The Flower of Physic.  
Wherein is perfectly comprehended a true introduction and method for man's assured health: with three books of Philosophy for the due temperature of man's life. In which easily may be perceived the high & wonderful works of God in the governance of all things.  
Written by W. C. as a glass of true knowledge for the better direction of all willing & virtuous practitioners.  Non est vivere, sed valere vita. 
Printed at London by Roger Ward 1590.   

TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL SIR john Rooper knight, of Lynstead park in Kent, pencioner to the Queen's most excellent Majesty, and one of the Prothonotaries to her majesties highness honourable court of the Bench at Westminster W. C. wisheth long life, increase of worship and continual health.  
I Have well regarded many outward testimonies (right worshipful) from your inward desire, freely addressed towards learning and virtue. And for the continual exercise of those indowements in you, am moved the rather to judge, that God blesseth you in jacob, and the world loveth you with Solon For as you have attained high pre-eminences in this life, you do not possess nor enjoy them, with Crates the Philosopher, otherways then gods will and pleasure hath allotted you, preferring a contemplative care, beyond the transitory reach thereof. Therefore I might the more boldly utter your Heroical life to be matched and performed with the good endeavours of that noble knight Scipio Affricanus, for whose behalf Lelius, in the best degree dischargeth his duty, and in three respects advanceth before the senate, the chivalry of his noble knighthood, As chief his love to the senate, with dear favour, and many hard adventures, for his country, and firm heart to the oppressed: so likewise, you are nothing inferior to Scipio in faithful heart towards your prince and country, have purchased an endless solace to your inward soul thereby. And therewithal do extend your ready benignity, and familiar friendship for encouraging of the better sort, so your good advise never faileth to admonish the worse sort. And as the tree of virtue hath sprung up with you and your house, so there is a most desired hope amongst all good men, that it may flourish and bring forth fruits for the benefit of the Common wealth, to the end of the world. Then lastly, touching the true sympathy of my heart, which in double duty, I and mine do owe unto you and your house, may not without some due knowledge, and sincere service, pretermit to express in the course of this my life, by executing some thankful action for the same. Having therefore at this present presented and preferred unto your worshipful discretion, all the whole counsels and high judgements of Physic, written by those monarch Physicians of the world, Galen, Hypocrates, Auycen, and Dyoscorides, with three books of Philosophy, comprehending the admirable works of nature in the frame of all living things: In reading hereof you shall find most rich treasures, discovered from a fruitful soil, A pure water running from a clear fountain, And most sweet flowers, from the pleasant garden of humane and liberal arts. The condignity thereof hath had a right use and free permission for many hundred years before, although I have at this present, broke the ye, and smoothed the path from the greek and Latin, so that every reasonable practitioner may make safe entrance into the bodily health of man thereby. Beseeching your worship to make acceptation thereof, and pardon my boldness▪ committing your health, long life and prosperity to be continued and blessed by him that governeth all things by the instinct order of divine power.  
Your Worships in all humble duty William Clever.   

TO THE READER.  
FOr that in this our age, sundry strange alterations in the elements distraming the bodily health of man upon earth with many unusual corruptions: and also for that man hath a proper inclination to gross liberty, contagiously nourishing many unclean diseases in himself as a venomous serpent in his own bosom, for remedy whereof, as for the diligence and careful furtherance of many unskilful practitioners, with whom the world is overcharged. I have put forth this general work for the benefit of the commonwealth: and what profit may ensue hereof, time approveth the same: Remembering the old proverb. Vino vendibili, non est opus suspensa hedera  
Far you well.   

In Cleveri Medicinam  

Artis Appollineae multum studiosa inventus  
Hippocrati debet: plura, Galene, tibi:  
Plurima Clevero, quia libro claudit in uno  
Hypocrates quicquid, sive Galenus habet.   
johannes Downe.   

A general Diet both for sickness AND HEALTH.  
IN all former ages to this present time, in which we now live, the opinion of writers was never doubted of, whether abstinence or fullness did overcharge or most offend bodily health: And never yet found out to the contrary, but that every degree of the world, have both felt and confessed, either of them in their excess, were sharp and express enemies both to the law of nature, and bodily temperance of this life. Yet seeing both the learned as the unlearned, although with difference, had rather offend both the sound as the sick, with the immoderate saturity, then with sparing abstinence, for which cause in ministering of medicines it were needful to show their inconvenience on either side. A full and satisfied body is chief preserved, fortified and continued with strength and flourishing livelihood by wholesome julepes and such like, clarified potions according to the property of the sickness. And a penurious body is weakened, punished, exhausted, and oftentimes perisheth in most sharp agonies, except it be comforted, preserved and renewed by some restible electuaries and such like. And surely such bodies which are perfect under temperance and strength, if at any time they be distempered with grief or sickness, may forthwith be tempered, seasoned & salved by medicinable help: for medicine most of all rejoiceth to show forth power & work high effects in a strong nature. Certainly Auycen hath a very secret and metaphysical judgement heerem, who commandeth that nature and medicine, whether in strength or weakness, be always united, and neither in health nor sickness do dissociat, but solutive medicines, especially aught to be of divers natures, convenient and agreeable for their property, in every several age, and natural complexion, with their just and comprehensible manner of diet to be in like sort observed therein: although most commonly neglected, and that not without decay both to body and health: only and because equal measure of medicine, with equal diet, and equal disposition, is not added, neither with consideration, of what cause the sickness ru●●e●h: whether there be a likelihood therein to continue for any long time, or shortly to be perfected: or whether it be gentle or sharp, and whether it consisteth and slayeth in one course, or in heretical nature confirmeth: All which as before said is utterly unrespected. Some ancient writers hold at special verity aswell in great reading as in principal experience, that headdie and stately diseases, happening in the constitution of strong bodies, 〈◊〉 diet shall minister best remedy for their mitigation: so when long and langushing sicknesses distemper and vex the body, thin diet is very dangerous. For consider that fullness of body in sharp and sudden sicknesses is most difficult, putting this difference in either of them: that as continual fullness pestreth and inageth the disease in a fleshy body to become more stronger, so on the contrary, if a patiented be encumbered and enfeebled with the fever Ephimcras or any such like sickness, surely thin diet is not then meet for such a thin body, seeing strength thereby is decayed, and thorough variable torments all the members venomed, the vital blood corrupted and benu 〈…〉ed, as the spiritual parts of man distructioned: the remedy hereof aswell to the first as to the last, is to observe the constitution of the body, that like as hot fires are soonest quenched with clear and pure water before it exceed: so these fleshly rages are subdued, if the extreme thirstiness of the body thorough cold remedies, be quieted and mitigated before it 〈…〉 tch to the farthest bounds and becometh contumatious and without remedy. Also a body almost devoured with emptiness, and where both nature vigour and blood are quite overthrown, cannot easily be recovered except by artificial remedy, and thorough due opportunity be nursed up: therefore it is a most singular skill commended by the learned writers of all ages, in sickness to preserve and continue nature in her full power and strength. And to comfort, nourish and increase strength and 〈…〉re in a body fallen away. For oftentimes a strong body in sickness favoureth himself, is both similiar and defensible against sickness, resisting the assaults of many diseases interchancing in man's life. Whereas a thin and leave body easily is vanquished, when both sickness and penury, dangerously attempt the ruin and decay thereof. As the desperate estate of man in sickness, is either furthered or hindered by fullness or emptiness, so will not I confirm, those bodies who have engrossed their garbages with excess fatness, and stuffed all their members with superfluous humours, as having fed upon sundry inordinate varieties of meats, or infected with variety of diseases. As they live without order, so I purpose not to prescribe an order, where fatal confusion hath overrun them.  
Furthermore, set not the blind ignorance of many unskilful practitioners be herein pertermitted, who should with moderate cherishing help nature, do with immoderate chase hinder and inflame those hot bodies which were before infected by the most hot seasons of the year. In stead of thin nutriment do ingurge their stomachs with thick spices, or drudges of high hot and subtle operation: whereas in those sicknesses regard and view must be taken upon sundry and several casualties, which strangely fall out in sickness that neither appetite be cloyed, or clunged with overmuch or over little resection: nor yet that nature be overdried, either by great sweats, or overmuch resisting, or wrastlinges with the force of sickness.  
These strong diseases most commonly happen under a swift chrysis, whose mighty predomination overruleth, difframeth and disseperateth those bodies from due temperance, which should be thereto subject and framed. These diseases 
The strength of nature furthereth all medicines by a right constitution in sickness.  most violently and swiftly settle in the root of the heart, except prevented and aleviated by present medicine, aswell that nature may weaken the force, as displace and expel the poison of the disease. And for as much then as it doth engender upon the liver, from which place the blood is soon corrupted, and therewithal draweth and staineth all the inward parts of man: In the end becometh pestilential, and therewithal, the senses thorough the same so far overcharged, as that many times col●quation or destruction inua●eth the mind, in the loss of life. Therefore whosoever desireth to cure these or such like infectious diseases, must chief prepare and season the body with waters of cold and natural herbs, in the first and second degree, before 
The pestilence ought to be prevented before ●o● the taken at the heart, and th● medicine must be stronger th●n the disease.  the disease be possessed: then forthwith flux the body, by some gentle and potative electuary, in equal and artificial degree, favourably casting out the infected humours. Forthwith after these painful defatigations, let natural sweat and quiet sleep, consolidat and refresh the body, to become more v●gent, and the stomach more sharp. Then next thereunto: it were not good, that emptiness or abstinence were used, but to have sustenance in continual practice, not of the grossest, but of the chosen sorts of meats: for if the poors thorough emptiness, be left open and unshut, for want of nourishment, to increase natural blood and strength, are not only in danger again to be corrupted, but do stain, foyzen and infect others. Then how grievous a thing is it, in beholding some busy meddlers, repairing unto sick pacientes, do not in any perfect skill, distinguish upon the disease, whether there be any crud and raw matter, or concockt settled in some part of the body: or whether the disease consist and stand at a stay, or increase: or whether nature be of any forcible power in the body or no: but without searching the cause or understanding the matter of the sickness, do prefer their own hazard, and exasperating the disease, either with fulsome medicine, or gross nourishment, stuffing their sick bodies, either by enticement or force. And whereas before they had some ability, appetite forthwith waxeth weary and loathsome in them. Galen affirmeth that the perfectest rule to 
The patiented might be nourished and measured under appetite.  health, is to repress a cold sickness by nourishing food, so that nourishment and appetite agree. He giveth no such large liberty to the hot diseases: notwithstanding, many have adventured in the greatest heat and travel of diseases, not only to purge the body, to cut veins, and let blood, but also have stifled their bodies, rather with enchanted meats, then wholesome medicines: and for that nature cannot digest such gross imperfections, stand in so hard a stay of recovery, as commonly in the end become immedicable and mortal. Cornelius Celsus, a most excellent writer, affirmeth that a satictie and fullness of meat in sickness, is never profitable, a●● therefore to avoid either mischief, doth appertain to singular skill. The safest and directest passage, for the unskilful physician herein, is, that the patiented rather be continued with a thin diet, than unordered fullness, so that he be not overmuch extenuated.  
Galen and Hypocrates both consenting together affirm that fasting and thin diet, do surely and secretly mortify such diseases, which happen under surfeit, or any other unordered and glottonous meats, and a staying of many sharp diseases that follow thereupon. And some high clerks hold opinion that abstinence ought in time of sickness to be guided with discretion, and all medicines to be congruent and marched under perfect constitution, and of double operation, which is aswell to comfort nature, as to expel the disease: for if the substance of strength be diminished, and the malice of the disease increased, appetite and nature, are estranged and variable within themselves. For nature many times desireth those things which appetite abhorreth: the reason is, for that appetite is overcloyed with diversity of meats, and interchaunge of medicines, that both the stomach and all the lusts of the body incessantly are pursued, fatigated, and improvidently thrown upon many dangerous extremities.  
Therefore under these mean constitutions: whereas tranquillity and appetite flourish and bear sway, there is a good and happy expectation: as if the vital parts be not wearied, the disease may be cured, and the decayed strength by little and little restored. Surely when the heart, thorough over great abstinence, is languished, the stomach cloyed, and the liver viduated and forsaken of the wholesome blood. All things thereby have lost their natural and proper course, that forthwith oppilations and ventosites in the guts, work all contrary indirections to health: and the rather because the miseriake veins, which are the conduit pipes of all good blood from the liver, are obstructed and stayed, it were not immethodical so to distinguish these cold and hot diseases, as that one of them in their quality and original may be known from the other, and the better understood and furthered thereby to health. For these cold diseases proceed of earthly 〈…〉 ses, are subject and bound to watery elements, whereupon cold and humid vapours of congealed thickness engender into gross substance: so that all natural heat is excluded, from comfore●ig man's blood, thorough which melancholic heau●nesse is generated, which most principally oftendeth. And the malicious operation that resteth in this humour, maketh the body leave and cold, stirs up the passion of the heart, int●icateth the wit and understanding to all dullness, and blunteth memory. These bodies are much encumbered with putrefied severs, which proceed of undigested hum●dities, and augmented with fuming ven●osites, putrefied about the muskels, veins and joints. Furthermore, all manner of ruins, are hereby drawn to all the parts of the body, which vapours after that coldness hath engrossed them to the low parts of man called Ca●arrizans, the passages and proper ways of nature, from the spleen to the mouth of the stomach, are intercluded.  
Be it further known, that these cold rewines thereby issue from one member to an other, and infect the body with many cold diseases, and are called by three names: Catarri, Branchus, & Corizan, for so Arnoldus de nova villa setteth them forth. Catarri infect the lights: Branchus infecteth the head and cheeks: Corizam stuffeth and infar●eth the nostrils with most humid fluxes: and sometimes concockt into very hard substance by means of continuance. These bodies are best conserved by a natural & perfect conjunction of dry meats, inwardly digested by artificial means, reviving the principal members before decayed, for lack of natural heat. In these and such like bodies, I do greatly commend a greedy appetite, and a plenary diet: especially in regard that many such complexions are f●●xible, and overmuch spend nature of their own inclinement. Therefore plenary, fresh variety of sustenance, helpeth many of these sorts of men to natural hear, even as the hard stone is mollified and findered to nothing by many drops of rain, or as the strong and slately oak, thorough moist issues becometh putrefied: so these cold and moist complexions, in their natures wash and vanish to nothing.  
The moist ●ra●p the shaking palsy, the dangerous dropsy, the colic in sundry degrees are the generable 〈◊〉 her 〈…〉, ben●●mning the members, to become 〈◊〉 one to another for upon these diseases the veins become conugated and appetite disfranchised, for that corrupt humours may not have perfect resolution, besides all which, the whole body is instated with cold influences, producing these venom's 〈…〉 rpions Asclides, 
 Iposarca, and Timpana, the one is the mater●●l cause in offence of nature, the second is an active cause inflating all the members to become swelling and monstrous: the small cause is delative, converting all good and perfect nourishmentes to windy and watery substance, so when these extremities grow upon the guts, called Colon and Ylyon, are shut up: and thereby both the Dropsy, Tympany, the wind and stone Colic, preposterously creep in: besides which the reins of the back, by a gravesly congested substance, hereby bendeth and be●●mmeth crooked. All which are not to be deveyded, without pure and regular diet, of increasing wholesome blood, to become vigent in nature. Therefore the disease having a scouring virtue is principally comforted and cherished with sweet meats, tarsed with vinegar 
 to work a sharp disposition, contrary to eua●uation, lest that the body grow subtle, incisive and ever resolutive. And yet Galen plainly affirmeth, that sweet meats are aptly converted to choler: but ●a●t vinegar commixed therewith, doth greatly fortify the subtle pearling and ●●tring virtue, causing the gross humours to become pure and easily to issue.  
Galen saith, Non quosuis, sed rudes duntaxat videor taxare morbos, atque potissimum, non incerta divinatione, quam probabili conucl●ra egrorum indagatione conditionem: which is, I do not prescribe and limit every disease, but the gross and most dangerous diseases, and chief do I s●arch out their natures not by uncertain g●sse, as by probable conjecture: then let not occasion be omitted of more larger speech in such bod●●s, subject to these moist sicknesses before spoken, and of another sort of men, which oftentimes pass from this world by untimely death in strength of youth, being gross and corpulert in their stature, which men difficulty endure any adicction to alter nature, when sickness languisheth upon them.  
And although they are of measurable ability in natural vigour, yet unable to bear the burden of sickness, or subject their bodies to any strong accidence: but forthwith their gathered grossness is converted to a thin and weak debility: for that in the first degree of sickness, the virtue digestive is taken away, so that most commonly meat becometh loathsome to their sight, whereas in health the virtue digestive being most strong, did eat much, and made few meals. Whosoever therefore will either counsel or comfort any sick patient, must observe the natural complexion, with diet thereunto, and that supplement of medicine both in quality and quantity, be framed aswell in preservation, as restoration of nature: and therewithal by contrary effects alter the disease as may best serve to the opportunity of health.  
Galen plainly affirmeth, that hot complexions are altered with cold sicknesses, and cured with moderate medicines. And Auycene agreeth hereunto, that if the complexion of man may have alteration, either by medicine, or disease, and once recovered to health, is ever after most perfect, and of longer continuance in this world, and less subject to sickness: for that nature taketh such regiment in itself over them, that commonly they scour, wash, and dry their natural property of the body, from those corrupt influences of the air, which by infection they were before subject unto.  
Furthermore it is a great security to draw some general rules both for hot, cold, and mixed complexions, to serve this our purpose, that every one may be instructed under measure, fit for their inclinement of heat and cold, or all other motions good or bad, whereunto any change is made in the vexation of sickness Therefore chiefly there must be a consideration had to understand what maling humours have possessed the body, and whether the disease by reason of weakness desireth strength, or by overmuch fullness dissolution: if the disease thorough weakness hath lost appetite, than a profitable medicine to health is required, aswell to search the property of the disease: as to chase the infectious vent●●s from the v●tall parts: For as in fullness of stomach 〈◊〉 is overcrushed, so appetite is favourably enticed in weakness of stomach. And in these sharp sicknesses, equal property of medicine must be reduced to equal property of d●●t, for the patients appetite must be framed according to strength and corporal might, desiring always to make sustenance, appetite, & the disease familiar one with another, remembering what Thriverus saith, In egritudine longa non eadem virium ratio, in egritudine infesta non eadem victus proportio, that in long sicknesses there cannot be equal manner of strength, neither infectious sicknesses have equal portion of diet: therefore both diet & medicines, aught in sickness to be divided into several conditions of men in health: for those which have lived both daintly & pleasantly in health, their stomach cannot bear gross medicines, nor gross diet in sickness, as they who have lived more rudely, and fed more basely. Yet Auycene affirmeth, that medicine and diet in sickness, is brooked according to the strength and weakness of stomach. Therefore Hypocates most wisely and learnedly speaketh of the Physician, who in a common infection of sickness, cometh to divers estates of men of several manners, several education, and of several appetites, hazarding his credit to be praised or dispraised among them, is like a swift ship, piercing many blustering storms, or dangerous rocks of the sea, hardly escapeth drowning: or to a pilgrim passing over the wild desert, compassed on every side with wild beasts, scarcely escapeth slaying. So doth it fall out, that although many times the learned Physician putteth all the wholesome rules of physic in use and practise in the times of so great infections and mortalities, yet by the immeasurable minds of men (for their travels and skill) are they either overmuch contemned, or over little commended. The rudest & basest sort of the world, with their sharp slanderous tongues practise nothing else, then to murder and slay the physicians credit, whereas the Physician deserveth renown & honour.  
I further do wish that in all general diseases that the godly Physician behold and respect generally not only the complexion of the patient, but the course of his living in health, and whether the corruption of old diseases have drawn any fresh alteration to the body by infection, and of what nature the disease is of, and under what season of the year the infection falleth out: lastly, what perilous influence doth then trouble and foyzen th' air: likewise to consider, what diseases happen in the divers ages of men: As whether abundance of blood, or dryness do abound or want. And in middle age, whether the body be moist, dry, or hot, or whether in that age, the mouth of the stomach be clean, for that in those years man is most apt to riot and surfeit, infestring the ●●ward parts with innumerable corruption. I wish therefore that middle age be considered upon, against the miserable days and dangers of old age, seeing that the offensive days of middle age by diseases taketh hold, continueth and gnaweth upon old age to death, as sometimes by one disease, sometimes by an other, so that the natural spirits hereby are so overthrown, whereby their first qualities of cold moist and drought are utterly extinguished, neither can be tempered in the last days of man to any good health by art: especially and the rather when two places in the inward parts called Myrac, Syphax are either dried up, or ingurged with superfluous and unnatural floods of immaterial water: therefore man is to respect the daily trimming of his body in health, with wholesome died, and artificial 
 medicines of perfect operation in sickness: for so nature is fortified in all duties without excess, and beware that appetite do not settle to any loathsome or odious custom of gluttony or dronkinnes, which can hardly afterwards be repressed. Therefore learned Hypocrates speaketh most phth●ly, Crapula inescantur robust qlimi athletae: The most strong champions of the world are vained thorough surfeit, hereby become weak and without stomach.  
Therefore it is most great wisdom to beware that custom do not alluae the outward senses to inordinate appetite, and de●our the inward pati●tes of man at length, to become fulsome and deadly in t●●●r own feeling. For riot and excess sometimes asia fit the ap 〈…〉 of the most wisest men: yet so stayed in their own dispositions, as that never utterly vanquished having always pricks and sharp defences to dispossess those corrupt burdens, which universally prepare to op 〈…〉 their senses, sometimes by natural purgations, sometimes by natural vomits, sometimes by natural sweats, sometimes by one means, sometimes by an other. It standeth far otherwise among the ruder sort, having stuffed and ingorged their stomachs by outrageous and mighty surfettinge, do expose their bodies and senses to all ravening diseases, neither by reverent abstinence, or any other approved remedy, can leave off, in favour of their enfeebled and stuffed affections, for that greediness of appetite hath so snared them. These men permit prodigal surfeit, in large breadth & length, to creep more & more upon the bounds of nature, so that profiand healthful diet becometh contumelious and contrary to table their disposition.  
These and such like men shall find sobriety to become holy and wholesome appetite, and nature subdued to a sufficient contentment one with an other, if in the first onset, unreasonable conditions be repulsed thorough reasonable and moderate manners.  
I do not speak herein as Menardus putteth down, as either to choke nature, or crush the body in pieces, or universally suppress all the lustful inclinations of man. Seeing all things are for the use of man created, it is without offence to take his reasonable benefit thereof. Surely these creatures desire a speedy dissolution, & restoration to more excellent perfectness, as overfatigated and in their service to man's corruption, showing and confirming the same thorough many prodigious signs. And also because nature is oppressed, the senses subdued, the dody distempered thorough man's over great gluttony & drunkenness, the elements thereby so offended in their natural courses pour down supper abundance of moisting showers, disseasoning the earthly fruits of man's mortal estate: so at sundry times, great famines, and mortalities overspread mighty kingdoms and nations of the world, thereby the natural order of all things are discomforted, and the temperance of natural heat quite taken away, for surely there can be no motion of attraction, where there is no motion of expulsion. Therefore in those miserable seasons of the world where famine and hunger increaseth, the mortal pestilence shortly after rageth, as the instrument of wrath for the sin of fullness. The reason hereof is, because emptiness of man's body draweth in st 〈…〉ing commixed vapours of the air, which corrupt & smug the natural spirits, that all the parts of man thereby looseth his natural generation of blood: therefore Hypocrates most aptly saith, Nisi pecoribus simus rudiores, non aliter componamus fam●m, quae ex infami, antionae, caritate, contingit, quam nimi● saturitatis, & satietatis antea vindicta, & ruina. which is, except we be more rude than bruit beasts, and over gross in our own conceits, may not otherwise compare, reckon or account hunger and famme, which thorough a notable dearnes of victuals happeneth, than a very revenge & ruin of over great fullness and satiety before. And in another place saith, Vi●tum tenuem & exquisitum, si antea paulo plentor fuerit, magis periculosum esse, agnoscamus. Let us confess a thin and exquisue diet is more dangerous. if it were before a full diet. Then is it to be marveled, why the creator denieth not to give his creatures food in due season, considering how much, how greatly and wickedly, they are abused and dishonoured in the sensual liberty of man's nature. Surely such is the disposition of man, who had rather lead appetite to a desperate riot of all things, then to the custom of a satisfied and contented measure: the first doth nothing vary from the desire of bruit beasts, the other cometh more nearer natural appetite.  
Galen therefore reproveth man's favour towards inexpleble liberty with these words, Natura tantum appetat, quantum ferri potest, & quantum facillime concoqui potest Let nature only desire as much as can be borne, and as much as easily may be digested, but the cold stomach vouchsafeth not to endure this 〈◊〉 of living, for that appetite overreacheth dig 〈…〉 〈◊〉 warm 〈◊〉 misliketh where appetite is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their digestion: yet there cannot be at all times an squall prescription observed. For an ordinary diet to a ●ound bo●y hat● the quickest means to health, if the body be 〈◊〉 prepared, that the disease more easier may be exp●●●d And those diets are most directest to all sick patientes, ●hose properties are both curative, as restorative.  
Manardus in his second book of diseases, counseleth to find the apt constitution of the body both in sickness & health. In sickness, because the disease may be outwardly 〈◊〉 and inwardly corrected to amendment. In health 〈◊〉 be ha● because every man may understand what is 〈◊〉 un 〈…〉 t. it for his disposition, that he neither exceed ●o 〈◊〉, for the dangers before expressed, Nor decline to 〈◊〉 〈…〉 s, because ventosire motions are easily engendered thorough moving vapours: For nature immediately 〈◊〉 upon some labovous and superfluous matter, finding no 〈…〉 nance otherwise to feed upon. And yet I find that 〈◊〉 in old diseases is a present remedy, for thereby the matter is diminished, dried, ripened & consumed: for when nature finde●● no matter or substance to work upon, altereth itself upon the disease, quite chaseth & disperseth the same. Yet let heed be taken, that the subtle humidities be not so much resolved & dried, wherein nature is utterly repressed: let heed be taken that no maling humour being possessed of one part of the body, forthwith possess an other part, & settle in the root oh the heart: Take heed the sinewy members be not overweakned, especially the stomach which is a sinewy member: take heed the poors be not overmuch opened or stopped, for the one may extract variable vapours of corruption, & the other stop the fulsome matter under the skin, breaking out to outward fluxes & blains, which may most ragingly overspread man's body, for that the inward cause was not before perfectly corrected.  
Indeed this abstinence very well beseemeth old and moist diseases: otherwise in fathoming the bottom of man's nature, such deep abstinence is not permitted. ●et in these sa●ter ages, and among some new practitioners, this kind of abstinence is drawn to use, in cu●ing the most fulsome and filthy diseases of the world, thorough which man's body is infectuously stained by the slimy & riotous course of his life: so that hereby every 〈…〉 full man that can bring to knowledge the names of some cert●●● simples, although without property, composition, prop 〈…〉 n or degree, forthwith among the ignorant sort 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, without learning, knowledge, method or estimation, 〈◊〉 names of Physicians. Surely they which row at an uncertain mark shall nothing prevail: especially for that being ignorant of the complexion, as also the medicine being repugnant, more harmeth than profiteth: wherefore many are secretly and suddenly overtaken with death under the usurped regiment of a painted diet, aswell when they think to mortify the inward corruptions, do overmuch excie●ate the body, as also stop up the intercourses of blood, in overstirring nature, to a fresh increase: so that intemperance ever after pursueth these men to their grave.  
Many times these diets are joined to unskilful practitioners as high just plagues for wicked offences, both for that by them natural heat is extinguished, appetite destroyed, and the complexion discoloured.  
These diets ought to be tempered to this good effect, as that dryness and humidity are to be united of one subtle conjunction and property. And therefore Cornelius Celsus saith, that dry, subtle and hungry airs are most best for these diets, if their complexions be thick and gross: But low and vaporous airs are most preserving of thin piercing bodies and open diets.  
And further saith, that interchanges of diets and airs, for winter and summer by several habitations, produce health and long life. But Manardus affirmeth that commixed bodies continue long lived upon high grounds, open airs and full diets. Therefore it is a most excellent contemplation for every man to cast up his senses, and perfectly find under what temperance he liveth, for the wholesome regiment of health, and therewithal to way his bodily complexion: always directing his diet, habitation, and course of living according to the same. And lastly, let every man beware of variety and grossness of meats, and variety and grossness of diets which engender and bring forth variety and grossness of diseases.  

How times and seasons ought to be observed when diseases do most abound.  
Opportunity of very property and natural disposition every where, performeth great occasion in the accomplishment of all things. And truly in healing and curing of diseases most greatest of all: for not without great difference and variety, the ordinance of meat and medicine are two special means, thorough the which every Physician altogether prevaileth in furthering of all sicknesses to health, yet sometimes most notable danger and hurt ariseth thereby: for medicine in the tedious and wearisome ways of sickness, may at some one time bend down to a hurtful and intricate purpose, which was to the Patient before an effectual remedy. Neither is there any less than great offence committed, if meat be given to a sick patient, whereas it ought to be taken away, although it be good, wholesome, and perfect: or that meat be taken away, when, and where it ought to be given: wherefore wisdom ought to be had in high consideration, that all things in this life depend upon opportunities, times and seasons. For Galen saith, nothing can neither be well spoken or done by the use and benefit of one reasonable creature to an other, if the difference of times and seasons be not rightly understood,  
And the writers of this latter age most justly are reproved, for that not a●re one of them have drawn the times and seasons of ye●●● in a right methodical observation. For Galen and 〈…〉 rates have evermore conjoined, that all diseases stay vp●● accidents and concoction in the diseased patient. And accidents only apperta●●e to the infection & corruption of times and seasons vncertain●y and swiftly breaketh out either in their own universal rottenness, or else by the contagion of man's body, which most easily lieth open unto them: so all diseases 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 desire to 〈◊〉 their poisoned strength 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 exions, as are soon by them vanqui 〈…〉 And co●coction is the most easiest & comfortablest signs 〈…〉 knesse which especially consist upon these marks, and sig 〈…〉tions, as followeth. That is if nature be in full power and strength, the material substance of the engendered humours, di 〈…〉 h and vanish by little and little quite away, or else concocteth, settleth and possesseth some one place, or property in the body: otherwise if nature be weak & feeble, and the disease inforcible, malignity insulteth over the body, hastening swiftly towards the borders of the diaphragm, or else vanquisheth the diaphragm, and entereth upon the spiritual parts, whereas forthwith, nature is deadly, medicine unperfect, and the disease unable to retire back, death presently invadeth thereupon: for medicine is best entertained, when the virtue thereof gathereth the disease together, whilst nature is favourable, the disease un 〈…〉, or the body unuenomed with corruption and able to be de●uered from the power of the disease by expulsion.  
Here may be set forth a more plainer declaration of such fevers which ingeader upon the body of man: for as some there be depending upon unnatural inflammations, congested by an evil humour, or some vehement hot blood possessed in some one part of the body, as of the loonges or side: so there is another kind of fever which unnaturally is kindled at the heart, deducted from thence by the veins and arteries, and by the mean of the spirit and veins into all the bodies sensible hurting the natural  〈…〉. Furthermore if some special cause of sickness were not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the urine, or some other alteration of the excrements, it were a hard thing to find out the difference of simple fevers, from those fevers which hold upon inflammation, for single fevers are known, either by the corruption 
 of the air, or by distemperance of heat or cold dangerously crept in, disquieting the natural disposition of such bodies which are thereunto subject, or by the unnaturalness of the body itself, in excessive ●askes by surfeiting sweats, by over great fasting by incontinent opening the poo●es, by 
 troubled travels in thirstiness, by inordinate sleepings 〈◊〉 over great watchings. So other fevers which h●ld upon 〈◊〉 dental inflammation, as their property is evermore regarded by speediness of their accidents towards the vital parts always flaming out under some preposterous Ch●ysis.  
These inflamative fevers must either have a critical expulsion, or else do they alter from one degree to another, after the greatness and insatiableness of their accidents. There is a chief and principal cause moving us herein to speak of some humoral inflammations, which are couched under a hard and thick covering, of strange congested vaporous humour upon the side, or by impostumation of the loonges, whose substance once perfectly grown is not removed or extenuated, except by little and little, or else by present immission of blood in the basilicke vain, as all and every of these severs happening to have egress either upon the animal and 
The consumption is ●n nature 〈◊〉 hect. ●2.  vital parts of man: so the other only desire a long and tedious consumption, nourishing themselves upon the moral parts, by continual fretting, labouring, foaming, wasting and devouring the outward flesh, do by a super 〈…〉 s traverse invade nature: and the more the body wasteth and vanisheth away, the more redolent the strength and power of these fevers abound.  
But for the better understanding of these raging diseases, it were a most necessary discretion, so to mark them in their degrees, as that they may be better known, and more easier provided for hereafter: for chief there spittle is cla●n●e, tough, stimte, and sometimes full of bloody and mattery corruption: their breath is almost stopped, do reach and d●●w far and slowly for the same. The cough is hard, hollow and short, cannot without grieving other parts of the body, deliver itself: Their urine is fierce, furious and of most high complexion and of ruddy black colour.  
Touching these and such like sicknesses infestered with inflammations, happening under distemperance of times, are chief regarded, helped and cured in their concoction, but not in their accidents. As they are never advanced together at one time, so the greater place is given in concoction, the accidence becometh more peaceable and quiet. Yet there is great disagreement among the latter writers, that if the disease be unvanquishable inestat or fashion, how can the accidents of the disease be valurable or sharp: and if putrefaction, or corruption be most great and forcible in estate, how can concoction be most perfect, for concoction is contrary to putrefaction. Howsoever it doth here fall out by controversy, the surest stay upon the sick patient is, when the disease is settled, the infection is peaceable: for then the medicine more certainly expelleth the cause.  
And therefore behold that all diseasses, break forth their malice, by depending upon special seasons of the year: So that there is a double kind of offensive matter in all fevers, one which can never be corrected, and the other which by little and little settleth, and at length thereby expelled. And yet there be some most dangerous fevers, so alienated, and estranged in their natures, as neither will rypen of themselves to be utterly devoided, nor yet be altered by any medicine, to become certain.  
These and such like fevers in their strong operations, are chief dom●●●ed by vomits in the superior parts of the stomach, or else by favourable glisters not only shall search many engendered humours and corruptions, but cleareth, cleanseth and searcheth all the principal parts of nature: so that the troubled senses after many pains, shall hereby be drawn to quietness and rest.  
Therefore Galen most sapiently distinguisheth aswell upon single as inflammative fevers, as of the pleurisy and such like. Many most excellent writers very much have complained of times and seasons of the year as not sufficiently elucydat or set forth to the knowledge of men, after the needful manner of ages, for that several nations and countries of the world, do follow their seasons and times by the due course of the elements, and after the property of the sun in uprising and down se●ting, who giveth refreshing, growing, natural moistness and ripening to all living things, according to the soil and situation of all such grounds and places, upon whom it giveth a shining comfort, be it either early, or late, short, or long. I find by all good writers that Autumn is the most dangerous and poisoned season of the year, under Europe, and most complained of, both for the indirect temperature thereof, as that especially the effectual cause of all pestilence then, breaketh out, as also in that the strong heat of summer is weakened, and transumpted until another year, and also because variable distemperance of warmth and cold then aboundeth in liberty of all corruption and rottenness: for the clear sun, having consumed his natural strength and mighty force upon all living earthly things is utterly weakened, not able to endure so strong a course any longer, until a fresh direction be renewed from one degree to an other.  
Whereas coldness and dryness are in that season of the year conjunct, so rottenness and corruption, before intricated in any part of man, presently breaketh forth: for as cold hath overshadowed heat, so dryness vanquisheth moisture, for which cause both morning, noon, and evening, have their sundry operations in that season of the year.  
Auycen saith it must needs fall out that either sorts of fevers in those seasons most readily show their fury. For cold and heat gelied together in one substance of dryness, maketh demonstration of elimentall corruption, and therefore do unperfectly rypen. And gross humours also before settled, do openly instat within the poors of man: so that corruptions may not a●●e more be couched, but break forth in open rage. Hypocrates in his first book of Aphorisms, saith the approaching, assenting, and constitutions of diseases do show both the passing away of the year, and a successive increase of diseases by interchangeable courses of times, as whether it be every day, or every other day, or by a more larger compass, and space: For in the judgement of Rasis, most dangerous diseases fall out, in these wavering seasons of the year, as when the body and the elements are both corrupted together, presently without stay, are bewrayed in their own natures. For do we not behold these winter diseases, are searched in the bottom of their corruptions, by cold frosty weather, which were before infected with moist seasons, and hereby break forth into quartan and tertian fevers, so that it is further to be considered, that these coniested diseases of winter immoderately in the spring time assail the body, especially in those natures whose bodies are evermore encumbered with fumaticke grossness, their passage in their veins is interdicted, their blood cannot with east dissolution ascend and descend, do by infection apprehend, cold consuming fevers: so also these and such like vaporous diseases: their blood being thorough a contagious spring time discoloured, tainted, and unperfected, draweth and engendereth a venomous nature upon the liver, and whose fortitude and virtue assimilative thereby diminished becometh prassive in itself, all which is most venomous to the vital parts.  
Herein may be perceived, that all contrary interchanges of the year, do approve and try their inclinations of one season 
The vapours of the spring or winter season are exhausted into the elements & are scoured and cleared by a hot summer from the elements into the body of man▪ under the corruption of the body, for one corruption entertainest another.  by another, and the rather for that all unnatural diseases grow and engender by means either of stinking and unseasonable grounds, or corrupt vapours in the air, infecting and weakening those bodies which are empty and void of substance: or else difflorisheth the laudable generation of blood in gross bodies: or else universally enfeeble and excoriat the bowels of all men, either by a peri●●ons flux called Dissenteia and such like, in the approaching of summer: or else by a secret Chrysis in the dog days, upon the liver, stomach, loonges, and giddiness of the head.  
And surely upon the accidents of these diseases, the patiented is infected with venomous humours as aforesaid, as grossness of blood impostumated in the liver, the face disfigured, the arteries discoloured with yellow black humours, and the rather for that the gall speweth and staineth all the superior parts of man.  
Wherefore as these and such like diseases fall out by interchanges of seasons, aswell from some accidental influence in the distemperance of the elements, as also in the corruption of the body itself: So such dangerous and fluxible diseases after the judgement of Dyoscorides are best comforted, scoured and restored by potative unguentes inwardly taken. Touching those singular fevers, are in their first beginning very remotive, and give easy place to medicine: so if those fevers be not in their first onset oppressed, will wax sturdy and very forcible over nature, for which cause the counsel of Hypocrates principally is herein to be followed. Cum morbi inchoant, si quid movendum, move, cum consistunt, & vigent, melius est quietem habere: When sicknesses and diseases do begin, remove them, before they take root, but if the disease stand at a stay, for some good property in itself, it is far better the patient take rest. And yet no such prescription is of necessity here set down, but if the disease hasten to concoction, may the better be curable, and operative, both in medicine and nature, although opportunity was omitted in the first beginning of the sickness.  
Furthermore many writers of this latter age approve this place of Hypocrates by the comparison of a botch, or some other preposterous outward sore, which do congest and gather upon the flesh under some vile and inordinate substance, is not to be cleared and cured from corruption, before it come to perfect estate, both of ripeness and rottenness. So these single diseases are not to be removed in the first beginning of their infection, but in the beginning of their increase to concoction, so Hypocrates meaning is received of the best sort. And yet the best means is not denied, but that every skilful wise man, may in the excellency of his knowledge, at the first entrance of the infection, minister medicine, not only for the easing & mittigaiting the rigour of the infection, but for a speedy performance of the same to concoction. It standeth far otherwise in those infla 〈…〉 tive and sharp diseases of the pleurisy and such like, whose accidents is to be prevented and subdued in the first beginning, for if these ●ur●ous diseases grow to perfection, they will be immedicable and without remedy. For as there must be a perfect con●ection and medicine aptly framed to diminish the same; so there must be a thin reformed diet, both because of thickness of hot phlegm, and the unnatural heat of the disease itself. And as these effects must be wisely discerned, so these pota●i●e confections must be made meet, equal and apt to the same constitution.  
As first regarding the grossness of the accidents, and secondly to understand more artificially by experience, from the variety of excrements, that is to say, by the signs either of some raw or concoct matter possessing some one part of the body, besides which, if there is one orderly progress in the disease. As when the disease beginneth to settle, than the increase thereof finisheth: And when the perfection of the disease manifesteth in the highest degree, there is the disease in full estate: and when the accidents are general, there is the infection sharpest in nature: when the disease beginneth to give over, and to loosed, than an universal alienation showeth the same: for that the urine is not raw as in the beginning, groweth to substance, colour and verdour, the countenance thereof is scoured, cleared and perfected like a fair bright day, after a strong and stormy tempest.  
Next and lastly there followeth a disease, called Dyspnaea so set forth by Auycen, most commonly doth break forth in summer season about the judicial days, and gathereth strong vapours into the body about the breast, by reason of a disseasonable winter or unnatural spring before: Or by reason of a great retention in thick blood, inordinately congealed about the breast or heart of man. So that the passages of the inward parts are stopped up, that one member cannot have use and service of another, matched with a difficult extremity of certain dry knots or knots upon the liver, lights and loonges: besides which all material substance is quite exhausted, for lack of excellent and perfect moisture in that place.  
These pectoral diseases are best known, for that there spittle is tough, thick, bloody, proceeding o● black colour, reacheth deeply, draweth wind hardly, for their wind pipes are overcharged, aswell with humoral substance, as that sometimes also, their loonges are utterly wasted. Even as a hot fire causeth a pot to foam over, so the boiling heat hereof inwardly chafeth these diseases, to become more extreme and fierce.  
These diseases I say are best eased and resolved both by opening the neither parts by glisters, and comforted in the upper parts by cullicies of thin substance, without addition of any hot cause put therein. So that by the comforting of the one, and opening the passages of the neither parts in the other, the disease is dissundered and easily avoided downward: it hath been seldom seen, that very few have escaped this dangerous contagion.  
Here might be placed sundry other dangerous diseases, especial fevers happening in man's body upon contrary and disseasonable operations of times: But these are sufficiently prescribed as a universal admonition, with care to regard health from sickness in every several constitution more exactly than heretofore.   

WHAT IS TO BE DONE IN THE BEginning of every disease.  
Old writers among many wholesome disciplines and necessary laws delivered out for the government of man's body, have not omitted what rules are best to be observed in the beginning of every hot disease and sickness, that is with gentle and favourable medicine, mollify the hard excrements of the body, and not only because nature is departed from due disposition, shall hereby the better be restored, as also in that the strong heat of sickness, with thickness of blood hath stained the humours, as that all moist passages dangerously are stopped up. Therefore by this molifieng, humous are thereby made more agitative, and the poors to receive such comfort, are readily opened, so that both body and nature yield together more flexible, and the stubbornness of the disease hereby is made more obedient.  
Auycen called this mollefaction the liberty of nature: Dioscorides saith, it is the messenger of health: And Galen saith, it is the controller of sickness: Arnoldus de nova villa saith, it is the glass of true knowledge in sickness. This mollefaction is of most gentle quality, both in attracting of good digestion, in retention of perfect substance and strength for the behoof of nature, and the superfluous spum of most gross and unperfect humours therewithal are provoked more apparent: for the causes of diseases are not only hereby stirred to readiness against evacuation and expulsion, But the nature of the disease itself wholly is discovered in the work of medicine, and the P●isi●ians knowledge hereby made more lu●ulent.  
There are some which have mistaken this kind of mollefaction in stead of minoration, and are altogether therein deceived, for that mynoration is an attractive medicine, searching & proving the qualities of the complexion, or else galding & chase nature by some superfluous repressing or altering the drift of the disease. For sickness in the first beginning hath no absolute place, especially those which be laborious and sharp: yet many have great opinion of that place of the Aphorisms, as at the first beginning of diseases, remove that which is to be removed: but when diseases keep at a stay it is better to take rest.  
Many writers of the same function which Theophrastu● Paracelsus is of, having allowed this mynoration, durst never take in hand that weighty matter unto which other were persuaded by them.  
Galen so evidently distinguisheth those sharp diseases, as no man is occasioned to doubt what is to be done, either in the beginning, middle course, or end thereof: for he fashioneth them in their first entrance to be called Insulsum, that is, unsavoury and without feeling,  
And jeremias Thriverius doth call the accidents of every disease Insultum, a brag, in reproach of the whole body.  
In the second course of sickness, it is called Accessio, which is an augmentation to a more supreme power over the body. And this third placing of this sickness is called concoction, which is a preparation of manifest matter to some certainty, so that the medicine is the more aptly constituted for the perfect expelling and fluxing of the same. Forasmuch as all accidents of diseases may have one violent drift in the beginning, and alter in the estate, & both of them within themselves may dissunder in operation, and engender a several disposition contrary to evacuation: for the one may swiftly inflam, convert to choler, and overcharge the estate of the sickness, and the other may attract some virtuous property and thereby comfort nature, and expel the disease without medicine.  
Auycen willeth that in the accidence of every disease, there be a true observation, to consider whether the disease be ghostly or bodily: moist, or dry: and whether the body be of good or evil complexion: whether the stomach and the liver be cold or hot, whether the humours be quick or dead, and whether the operations be heavy or sharp: Whether choler hath a burning pre-eminence in the lungs or mouth of the stomach: or whether a dust choler have kindled an unproper heat upon the spleen.  
The second observation is, when the disease consisteth & stayeth in a property, whether the humours have passage and due course by the strait conduits of the body or no, or whether there be a quick springing blood in the veins, or whether the disease relinquisheth or retaineth nature.  
The third observation in concoction is, to consider the pulses, whether they be hard or soft, hot or cold, moist or dry, and whether the humours have perfect resolution or no. Surely without perfect regard of all these causes to be either direct or indirect in sickness, there is no intermeddling with purgation, before cuncoction be pefectly comprehended: for if in sickness there be no alteration, why should nature be vehemently vexed: As purging when the accidents are most strong, doth nothing else but stir and chafe the disease, to wax more powefull and cruel, And to purge when the disease consisteth, disquieteth both the disease, and the patiented also being at rest: besides which not only disperseth, but venometh the disease to be in all the parts of the body unperfect, so that neither in the beginning, or the ●state, medicine availeth in the disease: but the surest passage for health & life, in all sick patients is, that in the uttermost course of sickness purgation be placed: that is, when all putrefied infections be gathered to a certainty by concoction: notwithstanding there is an universal judgement pronounced of the best sort, that all such medicines which extenuate and diminish, either the extremity of the disease, or unsettle other congealed humours therewith, are to practised, a lowed and used, both in the beginning, and estate, so that the disease thereby may more swiftly be hastened and ripened to concoction: yet it is not herein so spoken, that so large a liberty is granted, as to use any purgation at all, except mollefaction or extenuation, which only is permitted in strong accidents, for stirring up congested humours or provoking bodies insoluble. And so long as the beginning of every disease continueth, so long these weak medicines may be perfectly permitted, it cannot hold together that the sickness of one month hath equal beginning with the disease that hath continued but one week: and yet who dare be so bold as to purge within the compass thereof, before the signs of manifest concoction appear?  
Certainly if the beginning of the disease continue in one accidence six months, or a whole year, before concoction be gathered, yet there ought to be no troubling, or molesting the body with purgative medicine, both because the disease is thereby unperfected, and the course to concoction quite stopped up. It is to be wished and counseled for all such to take heed and be hereby advertised, which run at hazard with present purgation upon all diseases: for the learned Physician, which in judicial reading is before made to understand the same, is neither to be warned, counseled nor taught.  
lastly, no practioner is abridged, either by medicine, or diet, or any, or all good endeavours to draw such diseases to concoction, as a ready preparative for purgation, which is a singular and perfect way to health, agreeable to all the rules of Physic. These things so highly considered, who doth not marvel to behold some careless rude persons, who under the counterfeit show of Physicians, do in the first beginning of diseases proffer three or four draughts of desperate physic, with purgations, enchant the body of the sick patient, not only to innumerable inconveniences, but most commonly to d●ath itself? These rather desire to behold the number of physic cups standing upon tables round about them, than the motion of nature in the diseased patient.  
Hear may rightly be understood and perceived, that concoction ought to have a most high superiority in gathering & preferring the universal corruption of the body on a heap, before purgation take place. But there is a consociety of very dangerous persons in this our age, whose custom and manner is, the very same instant and day, when they approach and draw near the sick patient, do first prescribe minoration, do the second day expect concoction, the third day eradication, the fourth day a potion consortative: the custom hereof is doubtful to be allowed, both because the disease is carried by so large a compass without stay into many afflictions, loses his stomach & grace, lieth dead in the body unmovable, and every several confection may have hereby a several operative nature to do harm, in some fresh and contrary property.  
Auycen utterly disalloweth their practice herein. How much the preparing and seasoning of the body availeth, for the perfect altering of the disease to concoction, whereby purgation may more naturally and effectually do the duty of a trusty messenger, in performing the intent of the Physician, the sick patient shall evidently find the ease thereof, being released from such and so great continual dolours.  
Galen, Hypocrates, Auycen, Dyoscorides do confound and consent with this virtuous and medicable endeavour, whereas these rude and corrupt practitioners in the first instant and beginning of the infection, minister a strong purgation in offence of the whole constitution, is like as if a rotten fulsome channel were raked or stirred to the bottom, corrupteth the senses and infecteth the air in more poisoned putrefaction, so that many dangerous effects ensue thereby. The skilful physician doth far otherwise, that as the sweet fountain water, or the pure celestial showers of rain, by little and little purge and purify the fulsome savours and contagions of the earth, do not only keep them under, whereby their fulsome smells break not out, but also by little and little utterly taketh away both their intolerable foyzing the air, as the corrupt stopping up, and poisoning, the comfortable and essential estate of man's health.  
Here followeth an other diligent observation, that all bodies overtaken with any universal malefaction, are not, besides the which, clear & free from other corruptions, as having ingenderment with black phlegmy & yellow choler, so that one of them are very offensive to an other, and therefore ought they to be mundified and diminished, as two offensive causes inconuenientlie conjoined in one disease. For if they ●ee not concocted and gathered to a mutual certainty, their gross and thick matter being discovered and estranged, thinlie and uncertainly breaketh into all the parts of the body. For Auycen saith, thick things are easily comprehended, and swiftly excluded, as evidently is perceived in those diseases which happen in the breast: as whether their spytcle be thick or thin, is scarcely reached up, because the shortness of breathing from the lungs preventing, must of necessity retire back. Therefore when these parts cannot be scoured by natural action in the quality of the breath, must in these seasons of infection be concocted & seasoned together by medicine, so that the one with the other may be confluxed out of the body. There is an other observation that choler of what nature soever it be, is not in his own property to be more styfned, but drawn more thin and open, i● the humour of the sickness be thick, but if the humour of the disease be thin, than both choler and phlegm must into due concoction be thickly gathered: and yet those bodies which be naturally fluxible, are the easier emptied of those excrements against the difficult brunts of such infections.  
And my further desire is, that herewith be set down an other observation of natural and unnatural choler, which most vehemently aggravateth the cause in sickness, as being mingled with gross and thick gleam, burneth in itself, and inflameth the disease, for that the property thereof cannot be separated therefrom. Also there is choler which hath no issue, is of a red bloody condition, it is engendered upon the liver, readily conjoined with those diseases which happen under some preposterous chrysis. Furthermore, there is a choler engendered of evil meats, which not perfectly digested, grossly gathereth into the veins, do lie open to all infectious sicknesses, altereth with the disease itself, and tergiver sateth from his own property.  
There is an other choler, which resteth in the gall, or else converteth to wholesome blood, every disease by this choler is made more perfect and excellent, doth comfort the body in health and doth of his own property comfort the disease to concoction in all general infections.  
Furthermore in the beginning of every sickness you shall understand whether there be any gross choler adjoined therewith by two special notes: the one, if the urine have a very thick substance: and the other, if most vehement heat arise in the complexion. Surely, surely let this be an universal doctrine, that all infections do search and seek after some excremental superfluity, to become of more higher corruption in their supreme dignity and estate, As by hot choler the infection more vehemently rageth, as by melancholic thoughts the disease becometh more gross and heavy: by phlegm, the disease becometh mo●e cankered, and yet natural phlegm converteth to nutrimental substance, and many times of very property is a perfect medicine to withstand the assaults of all hard and extreme infections.  
Thus to conclude, even as the learned Physician never adventureth his Patient at hazard, so let all Practitioners by degrees, regard every disease from the beginning, then by wisdom health is universally maintained not by hazard, as in the same artful knowledge many grievous diseases are recovered from evil and venomous corruptions.   

Next followeth to show what is to be done in the time of the increase, estate, decrease and falling away of every sickness.  
IT now may be lawful somewhat to take in hand a practice for purgation and yet no otherwise to purge, then as concoction hath yielded, & giveth leave unto: For it is reason that nature be somewhat ruled and reform, whereby the tediousness of her burden may be measurably performed, and shaken off most lightly. The ancient fathers although they have laid open all the counsels of Physic very largely, yet none of them do consent, that it should be a lawful action, at the same instant to purge, when the increase of the disease is powerful, for than is it doubtful whether nature hath resigned her motive course: And therefore medicine ought to be stayed, until nature return again in her own property to the uttermost. Some are in contrary opinion doubtful and uncertain, whether nature have an active motion in the increase of every sickness: for if the chrysis be perfect and certain, there is then disease languishing, and laborious: if not, then the disease is in some part discovered, so that the remnant more easily is performed. By which means, it so cometh to pass, that there is a sudden alteration and change of nature to a more better & excellenter hope: for in all such like diseases, nature is approved in her highest substance, whether she be able to endure or no.  
And when there is a substantial dissolution of the disease in the behoof of nature, the same is easily known and perceived, either by urine, or order, or the temperature of the body. And yet in all sharp sicknesses the same is no consequent discoverture. But it cannot be denied in those sicknesses which have length and continuance, that if nature perfectly be descried is be strong, powerful, and replenished with livelihood, than the sickness hath free passage and evident approachment to full increase, and therewithal many times, the body purgeth, and fluxeth off her own free property, so that the motion of nature is greatly therein revealed: and surely the physician▪ is cleared from any excess danger, that may ensue thereof, so neither is he partaker of any good perfection that cometh thereby. For in all diseases there are good and evil works in the property of nature, and withal, there ought to be most high consideration in the study and endeavour of the physician, for the restoration both of nature and health together. Whereas in sharp diseases the physician doth evacuate the principal parts of the disease by medicine: so nature ought to be favoured, and maintained in perfect substance, for if she be not in potential estate, she presently decayeth and falleth away aswell thorough the sharpness of the medicine, as the painfulness of the disease. For where nature performeth her strength, there she not only preheminently vanquisheth the disease, but expelleth and chaseth the infection thereof quite away: so that these operations of nature are accustomed abundantly to pour forth their gracious fruits in the conservation and consolation of bodily strength, and are most certainly tried, when the disease consisteth or stayeth: as if it were in the time of health, if the physician do at any time fear the decay of nature, he ought by artificial skill, practice, not only to fortify the natural course of the body, but there withal search the nature of the disease. Notwithstanding the physician is forbidden to intermeddle with the works of nature, when she of her own property, hath any moving towards health: but surely in dangerous sickness if nature sometimes overexquisitely purgeth of her own property, then take heed that neither the flure exceed, nor yet concoction overrun the perfect course and wayfare to health: Remembering the old saying, Quum fluor excedat, mors intrat, vita recedit. The physician ought to surpass the disease both in wisdom, experience, and high counsel with natural causes, both in releasing the languishing compunction of infection, as to gather all crud and raw causes together, whilst the disease hath a time of increase, and to proffer a practice by some meet framed medicine, to ripen the disease, except the disease consist and stand at a stay. And in ministering of purgative medicines there must be called to remembrance whether nature have ready strength and full power, to perform a limited duty in purgation or no. And heed must be further regarded whether nature be overcharged with the foreign estate of the disease not then to be troubled or drawn to worse inconveniences, by unseasonable medicines.  
Auycen saith every disease is both powerful and wavering when it decreaseth: but when it consisteth, is more certain and better stayed, and then most easily overcome by nature and medicine, for which cause not only crud and raw matter, but also dured and settled matter is then principally expelled.  
And yet many approved writers affirm that the greatness of accidents are to be appeased by the physicians skill, and not permitted to straggle out, except equally measured to concur one with another in the motion of nature. And it is most inconvenient at the same time to provoke the accidents with any heavy or sturdy medicine, which neither the disease nor nature can then brook.  
Cornelius Celsus very precisely standeth upon the words of Hipocrates, Si quid movendum videtur in principi●, move. Who understandeth that the increase of the sickness, is a p●●t of the beginning. jerimias Thriverius a learned writer saith, that if any act hath been overpassed in the increased of those sicknesses which have been more prosir, then casefull, may be more strictly regarded in their full and perfect estate not because it was an error, or neglected, but because the increase of the disease required no such thing, until there were a full 〈…〉nesse in the disease accomplished. Galen writing to Gla●●● in his book de arte curativa seemeth to interdict every medicine, before the estate: especially where crud matter possesseth itself. And cast aside, saith Galen, all solutive and hot medicines: and whosoever proffereth any medicines at all in such diseases, which are stuffed with crud, raw and sluny substance, before some ease and releasement in the disease be finished, shall bring double dangers upon the disease. For being before single and of one property, thereby both the disease and nature are altered under double grief, aswell of great inflammation, as oppilation, whereby the ercrementes, lose the due disposition, and the blood corrupted, and the arte●is wherein 
The 〈◊〉 a are 〈…〉 a●d like to the veins.  the spirit of life walketh, are exposed to innumerable dangers.  
Now as you do understand, what is to perfected in such diseases contained under crud and raw matter coming to their estate: So there must be a like caution taken, in these sharp diseases happening under some evil and dangerous Christ's, not to interdeale therewith by sturing, before the disease, with all inconveniences thereto appertaining be fully settled.  
There is a certain gross and unperfect substance so settled in the property of these and such like fevers, as if they do aspire to a high strength and estate, are unable to be vanquished and driven away, both because nature is weak and feeble, as also for that the medicine hath no direct operation.  
Be it assuredly known that where nature is more weaker than the disease, and therewithal the property of medicine loathsome to the disease, is a plain indication of death: and although nature may herein, for a time be succoured, yet can never be recoured.  
The ignorance of many are greatly to be lamented, who after nature is overthrown, seek a life in the midst of death: therefore Galen in his 29. Aphorism of his second book, denounceth safeguard to all such, which in the time of long sicknesses are prospered with nature. And although medicine is such a general thing as may be framed to serve in every degree of sickness with virtue, measure and time: yet whosoever, either by unequal virtue, unequal measure, and unseasonable time, reacheth into any such disease, when nature is before decayed and oppressed, is to be adjudged in a damnable estate for the death of that person.  
Then let the Physician thoroughly consider both bodily constitution, and the course of the disease, before he attempteth any thing: for by rash enterprise, the course and motion of nature may be prevented, and the disease offended.  
Surely when nature neither moveth, nor innovateth, there is no enterdealing with medicine for evacuation: as whether it be by potative electuary, pills, or otherwise, all is vain and therein utterly to be refused, for rest and quietness in those diseases most prevaileth.  
Then lastly whosoever neglecteth these wholesome rules, and without observation runneth at hazard, not only vainly magnifieth himself among the rude and ignorant sort, but thorough their unskilfulness either do they dull and blunt the disease or else cherish and continue the danger of the same: for by such rude persons, nature is both spoiled & troubled, the worthy knowledge of physic slandered, the deserts of the worthier sort derogated, and the public estate of the people offended.   

Here next followeth how meat ought to be increased or taken away, according as the times of sicknesses require.  
Now remaineth to search out not only the nature of sicknesses, but in what seasons diseases are most perilous and apt in offence of bodily health, and also how meat ought to be increased, withdrawn, or quite taken away, the which part is most hardest of all: for neither old writers have clearly and purely expressed it, neither yet new writers sufficiently revealed the darkness and obscurity thereof. Yet that ancient Hypocrates in his first of the Aphorisms vouchsafeth to give advertisement, that when diseases both begin, increase and come to estate, full meats are to be abstracted, and thin diets most chief commended, until both nature and the disease be well pleased with the thinnest of all. For it is a manifest rule, that there belongeth to every degree of sickness a due ordinance: that is, when meat is quite taken away, some great practice is to be expected and accomplished by medicine, which then, and thereby, must work most effectually and sound.  
Yet Galen on the contrary doth seem to command the patiented in time of sickness to proceed from a barren and unfruitful diet, to a satiable, uberious, and complete diet, which of the writers in this latter age is understood, that after great emptiness, nature is greedy to recover her former perfection. All which must be done with such discretion as that meat and measure concur upon the estate of the disease: But in these inflammative diseases of the sides, liver, loonges, or such like, all nourishment in the beginning of such diseases is denied and quite taken away: Especially if the spittle be clammy, gluttonous, or devoyded out with thick blood, then except the disease be loosed, either by cutting off the basilicke vain, or by some other skilful attraction, the patiented is thrown headlong upon death. For although some use ptisans, made of exoriated and unhusked barley to be drunk, in mitigation of such extreme furious diseases, yet all nourishment plainly is denied, before some thing in so dangerous a case be perfected.  
There is a farther counsel to be here in extended, that if the patiented be desirous of sustenance, or some supping, and will not there from be refrained: then shall be ministered unto him some slender food in very small quantity, as is neither operative, nor nourishable, both because of the dryness and distemperature of the body.  
Many very good writers agree and consent that fountain water, & sharp vinegar, not sophistical, but seasoned from the natural grape, aromatized with honey, is of s●owring property, if it be well boiled together, and drunk next the heart morning and evening: also it is a most wholesome oxin●ell to mundify phlegm in the stomach, gently penetrateth congested 
An oxymel is pure to mundify the stomocke in sickness.  blood in the sides, doth quench and appease the fury of flammative fevers, and sharpeneth the stomach, therein shall be found most present helps, in so hard dangers. Next it is good to understand how the patiented profiteth or disprofiteth by these significative marks as follow. That is, when the increase of the sickness prospereth towards health, the concoction therewith prospereth also to a full estate, as appeareth by the mouth waxing moist, or else reaching up from the loonges some concoct matter of ripe quality to be easily delivered forth in full quantity: For the more abundant those excrements be purged out, so much the rather the stomach is framed, and sharpened ●it for food and sustenance. Then it behoveth to yield the body some slender relief, so that continually it be limited within iudication. For as every disease is rather qualified under a barren diet in the beginning: so a small and thin diet is commended in the increase of every sickness.  
Surely a thin diet is best approved in the opinion of Auycen: that is, when the disease consisteth and stayeth in one course towards health: But if the disease in forcible assault runneth forward without stay, than all diets are substracted, until the nature of the disease appear more open and perfect. For the body having escaped these and such like perils of sickness, is like a wayfaring man having passed a tedious and hard journey, through long fasting, and much labour, desireth food: So these bodies overpassing and preventing variable hazards by fatigable wrestling, and painful enduring both the beginning, increase with the estate and perfection of the disease, are like a strong captain, after conquest and victory, desireth quietness, rest, meat, and sustenance. And yet many of these diseases, recovered both by good ordinance of medicine, and wholesome food, have returned back to their old dangers, and not stayed their course before death. All which falleth out, both because there was some disordered surfeit before health settled in perfection, and the disease not quite rooted out.  
Auycen saith, that if the body fall into present misgovernance, after that it hath been recovered from sharp sicknesses, especially inflammative diseases, and before nature be restored to her prestinat and potential estate and dignity, death without commiseration insulteth over life. And therefore he adviseth all men universally to settle nature, to sharpen the stomach, to shut the poors, and to entertain sleep and quiet rest, after sickness, before they expoose their body to any hard practice. Now these perfect canons, holden by general consent have confounded and overthrown the controversies of new writers, and retired unto their ancient and former separation of diseases, and secretly therewithal hold back, and inwardly contain their knowledge and counsel, touching simple diseases, As though no such thing appertain unto them: But largely comprehend the estate of these inflammative fevers in either of their natures under one general method for remedy to either of them: so that these diseases have divers natures and operations, aswell in their accidents as in their concoction. And many times it so falleth out, that medicine altereth and settleth them, not only to concoction, but also to be of an nature: whereas before they were in their accidents, variable, and divers in their course and property. Touching the difference of these simple and compounded fevers, I cannot find no direct agreement, between Hypocrates in his book, de ratione victus, & other writers, but Hypocrates and Leonard Fuchsins, do consent, and with a true report sound out, that all diseases happening in the spring, aught to be under a moderate diet in their beginning, because nature is then most occupied in digesting raw phlegmatic humours congested the winter before, and by the natural ascending of blood, painfully diverteth from common course. And also the body which is replenished with humours, is in the spring season more troubled, than any other time.  
But touching those diseases which fall out in summer, thin diet is then most meetest: for that both natural and unnatural heat, exceed moistness, and those diseases which then happen, are most aptest to inflame.  
But all those diseases which happen in Autumn, meat is measured according to the disease: for no perfect diet (saith Fuchsins') can be prescribed, for that diseases are then of divers properties and contagions, And therefore to be measured according to the physicians skill, knowledge and discretion. So also such diseases which fall out in winter, are furthered or hindered according to the seasonableness, or unseasonableness of the time. For moist foggy winters engender corrupt diseases in the body to the uttermost: And natural whether of frosts and snow approve and search the body either to great welfare of much health, or else to speedy death: therefore Fuchsins 
Frost & cold purifieth the veins and sinews for the blood ascending in the spring season.  saith, diseases in thin bodies are then guided with restorative diets, for oftentimes such bodies are in those seasons apt to be consumpted and utterly wasted, both because the natural blood is departed in the deepest veins, and strong bodies inwinter seasons subject to sickness are best pleased and approved with mean stiptical and savoury diets. If in these bodies both medicine and diet by present remedy have not a positive operation to conserve a strong estate in nature, Forthwith nature perisheth. For as they are not able to endure the pinching cold outward, so their fleshy foggines cannot inwardly suffer for want of perfect and pure blood: so that no outward shelter, nor inward nourishment countervaileth to recover health in them.  
Let us return to the substance of our purpose, for the searching out the best diet in all diseases, either simple or compound. Galen in the first of the Aphorisms, the seventeenth Comment wisheth a thin and sharp diet to be established in all sharp diseases, both because the body is infected with most greatest fleames, and because inflammations do therein most abound.  
One Hugh Senensis a learned man, disputeth that thin diets are meetest in the beginning of sharp sicknesses, both because strength is in full property undecaied, and the material substance of the disease over rebellious, and thereby without stay easily subdueth the body.  
Hypocrates generally and deeply speaketh of all fevers, either simple or compound: that first the disease is unsettled, and uncertainly roveth in the body: and next, for that it doth abound with painful travels, difficultly wrestleth, skyrmisheth and traveleth, either to settle and possess some one part of the body, or after the spiritual parts possessed, invadeth all the parts of the body to destruction.  
Herein is it manifestly proved, that in the beginning of diseases nature hath no need of such nourishments: for if appetite were greedy and desirous thereof, yet not able to bear that which is wished and lingered upon. For whosoever infarceth and enforceth nature in the first entrance of every such sickness, both cherisheth the disease, weakeneth and defoileth nature.  
Galen in his first book de arte curativa, writing to Glawco, in his chapter de cura febrium continuarum, saith, that if continual fevers consist in one estate, & the body very weak are best ruled under an exquisite and sharp diet, if strength and age agree therewith: but if the disease exceed beyond that lymittation, is then to be understaied with a plenary & stronger food, so the same be apt to constitution.  
Auycen saith, when the estate is perfected in the disease, let the diet be more plentiful, or otherwise, let the diet be augmented, or diminished as the disease increaseth or vanisheth away. So also this is a general agreement among all the ancient Fathers, for the regiment of man's health, having put forth an universal edict, that in all mestive mortalites, thin diets are most pertinent, for medicine to work upon, because their accidents are infectious and of indivertible substance, and especially so long as these infections in their accidents are conjoined to the beginning: otherwise if the increase of the disease prosper and proceed to be perfected and settled to some very likely estate, they ought to be solicited more at large, either by curative medicine, or diet, until the usurped properties be expelled: after which, the body is to be enlarged to a full diet until nature be revived, restored, and recovered in full strength.  
These rules and reasons proceed from men of great countenance, of sound and upright judgement, repugning the wrongful and erroneous interpretations and opinions of certain new writers, who having set open their shop of counterfeit practices in defrauding the good constitutions of heath in man's body, who in the beginning of simple fevers in place of a gracil and thin diet, have constituted and put in place a free and bountiful diet.  
Secondly in simple fevers, when the disease increaseth, do prefer a thin diet in steed of a complete diet.  
And thirdly, they do in the estate of compound and inflamative fevers magnify a full diet, in steed and place of a thin and peaceable diet. Surely Hypocrates somewhat bendeth to the second controversy, that in the increase of all simple fevers, a competent diet is most meetest, so that if the disease do proceed in the increase, or forsheweth any simile end, either by ripeness to cease, or else take safe degrees to estate: Then the Physician hath full power over the disease, either to recover health, or else to stay the patiented from large and strong sustenance.  
Petrus Brissotus and Lionicius do say, if in the estate of simple fevers, sustenance be denied to the patiented because of the strength of the disease, than what jeopardy are those pacientes put into in their time of estate, when inflammations and accidents together yield no place to rest, their bodies being strenghened with nutrimental sustenance, do continue the disease most cruel, fierce, dangerous and outrageous, unto the approachment of death.  
Hereby all patientes may perceive, that all diseases within the knowledge and help of man, are under laws and ordinances: Therefore whosoever shall either violate or mistake these laws and ordinances, offendeth both the sick patiented and his own conscience.  
And furthermore, if the sick Patient will not be ordered, but rebel against this wholesome government, preferring both his own wilful mind and reason before the sound and perfect counsel of the Physician, Let him be adjudged guilty of his own death and destruction.   

The first Book of the temperaments.  
AN Element is the least part of every proper thing compounded and united into one substance, performeth not the least, but the immixed parcels of the same things to be made a perfect element, and equally to place those smallest things to be tempered with the highest, as that (not in any behalf) any one of them be immixed from an other. It is an high onderstanding: wherefore we oguht to divide the least portion of every tempered body as followeth. That is, there ought to be in number four elements, neither aught there to be more or less: and yet can there be but one element alone, for that with an unreprovable quality all things return to destruction: neither can there be two elements, as fire and air, because all interior things would presently be consumed with their coniomed strength of heat. Then may it be imagined, that nature might have framed fire and water to bear their several course alone, both because they do in variableness differ one from another, or that they might seem more durable in their course above the rest.  
The third element is the air, which nature hath so placed between the rest, as that moistness is joined to water, and heat to fire: neither do these three elements suffice, except there be a fourth element conjoined hereunto, that is say, the earth, not only because it is the seat and habitation of men in this world, but also and much rather being commixed with water, doth by her coldness, temper the other two elements: therefore nature most decently hath bound, not one, nor two, nor three, but four elements, and that with a strait and agreeable concord, as when they were dis●ramed and dissociated from their equal places: As when the earth was downward, the water and the▪ air in the middle, and the fire upward, although there are not only some philosophers, but very Christians which have practised to discover 
Which is taken as an error.  for the knowledge of man, a certain dark, thick, and shadowed fire, about the point & centre of the earth by a direct light gleaming and irradiating from the stars, The which fire is vestal & pure, not elementary. Herein if we consider that both the earth and the water do not only entertain the same fire, but the air interiected, forthwith followeth the same: even as there is a conjunction of the earth to the air, so is the water placed between both of them otherwise the air should wholly remain moist, being placed between two dry elements.  
Galen and other grave Philosophers do seem otherwise to think, who on their behalf call the water most moist, and is so adjudged in the absolute power of nature, for by touching the same is perfectly bewrayed: whereas the air is not comprehended at all by touching, therefore the air is more moist: & yet because water is of more rounder and compact substance, then of an intentive quality, some philosopher's report water is more moist than air: otherwise how should ice more cool than water? and yet not more colder.  
Galen affirmeth water to be most moist, for that it is clear, and no dryness is contained within the substance thereof. By this reason no simple medicine can show in his uttermost nature to be either hot, cold, moist, or dry in the highest degree, in respect of equalite 〈…〉 ature from contrary pla●ing, therefore this reason most pro●pereth and proveth in ●urt bodies: and although the air were clearly hot, yet not in the highest degree: So likewise if water were clearly moist, yet not in the highest degree, for it ●s repugnant in the reasonable on●e: standing of elements, that there should be two qualities, or else no● at all obtained in the highest degree: for if air hath not maystnesse, it should then unnaturally exceed in the uttermost place, which is against the nature and order of the elements.  
And furthermore, it is greatly to be marveled, that certain new Philosophers with some counterfeit weak reasons, blast abroad in the world, that water is more moist than air, which cannot hold: for then the elements should fall out in contrary order, which otherwise have an equal constitution in the rest of the bodies one after an other, although they be of disframed conditions and qualities: or else we may judge of man's body to have more earth and water, little air and less fire, whereas it is in holy writing far otherwise declared, that man was not fashioned, neither of air, water, nor fire, but of the earth, showing that earth & water are imperious & ruling elements.  
This element as a heavy substance doth bear great sway in the constitution of man, for that heat and dryness are of more lighter matter: Then doth it stand by natural reason, that heat among other qualities is active, and as the quality thereof is most plain, so the least portion thereof as in man: for which cause these two outward bodies cold and heat, may be perceived, and that coldness is tempered by heat, and heat dela●ed by cold, dryness by moistness, and moistness by drenesse, that one of them should have equal service by an other: so there is also a motive cause of coldness and dryness thorough the sinews, so also there is coldness and moistness in the brain, where the conceit and sense beginneth their place. The heart is the instrument of life, the liver the instrument of blood, the which of necessity are hot and moist: and so from thenceforth there are certain instruments of necessity, some cold, some hot, some moist, and some dry: if any one of them at any time do bend or writhe aside from these just temperature, their active quality must be disured and fall away therewith, for that the instrument which leadeth the same, is decayed. Therefore the body of necessity is to possess and enjoy a perfect estate in his members, in service of all the offices appertaining thereunto.  
And the rather because all bodies have a conjunction of the four elements, otherwise choler which is hot, dry, and cold, cannot serve the body in perfect nature and operation, for that unnatural choler corrupteth the whole body.  
And furthermore, as the four humours are separated one from another, in several estates and constitutions, so such members which are insigned under any one of these humours▪ are commoderated one by an other, until there be a judicial temperance reigning over all the whole members: for although any such instrument were of necessity cold, yet it is not convenient so to be in the highest degree, for that certain immixed elements do want the temperance of the second quality. Now if successively these instruments were by this means most righteous and equal, they ought not to be tempered on some one behalf, but on every behalf: for no instrument can be meet, whereas if any part thereof be unmeet. And for this cause it is not only a seemly sight, that these elements after their greatest portions, should be grossly mingled in a mixed body, but that in the whole they become perfectly united, and that there be no want in any part thereof.  
Therefore as divers elements are so mixed in one body, as that there is a full service of all the members one to another. So was it righteous, that there should be a whole perfect conjunction in the just commoderation of all other instruments: for if all and every part were not equally moderated, one part would decay and fall away from another. For is not the body conserved and satisfied by the said elements from hunger and thirst, which otherwise would in all the parts thereof languish and fall 
Wine is a bountiful element, ordained to me perfect properties.  away: therefore man is nourished of the four elem●ts, in that the heat of the sun is commixed with the earth, and the water and air commixed, are of generable nature, producing sustenance, agreeing with all nature's indumentes.  
And furthermore consider, that whosoever drinketh w●●e for coldness of stomach, doth not pour or infuse fire into his body: although the moistness of water is tempered with a fiery element to frame a perfect body, not in outward action, but by the pure power of heat.  
This verily proveth that one element is fashioned with another, so that all the elements are of equal power and property one with another. Otherwise if man were framed of one element, he were impassable, and without suffering: Or if there were such a dissimilitude in the elements, as that not one of them could be drawn in agreement with the other, but still continue a contrariety, than all passive actions were dispropriated and unperfectly disequalled. Even as there is manifestly showed forth all necessary causes to the construction of every one body: So these elements all in all, are commixed without separation, following upon the immixion of humours in man's body, unto which every living man is subject and bound unto by nature's ordinance. And there are some which wallowing in their own wills do affirm, that blood is nothing else, but a certain confounded humour, extracted out of three humours: although the same is utterly false, Yet may it manifestly prove a great variety in the permixion of elements. Therefore if it be possible that four humours are confounded 
Manners do follow the humour of blood.  within themselves, and yet their forms kept together undiffacioned, or that one form or fashion appeareth for them all: then surely these elements are aswell commixed in these humours, as wholly perfected thorough the body itself: that although their forms were either disfigured, or in some part abstracted, yet there qualities are undefaced. Otherwise the reason and measure of mixture should perish together both in form and qualtie, touching corporal forms as they are never taken from their substance. So not the form, but the qualit●e hath increased by the mutual actions of the form and qualities together. It is therefore most difficult to withdraw nature and quality, from these most excellent temperatures, 
The difficulness. of the o●e is cased by the perfection of the other in the course of the veins.  which of the ancient Philosophers are called complexions, possessing divers parts of man, as coldness and dryness in the bones, and hot and moist in many other parts of the body. So the rather may it be perceived, that all cold things in man's complexion are overcome with hot and moist temperatures, nourishing blood in every man to be perfected after natural inclimation. Therefore he hath finished a good and perfect work, which can uprightly discern a perfect temperature in the estate and constitution of all men.  
The Physician is largely to distinguish upon the natural complexion of all men, for it is his part and duty to compare man with man, and all men to be under some one temperance. And yet there are many differences to be found under these temperatures.  
Galen showeth by experience of some men which are over-troubled with phlegm, that although some part be taken away, and not in all, yet the superfluous humour that remaineth, is made more moist, and the easier digested and resolved. Auycen saith those things which be over moist are tempered by dryness: then there ought to be an accidental heat indifferently and equally compounded with humidity: but yet the intemperance of heat and moistness is an unequal commixture. For Galen saith that the decay of complexions are upon superaboividant qualities one with another, which is the overthrow of nature, and bringeth death.  
Leonard Fuchsins saith, if the seasons of the year should be compared according to their temperatures, the spring season is most wholesome and temperate▪ because it is hot & moist, if that by strange exhaltations it be not corrupted. And Autumn season (saith he) is most intemperate, for that it is cold and dry.  
Galen saith otherwise, that if the spring be compared or co●oyned with an unnatural summer following, shallbe then ●old and moist, because of the strong exhaltations of heat following thereupon. And on the contrary, if it be compared or conjoined with the unnaturalness of winter, it is hot & dry, because of the elements were distramed with heat, by an extreme and unnatural course in the elements the season before. Surely Dyoscorides very uprightly toucheth the mark, that the temperature of the spring time ought to be regarded and marked of natural and unnatural properties in itself, and not by the comparison of another season.  
Arnoldus de nova villa affirmeth, that the spring season is found neither hot nor moist, but temperate: so that neither susuperfluous moistness nor exceeding dryness do abound: for the Spring indifferently seasoneth all things.  
jeremias Thriverius saith, that Spring hath no perfect temperance, thorough which, either the winter before, or the summer after have lost their temperance in the heat of the earth: when as the veins and sweet fountains of the earth are decayed, having not only lost their natural progressions, but thorough strange exhalations the aireis' distemptred and becometh gross, loathsome, and furiousin all open corrupitons.  
So on the contrary, all the parts of the earth may be enraged with hot dryness, for that the elements exceedingly do suck the juice of the earth, drawing in all filthy corruptions, which infester in the highest degree: seeing the spring time is then of property and nature most comfortable, and that in all natural and wholesome temperanre, doth never bring forth sickness, except by some former corruption, which hath forestalled the sweet refreshing joy thereof.  
It is good to consider then the temperance's of the yeared how they do agree with the complexions of men, both for the conservation of health, and the avoiding of sickness: for choleric persons do best take comfort and joy in themselves in winter, for the heat of their complexions is best delayed and tempered with the moistness of that season: Phlegmatic persons do live more safer in summer, then in the spring time, for this temperature chief agree with their completions: so may we not forget that women do live in greater joy of nature and: norwholsome in summer, then either in winter, or spring season: and Hypocrates doth simply grant that women are both in the spring and summer season most prone, and then principally esteemed with men, yet Rasis saith, that chol●erike women both in winter & spring season are excessively stirred up with nature's inclinements, and then most of all possessed inwardly with great heat and very apt to digestion, and therefore their natural courses and provocations are then most apt and plentiful.  
Arnoldus de nova villa affirmeth, that there are superfluous humours, which of their own malicious property, readily are prepared to infect the flemmatique woman, and are open to many other unnatural accidents, and yet sometimes by a favourable property of nature do release themselves: Therefore Theophrastus Paracelsus saith, that if those accidents did not perform great works of nature's inclinements of moistness and heat, in the change and alteration of the moon, A woman were then cold and dry in the perfection of death. But yet those bodies which are of their own property both temperate and long during in the perfectest constitution of a woman's body, is hot and dry.  
Now furthermore, it were a very good and special doctrine, somewhat most largely to discover the properties and variable conditions of Autumn: and the rather for that many have failed in the true explication thereof. Some affirm that season to be hot and dry: other some say it is cold and dry: and some other some say, that the qualities and disposition of this season dependeth upon days, weeks, and months, and the diversities thereof, happen not like as other times and seasons, as cold in the noon time, and hot in the morning and evening, all which overpasseth the right and equal proportion of temperance.  
Cornelius Celsus saith, that in Autumn there is a contrary motion of the Elements in all superior causes, so in these inferior causes there is also a changeableness in all things: as from moistness and greenness, to ripeness and rottenness, thorough which distemperance many things do draw strange vapours of the air into their quality, whereby many infections do corrupt and take hold of the body, in gendering variable diseases. Besides which their is a contrary motion of the elements corruptly roving abroad in those seasons: Not only because heat and moisture are coniuncted in the variable parts of the elements, but also for that there is no certain nor constant induction of the weather for health and wholesomeness, to comfort man's body withal. For first the planets are in their courses utterly difframed one from an other, so the sun upon the nightly and north passage, fretteth upon the circle, dividing the half sphere called horizon, as also having entered upon a contrary point of Ar●es, enforceth the mornings of those seasons to be hot, moist, and soultrie. And after the dissolution of this overraging heat, the north groweth to a most extreme vapour of cold about the noon season. This may easily be gathered hereof, that the opposite points of the north and the south, having strangely and diversly altered both their properties and courses, the inferior causes are so poisoned in a corrupt degree, as that overraging pestilences are enkindled in such like seasons, and there shallbe perceived great lights and furious flames of heat arise in those parts of the north, all which foreshoweth excessive gluttes in the unseasonable abundance of rain the winter following.  
Some new writers persuade the world that man's body is overweakened by those seasons: aswell because of the unnatuturall distemperance, as also for that the vygent heat of blood not only descendeth, but either thereby decayeth, waxeth thin, or corrupteth in unordered bodies.  
It is a most high contemplation in the herbs and plants of the earth, whose fortitude and power is in the coldness and dryness of this Autumn greatly diminished and fallen away, so also subject to putrefaction and corruption therewith. For the generation of humours which were clearly nourished by the pureness of the spring season, are now utterly surprised, either by evacuation, corruption, or putrefaction.  
Auycen saith, that Autumn is like a woman which when the time is come cannot conceal her travel, so Autumn cannot be covered or hid, which trieth and approveth man's body, whether that it be with diseases infected, or no: which may be also  
After threescore and ten years, this phlegm knitteth in the joints, s●oppeth the veins, engrosseth nature, decayeth digestion. And in the canicular days this phlegm becometh ponderous, and by an excessive and inordinate heat, odiously stencheth in the lower parts, especially upon the legs, and that until putrefaction be perfected therein.  
There is another waterish phlegm, thick and subtle most hard to be digested, gluttonous and drunken persons are much herewith infected, and this phlegm about the fall of the leaf, is white, thick, hard and corme: it offendeth the brames and nosteels very much, except it be addressed with warmness: this phlegm most of all offendeth in winter season, and by reason of outrageous coldness and distemperance of weather, altereth at the same season more than any other time, for that the cold and hot humours disagree one with another.  
There is a most dangerous phlegm called by Cornelius Celsus, Rallium, of others, Gibseum: this phlegm settleth in the joints, and sometimes in the arteries, drieth into hard kernels not only engendereth putrefaction, but remediless gouts: and as all maling distemperatures have conspired herewith, so doth it crase and break forth in open liberty by all distemperate seasons of the year.  
There is an other heavy and clammy phlegm, proceeding from the lights, and showeth itself most principally in the Autumn season, like to ice, because the blood descending, is overtaken with coldness.  
There is a phlegm which many times is incident to very black and choleric persons, and showeth a dangerous nature in the finishing up of Autumn, it proceedeth chief by inordinate and evil customs of youth, as excessive lechery, and such like bloody unctuous and greasy contagions. This phlegm is engendered upon the heart, kidneys and reins of the back. There is a choleric phlegm, showing moste of all in Autumn, engendered of salt meats.  
This phlegm moveth a belching hicket in the mouth of the stomach, causeth great pensiveness and sorrow of mind, proceeding of greedy eating of raw fruits before the natural heat of the sun, be perfectly coagulated therein, and yet if there be perfect digestion hereof, it is converted to blood.  
There is also an other humour annexed hereunto called choler, the which is either natural or unnatural. Choler unnatural is an outward cause known thorough the whole body, and melancholiously mingled: it is cytrin, or like the colour of gold, 
Cytrin is the colour. of an Orange.  it is intermixed with subtle phlegm, and sometimes of smaller substance, and in similitude of the yolks of eggs, and enterjoined with gross phlegm and natural choler. There is a choler burning in itself, and converted to ashes: there is also adjoined herewith a melancholious choler, which is of a ready colour engendered upon the liver. There is a choler engendered upon evil digestion of meats, & it is engendered in the veins by other evil humours, this is prassive choler, like to the herb Prassion: it burneth until there be no moisture left therein, and the dryness thereof waxeth white.  
Furthermore, as all these temperatures of the body, coneur with the temperatures of the year, and as yet no temperature certainly is found out at any time, which showeth some great reproach to nature, both because she hath ordained nothing certainly to continue, neither hath she performed all things alike: & as many accidents of unnatural influences do on some variable behalf corrupt and distemper the universal earth, so by great murrayne in cattle, by excess pestilence in mankind, and by putrefaction of earthly fruits, show forth a variable alteration of the four elements in all other living creatures. Therefore Hypocrates saith, it were more than reasonable in nature, if all seasons of the year were tempered or distempered alike, for therein the government of man's complexion oftentimes falleth out by the natural or unnatural course of times: for the work of nature cannot be showed or tempered in any thing more glorious, or a agreeable, than that temperance or distemperance are framed to serve equally in their places, as the four seasons of the year fall out, under which man's complexion is best ordered, or worst disordered according to the proportions of the said times.  
Galen calleth the estate of man in the spring time of the greek word EUCRATON, which is that nothing can be changed from his temperature.  
The new writers have endeavoured their wits to prove, the most wholsommest and sittest estate for the health of man's body is that season, which is most best tempered under moisture and heat, and that the flemmatike man is best delighted therewith: yet if we do both approve by experience, and also for our further doctrine understand, what Hypocrates saith hereunto: that no seasons of the year are more corrupted, than those which happen under the estate of moist and heat, And chief if the said estate be either long or superfluous: under which said times, often falleth out great changeableness in nature: for that not only simple corruptions are then easily taken hold of, but all general infections of pestilences are overspread, in swallowing up the life of men, for which cause moistness and heat, and of most excelling quickness and full of life: and yet distemperance therewith hath full and large conjunction and corruption to do harm herein. For Galen himself confesseth, Humidissimam naturam esse vinacissimam, cum intemperatis, non autem temperata confert, The moist nature is most quickest in the state of intemperate things, but it nothing prevaileth in those things which are temperate: for certainly superfluous moistness, scarreth and breaketh natural colour.  
Some hold in opinion, that if heat by a strong proportion do superabound, cannot offend at all: as if it be tempered with excellent moistness doth always conserve a lively temperance.  
This opinion is much reproves by Dyoscorides, who judgeth those bodies which of necessity exceed and overflow in phlegm, do also exceed in heat and moistness: and in like sort, they are so desperate one from an other, as that they cannot partake or comprehend any perfect quickness at all, considering that nature is rather hurt by the excess of two properties then one: for there aught to be always a mediocrity and an indifferent estate in nature. Therefore it is necessary that heat do not extend in a sanguine man more than humidity: for if moist humour preheminentlie be placed, the intemperature of the sanguine complexion is more quick than any other temperatures, and yet not in a temperate disposition. As such intemperatures are of a more quicker operation than the rest, so are they more unwholsommer and esiest suspected of their unsoundness, and nature oftentimes speedily perisheth in them: especially for that contagion is over powerful therein: although this may be true, yet was there ever any that searched the true understanding thereof? For surely these sanguine complexions, as they are hot and moist, so their bones, sinews, and veins are covered with thick flesh engendering great abundance of blood, many of them thorough exceeding great riot, easily do entertain many diseases, untimely devouring and overthrowing them.  
And in very deed there is in these sanguine complexions a contagion which falleth out, both by strange and unnatural heat, which easily gathereth both because the same is forensical and improper, and also for that it hath a principal power in itself, so that the old pruerbe herein is verified: that smoke is next fire. And as it insulteth upon moistness, so is it easily conjoined, & yet not nourished therewith. The reason falleth out, for that heat and more 〈…〉 e were distemperatly united: Also dryness very hardly entertaineth heat. Yet if it be a hot dryness, contagion is very greatly repugned and withstood thereby. Therefore it standeth with daily experience, that whatsoever things can be preserved, sa●ored or tempered with vimger or salt, from corruption, is wholesome and pure. It is a most excellent workmanship in like sort to continue the sound estate of man, under good and perfect ordinance in the time of heat and moistness. Yet some writers verily think such seasons can hardly be recovered from corruption, but that some one disease or other, falleth out upon the distemperance of the weather.  
Furthermore, the authority of Aristotle or Theophrastus shall not any thing herein prevail, who wrongfully place the life of man between heat and moisture, in the definitive sentence of death.  
The old writers never did so think, having by three means gathered heat, cold, moistness, and dryness: although the earth is more drier, notwithstanding the quality thereof is impermixt: their bodies forthwith decline. And surely the endowment of these sanguine complexions, are neither hot nor cold, but temperate. They are men compounded of most excellent dispositions: and for that they are of yellow whitish hair like flax, much good speech is used of them, both by Galen and Dyoscondes: they endure health strongly, and do resist and bear out the danger of sickness familiarly, withstand the fury of accidental diseases, (called infections) most stiffly, and the rather by reason of the variety of their permixion and confused humours.  
Furthermore, for that we are distinctly to handle not only the constitution of man's body, but chief the several complexion, under which every man is governed: therefore are we next to consider of two sorts of melancholic men, of the which one kind hath a helpful humour and is appropriate to nature, the other is improper, or rather unnatural. The disease of the melancholic person, is engendered of two parts: of which one entereth into blood, and possesseth the veins, and the other is conuered into the spleen. It is profitable if the blood thereof be thick, whereas it was before thin, waterish and weak, being so converted doth much strengthen all the members of man's body.  
There is a melancholious humour engendered upon the liver, which simple is neither hot nor cold, but absolutely dry and cold. And as Galen reporteth Socrates to be a melancholic person, and a man of a thin blood, by reason he had no active increase in heat, & of a rough skin, because continual vapours from the stomach moved intentive coldness, because the comfortable blood did not freely at all times return to proper course, his bones, mouth and brain were dry, and his stomach feeble.  
Cornelius Celsus saith, that Socrates was a melancholic person on the worst part, both for that the liver blood was not perfect, neither had free and open passage or recourse unto the veins, or yet was temperately conveyed unto the spleen, in which places blood should be plentiful, vigent and nutrimental, and by which means all melancholious superfluity should be expelled.  
Melancholy which is taken in good part many ways profiteth the body, to all wholesome comforts, and hath a special regiment in the highest and best place to the spleen. But if it possess the body on the worse behalf, becometh a dust, saltish, sour, and boileth upon the inward parts, and is altogether gross, rumours, and hath a final inclinement to death.  
A melancholic man is of countenance black and yellow, and of nature in two degrees, & the one more tolerable in condition then the other. The one sort are most unconstant, and readily do tergiversat from every perfect purpose. Whosoever readeth the opinion of Auycen in a certain epistle supposed to be written to a noble Duke of Sabelayn Hispalis in Spain, shall find there described more certainly the properties of a melancholious person, than I purpose to intermeddle withal. Yet Dyoscorides maketh a very commendable report of a certain excellent potion, called Diospoliciton, first 
An excellent potion called Diospolic●ton.  devised and approved by Architas, Prince of Tarentum, a most sovereign remedy against all melancholious diseases. And Galen in his book de sanitate tuenda, Speaketh most divinely, and reputeth those men to be me● of high happiness, who in their dispositions understand the wor●es of nature, do by inward contemplation, as by wisdom and experience continually consider, to instruct and reform nature, to a better inclinement, until perfect grace, old years, and grey hairs have prevented the inconvenience of such desperate humours, and also to have made an utter conquest of all the evil practices thereof.  
It is further to be noted, that many evil manners do grow upon the natural disposition of man like weeds, and that aswell by daily use and custom, as by excessive distemperance, dipped and coloured every dayin wicked practices, from the pureness of their first innoce●tie, as that sometimes they are become unreformable. And Galen affirmeth, that no greater per●l happeneth unto man, then when evil custom overruleth, overrunneth and overreacheth both disposition and temperance, which ought to underset and prolong the body with great fe 〈…〉 e and health: Therefore let us herein following, set down 〈…〉 two kinds of temperance. The first is observed and referred to weight, or heaule burden in respect of the elements: as that no quality do therein exceed another, both for that all bodies are of equal weight in the qualities of the elements called temperate: for it is impossible that temperance should be settled, either under excess or defect. For as it seemeth the four elements are commixed within the comprehension of the same weight: And as fire hath his natural quality, and active motion with the other elements: so if there be a greater portion of fire then earth, surely heat with a preheminent dominion surpasseth coldness. 
Hipocrates is missensed or mistook.   
There are many which despise Hypocrates in his Aphorisines, altogether missensing his doctrine of heat, not understanding simply heat, but a hot body, that is to say, the breath and blood of the body. And doctor Measues saith, that children have more breath and blood, according to the proportion of their body, than others of higher age: that even as a fire of green wood burneth most strongly and vehemently, so the heat of the children, (according to natural measure and temperance) overpass higher ages.  
Leoncenus saith, neither the one, nor the other stand with truth, because both sorts are of one and the same degree according to proportion. But Galen by the way plainly admitteth children to have more heat: not because heat is in them more intentive, but more abundant: the which is most certain and true. For seeing breath and blood are of necessity more abundant in children, it cannot otherwise be, but that natural colour ought more abundantly to possess them.  
Galen putteth down next hereunto a second manner of temperance to righteousness, as a positive law to be observed of all men: the which righteousness consisteth to pay every man his right, as well in due deserts, as to him that receiveth it, as in discovering the glorious works of natural▪ duty in the payer: for herein not only consisteth a simple temperance, for that it is a principal thing, agreeable with equity, but also because it is begotten and brought forth, as a fructifieng tree, from nature's perfect inclination. Wherefore we are to think of, and inquire, whether nature hath favoured one place, and country more than an other, in the favourable behalf of temperance, not only for duty in righteousness, but for the performance of all honest actions. In performing which purpose, Greece is magnified and highly regarded as a temperate country, both because famous and excellent wits have sprung up therein, as that experience hath tried them a famous people in ordinance of manners, and the works of wisdom have discovered them by their wholesome laws both for martial, politic, and civil government, And the inclination of nature hath polished them to walk most temperately in their conditions, during the course of this life.  
Demosthenes in his orations against Philip of Macedonia, persuadeth them to live according to the temperate soil of their country. And yet if we behold all living men in their order, there is not one so to be found, which attaineth that excelcellencie of wisdom and understanding, as he ought to the uttermost of nature's indowmentes, except some few persons presigned thereunto. And yet every living creature readily performeth some temperate work of nature: as some men in running swiftly, some men in resisting strongly, and some men in agility, and some men in policy, but few men in learning, wisdom, gravity, and the natural faculty of eloquent speaking: and the fewest of all in the confession of their creation: And yet every one hath a several work of perfect temperance in the best behalf.  
So certainly all other unreasonable creatures are framed out of this natural mould, to some temperate property or purpose, or other, as the horse for swifenes, the Cow for fruitfulfulnes, the sheep for profitableness, and many other precious works temperately do herein excel.  
There is an other temperate creation in the plants and herbs of the fleld: although their virtue is quick and vegetable, 
Unequal qualities of divers herbs are made of one proper operation by the art of man.  yet cannot skilfully use their own property, but their properties are known, used, and searched out by the art of man: and as many qualties exceeding one another, are so made and compounded one by an other, into one quality of medicine, as that they do not swarm or exceed one above an other in operation. For as hot water and cold snow commixed together, are made one perfect temperance of warmness, so all bodies or natural qualities appereinent thereunto, are contained or compaged under one bur●hen, stoop down and take hold of seasonableness in every kind of conjugation or knitting together. Therefore the Physician not only croppeth all these herbs of the field, but taketh his best delight and joy in the property and virtue thereof, for recovering, helping, and comforting his sick patient by some confected medicine, aptly and wholesomely framed to the bodily constitution: for which cause, surely, this man in all the parts and practices of honest duty is a most perfect temperate man,  
But let us return to our purpose, and insert under this volume a most high, and secret workmanship touching the forming of mankind in his creation, which most sufficiently shall be proved both by reason, argument & demonstration: and that man's proportion had a begunning by the insight of a divine creature, first form under an invisible substance, and afterwards visible, possessed under an anatomy of flesh and blood, yieldeth to a natural inclinement in every one to some several property or other; so that one of them from thenceforth hath from time to time increased in the flesh and blood of an other, and chief under the protection of the divine providence, as well as by the continuance both of the earth and elements in one due progress and course of all things.  
Hereby may be perceived that man's generation hath grown up from age to age, under temperance and distemperance of the four elements: not only until every sever all office of the same, he performed in quality and quantity of a proportion able body, as also to be perfected in fashion, that ●a●ure beginneth competently to partake her wonderful & admirable works, therewith under cause and effect.  
Then herein is to be required a commoderate difference of these bodies, whether the substance, as the interments appertaining hereunto be natural or artificial: if natural, than their form is under wholesome or unwholesome temperance. The disagreements shall be herein most largely declared: for the first beginning of artificial form, was comprehended under the hands of man: as either by etuming carving, or skilful payating. The chief masters of that faculty was Policletus or Apelles, their workmanship was without natural temperance, active motion, or sensible feeling: And for that the four elemens' had not tempered or united a motive life or breath in them, the●r work is not passive, nor subject either to temperance or distemperance, health nor sickness: they f●e●e neither friendship nor hatred, good nor harm: when they are in tired they cannot revenge, nor yet requite any good benefit bestowed upon them: they are ignorant of the alterations and changes of seasons: They neither feel the pleasure of life, nor the pain of death: Their complexion is without disposition or inclination, to any good or evil things, where as natural form, hath a most high place in the work of a visible substance. So that Lyonicenus hereunder, placeth Physiognomy to be conjoined and annexed under natural form, and therewithal the parts and gestures of the body are framed, according to the manners of the mind. Aristotle in like sort doth reckon the actions of the body, to be agreeable with most men, after the manners of the mind.  
Fuchsyus saith, a temperate body is not considered or measured in the weight of the elements, but in the perfect action of every several member. If which reason be true, than those bodies cannot be temperate, which are not fashionable: then also those actions which are done without form, are neither perfect nor effectual. No credit is assumed hereunto, either of learning, wisdom, or experience: for otherwise the head cannot conceive any good purpose, if the joints be perverted from nature.  
Surely the highest and happiest temperance appertaining hereunto, is when the mind in natural property is provided to all good deeds and perfect works, and that nothing may hinder or intercept the honest intent thereof, this is perfect temperance. For otherwise if there wanted hands to do a good service, in distributing: if the composition of the body were vitiate, either in the mother's womb, or by the unskilfulness of the midwife, in some one joint, shall this prove the child to be disabled from all temperance, and unperfect in all actions, and therefore in him all neighbourly benevolence were to be quite taken away, if in any such respect temperance did consist. This standeth far both from reason and judgement, therefore seeing a temperate work, frameth a temperate man, to be equal and measurable, we are to understand, that formitie and fashion is an instrumental cause, not effectual without the qualit●e of the mind, so that an elemental body measurably commixed in disposition, may be temperate although the same be not fashionable.  
Ulysses may be adjoined an example hereunto, who was far wiser than Achilles, notwithstanding he wanted outward induments & comely form, which both Achilles & Nereus possessed. I will possith forth a lively picture in the perfect description of this matter, of one Acsop a Philosopher, of all men that lived in his age, was in all the parts of his body most deformed, as being goor-bellied, bowe-legged, crooked-backed, a misshapen head, with a crooked neck, the carootes thereof were both, short and slender, having also flat nostrils, and hanging lips overreaching their sights in all misshapen deformities: notwithstanding, nature endued him with a temperate brame, he was most witty, pregnant, fruitful, and in setting forth of feigned fantasies and sudden devices among all men then living most happy. Therefore it followeth, that the best fashion in body doth not attain the best and wholsommest temperance, in the ornament of the mind. Manardus is deceived, affyrning that outward form is better than inward temperance: which if it should so fall out, form is the principal and efficient cause, and inward temperance is a cause coniunctive following. For Ajax was of a fashionable, strong, and mighty body: yet was he mad, raging and furious: so that it is to be proved, that the outward frame and form (although it be never so fair and beautiful) cannot be well directed and governed, where inward temperance wanteth. And Hypocrates affirmeth that form and fashion, with reasonable creatures, aught to be possessed under a proportion or measure of the inward qualities, and that temperance is a seasonable gift, from that heavenly workman, infused in man contriving all inward qualities to become most splendent and virtuous in all metaphisica●. causes, far beyond man's conceit.  
The Philosopher saith. Homo hominem generat & sol. Man and the sun do generat and bring forth man. Therefore inferior causes do not enforce the superior causes from above.  
And Galen saith, that the divine cause hath fashioned the proportion of the body, after the manners of the mind, and do many times oen of them agree with an other, which if it do so fall out, then corporal actions and natural conditions, depend within themselves, one upon another, by a mutual consent in temperance.  
Arnoldus de nova villa saith, that every member in a serviceable body, obtaineth perfect temperance from the inward mind: and yet he doth further report that blood and humours are more thicker in an untemperate body, and therefore degenerate in conditions.  
Auycen concludeth, that the four elements are congested into every several body, predominating every man, in some special disposition of good or evil, touching the qualities of the mind, of what fashion or disfashion soever the body is: but the power of heaven overruleth all.  
Dyoscorides saith, innocency hath begotten man, in a perfect 
Man's innocency compared to a painters tinsel.  mind, in the beginning of his days, and was stained afterwards by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or larger corruption, like a painters tinsel, from white to red, in the carnation of man's blood, but the celestial power by a regular order, reformeth all things.  
Thus endeth the first book of temperaments.  
The Lord made heaven and earth and all things therein, Blessed be the works of his hands.   

HERE FOLLOWETH THE SECOND Book of temperaments.  
seeing in this first book we have spoken of the nature, number, and order of elements, aswell of their proportion and substance in body, as their property in quality, have found out not two, but four compounded temperaments. So also by delative circumstance, have we distinguished, in the temperatures of times and seasons of the year: the one by universal substance, the other by universal nature: the one in temperature or distemperature of heat, dryness, moisture and coldness, and the other touching pureness in health, as corruptions in sickness, happening under the good or evil regiment thereof.  
We are further now to proceed, until by rule and order we find out, by an uttermost endeavour, the plenary parts of man's estate, and condition in this life, the comprehension thereof, is in one behalf natural, and the other animal: So that a temperate man is by rule and 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 kindo of work, by good manuring, and civil framing of his outward members, made inwardly perfect, for that voluntary motion hath before performed many several duties in the most excellent senses of a virtuous man. And yet it is a necessary thing to discern under these senses a common sense: so the insignes and renowned tokens thereof are st●ntomaticke, for that all cogitations in the heart of man are shut up under sleeping, and set at liberty under waking.  
The excellency hereof is incomprehensible in a perfect virtuous 
Cardo est cordis ienua. ut animantia motum a cord suscipiunt, it● fores a cardine. Tasting. Feeling. Touching. Hearing. Seeing. Melancholic men naturally excel in memory.  man. Yet among the Pythagorean philosophers, he is accounted most unhappy, which interdealeth any thing at all in those primary faculties, under which is contained fantasy, reason and memory: as among the other senses is inserted a primary and perfect operation, thorough which, all the animal powers of a man are moved. And yet as a melancholic person under his temperance, may be endued with a strong and stiff memory, yet by the same property he shall nothing prevail either in imagination or conceit: so also some others may be insigned to prevail in other good ornaments, as ability of learning, or sharpness of wit and understanding, except memory which is not placed a like in all men: for no man is happy on every behalf.  
Surely sensible creatures (as Auycen affirmeth) on the greatest behalf, do follow the temperature of blood, and that he alone is temperate, which is so measurable in all primary powers, chief to satisfy all natural works, which ought of duty to be performed.  
For the more plainer understanding the deep reach hereof, there is to be considered four special and natural operations: atraction, retention, concoction, and expulsion. These are placed in double use for the service of the whole body, not only touching the inward parts, properly belonging to the stomach and liver, but there are some outwardly deputated, for continual use to minister inward relief and nourishment, for the preservation of the whole body: so that he which is perfect in every work hereof, is highly preferred in temperance.  
These things are manifestly enough discovered, and their difference only consisteth herein, for that every one serveth his place to some proper work. And yet these inward works manifest themselves to every one that outwardly, and seriously beholdeth them: as boldness, fear and such like. Therefore a temperate man is neither bold, nor fearful, but strong: neither headlong, nor slow, but speedy: neither cruel nor soft, but gentle: neither envious, nor yet a negligent despiser of other men's substance, but a lover of his own estate: no tyrant, nor rashly merciful, but righteous: neither full of hatred, nor love, but a lover of his friends. These affections are possessed under the liver and lights, in which place love and desire have their chief and principal mansion: And therefore this proverb hath been universal among philosophers, that the liver is the cause of love, and the spleen moveth laughter, although oftentimes sadness draweth occasion from the spleen thereunto.  
Galen in his third book of affections, the fourth chapter, calleth these affections moral works, and unreasonable, for that they proceed from an unreasonable soul. And Galen saith that so long as the soul and the mind conflict within themselves, these differences are made: that the mind is increased with moral passions, and the soul with principal faculties.  
The soul is a created substance, invisible, hath no image nor fashion but only of his creature: The mind after the opinion of the philosophers, possesseth the heart, forasmuch as from that place proceedeth boldness, valiantness, and stoutness, fearfulness, and cowardly dastardness.  
There is no man that denieth, or may interdict the mind from participating with the heart: Therefore the mind and the heart mutually inhabit one with another, and sometimes the soul consenteth with all the passions of the mind, and pass over in mutual agreement alike: hereby the soul is so humbled with the mind, that the supreme dignity thereof, falleth down into the moral parts.  
And Dyoscorides saith, that when the soul and the mind are united and compassed within the moral passions, sadness, fear, boldness and such like belongeth thereunto: all which do season the perfect nature of a temperate man.  
jeremy Thriverius saith, the although the mind is possessed with reason & understanding under the power of the soul, yet if conceit either decayeth, or swerveth aside, from the right use of the principal faculties, the wit is vanquished, and the mind wandereth at large, having neither guide nor place: hereupon falleth out the disease of madness. Yet if the wits and the mind sometimes appeal to the primary senses, and uncertainly retire again, than the disease is lunaticalli following the temperance, or distemperance of the moon and the elements. And also when the wit is apprehended by secret motions, and by sudden alienations carried a far off, the disease is then called Lethargy when the principal faculties are decayed and overrun by old age, sickness or any such distemperance, so that the conceit is also over tired, blunted or dulled, that the wit thereby cannot perform any duty or office of sharpness, or readiness, in any perfect temperance, than this disease is called dotage, or a defection in the primary senses: for surely a measurable and moderate man, aught to be perfect in all natural, animal, primary and moral works, and every one ought to perform them as from a moderate body, disposed to all temperance, and the signs of a seasonable substance are, that the body he neither hard, nor soft, warm nor cold. And although these insignes fail either outward or inward, yet certainly, they may be true and approoveable in all temperate works.  
Galen conjoineth unto this temperature, a natural, active, and contemplative motion: and saith, that a man which is composed of four elements ought to be indifferent in all these properties, aswell in colour, stature and smoothness, as courage, stoutness, and all other conditions belonging to merciful temperance in a blessed mind.  
Hereunto also is commended unto us, an excellent temperance in the hair of the body, which is best agreeable to young men, natively brought up in temperate regions: It largely showeth the powerful and lusty government of youth, adorning young years aswell in nature, as in complexion: For all other ages are intemperate. Wherefore in reckoning up the drift of ages by dyviding and directing the life of man into divers and variable courses, from his first age to his last and final end, we are first to consider of infancy, which hath continuance from the first nativity, to the springing of the teeth: Then childhood afterwards taketh place until yoongmanship, called adolescency (which is the ripeness of time to generation, to be performed) which age is commonly known by hairs, either about the chin, or privy parts: this age is very hot and moist.  
Galen saith, this age beginneth in virgins at twelve or fourteen years, and continueth to twenty and somewhat beyond: And in this age dryness hath his best place and chiefest felicity although heat and moistness in most part of them, continueth until thirty and three, as the last and farthest drift of adolescency. Petrus Galiensis calleth that age, the spreading, gathering and stretching forth of the body, as then doth it most chieslye lout in strength. Arnoldus de nova villa saith, that the most part, especially women, beginning their adolescency before ripeneise of age hath given them liberty thereunto, do afterwards ●iue like untimely fruit: as pears, plums, or apples gathered before scasonablenesse and ripeness hath perfected them, do most speedily dry, rot, decay, and utterly perish.  
This commonly is well perceived and known to fall out in south countries, where heat and moisture excessively overmatcheth with many corruptions and diseases, in such rash ages.  
Petrus Galiensis saith, that although the south countries bring forth strong men, yet their age is not certainly of hot and moist temperance, nor yet constant under dryness, but rather most of all bendeth to extreme heat, which moistness being so much inflamed therewith, as that the young and tender skin is utterly unable to contain the measure thereof, but naturally speweth and breaketh forth without artificial expulsion.  
Next followeth man's estate, which standeth for a while at a stay. And although their bodies by little and little decayeth, yet their senses continue unbroken above forty years: and in some men of stung and sound complexion until threescore and above.  
Then cometh old age, alienating and declining aside, altogether replenished with melancholious coldness and dryness, at which season, blood and heat are settled and commixed in the bottom of the arteries, and veins like dregs: And the longer they are stayed and lodged, somuch the sooner the artion of blood is obstructed and combusted, and the strength enfeebled and disabled: the which falleth out, aswell because of thickness in the shin, grown and fastened with the bones and sinews, as also because the excrements have been there long stayed and closed up: The which calamity many men in their decrepit, and extreme age, undertake and sustain. For their former impurity of lusty youth, is not only vanquished, but parched in their bodies with fuliginous superfluities like soot to a chinmey, afflicting them with dry coldness unto death.  
Therefore happy is lusty old age, whose former purity hath drawn comfort, ease and joy upon grey hairs, whose blood is odiferous and sweet, whose breath is easy and who some, wh●se bones veins and sinews are direct, whose digestion is easy and light, whose expulsion is natural, in whom the temperance of heat, as dryness of bones, and moistness of blood, are to old years most nourishable: that like as the dry hot ground is not corrupted with every moisture of rain, but the distemperance thicketh and freezeth above the ground, before it pierceth: even so temperate hot bodies are not easily pierced with the contagion or distemperance of moist coldness, or any such like superfluous vapours.  
Galen herewith concordeth that dry brains are less encumbered with super fluities, and moist brains naturally appertaineth unto idiots and fools, which lack diiscretion, for that their primary faculties, are ouerf●oted or intermixed with superfluous grossness: so likewise a woman of moist complexion is most menstruous, especially if she want the use of man, yet this rule and order is manifested by Galen in these words, Si virago fuerit fortis pre caliditate & siccitate, nunquam hoc proflwium admittet. Therefore hot and dry bodies of some women, are evenmuch infarced with excrements and grow into many inward diseases for want of natural devoydance of their inconcocted supper fluities: for which respect their piteous fulsomness, unnaturally gathered, issueth by their nostrils, therefore by th●s reason women of moist complexions are most wholesome for the use of man.  
It falleth out far otherwise after the course of nature, in men's constitutions, for that Dioscorides holdeth his opinion after this manner, who saith, Mallem siceitatem plenitudinis, humiditatem, incoctarum superfluitatum, occasionem esse. I had rather dryness should be the occasion of fullness, than moistness the occasion undigested superfluities: For a moist body in a man is easily ingurged, difflated, puffed, and as it doth greedily desire sustenance, so doth it readily nourish excrements, transcormeth much blood into watery matter, overmuch insumeth and spendeth upon nature: whereas on the contrary, a dry body scarcely admitteth or endureth most nourishment, but that it doth presently comprehend thereby a pure blood into the veins, drieth and utterly consumeth all watery and matery substance for dryness in adolescency, furnisheth the body with good blood, disovereth the body from raw excrements, drieth, purgeth and perfecteth the body from all corruptions: As for example: Let us distinguish between a phlegmatic and a melancholic person, between a moist and dry brain: that hereby a moist temperance in respect of a dry is perceived & known to have most superfluous humours abounding, and many times old men are more stuffed with excrements then young men: the cause hereof is want of nourishing blood, which produceth coldness. For proof, if two old men were placed under one air, did both feed▪ upon one diet, and were of one like age, surely he which of them generateth a moist temperance, shall abound with the greatest superfluities. For it cannot be otherways found out, but that dryness always is the cause of purity, and maystnesse the occasion of great impurity. For all men do obtain the first parts of moistness by carnat generation and therefore children are nourished by sleep in their mother's womb.  
The second part of cold superfluities, are obtained by moistness of complexion, which naturally disfigureth many phlegmatic old men, and draweth them subject to every unconstant vapour.  
Auycen assigneth the cause of these and such like piteous excrements in old men rather of an immoderate manner of diet, then of nature's distemperance.  
Galens opinion is most savoury to our senses: and yet disagreeing from Auycen, who saith, that although old men's diet, were much more drier than the diet of young men, yet for that excessive coldness purifieth them, must of necessity abound with overgreat excramentall superfluity.  
There are many which have wandered very wide, both in the constitution of old men and children, especially Manardus first declaring that old men be enforced with phlegm, by reason of riotous youth and every variable accidence exhausteth their bodies, with most perilous pestilences. This is contrary to Galen, who plainly affirmeth, that after old age draweth on, the body is set free from all accidence, and bringeth forth diseases of natural property, for that nature either alienateth, or then weakeneth, or else quite decayeth.  
And furthermore, whereas Manardus seemeth to conjoin coldness, as a natural essence in children, his reason is proper, only for that they took the substance thereof in the first place of generation, and their heat is afterwards gathered rather by nourishable meats then of natural substance. This is contrary to Galen, who is fortified with experience on the one side, and standeth highly upon the works of nature, on the other side, doth think that children are more hot and moist than adolescency. 
Children are apt to increase blood.  And why is Galen moved so to think? First, for that children hath multitude of blood. Secondly, they have greediness in appetite. And lastly, they have a substantial valour in concoction.  
As these reasons show a great ground why there should be more abundant heat in children, so he denieth their heat to be intentive. For Dyoscorides verily affirmeth, that adolescency hath more abundance thereof, not according to the proportion of the body: For the body of a child, although in the small quantity thereof hath not more intentive heat, yet hath more coyious and intentive blood, than adolescency. Surely children in their proportion observed and considered, have a greedy and quick desire to sustenance, and are of ready digestion thereunto. Therefore I think it extreme madness in Theophrastus Peracelsus, who absolutely granteth a larger sustenance to children, than adolescency, seeing natural operation refuseth to be more stronger in children, and yet there heat is most plentiful, and their digestion most ready. Yet I do not mislike his difference made between children and infants. For infants in their first nativity, are cold, and therefore wholly given to sleep: but growing up to children, are every day more sanguine, and therefore more hot and moist: for as heat provoketh appetite, so moystaesse, is the cause efficient, aswell to nourish great sleep in the body, as to advance therewith the office of good nourishment.  
And truly Dyoscorides affirmeth, that children are under divers inclinements, both of weakness and strength: And the same is well discerned under a double operation of their excrements, as that the one being oversoft, and the other utterly void of moistness. The first argueth moist coldness, which stirreth up a natural desire and disposition to sleep in children, the other provoketh and increaseth blood, relieveth and comforteth the vital parts.  
The Philosopher is wonted to declare, that moistness is the first cause of sleep, and coldness is the second cause: And therefore when the humours of the body be de●ected either by nature or art, both moistness and coldness both in the first and second degree are possessed in the body. Yet these cold humid de●ections upward, many times infeebleth the stomachs of children with cold distemperance, and do eagerly scour, waist and extenuate their bodies downward, as that thereby all their natural virtues are quite weakened and their faculty of appetite, quite overthrown.  
Then surely we have just cause, to make further search & inquierie as touching the difference between adolescency and 
In respect of natural ch●ller adoleseencie exceedeth children in ●eate or else not.  children in their heat, which is challenged, that adolescency exceedeth children in larger abundance of heat in respect of natural choler, which more sharply inflameth and pursueth the body. And except the same be prevented, oftentimes in gluttonous und glassy corruption, excessively draweth the body to inflaming diseases thereby: In this respect adolescency surpasseth children in heat, or else not.  
For the better understanding hereof, let us use this comparison following, and agreeable hereunto: that if two cups being of unlike quantity, filled with hot pure water, without slime or corruption put thereunto, the quality of the lesser, may exceed the quantity of the greater in heat: and yet their equal quantity according to proportion is nothing diminished. Even so blood may according to proportion be matched in children and adolescency alike, & yet their heat may exceed one above another.  
This is only spoken, for that heat is established by blood: for as in some dispositions, nature is earthly and cold from their conception, so heat of blood advanceth and promoteth the same, to become vegetable and wholesome in the universal parts of the body by nutrimental means. For which respect if the quality be unlike, yet the quantity according to prportion may equally agree together. This proveth, heat in children and young men ought to have several proportions in substance, and yet in quality they do exceed unlike: for as heat in young men may be more sharper, so in children more sweeter and tasteful. And whereas blood is in Children more intentive, so heat is in young men more intentive, as is aforesaid. For which cause, medicines prepared for young men, are of more higher degree, both in nature and operation, Otherwise unforceable to reach the constitution of adolescency, only and because of their high courage and strength, which is in the substance of thetr intentive heat: for which cause, the greatest skill that belongeth to the heedful and wise physician is evermore, to consider aswell of the cause as the constitution, that temperance may thereby be perfected into good estate and condition, by quality, and that medicine and the body do not exceed one another. For heat ought to be more sharper comprehended therein, not by a variable substance in itself, but by artificial help advanced thereunto, so that sometimes bodies of cold and raw constitutions do swiftly hasten towards many dangerous diseases, except only translated into some other more perfect nature, or otherwise revived both in substance of blood, and strength of heat. As if a hot stone being dipped in a cold bath, or a cold stone in a hot bath of water, doth forthwith alter both the water and the air, to be of a like quality with the stone. So these distempered bodies are reform by artful knowledge to become in equal temperance alike: and yet not in operation, for want of blood, so that heat may be restored, or the excess thereof diminished. For like as difference is interposed between a clear and gross air, as having like quality of heat, yet not like neither in substance nor natural operaion, so divers constitutions by this means may be l●ke in quality, and the variable estate thereof may become also of one temperance and operation.  
There is a difference to be set down in the outward estate of two temperate bodies together. As first, to regard their differences, by touching and feeling the substance, according to proportion of every several part by itself: for many times by the proportion of outward things, the good and evil estate of inward things, are known & believed, as only by a supposed Hypothesis. For if the heat of adolescency and childhood, may be found equal by teeling, then would it fall out, that the comparison of ages between adolescency and children, were of necessity equal: unto which there must be adjoined both discretion, consideration and constant stay. For Cornelius Celsus saith, that young men which are perfect in conceit & understanding, are of hot dispositions, & have very little desire to sleep, the which thing somewhat bendeth towards dryness: 
Hot brains are apt and inventive and small desire to sleep.  And yet nothing is in the obscure works of nature to be discerned in them either by feeling or touching.  
Galen in his book de sanitate tuenda, rehearseth many high and variable dispositions, both in adolescency and children, and putteth forth most excellent preservations in either their defences.  
Theophrastus' Paracelsus saith, that heat belonging to children is increased and multiplied with nourishmentes, until adolescency be perfected, and afterward shorteneth, decayeth, and falleth away, as the somme● days, upon the approachment of winter: And therefore he saith, that generation is cold and moist. As a kernel thrown into cold earth, is by the natural operation of the earth, nourished by one degree to another, until it become a plant, and so forth unto a perfect tree, so is blood and heat directed to increase, and arise from generation to conception, until a perfect birth be performed to infancy, and then forwards to childhood, until adolescency be consummate. This reason standeth very proper to many dispositions.  
As touching adolescency, it is most largely set down in the second of the Aphorisines, touching worms in young men, proceeding of an intentive heat, and by the same reason, adolescency more easily falleth into sharp fevers than children. First, not only because heat is in them more intentive, but also sharp and dry: all which is manifested by touching and feeling the complexion, whether in the course of blood, it be soft or hard: for those kinds of fevers are of divers natures, which either by an extreme devoydance, or defect of blood, do aswell offend the arteries, as other principal members, the heart, the liver, the lungs, the stomach, and the rains, which in their vegetative nature are wasted and consumed: so that by the highest degree of danger, the spirits vital, natural, and animal, are excessively infoizned: or in an other respect, the natural humours boils and seethes about the stomach, or the brains, oftimes are vanquished by strong vapours, so that both giddiness distempereth the head, and disapetteth the stomach: and the rather if natural heat be interdicted from all rightful and due passage in the veins: for which respect these rotten fevers do grow upon adolescency in the contagion aforesaid: or else by reason of gross blood, salt phlegm, or prassive choler, or melancholious sorrow, or by distemperance of inordinate heat in the sun, or putrefied airs, or inordinate surfeits, or for lack of exercises.  
There are divers sorts of these fevers, having divers natural inconuemences attending upon them: Some of them are called humeral, some are called Ephimerae, some are called Hecticae, some are called Capillares. These fevers have divers secret perils depending upon them, and oftentimes when their constitution is inwardly dry, do denunciate great outward moistness. For as wax is moist and dry, or cold and dry in one nature, so these fevers may be more noysome●, adversible and impedimental, for that nature molested by cold dryness is like soft clay congealed to dry hardness, of a frozen compact substance: which reason declareth that cold dryness taketh his first substance from cold moistness. In which dangerous degree immedicable corruptions depend hereupon, nature being transpersed in the first manner of comparison, as the elements reserve in themselves a perfect substance, and yet dispose and alter the quality an other way. For where the substance falleth away, there putrefaction beginneth a common calamity, nature utterly desisteth, and leaveth of her common and operative course thereby.  
These differences of moistness and dryness (by alteration of nature) are known in sustance of all living things. For where liquid property of fluxing hath power, there the course of corruption poisoneth and putrefieth all things: for fluxible things are moist, overflow and run forth, abroad to every detrimental mischief, and those things which easily concreat are speedily dry, and will not afterwards underbend to the quality of moistness. So after this manner the contrarieties of dryness and moistness, are in their natures esteemed and accounted off. We are then to consider not only the humours, which every man is best disposed unto, but all the parts of a man, under what constitution, either of dryness or moistness he do wholly depend. As first, we are to plead upon the highness and excellency of fatness, which is so much advanced in the body of man, As that thorough that mediocrity all voluptuous delights are prospered, and by the exesse thereof the vital blood is much corrupted: And as pure fatness is contained under health and wholesomeness, so fat which cometh of gluttonous ingurgitation is very deceitful to the body. And therefore fatness is contained under divers kinds, and after divers complexons, so the property thereof is also divers. For as feigns inlarded upon the flesh, is most purely congested into substance, so is it moistly nourishable in digestion. And yet the parchment skin called the membrans, as the call 
This moistness is like a running gutter which if the fountain be stopped above the gutter forthwith drieth beneath.  and fylme, wherein the guters or bowels are lapped, are most dry after the opinion of Theophrastus, both because their moistness swiftly is transported into the liver veins, and oftentimes devoided away by the urine, or order, and also for that all the inward parts continually, as also hotly and excessively breathing thereupon made thereby of necessity dry: although hot moistness reeketh thereupon, yet can it never grow into perfect substance therewith.  
There is an other fatness impertinent from the temperature of man, called tallow, only belonging to Oxen and other such like unreasonable creatures, partible in the hooffe, the which is both dry and earthly.  
Likewise there is an other fatness called grease, which nothing appertaineth to man, except that which moystlie is gathered in the gall. And as that grease which is so gathered is moist, so is it moistlie digested, and drawn into moist substance, especially upon claw footed beasts and fowls of the air.  
Auycen assureth, that nothing is more preserving to man's life then natural grease, gathered upon pure and perfect sustenance, yet many make no choice of their meats, but in their feeding do grossly satisfy appetite, greedily furnish their stomachs, and in pursuing their own delights, do thereby utterly disfavour complexion, corrupt blood, and nourish diseases: And the fatness so gathered upon such slimy and loathsome sustenance, is moist in the highest degree: thorough which the body is engrossed, the guts puffed, the brains invapoured, and the stomach ingurged, Besides which, it doth congeal into a variable viscous, and matery substance of watery blood, inundating between the skin and the flesh: so that swelling tympanies oftentimes break forth in the fulsome generation thereof.  
Auycen saith, that whosoever desireth health and long days, let him make his choice of dry meats to feed upon, and thereby to increase and gather perfect substance of fat, so that the flesh and the fat may be equally inlarded-agreeable one together with an other, as that nothing may exceed therein one from another, under Nature's temperance: And that the vital blood taking perfect liking and pleasure therewith, may fruitfully flow into all the parts of man without oppilation.  
There is moreover a fat deeply couched in the bones, which Auycen calleth the pith and kernel of the bones, it is hot and dry, and being melted, presently yieldeth and spreadeth to be liquid, and yet forthwith returneth to the same natural substance as before.  
This marrow is of divers qualities in the disposition of the 
The spinal marrow is the back bone marrow. There be two oments, one in the head, called P●a matter, and the other belonging to the open fat over the belly  bones. As first in the brains, next in the fiat, broad, hollow and round bones.  
Galen saith, that the marrow of the bones is most dry, and the spinal marrow moist in the second degree: for the bone marrow is perfected and made pure, naturally compacted within the hard shell of the bones, and the oment marrow is liquid in the cells of the head, and void of all during substance, for that the humours have such large access thereunto, that the same is thereby continually mollified and very highly weakened in operation.  
Surely it is a wonderful mystery to consider, and thoroughly weigh this excellent work of nature, for the variable couching this pith, in the deep bottom of the bones, sowpling, scouring, renewing and fortifying the strength and swiftness of the body thereby.  
Galen hath many degrees in the variable art of nature, touching marrow of divers kinds and properties: and touching the universal frame of the bones, is nothing else but an outward anatomy of the whole body, covered and set forth with flesh, blood, s●i●, veins & sinews. So also there wanteth no necessary office within, that appertaineth to the life of man. But touching measelled or kernelled flesh, with which we have not to interdeale within the drift of this our purpose, both beccause it is a monstrous misshapen substance, gathered within the flesh, contrary to nature, and also because sundry infections arise thereby, in mutual consort one with an other, so that having this spoken of the inward work in the outward temperance, are not to omit also the temperance of the inward motions.  
Touching the lights, spleen and rains which are of hot and moist dispositions, and yet their ordinances minister many dry effects in the body: for there are some writers, as Petrus Brissotus, Petrus Galiensis, johannes Glarensis, Michael Scotus, or Cornelius Celsus, who suppose the loonges to be endued with lesser moistness than the liver, and the rather, because choleric blood is not intermingled therewith, except that which perfectly purgeth the same.  
Theophrastus' Paracelsus concludeth the loonges to be a certain spongy instrument in the side, and is of such hot property, as that most chief it is nourished by extracting moistness from the liver: And also it is to be adjudged under the nature of dryness, for that the spirit and breath hath such a forcible exhalation from the same. Therefore Auycen affirmeth 
That which is hot is easily corrupted with cold.  that as all accidental herbs, do much comfort the loonges, so all accidental coldness, is most harmful thereunto, as generating tysickes, coughs, belchinges, short breathings. And yet the loonges are much comforted under a natural choler, in these bodies which can best possess & enjoy the same: whereas the liver blood is moist and earthly, and under a melancholious temperance, and a melancholious body is very thick, and subject to putrefied corruptions in the air, and therefore subject to pestilence, especially under every cold and dry distemperance.  
Galen speaketh of certain hot moistness, in mucilaginous flesh, inclinable to the second degree: such bodies do draw from the loonges and liver, by an excess exhalation, either of temperance or distemperance, the corruption hereof is easily found out by a stinking and contagious breath, and other superfluous excrements devoided by fleanie. And although the morning breath may be unsavoury by filthy and hurtful contagions, proceeding either by long fasting, emptiness of the stomach, or the breath closely detained under long sleep, gathereth excremental filthiness thereby: so surely all the fathers and best writers, do attribute the efficient cause, upon a slimy decay, and noisome corruption in the loonges, which necessarily falleth out by the moistness of the liver, feeding the same.  
It is a very hard thing to find one member hot and dry together, except the heart, which standeth upon the dyaphragm●, which maketh division upon the spiritual parts: Therefore Auycen placeth the heart absolutely dry.  
Dyoscorides somewhat doth contradict Auycen herein, Who saith, that although the loonges give breath, yet their comfort proceedeth from the heart, giveth heat and strength thereunto: And also breath by either parts adjoined thereunto, is made more hotter. So likewise the liver blood is deserved and strengthened in heat, by pursuing and searching upon other parts of the body adjoined thereunto, otherwise it is earthly, especially when accidental effects in diseases are transferred beyond the power of nature: And as the breath followeth the nature of the loonges, so the blood only followeth the nature of the liver, and yet in their property they do both decline, for breath is most filthily corrupted aswell by inward excrements as inward diseases. So the blood by sweet and delicious nourishmentes is converted to choler, and is then both hot and inflammative: So that discrepating from his first property, utterly orrupteth, decayeth, becometh absumpt in the degree of death.  
Cornelius Celsus saith, the spirit, the heart, the blood, the liver, the single flesh, the musculous flesh, the spleen, the reins, the arteries, the veins, are hot by accidental means, otherwise they are cold: this his meaning is left raw and unseasoned: it is to be conjectured he meaneth those accidents to be the nourishment which increaseth, prospereth and cherisheth those parts of the body, in quality and quantity, which otherwise after the manner of the membrance, would debilitate and surcease their power. All this considered, as the spirit is more exquisite and searching so is it also in due property more warmer than blood. Likewise and on the contrary, the arteries with the veins and fatness, are hot, and yet by all and every evil and subtle accidents, cold, if the body infecting or touching be found soft, it is not forthwith moist: for reason may not judge such a body to be soft, which by unnatural humour is many times fluxible. For even as wax is not of his own property only moist, as by the excess of accidental heat put thereunto, so clear water, is thickened or hardened by accidental cold. This proveth all things to be under some unnatural property, and revertible from their first fresh flourishing natural course. So that hitherto having defined temperance with all measurable moderation, so also have we differenced ages and proportions of young men, from old men: and old men from children: and children from infants.  
Next, after the opinion of Galen we are only to show the temperature of these accidents, which very highly vary many times from nature and become deformed and unproper in themselves: As slenderness, thickness, corpulency and a measurableness in the natural condition of all men. And touching slenderness, there are two evidences thereby signified, that is, aswell the small quantity of flesh, as the pu●r fatness concreated upon dry bodies, thorough which the dyaphragma is thereby safest preserved from contagion: as the reason and understanding unvanquished, so that a large and liberal life, with sundry excellent indowmentes are appertaining to those bodies. But corpulency declareth the abundance of flesh, which engrosseth and vapoureth upon moistness, bringeth forth many noisome and filthy diseases in the body: Whereas thinness and smallness of flesh, showeth perfect dryness, so corpulency doth show coldness and moistness.  
Cornelius Celsus doth affirm, that a thin body showeth frugal fatness, nourished in the warmness of a thin blood. So these gross bodies nurse up thick blood, and venomed humours.  
These men are in a most dangerous case, if there be a cold congealement in the veins and other members, which belongeth to surfeiting drunkards and such like disordered persons.  
Galen affirmeth, very much good appertaineth to those men, which are perfected under a measurable comprehension. First if their blood be hot, thin, and clearly recourseth in the veins: if their breath be sharp, sweet and thin: if their blood be warm, sharp and sweet, all which maketh indication of a perfect substance, except these natures be poisoned otherwise by some cold vaporous accidents: for cold things do easily concreate upon a warm substance: or except also this unnatural, distemperate coldness, falleth out in melancholious complexions, whose blood is thick, slimy, and sour. And yet there are some sanguine complexions of inclinable fat, as they do greatly favour dainty meats, so do they yield good liking to every several office and portion in the body. And nature evermore favoureth, comforteth, nourisheth and purgeth these complexions in her own property.  
These complexions do never concord with any earthly exhalations, but speedily decay and perish therewith.  
Galen saith in his book of simples, that the natural fat in these men is both hot and tasteful: And the watery fat, which is congested into substance upon these men is sour, bitter, and exposed to innumerable perils. Also when thin portions of this earthly blood, thorough cold vapours is made thick, and thorough slender veins falling down, best liketh and desireth to possess the coldest parts of the body, forthwith congealeth into cold fatness, not only thereby pierceth the thin substance of the body, but also hurteth the natural actions in the senses, especially by the diseases of the cramp, stitches, fevers, rewnis, crickes, lameness, numbness, painful gripings and such like: whereas otherwise, good nourishment, warmness, comfortable sweats, bathings, opening the poors, electuaries, purginges, omission of blood, choice of meats, might be sufficient means, to chase away the intolerable hurts and perils that may ensue hereof, as also by preserving and nourishing of a more hotter and sweeter blood.  
Next followeth that whatsoever hath been spoken heretofore, touching dryness in the oment of the belly, which is a coverture above and beyond the film, under which all the guts are lapped, so there is another oment in the head which is moist called the skin or rim of the brain and commonly called of the chirurgeons pia matter: It is coarct in the middle parts of the head, with many offices and appurtenances thereto belonging. Therefore aswell such men as women, whose bodies are invested with corpulent and fatty flesh, are molested in the substance thereof with an interflowing inundation, so that their complexion is commonly moist and there oment in the head moister.  
Yet surely there are some natures, so equally compacted in the order of the four elements, whose temperance is under the greatly word EUCRATON, which is never changed or molested with any malignity, but stand mightily against all distemperances'. And as their temperatures are indifferent in all measures, so are they never deprehended by any impropertie or evil accidence: if the blood be thick, than the veins be strait and narrow, and the blood slowly interfloweth.  
The which sort of men are troubled with giddiness and swimming in the head, are unable to endure any pains, or undertake fasting or hunger: Whereas the other temperatures under this word EUCRATON undertake strongly, are swift in digestion, do wholesomely nourish all sustenance: into perfect substance their blood floweth and comfortably interfloweth in the course of the whole body: Their sleep is sweet, chearable and restful: they live in health: Their young days are joyful, and their old days peaceable to their grave.  
And seeing we are farther to pursue the body of man in his whole and substantial essence, we are next to consider the temperatures of the air. And although Auycen reporteth, that the bones of man hath more dryness than the hairs, yet I cannot otherwise read, but that hairs have increase of an earthly vapour, and the bones are under a sharp thin vegetation of blood: and the stronger nature is, there the increase is made more valourable, thick and stiff: and as nature is insigned out in the work hereof most perfect to the eyes of all men, so do they valiantly sustain the travels and miseries, which appertain to this life.  
Here might be a gathered conjunction in the temperatures of the gristles or the gristely lygumen, the tendons, which are the great sinews, or the cords of the body: as also the arterick veins, where the spirit of life recourseth, and the hard and soft sinews sensitive, with the spinal marrow. For the more softer these portions do appear, the rather do they obtain and generate an indifferent nature, both of moistness and dryness, aswell of heat, as of cold: so that the good temperature of all these portions in the body, do yield a perfect increase and nourishment to the hair of the head, except they be distempered thorough any superfluous accidence otherwise.  
Therefore Rasis saith, that the hair is a material cause derived from the humours of the inward parts of the body, as of the veins. Ruellius saith, that strong is the officient and perfect cause of thick hair, which somewhat consisteth and ●ayeth under the estate and condition of the skin, and is not generated of every supersivitie, ercept only of that superabundant temperature, which is gathered in the extreme parts of man: and those excrements are variable. As first, the excrements in the bleather are of two sorts: the one clear, and the other thick: the one is called Hypostasis, which by a perfect digestion 
The excrement of moisture is of two sorts.  is advanced in the substance of the brine, and either is in the blather or seroot, or strained and extenuated from the body, is passed over into vapours, for the increase of hairs: or else in stirring and chafing the body, is delivered forth by sweats, or else groweth into phlegmatic inundations.  
Galen avoucheth that there is one part thereof ascending up and peacing the brains, delivered and absumed away, by a dry rewmatike spittle, an other part is delivered away by common course of excrements at the nostrils, and an other part is delivered away by swea●es, an other part is delivered away by sorrow of the eyes, in weeping, an other part is left for the increase of hairs: so that whatsoever remaineth, is congested into the moist parts of the body. For although humours do sometimes abide within those thin breathings, yet have they no due ordinance from nature: and therefore for that nature hath no power nor force in those degenerate humours, do retire back, and in respect of excess moistness, cannot continue themselves within their poors, or breathing places, until there be a sufficient generation gathered together, arising up into a fullness of hairs, in the head, beard, or privy parts, in which 
Nature would not disornate the beauty of the face with h●iree, but place them in a seemly order.  places the humours do longest abide and settle. And nature hath prepared a way and passage for those excrements, to inflowe by the bank and brinks of the cheeks, to the chin, whereby there should be a comely grace in the hairs, upon the favaur of the face.  
There remaineth a probable conjecture for us to think, that hairs do only increase of excrements thicklie congested: and the rather are we so to think and judge herein, for that some part of those excrements sensibly pass away by weakness, as also for that they are universal throughout the body. For when the body is disturbed, by any fuliginous or smoky vapours, than the outward form of the body altereth and changeth therewith: besides which, the hairs do either altar in their outward form, and fall away, as leaves decay from the moisture of the tree.  
And surely it is a high Philosophy to consider, that when the body is lose and purgative of nature, such excrements forthwith do yield and devoid, that the poors therewithal open, wax weak and lose, so that many times those open exhalations do not only disturb the body, but as ingrosers of pure blood, discover themselves, yet in stay of their malice become subject both to natural and artificial purgation. Therefore Dioscorides saith, that excremental exhalations are no cause of growth in the hair, but good blood: and that as blood flourisheth and decayeth, so hairs both in youth and age, discover and open themselves: and also for that sickness extenuateth blood, doth also decay hairs in the body, being extenuated from blood. Also as health increaseth blood and good liking in the body, so the hairs therewithal prosper, flourish and grow forth at large.  
Auycen discourseth and traveleth most highly herein, that blood is no cause of hair, but rather a vaporous exhalation from blood: And as blood changeth, so exhalations do herein alter: so that Avycen agreeth not with Dyoscorides. Yet Galen flatly concludeth, that moistness is the cause of hairs: and although the body be struck asunder from the head, yet there is an increase of hairs, so long as there is moistness in the head, and therefore dead men have increase of hairs, until all moistness be absumed by putrefaction.  
Let us also in this treatise somewhat discover the growth of hairs, which after the straightness or crokenednesse of the poors be either curled or strait.  
These curled hairs fall out of divers causes: not because the skin is soft of itself, neither because the exhalation is weak, but because the passage of the exhalation is cross, and the poors crooked, otherwise hairs are enlarged in a right course, aswell by strong vapours, by temperate moistness, and soundness of the body.  
Theophrastus' Paracelsus reproteth an other cause of curled hairs: as both because the roots of the hairs, are wrinkled in the right passage, thorough excess dryness, as also because exhalations are in their natures over dry, fuliginous and stretched: And (as Rasis saith) for that, moistness is devoured and swallowed up by a contrary effect of dryness: Wherefore hairs both in colour and curlednes, and plainness do differ according to these courses. And yet Rasis saith, all hairs follow their natural complexion in colour, until old age conuneth on, and altereth all things,  
Let us take better examples hereof, in the difference between the hairs of a man, and a beast: for that the moistest skin is allowed by natural course, to have the thickest and shortest hair, & the rather for that hot moisture floateth and swimmeth between the skin and the flesh, is of like quality in all the parts, aswell of cloven hofed, as claw-footed beasts, so that the growth of hair in a beast, is like a flashie fresh meadow over floten with a shallow water in the roots, and the grass therewithal over flourisheth: but cold frosts and alteration of weather decayeth and perisheth the roots thereof. Even so intemperate calamities of times and seasons, overturneth the natural temperance of hair, in all unreasunable creatures. So likewise in these human complexions, whose hair although it be of most high quality in plentiful growing, yet thorough excess benerie falling into cold diseases, their hair decayeth, waxeth thin, and utterly looseth in the roots, especially when the poors in a man's body are over travailed by a moist exhalation.  
Thophrastus Paracelsus putteth forth these reasons, that footsteps in moist grounds, are easily with every storm washed away, but footsteps in dry grounds do longest endure & abide. So that, as these moist exhalations in the flesh, do nourish and greatly comfort the hairs, so also if those exhalations be altered, either by malign vapours, or corrupt blood, or distempered by the contagion of cold diseases, the hairs decline and vanish therewithal.  
Now furthermore there are some bodies, whose dryness exceedeth on the contrary, and yet under some moisture produce a competent number of hairs: but when their dryness becometh combust, are like to starched earth, which without some moisture cannot bring forth grass. This dryness under the divers ages of men happeneth in the brains. So also there is another sort of men who are like unto moist tempered clay in spring season, or beginning of summer, yet parched up and overdried in the latter end of the year, bring forth nothing but barrenness and dust. So there is a most unhappy sort of men, who by excess dryness in their adolescency, become bald, bare and barrainous in their brains, towards their latter age.  
It is to be marked that hairs in all ages, follow the course and temperance of nature, and leave off to show themselves under those properties, unto whom they do appertain.  
Cornelius Celsus saith, that a bald-headed man, is destitute of moistness in the brain pan, & the rather because the veins of the neck, being called the guides, are obstructed, do not perfectly recourse, except upon the hinder part of the head.  
jeremias Thriverius saith, that it is as unpossible a thing, for lobsters or crab-fish to bear feathers, or oysters wool, as a bald-headed man to produce natural hair: not only because there is both an oppilation in blood, but also because there is an extreme dryness, and shrinking of the sinews, in those material parts of the brain.  
Surely all dry complexions of black choleric inclination, are hairy in the highest degree, but falling into contagion and hot diseases thorough the same, as they do become bare and bald, so are they men of very evil and dangerous manners. Yet Auycen greatly commendeth bald men, of sanguine complexion and flaxen hair, to be trusty, honest, and very precise and devout: and yet many of them have reaching wits in high causes.  
Hypocrates saith there can be no direct temperance in baldness: for that in the first place, those things which be hairy only are hot and moist: In the second place bald men are dry, and in the third place, bald men are in their extremes: so of sickness and diseases, do swiftly approve in the nature of cold and dry: therefore we are verily to conjecture, that all ages of men, denunciat their natures after the temperance of the regions and countries, under which they are borne, aswell as their own private complexion and age: for as the ages of youth are hot dry and hairy, so infancy is smooth cold and moist and without hair. Then seeing there must altogether fall out a perfect sympathy, or equal combination under the temperatures of countries, and that hairy men natively appertain under regions hot and dry: so then there must be a temperate cause in contrariety hereof, for that Theophrastus Paracelsus holdeth in opinion that hot and dry countries, absinne and quite take away all the humours, which intentively nourish hairs.  
Auycen saith, that heat and dryness in those bodies, are not so easily nourished, and therefore heat and dryness of those countries, are nothing profitable in the generation of hairs after the natural sympathy, and mutual combination in temperance of the bodies themselves.  
Galen speaketh of young men of the Ethiopians, who of their own complexion and natural inclination, are hot and dry, in respect of other countries, the which property furnisheth their bodies with an excess strength of hairs: And although curled, yet not diversty coloured like other countries, which signifieth the superabundant heat, under which they live.  
Surely I am persuaded, it is a most direct point, not to compare nature with age, but to compare countries with ages, which in all the conditions of hairs, may be best accounted of: For the Ethiopian young men in temperance of hairs, both in multitude and strength, exceeds the young men of these our countries in the highest degree.  
Let somewhat more, in this our treatise, be attended upon, and diligently considered in the temperance of women, touching hair, for that there are some who think the same far disagreeing from this our purpose: that is, a woman of cold & moist temperance, is endued with a vecie thick hair, who for the material substance of moistness following upon her, hath not only many hairs, but most long hairs, for which cause, women of moist complexions can never be bald. And a phlegmatic woman following the temperance of the whole body, cannot in any respect, want hairs, and sometimes exceeds therein far otherwise then common course, Except a woman of moderate and due temperance, which cannot over pass the bounds and limits of nature, in the ornature of the body: for those women are of pure feminine complexion, and are not bearded like men for two causes: the one, because the vapours of the matrix, are rankly devoided by natural profitmitie, as also for that the ascending moisture thereof, is subtly occupied in the brains, for the plentiful generation of hairs, so that the ●hin parts are utterly barrained thereby. Then touching those hairs, which have comely treases upon the eyelids, & banks of the brows, do show the excellent ornature and seemly grace of nature, by a certain liberal benefit, in beautifiing the woman's proportion, tar above all other creatures: for as these hairs are outwardly planted, so are they regarded as increasing, and springing up in their due disposition, by an outward view, for if they did follow the temperature of men, they should grow confusedly and without order. Then how greatly do those women scandelize both nature and affection, which by colouring, crisping, plaiting or striking forth of their hairs, do deform and disguise their favour and countenance, in the open shame of the world: notwithstanding all which, are not able to alter the seemly shows of nature, whose power both in the head, banks of the brows, and eyelids, is both absolutely and artificially expressed. And I would have it further known and marked, that the difference of moistness and dryness in natures goodly works, is unlike: as if grain or seeds were planted, or sowed in earth of two natures, so that the one should be in temperance more fruitful than another, so doth the hair follow the temperance of the skin, both in substance, complexion and colour. In like sort, as the hairs in the heads of women, be moist or dry after their temperance, so universally, both the hairs in the banks of the brows and eyelids are dry, because the continual humectation of the eyes purgeth the same.  
But twice and once is either man or woman happy, who safeguard their head under a dry temperance: for that moist corruptions within, do speedily and dangerously alter the outward hair, to become grey and grisly, and the rather, if the body be unequally distempered, by any cold and vaporous disease.  
Therefore two sorts of grey hairs are to be considered upon herein. The first sort, thorough the rage of surfeiting youth, in the untimely age of man, especially when the temperance is altered by cold venerean vapours, the extreme malice whereof, suggesteth these cold and perfect diseases of fevers, bloody eyes, phlegmatic spittle, impostumations, short breathings, head aches, as also the whirling and giddiness of the brains. There are also grey hairs, which naturally fall upon the pure old age of man, signifying temperance, chastity, soundness of body, as pleasure and health to the grave. As these grey hairs were attained and gotten by wisdom and good advise, so are they preserved and continued, as an ornament of great and inestimable honour to old age.  
Likewise, after the temperance of hair, the nails of the hands and feet, are preserved or decayed in good or evil condition and estate: and yet they do not so speedily alter, by the interchange of the inward humours, as the hair doth.  
Dyoscorides saith, that the increment of nails, proceedeth of pure blood: his reason is, for that if the nails decline and putrefy, a fresh nourishment springeth thereof again.  
Cornelius Celsus saith, because the veins begin and end in the fingers and toes, therefore nature showeth an outward work, like a comely pentise to cover the same.  
Ruellius saith, the phlegmatic and moist man hath a most prolix increment in the nails, for that there is a continual moist interflowing vapour from the sinews, feeding and nourishing the same. So the hot and choleric man hath sharp, thin and little nails, because large moisture from the sinews wanteth thereto.  
Theophrastus' Paracelsus saith, a moist woman hath thin short nails, if she be aptly menstruous, or else not.  
Galen saith, if the plat, chest, or bulk of the body be wide and broaden, so that the heat of the heart hath free and plentiful passage●, the increase both of the hairs and nails, are 
The heart hath a dry heat.  much prospered therewith, especially if the heat of the heart be both pure, excellent, and nourishable: Whereas if slenderness and straightness be in the bulk, doth show the natural dryness of the heart and chest from the birth day, thorough which there is great obstruction from the natural course of good blood, offending the vegetation both of the nails, hairs, and all other parts. Therefore the straightness of the bulk, is perilous to the wholesome ordinance of health, for those bodies are commonly preserved with natural fevers all the days of their life, do not only absume in the tenuity of their flesh, but many of them perish and decay in the substance of the heart. Some certain, aswell by the strength of nature, as by year and time, overgrowe the eager humour, and so escape the dangers hereof. And yet many of them after any such recovery, are greatly encumbered with a tisich upon the lungs. Although it is possible by medicinable art, to repress and reprove the dryness of these parts, yet not so perfectly, but that a smache thereof will follow upon them unto their last end.  
There is an other sort of men which are both of hot stomachs and rank livers, as their red coloured countenances declare the same: they are also purple-nosed and hairy about the breast: Auycen reporteth them to be men of forceful stomachs, apt to warfare, and yet their courage very much subdued from inflammation, and desire to lechery.  
Dyoscorides saith, that a true martial man is altogether without lustful pleasure, or desire towards women: and yet full of mercy and love towards them. And furthermore, alechemus man is not always bold: for both by quality as quantity, his thighs and loins and other lineaments, show the constitutione of a faint liver. So also the broadnes of the breast, and length of the neck, are the outward signs of an inward troublesome mind.  
Theophrastus' Paracelsus saith, that a short necked man, is apt to conceive, pregmaticall, and very of dangerous disposition, and yet his body very subiectivelie is vanquished, under every strange accideniall disease. A wry necked person, hath very high conceits to accomplish, and their minds are easily infected under many dangerous practices.  
Galen saith, that reason cannot instruct us in these outward signs of nature, but an inward and direct constitution, maketh a perfect experience hereof.  
Auycen saith, that if the outward complexion be cold, the inward constitution is hot. If evil manners be outwardly discovered, the inward thoughts are more easily conjectured, which is more suffientlie proved by the estate of seasons and countries, for that all men generally are proclive and apt to show the manners of their country, in their conversation, whether it be in poverty or pride: either in rudeness, or civility. We are therefore the rather to suspect the wonderful and high constitutions of nature inwardly, by these outward evil properties and dispositions: For in the south regions all outward things are hot, and all inward things cold. So on the other behafe, all outward things upon the north parts are cold and freezing, when the inward estate is warm, and the temperance therewithal yieldeth hot: whereby it cometh to pass, that the people borne in those parts of the world, are of most fierce courage: and although very bold, yet in all their enterprises headlong.  
Auycen saith, those which be borne upon the Meridian point, are unmeet for wars. So justin reporteth, that men of the north parts of the world, are in the beginning stout and fierce to battle, but their hearts in the end, are soluble and melting with the snow. For all outward temperaunces do retire and fly back to the inward parts of man, by reason of outward cold: wherefore they have not a strong digestion, but all inward things are in them thereby of great valour.  
Some may think that Hypocrates reasoning with Galen, hath made a very unlikely argument or proofte herein, as the Europians, are more fiercer than the Asians, for that they endure greater inequalities of seasons: and whereas summer is very hot in the one, and winter very cold in the other, so an inward heat is contemperated under the condition or estate of either temperance. Cornelius Celsus verily thinketh, that Hypocrates respecteth the experience which those countries approve by by war, or by such great inequalities of seasons, are the better prepared to abide and suffer all interchangeable calamities of the body, which ought to be borne and suffered in wars, and therefore these sorts of people are more fit for wars then other countries.  
It is most certainly to be credited that those which inhabit the Meridian point, are more hotter in the liver and heart, than other countries: yet their heat is strange, not natural: they have plenty of good blood and breath: they are wise, but not valiant: And those which inhabit those cold regions, are therefore flerce, stout and apt for warfare, and have a conjoined substance of breath and blood abundantly in their bodies. And therefore Auycen reporteth, that those which inhabit under the Bear, do in fierceness, courage and valour give place to no man. And Hypocrates doth call their temperance flerce and sharp, because their heat is united and overmatched with cold. Also in those temperate regions which inhabit the Meridian point, heat draweth and enforceth heat, as may be well perceived and understood in those extreme and hot seasons of the year, whereas strong and flerce corruptions, do infect and draw upon the body of man, by hot and malicious contagions. So in these Europian countries, the times and seasons of the summer, excessively enforceth heat upon the extreme parts of man: and also their winters are over much cold and very bitter to the outward paries: so that their digestion in winter time is more strong, and their natural heat more abundant.  
There is a sufficient discourse in in the first book of these 
choleric men have great tranquillity in winter.  temperaments of choleric men, inhabiting these Europian countries, whose outrage hath the greatest domination in summer, and do live at most pleasure, quietness, and rest in winter. So phlegmatic men, have their joy in summer & greatest distemperature in winter. Yet Theophrastus Paracelsus saith, that seeing nature hath differenced the choleric man from the fiegmatike, by unequalness of seasons, so the inward heat in the time of winter, is more shorter in the one, & natural heat in the time of winter is more stronger in the other, which if it be so, than all living creatures (without exception) are to have a more pleasant and happy estate of life in winter then summer, because natural heat is the artificer and instrument of all living things.  
Cornelius Celsus saith, that like as the sun is lodged under the dark veins of the clouds, in the night season, so heat is hid and shrouded in the secret veins of all things in winter, and waxeth more outward and stronger with the increase of the year, until by the temperature of the sun it be powerful and mighty.  
Arnoldus de nova villa affirmeth, that the complexion of man ariseth and falleth, with the temperature or distemperature of the year: so may we gather hereby that choler rageth and supper aboundeth more in summer then winter, only by an intentive quality. Then fieam doth not argue no full quantity of heat in winter, but rather showeth some remissivenesse therein: for which we have some opportunity offered, to discover these living creatures of the water, as the crab-fish, and other shel-fishes, whose outward vesiure is always hard and dry, yet there inward temperance is moist and soft, especially in winter.  
The Physicians do minister these and such like fishes to patients, which are wasted and consumed upon the loonges and liver, and other affected parts of the body, as a special nourishment and restorative. They are much deceived herein: for the egredience thereof, proffereth little moisture, is of saltish taste, and stubborn digestion. And those which are endangered and vexed with that disease, do take best liking of easy, and light meats, which speedily do digest.  
There is another kind of shell fish, called an Oyster, is in operation easily converted to choler, the constitution thereof is most wholesome in winter, under qualification of strong and eager feasts: they have perfect digestion in the body of man, by the bountifulness of pure good wine, especially if the same 
It is an error that racked wines may be perfected by observing seasons of the year.  wine be virtuous in odour, colour, sapour, and fervour, then doth it putrefy corrupt blood, unsetleth evil humours, refresheth the senses. But racked wines are most unwholesome for the body of man, although the seasons of the year be observed, for perfecting them, in their degree.  
And furthermore we must make conjecture of the inward temperance of fishes, by their outward proportion and property, of which there is four sorts: as chrustie, shellie, scaly, soft and sleek skinned fish. Their inward causes do most easily convert into dangerous diseases, if that circumspectly they be not remedied and prevented in their strange operation. For whereas some kind of fish, are in their natural property cold, so are they phlegmatic, nourishing, variable and gross substance. Whereas some kind of fish are hot, so are they choleric and of most churlish operation in the body of man.  
Also there is some kind of fish dry, unnourishable, and returneth to slender excrements. But Auycen affirmeth, that choleric fish, is best brooked and digested in winter, and phlegmatic fish in summer.  
And Ruellius with many other excellent writers, do commend the Salmon king of fishes, which of very nature ministereth 
If the S●mon be moderately eaten is easily digested.  great safety to the body of man, both in sickness and health, and hath a very perfect constitution to be resolved into pure blood, especially being drunk with wine: as Cornelius Celsus saith, is an approved medicine for costiveness in the loonges, and perfecteth the oppilation of the liver.  
So also, a most high and singular commendation belongeth to the constitution of the Gurnet. And although fish is a lenitive food, being of an extenuatethinne slimy substance, yet are they of divers temperatures and orders, and hardly conjectured upon, in their several operations: for phlegmatic and vaporous fish nourisheth hollow belching, immoderate thirst, sour & sharp phlegm, and as many have a most greedy desire thereunto, so their stomachs are mordicated and overcharged under wild, monstrous and vaporous humours, and not by the unmeasurable means of any distemperance otherwise.  
And surely the stomach endureth these vaporous humectations, rather by evil nourishmentes than any distemperance of the body, or putrefied corruptions in the air. And yet there are very great considerations to be herein understood: whether these belchinges, or coughinges proceed of evil nourishments, or of natural humours in the body, or from accidental corruptions in the air. For if gross feeding and evil nourishments, be cause hereof, than the universal body is infected, with fuliginous vapours, of disposition, yielding to be pituitous and phlegmatic: And if it proceed of natural humours; and the body inclined thereunto, than the flesh abs●meth, and by little and little mynorateth, not only in substance, but digestion waxeth weak, the guts clung, the liver and loonges waste, the sinews and veins in their natural and just course of blood stoop. And also if it proceed of the corruption and interchange of the air, the evidence thereof is regarded in the alteration and deflowering of the excrements, by a pituitous disposition of rewins in all parts of the body.  
There is also another most hot and contrary excrement, called choler: as it is deciued from the liver, so doth it outrage, and superabound in the bodies of those men, over whom it beareth rule. If the strength thereof grow great, and troublesome it is best remedied by evacuation downward, so that the humours be before unsettled, by some preparative medicine: But if the stomach be therewith overcharged, it were not amiss, by moist vomits, to be advanced upward. And yet there be many, which cannot be so helped: both for that they be naturally disframed, as also for that their passage from the gall to the bowels, is over-little, and more larger about the stomach, comprehending excessive excrements, which impureth vital blood over grossly. For unto whom such choler is generated in the stomach, cannot otherwise be withdrawn, except by natural evacuation downward: therefore it is both unnatural, and without art, to purge them upward, except there cannot be devoydance otherwise, especially and the rather because of a green rotten prassive substance congested in the stomach. There is a further and a more higher weight to be here in respected, as not only in putting a difference in knowing the divers natures of this choler, but an artful experience, in purging and putting away the same: For if it proceed from the liver, it is yellow and pale: if it engender upon the stomach, it is green, like to the colour of a Leek: if it breed thorough a malicious corruption, it is overprassive, and an enemy to all the natural and sensible members of the body, deflowreth, discoloureth and defaceth man's native and perfect complexion, and in itself, favoureth a venomous property.  
Galens opinion is, that if a cold liver be warmed under any accidental heat, it increaseth and engendereth a profluous choler, exceedeth all the heats of stomach, and all other parts of the body, although they be never so full of fervour and heat. And green choler hath for his condition and quality, an exceeding heat, which thorough any accidental dislike, it be chased from the stomach, doth forthwith recourse to the liver, and desireth a perfection therein.  
Although appetite delighteth to gnaw and whet upon gross and fulsome meats, and to infarce and ingorge the stomach therewith, so do they contagiously breed, nourish and infester venomous choler to become high stubborn and unvanquishable.  
So also there are some meats which in their own property, (thorough their exceeding corruption in the stomach) do evaporat and defume the brains, with grievous swimming aches in the head, paineth & aggravateth the eyes. So hard eggs, honey, shellfish and such like, as great and perilous instruments of enforcing the danger hereof: And nature is also hardly and painfully occupied in digesting them, into a ready and perfect substance. As if it were sows flesh, or bulls flesh, which impresseth and settleth raw humours most deeply, to overmelt & transspread the whole body of man, so that no medicineable means, neither upward nor downward, maketh expulsion thereof.  
Surely the disposition of the head, aught to be always regarded under some temperance: as whether it be cold or moist, hot or dry: for coldness bringeth forth phlegmatic humours, whose often and daily distillations, absumpt the good indowmentes of the brain. For mordicat rheums are hurtful to all natural operations, loosen the roots of the hairs, discloseth the body to all pestiferous corruptions and stenches, dimmeth and obscureth the eyes, dulleth the senses, benumbeth feeling, astonieth hearing, dissmacheth tasting, and stencheth smelling: yet many gross contagious meats, are by wholesome sauces qualified and delayed in the artful knowledge, and skifull handling of good cooks. So also redolent wines, if they be entertained 
A good cook is in the nature of a good physician.  into a perfect body, are both converted to fragrant blood, and establish the complexion, to become delightsome and remedious herein.  
Ruellius affirmeth, that great operation consisteth in the virtue and property of a raw or rear egg, especially for the rheum, if it be wholesomely taken: for than it purgeth foul blood, strengtheneth nature, cleanseth the liver, fortifieth the stomach, sharpeneth the senses, melloweth and increaseth appetite. And wine is much commended, if it be of good and perfect flavour and substance, to be drunk therewith in the morning. All which being equally tempered doth much prevail against phlegmatic rheums, for certainly these rheums happen and fall out many times, by alterations and uncertainties of diets: Therefore it is to be distinguished, whether it be an issue from the brains downward, or a vapour from the stomach upward: And yet many times also, the body is inclinative to these rheums under strange accidents, by alterations and variety of seasons: then is it unpossible to overcome the incomprehensible distemperances' of nature.  
And lastly, there is a conjecture by some methood, to be outwardly discerned and regarded, not for inclinative dispositions only, but for sundry natural infirmities and diseases which most body's under some elemental distemperan●ance are subject unto. Examples hereof may be taken from the primary reason, which is joined in property with fantasy, and groweth in custom both together to be bewrayed with Physiognomy, or outward gesture, whether it be in countenance or body. And as they are altogether united, and inseparably magnified, to be of one perfect substance both in mind and manners, so every man is thereby inwardly proved or reproved, in the whole universal proportion of his said body: so that as Rasis affirmeth, that a flat nosed man, is of dry complexion, and a man having a camoysed nose, indicateth much choleric dryness. If he be endued with hollow eyes, signifieth dryness in the head: if he be of sallow and pale countenance, signifieth moistness: and yet many men are in forms and fashions contrary to their dispositions. And that howsoever nature hath portrayed with thin and hairy legs, showeth a natural dryness in the liver, so red and fiery eyes declareth the purity and small quantity of blood.  
Black eyes signify the impurity, thickness and superaboundance of blood: grey eyes observe the indifferent estate throughout the whole body: those eyes which are blue like the sky, do exceed in some season of the year, in great dryness, and on the contrary in some other seasons do surpass in moistness: little twinkling eyes like Ferrets, signify moistness: bleared eyes have divers estates and operations in the body of man, both of phlegmatic humours and choleric vapours, digressing from their own kind and property: the one proceedeth of cold moisture, and the other of a hot tyrannous fretting humour generated & contracted to the eyes in the superabundant heat of the brains, or by and excess heat in the stomach, vapouring to the cells of the head.  
Rasis affirmeth, that although great inundations and intercourses, either of superfluous moistures in the head, or venomous vapours in the stomach, defluxing and galding the eyes, yet the precious eyesight may long be preserved and continued without darkness and decay: and yet confesseth that continuance utterly overthroweth and sinketh the pearl to the bottom. The same Rasis saith, that a waall-eyed man is of dry dispotition upon the liver, and the liver-blood thereupon is made most pure: yet these waall-eyed, squynt-eyed, and lame-eyed men, are most rumatike, are so far subjecteth in their own nature, as that the whole universal infections of rheums concur upon them.  
But touching the dangerous conditions, and most villainous manners, which that sort of men are inclined unto, are sufficiently portrayed and painted forth by Auycen.  
I will not therein intermeddle so largely as they deserve: and for that my purpose only tendeth to find out the due temperance, which every man is subject unto. And yet Galen thinketh, that for as much as man hath a divine beginning from his creation, temperance ought not to be conjectured upon.  
Leonardus Fuchsyus saith, They which judge upon temperance of many ages, offend very much. For do not the outward signs of hair, both by sickness and age, altar after the inward disposition? And likewise, all members wrinkle and alter, after the inward corruption of natural blood? Then the easiest and perfectest judgement that herein is to be required upon the several temperatures of man is to conjecture upon melancholic temperance, whose inclinement is cold and dry, and their blood soon doth corrupt, which is best outwardly regarded by the outward alteration, and disfashionment of hairs, which inwardly proceedeth of fuliginous blood and smoky humours: for the old poverbe is true, that soot is next smoke, and smoke next stre: & wax after it is tempered, is more easile imprinted upon with a scale. So likewise infections altar the humours, and humours alter the outward estate of man: and after that nature is made subject to corruption, a strong impression followeth ever after until death.  
And furthermore, there are many which cannot be recovered from this error, affirming, that temperature ought not to be adjudged upon in old men, especially if they be flegmatik: for as old phlegmatic men be cold an moist, so their excrements are uncertain and subject to bloody fluxes, scouring lasks, the urine muddy, bloody, black, and thick: and likewise a melancholic man, whose youthful temperature consisteth upon a perfect blo●●: but natural complexion is dry and cold, when age cometh upon them.  
Theophrastus' Paracelsus giveth counsel, and therewithal assureth, that no good scarch●r of man's disposition, after forty and six years of age, inderdealeth with the excrements.  
Arnoldus de nova villa giveth more larger liberty in perfect bodies, until fifty and five years be accomplished. For as many old men have a hot dry bodies, so many others have earthly and watery bodies, under which, several dispositions in old age falleth out.  
Last of all, it is a doubtful and uncertain thing, to discern the temperature of every old man, in age and sicnesse.  
Rasis holdeth in opinion, that in age nothing is to be gathered, neither from excrements, neither from form, nor shape, nor scarce from operation: for operation of some part, by occasion of variable disposition, may be confounded in an other part.  
I do let pass the opionins and judgements of many Writers, how the signs of divers ages differ in sickness, neither thorough out the whole ages of man do they obtain or continue any one perfect significative agreement. Therefore whosoever traveleth in the variable temperance's of man, let his best direction be taken from the pulses, as feeling every office of the body in his proper work: Yet surely whatsoever is spoken against the view of excrements in the sickness of old men. Ruellius saith, that excrements are not altogether to be rejected or despised, but according to the strangeness of the sickness and accidents of the disease, duly to be considered upon.  
To conclude, every practitioner hath a large field to travel in, in the time of sickness. As first, to understand the disease, by feeling the pulses. next, to consider whether every office of the body laboureth alike or no. And thirdly, whether the Accidents do stay in any one part of the body, more than an other. And last of all, whether the duty of the excrements be performed in a natural course, or no.  
Thus endeth the second book of the temperaments.  
The Lord made heaven and earth, and all things therein: blessed be the works of his hands.   

HERE BEGINNETH THE THIRD book of the Temperaments.  
IN these former books there is set open, the differences, significations and accidents of cold, hot, moist and dry things in their active natures, and to find out the reason not only why they should be approved in action, as also why they should obtain their equal qualities to be comprehended and easily perceived by touching. I will not much herein travel. For as one of them hath no powerful, nor perfect constitution without the equal travel and furtherance of one another. So one constitution doth still appeal unto another, until the occasion, (which before was obscure and unperfect) be drawn unto manifestation, power, strength and agreement, which (as Galen saith) doth confirm all medicinable confections. And there must be hereunto also annexed not only the sensible understanding of these natural causes, but a just consenting of their forcible power and virtue to have one success. Also there must be a very high regard had, that medicines do nothing in nature digress from the assenting inclination of such bodies, unto which they own their defence, help and secure. For contrary medicines dangerously do imprint their malice & power, enforcing the grief to become more outrageous inflammative and unsettled: Experience may instruct herein, that a powerful medicine in the fourth degree hot, cannot escape, or be driven back, from 
caustic i● burning.  some very dangerous action. For these putrifactive or corrosive plasters which in their caustic nature do work upon outward sores, although they be suddenly taken away from that place, over which they did work power and effect, yet their impression or action of heat, cannot suddenly or unawares be taken away, for the deepness of the sore hath comprehended the power thereof. And therefore these inflammative actions, without more larger liberty and skill, cannot be extinguished.  
The same thing by cold medicines is more clearly perceived and understood. For black popy cannot in the fourth degree, unawares be entertained into the body, but that, by the same means, doth oftentimes forthwith alter the body, and the active movings sensible hindered, in the unnatural course and action thereof.  
It is otherwise with hot medicines, which although they exceed from us in common course of heat, yet the power thereof, many either be mitigated or utterly put out.  
As touching cold medicines, the reason and understanding is not hereunto alike, because coldness, not only deeply lurketh in the veins, but stoppeth the vegetation and quickness of nature, having once overcome the sensible parts of man: that although warm things be proffered for restoring, quickening, and lifting up of that sleepy and deadly invasion, either shall it nothing at all prevail, or else the sensible and natural parts cannot be recovered to a perfect, and due estate and disposition as before. For if cold water by a secret potential estate, be entertained into a warm body, and the body by a variable disposition thereof, altereth into a more higher degree of coldness, doth extenuate nature, and decayeth the power of blood, although the strength of the body exhausteth the sensible coldness thereof, yet there remaineth a sharp impression for many diseases to ensue.  
Furthermore warm water, being received into a hot body, although it be possessed with the body for a whole days space, as it hath nourished under some natural warmth by the strength of the body, so can it not be otherwise known or perceived, but that the body is made more colder thereby, although under natural warmness, it passeth from the bleather again.  
So do we behold the power of a cataplasma, which although it hath a natural power of coldness, yet if it be removed and the place touched, all inflammations shall sensibly appear more subdued, moderated and seasoned, for inducement of a more higher and excellenter practice in the work thereof, which as some hold in opinion is contrary in powdered medicines, whose power is only to purge, dry, and excoriat. Yet no doubt there are some powdered medicines which in revealing an imagination of dryness in substance, are in property altogether moist. And except the body be of a dry choleric disposition, shall nothing prevail to accomplish any dry action to become perfect and sound.  
Some will marvel, why the quality of elements should minister health, ease, and safeguard to one, And show no potential act, but rather offence, in another.  
Certainly as all inferior causes are subject to the alteration of celestial dispositions, so celestial bodies are stable, firm, and perfect, and in their properties are void from alterations. Then no scruple herein need to arise, whether this potential estate be engendered or given to medicineable herbs from nature, or from celestial bodies.  
I do think not only power, but all indicible properties enjoy a metaphysical effect. And surely form or bodily shape, which herewith is adjoined, hath an indifferent participation from the complexion of elements, and the condition of celestial things. Yet the judgement of old writers is, that the property of these natural causes, to be no other thing, than an indicible 
All indicible things have a indicible temperance.  temperature, having some indicible property: and form is no other thing then a temperance in his own nature, or the immediate and extraordinary reason from the celestial influence: therefore the natural philosophers have not spoken in vain, that Man and the son did beget man: Then surely the stars are nothing at all occupied in the generation of mixed things, rather do they claim a most great part to themselves of that which appertaineth to these immixed properties and powers: And it is no marvel, but that these virtues, powers and strength, are so opposite and manifest to our feeling and perceiving, that heat and cold should also have a singular prehemmence in the stars. Theophrastus' Paracelsus saith that all these medicineable herbs are not elementarily engendered. But brought forth, of some divine power, from the pure celestial estate above. But yet these elemental qualities so highly do bear their force in the countenance of all inferior things, and their powers are so full and large in all medicineable effects, that no furtherance or means prevaileth, either to confirm them, or else bring them back, to any other strange act, or unusual alteration.  
Dyoscorides saith, that the divine power moveth the elements to become either natural, or unnatural to the earth: And the earth withal the bountiful creatures therein, do take their essence, increase, or decrease from the due course or alteration of the said elements.  
The chief Philosophers do say, that the high fruitful situation of the sun, worketh upon all living creatures, that all natural causes greatly prevail thereby.  
Then it is no marvel that single medicines, have an appropriate inclination in themselves, but artificially qualified from their own nature, have a more clearer and peaceable effect: And although the sun, doth in every place east her seasonable power and strength, yet not with one indifferent quality of warmness and heat, to be entertained into all things alike, not for that there is any defect in the primary property of the sun, but because there is a several property from the complexion of elements. For as no physician can frame one medicine, to be indifferently received and entertained into every several constitution: So the sun is showed forth in one force, and potential estate alike, although the action upon all inferior causes unlike for that, every thing followeth the property of nature from the complexion of elements in generation and the property of the sun in augmentation.  
The unseasonable elements do oftentimes darken the sun, and thereby distemper and disseason the inferior causes of the earth. So also the confused courses and running together of the fl●●s, 〈…〉 oursing by an unsingled and variable power within themselves, is the only cause why all the herbs and fruits of the stelde, are of medicionable and salving condition over one, and nothing at all profiting but rather hurting unto another.  
Therefore the power of all these things are distinguished three manner of ways. As first, their possibility hath one ordinary power in themselves. secondly, that a supreme natural substance, coagulateth in the power of all inferior causes. thirdly, doth in the same power obtain and accomplish some effectual property in itself, which by any foreign accidents can neither be intervented, nor altered, except enforced from one propertte to an other, to some supreme excess within their own natural essence.  
Therefore these medicines whose virtues are determined hot in the second degree, are most easily made hot in their action, and also most easily are they converted to fire in open extremity, exceeding their natures: as unflaken lune, rosenne, or gum, which issueth from the excess vapours of trees.  
But the greatest danger happeneth in cold medicines, especially if nature hath determined their operation hot, and their action cold: as the Hemlock, which of Dyoscorides is called Cicuta (a most poisonsome practice in the fourth degree,) hath not only a hot property and troublesome effect, but an impressive action of a cold benumbing the senses, which cannot be afterwards razed out. And yet many times some strong & forcible complexions will rather alter and subdue such strong medicines, to become inclinable to the body, then endure themselves to be altered or subdued of the body.  
Theophrastus' Paracelsus saith, it is no perfect opinion, neither of the old nor new writers, that medicines ought to be first drawn into actual pre-eminence, before the corruption be stirred and prepared by some preparative or gentle mollefaceion, the easier the power of of purgation is extended to mortify and slay the disease: Always provided that medicines be matched with the nature of the body aswell in sickness as in health. Like as clear water contemperated with pure wine, doth much profit, and season a hot and inflammative body, to become ttmperate: After the same manner weak medicines, gently are framed to do their effect, than those medicines which are of high and gross operation. For the more weaker medicines are composed, for slender bodies▪ the easier their strength is evidently known, their limits and bounds discovered, and thereby less feared. Whereas gross, hot and strong medicines are subtle, fierce, easily do insinuate and wind themselves into all the parts of man, and although they be most charily regarded, yet will they many times exceed art: wherefore medicine ought to be framed, and drawn after the measure of bodily heat, otherwise it is no equal instrument of nature, neither can nature be used in her potential measure for the speedy overthrow of the disease. For as medicine ought to be framed most like unto nature, so the disease from time to time, is directed by nature: Therefore medicine ought to be received into the body, under the warmness of new milk, or man's blood, although Galen counseleth that medicines in summer season be proffered unto some bodily constitutions under the coldness of fountain water.  
But touching medicines outwardly applied, some high and singular practice must be attained, for healing and curing such outward sores. First, by rubbing and searching the grieved place of the patiented, whereupon sometimes the inflammative infection of the furious and hot humour increaseth, and far surpasseth the bounds both of medicine and nature, except peradventure, it be corrected by some drieng drink, or purgative potion inwardly taken: or that the outward medicine be of some very cold and slender power in operation, which sensibly is perceived. For and if medicines be unapt, they will contrarile wrestle, both against nature and the afflicted sore, as swiftly, uncertainly, and grossly wind in their power and strength. But if cold medicines be slow, they may be remedied and preferred (after the skill of the Chirurgeon) to a more fuller and larger estate and degree.  
Yet hot searching and inflammative medicines, are necessarily required in fulsome, putrefied and cor●siue sores either for searching, searing, scouring and fathoming the deepness thereof, as for the staying and stopping of some further impendent danger. And as some medicines are changed in their own qualities, so there are also some medicines, which thorough their lenitive nature pass over into the substance of the body.  
There is also an other cause in the universal participation of joining superior causes together, into one perfect substance is so duly regarded in them, as that their quality in action hath no domination in itself, but their properties are rather deducted and brought down from the stars into the power of herbs. Otherwise this wandering desert herb Scanmionyum, which unperfectly purgeth choler, and leaveth the constitution of the body in more worse estate than before, should be as familiar to the body, as Succory, Endive, bugloss, and such like herbs of salving and curing nature. And yet Dyoscorides saith, that Succory is of divers kinds: one is cherished in Gardens as a precious treasure, preserved for bodily health, so the other is wild and of more resisting virtue. Yet because they do both alike draw a natural power from the stars, in one perfect kind and substance, do equally agree in one manner of operation: for they are so indicible and evident, as that their property is not known only by reason's, as by experience, as also highly occupied in the government of man's health although they have a right and due property of evident virtue, which man's art cannot separate or put away: & therefore action and passion are due unto their qualities, aswell for that they have a whole and perfect substance of moving power, as also for that there is an easy transmutation of their nature, into the natural substance of man's body.  
There is also an herb called Molios, which draweth a power from the high governor of Spirits, called Amy, and hath sixteen legions under his dominion, as Dyoscorides reporteth in his third book, and the fifty two chapters in the comments of Barbarus, and Virgilius, that this herb is of an outward virtue most excellent, it hath great power against witchcraft, south saying, and conjuration: it is not inwardly to be taken, but outwardly to be carried about: it is of a property by itself, and will not inwardly be changed into the substance of man's nature, neither doth it prevail in remedy of any disease, except the falling sickness.  
And surely, all other herbs have some natural or unnatuturall portion, with our body. Yet it is unpossibly, that they should be of one power and effect together, neither is there a like alteration one with an other: For if their properties were of equal agreement, than one substance could not have equal operation into an other.  
Even as these prrperties do very much disagree within themselves, so can they not forthwith pass over into mutual substance of man's body, without artful knowledge, aptly composing them thereto. As fire suddenly without art, can not be trasformed into water, nor air into earth.  
So by the same difference medicines are distinguished and and known from nourishments. For as nourishmenties agree with the natural comforts of men, so medicines have their properties, differing from the properties of men. And as medicines are repugnant to the disease, so both the body and the disease not only become subject, but reformed to medicine, for health and safety thereby. And although Art domifieth them, to become gentle, kind, and natural: yet art never depriveth them from their free property: For how much the rather they are of contrary substance, so do they show themselves the rather in the similitude of a more greater action: and yet for that one substance is passed over into an other, they are qualified also in power: therefore let us once again distinguish the estate and condition of medicines within themselves.  
Although there is an artificial form in the constitution of all medicines, framed to some special appointed purpose, yet as Galen saith, there are some herbs cold, which take a very little portion of change in the heat of man's blood: And many times, not only because they are of cold nature, but venomed in some degree of poison, very notably do they corrupt man's body: As the mandragoron and such like. There are also some other poisoned herbs, in a most hot degree of strong venom▪ as the Daphnaydes the Coloci●tida●●the▪ I●ios. As they do exceed the heat of man's body, so do they reach most highly beyond man's nature, do forthwith oppress life, and entertain death, if their strength be not artificially remedied.  
There are also medicines, neither of hurting nor salving power, neither of hot nor cold operation, neither do they nourish nor yet destroy, but very indifferent to the body of man.  
There are also composed medicines of honey, butter, sweet oil, as they are not of no pure nor clear verdove, so are they very nourishable and restaurative to nature: And as nourishmentes are easily changed into nature, so the power of all other medicines do comprehend a work in their own properties, and therefore it is impossible, their power should be both kept and changed.  
Galen doth make further report, that so long as medicines do continue their nature and degree, under the equal condition of the body, are not only gentle and favourably incertayned, but changed into blood with the nature of the body: are no more under the compass of medicines, but rather follow the due course of vegetation, preservation and sympathy, with natural operation, both in quality and power of the body.  
Whether Galen hath extended his reasons to hot medicines, I know not, but I fear not to speak, that oftentimes both hot and cold medicines are under one property turned into blood, when as the body meanly is subdued with coldness from the extremity of heat, and advanced to heat, from the extremity of coldness: for than is it impossible that any impropertie, should at all remain, where many properties are duly changed.  
And also it is a most hard and difficult estate, if substance in the nature of every one thing, should wholly be taken away or diminished, so neither then, is any such blood left alone to do good in absolute power: for humours, do nourish themselves, where good blood wanteth. And every natural thing hath no natural operation nor measure, where any such defect is. For 
Where no natural operati●is, there is no measure.  surely there is no doubt, but whosoever over-largely feedeth upon honey, cannot escape, but that at length his complexion is discoloured, defiled & stained with a hot phlegmatic blood. So likewise in summer season, some bodies, by eating of cold Lattice are drawn to over great comminution, and heat, nature and blood are many times extenuated, weakened and altered in their due course. Let every one therefore most highly call to memory, that measure and moderation are much preferred under the constitution of man's health.  
Thrusianus an old fatherly writer (as one falsely persuaded) doth say, that nothing is carried, or conveyed beyond the heat of man's body, and that bodily heat congruently consenteth to all foreign heats, being of never so strong and high valour: and saith further, that single medicines cannot be changed, beyond their own nature. The which wrongful opinion and judgement he seemeth to consent with Paracelsus, who affirmeth that every thing is borne and brought forth into this world, to avouch his own property in the actual accomplishing of some effectual virtue, for the help or hindrance of an other thing. And yet this nothing proveth why any quality either of heat or blood should be advanced beyond his own nature, except by some enforced extremity: or except only because the manner of diet, is more stronger in one body then another: or except some bodies are disposed to feed upon grosser sustenance than another: for that body doth enjoy and obtain greatest health which feedeth upon the purest, clearest and most choice sustenance.  
Surely as the body begetteth his portion of heat after the greatness, manner and meetness of sustenance, so warmness of blood, equally either by tenuity, indifferency, or fullness, is matched and advanced with the body: but the office of the liver is not herewith compared, having no natural endowment of heat from the affluence of heat, and blood in the body.  
There is a constitution of variable humours by the same temperance of the liver, under which one is more colder than the liver itself, and the other more hotter after the condition of some material cause, from whence the heat of the liver is derived, especially for that nothing is so single in nature, but that it is variably altered by the heat of the sun: so that some bodies, in the variable disposition of man are like unto wax mollified, or clay hardened by the virtue and strength of the sun.  
Dyoscorides reporteth, that the complexion of every man draweth upon the sun, and the grace of the sun hath a differing action upon all several things variable, being comprehended in itself: and that every man is disposed alter the four orders of the elements. So that some men are white, some men black, some men red, some of one colour, some of another, thereby Galen saith that herein may be perceived that all heats feed upon the sun. And furthermore doth say, that like as fire is stroke from the hardness, and secret veins of the flint, so the liver is fed and nourished by an intentive hot humour enforced from the sun. For which cause and after this manner nourishment subtly and most secretly passeth into the natural heat of man's body, chief when nature joineth in property therewith.  
So nourishment nothing disagreeth from wood joined unto fire, which first standeth at a state, then presently altereth into the nature of fire, and becometh into one perfect substance therewith. And as heat is more weak in one body then another, so heat according to the copiousness of sustenance increaseth throoughout the whole body: And heat also more speedily flameth out after the constitution of a hot, high, and strong sustenance, then by a cold, thin and weak diet. And therefore food ought with care and diligence to be weighed and regarded, both for the preservation of man's life, as also for that some bodies are thorough evil regiment easier corrupted and overtaken then others.  
Then have we just cause to think that heat is not properly nourished of any property in itself, but either violently drawn from some other inferior and natural causes of fire, or else from the supernatural comfort of the sun, which is the only restoration of all inferior causes, to become with them of one permanent and firm operation.  
Surely then nourishment is received into the body by three manner of means: as first, when an excess quantity of diet is received into the body, bringeth forth some monsirous or unnatural disposition in itself: And such strange dispositions will not consent ever after, to follow the right direction of perfect nourishment. As wine although it be of excellent quality, and most easily retained and digested down into the body, yet being received by excess quantity, oftentimes doth benumb and overcoole natural temperance, and doth of itself convert into cold humours, by some strange alteration, for that not only the abundance thereof confoundeth heat, and the verdour being over charged by a surfeiting distemperance, oppresseth both the power of heat and nourishment, and altogether therewithal surpriseth bodily constitution.  
There may be also weighed a consideration in the second degree, how nourishment altereth and transferreth itself. For while it continueth, the stomach hath the only effect of food: but being digested from the stomach passeth from one office to another, until the substance, strength and power thereof, be distilled, converted and altered, to become of one union in man's body: and when the body is unapt to entertain perfect nourishment, both showeth a degeneration of nature, and the distemperance of the body reclined to some foreign contagion.  
There is an absolute comprehension in the third degree, which is most perfect both to health, long life and the natural substance of man, that is, when meat most sufficiently brooketh man's body, and the body taketh good liking and relish of the meat, are forthwith resembled into one similitude together.  
And yet there are four degrees, which are called second humidities, besides four humours which participate upon the liver. The first cause is contained under the subtle veins and arteries: and therefore because heat is not only degenerated, but settled and concocted in a corrupt blood, there is a plain digression of nature, and all moistness do wax thin thereby.  
The second degree of these Humidities, is when a dispersed due interfloweth from sustenance, into all the parts of the body, the which if by alteration of strange humours it falleth into corruption, is the only efficient cause of a third humidity, and no nourishment is favourable unto the body, and all gluttonous 
Exanguit, that is without blood.  causes are quite separated from the body, by means it is exanguit, consumpted, and quite devoided from heat: yet it cannot be denied, but that there is some clammy matter impendent upon the loonges, which gnaweth upon the desire of sustenance, always belonging to such humid diseases. The fourth humidity representeth a hungry nourishment.  
Galen in his sixth book in the causes of Symptomatickes doth say, that although they have divers names, yet are they of one sharp hurtful operation in nourishment, except that which maketh some delay either in the stomach or in the maw, & that the veins may extract a moving comfort therefrom.  
And also we must understand, that this nourishment extendeth to the extreme parts. Otherwise truly in my opinion, other parts need not to contract nor travel with the stomach and liver for moisture to their better nourishment. All which perfectly showeth that nature draweth a potential substance for the strength of nourishment: and the more nearer there is a communion of substance in all the parts of the body, the more easier is there a return of nourishment, except it otherwise happereth by means of any foreign accidence. For sows flesh, although it hath great affinity and nearness with man's flesh, yet by the good operation of wine, it is passed over into a perfect substance, and the digestion thereof is slow, sour, and heavy, for because the union hereof is of a more thick and grown substance, it is operative and overburthensome, then familiar, usual and accustomed. Therefore the power of hot things, have a double difference, for which cause there are medicines of on operation, and nourishmentes of an other, the which nourishmentes ought to have an easy gracious nature, either to help nature decayed, or to pacify the troubles of any disease offending wholesome constitution, do justify and continue the health and safeguard of the body, are preferred before all medicines, and nature the more graciously, and easily doth accept them to be placed in some due ordinance with the body. For such like nutritive medicines, as they have an inward mollifying operation, so have they an outward application. And yet some, according to the demonstration of Galen do think that nutritive medicines inwardly taken, having possessed and matched their heat, under the form of a hot complexion, are of moor greater force and strength, and such medicines are easily reduced, and manifested in their own nature and property more quickly.  
Theophrastus' Paracelsus saith, that medicines outwardly ministered more speedily do show their nature, than those which be inwardly entertained, especially if in their action they be hot and firm: and although under the skin are more inwardly tender, then is outwardly showed, yet have they a more ready duty hereby, to search the deepness of the wound, and grieved place, and the deepness of the sore, more speedily doth yield and open, if the inward humour be corrected by some purgative drieng drtnke, the diseased and grieved sore presently altereth his issue, yieldeth to a sound union, and is presently comprehanded under one fafe substance of the body.  
Aristotle in his problems (speaking of vinegar and such like sharp sauces) doth say, that the aswell inward, as outward applications, very sensibly do fret, and if heat be bewrayed of a more stronger power in the patient, doth grow to an inward excess, and outwardly offendeth: yet a strong and hot body will easily and very much blunt and dull the power hereof. As first, by extenuation and comminution. Secondly, by concoction, and thirdly by motion, for that they are roving, never continuing themselves in one estate, but dispose themselves into all other parts. As four by separation, especially of those parts▪ which are more sharp, as prepared, purged and sifted either by fluring, either by urine, or vomit and breathing vapours from the stomach, rather than of those parts of the body, which are more calm, sound, bening and bountiful. In which it is to be marked whether nature be impaired, in the exclusion of one part more than an other, or remaineth wholly, sound, and perfect. Also whether the blood be made clear and kindly by a fresh and new coiunction. Also whether the rind and bark of the veins be wrinkled, dimished, and broken in pieces, and whether medicine have a natural power to unite, and conjoin in the nature of the body, for if the medicine be blunted and dulled by the strength of the body, than the body is utterly unable to defend itself from corruption, but presently infected with all kind of ulceration. And these kind of ulcers are comprehended either from rank abundance of melancholious corruption arising between the flesh and the skin into some outward preposterous sore, or else most commonly by reason of some hot fluxing humour unnaturally settling in some part of the body, wherein some unkindly worm breedeth and overeateth, except some present stay and remedy be had, And Galen saith there are divers sorts breeding in their kind according to the nature and disposition of the body.  
And although the Chirurgeons do give them several names yet they ought not so to do, because they are worms gathered and misshapen according to the monstruousness of the humour, and never continue in one kind.  
And yet some old writers divide these sorts of sores into four names: Herpes, Phagedina, Chironia, and Telephia, The first is of very affinity with a plague sore. The second is some filthy black worm, or fistula fretting between the flesh and the bones. The third is a foul sore, hard to be cured, and being poisoned with the melancholiousnesse of the humour is called, Noli me tangere. The fourth complecteth itself under the name of all Boils or Carbunckles: and surly all sharp, sour, swift, stiff and cruel medicines, whether they be hot, or cold, have in themselves a natural poison to do hurt hereunto: And they are more harmful being eaten, then when they be outwardly applied, for in their nature, they do not only intoxicate the primary parts of man, but deeply pierce the power of the heart.  
We have a manifest and rare example of Socrates, who lived in strong power of health, except by drinking that dangerous and murthersome hear be Cicuta, who sensibly feeling the coldness and power thereof to insinuate and wind itself, did vanquish the highness and mightiness of his heart: confessed that Cicuta was the sting of death, and the venom of destruction.  
Dyoscorides describeth this herb Cycuta, to be both in nature and growth, like to our english Henilocke.  
Surely these medicines do little hurt being outwardly applied, but they are poisonsome and deadly, being inwardly taken, except the small quantity thereof be such, as that the body be of stronger power to vanquish and shake off the mortality thereof.  
There is also a certain juice now in use, strained & squeezed out of the leaves of Lascrpitium. Antonius Musa saith, it is the gum of the tree itself called Rosen, or Belswyn, and Bewguyn.  
There is no difference whether it proceed of the juice, or weeping tears and liquor of the tree. But certainly, that Rosen which groweth into a gum, by means of tears and weeping of the trees, showeth thorough an unnatural heat, in the elements a general infection and disease upon the trees, either by unnatural heat in the elements, or by a distemperate and furious course in the stars, and the substance therewithal, is thickened, hardened and congealed.  
As it is not our purpose to join together these differences, so neither are we to search out their particular power & stringth neither their form, likeness nor shape, ●or their good use, or evil abuse thereof. How much could I here utter in disgrace of the Pandect, for false exposition of these and such like ioyces, or congealed gums, which of the common people are one for an other, falsely put in place: as the first misordering of Asa fetida, which the Arabians do rather seem to put in place of Mumy, and many very ●sophistically do frame the filth of men long dead to serve herein.  
But there are two principal sorts of Mumy: the best sort proceedeth of the rich Balsamum, Catabalsamum, frankincense, Oppobalsamum, Myrrh, Aloes, Beniamyn, and many other sweet odours, embalm within the dead▪ coorses of most noble personages which do cendensate into substance with the flesh by long continuance, as is afterwards taken up for perfect Mumy. There is an other sort of Mumy which cometh by means of men traveling over the high mountains of Arabia, are oftentimes swallowed up in the dangerous deepness of the sands, & their flesh by large continuance of times, concreat therewith, growing to be of one perfect substance & nature together: the Arabian writers do much commend this kind of Mumy.  
Now to return to our purpose in the natural causes of cold and heat, for that there was never any able to show the action of cold and heat in one like quality of the same. And who was ever able to draw, the strength of hot causes to take effect, from man's natural heat? Or who was ever able, or yet would bring to pass, that cold things should take their action of cold and heat in one like degree, from man's natural heat? Except in suffocating the senses utterly thereby. For cold medicines do in their own property and nature follow their own strength and quality in the body.  
Galen proveth by the example of cold water, which if it be invested with an accidental heat, will by potential essence in itself, return to a natural property of coldness. For as water hath a secret interflowing from the veins of the earth, which although it hath some secret heat by vapours, or the influent exhalations of the elements, ascending and descending, yet is it in property altogether cold, without alteration, and therefore it is to be regarded that hot fire is extinguished and put out with scalding water, so medicines many times have an action of heat, yet of their potential power they do overcoole and infrefe the body.  
So likewise there is another degree of medicines of cold actions, which although they be altered by art, to become of a more hot power, yet do they return to the former first frigidity, yet altogether without excellency in itself. So water doth return always to a peculiar and natural coldness. Therefore if medicines be ministered in any degree to the body, and therewithal do congeal and extreme with coldness, it is done in the property and nature of medicine, not because they are preferred beyond their accustomed action.  
Now it is further to be inquired, whether medicines in the fourth degree, drunk under evident coldness, may in any sort be quite translated from the natural heat of man. For that it doth not much appertain to our question, we will not much here dispute with Galen, neither is it a matter of any importance or weight.  
It cannot be denied, but if these cold medicines be in small quantity proffered upon any distemperance of the body, cannot escape altogether the work of nature, but therewithal profiteth the body. For like as medicines framed and composed of fumitory, much prevail in help of the dropsy, so the disease called Hydros, that is, when the skin is filled with water, is presently cured with black popie. And Galen somewhat touched in conscience, practiseth to wash away his former objection against the preparation of popie, seemeth to admit the use thereof against those hot ulcerations, so it be both artificially tempered and naturally composed with the complexion.  
Then such medicines are not in same quantity always so deeply foreset with cold, but that they may have some natural instinct of heat, especially such herbs which are in the second and third degree cold, and may not altogether reject and dispossess themselves from the strength of heat: So do they easily convert themselves to become in union with bodily heat, and their wholesome kindly temperance, quietly, secretly and suddenly subdueth and appeaseth all extreme distemperances' of heat in the body.  
But Theophrastus Paracelsus on the contrary affirmeth, that Galen is herein greatly deceived. For he further saith that cold medicines have a private and effectual nature of cooling and entertained into the body, as possibly to be endured, until it be regenerate with bodily heat. Paracelsus reason herein is, for that heat and cold may in both their properties obtain a double distinction: as either are they to do some effect in their own properties, or else by accidental means, the which hath been sufficiently handled in the former books of these temperaments especially in the qualities of dry and moist things.  
We may find out sufficient similitudes and testimonies of cold and hot things, as popie being of cold nature, so Henbane is of ho●e nature, although they be hotly tempered in their single natures together, without artful confection into the body, are not of equal operation: so are their actions unequal and discrepant one from another, and their accidental heat, hath supreme intendment in the one, and disgraceth the other.  
So likewise if Celledin be drunk in natural kindness of it self, much profiteth the body, but being received into the body by an accidental heat, do greatly hurt and distemper the vital parts of man, not so much in respect of action as of operation. And certainly, as there may be a translation of all things beyond nature. So oil is not simply called hot, because it is turned into a flame of fire, but because it hath a natural and powerful heat in itself. For surely hot nourishmentes, although they be put into the body in the nature of fire, yet are they no fire: for such kind of nourishmentes are oftentimes to profit the body in place of medicines, and yet the same trasferred beyond the common course of temperance, disprofiteth and distempereth the body. I would have it to be here understood, that whatsoever altereth the disease is a medicine, except only that meat and sustenance which advanceth itself beyond common temperance: otherwise all food ministered unto the body should be medicinable, showeth some natural effect either of liking or disliking property. For some are of equal power to comfort and nourish the body, some do alter the body to some unkindly distemperance, some do purge the body, some do surfeit the body, and some do poison the body. We may not therefore conjecture, that all sorts of meats, suffered in the body are medicines, but we must certainly persuade ourselves that all purgations ministered unto the body, are poison some for present operation, although not deadly: for purgative medicines are of three natures. In their first nature, lenitively do approve and mollify the body: In their second property, vehemently do search and strongly feed upon the body. They do in their third property, insume nature, utterly oppress the body by a sharp adust fluxing of blood, or cl a deadly benumbing of the vital parts.  
As all natural sustenance agreeing with the body, is converted to the substance of flesh and blood, so all poisons of what condition soever they be, after they be chastised from their poisonsome malice, are most curable antidotes, and remedies against all venims and stenchfull corruptions, which either offend or overcharge the wholesome estate of man's life. Yet Galen saith that whosoever drinketh juice of the viper or asps, is deadly poisoned, can never be healed, nor the poison thereof subdued, corrected or surprised, by any art in man. Yet Dyoscorides saith, that the stone taken from the corpse and sepulchre, of some ancient king, after he hath been long dead, is a special remedy against the poison of viper or asps, and all other poisons in the highest degree.  
Galen calleth every distemperate action (in property) deleterion, that is venomous, to which he rehearseth two several kinds of hot and cold poisons as aforesaid.  
Dyoscorides reporteth that the natures of poisons, are of sundry degrees to man's body: And this contrariety not only respecteth a most mischievous operation for a peculiar quality in itself, but hath also an indicible property in his own substance, which is not only contrary, uncertain and gathered from the most distemperate influences above, but of the most contagious vaporations beneath, all which easily is known by a certain ordinary mutation going between: so that all those which continently do not pass over in agreement with nature, are contrary in their power to bodily substance, although they do in either quality disagree. As many of these unnatural poisons, are within themselves, of one proper quality, so many of them are of two qualities, one disagreeing from another, and yet are they not contrary in their seveall operative malice.  
There are on the other side, many poisons which in their own proper qualities resist again, and yet in their kind are not contrary: therefore some extraordinary mutation may determine, and correct this only contrariety.  
Yet I do greatly marvel that Auycen holdeth opinion, that all cold poisons are wholly contrary to man's nature, in their kind and property, as that they may not be corrected, or delayed.  
Dyoscorides reporteth, that an old wife of Athens, made a contrary experience hereof, transmuting the heath Cicuta, by little and little without danger agreeable to purge her own nature. And Galen in his third book of Simples the xxi. chapter doth say, that all cold poisons, show their venom not in nature, but in quantity, neither can they be altered from their malignity, nor yet pass over into substance.  
Theophrastus' Paracelsus saith, this opinion is very dangerous, neither can it be true, that poisonsome medicines obtain their force, rather from powerful quantity, then active malignity: for the force of cold poisons being lost under the action of heat, manifestly do infrigerate the body, which cannot be more notably discovered, then if cold water being made of an accidental heat, from a former property of cold, not only returneth to nature, but becometh more colder, than before.  
So whosoever drinketh cold medicines, being drawn into accidental heat, do in their operation return to former property, and not only alter, in their own power, but are preferred to a more greater manifestation. For oftentimes cold fieame is so discerned, as if the urine be thick and clammy by contemplation, or by some foreign corruption, hath an usurping accidence of heat, which although natural medicine hath some operative inclinatio, nyet there may be a texgiver sation to their former property and power of coldness, and thereby oftentimes greatly offend us, except the strength of our nature overtravell the danger thereof, or that the quantity be small, or because little heat is obtained and gotten in the virtue thereof, is the more easier dejected.  
We have an example of the Salamander, who hath a continual property of fire, and yet being of extreme natural power of coldness, extinguisheth and quencheth all fire. Even so this herb Cycuta and such like unconstant poisons, have an outward affinity with fire: yet the practice thereof benumbeth the most perfect heat of the body, to become uncertain and wavering.  
Dyoscorides affirmeth, that although artificial practice should delay this herb Cycuta to work in a moderate property, yet will it return to a former affliction and evil disposition in itself: Which easily may be perceived, in that all cold poisons are of contrary natures to hot poisons. So both of them are two dangerous contrarieties to the substance of the body: as also such medicines which work beyond common course are poisons, and all such medicines which hasten the disease to become more swift, sharp, and insult the spiritual parts are poison's. And all such medicines which disgrace the disease, are ordinary and of high condignity with nature. And all such medicines  purely frame and unite with the body, are prepreseruations for the help, both of health and long life to the body.  
Therefore in ministering of medicines, there is both an ordinary and an extraordinary composition: ministration and operation. For medicines are rather framed of an active, then passive nature. As Pepper or Mustard seed are active: so wine and honey are passive in operation.  
Also there be other simples of doubtful property in their work. As the Lettuce, which although Galen commendeth the property thereof, to be wholesome against the heat of the the stomach, yet Theophrastus Paracelsus reporteth, that it hath an energical work to moderate, cool, and season the body in the midst of hot infectious diseases, but neither Valerius Cordus, neither the Pandect, nor yet the Luminary make any such rehearsal.  
But Petrus Galiensis saith, that both the Lettuce, and herbs of such like virtue, draw upon the north Pole: as some more nearer, and some farther off, and therefore in degrees they exceed one an other. And saith, all herbs whose properties are levied from the south hot, are mitigated, measured, and equally compounded by an increment of the north ●ind.  
And he further saith, that all single herbs, work after the coasts of the elements: except herbs of cold property, which of themselves have no elemental attraction, the Fusun notwithstanding hath a singular conflexion upon them. And although it was before spoken in the first book of these Temperaments that the Sun splendeth or diminisheth her force upon all living creatures, yet there must be understood, that the Sun hath a permanent reflection in her own power and nature, but only that the heat of the Sun is stirred and provoked to be of greater strength in summer by means of certain hot planets, which then have special domination in the elements. So on the contrary, the coldness of the elements in winter do weaken and enfeeble the heat, and yet the sun hath one like power both in winter and summer: so that as the sun arris●th in heat, by the temperance of the year also the fruits of the ground arise and ripen therewith: and as the sun with the course of the year falleth, so do the natural fruits of the earth recline.  
Then are we rightly to conjecture, that the herbs of the field attract from the elements an operative power in the universal estate of man's health: for the herb Peperites hath a wonderful and excellent operation, against the commi●iall disease, called the falling sickness, and draweth upon the full of the moon in the east: and the said herb in growth is always ascendent and discendent, with the increase and decrease of the moon. So also there is an other herb called Scopa Regia, which draweth a most high dignity from a star, which followeth the new moon, called Occulus Lunae, and is of right virtue to heal a swelling congesled blood in the throat, called the kings evil.  
Petrus Galiensis saith, the herb Dragon is of cold operation and draweth a virtue from the Lode star. The heat of the Sun without difference warmeth all things, yet in deeper penetration of one thing more than another.  
Herewithal it is a most excellent thing to consider the property of Honey: the which honey is respected to be in the use of man in one degree, and in the use of a Bee in an other degree. For as the heat of the Sun is sincere and pure in nature and property, so doth it conjoin with the course of stars descending by a certain mellifluous dew, inseaseth itself upon the herbs of the earth by attraction. Neither is it of right judgement that this honey, is natural & indifferent to all the herbs of the earth, although the Bee hath a general portion throughout. Therefore Dyoscorides saith, that the natural Bee sucketh the most mellifluous fruits of the earth. But the unnatural Beeroveth and rangeth aswell upon the one as the other, especially all wild and savage weeds.  
And yet as the Magnet or Loadstone is unforceable to attract upon every complexion, so all sorts of herbs are not drawn from the Elements: for their attractive aptness many times fall out diversly, after the complexion of men. For as there be herbs of thin and light operation, so there are thin and light humours in men. And as there be thick and gross operations in herbs, so are there also thick and gross humours in men. Therefore the power of hot things, may not be adjudged by touching, neither yet understood by reason, for that all things are divers in operation. For as hot things are not always thin and light, so thick things are not always cold: yet doth it commonly fall out, that solutive medicines are always hot, sharp, and bitter. But we may not justly affirm that all sweet medicines are hot, for that bitter medicines are shadowed many times with outward sweetness, As Galen saith Sub melle venenum tegitur. Surely all hot things are of subtle extenuation, and yet oftentimes through a hot substance in themselves, do grow into sleshie thickness.  
Hypocrates reporteth his help towards a young man which was overgrown with fleshy thickness both of belly and other parts of his body, did abundantly wash, bath, and soak himself in the midst of summer in cold water: And whereas chiefly his face, and other parts of his body were styffened, thickened and bound with cold humours, and for the exceeding thickness of his skin, the deflation of heat was repressed, forthwith a righteous experience took a proof. For that, fresh union and natural collection of heat did follow.  
This excellent temperance followeth the elements by a natural repercussion of all cold temperatures, into the sweet and medicionable springs of the earth: for that the hot summer course, in the Elements hath repressed all cold temperaments of morning dews, into the veins and heart of the earth, the water springs become thereby potative, wholesome and medicionable, and both within, as without the body of high operation. For now as the increase of heat is hereby stirred up, so also the exteame coldness, and over great thickness of the skin, conceiveth a free relaxation in the poors, whereas also both the blood and breath were inwardly repulsed, so the one freely interfloweth the veins, and the other hath a temperate and equal property from the loonges. And also the humours which were before half settled, do become now more plentiful and are perfected into a regular order, and heat herewith regenerated, doth first spring up and forthwith return and strike back again, thereby at length heat overcometh cold in the extreme and uttermost parts, and permanently there doth settle.  
Galen doth seem to call this repercussion, only the same repulsion, which is made after the concoction of humours. Neither is it to be marveled if heat hereby, return more plentiful, both because the blood being increased and renewed, the heat also must of necessity be increased.  
Theophrastus' Paracelsus saith, I do esteem heat to be borne out more evident and manifest to outward things by many repercussions, although no increase of blood shall follow in outward things▪ for certain momentany repercussions may hinder blood any more to bend, yet it may not be said, that the cause thereof happeneth in the ripeness of unperfect humours. For this cause doth it seem to come to pass after this manner, that blood cannot easily be drawn, when it is chased from the outward plenty and fullness, uncertainly to possess the inward parts: after which being again enforced to any outward operation, draweth a portion of humours to pursue those veins ever after, as the old proverb is. Fluxus, fluxum provocat.  
Therefore it is a most excellent ornament to behold the signs of the elements in all evacuations. For seeing inferior causes do express and exercise the nature of superior causes, it standeth with equity they should be obeyed: Especially the tides of the sea, drawing upon the course of the moon: the sun giving increase to the universal creation: The herbs having an excellent, pure and secret use in the stars: The planets having their temperance or distemperance in the complexions of all things. So than it is a most high assurance, that every sickness, which distempereth in offending the life of man, aught to be considered upon, after the high temperance, or distemperance of the elements, aswell as the complexion of the patiented. I end to the laud of God and profit of christian health.  
Thus endeth the third Book of the temperaments.   
The Lord made heaven and earth and all things that therein is, blessed are the works of his hands. At my next convenient leisure three books more are to come forth under one volume as followeth. 

A book of the Distemperamentes.  
An Apology to the Pleurisies.  
A discourse upon the diseases in the Arteries.   FINIS.