A SHORT TREATISE OF Metal & Mineral WATERS; VIZ. Those of the Spa, , Epsom, North-hall, Barnet, Tunbridge, and the New-Wells at Islington.  
WHEREIN Is described their bad as well as good Qualities, with the danger of Peoples too frequent- and unadvisedly Drinking them.  Mirabilis in aquis Dominus. 
By E.P. M.D.  
LONDON, Printed by T. B. for Randolph Tailor near Stationers-hall 1684.   

To the Reader.  
Reader,  
I Am not ignorant that the use of Metal and Mineral Waters are often prescribed by Physicians against many Diseases; as Palsies, Tremble, Ulcers of the Stomach, Reins, Bladder and Womb, Tenesmus, depraved Months, Abortion, etc. and though I know Sacred Writ says, Mirabilis est in aquis Dominus; because of wonderful and almost divine virtues given them by the Almighty Physician; for the cure of many rebellious and contumacious Diseases; and that as Vitruvius says, there's seen no more miracles of nature than in Waters: yet I would first advise all diseased Persons, that they would not be too hasty, and run hand over head, as they say to drink those Waters, because it may be some of their neighbours, etc. told them they found benefit by them, without consulting the Physician, whether they may be proper for them? forgetting the old saying, One man's Meat may be another's Poison.  
Next I would have the young Physician, chief be prudent and cautious in prescribing them, and not, as too often, to send their Patients, after they have put them to great cost, and wearied them with multitudes of Medicines, to the Wells, as their last refuge, without considering the nature of the Waters or the Sick; and not to send the intemperate, and full of foul humours, or that have hot entrails, or that abound with stinking, sharp malignant rebellious dregs, and who are full of obstructions, the notorious Parent of most Diseases, which are scarcely ever to be removed; For th●se Waters are all of hot and dry qualities; some more than others, as proceeding from hot and poisonous Minerals, as you will see in this Book; so that 'tis impossible but there must remain an Empyreuma, or collection of filthy matter, which in an intemperate and disposed body will beget a new kind of Disease, and augment the hot disposition of the Stomach, Liver, and other Entrails ordained for nourishment, if there were any; and this from Hipp. de aere, aquis & locis text. 13. Aristot. lib. 2, Meteor, c. 3. Galen. l. 1. c. 6. de simple facult. They may work miracles in some Diseases, but rara non sunt artis, and that will not warrant a dogmatical Physician, instituted in the sound, safe and Orthod x doctrine of Hipp. and Gal. promiscuously and immethodically to prescribe them almost to all People and Diseases; as your Diobolory, I had almost said Diabolary Empirics, and wretches in Town do their Family Pills, their Friendly and Popular Pills.  
Then as for Ulcers of the Stomach, I cannot but think them improper, being too hot, as proceeding from Nitre, Sulphur, Vitriol, the last of which is altogether of a contrary nature to Man, as being of a poisonous quality; as for Gold, Iron, etc. the Learned Fallopius, who understood the nature of Waters certainly as well as any man, believes they impart not any of their quality to the Water. The same may be said of Ulcers of the Reins and Blader, which, for the most part will admit of no cure; by reason of continual afflux of sharp, waterish humours, whereby their detersion, and desiccation is hindered; so for Ulcers in the Womb, and preventing Abortion; these Waters are not of so drying force to work such effects.  
So that I cannot in reason see how these Waters should be so proper for so many Diseases for which they are extolled, for they are all famous for their potential, as they call it, and hidden heat, in an eminent degree, whereby they destroy the native oeconomy and temper of the Entrails: and imprint in them an extraneous heat, and so cause Dropsies, as Hipp. noted in a peculiar Example of his, and a 1000 other dire diseases, which prove incurable, and hasten death.  
Certain it is some Physicians, for private filthy lucre, promote the Waters, and even discover new ones: And though many out of a good intent, in Books, extol them, yet let none precipitate themselves into danger of another, and perhaps worse disease, but advise with the Learned Physician.   

TO His ever Honoured Friend The LADY VERE BEAUMONT, OF Grace-dieu, in Com. Leic.  
Madam,  
PRay be pleased to accept of this small Present; but not as any the least requital, I beseech you, for the almost innumerable favours you have been pleased from time to time to confer upon me; since I fear it can scarcely be called an Acknowledgement. In short, Madam, this short Treatise, is intended for public benefit in general, but if it may, in the least measure, be serviceable or conducible towards the Preserving of your Ladyship's Health, in particular, I have attained my Aim; and in an happy hour may then subscribe myself.  
Madam, Your ever obliged Servant, E. Prat.   

OF THE NATURE OF Medicinal Waters.  

CHAP. I. Of the Matter Origine of Fountains in General.  
AND here I shall be brief; intending not a speculative Philosophical, but a Medico-practical Discourse, for information and instructiof the unlearned, and not for Learned Philosophers and Physicians.  
Now 'tis clearly my Opinion, with the Divine Plato, Aristotle's Master, and before him Thales Milesius, as also Philo, lib. de mundi opificio; the great Seneca, l. 3. c. 1. quest. natural. and others; that the Original of Fountains is from the Sea; from whence, through Sinuosities, Veins and Meanders of the Earth, water is carried to certain places, where it breaks forth and continually flows; it may very probably be conjectured they had this from the greatest of Philosophers Solomon, who in Eccles. 1.7. says, all Rivers run into the Sea, and it overflows not; unto the place from whence they came thither they flow again, and indeed scarce can there be assigned any other reason why the Sea doth not redound by such a daily concourse and afflux of Rivers; unless because the Rivers do again flow out of the Sea, and return and pay only so much to the Sea, as they borrowed therefrom. Although the Evaporation and Extraction of watery Clouds by the Attractive force of the Sun, is no small help: and other material helping causes are Rains and Snows which augment (though they do not generate) the Rivers; for these help being withdrawn, heat of the Sun approaching they become Rarefied and the neighbour parts of the dried Earth drink them off. Whence Kings 17.7. the River Careth is said to wax dry by reason of the Sun's too great heat.  
But we have one Cardanus impiously and Atheistically disputing against Solomon, subtle. c. 2. de Elementis, whom we shall endeavour to satisfactorily answer and enervate; though God Almighty's Power and Wisdom, might be opposed as answer enough, and Sacred Scripture ought to be of more Authority than all humane sagacity.  
First then he says the Sea-water, because 'tis heavy, cannot ascend to such an height, as the tops of Mountains; but to this have been several refutations; some ascribing this motion to the operations of the Celestial bodies; and they say this motion is not violent, (though it be contrary to the private inclination of its proper form) if the Potentia obedientialis be considered; whereby inferior Bodies are made to obey their Superiors, etc. Others say there is a certain insite, attractive faculty in the Veins of the Earth, whereby it sucks Water out of the Sea, as the Veins of Animals suck Blood: others there are but too long for this place, and wholly Philosophical and so not easily to be understood by ordinary capacities and so I omit them.  
Then Secondly, he says before the Water could reach the Mountains out of the Sea, there's no reason to be given but it would break forth: But the Earth hath passages in some places and in some none. Then whatsoever he assigns to be the original of Fountains, it may be queried why in some places and Mountains there are Fountains and Rivers, and in some none?  
Then Thirdly, he says, if it were so, Rivers would never be less; but it may be answered Rivers sometimes grow less from what portion is lost which comes from falls of Showers and Snows; and when part is sucked up by the dryness of the Earth, and heat of the Sun, etc.  
Fourthly, he says the Sea would not satisfy so many Rivers, when the greatest part of Waters vanish by the heat of the Sun; But it may be answered that the Sea receives only as much as it gives forth; as Solomon says, Rivers flow to the Sea, that they may flow out again; then if the greatest part of Water should vanish, the Sea would long ago have been wasted; but the extracted vapours are recondensed into Water which either flows into the Sea, or falls upon the Earth, to augment the Rivers, which at length unburthen themselves into the Sea.  
Fifthly, He says, there can be no reason given why it should flow from one Mountain and not from another; But the answer to his second Objection solves this.  
Lastly, He says, Fountains and Rivers would taste saltish and brackish. But to this is answered that Sea-water, whilst it passes through various Veins, Sinews and Meanders of the Earth, and so being as it were strained it sensibly deposes its saltness and bitterness. Hence the more remote Fountains are from the Sea, the sweeter they are. If any shall say, that the Water was more likely to contract a bitterness by reason of the Exhalations it receives from the Earth: it may be answered, that they are not any sort of Exhalations that produce bitterness, but only adust ones; and all are not such in the entrails the Earth. Therefore now Cardan, we may conclude, I hope, hath not got any thing by contradicting Solomon.   

CHAP. II. Of the Division of Fountains and of Mineral and Metal Waters.  
HAving in the former Chapter given the Reader a plain account of the Matter and Origine of Fountains, we should in the next place, see how many sorts of Fountains there are, but because 'tis the work of Natural Philosophers and Hydrographers; and nothing of an advantage to our present purpose we shall wholly omit it, and only speak of Mineral and Metallic Fountains, as being the subject of our present Discourse. Now those I call Mineral and Metallic Waters, which participate of the nature and faculty of that Metal or Mineral through which they pass in the Caverns and Veins of the Earth. The which are either 1 Salt, 2 Vitriol, 3 Allumn, 4 Bitumen, 5 Naptha, 6 Nitre, 7 Gypsum, 8 Arsenic, 9 Cadmia, 10 Antimony, 11 Chrysocolla, 12 Ochre, 13 Lime, 14 Ashes, 15 Pummice-stones, 16 Gold, 17 Iron, 18 Brass, 19 Lead, 20 Brimstone, and 21 Quicksilver. Now as I said the Minerals through which Waters pass, bestowing upon them in their journey a considerable part and portion of their good and bad qualities; I thought it very requisite, before I discoursed of the use of the Waters themselves, to say something of the Natures and Properties of the Metals and Minerals they are mixed with; that thereby you may be the better able to judge of the nature of the Waters proceeding from them; then we will begin with Salt.  
The faculties of Salt are great, many and very useful to man; but not so necessary in Physic, as many think; such as your Quacking Chemists, who predicate many wonderful and vain stories of Salt reduced by their Chemical Art; for they audaciously assert that their is a Purgative faculty in Medicaments because of Salt; and when they have got some Extract from any Medicament, than they presently aver that they have got its Salt forsooth; but these being things above the vulgar capacity; I shall say Salt is very Conservative, of an Astringing, Absterging, Purging, Discussing, Repressing, Extenuating quality, and vindicates the Body from Putrefaction; yet some Salt is better than others; but used immoderately produces very bad effects, as sharp, salt corroding humours all over the Body, Scabs, Leprosy, the Stone, and other dire Diseases; as Dulness of sight, disorderly Fermentations in the Blood, rendering it thick and earthy by burning it; Schroder thinks thus of the Original of Salts; the Macrocosm he says, as the other two Kingdoms, i. e. the Vegetable and Animal, is sustained and lives by its food; in this abounds a salt, answering to the salt Excrements in the Sweat, Urine, and Dejections in Animals; now the Salt of the greater World congregated into the inferior Glob, is of a dverse kind, according to the variety of its Matrix, even as the salt Excrement in Animals is different; hence, Common Salt, Salt Gem, Salt Nitre, Alum, etc.  
The Greeks call that Calcanthum, which the Latins from its blackness, call Attramentum Sutorium, or Shoemaker's Ink; and from its spendent vitreous Nitre, Vitriol; Dioscorides a man of profound Judgement in the Materia Medica, reckons three sorts thereof, two Native, and one factitious; one sort of the Native is found concreted in the bowels of the Earth; another is collected in form of a Water, out of some Mine, which put into a Vessel soon coagulates into Vitriol; as for the factitious we have nothing to say to that here: the Native or Fossile Vitriol participates of Calcitis, Misy, and Sorry; the Native and White is preferred in the Medicinal uses; which the Metallicolous Alchemists say is produced by their Sulphur and Mercury; as of Sperm; which they indiscriminately exhibit to all affections, out of which they draw a certain acid Liquor, a few drops whereof mixed with Syrup of Violets, acquire a most elegant colour and taste: But Oil of Sulphur will do the same, and a few drops of one or both of them insused in the Syrup of Roses, will make the whole Liquor red; which they call, forsooth, Tincture of Roses.  
Now Nature 'tis true hath enriched Vitriol with eximious faculties, which skilful Physicians have both experienced and left described; as Galen, Dioscorides, Paulus Aegineta, Aetius, Oribasius, etc. who have very much nobilitated it: it heats, binds, dries, kills broad Worms, helps against Toad poison, preserves moist flesh, and dries up humours, drives away Putrefaction, roborates the inward parts: outwardly it binds, purges Ulcers, causes Wrinkles like Alum, with whom it hath relation; But besides these excellent qualities Vitriol hath also its bad ones: for it is ill for the Stomach, acrimonious, corrosive and vomitous, and therefore ignorant Quacksalvers and Women give it sometimes in Wine, and sometimes in Rose-water in uncertain weight, against Quotidian and Quartane Agues, and many other Diseases, and indeed the Fever is often resolved by vehement Vomiting, but this Medicine being unskilfully Administered proves most often more formidable than the Disease.  
Alum is, as it were, the Brine of the Earth; whereof Dioscorides makes three sorts; the Round, the Liquid, and the Jagged, or Scissile, the last is often called Plumeous, for they are so like in form that they can scarce be distinguished, yet they differ both in nature and qualities, for the Scissile is manifestly binding, and may be burnt, but the other is Acrimonious, and suffers not by fire. Mathiolus, says he saw and tasted a Liquid Alum; of which he asserts, that he never found any thing more Astrictive. Now when Alum is simply mentioned, we mean Roch-Alum, which is a saltness of a Mineral Earth, of a Leadish nature, consisting of an acid spirit, and a caustick Earthy salt; and all Alum is of Crass parts, binds much; whence 'tis called Stypterion in Greek, because it is Styptical, it heats, cleanses, amends putrid Ulcers, dries humid ones, absumes superfluous flesh, takes away itching, cures the Scab, and very useful in many Medicaments made for the Cure of Ulcers.  
Bitumen, which the Greeks call Asphaltes', is as it were the fatness of the Earth swimming above the Waters, which being cast upon the shore, thickens and becomes hard, tenacious and inflammable: As long as it swims on the water 'tis soft, but when 'tis off it becomes thicker and harder, and resembles dry Pitch; yet easily melted at the fire. Many Lakes are bituminous, but especially one in India, thence called Asphalites, and the dead Sea, because of its vastness, and because its Water remains almost ; not stormy, but heavy, salt, thick, and stinking; wherein neither Plants nor Animals breed; neither doth it nourish such as are put into it, or admit them into its bowels.  
All Bitumen is not solid and hard; but some is perpetually fluid and liquid, called Naptha; which is the streining of Babylonian Bitumen, white of colour, and most capacious of Fire; for Fire and this are so near a kin, that it will presently leap into it, when near it. There is also black Bitumen. For its Virtues all Bitumen discusses, mollifies, glutinates, defends from inflammation, by olfaction, suffumigation, or imposition; mends the strangling of the Womb. Naptha extenuates, incides, digests, penetrates, absumes frigid and thick humours in all, parts of the Body, and cures the Resolution of the Norues, Palsies, and diseases in the Veins and Arteries from cold cause.  
Nitre of the same nature with the Salts.  
Gypsum, is a kind of Talk, of the nature of Lime, whose hot, fiery, caustic quality every one knows.  
Ratsbane, or Arsenic, is between a Salt and a Sulphur, 'tis of such an acrimonious, corroding, hot quality, that it will burn to a crust; dissolving, destroying and preying upon the Principles of Life; malignant, and an Enemy to all Natural parts; and to the Radidical moisture, and innate heat; and therefore was very ill advised of Nich. Alexanarinus to prescribe it for an Ingredient in the great Athanasia, says the great man of skill in the Materia Medica, Johannes Renodeus; for by permixtion with other Medicaments it doth not depose its malignity. The Learned Schroder says 'tis one of the highest Poisons; for besides its acrimony, it is an Enemy to our Natural Balsam of Life, so that it brings strange symptoms, not only tataken inwardly, but applied outwardly; as Convulsions, numbness of Hands and Feet, cold Sweats, Palpitations, Faintings, Vomiting, Corrosions and Torments, Thirst, etc.  
Cadmia, Metallic, 'tis the Stone out of which Brass is drawn, and is called Brass-Ore, which Artificers use in making Yellow Brass, which the Shopmen call Aurichalcum, or Orichalcum, and 'tis probable this is the Stone which Albertus Magnus calls, Didachos, or the Devils-stone: Cadmia disiccates gently, absterges and helps humid and putrid Ulcers, and draws them to scars; Schroder says 'tis Caustic, and that it ulcerates the Hands and Feet of the Miners, and taken inwardly kills all Creatures.  
Antimony, or Stibium, or the seventh Metal, which some say is Mercury, others Ambar, but neither of these are more than in a potency to be Metals; a grand Alchymistical Quacksalving Idol; the sole Empyrical, Chemical Cathartic; whereby they boast to cure all Diseases; but it most devilshly disturbs mens Ventricles by moving upwards and downwards; others it miserably torments by vigorous Purging; some it kills and restores very few to perfect health. One Cornelius Gemma, a Physician of Louvain, relates, how a Paracelsian English Quacksalver, being himself and his Wife sick of a Fever, took himself and gave to his Wife, that which they call prepared Antimony, whereupon she fell quickly distracted, and changed her Life, yet valid, with death; and he complaining of Dreams and continual Watch, seven days after his Dejection, began to Rave; from that he became Epileptical; from his Epilepsy he fell into a Lethargy, being therewithal somewhat Apoplectical: when he had been three days in that sopor, he fell again to his raving, and was so agitated with fury, that not long after he expired and passed from his conjugal Bed to his conjugal Tomb: and howsoever the Chemists cry up their Preparations of Antimony, yet as able Physicians as any in the World forbear to exhibit them because they have much better Medicaments wherewith they may more securely cure any Disease. And I could give a large account of the dismal Accidents that I have known happen by the administering of Antimony: and my ever honoured Master Dr. Patin, Regius Professor in Physic in the Famous University of Paris, wrote a Book which he called the Martyrology of Antimony.  
Chrysocolle, which the Shopmen, following the Barbarous Mauritanian Idiom call it Borax, is found in the Golden, Silver, and sometimes Brazen Mines in Armenia, Macedonia, and Cyprus; it heats, checks supersluous flesh, and is mordacious; it produces Ulcers to sanity, but taken at the Mouth 'tis perilous, says Renodeus.  
Ochre. is a kind of Yellow Earth much commended in Africa, not lapideous, but friable, clayey and sinooth, it binds, corrodes, discusses Tumours, and represses Excrescences.  
Gold, is the greatest Cordial in the Pocket; most certainly; for omne cordiacum debet esse Bumidum & Calidum: aurum autem est frigidum & sicum, i.e. every Cordial aught to be moist and hot, but Gold is cold and dry, Ergo Gold is no Cordial at all; and nothing indeed is Cordial but what nourishes; a Glass of generous Wine, and nourishing Broths, and such Diet are the greatest Cordials under the Sun.  
Iron is an ignoble Metal, consisting of Mercury and Sulphur, not so meltable, cruder, or rather of Sulphur and Salt; mixed with the Cruder parts of the Earth: it binds and opens, as the Chemists says; the opening Virtue is chief in its more Volatile part, and so in the Salt; the Astringent virtue lies in the more fixed part, and so in the Earthy.  
Brass, was formerly dedicated to Venus, from her Island Cyprus where great plenty was dug; 'tis either of a Golden colour called Aurichalcum; or redder, and then called Brass absolutely. Brass was of more use among the Ancients, than either Gold, Silver or Iron; for the first money was Brass; and hence we meet with Aerarium, publicum, Aes all numb, Questor aerarius, their Warlike Arms also were not of Iron or Steel, but Brass as also their Statues and Temple doors.  
Load, according to the Alchemists, is both dedicated to Saturn and called Saturn, and in their opinion 'tis generated of impure Quicksilver, and a little impure Sulphur, and 'tis thought that not only under the Earth, but in the open Air also it angments, and therefore Cardanus, thinks it endamages houses by its weight: for its Virtues, it refrigerates, binds, and thickens, etc.  
Fossile or Native Sulphur is naturally generated out of a certain fat portion of Earth; much whereof is in Lipara, Melos, and such like places, it is much in quality a kin to fire, for if be cast upon Coals it will burn, and not be extinguished, till all its oleous and fat substance be wasted; that Sulphur whereof your Quacking Chemists tell many vain and ridiculous stories, is not common Sulphur; yet 'tis mixed, though they assert it to be a principle of mixture. But no more of that here. It heats, cools, resolves, cures Coughs, and difficulty of breathing, taken in an Egg, or burnt and its smoke catched, moves Spittle: mixed with Butter or Swine's grease, it mitigates and kills the Itch over the whole Body; and mixed with Turpentine it cures Tetters.  
Mercury or Quicksilver is the prime Idol of the Alchemists, which they pronounce to be the principle of things and Sperm of Metals; and indeed so true each, that nothing more false; for if Metals have any Sperm, 'tis within themselves, not else where to be sought; nor will ever mixed bodies naturally resolve themselves into Salt, Sulphur and Mercury, though these Chemical Vulcan's will be hammering them out, as the Learned Philosopher and Physician Riolanus hath proved against them. This Quicksilver it's as it were, the Monster of Nature, which will not be subject to Nature's Laws; 'tis more fluxible than Water, more permeable than Vinegar; though it moistens not; sometimes cures cold diseases; sometimes hot: when it seems cold it induces hot effects; when hot then cold ones; it sometimes hurts in small quantities, always in great; it easily loses it proper form, and easily reassumes it; and in this 'tis miraculous, that it often profits being taken inwardly; and often causes Palsy, trembling and other sad effects when applied outwardly; Falop. de Lue Vener. 'tis such a Beast that can scarce be tamed by any Art; So that Galen the Prince of Physicians, next Hypocrates, durst not use it; having learned of Dioscorides that it was Poisonous. Its qualities are yet under debate; for some, from its effects, say 'tis cold; others as Avicen whom Palmarius and others follow, say 'tis cold and moist; Fracastorius, Tomitanus and others, who attribute a corroding faculty to it, contend for its heat. But Renodeus, with Trajanus, thinks it to be of a mixed quality, participating of many other faculties, but consisting chief of subtle parts; for it incides, attenuates, penetrates, melts, resolves, loosens the belly; and what is most to be admired, partly by an attractive quality attracts humours from the superficies to the Centre; and excludes them by stool; and partly by an impulsive faculty, them from the Centre to the habit, and ejects them by salivation; and it often works by feige when it should salivate; and ofetn salivates when it should move downward. Thus much of the nature of all the Metals and Minerals from whence the Waters proceed, now a few words concerning the manner have the Waters acquire their virtues from them.  
Now all these Waters are of a mixed, not simple nature, for they proceed and pass not from and through one Quarry or Vein of the Earth only but from divers; and therefore acquire divers faculties according to the divers substances which they draw along with them: as for Example, if a Water arises where is generated a Quarry or Vein of Sulphur, from whence it passes where Iron's generated, or Led; this Water more certainly shall acquire mixed faculties to itself; and yet it shall attract more of the substance of the one than the other, according as any one quality makes more impression than another: and many times so comes to pass that the Water proceeds from and passages through passages where the Metal or Mineral is not yet perfectly generated, than you must expect it to be of an hot Nature, but not so much participating of the Metal or Mineral; the reason is because all Metals and Minerals have heat for their efficient cause, and therefore if the Waters pass by while the Metal or Mineral is in generating, and where there is the cause of their generation, which is heat, they will consequently become hot; whence they will prove to be actually hot, and of a firery quality; and this shall be more or less according the more or lesser acting of of the Heat; or by reason of the longer or shorter stay of the Water, or by reason of the nature, quality and substance of the Matter which is more or less permiscible. For that the Waters do effectually attract the Virtue of the Quarry or Vein, there are three things requisite (viz.) that heat perfom it parts well; that it acts opportunely, and those things which ought to be mixed, be fit to be mixed. So that since these three conditions are required to the completing the work; it comes so to pass that although Water do sometimes participate of more Quarries or Veins; yet it shall retain the faculties of one more than another; either by reason of one of these causes, (viz.) either because heat was more active, or from its longer stay, or from the Matters being more apt, or lastly from all these causes conjunct. Now a Quarry or Vein doth not impart its substance or faculties to the Water one manner of way only; but either it so imparts it, as its substance, is truly and really mixed, with its and those Waters and reteins their faculties for a long time and to some purpose: or else they are mixed not with a true and real mixture, but are only confounded; and when they are mixed by such a kind of confusion, the Waters of the Quarry are not all one, neither are they truly mixed, for one may separate one from another: sometimes lastly they are mixed, not because of the substance of the Quarry is mixed with Water; but only vapours elevated from the matter are permixt; And since it happens as you may understand that mixtion is performed by these three manner of ways, 'tis no wonder if Water mixing itself in several Veins, shall attract and contract to itself the faculty of one more than another. As for example; if Water that shall be perfectly mixed in one Quarry, with another confusedly only, and with another, with the vapours only, and not with the substance, it shall retain much more of the nature of that wherewith it is perfectly mixed, than the other.   

CHAP. III. Of the Waters of Bath, and their Causes.  
COncerning which there are likewise divers opinions: Now these Waters being of so hot a Nature, that throw but a Fowl therein and it shall immediately deplume it; put Fish and Eggs therein and it will presently concoct them; that these Waters are so hot of their own nature, I cannot believe; for all Water is always, and of its own Nature cold in quality; and if it become hot by accident take but away the heating cause thereof, and it shall return to its prestine cold temper of its own accord, without any thing of an altering nature being adhibited: For there are Rivers in hot Countries that are not very hot from the heat of the Sun: So that I conclude these Waters to be hot in the Caverns of the Earth from an outward cause: which that it may be made more plainly manifest, we shall briefly inspect into the causes of Baths.  
Concerning their efficient Causes their are likewise various opinions; omitting the whimsical frothy conceits of the Chemists; let us see what the more sound and solid sort of Learned Philosophers say to the business; some ascribe this virtue to the Rays of the Sun with Thermophilus, who held that the Sun penetrating the pores of the Earth (for certainly the Earth is porous and Spongy,) was in its bowels there fortified, and made more active in heat; so that like Fire it heats Water, and what ever it meets with, and even burns what it meets with combustible; but if this were so, these Baths would be so hot in Summer only, not in Winter; or at least it would follow that these Springs would be less hot in Winter than in Summer, contrary to all experience; for every Idiot can tell you the Springs, etc. are hotter in Winter than Summer, the cause whereof of the Learned Philosophers ascribe to that they call Antiperistasis, that is, in plain English; the Earth is hotter within in Winter when the Sun's absent, than in Summer; and so they'll tell you that their Sellars are hot in Winter and cold in Summer. Secondly, I cannot conceive how the Sun should penetrate into such deep Caverns of the Earth as, by force of its heat, to make the Waters therein to become so hot; where we see, it cannot effect the same on Lakes in any hot Region: Then 3ly, We know that there are Baths found in the most cold Countries, as Islind, & c-Some with Mileus will have a Wind or a Spirit vehemently tossed and moved up and down, and so penned up grows hot, and so coming to fall upon the Waters overheats them. Democritus says, they receive their heat from Ashes and Lime: others think these Waters grow hot by reason of vehement motion and beating against the Rocks; and not a few there are which say that the matter through which they pass heats them, which they say is the reason that some smell so strongly of Sulphur, because they flow from Sulphury Veins. Others, o'th' other side, will have the cause to be an extreme heat within the Earth in those places, which overflow with hot Waters; and Learned Dr. Jordan our Countryman if I mistake not, thinks they derive their heat from the sermentation of Metals in their Generation; to which is required an actual heat with a certain humidity; and some affirm that Thunder heats the Waters, as may be seen from Manlius; 
Suni autem cunctis permixti partibus ignes,  
Qui gravidas habitant fabricantes fulmina nubes,  
Hac penetrant Terras, Aethnamque imitantur Olympo,  
Et calidas reddunt ipsis in fontibus undas.   
Lastly, the Chemists will have the Waters to wax hot from a mutual combat and conflict of divers Salts or Mineral bodies; after the same manner, as we see in the conjunction of Spirit of Vitriol or Salt of Tartar, as from the two fires the Glass becomes so hot,  multo accensis, fervore exuberat undis, Clausus ubi exusto liquor indignatur abeno.  
Now among so many disagreeing opinions, when there can be but one i'th' right on't; Aristotle the great searcher into the Secrets of Nature, in my opinion hit the Nail o'th' head, who following Empedoeles, the Disciple of Pythagoras when he saw these Therm or Baths, so called from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, Calidus, to be so hot, thought they could become so no other way, than from a most fervent cause, because all Waters of their own Nature are cold, and could think the efficient cause to be no other than Fire included in the inmost parts of the Earth, and there, as it were, primogeneally residing; of which the Epicurean Poet and Philosopher, 
Principio t●llus habet in Corpora prima,  
Unde mare immensum, voventes flumina fontes  
Assidur revomunt habet ignes unde oria●tur,  
Nam multis su●●ensa locis ardent sola Terrae.   
Now that there is Fire under the Earth, besides the hot fiery water Springs; the Lime, Ashes, etc. which are vomited and dug out of the Earth, may confirm and persuade us; as being the genuine effects of fire; to say nothing of Smoke and Soot, breaking out of the Earth; and in some places fire itself; therefore Subterranean fire, which Kirkerus calls pyrophylacia, i. e. a Prison for Fire, is the most certain cause of the heat of the Waters, For while those Springs of Waters upon the Mountains, are carried by the Veins and Sinewy bend of Metals, in manner of Dragons and Cauldrons in the Baths of the Ancients, writhed and twisted with circles of Brass; like a Meander; and from thence artract the Virtues and Vices, as I may so say, of Metals, wherewith the Water is tinctured, they wax hot from the natural fire Subterraneous to those wind, even just as Water in a Pot is heat by Fire; and Bartholine says expressly, that Fire doth not heat the Water after the manner above related from Aristotle and Empedocles; but that the Pipes or Veins of the Earth contain Fire itself within them,  
Now the Water becomes more or less hot, here and there, First, as the matter is found more or less apt for heat; Secondly, as that Fire is nigher or farther off the Water; whence in some places Fire breaks out together with Waters, in some places Water without Fire to be seen. Thirdly, as there is a present quantity and proportion of matter, as for example, a great quantity of Water would extinguish a little Fire, so that we see no River to be so hot, much less a Lake, lest of all the Sea.  
But since so much and lasting a Fire cannot continue without some food, or maintenance, therefore it must necessarily have some Matter to nourish and renew it. Now this matter must be something that will burn, either dry, or oleagenous. Lands taken from the Fens and dried, they call it roasted, cannot be the fires continual matter; for it is soon consumed by the Fire, and it burns only by reason of the Roots and Herbs and Grass which it contains; wherefore it must be oily, fat matter; Now the fatty things which are begot in the Bowels of the Earth, are chief Marle, Bitumen and Brimstone; now Marle burns not, nor any Earth, unless it be Sulphurous, or Bituminous; so that we may certainly conclude that Bitumen and Brimstone and Oils are the material cause of the hot Baths: hence Baths are called Sacred, because they abound with Sulphur, with which the Ancients used to exprate their offences, whence the Grecians call it Theion, i. e., Divine; For whatsoever is anointed with Oil or Bitumen and Brimstone, it presently takes fire: For moist and fatty, by consent of the Philosophers, is the genuine food of Fire;  
As for the nature of our Baths in Somersetshire, Physicians are divided among themselves, some saying one thing and some another: Dr. Turner, who hath wrote concerning them, says they consist of Sulphur and Copper mixed together: Dr. Joràan and Dr. Venner, Practitioners at the Bath, will have them impregnated with Sulphur, Nitre, and Bitumen, Dr. Venner because he judges Sulphur to have the dominion; but Dr. Jordan is for Bitumen. Others will have them consist of neither; as Lossius, who in his counsel concerning these Baths, when he had given his opinion, that the material cause of Baths in general was Sulphur, Oil and Bitumen; tells you afterwards that the Baths in Somersetshire contain neither Brimstone, nor Bitumen; as having neither taste nor smell of either, and says if you distil them in a Glass Alembec, you will not find the least sign of either, but a certain substance like Salt, such as is found in Pipes, through which Water runs into Cysterns; and this he takes to he a kind of Nitre, wherewith that ground be says doth much abound; mixed with a portion of Vitriol: and the Learned Dr. Meara, in a Letter to Dr. Prujean, (before Lossius wrote) concerning the cause of the Heat in these Waters, tells him; as a certain person of Quality was riding out of the City one day to take the Air; he by chance espies a certain kind of Chalk, or Marie as white as Snow springing out of the Earth like Molehills, brings some of it home and shows it to him and Dr. Maplet; which he says, was of a crumbling nature, and almost turning to Powder of its own accord; affording a manifest sharp, sour taste without astriction; but biting; and begetting an inflammatory choking or stopping in the Throat; that he did not doubt, but that it abounded with much Vitriol, and that it was not altogether void of Arsnic: put into cold water, it presently produced an ebullition, as if it had been Quicks Lime, and the water by degrees grew vehemently hot; and since this Marl or Chalk was found in the neighbouring parts of Bath, he very probably was induced to believe that the Bath water grew hot from this Fire. And he says, though he is not ignorant that Authors every where ascribe the heat of the Bath waters to Brimstone and Bitumen; and though it cannot be denied but that there is great plenty of Bitumen in those Springs, and that they are abundantly impregnated therewith, as the Cure of Scabs, Leprosy, Ulcers, etc. may convince, yet he doubts whether either of them has the nature of a Ferment apt to heat the Waters; since both are destitute of Acidity, the chief promoter of Fermentation; neither can either of them, cast into water, produce Fermentation or Heat, and whenas they are of a clammy consistence, and especially the Bitumen, so that the Water cannot insinuate or penetrate itself into their particles, it must be concluded that they are unapt for such a Fermentation; whenas the contrary is seen in that crumbly, powdry and not gummy consistence of the Marl: and so concludes leaving it wholly to Dr. Prujean to be judge, in so obscure a case. And I likewise shall not trouble the Reader, with tedious Philosophical disputes upon this subject; being as I told thee at first, I intended a plain and practical, and not an hard, difficult contemplative discourse, and so shall pass on in the next Chapter to show you the use of these and other Waters, or as I may say, their Virtues and Vices. But something first of the preparing the Body.   

CHAP. IU. Of the manner of preparing the Body of such as intent to drink the Waters.  
BUt most Peoples intention of going to the Waters being as I suppose to cleanse their Bodies, and free them from Obstructions, Stone and Gravel, etc. and put their Bodies in good temper and order; I would advise them by all means to Prepare and Purge their Bodies before they take any of these Waters, either Tunbridge, Empsom, Dullege, or any other hereabouts, or at other places, as likewise at the Bath, etc. for if they go thither with gross, foul Bodies, and gorge themselves with the Waters before they have unloaden themselves, of their overfulness of Blood, or bad humours, they had better stay at home, than to make work for the Physician and damnify themselves in Body and Purse.  
Now if thou art troubled with too much blood, which thou mayst know by the fullness of the Veins, and heaviness and dulness of thy Body, thou hadst best take away some blood, to the quantity of 6, 9, 12, ounces according to the strength of thy body, age, sex, etc. or thou mayst do it at twice; then Purge with this or the like. Take from half an ounce to an ounce of the best Sena, and from a Scruple to a dram of Cream of Tartar, & infuse them all night in some White-wine or Ale Posset-drink strain it & drink it off early in the morning or thou mayst have Electuaries or Pills at the Apothecaries; if thou hadst rather; a Scruple of Stomach Pills taken at night going to bed, or after thy first sleep will work finely the next morning, made into three or four Pills, and you may go about your lawful occasions: or Lenitive Electuary, Catholicon, and Diaprunes of each two drams taken after the same manner, than you may venture to drink the Waters, any of these taken twice first.  
If thou be'st of a Choleric nature prepare thy body, by boiling some Sorrel, Borage, Bugloss, Chichory, Dandelion, Endive, Strawberry-leaves, Spinach, and such like in Fountain water or River water, with a little French, Barley and Liquorice, and strain it and drink thereof for a day or two; if thou wouldst have it pleasant, add some Syrup of Violets or Lemons, and then Purge with Sena and Cream or Crystal of Tartar the quantity as before, infused in some of the Liquor you prepared your body with, or the Electuary above, not Pills.  
If Melancholy abound, prepare thy body, by boiling Fumitory, Balm, Maidenhair, Dodder of Time, Ceterach, Hyssop, Scabious, Agrimony, some of these, or such like, as before with the Roots of Smallage, Fennel, Parsley, Polypody, Butchers-Broome, Enulacampane, Orice, and the like, and Syrup of Maidenhair, Apples, five opening Roots, or such like: then Purge with the Decoction of Epithymum, at the Apothecaries, or with Sena infused as before, or the Electuaries, not Pills.  
If Phlegm abound, Prepare thy body with Wormwood, Southernwood, Mugwort, Agrimony, Betony, Centaury, Calamint, Majoram, Motherwort, Penyroyal, Horehounà, Sage, Savory, and such like, in whose Decoction you may infuse Sena as before with Cream or Crystal of Tartar; and in lieu of the Electuaries use the Pills. Now for the manner of using the Waters.   

CHAP. V Of the time, manner and order of taking the Metallic and Mineral and Bath Waters, and other such like.  
AS for the Time then, that is twofold here; of the Year, and of the day: (prosint; Temporibus Medicina valet data tempore Et data non apto tempore vina nocent. for the Season of the Year, Summer is the best, when the weather is commonly settled, warm and dry, and so they are commonly ordered to be taken in the Dog days; Cum canis arentes findit hiulcus agros. but there are other times in Summer certainly as fit as that (for the Dog-days keep not always to one temper) as June and beginning of July, and after the Dog-days, many years are seasonable, as the Season falls out; and in general when the weather is clear, hot and dry, the Water is best; as well in Winter as in Summer; nay the Water is the stronger in hard, frosty weather; the cold hindering the Spirits from evaporating; for in Rainy or Misty weather, when Jupiter doth, per cribrum mingere, piss through a Sieve, as Aristophanes merrily speaks, the Waters must certainly lose much of their Virtue.  
Then as to the time of the day, the Morning about an hour after Sunrising is the fittest; for when the Sun gins to get power, it certainly attracts some of the Spirits of the Waters, and so consequently not so strong; and then is the best walking.  
Now as to the manner and order; 'tis best taking the quantity you are to take that day, within as small a space of time, as conveniently you can, without oppressing the Stomach; than you shall take a gentle walk before you Drink, so as to warm your blood a little, not to sweat or be ready to sweat, and so between every Glass.  
Next as to the Quantity of Water to be taken every Morning, it cannot be justly defined or prescribed; in regard of the difference of bodies as to their Age, Sex, Strength, and other circumstances; in which you are wholly to be ordered by your Physician; for though the drinking of the Waters be a Quacksalving, Empyrical Remedy, yet it ought not so to be used or administered; and every one ought to remember, that the best direction is from those things that help and hurt: some may begin the first Morning with three pints, or two quarts, or five pints, and so augment a pint, till they come to four Quarts, more or less as they find agree with their body and so decrease a pint by degrees. 'Tis not good to drink like some, Invenies illic qui Nestoris ebibit annos. three hundred ounces, according to Nestor's years: Some between every glass eat a few Carraway, or Corriander Seed Comfeits, or Candid Elecampane, or Angelica, or Orange, Lemon, or Citron pills, etc. And certainly 'tis very necessary that they should have some Electuary, Powder or Lozenge, or such like, (appropriated to the grief for which they take the Waters) appointed them by their Physician.  
Having drank your daily quantity of Water, you will do well to walk, or stir up and down, and compose yourself to Mirth with some of the Company; for all cares and contrary passions of the Mind and Melancholy must be left behind: this done, in the Name of God go to your Dinner; if you perceive the Waters to be concocted and passed through. Now the sign of their concoction is, that your Urine gins to be coloured; which if you perceive not you may abstain awhile longer. If you drink the Water cold, take not any more after the first draught till that be warmed in your Stomach, and no heaviness be perceived.  
Now the Waters taken in so great a a quantity will force themselves a way either by Siege or Urine, yet some add opening Syrups as of Maidenhair, etc. or of Lemons, or loosening ones; or Salt, or Manna, and Purging Powders; 'tis better to drink them at the Fountains, than some miles off; Then as for the time of staying to drink the Waters, if you ask me how long it must be? Truly I must answer it cannot be exactly defined or ordered; some stay longer, some shorter time, some a fortnight, etc. some a month, some more.   

CHAP. VI Of the Diet to be observed by those that drink the Metallic and Mineral Waters, and for all other persons whatsoever.  
BY Diet here I do not mean only Meat and Drink, as it is commonly so taken by the vulgar; for with Physicians it hath a larger acceptation; as comprehending, Air, Motion, and Rest, things retained and avoided, Sleeping and Waking, and the Passions of the Mind: all these are to be duly and rightly ordered and observed, as most considerably conducing both to the preserving and restoring of health.  
To begin then with the Air; now wherever you drink the Waters you must take the Air as it is, and be contented with it; otherwise if you will choose for the best, you are to consider two things chief, its substance and its quality: its substance must be conspicuous, pure and not corrupted, not putrified. A serene, pure, perspicuous and tempered Air, that exhilarates the heart, illustrates the Spirits, and makes the blood apt to be distributed through the whole Body; so that there is nothing almost more healthful for the Body of man than to live in such an Air.  
Next the Quality of the Air, that's from the Sun and Moon, etc. in the Spring, especially in the midst of its extremes, the Air is hot and moist; ●n Summer, hot and dry; in Autumn, cold and dry; and in Winter, cold and moist; and the same may almost be said of the several parts of the day; for the Morning answers to the Spring etc.  
The Moon changes the Air with its quarters; for the first quarter is like the Spring; the second Summer; the third Autumn, and the last quarter like Winter.  
What is said concerning Air, I hope will not displease; for Air is of great concern in most diseases; thousands have been freed from deplorable diseases by change of Air only; yet change of Air may do harm, as if one goes out of a good Air into a bad one.  
Next is Meat and Drink, whose substance affords good or bad juice; is of good or bad Concoction, little or much nourishment: to preserve or recover health, Meat of good juice is very necessary; for Diseases are produced from Meats of bad juice: light food and Spices beget thin Blood, which weakens and exhausts the substance of the Spirits; gross begets clammy blood, oppresses our natural heat and begets fullness, and bad humours.  
For Quality hot, cold, moist, dry meats, do affect us with their qualities; the quality of Food when in health must be correspondent to the temper and age of the body; the Region and time of the Year; but in sickness contrary, to reduce it.  
For Quantity, we ought never to eat more than nature requires; fullness is the Parent of all bad humours; and fasting or a spae Diet wastes the humours and innate heat: and all manner of Diet is either thin or sparing, or gross, or a mean; the first diminishes our faculties, the second augments, the last preserves them.  
Custom is to be kept, for 'tis a second nature. For Rusties' who are used to gross meat, as strong Beef and Bacon; better concoct it than tenderer meats, which are rather apt to corrupt in their Stomach: therefore things we are accustomed to, though worse, are better than what we are not.  
A regard should be had to the Order of Diet; so that Meats that are easy, are to be eaten before those of hard Concoction, so moist Meats are to be taken before dry.  
Meats are not to be taken out of Time; those in health are to eat after exercise, and when their former meat is concocted; and generally at an accustomed hour: to stay longer fills the Stomach with sharp, bad humours, and to eat before creates crudities. Neither neglect the Time of the Year, in Winter 'tis best to eat more and drink less; let your meat and drink be hot and drying; as Roast-meat, and stronger dring; in the Spring eat less, but drink more and smaller drinks; and eat Boiled meats rather than Roast; and hotter than in Summer: in Summer eat little and often; in Winter otherwise: let the sickly feed sparingly, for cold dulls weak Stomaches: the same is to be said of the Region and Age; for we must eat more sparingly in an hot, then in a cold Country; so Young men require more Meat than Old; so children's Diet must be moist, lest their growth be hindered by a dry one: to Boys hot and dry, a cold Diet will be best; Boiled meat rather than Roast, much drink, but not strong; Young men from 14 to 25 of a temperate Constitution, require a temperate Diet.  
But here comes a question, How oft we are to eat in a day? which I think in general cannot be decided, because of so numerous variety of tempers; for Phlegmatic people, who are best able to fast, once a day may be enough; the Coleric, who easily is hurt by fasting, he may eat oftener but little; they may Breakfast, Dine and Sup, but soberly: let the Sanguine keep a mean in all things: let the Melancholic may take something thrice a day, whereby they may moisten their dryness. Most certain our forefathers were far more sparing than us; and so prolonged their lives, and were active, strong, beautiful, tall: But yet we must not believe they fed only on Acorns, as Poetical Fables relate: but all manner of Fruits, Pulles and flesh: for Holy Writ tells us, after our first Parents were cast out of Paradise, they tilled the Earth, and sacrificed Victims, whose flesh and entrails they probably fed upon. And 'tis most certain that Intemperance is the Nurse of Physicians; and that more perish by Gluttovy than the Sword. Our Ancestors says Galen more rarely were sick, because they lived more temperately. Hypocrates, says, Women, and Eunuches were not troubled with the Gout; but neither are free from it now; because of their Gluttony. Wherefore 'tis best to observe that Golden precept of Socrates, we ought to eat to live, and not to live to eat.  
Again, At which repast is most to be eaten, Dinner or Supper? This question hath been formerly so much contended for, that some of the Italian Physicians have written whole books, thereon. I am of opinion that it is more healthful to sup sparingly. First because of the frequent experience of almost an infinite of men, who have received the greatest benefits from a light Supper; the Stomach is least burdened, and so sleep must be more pleasant; Secondly, the matter is prevented, whereby they are obnoxous to Defluxions, Rheumatisms, Gouts, Dropsies, Vertigoes, etc. that eat large Suppers. Thirdly, from a sparing Supper follows more alacrity the next day; and concoction is better perfected, and so grievous obstructions are prevented, with many more diseases.  
Another question may be, Whether Meals are to begun with Meat or Drink? Liquids or Solids? And here I am of opinion that we should begin with Liquids'; because they are soon concocted; and then the concoction of Meat in the Stomach is performed after the manner that crude Flesh is in the pot; whece, the Prince of Philosophers, Aristotle, compares this first coction to the boiling of Meat in the Pot; but we first put water into the Pot, than flesh: which is to be understood of Broths and such liquid things, not Wine, or strong Ale or Beer, for they offend the Nervous parts of our bodies, and so cause Gouts and Scurvy humours; and fluctuations in the Stomach, whence is all coction disturbed: (for this it was that Galen would have meat precede;) drink Broths first than some solid substance, then to drink, that all may be equally mixed in the Stomach, remembering what Schola Salerni, says, Inter prandendum sit saepe parumque bibendum. But not to eat any crude Fruit after Meals, as 'tis too common, but either boiled, roasted, baked or preserved may be moderately taken.  
As for Drink, that appeases Thirst, and is the Vehicle of Food, if it be purely drink, as Water; it may be liberally drank, if the bodies be strong and firm; but if weak, sparingly, and the oftener. We here in England drink small Beer generally, and the poor fort i'th' Country drink Whey and Buttermilk, etc. of which hereafter.  
Thus far of Diet in General; now in particular, the first thing that occurs s Bread, the best is made of Wheat, leven'd better then unleavened. Now as there are several sorts of Wheat; so the Bread is of different nature whereof it is made; that which is made of the pure meal is best; the next is that with Meal and Bran; that made of all Bran is for Dogs; always remember to put a convenient quantity of Salt into your Bread, against obstructions.  
Bread made of Rye nourishes less, and is not so easily concocted; but mixed with Wheat 'tis better, and affords a moderate nourishment. Barley bread, nourishes least of all; yet it dries and cleanses, and is the same with Oats, by all which you may easily conjecture at the nature of Miscelane. The old Proverb is, An Egg of an hour, bread of a day, and Wine of a year. The Crumb affords the best juice, and is of easier concoction than the Cursed, which is drier, and Schola Salerni says, Ne c medes crustam coleram quia gignit adustam, then cut away the  Crust: yet the Crust is not so much to be disapproved as some suppose; for its a very convenient Food for those of a strong Stomach.  
Hither are to be referred all kind of sweetbreads, which in general are but bad Food, except Biscockt; for none of them are without their fault; among which are also Puddings, Pasties, Pancakes, Cheesecakes, Custards, and many such like, Quelquechose, honeyed, sugared, milkyed, egged: all baked Meats are hurtful to the Stomach and Liver, seeing they most manifestly heat, obstruct and offend the inward parts.  
The next are Fruits; of which this may be affirmed in general, that they moisten and cool much; nourish little, yet some more, some less. All Fruits almost are endued with some bad qualities, and beget winds and serous, thin humours, and are very hurtful to distempers proceeding from obstruction, and putrid Fevers: of Fruits that will not keep long, and are soon rotten, the moister are to be chosen, and eaten in the first course; such are Prunes, Cherries, Grapes, but the more solid and such as bind more, and will not be rotten so soon, are to be eaten at the second course; among which are Quinces, Pears, Apples, Nuts, etc.  
It is a most certain rule, that all Fruits that may be boiled, baked, or roasted, beget bad juice, if eaten crude.  
As for Melons, Corcumbers, Pompions, they may in some measure conduce to hot Stomaches and Choleric persons, for they refresh and moisten much; but they beget thick, cold juice, and of hard concoction; Historians make mention of persons of great renown that died by eating Melons: and Pears, Quinces, Medlars, Services, etc. ought not to be eaten by healthful people, but after meals; and then but in small quantity, to strengthen the Stomach; Filbirds may be allowed, as being of a temperate nature; Chestnuts beget thick Blood, Wind, and not easily concocted.  
No Pulses are much to be commended; for Beans green are windy, disturb the senses, cause Dreams, and are of a a thick juice, hard of concoction and not much nourishing; Primrose says, they beget serous blood; etc. but dried they refrigrate, dry, and deterge also, applied in Poultices: Pease are of the same nature. Rice and Frenchbarly are the most excellent of all Pulses, because they nourish most, and breed sewest Excrements: both moderately strengthen the Stomach, and are not of bad concoction: Ciches or Vitches, nourish more than Pease, and discharge the reins, by their Diuretic faculty, and therefore are thought to be profitable to those that are obnoxious to the Stone in the Kidneys: But it is best to use them sparingly, nor without the Physician's advice; for by the undiscreet using of them, neither few nor light symptoms may ensue; as also from the untimely use of any other Diuretics.  
Herbs come next to be handled; In general all Herbs nourish little and are rather endued with altering qualities; for they heat, cool, dry, and moisten what way soever used. Galen extols lettuce above all herbs; as endued with nourishing juice, but very cooling; and causing sleepiness: Next in coolness are Sorrel, Cichory, Porcelan, etc. which may be profitably used daily; Among hot Herbs are Sage, Thyme, Savory, Penyroal, Majoram, Rosemary.  
Lastly, Roots are by all esteemed windy Food, some nourish more than others.  
Now the Food we receive from Animals may be reduced to Flesh and Eggs in general: and Flesh to Fish, Birds, or four footed Beasts. Of Fish those that live about the Rocks, etc. are most commended; Sea-fish are better than River-Fish; standing Pools worst. All Fresh-fish beget Phlegm; are easily corrupted; dried and salt are of hard digestion, and burn the blood. The best are Trout, Pike, Sole, Roach, Carp, Turbot; then Mackrel Perch, Skait, Eeles: for Tench, Crab fish, Lobsters, are of difficult coction; so last in goodness; Salmon is to be eaten with moderation. Fish, boiled less good, fried better, roasted best because driest. In general the Male better than the Female, young (but not the very least) better then old; notwithstanding the old Proverb, Young Flesh, and old Fish.  
As for Birds, etc. young better then old, those that feed upon Mountains and high grounds, are of easier digestion than others; Tame have tenderer and moist Flesh; willed harder and drier: those that are castrated are of a more pleasant taste than others: Birds nourish less, though sooner concocted than four footed Beasts. The best are Patriges and Mountain Birds, Cardan a a Physician so highly extols Patriges, if you'll believe him, that of themselves he says they are able to cure the Pox, which he found by experience upon his own body, having, as he ingeniously confesses of himself, being infected therewith no less than seven times; next Woodcocks, Blackbirds, Doves, Pheasants, than Chickens, Pullet's and Capons.  
For  Animals, Fauns, Lambs, Pig, Wether, Veal, are best for taste and nourishment; Porks-flesh nourishes very much, but requires a stronger Stomach; Galen prefers it before all; Beef is grosser, and so begets more Melancholic juice than Mutton. Now there are several sorts of ways of Cooking this Flesh; roasting, boiling, frying, baking, etc. for dry bodies boiled is best, for moist others; Broths are of easy nourishment being soon distributed.  
To this belongs Sauces and such things as are used in preserving of Food. As first Honey; hot and sharp; Sugar comes nighest to it not so hot; more pleasant and familiar to the Stomach. Salt is hot and dry; and so are all Spices. Mustardseed is most hot and dry; Oil is temperate: Vinegar's temper is not decided; as Vinegar 'tis cold; as made of Corrupt Wine, it retains somewhat of heat, but 'tis more cold than hot; it dries, provoks an Appetite, and strengthens the Stomach.  
Hens, Pheasants, Patriges, Turkys-Eggs are the best, Duck and Goose the worst: besides Eggs, we have Milk, Butter, Cheese, Blood from fourfooted Beasts.  
Milk is of a divers temper, according to the Animal 'tis milked from. It consists of a threefold substance, waterish, whence Whey; thick whence Cheese; fatty and oily, whence Butter, Cow's Milk hath most Butter, so it nourishes most, and cools less. Sheep's more Cheese so worse; Asses most Whey, so fittest to cool and moisten; Goats of a middle temper, Butter heats somewhat, nourishes little, losens and and softens: Cheese of thick bad juice so stopping, an Enemy to those subject to the Stone i'th' Kidneys: so the Proverb is very true.  

Caseus ille bonus quem dat avara manus.  
All Blood is of hard coction and nourishes little, Beef-blood the worst. Thus far concerning Meat, next follows.  
Drink, was nothing but Water in the beginning of the World; if it be coloured or smell, or taste, not good; lightest the best; for weak Stomaches it may be boiled: and because few drink water alone, Barley may be boiled therein and so made Beer and Ale; stronger or smaller; some add Wheat, Oats and Beans; certainly 'tis the most healthful drink, if people would accustom themselves to it; for so they would free themselves from a a world of Diseases got by immoderate drinking Wine or strong Beer, etc. as Tremble, Palsy, Lethargy, Apoplexy, Verligo, Pains i'th' Head, Eyes, Gout, Stone, Dropsy, Rheumatisms, Piles, etc. for it strengthens the Stomach, causes an Appetite; the Egyptian and Israelitish Priests and Kings drank nothing but Water; Aristotle and Plato order Nurses, Children, Students to drink Water. Demosthenes' left Wine when he came to the Bar and Pulpit; Water preserves and quickens the sight. Alexander Aphrodiseus says in his Problems, it makes all the Senses more lively, cools the Liver, opens the passages, cleanses the Reins and Bladder. Fountain and River Water are the best.  
Sleeping and Waking aught to be moderated with Prudence: Sleep concocts Meat and Humours, corrects distempers of the Mind; moistens; Labour for the Flesh and Joints, Sleep for the entrails; Night's the best, three hours from Supper, Day sleep hurts, unless none by Night, or weary; for it makes a moist Brain, and breeds sour Belchings, etc. exceed not eight hours; lie first on the right side, than the left, nor on the Back or Face; Watchings also to be moderate; for immoderate produces contrary effects.  
Motion comprehends all exercise, whereof are several sorts, Tennis, etc. for the whole Body; riding for the Intestines, walking for the Thighs, and Reading and Singing for the Lungs, etc. it strengthens, distributes, Meat: Morning and Evening; exercise till the Body be florid, and begin to sweat; the same moderation in Rest.  
As for things to be retained and voided, they help health, if those be evacuated that aught, & contra: things to be voided if they are retained hurt, as voiding of Urine, Ejections, Spittle, Hemorhair, Courses, Seed, etc. if suppressed oppress and putrify. So if things be voided that aught to be retained, or voided in too great quantity.  
As for the Passions of the Mind, they must not be violent; so of what before as Meat, sleep, etc. all must be moderate; and thus much for diet which if minded, there would not be any need of taking such uncertain remedies as Mineral Waters; which have certainly been the utter ruin of many thousands.  
As for the many symptoms following the irregular and unadvised drinking the Waters, as suppression of Urine, Dropsies, etc. too long here to name, they are to be remedied by the Learned Physician.    
FINIS.