APPROVED Directions for Health, both Natural and Artificial: Derived from the best Physicians as well modern as ancient. Teaching how every Man should keep his body and mind in health: and sick, how he may safely restore it himself. Divided into 6. Sections 1. Air, Fire and Water. 2. Meat, drink with nourishment. 3. Sleep, Early rising and Dreams. 4. Avoidance of excrements, by purga. 5. The Souls qualities and affections. 6. Quarterly, monthly, and daily Diet. Newly corrected and augmented by the Author. The fourth Edition. LONDON: Printed by T. S. for Roger jackson, and are to be sold at his Shop near the Conduit in Fleetstreet. 1612. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE, MY GRACIOUS MOTHER in Law, the Lady Lettuce, Wife to the valorous and Heroical Knight, Sir Arthur Chichester, Lord Duputie of his majesties Kingdoms of Ireland. MADAME, it hath ever been a customary fashion among Students, to choose out some noble parsonage, eminent for virtue, under the glory of whose name, their Books might walk up and down on the world's Theatre, secured from that spiteful Spirit of Detraction, whose blustering blasts of Blasphemy, I lately endeavoured to conjure and convict. After the like manner, to be somewhat in the fashion, lo here I submit before your eyes of Grace this sapless Work of mine, that the starry influence of your ancient love may reflect upon the darkest parts thereof, where perhaps the distance of Climate withholds your directest beams. I know your Ladyship is stored with far more precious presents: only Duty herein seems to free me from Presumption, in dedicating the blossoms of my youthful Studies to One, who is as wise as I am mindful, as favourable as I am faithful, and ever will continue At your ladyships command WILLIAM VAUGHAN. A Table, declaring the Contents of the Sections and Chapters of this Book. The first Section. Chief causes and Rules for preservation of man health. Chapter 1. OF Airs for pleasure, health, and profit. Fol. 1 Chapter 2. Of Waters, with their kinds. 9 Chapter 3. Of Fire, and what kind is best. 12 The second Section. Food and nourishment what's good and bad. Chapter 1. OF Bread and Drink of all kinds. Fol. 13 Chapter 2. Of Wines of all kinds, and how to choose the best. 19 Chapter 3. Of Diet drinks for the sick and healthy. 28 Chapter 4. Of Cider and Perry, with the use thereof. 31 Chapter 5. Of Flesh, and which is best, and how to preserve it sweet. 33 Chapter 6. Of Fish of all sorts, and which is best. 40 Chapter 7. Of Milk, Butter, Cheese and Eggs. 44 Chapter 8. Of Sauces, best and most savoury. 49 Chapter 9 Of Herbs, with their uses. 54 Chapter 10. Of common Fruits, with their uses. 56 The third Section. Sleep, Early rising and Dreams. Chapter 1. OF Sleep, with the commodities and discommodities thereof. Fol. 58 Chapter 2. Of Early rising. 60 Chapter 3. Of Dreams. 61 The fourth Section. Evacuations. Chapter 1. OF Exercise, and which is best. Fol. 64 Chapter 2. Of Urines. 67 Chapter 3. Of Fasting. 68 Chapter 4. Of Venery. 69 Chapter 5. Of Baths. 70 Chapter 6. Of Excrements and Blood letting. 72 Chapter 7. Of Purgations, with the use of Tobacco. 74 Chapter 8. Of Vomits. 82 Chapter 9 Of common sicknesses. 84 The fifth Section. Infirmities and death. Chapter 1. OF the causes of hot infirmities, and of cold. Fol. 87 Chapter 2. Of the wicked motions of the mind. 89 Chapter 3. Of the age of man, and how his life is divided. 112 Chapter 4. Of the four Humours. 121 The sixth Section. restoration of Health. Chapter 1. OF the four parts of the Year. Fol. 123 Chapter 2. Of Monthly Diet. 129 Chapter 3. Of medicines and means to prolong life. 138 Chapter 4. Of Mirth, and the effects thereof. 141 Chapter 5. Of daily Diet. 143 FINIS NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL DIRECTIONS FOR HEALTH. The first Section. What be the causes of the preservation of Man's health? CHAP. I. THE causes of the preservation of man's health be four; The first, Air, Fire, and Water. The second, meat and drink, and such as we use for nourishment. The third, mirth, exercise, and tranquillity of the body. The fourth, avoidance of excrements, under which Phlebotomy, purgations, vomits, urine; sweat, baths, carnal copulation, and such like are contained temperately. What is Air? air naturally by itself, is an element hot and moist, whereupon the whole constitution of our lives dependeth. The attraction of this natural body is so necessary unto us, that if any one of the instruments of our bodies be stopped, we cannot choose but forthwith be strangled. In respect whereof, the choosing of a good air must (for the preservation of health) obtain the chiefest place. Which is the best air? That which is a man's native soil, and Country's air is best. This by the Philosophers is approved in this principle: Every man's natural place preserveth him, which is placed in it. And by the Poet confirmed: Sweet is the smell of Country's soil. Also a good Air may be known both by his substance (as when it is open, pure, and clean, free from all filthy dunghills, noisome channels, Nut trees, Fig trees, Coleworts, Hemlocks, Mines and Forges; for these have a contrary quality unto the animal spirit, and make men to fall into consumptions) and by his qualities: as extremity of cold, heat and moisture. What is the cause, that the Air changeth so oft? The Air receives sundry alterations, not only according to the sundry aspects of the stars and of the heavenly planets: but also by reason of the diversities of Countries, and of the particular situations of some places, as well upon the water as upon the land. Do but mark, how fevers, rheums, & plagues are engendered by reason of troubled air, and of low marshy grounds: And on the contrary, how our health is continued, refreshed, and recovered in dry or sandy Countries. What shall a man do, if the Air be either too hot, too cold, or too corrupt? He must use cold things to keep away the heat, and hot things to expel the cold. He must add dry things to moist, and moist to dry. To depart thence into another place were not amiss. For oftentimes it is seen, that sick folks do recover their former health only by change of air. But if the air be corrupt, and that a man cannot remove thence very quickly, he must artificially rectify it by perfuming his Chamber with juniper, Rosemary, bay tree, or with wood of Aloes: and then by sprinkling vinegar here and there in his chamber. In brief, a man in such cases must get him a Nosegay composed of Roses, Violets, Maioram, Marigold, and such like▪ And when he goeth abroad he must hold in his mouth either the pill of an Orange, or a piece of the root of Angelica. Likewise, he must have an especial regard, that his Chamber be at least once a day neatly swept. Our Mariners lately returned from their East Indian voyage confess, that their only remedy against the Callentura, the Scurvy, and other diseases at sea, is the juice of ●emons. At my being in Hungary, I saw the fiery Fever, a disease infectious in that Country, cured only by salt niter prepared with sulphur, and given in water as drink to the patient: a thing very strange, that fire should quench fire. Show me particularly, how the Air may be corrected for the recovery of sick folks, according to the diversities of places, times, and seasons? Art may moderate all this by accommodating the Air in respect of the sick. For if it be in Summer, that the Air be too hot and sultry, as the vulgar say, and that the patient is affected with some ague or with some other burning disease, he must be placed in some lower room or some cool chamber, where the heat of the Sun comes not so forcibly. In Winter time let fire correct the raw and cold air, specially for them, that be afflicted with cold sicknesses. For such, a close warm room must be prepared, secured from winds, where a good fire may be made. Advise me how I should build me an house for pleasure, health and profit? First, you must choose out a fine soil, which hath water and wood annexed unto it, and forecast in your mind whether the prospect too and fro be decent and pleasant to the eye. For I am of this opinion, that if the eye be not satisfied, the mind cannot be pleased: if the mind be not pleased, nature doth abhor, and if nature doth abhor, death at last must consequently follow. Next you must mark, whether the air which compasseth the situation of your house, be of a pure substance, and that shortly after the Sun is up groweth warm; and contrarily groweth cold after the Sun is set. Thirdly, you must make your foundation upon a gravel ground mixed with clay, upon a hill, or a hills side. Fourthly, look that your windows be Northward or Eastward. Lastly, when your house is finished, you must prepare a Garden replenished with sundry kinds of herbs and flowers, wherein you may recreate and solace yourself at times convenient. Doth the nature of places alter the quality of the Air? Yea doubtless. Either by reason of marshes, as I said before, which commonly are corrupted with rotten vapours, and exhalations, or else of Churchyards subject likewise to the same mutations, we see by experience that the air, which compasseth us about, doth change his temperature: As also when it becomes either excessively hot or cold, dry or moist, we do find ourselves in much travel and alteration. Doth the nature of the time of the year alter the Air? The like mutations doth the air infer unto us in the four seasons of the year, according to the course of the Sun: for in the Spring time the Air is nearer unto his own nature, to wi●, reasonably hot and moist: in Summer further heated by the Sun, it becomes, hot and dry: in Harvest, cold and dry: in Winter, cold and moist. And not only the Sun in the four seasons of the year brings such alterations in the air, but likewise the Moon in her four quarters, causeth four differences: for the first seventh day from the new Moon until the next seventh day, is like the Spring time, being hot and moist. The second seventh day until the full of the Moon is like Summer. The third day, the Moon decreasing, is correspondent unto the Autumn. And the fourth and last quarter is like the Winter: Even so again the morning is hot & moist like the Spring time: noon is compared to Summer: the Evening to Autumn: and the night to the Winter. What sicknesses doth the Air cause? The air causeth sicknesses according to the variety of the climate. In cold Countries, I mean, from the fiftieth degree to the Pole Northward or Southward, few sicknesses abound; except they happen through excess or distemperature of diet, or unwholesomeness of the air, as above written. In hot Countries, specially between the both tropics, the air is more intemperate and pestilent. Here-hence spring plagues, callentura's, and Lues Venerea, insomuch as a certain Writer affirmeth by experience, that an European can hardly live in Aethiopia, or under the Equinoctial line above five years, whereas on the contrary we hear that men live in Swethland, in the North parts of Ireland, and in other cold places, where the air is pure and Notherly, till they attain to a hundred or six score years. Of Water. CHAP. 2. What is water? WAter is an Element cold and moist, and doth not nourish, but help digestion. How many kinds of waters be there? To discern good waters from bad, you must learn, that there be four differences of waters, namely, Rain water, River water: fountain water: and strange water. By Rain water I mean all that falls from the Region of the air upon the earth in form of water. And this is either sweet when if falls without a storm; or else troublesome, when it falls with storms and tempests. Is not Snow water as good as Rain water? Snow waters, albeit they be counted among those waters which are light, as having been sublimed, purified, and as it were distilled, yet notwithstanding they be not so good: For they engender fevers and morphews. What is the nature of fountain water? Fountain water is the best water for preservation of health. But you must observe, of what side it springs, for if it comes from the East, it excels the rest as well in moisture and thinness of substance, as in pleasant smell, and it doth moderately comfort the spirits: chose those fountains, which spring out of rocks, towards the North, and which have the Sun backward, are of a hard digestion, and nothing so pure as the other. Whether water being drunk doth nourish? And whether the same be wholesome for sick persons? Surely water cannot nourish, because of itself it is of no substance to fortify or increase the vital faculties. For which cause the wisest Physicians advised men to drink it honeyed, which they called Oximell & Hodromel; or with wine; or with sugar, or with white wine vinegar. Being drunk alone, it never quencheth the drought nor heat of the lungs, but rather hindereth the spitting up of phlegm. Yet notwithstanding, at meals in Summer time it may be drunk of hot complexioned people, rather to help digestion, then to nourish the body. How shall I know good water? By the clearness of it. That water is best, which runneth from an higher to a lower ground, and that water, which runneth upon clay, is better clarified then that which goeth upon the stone. When is water wholesomest? In Summer time it is most wholesome: yet notwithstanding, seldom to be drunk. But if at any time you be compelled to drink it, see first that you seeth your water gently: for by seething, the gross substance of it is taken away. How shall I revive waters that begin to putrefy? This is performed by the addition of some small proportion of the oil of Sulphur, or else of Aqua vitae well rectified, incorporating them both together. Of Fire. CHAP. 3. What is fire? FIre is an element hot and dry, which dissolveth the malicious vapours of the air, stirreth up natural heat in man's body, and expelleth cold. What kind of fire is best? That fire is best, which is made of dry and sweet wood. For wet and green wood is discommodious: and so are all coals except chark-coales, because they make the head heavy, and dry up natural moisture. Turfs likewise are very dangerous, because they stop the windpipes, and make the skin yellow. In Germany they use Stoves, which questionless cannot but dull the spirits, and offend the purer faculties. There may be a kind of fuel made of the cinders of coals, or old burnt sea-coal, or stone-coale incorporated with Sawiers' dust and Cowdung, which being form in balls and dried in the wind, will burn very clear. Are not sweatings and hothouses wholesome? No, because they exhaust the good humours together with the bad. But in Spring time they may be used against the itch and small Pocks. The second Section, concerning food. Of bread and drink. CHAP. 1. What is the use of bread? BRead made of pure wheat flower, well bolted from all bran, and finely moulded and baked, comforteth & strengtheneth the heart, maketh a man fat, and preserveth health. It must not be above two or three days old at most, for than it waxeth hard to be concocted. Above all things it is fit, that it be firmented with sour leaven: for certainly this leavening though it puff up the paste, yet notwithstanding, it maketh the bread light and savoury, which otherwise would be heavy, and very hard to be digested. As for raw corn and unprepared, it is noisome unto the strongest labourer, even unto the stoutest mower. Let men therefore take heed, how they eat it either of wantonness or of appetite. What is Rye Bread? Rye bread well sifted not made of entire meal and new-baked, is in Summer time highly commended, specially in the beginning of meat, for it keepeth the belly loose, and for this cause it is so used at the tables of Princes, it must not be eaten but in small quantity, rather for diet and health sake then to satisfy hunger. What is barley Bread? The ancient Romans utterly forbade the use thereof, for it makes men cowardly and fearful, by reason that it doth not nourish, but weaken the body, yet notwithstanding some Physicians were of opinion, that it helps them that be diseased of the gout, by force of a cleansing faculty which it hath. How is wheaten bread and pastery to be used in Physic? Biscuit, crust, or toasted bread, being eaten dry with a fasting stomach, stayeth, stoppeth, and drieth all distillations, Rheums, and humours fallen or gathered in any part of the body: some say, that it causeth far people to be lean, but certainly experience teacheth that it be taken after all other meat, it drieth a moist body, and hindereth fatness and all diseases exceeding from moisture, because it keepeth the meat from being too suddenly and quickly conveyed into all the parts of the body. Toasted bread steeped in white wine with Cinnamon, Honey, or Sugar, provokes a good appetite, and a lively spirit unto a man which is naturally sluggish drowsy, or weak; and for pastry it is rather gluttonous, than healthy, not easy to digest, fitter to be taken at the end of meals, to prevent the Gout or the Dropsy. What is the use of Beer? Beer which is made of good Malt, well brewed, not too new, nor too stale, nourisheth the body, causeth a good colour, and quickly passeth out of the body. In Summer it availeth a man much, and is no less wholesome to our constitutions then wine: Besides the nutritive faculty, which it hath by the malt, it receiveth likewise a certain property of medicine by the Hop. What is the use of Ale? Ale made of barley malt and good water, doth make a man strong: but now a days few Brewers do brew it as they ought, for they add slimy and heavy baggage unto it, thinking thereby to please tossepots, and to increase the vigour of it. How shall I discern good Ale from bad? Good Ale ought to be fresh and clear of colour. It must not be tilted, for then the best quality is spent: It must neither look muddy, nor yet carry a tail with it. Show me a wholesome diet drink. The most precious and wholesome ordinary drink, as well for them that be in health, as for sick and impotent persons is made after this manner. Take half a pound of barley, four measures of water, half an ounce of Liquorice, and two drachmas of the seed of Violets, two drachmas of Parsley seed, three ounces of red Roses, an ounce and a half of Hysopand Sage, three ounces of figs and raisins well picked; Seethe them all together in an earthen vessel, so long till they decrease two fingers breadth by seething: then put the pot in cold water, & strain the ingredients through a cloth. Show me a speedy drink for travelers, when they want Beer or Ale at their Inn. Let them take a quart of fair water, and put thereto five or six spoonfuls of good wine vinegar, or of Aqua Composita; a small quantity of Sugar, and some borage, or a branch of Rosemary: Let them be brewed well out of one pot into another, and then their drink is ready. What shall poor men drink when Malt is extreme dear? They must gather the tops of Heath, whereof the usual brushes are made, and dry them, and keep them from moulding. Then they may at all times brew a cheap drink for themselves therewith. Which kind of drink is very wholesome as well for the Liver, as the Spleen; but much the more pleasant, if they put a little Liquorice unto it. There is another sort of drink, of Water and Vinegar proportionably mingled together, which in Summer they may use. How shall I help Beer or Ale, which begin to be sour, or dead? Put a handful or two of Oatmeal, or else of ground Malt into the barrel of Beer or Ale, stirie the same well together, and so make it revive a fresh. Or else if you please, bury your drink under the ground in the earth for the space of four and twenty hours: Or else put into the vessel the roots of Iroes, bay berries, Organy or Isop. Teach me a way to make beer or Ale to become stale, within two or three days. This is performed, if you bury your Beer or Ale being filled into pots in a shady place somewhat deep in the ground. What is Meath? Meath is made of honey and water boiled both together. This kind of drink is good for them, which enjoy their health; but very hurtful for them, who are afflicted with the strangury or colic. Braggot doth far surpass it in wholesomeness. What is Meatheglin? Meatheglin is made of honey, water, and herbs. If it be staile, it is passing good. Of Wine. CHAP. 2. What is the property of wine? WIne temperately taken refresheth the heart and the spirits, tempereth the humours, engendereth good blood, breaketh phlegm, conserveth nature, and maketh it merry, as the Princely Prophet speaks, wine rejoiceth the heart of man. Being moderately drunk, it forceth the soul to partake with the body, so that both of them together being full of animal spirits, might join in one pleasing sound, for the glorifying of their Sovereign Benefactor. What is the use of white wine? White wine drunk in the moring fasting, cleanseth the lungs: Being taken with red Onions bruised, it pierceth quickly into the bladder, and breaketh the stone. But if this kind of wine be drunk with a full stomach, it doth more hurt than good, and causeth the ●eat to descend, before it be fully concocted. What is the use of Rhenish wine? Rhenish wine of all other is the most excellent, for it scoureth the rains of the back, clarifieth the spirits, provoketh urine, & driveth away the headache, specially if it doth proceed from the heat of the stomach. What is the use of Mascadell, malmsey, and brown Bastard? These kinds of wines are only for married folks, because they strengthen the back, yet I wish them to be very chary in the drinking thereof, lest their often use fill the rains and seed vessels with unnatural, accidental, windy, puffed, or as the Logicians speak, with adventicious heat, which in time will grow to a number of inconveniences. What is the use of Sack? Sack doth make men fat and foggy, and therefore not to be taken of young men. Being drunk before meals it provoketh appetite, comforteth the spirits marvelously and concocteth raw humours. How shall I know whether honey or water be mingled with wine? Vintners I confess in these days are wont to juggle, and sophistically to abuse wine, namely Alicante, Muscadel and brown Bastard, but you shall perceive their deceit by this means; take a few drops of the wine, and power them upon a hot plate of iron, and the wine being resolved, the honey will remain and thicken. If you suspect your wine to be mingled with water, you shall discern the same by putting a Pear into it: for if the Pear swim upon the face of the wine, and sink not to the bottom, than it is perfect and unmingled but if it sink to the bottom, water without doubt is added unto it. Show me a way to keep Claret wine, or any other wine good, nine or ten years. At every vintage, draw almost the fourth part out of the hogshead, and then roll it upon his lee, and after fill it up with the best new wine of the same kind that you can get. Your cask ought to be bound with iron hoops, and kept always full. How might I help wine that reboyleth? Put a piece of cheese into the vessel, & presently a wonderful effect will follow: Or else put a bunch of Peniroyall, Organy, or Calamint about the hole, at which the new wine cometh forth, but if your wine be new, & you will have it quickly purged, you must put half a pint of vinegar in every 15, quarts of new wine. Show me how to separate water from wine? Doctor Liebault a learned Physician of France, saith, that if it come to pass that wine have water in it, and that we find it to be so; to separate then this water from this wine, you must put into the vessel of wine, melted Allom, and after stopping the mouth of the said vessel with a sponge drenched in oil, to turn the mouth of the vessel so stopped, downward, and so the water only will come forth▪ or else cause a vessel of ivy wood to be made, and put therein such quantity of wine as it will be able to hold, the water will come forth presently, and the wine will abide pure & neat. Some do use presently to change the wine so watered, and to draw it out into another vessel, and then to put a pint & a half of salt to every fifteen quarts of wine; others do boil the wine upon the fire so long until the third part be consumed, and the rest they use three or four years after. Show me a way how a man may drink much wine and yet not be drunk. To drink great store of wine, and not to be drunk, you must eat of the roasted lungs of a Goat: or otherwise, eat six or seven bitter Almonds fasting: or otherwise, eat raw Coleworts before you drink, and you shall not become drunk. How many sorts of Drunkards are there? So many men, so many minds. The soul being once depraved, and deprived (for want of grace) of her uniform and melodious harmony, becometh tainted with divers and discording affections, insomuch that in their very drinking they show of what base alloy they are composed. Some kind of Drunkards we see laughing out of all measure, others we see weeping. Some are dumb, some talkative. Some hop and dance, some on the contrary lie still, as if they were without feeling. One more watchful than the rest drinks more than twenty, deserving well the garland of Bacchus, Another sleeps and wallows like a filthy Hog. One flatters, another fights. In brief, one is Lion drunk, another Sow drunk. One apish drunk, another Parrot drunk. How to make them which are drunk sober. You must make them eat Coleworts, and some manner of confections made of brine; or else drink great draughts of vinegar. Show me a way how to make Tossepots and drunkards to hate wine. Cause a Drunkard to drink with white wine the blossoms of Rye, gathered at such time as the Rye blossometh: or else take three or four Eels alive, and let them lie in wine till they die, and afterward cause this wine to be drunken off by such as are given to be drunk: or else take a green Frog, which is ordinarily found in fresh springs, and let the same lie in wine till she die; otherwise mark diligently where the Owl haunteth, that so you may get some of her eggs: fry them and give them the drunken gallant to eat. But in vain labours the Physician to cure the body's intemperance, while the soul sleeps in sin, while the reasonable faculties lie trodden and trampled under these worldly pleasures. Awake then, thou sensual man, and shoot inwardly into the lightsome cause of health, which is no other than sobriety, fashioned after the spiritual image of the Trinity. But if thy nature be so stern, if thy soul's advantage be no solid reason in thy judgement to convert thy brutish living, yet let examples of the bodies griefs terrify thy lustful thoughts from such vain dregs. Look but on the countenance of a drunkard, and is not he disfigured? Doth not his nose seem rotten, withered, or worm-eaten? Doth not his breath stink, his tongue falter? Is not his body crazed, subject to gouts and dropsies? It is written of old Father Ennius, that by emptying of bottles he got the gout and many other dolours. As Mounsieur du Chesne out of Celius Rhodiginus translated these verses into French: Le bon pere Ennius seicha tant les bouteilles, Qu'il fut geine de goutte et douleurs nompareilles. More would I inveigh against the Lapiths of our age, had not I of late taxed them in my first Circle of the Spirit of Detraction. Show me a way to make old wine to be new out of hand. Take bitter Almonds and Melilot, of each an ounce; of liquorice three ounces, of the flowers of Alexander as much, of Aloes perepatick two ounces, bray them all and tie them together in a linen cloth, and so sink them in the wine. At what time are Wine and Beer ready to turn and change? About the midst of june, when the Sun enters into the Tropic of Cancer, and somewhat before the Dog days begin, wine and Beer are apt to become eager and corrupt, and likewise when the Southern wind blows, whether it be in Summer time or Winter, when it is great rain, lightning, thunder, or earthquakes, then are wine and Beer subject to turn. Show me how to keep wine and Beer without turning. Above all things, have a special regard that you lay your vessels in vaulted sellers, and then cast into your said vessels, either Roach Allome done into powder, or the ashes of Oaken wood, or beaten Pepper, or else put into your vessels so corrupted, a good quantity of cows milk somewhat salted, or if none of these serve, draw the drink into an other vessel that is sweet and untainted, using a composition of the foresaid remedies, intermingling it four or five times a day, for the space of a seven-night. Is wine hurtful to sick folks? Hypocrates writeth, that to give wine or milk to them that be sick of agues or headaches, is to give them poison, yet nevertheless it doth agree with some kind of diseases: as for example, it is permitted to them that be troubled with dropsies, with ill dispositions of the body, and with the rawness and weakness of the stomach: to be brief, wine is an excellent restorative for old age, which of itself is a great and troublesome sickness; and for this cause some Physicians advised old men to drink wine in the midst of Summer, I mean to use Bacchus for their Physician twenty days before, and twenty days after the dog days, to the end that in the heat and siccity of that fiery star, their lungs should be overflown: but howsoever, wine reviveth feeble spirits, and maketh the heart light, specially of an old man, according to the Italian saying: A vecchio infunde lolio ne la lampada quasi estincta. Unto an old man it infuseth oil in his decayed lamp. Of diet drinks as well for them that be sick as in health. CHAP. 3. Show me how to correct the malicious vapours of wines? FOr the correction of medicinable wine, you must put and infuse Borage, Buglos, and Pimpernell in your wine, for the space of four and twenty hours before you drink of it. Some use to temper the force of wine by putting a toast in it: Some take the leaves of Isop well powned made fast in a fine cloth, and put into new wine against the diseases of the lungs, shortness of the breath, and the cough, which they call Isop wine: some take dry Roses, Anise, and honey, together, with one pound of the leaves and seed of Betony, one pound of Fenell seed, and a little Saffron, these ingredients they put in twenty quarts of new wine, and after four months are past, they change the wine into a new vessel, this kind of wine is very expedient to be drunk for the clearing of the eyesight, for Pleurisies, and for the coroborating of the stomach: Others make wine of Wormwood for the pain of the stomach and liver, and for the worms of the guts, which wine is made after this manner: eight drams of Wormwood, stamp them and strain them, and so cast them into three pints of wine. Show me how to make hippocras and wine of Scene? Common hippocras is made after this manner: take nine pound of the best white wine or Claret that you can get, an ounce and a half of Cinnamon, one pound of Sugar, three drams of Ginger, and two scruples of Nutmegs, beat all these somewhat grossly, then let them soak three days in the said wine, and afterward strain it and use it, for the heating and comforting of a cold and a weak stomach, but if you fear sickness, prepare wine of Scene after this manner: take an ounce of the leaves of Scene well mundified, half a dram of Cinnamon, seeth them in a quart of white wine, with a soft fire, till it come to a pint, afterwards put a little Sugar unto it, and in three days after it hath been steeped and so continuing, you may strain it and use it, by taking of three spoonfuls in the morning, and three spoonfuls when you go to bed, until your body be sufficiently purged. Show me a diet drink against Melancholy Take two ounces of the leaves of Scene, of Fumitory, green Hops and borage, of each a pound, seeth them to the third part in fair water, with a soft fire, or else till two gallons come to one gallon, strain them, and sweeten them with Sugar or honey, and after a seven-night, you may drink thereof every morning a draft fasting, and so before supper one hour. Show me a diet drink against the consumption. Take two gallons of small Ale; half a pound of blanched Almonds, a quarter of a pound of anise seeds, three or four sticks of Liquorice sliced or bruised, one pound of Red Roses, Isop, and Parsley, bruise and strain what is to be bruised and strained, after you have, let them boil to one gallon, and when it is ready, add unto it a quart of malmsey, and drink thereof morning and evening two hours before you eat: this drink preserveth a man from the cough, makes a man of a strong constitution, and cureth the consumption. Of Cider and Perry. CHAP. 4. What is Cider? MOnsieur (Libault) in his third book of his mayson rustic, writeth, that Cider most commonly is sour: yet notwithstanding whether it were made such, by reason of the sourness of the Apples, or become such, by reason of the space of time, in as much as it is very watery; and somewhat earthy, as also very subtle and piercing, and yet therewithal somewhat astringent, and corroborative, becometh singular good to cool a hot liver and stomach, to temper the heat of boiling and choleric blood, to stay choleric and adust vomiting, to assuage thirst, to cut and make thin gross and slimy humours, whether hot or cold, but chiefly the hot. Such drink falleth out to be very good and convenient, and to serve well in place of wine for such as have any ague, for such are subject to a hot liver and hot blood, for such as are scabbed, or itchy, for such are rheumatic upon occasion of hot humours, and it needeth not that it should be tempered with water. What is the use of Perry? Perry is a sweet kind of Cider, either pressed from Pears or from sweet Apples: such Cider therefore as is sweet, because of his sweetness, which cometh of temperate heat, heateth in a mean and indifferent manner, but cooleth least of all: and again, it is the most nourishing of all Ciders, and the most profitable to be used of such as have cold and dry stomachs, and on the contrary, but smally profiting them which have a hot stomach, whether it be more or less, or stomachs that are full of humidity, very tender and queasy, and subject unto choleric vomits; so that in such complexions as are hot and choleric: it is needful as with wine, so with Cider to mix water in a sufficient quantity with sweet Cider when they take it to drink: especially when such persons have any ague withal, or and if it be the hot time of Summer, foreseen that he that shall then drink it thus, be not subject to the pains of the belly or colic, because that sweet Cider pressed new from sweet apples is windy by nature, as are also the sweet apples themselves. This is the cause why Physicians counsel and advise that sweet apples should be roasted in the ashes, for them that shall eat them, that so their great moistness and waterishness which are the original fountain of windiness, may be concocted by the means of the heat of the fire. Of Flesh. CHAP. 5. What Flesh is best to be eaten? BEfore your Bee resolved if this, I must declare unto you the sorts of flesh, and the natures of it. There be two sorts of flesh, the one four-footed, and the other that of Fowl. Among those that be four-footed, some are young, some are of middle age, others are old: the young are moist, and do commonly cause excrements and looseness in the belly, old flesh is dry, of small nourishment and of hard digestion, therefore I take that flesh to be best which is of middle age, if not to the taste, yet at the least to nourish sound and profitably, according to the French Proverb: He that loves young flesh and old fish loves contrary to reason. Qui veut ieune chair et vi eux poisson, Se troue repugner a raisin. Certainly that of the male, doth far excel the flesh of the female, as for example: the Ox flesh is better than the cows flesh: a fat Weather is better than a fat Ewe, but this is to be understood of those males which are gelt: for I cannot deny but Bull beef and Ram mutton is far worse than the flesh of the Cow and the Ewe, and to them which observe diet, I must needs say that all flesh whatsoever, be it Beef, Mutton or other that is bred on dry places or mountainous, where there is any reasonable pasture, is always better and more wholesome, then that which is bred in valleys, or on low and marshy grounds, where there grow bulrushes, and other weeds and herbs, cold moist, and of little substance: To conclude this flesh of four-footed beasts, I have found that Mutton, Beef Kid, Lamb, veal, Pigs and Rabbits, are meats easy to be digested, and do engender good blood; whereas on the contrary, I find that Martlemasse Beef, Bacon & Venison, together with the kidneys, livers and the entrails of beasts, do breed raw humours in the stomach, and fl●xes. In like manner, fat meat is fulsome and takes away a man's stomach. Among fowl we count the Capon, the young Pigeon, the Partridge, the Woodcock, the Peacock, and the Turkey cock, to be meats of an excellent temperature, and fit to continue the body in health: and chose that Hares, Ducks, Geese (young goslings only excepted) and Swans do dispose the body to Melancholy. Show me a way to preserve flesh and fowl sound and sweet for one month, notwithstanding the contagiousness of the weather. Master Plate, whose authority not only in this, but in all other matters I greatly allow of, counseleth housewives to make a strong brine, so as the water be over-glutted with salt, and being scalding hot, to parboil their mutton, veal, venison, fowl or such like, and then to hang them up in a convenient place; with this usage they will last a sufficient space, without any bad or oversaltish taste: some have holpen tainted venison, by lapping the same in a course thin cloth, covering it first with salt, and then burying it a yard deep in the ground. What is the use of our common meats? Young mutton boiled and eaten with opening and cordial herbs, is the most nourishing meat of all, and hurteth none, but only phlegmatic persons, and those which are troubled with the dropsy. Young beef bred up in fruitful pasture, and other while wrought at plough, being powdered with salt four and twenty hours, and exquisitely sodden, is natural meat for men of strong constitutions. It nourisheth exceedingly, and stoppeth the flux of yellow choler: Howbeit Martlemas beef (so commonly called) is not laudable, for it engendereth melancholic diseases, and the stone. Veal young and tender, sodden with young pullets, or capons, and smallage, is very nutritive and wholesome for all seasons, ages and constitutions. The lean of a young fat Hog eaten moderately with spices, and hot things, doth surpass all manner of meat, except Veal, for nourishment; it keepeth the paunch slippery, and provoketh urine; but it hurteth them that be subject to the Gout and Sciatica, and annoyeth old men, and idle persons. A young Pig is restorative, if it be flayed and made in a jelly. To be short, Bacon may be eaten with other flesh to provoke appetite, and to break phlegm coagulated and thickened in the stomach. The hinder part of a young Kid roasted is a meat soon digested, and therefore very wholesome for sick and weak folks. It is more fit for young and hot constitutions, then for old men or phlegmatic persons. Young fallow Deer very well chased, hanged up until it be tender, and in roasting being thoroughly basted with oil, or well larded, is very good for them that be troubled with the rheum or palsy, Yet notwithstanding it hurteth lean folks and old men, it disposeth the body to agues, and causeth fearful dreams. Some say that venison being eaten in the morning, prolongeth life; but eaten at night it bringeth sudden death. The horns of Deer being long and slender, are remedies against poisoned potions; and so are the bones that grow in their hearts. Hare and Coney's flesh parboiled, and then roasted with sweet herbs, Cloves, and other spices, consumeth all corrupt humours and phlegm in the stomach, and maketh a man to look amiably, according to the proverb, He hath swallowed up a Hare: But it is unwholesome for lazy and melancholic men. What is your opinion of Fowl? A fat Capon is more nutritive than any other kind of fowl. It increaseth venery, and helpeth the weakness of the brain. But unless a man after the eating of it, use extraordinary exercise, it will do him more hurt then good. As for chickens they are fitter to be eaten of sick men, then of them that be in health. Pigeons plump and fat, boiled in sweet flesh-broth with coriander & vinegar, or with sour cherries and plums, do purge the rains, heal the palsy proceeding of a cold cause, and are very good in cold weather for old persons, and stomachs full of phlegm. A young fat Goose farced with sweet herbs and spices, doth competently nourish. Notwithstanding, tender folks must not eat thereof; for it filleth the body with superfluous humours, and causeth the fever to follow. Young Ducks stifled with Borage smoke, and being eaten in cold weather, strengthen the voice, and increase natural seed. Young hen Partridges, eaten with vinegar, do heal all manner of fluxes, and dry up bad humours in the belly. Quails eaten with coriander seed and vinegar, do help melancholic men. Woodcocks and Snites are somewhat lightly digested: Yet hurtful for choleric and melancholic men. Swans, Turkeys, Peacocks, Hearnes, and Cranes, if they be hanged by the necks five days with weights at their feet, & afterwards eaten with good sauce, do greatly nourish and profit them, which have hot bellies. Larks and Sparrows are marvelous good for them, that be diseased of the colic. Show me a way to fatten great Fowl in most short time. You must follow Master Plaits advise, namely, to take the blood of beasts, whereof the Butchers make no great reckoning, and boil it with some store of bran amongst it (perhaps grains will suffice, but bran is best) until it come to the shape of a bloud-pudding, and therewith feed your fowl so fat as you please. You may feed Turkeys with bruised Acorns, and they will prosper exceedingly. Of Fish. CHAP. 6. Show me how to feed fishes in Ponds. IN the fourth book of the maison rustic, lately translated out of French into English by Master Surphlet, I find these means for the preserving of Fishponds laid down. It will be good sometimes to cast in some sorts of small fishes; the bowels and entrails of great fish, cracked walnuts, fresh cheese, lumps of white bread, certain fruits chopped small, all sorts of salt fish, and such other like victual; and sometimes it will be good to cast upon the pools and ponds, the fresh leaves of Parsley, for those leaves do rejoice and refresh the fishes that are sick. Sith it is most certain that the fishes abiding in the sea or streams and running rivers have greater store of victual, than those which are shut up in pools and ponds, for such as have their full scope of liberty in the sea and streams, do always meet with one relief or other, brought unto them by the course of the water, besides the small fishes, which are the food and sustenance of the greater: but the other shut up and enclosed in safeguard, cannot go forth a hunting after any pray. What is the best fish? A fresh carp salted for the space of six hours, and then fried in oil and besprinkled with vinegar, in which spices have boiled, in all men's censure is thought to be the wholesomest kind of fish. It may not be kept long, except it be well covered with bay, myrtle, or Cedar leaves. Salmon and Trout well sodden in water and vinegar, and eaten with sour sauce, do help hot livers and burning agnes. Barbles roasted upon a gridiron, or broiled in vinegar are very wholesome. If any man drink the wine, wherein one of them hath been strangled to death, he shall ever after despise all manner of wines. Which conclusion were fit to be put in trial by some of our notorious swil-boules. River sturgeons sodden in water and vinegar and eaten with fennel, do cool the blood, and provoke lechery. Cuttles seasoned with oil and pepper, do provoke appetite and nourish much. River Lampreys choked with Nutmegs, and Cloves, and fried with bread, oil, and spices, is a Princely dish, and doth very much good. Female Tenches baked with Garlic, or boiled with Onions, oil, and Raisins, may be eaten of vouth, and choleric men. Pikes boiled with water, oil, and sweet herbs will firmly nourish. Eels taken in Spring time, and roasted in a leaf of paper with oil, Coriander seed, and Parsley, do break phlegm in the stomach. River Perches will provoke appetite to them that be sick of the hot ague. Oysters roasted on the embers, and then taken with oil, pepper, and the juice of Oranges, provoke appetite and lechery. They must not be eaten in those month, which in pronouncing want the letter R. Crack fish roasted in the embers, and eaten with vinegar and pepper purge the reins, and help them that be sick of the consumption or phthisic. Show me a way to keep Oysters, Lobsters, and such like sweet and good for some few days. Oysters as master Plate saith, may be preserved good a long time, if they be barreled up, and some of the brackishwater, where they are taken, powered amongst them, Or else you may pile them up in small roundlets, with the hollow parts of the shells upward, casting salt amongst them at every lay which they make. You may keep Lobsters, Shrimps, and such like fish: If you wrap them severally in sweet and course rags first moistened in strong brine, and then you must bury these clothes, and cover them in some cool and moist place with sand. Of Milk, Butter, Cheese and Eggs. CHAP. 7. What is the use of milk? THere be many kinds of milk according to the diversities of the nature of living things. The milk of kine, and sheep, is the most butterish and nourishing; next unto it, goats milk is chief, saving woman's milk, with which there is no comparison, as being the most agreeable to the Sympathy of our natures, and proper to dry and melancholic persons; yea and a remedy against the consumption. There be three sundry substances, which lie hidden within the nature of milk, even as they do within all other natural things whatsoever they be, namely a sulphureous substance which is the butter, conceiving a flame, much differing from that whayish or mercurial part which is the thin milk, next, it conceives cheese, which represents the salt: and lastly, the thin milk (being the remainder of both) being made into pottage with Rice and Sugar, it increaseth the generative seed, and strengtheneth the body. Buttermilk in which fumitory have been steeped and drunk in the Summer time, or rather in the Spring time, is an excellent remedy against all diseases exceeding of collar and melancholy, yet notwithstanding with this caveat, that after the taking of it, you do neither eat any other thing, nor sleep within three hours after. To conclude, it must not in any case be taken of them which are subject to fevers, headaches, or fluxes: according to that vulgar saying: Dare lac aut vinum febricitantibus & capite dolentibus est dare venenum. What is the use of butter? Butter, whether it be fresh or salt purgeth mildly, and helpeth the roughness of the throat: fresh butter being taken fasting with a little Sugar, hindereth the engendering of the stone: and cureth the shortness of breath, that butter is best which is made in May. What is the use of Cheese? Cheese being the thickest part of the milk is most nourishing, but it makes the body bound and stiptic: Old cheese all mouldy, brayed and mixed with the decoction of a salt gamon of bacon, and applied in form of a Cataplasm, doth soften all the hard swellings of the knees. What is the use of Eggs. There are three things worthy of consideration to be marked in eggs; the first is, their proper substance and quality, for eggs of some fowls are better than of some others, Hen eggs are the best, and of better nourishment than the eggs of Ducks, Geese, or other fowl: the second thing remarkable in eggs is, the time, to wit, whether they be fresh or stale, whether they be laid of a young Hen or of an old Hen, for experience teacheth us that these last do quickly corrupt within the stomach, and be nothing so good to nourish. Likewise it hath been noted that eggs laid after the new of the Moon in the month of August, or in the wane of the Moon, in the month of November, as those likewise which are laved on Christmas day or on Whitsonday, are lasting and durable, and not easily corrupted. Whereof there cannot be devised any other reason, than that in some of them the shell is made hard and not to be pierced through of the air by the coldness of the time: and in the other, there is a most quick exhaling and expending of that which might be corrupted within the egg, by the heat of the time, & season then being. The third and last observation is the dressing and making ready of eggs, some are sodden or roasted hard which the French men call Dursis; and the greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, that is, Eggs boiled till they be very hard, some are boiled to a mean, to wit, neither soft nor hard, which the Latins call Iremula: Others be but warm only or soft and supping Eggs, which the Latins call Oua sorbilia. Above all, Eggs poached with parsley are the most wholesome. Show me a way to make Hens to lay good and great Eggs. Though this receipt be homely, yet because it makes for our body's nourishment and contentment, I will not conceal it from good housewives. Hen's will lay great eggs, if you pound bricks & mix them with bran and wine, bray them all very well, and give them to the Hens to eat: or else make a fine powder of brick, mix it with barley bran, and give it them to eat: some for the very same purpose do mollify the Fuller's earth that is red, and mix it among the Hen's meat. The Hen will sit all Winter as well as in Summer, if she have meat made of bran, mixed with the leaves and seed of dry Nettles. Show me how Eggs are to be prepared for Physic? The yolk of an egg swallowed alone, stayeth the cough, and such other distillations as fall down upon the lungs and other parts of the breast. The white of an egg beaten, and with the powder of Frankincense, Mastic, and Galls applied to the brows, doth stay the bleeding at the nose. A Cataplasm made of the yolk and white of an egg well beaten, the juice or water of Plantain and Nightshade applied unto burnings, doth quench and extinguish them. A hard roasted egg eaten with vinegar, stayeth the flux of the belly, if you mix with it the powder of Hartshorn. Of Sauces. CHAP. 8. What be the best and savoury sauces for our meats? FOr the seasoning of such meats both flesh and fish as we have spoken of before, and to make them agreeable as well for our health as for our nourishment and appetites, we must use now and then sauces with our meats: And these in particular are salt, Sugar, Pepper, Cinnamon, Ginger, Cloves, Nutmegs, Saffron, Honey, Oil, Vinegar and verjuice. Salt, is of a hot and dry quality, endued with a purging, cleansing, and a seasoning faculty, most fit to preserve meat from putrefaction, and to consume their moist excrements and superfluities. And for this cause we are advised of the ancient Physicians, not to eat Beef, Venison, or any other meat strong of digestion, before the same be seasoned with salt two or three days at the least. Sugar is of a hot quality, and is quickly converted into choler: for which cause, I cannot approve the use thereof in ordinary meats, specially to young men, or to them which are of hot complexions, for it is most certain, that they which accustom themselves unto it, are commonly thirsty and dry, with their blood burnt, and their teeth blackened and corrupted: In medicine wise, it may be taken either in water for hot fevers, or in syrups for some kind of diseases. Pepper is the best and wholesomest of all spices, as being of least heat in operation, though in taste it seem over hot, being taken, I mean three or four grains of it, swallowed down with a fasting stomach, it preserveth a man from the palsy, and from griefs in the stomach, the oil of it extracted, and taken with some convenient liquor, is a most ready and sovereign remedy against the tertian and quartain agues, by reason that the said oil dissolveth and rooteth out the seminary causes of such fevers, and doth cause the same to be evacuated by sweats, urine, or owise. Cinnamon is of a very thin substance, yet notwithstanding, very cordial, comfortable and corroborative, there is a water distilled from it, known by the name of Cinnamon water, which is exceeding good for women in childbed, for weak stomachs, for the falling sickness, Apoplexies, and all windy colics. Ginger approacheth somewhat nigh to the nature of Pepper, but it is of a thicker substance, and doth not penetrate so soon as the Pepper, which hath a sustance more thin, it availeth against obstructions, and Fever quartains. Cloves are seldom used alone, but with other spices: they serve for the interlarding of Turkycocks and Salmon alone, without any other spice. Nutmegs and Mace are spices of a most temperate nature, and may be used in winter time with moist meats. Saffron rejoiceth the heart, comforteth the stomach, and procureth sleep, but you must look that you take not too much of it; for according to the vulgar French Proverb: La qualitè ne nuit pas, ains la quantitè Exceeding one or two drachmas, his narcotic smell doth offend the brain in such wise, that it maketh it dull and stupied. Oil is more wholesome and necessary than butter, as well for a man's health, as for the preparing of sundry meats and salads, and better resisteth corruptions then butter: we see another difference in this, that oil is of itself reserved for a long time without change, whereas butter is nothing worth if it be not fresh eaten or salted; being applied outwardly, it hath a singular virtue, as appears by the answer of an ancient Philosopher, who being asked of the means to continue a man in perfect health, and to live long; said, that it was to use honey within, and oil without; being inwardly taken, it looseth the belly, it causeth one to vomit up malignant humours; yea, poison itself, if a man hath drunken of it, or taken it but a small time before: one or two ounces of it taken with the juice of lemond's, cureth the worms in children's bodies, and the disease commonly called the Scurvy, which kind of oil I hold best: for I confess that there be many kinds of oil, yet none like to the oil Olive, which I here do only commend, in respect that the Olive doth yield more Oil than any other seed or fruit, it hath deserved the name of excellency above all the rest, for the fat and unctuous liquors of other seeds and fruits, are not like to have any other name bestowed upon them, then that which belongeth of right unto the liquor which is pressed out of the Olive, for which reason when we speak of the Oil of the Olive, we only say, Oil: but when we speak of other oils, we add the name of the seed or fruit from which it was pressed, as for example, oil of Vitriall, oil of Sage, oil of Wormwood, oil of Cloves, and so of the rest. Vinegar provokes appetite, tempereth hot choleric humours, & keepeth back corruption and infection in the plague time, but it hurteth them that be sorrowful except they correct it with Sugar. Verivyce is of the same nature as vinegar is. Show me a way to make wholesome and good vinegar in a short time. Take stale drink, and cast into it salt, pepper, and sour leaven mingled together, afterwards heat red hot some Tile, or gadd of Steel, and put it hot into the drink. In like manner, a Radish root, a Beete root, and a shive of Barley bread new baked, put into stale drink, and put forth in a glass in the Sun, or in the chimney corner, to the heat of the fire, will make good vinegar in a short time; or if you will have it better, and to provoke appetite, infuse into your said vinegar the leaves or juice of red Roses dried, the juice of Mints and century. Show me a way to make vinegar with corrupted and marred wine. Take rotten and marred wine, and boil it, taking away all the scum that riseth in the boiling thereof, thus let it continue upon the fire, till it be boiled away one third part, then put it up into a vessel wherein hath been vinegar, putting thereto some chervil, cover the vessel in such sort, that there get no air into it; and in short time it will prove good and strong vinegar. Of Herbs. CHAP. 8. What is the use of our ordinary herbs and roots. BOrage is a cordial Herb. It purget blood, maketh the heart merry, and strengtheneth the bowels. Cabbages moderately eaten do mollify the belly, and are very nutritive. Some say, that they have a special virtue against drunkenness. Radish roots do clear the voice, provoke urine, and comfort the liver. Cucumbers are of a cold temperature, and fit to be eaten only of choleric persons. Onions, Leeks, and Garlic, are only fit to be eaten of phlegmatic folks. They clarify the voice, extend the winde-pipes, and provoke urine, and menstrual issue. But men subject to the headache must not adventure to eat such vaperous nutriments. Show me the best Salad. The best Salad is made of Peniroyall, Prasley, Lettuce, and Endive: for it openeth the obstruction of the Liver, and keepeth the head in good plight. Of Fruit. CHAP. 9 What is the use of Fruit? ALL Fruit for the most part are taken more for wantonness then for any nutritive or necessary good, which they bring unto us. To verify this, let us but examine with the eye of reason what profit they cause, when they are eaten after meals. Surely we must needs confess, that such eating, which the French call desert, is unnatural, being contrary to Physic or Diet: for commonly fruits are of a moist faculty, and therefore fitter to be taken afore meals (but corrected with Sugar or comfits) then after meals: and then also but very sparingly, lest their effects appear to our bodily repentance, which in women grow to be the green sickness, in men the morphew, or else some flatuous windy humour. White figs pared, and then eaten with Oranges, Pomegranates, or seasoned in vinegar, in spring time do nourish more than any fruit, break the stone in the rains, & quench thirst. Raisins and curranes are very nutritive, yet notwithstanding they putrefy the rains and the bladder. Sebastian Prunes do lose the belly, and quench choler. Red garden Strawberries purified in wine, and then eaten with good store of Sugar, do assuage choler, cool the liver, and provoke appetite. Almonds and Nuts are very nutritive, and do increase grossness; they multitiply sperm, and provoke sleep. But I would not with any to eat them that are short wound, or troubled with headaches. Old and ripe Apples roasted, baked, stewed, or powdered with Sugar and anise seed, do recreate the heart, open the windpipes, and appease the cough. Ripe Pears eaten after meat, and powdered with Sugar, cause appetite, and fatten bodies. And if you drink a cup of old wine after them, they will do thee much good. Weighty Oranges are very good for them that be melancholic, and keep back the rheum. Cherries, Plums, and Damsons, do qualify blood, and repress choleric humours. The third Section. Of sleep, early rising, and dreams. CHAP. I. What be the commodities of sleep? MOderate sleep strengtheneth all the spirits, comforteth the body, quieteth the humours and pulses, qualifieth heat of the liver, taketh away sorrow, and assuageth fury of the mind. What be the discommodities of sleep? Immoderate sleep maketh the brain giddy, engendereth rheum and impostumes, causeth the pasie, bringeth oblivion, and troubleth the spirits. How many hours may a man sleep? Seven hours sleep, is sufficient for sanguine and choleric men; and nine hours for phlegmatic, and melancholic men. Upon which side must a man sleep first? Upon his right side, until the meat which he hath eaten, be descended from the mouth of the stomach (which is on the left side:) then let him sleep upon his left side, and upon his belly, that the meat may be the more easily sodden and digested in a more hot and fleshly place. May a man conveniently lie upright on his back? No, for it heateth the rains, hurteth the brain and memory, and oftentimes breedeth the disease, which is called the riding Mare. Show me some remedies to procure sleep. Take a little Camphire, and mingle it with some woman's milk, and anoint your temples therewith, or else take an ounce of the oil of Roses, and three drams of vinegar, stir them both together and use them. What think you of noon sleep? Sleeping at noon is very dangerous, But if you judge it good by reason of custom, then do off your shoes, while you sleep: for when the body and members be heavy with deep sleep, the thickness of the leather at the soles doth return the hurtful vapours of the feet (that else should vanish away) in the head and eyes. Also, you must (if you can possibly) sleep in your chair, and let your head be meanly covered according to the time. For as too much cold, so too much heat, doth astonish the mind and spirits. Of early rising. CHAP. 2. What are the commodities of early rising? EArly rising is healthful for the blood and humours of the body, and a thing good for them that be studious of weighty affairs, for the animal spirit is then more ready to conceive. Yet notwithstanding it is not amiss to consider, and serve the time and place: because if the air be corrupt, as in plague time, or inclined to moistness, as in rainy and misty weather, or thundering, it is better to abide either in bed with some light, or to sit in the chamber by some sweet fire. Of Dreams. CHAP. 3. What are Dreams? Dreams are either tokens of things past, or significants of things to come. And surely if a man's mind be free from cares, and he dream in the morning, there is no doubt, but the affairs than dreamt of will truly come to pass. How many sorts of dreams be there? There be three sorts of Dreams. To wit, divine, supernatural, and natural. Divine dreams, are they which were sent by inspiration from God to his Prophets, and faithful servants, and as God is the Author of truth, so are they true and certain. Supernatural dreams are placed in the midst, between the divine dreams and the natural, for they may happen without being precisely sent from God, and their cause comes not only by the sole depravation of humours, as natural dreams do, but by the ravishment of the spirit, which wakes, while the body reposeth, and which being oftentimes holpen by the inspiration of some good Angel or Genius, doth represent by such Dreams, things which commonly come to pass. These kind of dreams chance in the morning, when the brain is more free from the vapours of the meat, which before had dulled it: Among many examples which I have read of, this one seems most strange unto me. Two friends travailing together to a certain City, by the way at a little village, parted the one to his friend's house, and the other to an Inn. He which lodged at his friend's house, saw in his dream, his companion desiring him, that he would come to help him, or else he was to be killed by his host, which when he saw, he awaked, & rose out of his bed and was about to go to the Inn, but coming to himself, and thinking how it might be a false dream, returned to his bed, and slept; then again his friend appeared unto him, and seemed to request him more earnestly that he would succour him, but he making no account likewise of this dream, slept again; to whom in like manner the third time, his companion with a great complaint desiring him because he had neglected to help him in his life time, that now he would at last, not deny to seek revenge on the murderer, saying, that his murdered body was brought out of the gate of the City upon a Cart, covered over with dung to hide the offence. By this means God disclosed the murder, which well might be termed sera numinis vindicta. Natural dreams are they which represent the passions of the soul and body, the imaginations of such dreams come to pass, either by reason of outward causes, or inward; the outward, are vaporous meats, which engender corrupt and burnt blood: For the use of Coleworts, Beans, Pease, and Pottage, causeth sorrowful and troublesome dreams, like as Garlic and Onions, being eaten at supper, doth make a man to dream of terrible things. The inward causes of which dreams, are evil humours, specially melancholic, which through the blackness thereof, doth darken the light of the understanding (which is seated in the brain, and there-hence as a candle imparts light unto the whole body) and there they imprint troublesome dreams. To hinder a man from dreaming, let him avoid bad and windy meats, let him purge melancholy, and at convenient season, if need be, let him bleed. Likewise it is expedient to temper and correct the humours by sound antidotes and preparatives, to use revulsions and derivations to withdraw some of the fumes and vapours, which ascend up into the head, filling the brain with many such troublesome conceits. The fourth Section. Of Evacuations. CHAP. 1. How many kinds of Evacuations are there? EVacuations are either natural or artificial: the one usual, as exercise, urine, fasting, and venery: the other compelled as by Baths, blood-letting, Purgations, vomits, glisters. What be the commodities of Exercise? Exercise is that which maketh the body light, increaseth natural heat, and consumeth superfluous humours, which otherwise would clotter and congeal within the body. For in every concoction some excrements are engendered, which being left alone, may be the roots of divers sicknesses. Now the thicker sort of excrements are avoided by sensible evacuations. But the thinner may be wasted and purged by exercise. At what time is it best to exercise? It is best to exercise when the body is fasting and empty, lest after meats by violent and vehement motions, digestion be hindered, and putrefaction follow. In Summer, exercise is to be used an hour after Sun rising, for fear of a double heat. In Spring and Harvest time, it is to be used about an hour and a half after Sun rising, that the morning cold may be avoided: for as the heat at midday is hurtful, so the morning cold, especially in Autumn is to be eschewed. What kind of Exercise is good? Walking, if it be not too slow, is a commendable exercise, and may be used in hot months, specially of choleric persons. To hang by the hands on a thing above your reach, so that your feet touch not the ground, is good. To climb up against a steep hill, till you pant, and fetch your breath often with great difficulty, is a fit exercise to be frequented in cold seasons. Old men must content themselves with softer Exercises, lest that the small heat which they have, should be spent. They must only every morning have their joints gently rubbed with a linen cloth. To be brief, they must be combde, and cherished up with fine delights. Unto what complexion doth Exercise most appertain? Unto the phlegmatic, rather than the choleric. What exercise should short wound men use? They must use loud reading, and disputations, that thereby their wind pipes may be extended and their pores opened. Of Urines. CHAP. 2. What is Urine? Urine is the clearer and lighter part of blood proceeding from the rains; which if a man forceth to suppress, he is in danger of the colic or stone, What colour of urine is most commendable? That Urine is most laudable, which is of colour somewhat red and yellow like gold, answering in proportion, to the liquor which you drink. Teach me to prognosticate by Urines. White urine signifieth rawness and indigestion in the stomach. Red urine betokeneth heat. Thick urine, and like to puddle, showeth sickness or excessive labour. If white or red gravel appear in the bottom of your urinal, it threateneth the stone in the rains. In brief, black or green coloured urine, declareth death most commonly to ensue. Of Fasting. CHAP. 3. Is moderate fasting good? MOderate fasting, as to omit a dinner or a supper once a week, is wonderful commodious for them that are not choleric or melancholic, but full of raw humours. This, Anthony the Emperor knew very well, when he accustomed to drink nought save one cup full of wine, with a little pepper after he had surfeited. Of the commodities of Fasting I have written more largely in my second book of the Golden Grove: and now of late in my first Circle of The Spirit of Detraction conjured and convicted. Show me a way to preserve my life, if perhaps I be constrained to straggle in Deserts. Take Liquorice or Tobacco now and then, chew it, and you shall satisfy both thirst and hunger: or else, mix some suet with one pound of Violets, and you shall preserve your life thereby, ten days. Or to conclude, take a piece of alum, & roll it in your mouth when you wax hungry: By this means, you may live (as some write) a whole fortnight without sustenance. Of Venery. CHAP. 4. What is the use of Venery? MOderate Venery is very expedient for preservation of health. It openeth the pores, maketh the body light, exhilerateth the heart and wit, and mitigateth anger & fury. When is the best use of carnal copulation? It is best to use carnal copulation in Winter, and in Spring time, when nature is desirous without the help of Arts dregs, and at night, when the stomach is full, and the body somewhat warm, that sleep immediately after it, may lenify the lassitude caused through the action thereof. In Summer in june and july when the spittle thickens on the ground, it cannot be good. What be the inconveniences of immoderate Venery? Immoderate venery weakeneth strength, hurts the brain, extinguisheth radical moisture. and hasteneth on old age and death. sperm or seed of generation is the only comforter of nature, which wilfully shed or lost, harmeth a man more, then if he should bleed forty times as much. Teach me how wifeless bachelors, and husbandless maids, should drive away their unclean dreaming of venery at nights. First, they must refrain from wine, and venerous imaginations, and not use to lie in soft down beds. Secondly, they must addict themselves to read the Bible and moral Philosophy. Thirdly, they must exercise often their bodies. Lastly, if none of these prevail, let them use the seed of Agnus castus, in English Park seed, and they shall feel a strange effect to follow. Of Baths. CHAP. 5. What is the use of Baths? Could and natural baths are greatly expedient for men subject to rheums, dropsies and gouts. Neither can I easily express in words how much good cold baths do bring unto them that use them: howbeit with this caveat I commend baths, to wit, that no man distempered through Venery, Gluttony, watching, fasting, or through violent exercise, presume to enter into them. Is bathing of the head wholesome? You shall find it wonderful expedient, if you bathe your head four times in the year, and that with▪ hot lee made of ashes. After which, you must cause one presently to pour two or three gallons of cold fountain water upon your head. Then let your head be dried with cold towels. Which sudden pouring down of cold water, although it doth mightily terrify you, yet nevertheless, it is very good, for thereby the natural heat is stirred within the body, baldness is kept back, and the memory is quickened. In like manner, washing of hands often, doth much avail the eyesight. How shall a man bathe himself in Winter time when waters be frozen? In Winter time this kind of artificial bathing is very expedient and wholesome: Take two pound of Turpentine, four ounces of the juice of Wormwood and wild mallows, one ounce of fresh butter, one drachm of saffron: mingle them and seeth them a pretty while, and being hot, wet four linen clothes in it, and therewith bathe yourself. Or else make a bath after this manner, take of Fumitory, and Enula Campana leaves, Sage, Fetherfue, Rosemary & Wormwood, of each a handful or two, seeth them in a sufficient quantity of water till they be soft, and put as much as a walnut of Allome, and a little brimstone in powder, and therewith bathe the places of your body affected. He that useth these baths in times convenient, shall live healthfully, for by them superfluous excrements are extracted in sweat. Of Excrements and Blood-letting. CHAP. 6. What be Excrements? OF excrements some be necessary, and some superfluous: those be necessary which spring of superfluous blood, and that notwithstanding can nourish, when nourishment fails; as seed, sperm, milk and fat. Those be superfluous, which do not proceed from blood, nor can nourish, but rather separated from the blood as not able to nourish, and these are either moist or earthy; moist as black melancholy, sweat, urine, matter of the nose, spittle, etc.: Earthy or dry excrements, as nails, corns, and such like. Aristotle reckoneth the marrow in the body, the marrow among the excrements: 2 Libr. de generat▪ animal. cap. 6. But I take it to be a nourishment, because the bones are nourished by it, even as the body is nourished by blood. What think you of blood-letting? Blood is the very essence of life: which diminished, the spirits must consequently be dissolved. In consideration whereof, I counsel them, that use any moderate exercise, not in any case to be let blood; lest that corrupt water succeed in the place of the pure blood. But if they abound with blood; or their blood be putrefied and burnt (if other medicines avail not) this law of mine must needs be infringed. Show me a way to discern the effects of blood-letting? If the blood, which is let out, appear red of colour, and white water flow with it, than the body is sound: if bubbling blood issue, the stomach is diseased: if green, the heart is grieved. Of Purgations. CHAP. 7. What is the use of Purgations? PVrgations, as sometime they be very necessary, so often taking of them is most dangerous. He that useth exquisite Purgations, and especially electuaries soluble, shall quickly wax old and gray-headed. All Purgations (a few simples only excepted) have poisoned effects. Besides, nature above measure is compelled by Purgations, and the vital powers are diminished. In respect of which reasons, let every man take heed of those butchering Surgeons and bloodsucking Empirics, who rogueing up and down Countries, do murder many Innocents, under pretext of Physic. He that observeth a good diet, and moderately exerciseth his body, needeth no Physic. Moist and delicate viands eaten in the beginning of meals, do sufficiently lose the belly. Sweet wines perform the very same. Also the leaves of Scene sodden in water with Sebastian Prunes, will make the belly soluble. Why then will men be so heady, as to take their own destruction, seeing that they may live in health without Phisick-helpe? Who are apt to take Purgatians and who not? They are apt to take Purgations, who are strong of constitutions, and who are willing. And again, they are unapt for Purgations, which are either too fat or too lean. Likewise children, old persons, women with child, and healthful folks are not to be purged. What humours are fittest to be purged? Those humours, which molest the body, and offend either in quality or quantity. If choler happen to offend you, it is convenient, that you purge the same: if phlegm trouble you, then by medicine it must be undermined: if melancholy doth abound, it is expedient, that you fetch it out. What must I do before purging? Before you purge, you must attenuate the slimy humours, open the pores, through which the purgation is carried, and extract the whayish humours by some mild syrup. Moreover, you must diligently mark the place, where you are aggrieved, namely, whether of the headache, or else sick in the stomach, liver, kidneys, or the belly: and then whether by reason of phlegm, choler, or melancholy. Which being known; according to the humour and place, you must mingle syrups fit for the part affected, with waters of the same nature, that the humour may be aforehand concocted; but in such wise; that the measure of the water may double the measure of the syrup, and that the measures of both, exceed not four ounces. How many things are to be considered in purgations? Eight things. First, the quality of the purgation. Secondly, the time of the year. Thirdly, the climate of the Country. Fourthly, the age of the patient. Fiftly, his custom. Sixtly, the disease. seventhly, the strength of the sick. Eightly, the place of the Moon. Show me the best and safest purgation for phlegm. Take one drachm of Turbith, four drachmas of vinegar and Sugar; make them into powder, and use it in the morning with hot water: But eat not till three hours be expired. For Choler. Take two drachmas of good rhubarb beaten into powder, and incorporate the same with five ounces of hot water, wherein Damask Prunes have been sodden; and use it hot in the morning. Or else take half an ounce of Cassia fistula, a drachm of rhubarb, and infuse them in water of Endive with an ounce of the syrup of Limonds: The next morning mingle all these with three ounces of Ptisan or Whey, and drink this infusion warm. Others of the poorer sort purge themselves only with half an ounce of Diaprunis laxanice, mixed with Succory water and drunk warm; or else with half an ounce of Electuarium de succo Rosarum, and three ounces of the decoction of French Prunes. For melancholy. Take three drachmas of the leaves of Scene, two drachmas of Cinnamon and Ginger, one drachm of Sugar, and seeth them in goats milk, woman's milk, whey, or in some other like thing. It is also good to anoint the side of the spleen with unguentum Dialthaeae. Or else with the oil of Lilies, oil of Dill, hens grease, and the marrow of an Ox. Show me how I may mundify blood? Take two drachmas of Time and Scene, one drachm of Myrobolane, one drachm of rhubarb, white Turbith, and Ginger, two drachmas of Sugar; let them be done all into powder, and given in water wherein Fennell or anise seed have been boiled. What shall I do, if the Purgation will not work? If after the taking of a Purgation, the belly be not loosed, that inconvenience happeneth chiefly for these causes; either through the nature of the sick, or for the slenderness of the Purgation, or because nature converteth her endeavour into urine, or else by reason that the belly was before hand too hard bound, which by a glister might be holpen▪ When therefore the belly after the Purgation is not soluble, it procureth grievous malady in the body: But if a man taketh a small quantity of Mastic lightly pounded and ministered in warm water, he shall be cured of that infirmity. Likewise, it much availeth, presently to eat an apple. Seeing that glisters be very commodious, show me a way to make some. Take honey sodden till it be thick, and mingle the same with wheaten meal, then add a little freshbutter, and make your glister into a long form: Which done, dip it in oil, and use it. Or else take half an ounce of the roots of Succory and Liquorice, two drachmas of Endive, one handful of Mallows, one drachm of the seed of Succory and Fennel, two drachmas of Fennigreeke, half a handful of the flowers of Cammomel; seeth them, and then a most wholesome glister is made. What if the purgation doth evacuate too much? You must infuse three drachmas of the powder of Mastic in the juice of Quinces, and drink it: or else eat a Quince alone. Or else anoint the mouth of the stomach or the upper part of the belly, with this precious ointment following. viz. with oil of Roses, and Quinces, of each an ounce, with oil of Mastic half an ounce; mingle these with the powder of Coral and Wax, and use it to stop the flux, whether it be sudden, or humourall, or dissenteriall. What is the use of Tobacco? Cane Tobacco well dried, and taken in a clean Pipe fasting, in a moist morning, during the Spring or Autumn, cureth the megrim, the toothache, obstructions proceeding of cold, and helpeth the fits of the Mother. After meals it doth much hurt, for it infecteth the brain and the liver, as appears in our Anatomies, when their bodies are opened, we find their kidneys, yea and hearts quite wasted: For as all other things, which God gave for our necessities, are superfluously employed, apparel, meats, drinks, and such like: so this Indian weed, whose proper use is to purge the body of thin water, which we call distillations or slender rheums, and that in medicine manner in moist weather. I say, Tobacco is mightily abused, & by the devils temptations turned to Bacchanalian beastly custom, to serve Tossepots in stead of salt meats, caviar, and other enducements or drawers on of drinks. Sometimes our swaggering castaways take it after the example of Politicians to temporize and dally away the time, that they might rest in their counterfeit trance, when they want matter of discourse, until after a thorough perambulation of their barren wits, they have coined some strange accident or answer worthy the rehearsal among their boon companions. Then after long houghing, halking, and hacking: Mobile colluerint liquido cum plasmate guttur, Having their throats well washed with dreggish drugs. They recount tales of Robin Hood, of Donzel del Phoebo, etc. as I have elsewhere written in my Preface to my first Circle of the Spirit of Detraction. To conclude, the abuse of this foreign herb, I wish the Reader to ruminate and repair over these modern rhythms: Tobacco that outlandish weed Doth spend the brain and spoil the seed. It dulls the sprite, it dims the sight, It robs a woman of her right. Of Vomits. CHAP. 8. What is a vomit? A Vomit is the expulsion of bad humours (contained in the stomach) upwards. It is accounted the wholesomest kind of Physic: for that, which a purgation leaveth behind it, a vomit doth root out. Which are the best vomits? Take of the seeds of Dill, Attripplex, and Radish three drachmas, of Fountain water one pound and a half: seeth them all together, till there remain one pound: strain it, and use it hot. Or else make you a vomit after this manner: take three drachmas of the rind of a Walnut, slice them, and steep them one whole night in a draft of white wine, and drink the wine in the morning a little before dinner. What if the vomits work not? If they work not within an hour after you have taken any of them, sup a little of the syrup of oxymel, and put your left middle finger in your mouth, and you shall be holpen. What shall I do, if I vomit too much? If you vomit too much, rub & wash your feet with hot and sweet water: and if it cease not for all this: apply a gourd to the mouth of the stomach. Sometimes without any Physic at all, one shall fall to a customary vomiting. And then it proceeds either of the cold complexion of the stomach, or of hot complexion. If of cold complexion, you may help it by making a bag of Wormwood, dry Mints, and Maioram, of each a like one handful, of Nutmegs, Cloves, and Galingall half a drachm of each one. Let all of them be dried and powdered, and put betwixt two linen clothes, with Cotton interposed and basted. And then let them be applied upon the stomach; Or else you may apply the said herbs alone dried on a hot Tilestone, and put betwixt two linen clothes upon the stomach. Let them fortify their stomachs with the syrup of Mints or of Wormwood, or eat Lozenges called Diagalanga. If vomiting proceeds of hot complexion, you may cure it by a plaster applied to the stomach, of oil of Roses, Wormwood, Mints, and Barley flower with the white of an Egg. Some in such a case take the water of Purslane in their drink to quench their thirst. Of Common sicknesses. CHAP. 9 Show me how to cure such common sicknesses, as daily annoy our bodies. ALL sicknesses whatsoever spring out of the head distempered; and there-hence they arise in one of the four humours, which by the distemperature of the head, become likewise distempered: so that all sicknesses abound either of the blood depraved, or of choler infected, or of phlegm coagulated, or of melancholy empoisoned: Or (perhaps) they spring by the mixed corruption of two or more of these humours. Wherefore it behoveth us to be wise in the very beginning of our sicknesses, and to prevent their thievish intrusion. Above all vomits or purgations, I see none comparable to Stibium or Antimony prepared, which I dare boldly commend as a most sovereign and cheap remedy for agues, dropsies, fluxes and distillations unto the poorer sort. The taking whereof I wish to be only three grains infused for a whole night in a glass of Sack, with a little Sugar or clear Ale, and to be drunk up the next morning. As for rich men, let them fee the Physician, lest that noble trade decay for want of maintenance: according to that old saying: Stipends do nourish Artes. The Seminaries of diseases after this manner rooted out by Antimony. Let every particular grief be suited thereafter: for agues, let them cool the liver with Ptisans, Endive, or Succory waters. For the stone, let them take goats blood dried into powder in a hot Oven, or otherwise as they please within their pottage, or liquor, seeing that the hardest Adamant is dissolved with this kind of blood: why may not the stone in man's body be likewise bruised therewith? For the Gout, let them exercise if they can, or else ●e let blood very often in the place affected, or let them reserve Horseleeches for that purpose. I might here commend divers local medicines, as oils of Roses, of Myrtles, of Camomile, or wild Mallows, of Turpentine, or such like. I might advise them to lay emplasters on the gouty joints, made of Mellilote, of unguentum Populeum, of the flowers of Camomile, of red Roses, with bean flower. I might wish them to apply the Colewort leaf, and then to stop the flux with that precious and admired salve commonly called Paracelsus his stiptic plaster, which I have found by experience to heal any wound, whether it be old or green, sooner in one week then any other in a month, by reason of the binding, drying, and strengthening virtue, which it hath, being likewise able to stop the concourse or falling of humours into the sore. This salve I praise above all others, as that, which breeds none but good flesh, and as Apothecaries say, it wil● keep forty years without putrefying. But indeed, because all sicknesses proceed from the brain, it were fit to purge the superfluous moisture thereof once a month, either with a drachm of Pills Imperial, or of Pillulae sine quibus, or of Pillulae Cochiae. From the brain they flow into the musckles of the back, and from thence they descend into the feet, which is termed Podagra, or to the hucklebone, which is called Sciatica, or else from the back into the hands, and then it is called Chiragra. For a preservative against the plague, let them now and then take Pillulae communes, or the above said Antimony, which is also good against poison drunk: whereby they may note, that whatsoever helps the one, helps the other. The fifth Section. Of infirmities and Death. CHAP. 1. What be the causes of hot infirmities. THE causes of hot infirmities be six: The first are, the motions of the mind: as love, anger, fear, and such like. The second, the motions of the body; as, immoderate carnal copulation, vehement labours, straining, hard riding. The third, long standing, or sitting in the sun, or by the fire. The fourth cause of infirmities is the use of hot things, as meats, drinks, and medicines untimely used. The fifth, closing or stopping of the pores; which happeneth by immoderate anointing, bathing, or otherwise thickening the skin: so that the holes whereby the sweat and fumes do pass out, be stopped. The sixth, putrefaction of humours by distemperature of meats and long watchings. What be the causes of cold infirmities? The causes of cold infirmities be eight: the first is, the cold air: the second is, too much repletion: the third is want of good meat: the fourth is, the use of cold things: the fifth is, too much quietness: the sixth is, opening of the pores: the seventh is oppilation in the veins or arteries: the eight is unseasonable exercise. What is the chiefest cause of death? The chiefest and unavoidable cause of our deaths is the contrariety of the Elements, whereof our bodies be compounded. For the quality, which is predominant over the temperature (or mediocrity) beginneth to impugn and fight with his contrary, which is more weak, until it see the utter dissolution of the same. Of the wicked motions of the Mind. CHAP. 2. What be passions of the mind? THe passions, motions, or perturbations of the soul, which otherwise may be called the accidents of the spirit, are strange or sudden insurrections, and rebellious alterations of a tumultuous troubled soul, which with draw it from the light of reason, to cleave and adhere unto worldly vanities. Wherein consists the cure of the spiritual maladies? As the cure of the bodies griefs consists chiefly in the knowledge of those causes which engender them: so in like manner for the cure of spiritual maladies, we must search out the causes from whence they do proceed. And as the causes of the bodies griefs are two, outward and inward: so the causes of spiritual diseases are likewise two, outward and inward. The outward are disgraces, injuries, hatred, misery, loss of honour and such like accidents: which we call outward; because they arise out of our bodies, able to stir up a world of troubles in our Spirits. The inward causes of spiritual maladies are two fold: the one corporal, which presently at the first bickering do torment the body: the other merely spiritual, rightly termed the passions of the soul, which torment the soul itself. The Physician therefore that will cure these spiritual sicknesses, must invent and devise some spiritual pageant to fortify and help the imaginative faculty, which is corrupted and depraved; yea, he must endeavour to deceive and imprint another conceit, whether it be wise or foolish, in the Patient's brain, thereby to put out all former fantasies. Which are the chiefest passions of the soul? The chiefest spiritual passions are voluptuous Love, jealousy, Anger, Choler, Sorrow, Fear, and Enuy. What is Love? Love is an affection, whereby the mind lusteth after that, which is either good indeed, or else that which seems unto it to be so. Among other causes which besot men towards this affection of Love, I find idleness to be one of the principal, which being taken away, the force of love presently decayeth, according to that of the Poet: Otia si tollas, periere Cupidinis arcus. Next, I find that mortification of the flesh weakeneth nature, and consequently subdueth lust. Last of all, time and age do conquer this tyrannous motion: but indeed the Grace of God, which enlighteneth the eyes of our understanding, to regard and meditate on the holy Scripture, is the most sovereign and comfortable water of life, which cooleth and allayeth the fiery stings of unlawful love. What is the cause of love? The cause of love among fools is beauty: but among good men the virtues of the mind are the principles of love for they are everlasting: and when all other things, as beauty and riches, do decay, yet they become more fresh, more sweet, and inestimable then before. Hence it is, that we are counseled to choose wives, not by our eyes, but by our ears, that is, not by prying into their fairness of bodies, but by inward contemplating of their honest deeds and good huswiveries. Ordinarily the most beautiful and goodly sort of men, and such as are decked with bodily gifts, are most deformed and vicious in their souls. There is always a great combat betwixt chastity and beauty, so that we seldom see fair women to be honest matrons: the reason is, because they prefer the fantastical pleasures of their bodily senses, before the true and right noble virtues of the mind: such (as the Spaniard saith) are like an apple which is fair without and rotten within: La muger hermosa es como la mancana, de dentro podrida, y de fuera galana. Show me some other means to remedy the stings of unlawful love. Forasmuch as examples, are the most familiar means to edify and arm a diseased mind against the assaults of invisible temptations, I will lay down some, which our modern Writers have recorded for true. The Passion of Love hath been so violent and vehement in some, that the wisest, as Solomon, have turned to be Idolaters: and brave Martialists, as Hercules and others, have become fools or mad men. Saint Augustine Libr. 11. Trinitat. cap. 4. rehearseth a story of one in his time, that had such a strong and strange apprehension of his mistress body imprinted in his brain, that he imagined himself really present with her, and committing of carnal copulation with her so sensibly, that his very seed did spend in the said imaginary act. ut ei se quasi misceri sentiens etiam genitalibus flueret, that I may use his own words. For the cure of this beastlike and slovenly sin, I will content myself with three famous examples. There dwelled in Alexandria a dame of great beauty, and of greater learning, called Hippatia, which publicly read unto Scholars. It came to pass, that one of her chiefest Scholars became so enamoured of her, that the ardent desire of love compelled him to discover unto her his passion, entreating her to pity his languishing state. Hippatia a very wise woman, and loath to cast away so worthy a Scholar by a cruel disdain, bethought herself of this subtle and sudden remedy: she out of hand provided her of a filthy, bloody, and mattry smock: and after she had invited him to her chamber, feigning herself willing to give him contentment, she took up her petticoat, and showed him her flowery contagious smock, speaking unto him after this manner: My friend, I pray thee see here how thy judgement hath been abused; see what thing thou lovest so precious: examine more straightly, what motive induced thee to love such filthy trumpery overcast and disguised with a glozing beauty. At these words, the young man began to be ashamed, to repent himself, and thenceforth to become more wise and sober. It is reported of that great Scholar Raimundus jullius, that falling in love with a fair Gentlewoman, he pressed her very earnestly to respect him. She to dispatch and to ease his passion, concluded to lie with him: but when she came, she presently showed him her left dug most ugly to behold by reason of a canker which had almost rotten it. At which hideous sight his courage suddenly quailed, and cooled in such sort, that his lustful love was converted into a charitable love to study for some extraordinary Physic to help her. A Lawyer of Tholouza for his further learning having travailed into Italy, was at length ensnared with love at Venice. Whereupon he often passed by the door of his mistress' house, and made many tokens of his good will towards her. He attempted by the assistance of Bawds to corrupt her with gifts, and in the end with much ado found means himself to impart his love unto her. The Gentlewoman with bitter threatening repulsed him. All which could not cause him to desist from his idle exterprize, so unbridled was his affection, so violent his motion. But at the last perceiving his purpose frustrate and hopeless, he fell into a frantic humour, & one morning among the rest, in the Church of Saint Mark, casting himself through the Guard, endeavoured to murder the Duke▪ but this amorous fool, as God would have it, was resisted and led into prison. The matter was examined very straightly, and at the last it was found that Love had made him mad. The wise Senate upon grave deliberation dismissed him, committing his cure to that famous Physician Pracastorius, who at that time dwelled in Venice. This learned man undertaking his charge and cure, disguised a Courtesan like the Gallants mistress to lie with him a whole night, and to yield him his amorous contentment, until he was weary. Then he caused him to be well covered with clothes, till he fell into a sweat. His fantasy and lust being thus partly pleasured, he proceeded to other remedies, to purge him of his melancholic humours, so that at length he restored him to his former state. I write not this, to the intent it should serve for a precedent, (the same being diameter-wise repugnant to our Maker's Commandment) but because our Physicians should counsel the youthful amorous to marry, rather than to burn in unlawful desires: and the amorous married to content himself with the wife of his youth, giving her due benevolence, and satisfying his burning lust upon her body, whom God had joined with him for that purpose: for surely, by this carnal copulation the vaporous fumes of the seed are taken away from the Patient, which do infect his brain, and lead him into melancholy. By how much the more and longer they continue in the body, so much the more thoughts do they engender, which at last will turn to folly or madness. What is jealousy? jealousy is a doubtful quandary of the mind, for that the soul suspects a corrival or copartner in the thing beloved. Our ignorance in discerning spirits, and the discording tunes of our soul's affections occasion this strange breach, or suspicious scruple in our Consciences. Wherefore ye husbands, begin betimes to admonish your Wives of the soul's salvation. Let no day escape without prayers and thanksgiving unto the Lord. join together as true yoak-fellowes in God's service, daily prostrating yourselves before his omniscient presence, lest Satan creep into your careless hearts, and minister just cause of jealousy unto you. If the head gets in, the whole body follows. If the head be well, the body can hardly be distempered: so if Husbands do their duties towards GOD, their Wives will imitate them in time, and conform their lives according to the square of unity. O noble unity which shapest this individual union betwixt man and wife, not only in their body's constitutions, but in their soul's conjunctions, firm, stable, never to be removed: Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh: Tu nostra de carne caro, de sanguine sanguis, sumptaque de nostris ossibus ossa geris. As Adam spoke to Eva. Away therefore ye jealous Italists with your golden locks, with your artificial chains, with your strait mewing. If Pasip●ac cannot have the company of a man, she will yield her body to a wanton Bull. If Ariosto's Queen be restrained one way, she will satisfy her appetite another way with a deformed dwarf: Qui era tanto dotto, per mettre la Regina sotto. There is no lock, nor chain comparable unto the fear of the Lord, whose wrath is a consuming fire. The very thought of Hell's torments terrifies the conscience more than all the worldly devices of flesh and blood. What is Anger? Anger is a vehement affection, because it sees things fall out contrary & crosselike to reason. Why do some look red, and others pale when they be angry? Some when they are angry become red, because their blood ascendeth up into the head: and these are not so much to be doubted. Others wax pale when they are angry, because the blood is retired unto the heart; whereby they become full of heart, & very dangerous. What is Choler? Choler is a fiery passion of the mind, because it seeth all things fall out contrary to reason or wit: there are two sorts of Choler abounding in every man; the one open, the other hidden: whereof this latter is more dangerous. From both of them, being terrible ebullitions & motions of the spirit, all the body, the blood, and humous become heated and chafed: insomuch, that they grow to be sulphureous, kindling of fiery fevers, pleurisies, gall in the stomach, yellow jaundices, tumors, erisipela's, itch, and innumerable other maladies, as well external as internal: whose chiefest and specific cure consisteth that Christian Virtue Patience: as for other Physic to cool the violence thereof I leave to greater Clerks. What is sorrow? Sorrow is an affection of the mind, whereby it is oppressed with some present evil, and languisheth by little and little, except it find some hope or other to remedy the grief thereof. What is the effect of Sorrow? Sorrow stifleth up the purer faculties of the soul, causeth a man to fall into a Consumption and to be weary of the world, yea and of himself. How many kinds of Sorrows are there? There be two kinds of sorrows: the one deep and heavy, the other short and temporary. The former is properly termed Sorrow, the latter Mourning. What be the causes of both these kinds? Their causes are outward and inward. The outward are grievances, which happen upon divers occasions: either for the loss, which Husbands receive by reason of their wives deaths; or by reason of some dear friends death, which in nature we love extremely; or else by reason of the shipwreck or discredit of our name, fame, and goods. To these outward causes I adjoin the depraved diet of the melancholic, which engender melancholic humours: as those evil weeds and seeds, which our Farmers gather among their corn, grinding the same with the rest, into bread or malt. Out of these corrupt seeds malignant vapours arise up into the head, which intoxicate the brain, whirling about the imaginative faculty, straying up and down along the memory, and eclipsing the light of the understanding. The inward causes spring from melancholic or burnt blood, contained within an inflamed brain, and there-hence tainting the veins and whole body. Of this black and enraged blood, which originally proceeded from the diversities of vapours or exhalations, there grow diversities or divers sorts of Sorrows, which diversly work upon the functions of the imagination. For if it be true, that the soul is in the blood, and dispersed through every part of the same, (as God is wholly in the world, and wholly in every part of the same) then surely must it follow, that the variety of the blood doth change and diversify the understanding, and also that the acts of the understanding soul doth change the humours of the body: so that out of these diversities of tainted humours there are engendered strange and wandering fantasies, caused by reason of such black blood, smoke and sweat, which is crept into the humour of melancholy. Some of extreme sorrow have turned mad, famishing themselves to death: some imagined themselves to be Urinals of glass, expecting when they should be broken through some accident: some thought that they were become Owls, and therefore feared to be seen abroad in the day time. Among these sorrowful sots, I cannot but remember a Gentleman of Venice, with whom I was familiarly acquainted at the City of Nova-palma in Italy, about nine years past. This Gentleman by reason of crosses, having fallen into a sorrowful discontentment, began to scorn all of his rank, and grinding the world as it were into oatmeal, would either be aut Caesar, aut nihil, either a Monarch, or a Mole-catcher. And to this end he studied by what means he might aspire to the Empire. At the last, having wearied his brain with the loss of many a night's sleep, to his bodies annoyance, he imparted his mind unto me: whereupon, to put him out of dumps by degrees, I advised him to leave off his solitary walks, and to betake himself to reading, or to some outward exercise, thereby to banish away his inward thoughts, or rather doting Dreams. This counsel of mine, he accordingly followed for a time: but at length he fell into his wont fantasies, and persisted so strongly therein, that he wrote very learned letters and pathetical unto the electors, for his advancement into the throne Imperial, very earnestly soliciting me to become his Agent in the business. What is the reason that men imagine such impossible and vain things? When God withdraws his Spirit from the sinful Sons of Adam, than the world, the flesh, and the Devil glad of such advantage and opportunity, do mutually conspire against them, diversly seduce their brittle thoughts and wills. Some they possess with imaginations according to the course of the lives which they lead: Others imagine of sorrow & discontentment such strange matters, that not only the spirit is assailed, as I have written, but also the body is assaulted, that it becomes unprofitable unto all seemly actions. And that so violently, that it procures and prefers Death itself. Now since you have discoursed of natural and Melancholic Sorrows, tell me what harm happeneth by the other sorrow, which we term mourning. This latter kind of sorrow being accidental, chanceth to our conceit by Destiny, which is no other than the will of God the Father, limiting the end of all things by measure, number, and weight, not blind-foldly as the Poets feigned of Fortune, but necessarily and providently. Upon the death of some dear & near friend, our minds are deeply touched, that we manifest the effects thereof, in our very outward countenance and apparel, by reason of the weakness of flesh and blood, which can in no wise brook a sudden or violent alteration: but commonly such mourning is short and momentary, according to that Maxim of the Philosophers: nullum violentum est perpetuum. No violent thing can last long: which likewise may be confirmed by the observation of our outward habits. Impletur lachrimis, egrediturque dolour. The more tears we shed, the less is our sorrow, for tears cause weariness, weariness procures sleep, and sleep assuageth sorrow; new objects also coming in by process of time to affect the Patient. Nevertheless for all this, neque mihi cornea fabra est, my heart is not so rigorous and hard, as to condemn utterly our mourning use, when we have lost our dearest friends: nay, I commend it highly, so that it be accomplished with moderation, and accompanied with Hymns and Psalms to GOD for the honour of his mercy, with charitable Epitaphs for the memorial of the deceaseds honesty, and with cheerful almsgiving for a monument of Christian charity. But what is the reason, that some were black, and some white at the funeral of their friends? The moral is this, that the black betokeneth the corruption of the body. The white signifieth the soul's freedom out of the body's prison. Happy is that soul, which can contemn the frailty of the flesh, loathing to deface the handiwork of God. Happy I say, and fraught with true magnanimity is that spirit, which can make profitable use of his visitation, not grudging, not murmuring, not mourning out of measure. These restoratives I ministered to myself at the death of my dear Wife, who of late was suddenly stricken dead with lightning, as I have showed at large in my work, called the Spirit of Detraction conjured and convicted. And because I am fallen at this present into a mourning vein, I will reiterate my Christian farewell, wishing that the same might become a precedent to an afflicted spirit in the like case. Adieu thou Servant of Christ, thou Pattern of Piety. Adieu thou Map of God's miracles. Adieu my joy, my Love, my Comfort. Adieu, and rest thee henceforth among the Heavenly Roses: rest in peace for ever free from the thorns of malice. Adieu again and again, Adieu dear wife for a while, and welcome sweet jesus my Saviour for ever. What is Fear? Fear is a grief which the mind conceiveth of some evil that may chance unto it. Why do fearful men look pale? The reason why fearful men look pale and wan, is, because nature draweth away that heat, which is in the face and outward parts, to relieve and comfort the heart, which is well-nigh stifled and stopped up. How many sorts of fearful persons are there? There be two sorts of fearful persons; the one Naturally fearful, the other Accidentally fearful. Among those, which are naturally fearful I range children, who are subject to this passion by reason of the sudden commotion of the humours, and of the blood descending into the sensitive organs, be-dazeling their sights with a false suffusion. Likewise I place aged people in the number of the most naturally fearful, which by the means of their over-spent natural moisture and wasted brains do again play the babies, and as the Latinists say, repuerascunt, and as the greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Thirdly, I account Women by nature fearful, whose sex, as the weaker vessels, is much defective and impotent, in courage ever doubtful and distrustful almost of their own shadows. Fourthly, superstitious persons, as Papists, who by reason of their natural fragility, do forge a thousand fantasies in their brains. To these I add the melancholic, as a kind of humourous dark spirits, which because they shoot inwardly, abhorring outward objects, do fear the very noise of reeds and fall of leaves: Now it is time that I discourse somewhat of that fear, which is Accidental, no less penetrating into the minds of men, then that which is Natural, and chiefly, when God doth manifestly cooperate and work together with it; whereof no mortal man can well declare the solid and true cause. The first Accidental fear is that, which befalls to multitudes at once, yea even to a whole camp of hardic soldiers: which kind of fear is termed Panic, etymologized of Pan, because he being Bacchus his Lieutenant in the Indian war, with Art and politic stratagems, almost beyond wit surprised them with great fear and wonder. Secondly, malefactors terrified with the guilt of their evil consciences, do imagine a world of fears. And no marvel, seeing that all creatures serve to revenge sin committed against the Creator. Offenso Creatore, offenditur nobiscum omnis creatura. Sometimes this Accidental fear proceeds of sickness, sometimes it comes by a false suggestion or alarm, as that fear wherewith a Gentleman of Padua was possessed, when his youthful hair in one night converted into grey and hoary, only by a false report, that he should be put to death the next day after. What is Envy? Envy is a grief arising of other men's felicity. It maketh a man to look lean, swart, hollow eyed, and sickly. Do these affections hurt the soul, as well as the body? Yea doubtless: For if the body be replenished with these diseases, the soul cannot be whole, nor sound. And even as vices cause disorders and diseases both in the body and soul: so likewise they cause the one to destroy the other, whereas there should be an unity and harmony, not only of the corporal qualities among themselves, and so of the spiritual among themselves, but also of their joint qualities one with another. And no marvel; seeing that God hath sowed and planted the seeds and sparks of affections (to move us) not only into our souls, but also into our bodies. How do the temperature of the bodily affections, and the soul's affections agree together? There is great concord betwixt the body's qualities, and the soul's affections: insomuch that as our bodies are compacted of the elemental qualities, namely, of moisture & dryness, heat & cold: So among the soul's affections are some moist, some dry, some hot, & some are cold. This we might see by instance made. The affection of mirth is hot & moist, whereas sorrow is cold and dry. The one is proper to young men, and the other to old men, who are cold and dry. Why is there so great a diversity among men? There be divers reasons alleged of this by men of divers professions. First, the Divines say, that original sin and temptation of wicked spirits, make men vicious: faith and grace make them righteous and holy: Politicians and Statesmen hold, that bad company and ill education, cause men to be ill disposed: the Astronomer he saith, that they which are borne under jupiter shall be wise and fortunate, under Mars soldiers, under Venus' adulterers, under Mercury, Merchants, or very covetous, under Taurus' industrious, under Libra just men, under Aries wise Counsellors, under Aquarius fishers. S. Augustine on the 63. Psalm, tells of a Mathematician, who said, that it was not a man's own will, which made a lecher, but Venus: a murderer, Mars: not his own proper will made him just, but jupiter. The natural Philosopher averreth, that they who excel in imagination, are fit to be Linguists, Artisans, Poets, and Painters: the means to descry, whether they be imaginative or no, is thus: if he be well conceited of himself, if he loves to go richly attired, and oftentimes looketh in a looking glass, if he plays well at Chess, Cards, and Dice, etc. They that excel in understanding are fit to be judges: they who have the faculty of memory, will prove good Attorneys, and practitioners in Law and Physic. Physicians hold, that men be diversly affected according to the diet which they use, as Venison, Coneys, and Hares-flesh, make men melancholic, and consequently envious and froward: those meats which engender good blood, make men of a sanguine complexion and free hearted. Excess of meat make men riotous and drunkards. Of the Age of Man. CHAP. 3. Into how many ages is man's life divided? Man's life by the computation of Astrologers, is divided into seven ages: over every one of which, one of the seven planets is predominant. The first age is called infancy, which continueth the space of seven years. And then the Moon reigneth, as appeareth by the moist constitutions of children, agreeing well with the influence of that planet. The second age named childhood, lasteth seven years more, and endeth in the fourteenth of our life. Over this age, Mercury (which is the second sphere) ruleth; for then children are unconstant, tractable, and soon inclined to learn. The third age endureth eight years, and is termed the stripling age: It beginneth at the fourteenth year, and continueth until the end of the two and twentieth. During which time, governeth the planet Venus: For than we are prone to prodigality, gluttony, drunkenness, lechery, & sundry kinds of vices. The fourth age containeth twelve years, till a man be four and thirty, and then is he named a young man. Of this age the Sun is chief Lord. Now a man is witty, well advised, magnanimous, and come to know himself. The fifth age is called man's age, and hath sixteen years for the continuance thereof, subject to Mars; for now a man is choleric and covetous. The sixth age hath twelve years, that is, from fifty till threescore and two. This age is termed (although improperly) old age: of which jupiter is master, a planet significant of equity, temperance and religion. The seventh and last (by order) of these ages continueth full 18. years, ending at fourscore, to which few attain. This age, by the means of that planet Saturn, which is melancholic & most slow of all other, causeth man to be drooping, decrepit, froward, cold, and melancholic. Why did men live longer before the flood, than they do now? The principal reason, why men in those days lived longer than we do, is, because they had not then any of the causes, which engender in us so many maladies, whence consequently ensueth death. Their lives were upholden by the course of the heavens, with the qualities of the planets & stars, being at that time far more glorious and gracious then now. There were not so many meteors, comets, and eclipses past, from whence now divers & innumerable circumuolutions proceed. We must also understand, that our first Parents were created of God himself without any other instrumental means, And again, the earth in those days was of greater efficacy to bring forth necessaries for man's use, than it is in this crooked and outworn age. The soil was then gay, trim, and fresh: whereas now by reason of the inundation (which took away the fatness thereof) it is barren, saltish, and unsavoury. To conclude, they knew the hidden virtues of herbs and stones, using great continence in their diets and behaviours. They were ignorant of our delicate inventions and multiplied compounds. They knew not our dainty cates, our marchpanes, nor our superfluous slibber sauces. They were no quaffers of wine or Ale, nor were they troubled with so many cares, and vain glorious pomps. Tell me the certain time, wherein man must of necessity die? To die once, is a common thing to all men. For that was ordained as a punishment of God for our fore-parents, when they transgressed his commandment, with longing and lustful thoughts touching the fruit in Paradise: but to tell how, & at what time, that is a secrecy never disclosed to any creature. Such as the man's life is, such is his death. A Righteous man dieth righteously. But a wicked man hath a wicked end dying without repentance. Death is a so deign and a sullen guest, never thought on, before he apprehendeth us as his slaves. When we think ourselves safely mounted on the pinnacle of worldly felicity, he unawares suppresseth us rudely, and smiteth us deadly. For which consideration, O mortal men, lead your lives uprightly, hearken not unto the counsels of the ungodly, nor like greedy Cormoraunts snatch up other men's rights. Rather know yourselves contentedly: which done, be vigilant, well armed in Christ jesus, and always meditating on your deaths. Which be the most dangerous years in man's life? The ancient Sages, by curious notes have found out, that certain years in man's life be very perilous. These they name climacterical or stayrie years, for than they saw great alterations. Now a climacterical year is every seventh year; The reason is, because then the course of the planets return to Saturn, who most commonly is cruel and noisome unto us. And even as the Moon, which is the next planet unto us, and swiftest of course, passeth almost every seventh day into the contrary sign of the same quality, from whence she came forth, and there-hence bringeth the critical days: so Saturn, which is the planet furthest from us and slowest of course (for he resteth in one sign so many years, as the Moon doth days) bringeth these climacterical years, and causeth sundry mutations to follow. Hence is it, that in the seventh year children do cast and renew their teeth. In the fourteenth year proceedeth their stripling age. And betwixt that and the fifteenth year there falls out in the body a tumultuous whurlyburly or wambling commotion of humours, which in some breaks out into scabs or hot watery issues, in others into kinds of agues. In the one and twentieth, youth. And when a man hath passed seven times seven years, to wit, nine and forty years, he is a ripe and perfect man. Also, when he attaineth to ten times seven years, that is, to the age of threescore and ten, his strength and chiefest virtue begins to fall away. And again, every seventh year was by Gods own institution pronounced hallowed; And in it the Israelites were prohibited to manure their grounds or to plant vineyards. Aulus Gellius mentioneth, that the Emperor Octavian sent a Letter unto his step-sonne to this effect: Rejoice with me my Son, for I have passed over that deadly year, and enemy to old age, threescore and three. In which number the sevenths and ninths do concur. The six and fiftieth year is very dangerous to men borne in the night season, by reason of the doubled coldness of Saturn. And the threescore and third year is very perilous to them that be borne in the day time, by reason of the dryness of Mercury and Venus. It is also observed, that the nine and fortieth year composed of seven times seven is very dangerous. Others again of our late Critics collect by experience, that in the seventh year more unnatural ill humours are engendered, than the true and natural constitution of the body can possibly digest, because the liver and heart being the radical Fountains of the blood, by little and little, are so corrupted within the compass of six or seven years, which cannot choose but at the last break out, like the Paroxysms or fits of an ague tertian or quartan, in some kind of bodies at the seventh year, and in others of a stronger ability at the ninth year. So when these steps are past, the liver & heart do prepare humours for the years or steps following, until it burst out into a remarkable event. Finally, whensoever any man entereth into these climacterical years (if certain tokens of imminent sickness do appear, as wearisomeness of the members, grief of the knees, dimness of sight, buzzing of the ears, loathsomeness of meat, sweeting in sleep, yawning, or such like) then let him incessantly pray, and beseech God to protect and guide his heart; let him be circumspect and curious to preserve his health and life, by Art, nature, policy, and experiments. Or if no eminent cause appear, let him purge aforehand, the better to prevent the increase of humours. Which be the critical days? The critical days are the first and seventh of january. The third and fourth of February. The first and fourth of March. The eight and tenth of April. The third and seventh of May. The tenth and fifteenth of june. The tenth and thirteenth of july. The first and second of August. The third & tenth of September. The third and tenth of October. The third & fifth of November. The seventh and tenth of December. Which humours are predominant in the night season, and which in the day time? Every one humour reigneth six hours. Blood is predominant from nine a clock in the night, until three a clock in the morning. Choler from three a clock in the morning, till nine. Melancholy ruleth from nine a clock in the morning, till three in the evening. Likewise phlegm governeth from three in the evening, until nine a clock at night. So that phlegm and melancholy do reign at night, and blood and choler in the day time. Also blood hath his dominion in the Spring time; choler in the Summer; melancholy in Autumn, and phlegm in Winter. For which respects, I advise you (if perchance you fall into a disease) to mark well, in the beginning of your sickness, the hour and humour then reigning, that thereby you may the sooner find out remedy. In conclusion, you must consider of the Critical days: in which, great alterations either towards your recovery, or towards your further sickness willensue. Most commonly the critical day happeneth, the seventh, the fourteenth, the one and twentieth, or the eight and twentieth day from the beginning of your sickness. Notwithstanding, according to the course of the Moon, the fourth day, the eleventh, the seventeenth, and the four and twentieth day from the beginning of your sickness will foretell you, whether you shall amend or wax worse. Of the four Humours. CHAP. 4. What is an Humour? AN humour is a moist and running body, into which the meat in the Liver is converted, to the end that our bodies might be nourished by them. What is the nature of the sanguine humour? The sanguine humour is hot, moist, farty, sweet, and seated in the liver, because it watereth all the body, and giveth nourishment unto it: out of which likewise issue the vital spirits, like unto small and gentle winds, that arise out of rivers and Wels. What is the phlegmatic humour? The phlegmatic humour is of colour white, brackish like unto sweat, and properly placed in the kidneys, which draw to themselves the water from the blood, thereby filling the veins, in stead of good and pure blood. What is the Choleric? The Choleric humour is hot and fiery, bitter, and like unto the flower of wine. It serveth not only to cleanse the guts of filth, but also to make the Liver hot, and to hinder the blood from putrefaction. What is the Melancholic humour? The Melancholic humour is black, earthly, resembling the lees of blood, and hath the Spleen for a seat assigned unto it. Howbeit Physicians say, that there be three kinds of melancholy: the first proceedeth from the annoyed brain: the second cometh, when as the whole constituion of the body is melancholic: the third springeth from the bowels, but chiefly from the Spleen and liver. Show me a diet for melancholic men? First, they must have lightsome chambers and them often perfumed. Secondly, they must eat young and good meat, and beware of Beef, Pork, Hare & wild beasts. Thirdly, let them use borage and bugloss in their drink. Fourthly, Music is meet for them. Fiftly, they must always keep their bellies loose and soluble. Of the restoration of health. The sixth Section. Of the four parts of the year. CHAP. 1. What is the nature of Spring time? THe Spring time beginneth, when the Sun entereth into the sign of Aries, which is the tenth day of March. At this time the days and nights are of equal length, the cold weather is diminished, the pores of the earth (being closed and congealed with cold) are opened, the fields wax green, herbs and flowers do bud, beasts rut, the birds chirp, and to be brief, all living Creatures do recover their former vigour in the beginning of the spring. Now a man must eat less, and drink somewhat the more. The best meats to be eaten are Veal, Kid, young Mutton, Chickens, dry fowl, potched eggs, figs, raisins, and other sweet meat: and because the Spring is a temperate season, it requires temperature in all things. Use competent Phlebotomy, purgation, or such like. Venery will do no great harm. As the Sun by steps and degrees makes his power manifest abroad: so within our bodies he works strange and marvelous effects after his cloudy absence. Sweet meat must have sour sauce: after our gurmundise and gluttonous fare, let us now likewise imitate these degrees, and by little and little wean our bodies from such luxurious cheer. We see Nurses anoint their teats with Wormwood juice, to terrify and withdraw their froward Children from their ancient sustenance: so in like manner, let us in this season begin to sequester our wanton wills (being the body's rulers) from persisting in their former lavishness: for which purpose, I advise the temperate to abstain from immoderate drinking of wine, from immoderate spiced meat; specially towards the midst of this season, and if they be choleric, hot and dry of constitutions, I advise them to cool themselves now and then with waters of Endive and Succory, or with fountain water, together with a little Comfits to expel inflammation and windy pestilent humours. In any case let them which regard their health, take heed of salt Herrings and slimy Fish, as a meat fitter for labourers, then for tender natures. Or if their longing wantonness be such that they must needs eat them, let them exercise, or omit their next meal, whereby those ill humours may be spent or digested, which were caused by reason of the unwholesome nutriment. For assuredly, the blood of idle people will be quickly tainted and corrupted, so that the bad excrements will break out into itch, tetters, the small pocks or meazels: or else they will descend from the head into the eyes, teeth, or lungs, and there engender a fearful cough. In old persons these brackish, viscous, and salt humours will congeal and harden into the stone of the bladder or reins. What is the nature of Summer? Summer begins, when the Sun entereth the Sign of Cancer, which is the twelfth day of june. In this time Choler is predominant, heat increaseth, the winds are silent, the sea calm, fruits do ripen, and Bees do make honey. Now a man must drink largely, eat little and that sodden: for roast meat is dry. It is dangerous taking of Physic, and specially in the Dog days. To heal wounds is very difficult and perilous. All these inconveniences happen because of the dog days, to last for the space of those forty days, wherein that Constellation called the Dog, meeting with the Sun in our Meridian, doubleth his heat, by whose burning influence, Frenzies, the Pestilence, calentura's, and other hot choleric sicknesses are bred in our bodies. What is the nature of Autumn? Autumn beginneth when the Sun entereth the first degree of Libra, which is the thirteenth day of September. Then it is Equinoctial, Meteors are seen, the times do alter, the Air waxeth cold, the leaves do fall, corn is reaped, the earth loseth her beauty, and melancholy is engendered. For which cause, such things as breed Melancholy are to be avoided, as Fear, Care, beans, old Cheese, salt Beef, broth of Coleworts, and such like. You may safely eat Mutton, Lamb, Pigs, and young pullets. Take heed of the morning and evening cold. What is the nature of Winter? Winter beginneth when the Sun entereth the Sign of Capricorn: which is commonly the twelfth day of December. Now the days are shortened, and the nights prolonged, Winds are sharp, Snow and sudden inundations of waters arise, the Earth is congealed with frost and Ice, and all living creatures do quiver with cold. Therefore a man must use warm and dry meats: for the cheerful virtues of the body are now weakened by the cold air: and the natural heat is driven into the inward parts of the body, to comfort and maintain the vital Spirits. We must expel the cold air with warm drinks, wines, braggot, metheglin, malmsey, and such like, and above all with warm clothes, which I wish to be of wool, rather than of any other stuffs. In this season, we may feed liberally on strong meats, as Beef, barren Does, gelt Goats, and on spiced or baked meats: for whose better digestion, and to shut the orifice or mouth of the stomach, some use to eat Comfits of Anise-seedes presently after meals: some other having weak stomachs, take digestive powders made of sweet Fenell seeds, Coriander seed, Coral prepared, a little mastic, Sinnamon and Rose sugar within the conserves of Roses. Others again, content themselves with a powder composed of Rose Sugar, Annise-seede, Sage, and a crust of fine bread, whereof they take a spoonful in a cup of drink. At nights be sure to keep yourself warm, and specially your head and feet. In this case I cannot but commend the Dutchman's providence above our own, who continually in cold weather wear furs about their necks, and cover their feet with woollen socks. Now Wardens, Apples, and Pears may be used with wine or with salt, for swelling: or with comfits, for windiness. To use carnal copulation is expedient, if the weather be moist, and not very cold. Astronomers aver, that if the first day of December be foul and tempestuous, it will not be calm thirty days after, and so on the contrary. Of monthly Diet. CHAP. 2. Show me how to order my body in every particular month. In january. IN this month, man's inward parts, become replenished with more heat, then at any other time. The reason is, because our bodies being in health, receive into them more abundance of food, whereby they are strengthened and comforted in their constitutions and principal powers. So that we may adventure to eat grosser meats as baked Venison of barren Does, gelt Bucks, gelt Goats, Brawn, Beef, and such like, in this month then in any other month, for that our natural hear in warmer weather is dispersed, and so digestion hindered: now fasting is very hurtful. But spiced drinks and wines are highly commended. Beware of Physic, and chiefly of blood-letting. In February. Because this season is very raw and waterish, keep your neck and feet warm, and imitate the Dutch, who use to wear furred collars as a sovereign remedy against the cold Air. Towards the latter end of this month, it will not be amiss to eat now and then, I mean in the beginning of meals, those meats which are of a laxative substance, as a pared pippin, or a few stewed prunes, and raisins. It is good now and then to drink a a cup of good Meath, or white wine: some use to break their fast with the pith of white bread, bespread with honey, for the purifying of their breast and bladder. All kind of Physic is dangerous in this month, excepting pills to purge the head, which now seems more heavy then at other seasons. In March. In this month it is good to eat cleansing things, for our bodies having been glutted with diversities of meats in the winter, cannot but break out into some outward part by itch, biles, pocks, issues, plagues, morphew, jaundice, green sickness, or such like: or else inwardly by impostumes, fevers, catarrhs, etc. Wherefore let us use pottage made of leeks, Alexander, Peniroyall and Betony, and above all things let us beware of salt fish. And for our Physic let us content ourselves with baths, either natural or artificial: or with sweat natural or artificial The natural sweat if it be not excessive or violent in the opening of the pores, will cleanse the blood, make light the spirits, dissolve thick and raw humours, and assuage the dropsy, the Scurvy, and all such sicknesses as proceed of laziness. The artificial sweat will cure the itch, and mundify the skin. In a word, now is the best time to remove the roots of diseases, and to prevent their further stealth. In April. Now with the warm weather, our blood begins to heat and wax rank. And therefore it is expedient to eat meat of a light digestion, and salads to cool our blood. Salt meats are very hurtful, specially for them which do not travel, by reason that the blood becomes tainted with them, and will quickly engender the itch. If there be urgent need, a man may in this month purge, or be let blood. But for blood letting I could wish these rules to be first practised: first, that the body be made soluble: secondly, that it be done in the morning before any exercise or commotion of the humours: thirdly, that the certainty of the vein be regarded: four, that the quantity be considered according to the Patient's complexion and age, not under fourteen, nor above five and fifty: fiftly, that he observe a very sparing vary diet for three days after, whereby pure and good blood may succeed in the corrupteds place. In May. As this month is the most moderate season of the year, free from extremities, hot or cold, so that we seem to live in terâ floridâ: so ought we chiefly now to observe measure and moderation in our diet, for our blood being lukewarm may easily be overtaken with any excess, through that sudden alteration, which Philosophers term 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Before meat Exercise is most expedient. To drink Wormwood wine is accounted very healthful: and so to drink sour whey clarified with Sage and Parsley is an excellent diet drink for hot Choleric stomachs. Some use in this month to break their fast with old Cheese or Parmizan grated with Sugar and Sage, as a restorative for weak spirits. Now Horseleeches may be applied to our feet, or to such parts of the body, where we suspect the concourse of moist humours. In june. Early rising profiteth much in this warm time, for which cause good husbands do fetch a long vagari through the pleasant fields to provoke appetite, which otherwise with laziness would be corrupted with satiety and sultry loathsomeness. A little meat will serve; but we may drink the more freely (so that it be not strong) and recompense nature this way, for the easier digestion of our meats. For even as the heat of the Sun breeds chaps, clefts, and dust in the ground: so likewise would it engender burnt choler (as dry soot in a chimney) in our sparing bodies. Cherries by reason of their piercing virtue are thought commodious to appease thirst. Salads perform the very same. To bathe in cold water is esteemed a sovereign remedy against all outward griefs or tumors proceeding from heat. In july. Now arrives the summers Solstice, which with the fiery Dog turns the moisture of our bodies into parched exhalations, which we commonly call choleric symptoms. And therefore shun roast or broiled meats. Shun salt meats, Bacon, and strong Beef. Spare not to drink Ptizans, Endive, or Succory waters, which cool the liver. Now you may boldly sleep in the after noon, so that it be not presently after dinner, and not above an hour. Beware of blood-letting, Physic, and venerous acts. When you are empty, bathe yourself in cold water, for that recreates the animal powers. In August. In this month begin to withdraw your custom from drinking by little and little, converting the same to a temperate, lest the unseasonable Accidents, which await upon this month, do seize on thy moist body, and so bestow a gift, which will not easily be clawed off, a tyrannous ague tertian or quartan. Beware of fruit, specially Apples or Pears, which now are wont to tempt want on bodies. Beware of them, ye nice Maids, whose God is your longing will, lest ye meet with the green sickness by eating such green fruit. Beware of Eels and of all fish that are taken in Ponds or in muddy places Some use to anoint their bodies with this precious oil, to prevent the thievish intrusion of diseases in this threatening season. Take oil Olive, and incorporate it with the juice of Sage, Smallage, Angelica, Rose-water, and Rue. In September. Some accustom themselves to drink a draft of goats milk lukewarm in the morning, to increase radical moisture, while this month continueth. But in any case take heed of excess, lest the fruit and drink, which thou tookest so liberally in the Summer do work some treason against thy careless body in the Autumn. In any case beware of the nights cold. Walk as little as thou canst after Sun set. Now is the proper time to take Physic either by Pills or Gargarisms for the head, by vomits, purgations, or electuaries for the stomach, or by glisters for the bowels, or by blood-letting for the Pleurisy, or by sweats for the itch. In October. This month hath great affinity with March, so that whatsoever is good in the one, is good in the other. Arm your body sound with pleasant wines or spiced drinks against the ensuing Winter. Arm your mind with study, for now this temperate time invites thee to read without impediments either of violent cold or of violent heat. In November. In this season the humour of Blood decreaseth, and black melancholy endeavours to domineer in our bodies, which varies like the time. Let thy body be well clothed for fear of the nipping weather. Now you may adventure to eat salt meats, powdered Beef, and Mustard. In the morning it avails much to eat a hot loaf buttered and seasoned with Sugar and Cinnamon; which also serves as an excellent receipt to prevent the cough. Now you may safely drink a pipe of Tobacco fasting, if you fear theumes. In December. In this cold month imitate the Spanish Diet. In the morning break your fast with a bit of Marnelad. or Sucket, with a draft of Aqua vitae. Use Pepper in your meats; And what other spice you please for the seasoning of your Cates. Now you must eat more and drink the less. Eat roasted Apples or Wardens to close up the mouth of your stomach after meals. Or else now and then drink off a Cup of good Claret wine with a roasted Apple in it. For the body being benumbed and as it were made senseless with frost and shaving winds, had need to be refreshed and cherished with such comfortable allurements. For this cause it fell out by discreet tradition, that the twelve days were allowed us to feast in, that our bodies might enjoy the fruit of our travail, that a forced sanguine complexion by reason of such cheerful provocations might down weigh the natural melancholic power. But for all this, let us not forget our Christian duties, in spending wastefully that which might benefit us a far longer term, like unto swinish Epicures, whose thoughts intent on their present provender, of whom Saint Paul wrote: Edamus, Bibamus, ludamus, cras moriemur. Let us eat, drink, and play, for to morrow we shall die. And as another of late verified: Dulcia, dum fas est, fugitivae gaudia vitae Carpe, volubilibus labitur annus equis. Of medicines and means to prolong Life. CHAP. 3. Show me certain remedies to prolong life. TO live for ever, and to become immortal here on earth, is a thing impossible: but to prolong a man's life, free from sicknesses, and to keep the humours of the body in a temperate state, I verily believe it may be done, first by God's permission, by observing a good diet, and sometimes by using of some Treacle, Mithridate, or such like in the Spring time and Autumn. Show me a Syrup against hot diseases, and to preserve health. For the preserving of a man's health free from hot diseases, use this syrup fasting: take of clear fountain water two quarts, put into it the roots of Smallage, borage, bugloss, Endive and Parsley, of each three ounces, of good Tobacco leaf half a pound, seeth them with a soft fire until they come to one quart, and then put unto them two pound of Sugar, and mingle it with a pint of good white wine vinegar, and if you please to add some juice of lemond's thereto, it will prove a rare help against gross choler & phlegm, it will scour and open obstructions and oppilations about the Spleen, liver, and rains. Show me preservatives against cold diseases. Doctor Steuens water is an excellent preservative to prolong life, and against cold diseases, and is made after this manner: take a gallon of gascoigne wine, then take ginger, galangal, Camomile, Sinnamon, nutmegs, grains, cloves, mace, anise-seede, carraway-seed, of each of them a drachm; then take sage, mints, red roses, time, pellitory of the wall, wild marjoram, rosemary, penny-mountaine, otherwise wild time, camomile, Lavender, of every of them one handful, then bruise the spices small, bruise the herbs, and put all into the wine, and let it stand twelve hours, stirring it divers times, then distill it in a limbeck, and keep the first pint of the water, for that is the best: and then will come a second water, which is not so good as the first. The virtues of this water are these; it comforteth the spirits, it preserveth the youth of man, it helpeth old gouts, the toothache, the palsy and all diseases proceeding of cold: it causeth barren women to conceive, it cureth the cold dropsy, the stone in the bladder and the rains of the back, it healeth the canker, comforteth the stomach, and prolongeth a man's life. Take but a spoonful of it once in seven days; for it is very hot in operation. Doctor Steuens who used this water, lived one hundred years wanting two. The sublimated wine of M. Gallus, Physician to the Emperor Charles, the fifth of that name, is most admirable: for the use thereof caused him to live sixscore and nine years without any disease: which I think to be better than Doctor Steuens water: it is made in this sort; Take of Cubebs, Cinnamon, Cloves, Mace, Ginger; Nutmegs, & Galingall, three ounces, of Rhubarb half an ounce, of Angelica two drachmas, of Mastic four drachmas, and of Sage one pound and two ounces: steep these in two pound and six ounces of Aqua vitae, which was six times distilled: then distill them altogether. This wine comforteth the brain and memory, expelleth Melancholy, breaketh the stone, provoketh appetite, reviveth weak spirits, and causeth a man to wax young and lusty: It may be taken twice every week, and not above one spoonful at each time, and that but in a cup of drink fasting. Of Mirth. CHAP. 4. What is the principal natural means to prolong life? MIrth, which is a motion of the mind, whereby it taketh delight, and stayeth itself in that good which is offered unto it. What are the effects of Mirth? Mirth enlargeth the heart, and disperseth much natural heat with the blood, of which it sendeth a good portion to the face; especially if the mirth be so great, that it stirreth a man to laughter. Mirth I say, maketh the forehead smooth and clear, causeth the eyes to glister, and the cheeks to become ruddy. Wherefore did God give affections unto men? God afforded Mirth and such like, unto men, that thereby they might be induced to seek after his divine Majesty, in whom alone they should find all mirth and comfort. What mirth do the common people love best? Ignorant men do delight in corporal and outward things, which move their bodily senses. As in beholding of fair women, pleasant Gardens, rich attires, or else in eating or drinking. What mirth do wise men like? Wise men receive pleasure by contemplation: which is proper to the mind and spirit. This Aristotle approved, when as he placed the end and sovereign Good in contemplation. Show me a way to make the heart merry. You must use to carry about you a sweet Pomander, and to have always in your Chamber some good perfumes; Or you may wash your face and hands with sweet waters: for nothing in the world can so exhilarate and purify the spirits, as good odours. Of daily Diet. CHAP. 5. Declare unto me a daily Diet, whereby I may live in health, and not trouble myself in Physic. I Will: first of all in the morning when you are about to rise up, stretch yourself strongly: for thereby the animal heat is somewhat forced into the outward parts, the memory is quickened, and the body is strengthened. Secondarily, rub and chafe your body with the palms of your hands, or with a course linen cloth: the breast, back, and belly gently, but the arms, thighs, and legs roughly, till they seem ruddy and warm. 3. Evacuate yourself. 4. Put on your apparel, which in the Summer time must be (for the most part) silk, or buff, made of Bucks skin, for it resisteth vermin and contagious airs: in Winter your upper garment must be of Cotton or Frizeadow. 5. When you have appareled yourself handsomely, comb your head softly and easily with an ivory comb, for nothing recreateth the memory more. 6. Pick and rub your teeth; and because I would not have you to bestow much cost in making dentrifrices for them, I will advertise you by four rules of importance how to keep your teeth white and uncorrupt, and also to have a sweet breath. First, wash well your mouth when you have eaten your meat: secondly, sleep with your mouth somewhat open. Thirdly, spit out in the morning that which like the scum of a pot, is gathered together that night in the throat: then take a linen cloth and rub your teeth well within and without, to take away the fumosity of the meat and yellowness of the teeth: For it is that which putrefieth them, and infecteth the breath. But least (perhaps) your teeth become loose and filthy, I will show you a water far better than powders, which shall fasten them, scour the mouth, make sound the gums, and cause the flesh to grow again, if it were fallen away. Take half a glassful of vinegar, and as much of the water of the Mastic tree (if it may easily be got) of Rosemary, Myrrh, Mastic, bowl Armoniac, Dragon's herb, roach Allome, of each of them an ounce: of fine Cinnamon half an ounce, of Fountain water three glass fools: mingle all well together, and let it boil with a small fire, adding to it half a pound of honey, and taking away the scum, then put in a little Benguine, and when it hath sodden a quarter of an hour, take it from the fire, and keep it in a clean bottle, and wash your teeth therewithal as well before meat as after: if you hold some of it in your mouth a little while, it doth much good to the head, and sweeteneth the breath. I take this water to be better than a thousand of their dentifrices. 7. Wash your face, eyes, ears, and hands with Fountain water. I have known divers Students which used to bathe their eyes only in Well water twice a day, whereby they preserved their eyesight free from all passions and bloudsheds, and sharpened their memories marvelously. You may sometimes, bathe your eyes in Rose water, Fennel water, or eyebright water, if you please: but I know for certainty, that you need not, as long as you use good Fountain water. Moreover, lest you by old age or some other means do wax dim of sight, I will declare unto you, the best and safest remedy which I know, and this it is: take of the distilled waters of Verueine, betony, and Fennell one ounce and a half, then take one ounce of white wine, one drachm of Tutia (if you may easily come by it) two drachmas of sugar-candy, one drachm of Aloes Epaticke, two drachmas of woman's milk, and one scruple of Camphire; beat those to powder which are to be beaten; and infuse them together for four and twenty hours, and then strain them, and so use it when you list. Or if you abhor Artificial means to clear your sight, suggested by the spirit of incredulity, that a Decipe might be inserted in stead of a Recipe, hold fast on nature's documents, and follow these plain rules to prevent sore eyes: First, keep your belly always soluble: Secondly, abstain from wind, dust, smoke, fire, sorrow, watching; from eating of Mustard, beans, Onions, Garlic, Leeks, and gross meats: from wine bibbing or strong drink, and reading of small printed letters. Thirdly, sleep not after meals presently. Fourthly, use to regard green or yellow colours. Fiftly, hold not down your head too much. Sixtly, touch them not with your hands, specially unwashed. Lastly, keep your feet clean and dry. 8 When you have finished these, say your morning prayers, and desire God to bless you, to preserve you from all dangers, and to direct you in all your actions. For, the fear of God (as it is written) is the beginning of wisdom: and without his protection whatsoever you take in hand, shall fall to ruin. Therefore see that you be mindful of him, and remember that to that intent you were borne, to wit, to set forth his glory and most holy name. 9 Go about your business circumspectly, and endeavour to banish all cares and cogitations, which are the only baits of wickedness. Defraud no man of his right: for what measure you give unto your neighbour, that measure shall you receive. And finally, imprint this saying deeply in your mind: A man is but a Steward of his own goods; whereof God one day will demand an account. 10 Eat three meals a day, until you come to the age of 40 years: as your breakfast, dinner and supper; yet that between breakfast and dinner there be the space of four hours, and betwixt dinner and supper seven hours: the breakfast must be less than the dinner, and the dinner somewhat less than supper. In the beginning of meals, eat such meats as will make the belly soluble, and let gross meats be the last. Content yourself with one kind of meat, for diversities hurt the body, by reason that meats are not all of one quality. Some are easily digested, others again are heavy, and will lie a long time upon the stomach. Also the eating of sundry sorts of meat require often pots of drink, which hinder concoction; like as we see often putting of water into the meat-pot to hinder it from seething. Our stomach is our body's kitchen, which being distempered, how can we live in temperate order? drink not above four times, and that moderately, at each meal: lest the belly-god hale you at length captive into his prison house of gurmundise, where you shall be afflicted with as many diseases as you have devoured dishes of sundry sorts. The cups, whereof you drink, should be of silver, gold, or silver and guilt, or Venice glass, or of china's mould, and those without covers, that the breath may not be restrained within. Labour not either your mind or body, presently after meals: rather sit a while and discourse of some pleasant matters: when you have ended your confabulations, wash your face and mouth with cold waters, then go to your chamber, and make clean your teeth with your tooth-picker, which should be either of ivory, silver, or gold. Watch not too long after supper, but depart within two hours to bed. But if necessity compel you to watch longer than ordinary, then be sure to augment your sleep the next morning, that you may recompense Nature, which otherwise through your watching, would not a little be impaired. 12 Put off your clothes in Winter by the fire side: and cause your bed to be heated with a warming pan: unless your pretence be to harden your members, and to apply yourself unto military discipline. This outward heating doth wonderfully comfort the inward heat, it helpeth concoction, and consumeth moisture. 13 Remember before you rest, to chew down a dozen grains of Mastic, either alone, or in the conserves of Roses, for it will preserve your body from bad humours. 14 Pray fervently to God, before you sleep, to inspire you with his grace, to defend you from all perils and subtleties of wicked fiends, and from their spiritual temptations, and to prosper you in all your affairs: and then lay aside your cares and business, as well public as private, for that night: in so doing you shall sleep more quietly. 15 Make water at lest once, and cast it out: but in the morning make water in an urinal, that by looking on it, you may guess somewhat of the state of your body, by noting the quantity and colour: sleep first on your right side with your mouth open, and let your night cap be somewhat thick quilted, have a hole in the top, through which the vapour may go out. 16 In the morning remember your affairs, and if you be troubled with rheums, as soon as you have risen, use diatrion piperion, Pellitory of Spain, Tobacco snuffed up into the nostrils, or eat white Pepper now and then, and you shall be holpen. FINIS. Gentle Reader, for Chap. 8. in Page 54. put Chap. 9 And Chap. 9 in Page 56. make it Chap. 10. and so adieu.