THE Old man's dietary. A work no less learned than necessary for the preservation of Old persons in perfect health and soundness. Englished out of Latin, and now first published by Thomas Newton. Imprinted at London for Edward White, dwelling at the little North-door of Saint Paul's Church, at the sign of the Gun. 1586. To the right Worshipful, Master Thomas Egerton Esquire, Solicitor unto her most excellent Majesty. WERE it not (Sir) that your rare courtesy and singular affability is by sufficient proof & daily trial generally to the world already known, and in many a place, to many a man's comfort both felt and tasted: I should have been at this time much abashed thus boldy to prefix your Worshipful name in the forehead of this poor Pamphlet. Wherein I have not ambitiously hunted after any blanched terms or picked phrases, neither (to confess the truth) doth this Argument either allow or require it. But my purpose was with as much perspicuity as I could, to deliver the meaning of mine Author: which (I trust) in some reasonable measure, and according to such proportion and pittance of skill as the Lord hath endued me withal, I have faithfully performed. Accept it I beseech you, as the gift of a poor Chesshyre-man (the Country where your worship was also bred and borne) and as an earnest penny of that unfeigned loyalty which I dutifully bear unto you. Assuring yourself, that although many things, far better in value, and much finer for handling, might have been presented unto you; yet with a more sincere good will and vowed heart, could not any thing have been possibly unto you offered: As knoweth the Almighty, unto whose good protection I do with my humble prayer commend you. At Little Jlford in Essex, the viii. of januarie. 1586. Your Worship's poor Countryman, ever in the Lord to command. Thomas Newton. ¶ To the friendly Reader. THE godly travails and learned pains taken by sundry our Countrymen to acquaint the noble Art of Physic with our usual phrase, and to invest it with English attyer, occasioned me at the first to translate out of Latin into English, a learned work of Doctor Gratarolus, and to publish the same in the year 1574. under the title of A Direction for the health of Magistrates & Studients etc. Which, being of the wise & learned not altogether misliked, I hoping for the like good success, was afterwards easily entreated by a worshipful Gentleman my very friend, eft 'zounds to tread the like path, and to translate Levinus Lemnius his notable work De Crasi: which first came abroad, under the title of The Touchstone of Complexions, in the year 1576. Since which time, I have not greatly dealt in any works of this excellent, Art otherwise then for mine own private study, wherein I have found both ease and delight. It may not seem strange to have Physic books in English, neither ought any man in my opinion to be thereat discontented. The very fathers of Physic Hypocrates and Galene with others being Grecians, wrote their works in the Greek tongue: which to them was the mother tongue, as the English is now to us. The Romans wrote in Latin being their proper language, and the Arabians, as Avicen, in the Arabic speech: and others of other Countries, in the language that there was usual. And we cannot (without the note of more than savage ingratitude) but confess and acknowledge the great benefit and furtherance that we still enjoy by the painful pens and English treatises of many our own Countrymen, aswell in Physic as Chirurgery. As namely, of that worthy Knight Sir Thomas Eliot, of Master Doctor Turner, of Master D. Record, of Master D. Phaer, of Master D. Cunningham, of Master D. Bulleyn, of Master D. Caldwell, of Master D. johnson, of Master D. jones, of Master D. Board, Master Traheron, Master Bright, Master barrow, Master Securis, Master Light, Master Carry, Master Cox, Master Hill, Master Gale, Master Baker, Master Banister, Master Hall, Master Clowes, Master Moor, Master Paynell, M. Vicars, M. Hester, M. Basebridge. and some others, whose works I either have not yet seen, or at this present come not to remembrance. If therefore herein I have incurred blame (which I trust with all indifferent & unaffectionate persons I have not) yet should it be to me some mitigation of grief, to march in rank with so worthy, excellent and painful men. If it be objected, that this study sitteth not with my profession: surely I therein rest resolute, that Divinity as Lady and Mistress, refuseth not (nay of duty, claimeth & challengeth) the service of all the other Arts, and Sciences: so as I think the surliest and waywardest Areopagite will not deny. Howsoever it is, thy courteous construction and friendly acceptance shall effectually satisfy my desire, and thoroughly countervail my travail. Farewell. Thomas Newton. ❧ The Old man's dietary. VEry aptly and truly is Physic defined by Hypocrates, where he saith: Lib. de flatibus. That it is the addition of those things which lack and are too little: Physic what it is. and the withdrawing or subtraction of things which do abound and are too much. For, seeing it hath pleased the Almighty Creator in such constitution to create and make the body of Man; that what through continual wearing away and passibility of substance, it minutely and hourly wasteth and decayeth; & what through outward qualms, accidents and causes externally beetyding, it is soon altered, changed and quickly transposed: it had therefore need to be supported, guided and directed by the advice of the learned and expert Physician, who as a wise Counsellor and provident Master, may by his skill and knowledge be able to recover this loss, recure this decay, and in due time to repair and restore in convenient quality and quantity, the essence and substance thereof, through daily and continual wearing, forespent and miscarried. But for so much as there is great diversity in Bodies, aswell by their temperature proper & natural, as also (through their divers trades and kinds of life) accidental and casual, whereby (either more or less) according to the constitutions of their bodies, they be subject to inconvenient alteration: yet, as it were by a certain necessary and inevitable law of nature, there is joined unto them, a third kind of body, which is that, in Old men: the which also in itself greatly differeth and is unlike: and therefore the provident foresight and circumspect care about the same, must not be small. For, this Age now standeth at receipt, bearing, carrying and sustaining all the misusages, faults, follies, disdietes and disorders of forepast Ages: and so now by this reason, of itself is weak, feeble and unwieldy to all actions of the body. Good diet, and wholesome order most fit and needful for Old men. And for this cause a special care for wholesome Diet must be had in this Age, rather than in any other. For thereby the body now stowping, doting and tottering with years, is kept and conserved in lusty, strong and healthy plight, with the perfect and sound use of the Senses, even till the very last cast of extreme Age. This profitable, wholesome and necessary Diet for Old men, is termed in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, & is in virtue, working, operation and effect, in a manner like unto that renutritive and restorative diet, that is prescribed unto puling and still sickly persons: or to such as have been lately recovered from their discrasies and maladies, to nourish and comfort their weak bodies, called likewise of the Greeks, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. For, these twain (beside that part which is termed Gymnastique or exercitative, serving only for recreation of them that be strong & healthful) are the chief and special parts of that Physic, which is principally directed to preserve the body, sound, healthful and lusty by Diet. The Physician therefore that is to enter into this charge, and to deal in this behalf, must be no child in knowledge, neither a raw Scholar in his Art, but must be able perfectly and at his finger's ends, The Physician must know the disposition and natures of bodies. to understand and know the natures of Bodies, and the virtues, qualities and operations of all Receipts, helps and things both good and bad, wholesome and hurtful. For it is no small matter exactly to set down and prescribe a perfect platform of Diet, agreeable and in each respect jumping with any one particular man's nature, much less for an Old man: seeing the Complexions and temperatures of men be so divers, the composition of each of their bodies, so singular, and to every particular person his self qualities so appropriate, (over and beside many sudden brayes, and casual haps befalling to them) that they cannot choose but suffer many alterations, and sundry changes. Nevertheless, we at this time tying ourselves to the opinions of the grave and ancient Writers in this Art, and following their learned judgements, will take unto us for a pattern, and set before us as an example to imitate in this present Treatise & dietary, some one such Old man, dealing yet in the affairs of the world, and matters of the Common wealth, as was Antiochus at Rome, in the days of Galene: that by comparing the years of that fresh & lusty Old man, with old men of other Ages: the Physician (dealing in this charge of cherishing and w●ll dieting Old men) may the better know and the readier see, what things be best to choose, and what to eschew: s●●h Old age containeth in itself no small Latitude, according to more or less: according whereunto his diet and fare must proportionably in convenient quality and quantity be either increased or abated. For a more plain declaration therefore of this matter, we will divide the Age of Old men stepped into years, into three parts. Old age of three sorts. The first is of such as being yet lusty in body, constant in mind and in strength serviceable and active, do execute their accustomed business and deal still in their usual and wont affairs: and these kind of old men are very aptly termed by the Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, that is to say, green and lusty Age. fresh, lusty and flourishing Aged men, not much tainted, nipped, or bitten with years. This lusty green Age may fitly be called the Door, or Entry into a reverend stowping Age: and it seizeth and catcheth some bodies sooner, and some later. The second is of such, as for weakness and want of strength are grown to be nummish in their limbs and unwieldy for any bodily travail: Grave, reverent and honourable Age. which after some easy exercise, or now and then bayning, do orderly feed: and after such repast or meat do quietly betake themselves to sleep and rest: and these sort of fatherly gray-headed men be in Greek termed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. And the third kind of Old-age is of them, which being riveled and wrinkled, and having the skin of their faces and bodies, all crumpled, pursed and drawn together, Dotage. are not able any more for very feebleness and impotency to use any exercise, but contenting themselves with some soft walking, lean and stay them on their staff, or else by others are led by the hand: whom (for that they are now going toward their long home and have the one foot, and almost both, already in the grave) the Greeks do call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Therefore, seeing we have in hand purposely to prescribe a dietary for Oldmen, it shall not be amiss nor unprofitable to speak first a few words of their natural temperature, and mutual difference among themselves. Old men's bodies by nature are cold and dry. For, Old men, cold and dry. the radical humour and substantificall moisture being in tract of time by little and little wasted, which (like Dew) is distributed, and interspersed in and among all the similare and principal parts of the body; together with the natural heat likewise by little and little waning and drooping away: the whole body cannot choose but decay withal & grow toward final dissolution. So that now all the instrumental parts of the body being become too dry, the whole members must needs weakly, feebly, disorderly, ill and out of frame or course perform and execute their appointed actions and ordinary offices. Wherefore the body now first lacking his natural strength and maintenance, beginneth to quail and fail in his necessary & convenient nourishment, and becometh thereby slenderer, thinner and drier than it was, or than it should be: and thereupon the strength, powers, and faculties thereof are enfeebled, and to expedient motions or exercises apparently disabled. But, when yet further and greater store of dryness ensueth and groweth upon it, like as Trees and Plants wither away with rottenness and want of sap, even so doth the body drooping with Age, finally waste, decay and consume: yet not in all persons alike, but sooner or later in some then in other some, according to the constitution, temperature, quality and complexion of their bodies: and also according to the unruly, unseasonable, and ill diet used, and things (of themselves good and wholesome) untemperatly frequented. For, we do not all consist, neither are we all alike made from our birth in one equal and like measure of elemental qualities, and therefore neither do we use one only uniform Diet at all times and in all respects. And hereupon it cometh to pass that some sooner than some, and others later than others, begin to have Beards and to be hairy: some sooner grow to man's state and stature: some be tresh, lusty, strong, and bear their age gallantly: some wax hoarte headed and will quickly be old: and so consequently become either weaker and feebler, or healthier and stronger. Wherefore, by the number of years to make any certain distinction or difference of Ages, it is very hard, yea, unpossible to do it. For, it is often seen, that by reason of the natural distemperance of some one principal member, or more: or for that, Why some grow old, sooner than some. from the very birth, the same be not proportionably mixed & sorted, some do live all their life time sickly and diseased, and so arriving to untimely old age, do pyningly languish and die. Some again, having sound Bodies, and of as excellent good constitution as might be, through untemperate diet and ryetous life have hastened Old age, & brought themselves to grey heads before their time: who, if they had followed the good advise and discreet counsel of the learned Physician, might have continued themselves in a more prosperous and longer health, till they had come to the point of extreme old-age. He therefore that exactly and perfectly knoweth, that Dryness and Coldness together, do possess Aged bodies: & that of old men among themselves, The best Physician for an old man. there is great odds and diversity, whether we respect the course of their Age and number of their years, or the peculiar temperature and appropried complexion of every one severally: that person (doubtless) is a fit Physician and a good Nurse for Old men. For he will quickly devise and find out a contrary course to qualify & meet with those two qualities: that is to say, he will altogether apply himself to use such helps and means, whereby to bring them to be hot and moist. As touching the quantity and measure of such remedies as he must use, he may as occasion serveth, (accordingly either as the age of the party, or as his custom and ordinary dealings and fashions do require) occupy and take: ever regarding and having an eye to the aforesaid distemperance that reigneth in this old Age. For by all these, he shallbe much helped and furthered, to know more certainly the weak and foreworne disposition of Old folks. Now, forasmuch as our body is daily affected and continually groweth toward weakness and debility: n●edes must it in that respect, feel a double inconvenience, the one, of alteration: the other of continual decay of it own substance. For, over and beside the sundry outward means of alteration, which many ways happen unto the body, as though they were engrafted and naturally breeding therein: Do we not see, that through daily and continual decaying and wasting of some part of the bodily substance, and of the diminishing and impairing of natural heat, together with the expense of the spirits and of the simple & similare parts, Age doth stealingly creep upon us, and therewith dryness & colons besiegeth and assaileth us? Whereupon natural heat being once abated, the ventres and offitiall members serving for the convenient conveyance of humours and distribution of nourishment, are utterly unabled from accomplishing their offices and performing their actions: and the power attractive found either to be very small, or greatly depraved and out of frame: whereby the body becometh bloodless and cold, and all the strength, comeliness and beauty thereof banished and exiled: it aboundeth also & is full pestered with great store of phlegm, and whayish excremental baggage, unless it be (accordingly as strength will permit) discreetly and temperately dieted. In this place therefore, the mark whereat we level and aim, for the good and orderly usage of Old men in their Diet and trade, be manifest and plain enough: namely, that there be first a supply and filling of those places in the body which are emptied & evacuated, Three ends to be observed in dieting old men. with such nourishment as is agreeable and conformable to the substance decayed and wasted: secondly, that the distemperature of the body, whether the same be natural or accidental, be qualified and altered by his contraries: and thirdly, that there be a convenient and seasonable expelling or purging of superfluous excrements and noisome humours, by the pores and passages, that serve to that end and purpose. All these ends, are sufficiently attained unto, and all these marks are rightly hit, by expedient receipt and convenient use of meats and drinks: by wholesome bayning in sweet waters: by moderate exercises: by gentle rubbings and frictions in the morning with Oil: by orderly and seasonable sleep: by moderate aff●ctions of the mind: and by using sometime (if need so require) some mild and gentle medicines. Of all these, we here purpose at this time particularly to entreat. The sum and effect of all wholesome diet (saith Galene) consisteth in these four things: Lib. 1. de sanit. tue●. lib. de constitut. 〈…〉 Medicinae, & lib. ad Thrasibulun. in taking things convenient to be taken: in doing things expedient to be done: in drawing out, things requisite to be drawn out: and in such things as happen outwardly. Which four points the Arabian Avicen (though not very learnedly & eloquently, yet (certes) plainly and orderly uttered and expounded of Old men's diet: his words be these: The effect and sum of their regiment is, to apply and use that which may heat and humect: namely, nourishing meats, Baths or Baynes, Drinks, large sleep, long lying in Bed, longer (I say) then young men need: continual provoking of urine, expelling of phlegm from their stomachs by way of the Entrails and Bladder, and carefully preserving, gently cherishing and mildly maintaining Nature in them. Tert. primi. doctri. tertie cap. primo. Thus much out of Avicen. Furthermore, the apt and profitable use of these wholesome things, especially consisteth in these three points: namely, in convenient quantity, expedient quality, and meet time and manner of using the same. Every one of which, are briefly and after his accustomed manner appointed and particularly set down by that worthy Hypocrates: where he saith: Exercise, Meat and Drink, Partic. 6. Epidem. Sleep, Carnal knowledge, let all these be moderately and measurably used. Again, neither is fullness and sarietie good: neither long abstinence and hunger: neither any other things, Partic. 2. Aphor. failing in the measure that nature requireth. And again: Sleep & watch, aswell the one as the other, if they exceed measure, Partic. 2. Aphor. 3. be hurtful and ill. And appointing what time is fit and convenient for exercise, he saith in an other place: Let some convenient exercise be used afore meat. Wherefore, old folks must feed sparingly and moderately, not enforcing themselves with much at once, but often in a day, as twice or thrice, as their strength shall seem to require, & be able to bear: and as by custom they have acquainted themselves. For, if they exceed measure never so little, it doth them much harm. The Constitution of old folks. Sometime, when as their natural heat is small and weak, they have much ado, and are not able to concoct & digest much meat and many meals. Moreover, in this Age, the skin being thick and by reason of the pores of the body (being now in a manner closed up) subject to obstruction, although some Old folks that be lusty and strong, do now and then well enough digest the meat they eat: yet, for that the thin excrements and superfivities of their body hath no issue or bent to pass out, they can not choose but be much encumbered with ill humours, and have their bodies pestered and surcharged with abundance of crude diseases, and maladies of no small danger. We therefore, herein specially imitating Galen (who in his describing of a familiar and (as it were) a peculiar direction of health for his Countrymen of Greece, used for an example or pattern, Antiochus the Physician, Telephus the Grammarian, and certain other Old men that lived till they were of extreme age) will likewise in this our prescription of the Old man's dietary, assay so to order and deal with him, both for his time, turns and seasons, and also for the quality and quantity of such things as he must use, that by conferring our advise and direction, and the means of our usual and familiar Diet with that tried rule and perfect squire and level of Diet, used by famous Ancients of old time, we may be able certainly to know and undoubtedly discern, what is needful to be added, and what is necessary and behoveful to be withdrawn and taken away from such Oldmen, for whom we purposely write this present Regiment: exactly trying & duly considering withal, the habit, constitution, plight, disposition, quality & strength of their bodies: together also with the nature of the Region or country where they have been bred and dwell, and also the custom or fashion whereunto they have been most acquainted and enured. For Aetius words (which he borrowed out of Galens' discourse of Antiochus the Physician being now four score years old) are these: Their meat must be as it were a little pittance at once, but they must have it thrice in a day. Lib. 4. cap. 13. Let them have therefore about nine of the clock some new bread well moulded and made, and moderately baked with some excellent good clarified, skummed, and despumed Honey. About one of the clock: after friction and such exercises as are fit for old men, and after washing, let them have their dinner: and let them first begin with such things as be good to cleanse and keep the belly soluble, as Beets or Mallows: and such Fishes as swim in a clean Sea, scouring themselves among the hard Rocks, and naturally tossed and beaten with the wind and Surges. After they have dined, let them rest themselves, taking a quiet nap a while upon their Bed, and let them walk a little. When they sup at night, let them eat no Fish, but choose meats of the best nourishment, and such as will not easily corrupt and putrefy: as namely a Chicken, or a Bird boiled in a single broth. This sentence, opinion and prescription of Aetius is confirmed also by Avicen, and after his blunt and barbarous manner, avouched and set down in these wordee: The nourishment of Oldmen must be given unto them by little and little, 3. Primi. Doctri. 3. cap. 2. and they must every day be twice or thrice nourished by little and little, according as they be of digestion, strength and debility: and let them eat at eight of the clock some bread well made with Honey, and about one of the clock also after they have been conveniently bayned and washed. Afterward let them soften, mollify, louse and make solluble their belly, with such things as we shall set down: and toward night let them eat some good nourishing meat: & if they be strong of nature, and have good digesting stomachs, they may sup the more largely. And in all their meats, let them especially take heed they meddle not with any such food as engendereth Melancholy or Phlegm: Let them also beware of all such nourishment as is hot, sharp and drying, unless it be purposely used for some special respect of medicine. Thus somewhat confusedly, disorderly, unaptly and unrespectively doth Avicen jumble and shuffle up in a heap, as a general rule for every Old man, that, which particularly and example sake both Galen and Aetius set down only for Antiochus: Whereas the same Galene, writeth not only this: but that other Old men also lived long, with Milk and Honey alone, with bread and other strong and solid meats. By this Ordinary thus prescribed and taught us by Greeks and Arabians, Supper must be larger than Dinner. this may we plainly gather contrary to the opinion of some later Physicians, that supper ought to be larger, and taken in greater quantity than dinner: Which thing Celsus (treating of that diet which is best to be observed in Winter) seemeth to allow, and in few words to approve. For his counsel is to eat meat in the day but only once: and if that once, be a dinner, he affirmeth it to be so much the better. If he have eaten and drunk but little in the day, or have fed upon such food as giveth but small & weak nourishment, he may the boldlier eat flesh and other strong nourishing meats in the evening to supper: for that the nights are at that time of the year of a great length, and sleep also very long: Whereby their nourishment must by good reason be then the greater, and the more in quantity. For by Sleep in the night is digestion and concoction best performed: which in the day time upon any light occasion, through affection of the mind and unseasonable exercises, are many times hindered and unorderly done; as by Galene in his seventh Method of curing the dry distemperance of the Ventricle is notably declared. But in prescribing of any Diet whatsoever, aswell for the whole, as for the sick, we must ever have a regard (as Hypocrates counseleth) to Custom: 1. Partic. Aphor. 17. & mark well how a man hath of long continuance enured himself. For we see some, that at dinner will eat more largely then at supper: and contrariwise, some others that will eat and drink less at dinner, then at supper. Which custom Galen in many places willeth at no hand to be altered or changed in an Oldman. Custom may not be broken and altered. 5. Sanit. tuend. And thus much for the manner and order of meats and drinks, aswell at dinner as supper, most agreeable for Oldmen. It remaineth now, that we likewise compendiously and briefly set down what Meats be unwholesome, or be of ill juice, and give naughty nourishment. This therefore must first and principally be noted, that all Meats and drinks in general, yielding gross, Gross meats of tough nourishment to be avoided clammy and tough nourishment, are unto old men very hurtful & dangerous: as frumenty, Cheese, roasted Eggs, Cockles, Onions, Scallions, muhrooms, Lintels, Oysters, etc. Old men therefore must use to eat such meats as be easy in concoction, quickly nourishing, soon alterable into the substance of the body: of good juice and commendable nourishment, without any store of excrements. Let their bread be well baked, thoroughly moulded, Bread. sufficiently leavened, and moderately salted, reasonably bolted and fined from the Bran. And let them take heed they eat not bread when it is new, or when it is ill baked, or unleavened, & that which is made of the finest Wheat Flower and purest Meal. The bread that is made of that kind of Wheat, This Zea or Spelta, is thought to be our Rye. which is called Zea or Spelt, is better, wholesomer, and fit for them, and so is Barley bread, although it nourish nothing so much as the other. Cakebread not wholesome. They must also forbear and eschew all Pastlarie and Cakebread, that is made of fine Paste, Butter, Milk, Cheese, Honey and Sugar. Flesh. The flesh of such forefooted beasts as for hugeness of body, old-age, leanness, and hardness of flesh be any way notable, are likewise for them noisome and hurtful. The best for them, is the flesh of a Chicken, of a young Pullet, or wild birds, breeding upon Hills and Mountains: as again, they be the worst, that live and feed in Fens, Ditches, Ponds, Pools, and standing Waters. Fish. All big bodied and great fishes, rammish in taste and strong in scent, oily, fatty slimy, tough and clammy in juice, are specially to be avoided. Those that live about clear rocks, and stony places, and be much beaten & tossed with the continual Surges and waves of the Sea, (by means whereof they are not embroyned with filthiness) are greatly commended and accounted the wholesomest. The best Eggs be those, that are rear, Eggs. poached, and as it were half roasted, so that they may be supped up. The worst are, those that be fried, hard and roasted. All manner of Whitemeates made of Milk, is generally forbidden, Milkmeates as very hurtful and unwholesome for Old men: for that they engender the stone in the reins, and otherwise easily and quickly procure obstructions. But Cheese namely must be forborn, Cheese. and take heed of, specially if it be old, hard or rotten. For over and beside the toughness and grossness of the nourishment which it hath: there is in it also a juice engendering much store of corrupt humours. Yet that Cheese that is made of sour milk, Buttermilk Cheese. may safely be eaten with a little Honey, so it be afore other meat, to louse and purge the belly. Likewise, in Summer when the weather is extremely hot, new milk warm from the udder, may be given them by itself, without any other meat joined with it: foreseen, that a little Sugar or Salt, or pure Honey be put unto it & so stirred together, for fear lest it congeal and curdle in their stomachs. Fruits. Timely ripe Summer fruits may safely be eaten, so it be afore other meats, and at beginning of meals: as Cherries, Prunes, Peaches, etc. Otherwise there are none good & wholesome, except ripe grapes hanged up a while afore they be eaten, Damask, or rather Spanish Prunes, and ripe and dry Figs. Dates also, and pine Apples are not good, for that they cause gnawing in the stomach, make gross juice, and engender obstructions or stoppings in the Liver and Spleen. Pulse. All manner of Pulse is also to be eschewed, unless it be the decoction or Broth of beans, Peasen and Chiches. Pothearbes growing in gardens, & good to eat. Among herbs for the pot, and usual to be eaten, the best in this case are, Lettise, Malowes, Orange, Blite, white Beets, sorrel, Borage, bugloss, chervil and Parsely. Wine. Wine, to Old men is right sovereign and cordial: and to their nature is most profitable and agreeable, because it doth properly heat and moisten the body. And that Wine is best commended for Old men which is thin and fine in substance, and yellow or reddish of colour. For it heateth all their members, and it purgeth by urine the watery or whayish substance of their blood. Ale and Beer for Old men's ordinary drink is thought to be nothing so wholesome. All water also, either drunk alone, or mingled with Wine, is accounted unwholesome and hurtful, unless (Custom being to the contrary) it hath been used to be drunk and mingled with some such meats as serve to louse and mollify the belly. Old men being much troubled with the Gout, and the Stone, Old men troubled with the Gout, or with the Stone. if now and then in their broths (which they use to provoke urine) they put some quantity of oenomell or Mead, they shall find a singular ease. Thus much touching the quality of Meats and Drinks most profitable for Old men. Let us now semblably set down a few words, and show in what measure and order it shallbe most expedient for them to take them. Order and measure for Old men's feeding. For seeing that all Old men for the most part, are by nature costive, and have hard and dry bellies: it shallbe good for them, always to eat and send before their other Meats, such things as have virtue, gently to louse and mollify their Bellies. 3. Prim. Doctri. 3. cup. 2. Avicen his counsel tendeth thereunto, where he saith: Such pot herbs and fruits as Old men should eat, are the wild Carrot, the white Beete, Parsely and a little quantity of Leeks, which they ought to eat, being picked and condite with Almure & Oil, and specially at the beginning of their meals, that they may extenuate & cleanse the body, and make it soluble, and cause the wine to pass well. Thus much out of Avicen: which he, word for word, borrowed out of Galen and Aetius in the places afore recited. Sundry dishes at one meal hurtful. In meat therefore, let Old men moderately use themselves, and let them in any wise eschew sundry Dishes and divers sorts of meat at one and the same meal: Let them eat no more at one time than their stomachs can well concoct & digest. Neither must oldmen be careless in the choice and frequenting of their exercises. Exercise. For by idleness and sitting still there cometh great inconvenience: whereas by moderate exercise and stirring, there cometh very much good and commodity. In the morning therefore it shall do them much good, before they fall to any meat, to use some moderate exercise, and some gentle walking abroad. But after Meat, all immoderate walking and vehement stirring is utterly forbidden them: and in steed thereof they are to be enjoined to rest, & to repose themselves, that the meat in their Stomach may leisurely and conveniently be digested, and not too hastily conveyed into the rest of the members before they be sufficiently concocted. If for some weakness, debility or infirmity of the feet, he be not able to walk, let him ride or be carried abroad a while. Fricasies and Rubbings in the morning with warm Oil, fricassee and rubbing, or soft stroking over. and soft hands while he is yet fasting, may supply and stand in steed of other exercise. And this fricassee or Rubbing must be done downward, that is to say, beginning at the upper parts of the body, and so bringing the hand downward toward the lower parts. But for such as be discrased in the upper parts of their bodies, as they that have the swimming in their Head, or be troubled with the Headache or pain in their Neck, or grieved with the Apoplexy, it shallbe best to apply their Fricasies, Rubbings and exercises to their neither parts only. If they be subject to the Gout and grieves in their joints, it shall be very good for them, often to stir and exercise their arms and hands. But as in all things else: so in this, special regard must be had to Custom: that oldmen be not rashly and suddenly drawn by and by to a divers course and contrary order, either in their usage of meat and drink, or in any other kind of exercise or respect whatsoever. For, to alter the habit and long continued custom of an Oldman, is both hard and dangerous. Furthermore, Oldmens' bodies through impotency and debility of the nourishing faculty, are encumbered and pestered commonly with waterish excrements, and raw humours: whereby they have need of such helps as may provoke brine, extenuate the clamminess and toughness of those humours, and also to use such medicinable meats, as be abstersive, and expel all dangers threatened thereby. But forasmuch as all such be sharp and hot in operation, it is therefore required in the Physician, to be therein very circumspect and careful, that he direct the drift of all his hot Medicines and meats to this end, partly thereby to help forward concoction, and to make proportionable distribution of the meat into all the members of the body: and partly, to open obstructions, and to expel all phlegmatic and clammy matter: and not flatly to dry up the body, and so consequently to bring the whole Aged habit into a more coldness and refrigeration: which thing we see some ignorant Empirics and Practitioners in Physic commonly to do, who never think themselves to have showed sufficient proof of their dapper skill upon the bodies of their Patients, unless they strait ways with some strong solutive, they make a clean riddance of all that is in their weak bellies. In Old men therefore, to make them soluble, to purge phlegm and to loose their bellies, it shall be effectual and sufficient enough to use Olives condite, and Capers pickled in Oil, or Honey eaten with bread, Mercury, Mallows, Blite, the decoction of Coleworts or Cabbages, a Fig now and then eaten with a little Seine, & some good Turpentine as much in quantity as two or three walnuts. For, this not only mollifieth and looseth the belly, but mundifieth also and cleanseth the entrails, openeth the obstructions of the Lungs, sknowreth the Kidneys, and driveth out gravel: the proportion of his Receipt is appointed to be one ounce. Things good to provoke urine. To provoke urine in Old men, Parselie both root and seed, & Saxifrage are of a singular virtue. And if they mistrust or suspect the gravel in their Kidneys, or be subject to the Gout and grief in their joints, it shall be good for them (saith Galen) to use Meade or oenomel: 3. De sanit. ●●en. so that for the Gout and joint sickness, they add thereunto Parsley: and for the Stone and gravel, some betony. Beside the premises, there be yet other things no less to be respected: namely, such as are outwardly incident unto us: of which sort are these: Air, Water, Fire, Oil, Baths, Sleep, and Affections of the mind. Air therefore must be chosen, Best air for dwellings. according to the nature and season of the year, and interchangeable state of the weather and air encompassing us, somewhile hot, and somewhile but somewhat wharme. It must not be near to any standing Pools, stinking Ditches, Fens, Marshes, common sinks, Draughts or Privies, the serve for great multitudes of people: it must be such as hath by turns, one while the East, and an other while, the West wind freely blowing over it. For uses of the Kitchen: Best water. the best and wholesomest is Fountain or Well water, pure, clear, having no evident quality or sensible sign, either of taste or smell, and at the place of his arising out of the ground, looking toward the East. For if it run on hard Stones and pebbles, and have his prospect toward the North, where the Sun beams give no shine nor heat thereunto, it is to be misliked and attoyded, as raw, hard and unpleasant, engendering windiness and fretting in the Entrails and hypochondrical parts. Partic. 5. Aphor. 26. Hypocrates setteth down sundry notes and means, whereby to know and try which is the best Water: for that (saith he) is the best water that is lightest. And the lightest water is that, which will soon be hot and soon cold. Also that, whereof cometh least scum or froth when it boileth. Also dip linen clothes into sundry waters, & afterward lay them forth to dry: look then which is soon dry, and that wherein it was dipped, is the best water, the purest and the wholesomest. The lightest water (saith Celsus) is Raynewater: Lib. 2. cap. 17. because it is most subtle, and of all others most penetrative. The next is that, which gussheth out of a Spring. The third is of a clean running River: The fourth is conduit water: The fifth, the water of Snow and Ice: worse than that, is the water of standing Pools and Ponds: and worst of all, is that which is of fenny Ditches. Baths. Baths or Baynes of sweet waters in the Spring, summer, and Autumn, interchangeably using therewith the decoction of hot herbs and roots, be excellent good & profitable for Old folks. For they open the pores being pursed and drawn together through dryness, they do mollify the hard and stiff parts: they disperse by evaporation the abundance of humours: they leisurely draw out sweat and excremental matter: finally, they do humect and calefie the substantial and solid parts of the body, with a pleasant, warm, vaporous, and dewy moisture. In Winter & such seasons wherein the weather is cold, Winter. it shallbe good to keep themselves in a warm Chamber with a Chimney, having fire: for so do we read that Antiochus at such times used to do. Competent and measurable Sleep is best, Sleep. being of seven or eight hours continuance. But at any hand, Sleep must be forborn and not used immediately after meat, neither must it be either too much or too large. Affections and perturbations of the mind, Affections and perturbations of the mynde● as they greatly endamage and annoy every Age: so to Old folks especially they be most hurtful and dangerous. For they alter their bodies, and utterly dispossess them from their natural consistency: they dry up the bones, and banish away the vital spirit. Old folks therefore must by reason, master their affections, and by discretion qualify all accidents whatsoever: they must retain a merry mind, and settle themselves in the state of tranquillity. Let them recreate and solace themselves with Histories of notable things aforetime exploited, and with the conference and company of their assured loving friends: that, all dampish, cloudy, sorrowful, sullen, lumpish cares, and grieves being utterly put to flight, they may with merry and cheerful minds the more quietly & fervently addict themselves unto godly meditations, and to the service of God. FINIS. ¶ To the Courteous Reader. TO supply some certain boyd pages, which otherwise at this Impression would have been blank, I have thought very convenient, (the matter and argument considered) to annex hereunto a brief and compendious Abstract of a physicians duty, and of such points as by Conscience and Oath are liable unto his charge and function. The which I have suffered here to pass abroad into the world under the name and title of Hypocrates Oath. Marvel not thou at the heathenish names of those putative Gods, by whom he sweareth, (which notwithstanding I have here simply and faithfully set down and delivered, even as I found them in my original Copy:) but rather fear & tremble, and take thereby occasion to yield most humble and hearty thanks unto Almighty God for enlightening thee with a better knowledge: considering that in the severity of his Justice he might likewise have dealt with thee. Frame thyself therefore in obedience to live according to the squired rule of his most holy word: for better were it, not to know the way of righteousness at all, then after knowledge thereof, to turn by profane life from the holy Commandment. These articles are in number but few, and yet in them (few as they be) there is nothing lacking: again, they be so sufficiently large, that there cannot any (without some prejudice to the Art, and discredit to the Artist) be well spared. As when thou hast advisedly perused and read them over, I persuade myself, thou wilt frankly and willingly confess. Farewell. At Little Ilford this viii, day of january. 1586. Thine, in the Lord, Thomas Newton. Hypocrates his Oath. I Take Apollo the Physician, and Aesculapius, and Hygias and Panaceas, the sons of Aesculapius, and all the Gods and Goddesses to witness: That I (so much as in me shall lie, and so far as my judgement and skill shall stretch) will observe & perform all the things contained in this Oath and in this Book. viz. That I shall yield and give unto my Master, of whom I have been taught, and by whom I have been trained in this Art, no less reverence and duty, than to mine own natural Father that begat me. That I shallbe conversant in life with him: And that I shall to the uttermost of my power and ability, minister unto him all such things as I shall understand he hath need of. That I shall make no less account of his Children, than of mine own Brethren, and so to repute and take them. That I shall not be squeimish to bestow my skill in this Art upon the poor and needy, freely, without either fee or other covenant certainly agreed upon. That I shall freely, faithfully, and truly deliver all my Precepts and Secrets unto mine own and also to my masters Children, and to other such Scholars as have addicted, vowed, bound, and sworn themselves to the Studies and Laws of Physic, and not to any others. In curing of the Sick, I shall use to the uttermost of my power, knowledge, and judgement, such things as be good, wholesome, sovereign & profitable: That I shall not defer, ne linger my cure longer than I need, keeping my Patient thereby the longerwhile in grief & pain: and that I shall not offer any wrongful dealing to any manner of person. That I shall not (although I be thereunto required) give deadly poison to any person: neither counsel the same to any other: nor give it to any woman being with child, to kill the Infant in her womb. That I shall preserve and keep both my life and mine Art, free and clear from just obloquy and slander, and from all such occasions as may justly disparaged and emblemish the same. That I shall not presume to cut any persons diseased with the Stone, but refer that action to others skilful therein. That, unto what house soever I shall go for the practice of mine Art, I shall only respect and carefully employ myself to relieve and recure the party diseased, my Patient, unto whom & for whom I purposely go. That I shall avoid, eschew and renounce all wrong, all lewdness, all filthiness, all wanton dalliance and venereous actions, whether they be women's bodies that I have in cure, or men's bodies: and whether they be the bodies of Free, or of Bondmen. That whatsoever during the time of any cure I shall either see or hear, or otherwise (beside my cure) shall know in any many life, understanding that thing to be such as requireth secrecy and silence, I shall not utter nor be wray to any manner of person, but shall herein faithfully keep his counsel. To these Articles comprised in this my present Oath, I protest mine obedience & assent: the which if I inviolably & faithfully observe and keep, my prayer and wish is, that all things aswell in my life as in mine Art and profession, may have prosperous success and happy end; with perpetual fame, renown and glory: as contrariwise, if I treacherously transgress, or wilfully herein forswear myself, let all things fall out unto me contrary. FINIS.