and counseleth the same. Also the pope in his decrees, that bishop which is complained upon to have any foul or horrible disease by the judgement of physic judgeth him other to be put out of his byshopryche or else to be restored again to his place. Also saint Augustin commendeth all things to be done by the advise of the physicians although the patient would not. 
Augustin  Also the honour which is due to the physician that is the reward of his craft and labour the same saint Augustin writeth very well that it is wrongfully taken away of him that with old it, as of an injust possessor and occupeing with an evil conscience that which is an others and not his, ye more over these persons which with certain orisons and prayers made to the same purpose drive out of men's bodies wicked spirits and devils, oftentimes take physicians with them to have advise, as in those diseases which by privy and secret means do mar and corrupt certain organs & instruments of the ●enses and spirit and do so counterfeit a demoniacal spice, that they can not be discerned but of very cunning physicians, other whether they be certain grosser devils (as it is said their natures to be divines and sundry) which can fel● the cure of the physician, or whether th● sickness remaineth so deeply in the most inward parties of the mind that it seemeth to be clean strange and of an other nature● than the body is. 
An example.  In prove and witness of which thing, while that I report unto you of innumerable examples one which I saw & heard myself I pray you to hear me patiently. Panacens a physician of an excellent and renowned fame flourished when I was a young man and was of my singular acquaintance. He (I present & being witness) restored to health a certain person called Phlyari●s a spoletan borne which by reason of vermin was fallen into a new kind of madness in so much that in his sickness he did speak very well Dut●he which thing before when he was hole (it was manifestly known) that he could never do. who not cunning nor seen in physic would not styflye have sworn that this man was possessed with some spirit? But this physician with an easy and ready remedy did restore him, to his right mind again. And when he was once restored again to himself, he neither could speak nor yet understand the dutch tongue. That if perchance some men would contend with me and say that this man was in deed possessed with a devil, surely this thing do most of all advance and set forth the noble science of the physicians to which (it is manifestly proved) that the wicked spirits do also obey, which our noble science is not only the minister but also the counterfettour and follower of the divine virtue and might aswell in the restoring of life, as in casting forth spirits. Nor there lacked none which slanderously reported that this thing was wrought by art magic or witchcraft, whose slander I do turn to the great glory & praise of our art whereby those things are brought to pass which the vulgar and lay people believeth to pass man's powers. wherefore not without great & just causes in the old world when vile gains and foul pleasures had not as yet vitiate nor corrupted all to gathers, 
The regard of physic in old time  among all other sciences the only art of physic was chief regarded of the divine and most noble men, of most happy and rich princes, of most renowned senators, nor there was no craft more acceptable to mankind, for that great man Moses 
Moses.  (as it is thought) did in his laws make distinction of his meats by none other wisdom or policy than by the reason of physic. 
Orpheus  Orpheus the most oldest of the Greeks did bring to light many thynges● (as it is read o● him) of the natures and powers of herbs. 
Homer.  Homer himself which was without question the only fountain of wits is much busied both in the rehearsal of herbs and in the praise of physicians. He also painted & describeth unto us Moly, 
The herb called Moly.  of all herbs (as Pliny witnesseth) moste commendable which is good and effectual against poisonings, the invention of which herb he assign and attribute unto Mercury, with this herb he armeth his wise man ulysses against the drinks of the voytche Circe. 
Nepenthes.  The selfsame Homer showeth that Nepenthes an herb ought to be had in feasts, by cause it driveth away care and heaviness Moreover he rehearseth and reckoneth up oft-times with great honour Machaon, 
Machaon,  Peon, 
Peon.  Chiron, 
Chiron.  Podalirius as excellent men in this faculty, 
Podalirius.  by whose cure and handewerke he feigneth that not only the noble the dukes and princes were helped, but also the gods themselves meaning without doubt and signifying unto us that the most high princes have need of the help and succour of the physicians, and that the life of them is in the physicians hand, which in all other seem to have jurisdiction & power both of life & deth● ye what will ye say if the selfsame poet in the xi book of his Ilias hath renowned and nobilitat the profession of this science with the most high and singular commendation that can be given, saying. The only physician is to be had in greater prise and reputation than a great number of the rest of men, Again in an other place he noteth and marketh the physician that h● called him learned in all things, openly testifienge that which is matter in deed that this science do not stand in one or two learnings but in the knowledge and circuit of all arts, and more over (beside the exact wit) in the moche ure and experience of things. 
pythogoras wrote of physic  The great clerk pythagoras of the isle of Samos to whom the people of ancient time did attribute a certain divinity left behind him (as we read) a noble volume of the natures of herbs. 
what great philosophers did study physic Mithridates' king of Pontus  And to pass over with silence Plato, Aristotle, Theophrast, Chrisippe, Cato Censorius, and Varro, whose study it was to intermeddel this science other with their gr●●t studies or else with their great pain & businesses, surly Mithridates' king of Ponthus was not so greatly renowned neither by his realm though it were never so rich, nor by the wondered knowledge of the xxi strange languages which he both understood & could speak as he was by the knowledge and experience of physic, which thing declared him a great man in deed, which noble king (Pliny being mine author) lef● in writing commentaries, exampl●●● and experiences or effects of this science. By whose name yea even now at this day there is a sovereign kind of treacle named. Now commonly it i● counted a princely pastime and meet for a noble king to play at dice, 
The 〈◊〉 of old princes & lords  to hunt, to do trifles. But in times passed to the princes and rulers of the people of ●ome nothing was regarded & more their care than to further the art and science of physic with bringing home new and strange herbs out of far countries, nor to that people which at that time had the dominion of all th● world there was no manner of gift, no manner reward is more welcome and more acceptable, 
Christ called him self a physician  yea what that Christ himself the author and prince of all disciplines and teachings professeth himself to be not a great doctor or a great counsellor of the law, not a great Rhetoricians not a great Philosopher, but a great physician, whiles when he speaketh of himself saith that they have no need of a phisici●n which be in health, and whiles he resembling himself unto a Samaritan poureth oil and wine into the wounds, and whiles he tempering the earth with his spytel, spread it on the eyes of the blind man, 
Christ gate the love o● the people by hel●g their infirmities.  what that the self same Christ chief by this commendation what time he was as yet unknown to the world did by little and little wind himself into the minds and affections of men, not with gold, not with empyrs, but with the remedies of sicknesses. The thing that he did with a beck, or with a word of his mouth, the same the physician doth to his power counterfeit and followeth Nor there lacketh neither to those remedies and medicines a divine power and virtue, for the operations & strengths of healing is even from god to this very purpose and intent given to things. Nor he hath instructed the apostles with none other viauger more than with the gift of healing, commanding them that forthwith with this desert and benefit they should win the favour of their oft that logeth them, healing (que he) their infirmities and diseases and anointing the sick with oil. 
S. paul plaith the physician  That great man Paul when he counseleth his disciple Timothy to take a little quantity of wine to stablish his stomach & the feebleness of his brains, doth he not openly take upon him the parts of ● physician? But what wonderful thing is this in the apostle, 
The angel Raphael.  sith the angel Raphael healing the blindness of Toby goat hereby also his name among the writers and students of divine things? O how heavenly and right holy is this science, 
Raphael is interpreted medicina de●. i the physic of god.  of which the heavenly minds have their domination? Among mortal people some study & profess one science, some an other, but only this science ought to be studied of all, sith it is necessary to al. But alas alas the crooked and perverse judgements of men. No man can abide to be ignorant of coin, which is currant and lawful and which is unlawful or counterfeit, lest they might perchance be deceived in a thing most vile and of little importance, but they will not study to know by what skills and means they may preserve that which is the best thing that they have. In money they believe not other men's eyes. in the matter of life and health do they blynfelde (as they call it) follow other men's judgements? That if the absolute and perfect knowledge of the hole sciēc● can not chance but unto a few which have appointed and as I might say dedicated their hole life to this only study, 
It is very expediet for every man to learn so moche physic that he may preserve his own health.  at lest it were meet and convenient that of that part of physic which appertaineth to the governance and preservation of health no person should be ignorant. Although to say the truth a great part o● the difficulty & hardness cometh not of the very science but other of the bungerlynes and blind ignorance, ●r else of the vain glory & ambition of lewd phis●●iās. Always ye among the wild and barbarous nations the name of amity hath been counted holy and honourable, and he is taken for a singular and ●ure friend which is a compaignon and a fellow both in prosperity and in adversity because that the common sort of friends, like as swallows in summer, 
swallows.  so they in wealth & prosperity be present and at hand, but in adversity, like as the said swallows against the coming of winters fly away. 
Birds called Se●eucides.  But how moche more sure & substantial a friend is the physician which (after the example o● certain birds which be called Seleucides which as they say ca● ●o where be espied of the inhabitants of the mountain of Casius but when they need their socure & help against the violence and power of great butterflies destroying their corues/ when all things be well and safe he never putteth himself in peril, but in such casualties in which both the wy●e & the children oftentimes forsaketh the man as in the frenzy, the lousy evil (which is called Phthiriasis) and the pestilence the physician only is constantly presē●●nd he is present not with an unprofitable service, as the most part of the rest● but he is present to help, he is present to fight with the sickness for life & death of his patient, & that many times putting his own life in jeopardy. And O more than unkind persons which preserved by the service of such a friend can find in their hearts when the jeopardy is now driven a way to hate the physician & do not rather reverence & worship him in stead of a parenteA comen friend that bideth them good morrow, or good even so oft as they meet him, i● for his kind salutation called to supper, he that taketh them courteously by the arm● him they recompense with like kindness, and will they shake of such friend when they leave needing of him? and for this very cause shake him of, because they perceive that they be not able (were they never so rich) to yield due thanks unto his kind deservings? That if he is the best man which most profit the comen weal, than surely he that coveteth to be best ought principally to study this faculty. 
A commendation of the gains and lucre.  But now if there be any of thi● appetite which had rather measure the prisel of things with profit & gaynage (albe it this art is more high & more divine, than that it should be esteemed by such reasons) yet I say if there be any of that appetite which regard lucre & gains, this art will give place to none other science neither in this behalf, for there was never none more fruitful, and available, and so ready a craft to get riches suddenly as this. 
Erasistratus.  Erasistratus of whom I made mention before was as we read in Chronicles rewarded of king Ptolemy and also Critobulus an other physician was rewarded of Alexander the great● with rich and in manner incredible gifts, 
Critobulus.  how be it what reward can not but seem to little whiceh is given to the saviour of the life of him for whose only life so many thousands of men did put their bodies and lives in jeopardy? what should I now make rehearsal of other noble physicians, as of the Cassians, the Caipitans, the Arunkes, the Albutis, of whom Pliny writeth that they had unmeasurable gains in Rhome aswell with the prince and emperor as with the people. How be it what search we these histories out of old times, as though at this day every man can not remember enough whom this science hath brought up to riches ahove the riches of Croesus? Rhetoric, or poetry, find none whiles he be excellent. The musician except he be passing cunning he hath but a cold supper. The man of law hath thine gains if he be not deeply and profundly studied. Only physic findeth and supporteth him which is but so so learned. 
A mean sight in physic getteth a living.  Physic consist in innumerable disciplins, and in infinite knowledge of things, and yet it is often seen that one or two medicines or remedies shall find a fool that have no learning at al. So that in no wise this art can be condemned of barrenness. Put this ●o, that of other crafts there is no ready gains in every place. 
The physician where so ever he goth getteth his living.  The Khetoritian may blow his nails among the Sermates. The Civil law is not so highly esteemed in England. But the physician whether so ever he goeth, in what parts of the world so ever he keepeth hath his honour & worship, his viauger followeth him. So that also the common proverb of the Greeks can be applied better up on no science than it is upon this, 
A proverbs.  〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●he craftsman getteth his living where ever he goeth. 
A confutation.  But pliny or surly other that Pliny speaketh of, take great indignation and be highly discontented that the profession of physic should be a gainer & a lucre. I grant, this faculty is greater than that it should be subject & serviable to lucre & gains. I grant it is for vile occupations to serve for gains. ●ut again on the other side how great an ingratitude, what an unkindness were it to do fraud and deprive this science only of his meed to which no due no● sufficient meed can be requited? A noble physician even like a certain god will save freely without reward, he will save yea them that be unwilling to be saved but again it is an impiety and an ungodliness not to consider and acknowledge the benefit of the godly person. He little pass on thy reward, but yet thou art worthy to be punished by the laws for thy notable ingratitude. But yet this notwithstanding I know right well that this noble sciece hath been evil spoken of both in times passed among the old fathers, and also now at this day is evil defamed among certain unlearned persons. This art pleased not Cato not because he damned the very thing, 
Cato dipraysed this science.  but that he could not abide ●he vain glorious profession of the Greakes, being himself a mere Rhomane. And he gave so moche to experience, that he would not have it a science. But the self same Cato judged it expedient that all the philosophy of the creeks were utterly expelled and banished the city, for the gross and hard man thought that brassica and oft vomits did suffice to purge man's body, and yet he himself so stiff an enemy of physicians by the observation & keeping of physic did (as it is written of him) preserve his might and strength hole and sound even unto his very extreme age. Also the rude & unlearned people cast in our teeth, that the physicians are licenced with out punishments to kill men. Marry for this cause the rather good physicians are to be magnified and highly commended which where as it is in their hand not only without punishment but also with meed to kill, 
An objection.  yet they had rather save. That they may, i● is a power, that they will not, it is their goodness. It is recited now in every place at ale houses & taverns among drunkards this proverb. 
A proverb of ●oles.  Qui medice vivit misere●● vivit. He that liveth after the rules of physic liveth wretchedly. As though it were an happiness and felicity, the body to be swollen and stretched out with surfeiting, to be brasted wit● the pleasure of the body, to wax foggyshe with drinking of good ale, & to be sepulte and drowned in sleep. But these sycophants and bakbyters what needeth it to refel with my oration, sith they themselves pay sufficient penalties to our art for their scolding, being ●one after wrested with the g●ut, amazed with the palsay, doting and lacking their wits before the due time, waxing blind and blereyed before age, and than at last being in this wretchedness they rechaunt and sing a new song praising (as Stesichorus did) but all to late phisyke which before they dispraised. And yet to these persons though they be most unworthy, the goodness of the art disdaineth not to lay to, her helping hand, and to succour them as much as in her is. 
Out of Aristophanes.  There be some maligners also which borrowing a taunt out of that old comedy called physicians, scatophagos, that is to say, devowrers of turds. As though for this very cause they deserved not chiefly to be praised which to the intent they would secoure and help the miseries and calamities of men, are contented from their highness and sublimity to humble themselves unto these so vile services, but if the physicians were as scornful and dysdaynfull as these be full of scolding & railing, they might on every side die a pace without controlling. But our art hath this one thing common with good kings, that it doth good and hath an evil name. And though there were most of all (as there be) in this sort and kind of men, 
The lewdness of certain evil physicians maketh not physic to be e●yl.  which bear themselves for physicians which be nothing less than physicians, if there be which for remedies minister poisons, if therebe which for gains or vain glory do counsel their sick patients amiss, what is more against all reason & equity than to wre●t and detort the vices of men to the slander of the science? There be also among priests avowterers and evil livers, there be among friars, monks, and other religious persons murderers, manquellers and pyrates● but what is this to the religion which is of itself the best thing that can be devised of man? There is no profession so holy but that nourisheth a sort of naughty packs and ungracious fellows. It is a thing with all vows to be wyshed● that all rulers & princes were such as becometh, them to be which be thought worthy of this name but yet not because of this is the office of a prince to be damned, that some under that title play the pillars, tyrants, an enemies of the common wealth. I would wish also myself that all the physicians were, truly physicians and that the greake proverb had no place in them. 
A proverb.  〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Many dryvers of the ox, but few plowers of the earth. I would wish y● that holiness and pureness were performed of all physicians which the most worthy physician Hypocrates requireth o● his scholars whom he swore with a solemn oath. 
S●●●●●● tum Hippocrati●  But yet we ought to endeavour ourselves unto it, although we see it not performed of the most part of them that profess this science. 
The epilog or perclose of this oration.  But because (O right worthy audience) the cause which I now plead hath so great plenty and copy of matter in it, that it is very hard to find an end of speaking, lest I should not perform that I promised in the beginning I think it now due time to gather together in a gross sum all the praises of it. For if so be many things are commendable only by reason of antiquity, than surely this art or science was found, first of all other, even for very necessity. If the science be made the noblear by reason of the first authors and inventors and inventors of it, this science was ever thought to be invented of gods. If honour addeth any authority, no other science hath deserved divine honours so universally and so long tyme. If those things be of great reputation which be regarded and allowed of most high men/ this study hath not only delighted but also renowned and advanced most high kings & potestates. 
Di●sicilia quae pulchra.  If those things that be herd, be also fair and godly/ there is nothing more busy more laborious than this, which rested in so many disciplines and in the searching out and the experience of so many things If we esteem the thing by the worthiness and dignity thereof/ what thing is more excellent than that, which goeth more nigh to the bounty of god? If by the faculty and power, what thing is of more might and strength/ than to have the power restore again the hole man to himself which else should certainly have died? If we measure the thing by necessity/ what is so necessary as that, with out which we can neither live nor be borne? ●f by the virtue, what is more honest, than to save mankind? If by the utility & profit, the v●e of nothing is neither greater nor whither. If by the gains and advantage, other this science must needs bring in great lucre and riches, or else men be very vnkynde● wherefore for your causes I greatly rejoice (o most excellent and famous in this science? 
A gra●●lation.  whom it hath chanced to excel in this most goodly kind of profession. 
An exhortation.  And you (young men) I exhort this science to love & embrace with all your breasts, ●pon this set your studies with all the veins of your bodies, which shall bring unto you renown, glo●rie, authority, riches/ by which ye again on your part shall bring to your friends, to your native country, ye and ta all mankind no small profit and utility, I have spoken.  
☞ Thus endeth the declamation of Erasmus in praise and commendation of Physic. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.   

Imprinted at London in Fleetstreet by me Robert Redman dwelling at the sign of the George/ next to Saint Dunston's church.