A Discourse upon Prodigious ABSTINENCE: OCCASIONED By the Twelve Months FASTING OF MARTHA TAYLOR, The Famed Derbyshire damosel: Proving That without any Miracle, the Texture of Humane Bodies may be so altered, that Life may be long Continued without the supplies of MEAT & DRINK.  
With an Account of the Heart, and how far it is interessed in the Business of Fermentation.  
By john Reynolds.  
Humbly offered to the Royal Society.  
London, Printed, by R. W. for Nevil Simmons, at the Sign of the three Crowns near Holborn-Conduit: and for Dorman Newman, at the Surgeons Arms in Little Britain. 1669.   

To the deservedly Famous, and my Honoured Friend, Walter Needham, Doctor of Physic, as also a Member of, and Curator Elect to the Royal Society.  
SIR,  
IT were a Solaecism of the first magnitude to entertain you with any thing like a Narrative of the Superennial Fast, under all the Havooks and depraedations whereof the Derbyshire damosel hath hitherto been sustained, though emaciated thereby into the ghastliness of a Skeleton, to the great astonishment of the Vulgus. Your correspondencies are so faithful, and your Circumstances so advantageous, as wholly to supersede the necessity of my engaging in, and the possibility of my gratifying you, by such a Province. However, indulge me, while bemoaning myself, the liberty to tell you, that concerning the Phaenomena's attending this prodigious Abstinence, my own thoughts have been so miserably raveled, and my scanty intellectuals so much overmatcht thereby, that I could not with any Complacency look into those, nor with any delight consult these. A just reverence to Reformed Theologues, asserting a total Cessation of Miracles, forbade me to immure myself in any such supernatural Asylum: and a praejudicate opinion of humane bodies in this Animal State, allowed me not to Eurefuge my fluctuating mind in Physical Causes clubbing together, by an Anomalous Copulation, to engender so great an Heteroclite. While thus lost in the Chaos of confused apprehensions, and smarting under the Hirricano of my own tumultuary thoughts, I hurry away to a very Worthy and Compassionate Friend, who with a little deliberation runs through the Diagnosticks of my Malady, pitieth my case, and after some sharp Conflicts, with his own Modesty, affords the Relief of a Philosophical Elixir (for so I call the ensuing Discourse) wholly transferring the right, which he had in the happy results of his own contemplations, upon me. Now (Sir!) what by much importunity I extorted from him, for my own private satisfaction, I make bold to tender the world a view of, under the Countenance and Protection of your great Name, which is not only able to secure it from the Critical Pharaphrases of an Envious Age, but also to command it the justice of an unpraejudicate perusal with such as know your worth. To my own grief, I have found it much an Anodyne; or as a pleasant Lullaby to my whimpering fancy; the issue of all hath been rest: not knowing, but it may minister the like seasonable relief to others, who have not Wit and Philosophy enough to start any greater Objections, than myself; I judged it worthy to travail the World. The confidence wherein I seek to entitle you to the Patrociny of it, is no less than an assurance of your benign Nature, singular Ingenuity, and obliging goodness, which have begotten and pupiled in me, that persuasion, ever since I had the happiness and honour to know you. Besides your clearer Intellectuals, and your vast acquaintance with Natures Recondite Mysteries, made it wholly incongruous to adopt any other the object of this Dedication. I do still remember with the deepest resentments of a grateful heart, the happy distinction betwixt parts Spermatique and parts Haematique, wherewith in pity you relieved me, when anxiously enquiring, upon a Religious account, after the principuum individuationis in humane bodies: a Notion (as to me it seems) more able to rescue the Grand Article of our Creed concerning the Resurrection of the same individual Body from under suspicion, and the many gross▪ absurdities, that some Phylosophasters, and half-witted Atheists, would ●ain clog it with, than any offerture of Humane Reason, that I ever yet had the happiness to meet with! Here (methinks I could break forth into an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, and congratulate my great, though late felicity, that the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉) as Origen, in one sense or other calls it) the Principle maintaining a Numerical Identity in Humane Bodies, through the whole series of Vicissitudes, Changes, and Sanctorian Transmutations; betwixt the Vterine Formation, and the ultimate Reunition of soul and body, should, after many a tedious search, and frustraneous disquisition, at last be suggested by an hand able, in the maintenance of it, to grapple with any Contradictor. In this you have satisfied not only my reason, but my curiosity too; and therefore (Sir,) so great is my opinion of your skill (absit omnis adulationis suspicio!) that whatever Dogma steps abroad with your name written upon it, I could almost surrender up myself as a perfect Captive to it (were I not a Man, and which is more, a Protestant) upon an implicit faith! But I have, I know not well how, digressed, and stepped aside into things heterogeneous to the purport of this Dedicatory Address. I therefore return to my ingenious friends Discourse, upon which, were my judgement in these matters worth any thing, I could afford to be liberal in the bestowance of my Encomium's. But as 'tis shrouded under your Patronage, so 'tis submitted to your Censure: (this I am bold to do, knowing the Author, so much an Admirer of you, that he cannot reluctate) whether more worthy your pity or your approbation, none can better judge, than your discerning and deserving self. Therefore such as it is, I leave it to your Mercy; and beg leave to tell you, that I should presently fall out with myself, did I not, upon a faithful Scrutiny, find myself in the number of those that really love and honour you.  
Farewell.   

Worthy Sir,  
YOUR requests to take into consideration the so much famed prodigious Twelve Month's Abstinence of the Derbyshire Maid, having the force of commands, have produced these lean results of the imposed Meditations. It cannot be unknown to a Person of your large endowments and hot pursuit after substantial Science, that both Divines, medics, Historians, yea, Poets and Legenders have presented the Learned World with a great variety of wonderful Ab●tinents, some whereof I shall briefly recite, as well to reserve your sliding time for more Noble Employments, as to manifest that our contemporary Derb●●se, is not so singular as some may imagine.  
Most certain it is, that the 
a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Acts 7. 22.  Learned Moses 
b Exod. 34. 28.  fasted 40. days, and as many nights whilst he abode on the Burning Mount; the great 
c 1 King. 19 8.  El●jah, went as long in the 〈◊〉 of a meal, and no less was the Fast of the 
d Matth. 4. 2.  holy Jesus 
e August. in Epist. 86. ad 〈◊〉.  Sword● Austin reports, that in his time one survived 40. days fasting: but most strange is the Story fathered on 
f 〈◊〉 l. 14. c. 45.  Nicephorus of three Brethren affrighted by persecution into a Cave, where they slept 373. years, as was known by the Coin they produced when they awaked. The Learned 
g 〈◊〉 l. 6. 〈◊〉 c. 1.  Fernelius saith, he saw a pregnant Woman that lived two months without meat or drink. 
h 〈…〉 p. 〈◊〉. hist. p. 914.  Zacutus Lusitanus reports, that at Venice there lived a man that fasted 40. days, another there 46. days; and from Langius and Forstius (two considerable Writers) another full three years, and that with just stature, good habit, free countenance, and youthful▪ wit. The famous 
i Sennert. pract. l. 3. par. 1. S●cl. 2. c. 2. de lo●â abstin. p. 383.  Sennertus is copious in such stories; he relates from Sigismundus and Citesius (a person he saith worthy of credit) that the people of Lucomoria inhabiting some Mountains in Moscovy do every year die in a sort, or rather sleep or freeze (like Frogs or Swallows) on Novemb. 27. and so continue in that rigid state till April 24. in which time they use no evacuation, save only that a tenuious humour distilling from their nostrils is presently condensed by the ambient cold, much like to Icicles, by the which those patent Pores are precluded, and the most endangered. Brain fortified against the fatal assaults of brumal extremities. The same Sennertus rehearses a Story of a Virgin at Milan (from Viguntia Professor there) who anno 1598. was afflicted with a Fever, than a Tumour, than Arthritick pains, and pains in the Ventricle, and whole abdomen, then with vomiting and nauseating of food, till at last she could take no food for two months, then after another fit of vomiting, purging and bleeding, she fasted eight months, and after a little use of food▪ she fasted two months more. And to be short, he stories it of three persons that fasted each two years, one three years, another four, one seven, another fifteen, another eighteen, and one twenty, yea one twenty nine, another thirty, another thirty six, and one forty years. Famous is the story (perhaps fiction being Poetical) of 
k 〈…〉 ubi supra. Plutarch. in Symp● & l. de 〈◊〉 in orb: 〈◊〉  Epimenides (whose words St. Paul is thought to cite in his Epistle to Titus, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉) whom some report to have slept 17 years, some 77 years together; but enough of story, those that are desirous to read more, are referred to Marcellus Donat. l. 4. de med. hist. mirab. c. 12. Schenk. l. 4. observ. Guaguinus, l. 3. hist. Franc. Petrarch. l. 3. de mirabil. c. 22. Portius de hist. puellae German. Uspergensis in Chron. Lentulus in hist. admire. Apol. Baccius l. de vini nutritione. Bozius' l. 11. c. 4. de signis eccls Fulgosius, l. 1. c. 6. Lessaeus, l. 9 hist. Scot Favorinus apud Gellium, l. 16. c. 3. and especially L●cetus that wrote a particular Tract to solve the Phoenomena of this Prodigy.  
Now Sir, it would be our ambition to advance towards the same noble work, were it not our duty to serve those awhile that blot all these stories with one dash of unbelief: that pen certainly drops blasphemy that dares to raze the sacred Records; and that uncharitableness which presumes to write falsehood upon all humane testimonies, they that assent to nothing not confirmed by Autopsia are unfit to converse in humane Societies; for how can I expect that any body should believe me, whilst I myself will believe no body? 'tis an argument of an empty brain to presume to comprehend all things, and thereupon to reject those things from an existence in the world, that have not their science in its intellectuals. Many things foreign and strange may well be admitted on good testimonies, sith, the most obvious objects are scarce pervious to the most eagle-eyed Philosopher; witness the mistakes discovered by D. Cartes, Gassendus, &c in Aristotle himself, one of the most sublimated wits in all the Republic of Natural philosophy; and likewise the spots in Hypocrates and Galen, those mirrors in medicine, modestly pointed at by our famous Harvey, Glisson, Willis, etc. but further to satisfy these incredulous persons, 'tis affirmed that some of these Abstinents have been 
l 〈…〉  watched by the most wakeful eyes and jealous ears, to detect their fraud, if guilty of any; as was that Maid that refused all food except only water, for three years, by Bucoldian●us, with whom she abode for twelve days, at the command of Ferdinand the Emperor, so that Apollonia Schrejerana was taken by the Senate of Bern, and put into the Hospital of their Town, and there watched till they were satisfied in the truth of her total abstinence.  
But enough to these that cut the knot to save the labour of untying it; yet I may not step aside to those in the contrary extreme, that believe a century of such reports with a faith almost as miraculous as these miracles themselves, for so they seem to them: but Sir, as 'tis humane infidelity to disbelieve all such reports, because some are false, so 'tis superstitious charity to believe all because some are true. Some persons as scant in their reading, as they are in their travels, are ready to deem every thing strange to be a monster, and every monster a miracle; true it is, the fast of Moses, Elijah, and the Incarnate Word, was miraculous, and possibly of some others; yet why we should make all miracles, I understand not; for what need have we now of miracles? Sith such supernatural operations 
m 1 Cor. 14. 22.  are for them that believe not, not for them that believe, as witnesseth that 
n 2 Cor. 12. 3.  celestial Philosopher St. Paul; and thence we infer, Being's are not to be multiplied without necessity. Moreover, to what end are such miracles wrought? certainly, the infinitely wise Operator labours not for nought, therefore these Abstinents, if miraculous, should confirm some Doctrine rejected, or refute some Error received, enfranchise some Saints oppressed, subvert some Wickedness exalted, foretell some extraordinary events and issues of Providence to be performed, or for some other end, at which miracles have been usually levelled; but not a Gry of these from most of our Abstinents; moreover, the fast of our Blessed Saviour and his Prodromi procured not the least detriment to their health, but 'tis otherwise with most of these.  
Near of kin to these Miracle mongers are those that suppose these pretended Fasters to be invisibly fed by Angels; but 'tis incredible that such a favour should be shown to persons of no known sanctity, as some of these (reported to be Ethnics) were; moreover, either this food was visible, or invisible; if visible, 'tis strange, that vigilant observers, and jealous suspecters, could neither discover the ingress at the fore-door, nor the excrementitious egress at the backdoor; but if 'twere invisible, then altogether incongruous to our bodies, and therefore miraculous; of which before. Neither is it of easy credibility, that food should be supplied by Doemons possessing them; for we read of no footsteps of such a possession i'th● story, and 'twould be strange if the Devil should grow so modest as to content himself with a single Trophy of a captivated rational; and as strange, that a cloven foot should make such inroads and not leave a doubled yea redoubled impression. Cousin-germanes to these are the presumers that the Fasters are dead, and acted by Daemons; but this notion is also incongruous not only to their transmigration, from feeding to fasting without any show of a dissolution, but also to their regress from fasting to feeding, (as it happened to some of these) and health again.  
And as for the admirers of occult Philosophy who resolve these phrases into the effects of occult qualities, we only repose, that though an antipathy to this or that food, and possibly to all food, may cause abstinence, yet without food I cannot understand how it gives sustenance; but others attribute all this to the influence of celestial bodies, whose operations I deny not to be great on sublunary wights, yet 'tis not imaginable that this universal cause diffusing its energy so promiscuously, should now and then in a Century, here and there in a Country produce such stupendious effects, without some universal preparation and predisposition of Bodies to determine its general efficiency to the production of such a Prodigy; but as the former affect darkness, and these an invisible light, we leave them to their retirements, whilst we hunt the more perceptible prints of nature's progress in these anomalous productions.  
By this time, Sir, I hope you'll grant that the old inconvenient and tottering building is in a measure demolished, the rubbish removed, and the ground cleared; let us now propound the necessities and conveniencies, the ends and uses by our new building to be supplied and attained, and then we'll fall to the architecture itself; I mean, let us consider, what the defect of aliment doth require for the support of humane life. 1. The Natural Evacuations by Urine, Stool, Salivation, Terms, and Transpiration, are so lavish, that without reparation by feeding it seems impossible to avoid a sudden dissolution. 2dly, How shall natural heat be preserved from extinction without a constant feeding on the radical moisture? and how shall this Oleaginous humour be secured from a nimble consumption, if it receive not additions from frequent feeding? 3ly, How shall Fermentation be continued in the blood without new additions of Chyle? and how shall Chyle be added, if no food received? 4ly, How shall there be a supply of vital spirits, and consequently of animal, without food and fermentation? 5ly, How can life consist without sleep? and how shall we attain sleep without ascending fumes to the brain from ingested food?  
For a foundation I shall premise a few severals; 1. The long finger of powerful Providence is undoubtedly to be observed in the production of these wonderful effects; though these be not advanced to the Zenith of divine Miracles, wrought by the immediate hand of Omnipotency, yet the first cause must be acknowledged in the proportioning, marshalling, dividing, uniting and actuating of concurrent subordinate second causes for such Heteroclite productions; Plato himself could say, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, and the admirable D. Willis acknowledges, that Nature's Parent order natural 
o Si hujusmodi limitatiosis causa inquiratu●, di●imus, quod naturae pa●ers posset i● primoge to cujusque r●i s●mi●e ta lem spi●itus salis & s●lp●●ris copiam quae pro●●● eadis ●●times corporum stam●●ibus, se●●●camenti s●ssi●●ret. wiles de ferment. p. 48. 49  Principles as to their quantity and mixture, and consequently as to their operations.  
2. 'Tis very evident that when higher causes shall disjoin what Nature usually conjoineth, and vice versâ, and exalt one Principle and depress another, then very astonishing results appear upon the stage of humane bodies; such is the stupendious voracity of some Helluo's, the monstrous digestion of your Lithophagis, the strange metamorphosis of your sanguineans into midnight melancholy, and of lucid intellectuals into piceous mopishness, etc.  
1. Now to supply the defect of food in its most useful restauration of what by daily Evacuations the body is deprived of; as I need not compute the vast expense of the Microcosm by stool, urine, spitting and terms, these being vulgarly known, so neither of the transcendent loss by transpiration, reckoned by 
p Sanctor. de staticá medici●a.  Sanctorius to preponderate all the rest; all which exact constant additions to be made by aliment, without which the body would quickly be depopulated. But 1. let it be considered, that this person (as 'tis most credibly reported) emptyes nothing by urine or stool; and 'tis probable next to nothing by salivation or transpiration, not by salivation through a considerable defect of drinks; nor by transpiration, because wanting food there's a partial defect of fermentation in the blood, and thence of natural heat, and so by the coldness of the parts the pores are precluded, and the diaphoresis impeded; whence it will follow, that where the parts are duly warm, and the pores patent, there the more active principles are apt to take flight, yet where the parts are cold, and the pores corked up, there 'tis otherwise; as generous Wines and subtle spirits left in open Vessels, will quickly bid adieu to their more volatile and brisk Principles; yet if shut up in safe Vessels, these Fugitives are imprisoned and kept to their daily offices: the same is verified ina queous humours, which (our Kitchens as well as Laboratories' experiment) quickly evaporate through intense subjacent heats, but not without, and so 'tis here. Thus these plentiful evacuations being suppressed, restauration by food is rendered less necessary. Yet lest you should dread from this hypothesis a suffocating mass of excrementitious humours to assault the heart, etc. I therefore subjoin, that a defect of nutritious assumptions must needs precede a defect of humours: moreover, the blood commands much of these remaining humours for its own chariot-use; neither may it seem dissonant to reason that the ventricle and some of the intestines are used as a receptacle of the more tartarous and terrestrial faeculencies; as Embryo's though they receive large quantities of liquid nutriment, yet there's seldom observed the least excretion by the fundament, but a retention of a quantity of excrementitious terrestreities in the intestines during their whole abode in their maternal cells; likewise in fermenting liquours the more active principles do precipitate the more sluggish to the bottoms, chinks and walls of their continents; further it cannot be denied, that by expiration there is a considerable evacuation, as appears both by the heat of our breath, and its moisture, which is discovered by the reception of it into any concavous Body. But 2. admit that there is some waste either by salivation or transpiration, yet these being small, produce only a lingering consumption, which doth often consist for many years with a declining life: such as our Virgins is.  
2. How shall natural heat be preserved, if not fed by Oil, continually supplied and renewed by aliment? There are Sir, divers opininos touching humane ignicles, and therefore it highly concerns us to proceed cautiously; it cannot be denied that there is a potential heat more or less in all humane bodies, which is the calor mixti, remaining when we are dead and key-cold; such as is the heat of Sulphur, Arsenic, etc. (though in a great allay) this appears from chemical operations on man's blood, by which 'tis forced to acknowledge its endowments with spirits and volatile Salts in great quantities, and some Sulphur also. Likewise it must be granted, that there is an actual heat abiding in us whilst we live, and somewhile after death; this is obvious to the sense of feeling itself: this is the heat (as I conceive) joined with the primogenite humour to which Aristotle ascribes life itself. But yet Sir, I am somewhat doubtful, whether this heat be properly called calor vivens, though the great 
q River. instit. med. l. 1. Sect. 4. c. 3. de calido innato. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Arist. de respir.  Riverius term it so; or an immediate cause of life, though an Aristotle himself pronounce it so: For certainly Holy Writ ascribes life to the blood, the blood is the life thereof: and death to a dissolution of the compositum, the body returns to the dust, and the spirit to God that gave it. But of this dissolution (I suppose) the soul is not ordinarily the cause, but the body; and what part of the body may more justly be challenged to be the Parent (if I may so phrase it) of death, than the blood, which is in a famous sense the parent of life? So then, 
r Willis de morbis coavuls. p. 175. Netdham de form●o f●ctu, p. 138. joweri diatribae, p. 115. Ferael. de abdit. l. 2. c. 7.  most kill distempers must arise from the excessive multiplication, consumption or depravation of the blood, and the pernicious effects thereof; yet mistake me not, this hinders not other parts of the body, bowels and humours to be often peccant, as undoubtedly they are by infecting the blood, and receiving infections morbific from it. Moreover, this heat continues some hours without life, even after the dissolution; and as it is without life, so is life often found without it, as not only in some Vegetables, as Lettuce, Hemlock, Cucumbers, etc. but in Animals, as Frogs and Fish, which are said to be actually cold, and the Salamander, reputed cold in a high degree. This heat may possibly be but the effect of matter and motion, i. e. of the blood, or before it of the seed impregnated with active principles, which through their activity and heterogeneity suffer mutual collisions, or fermentations, whence ebullition, and thence this heat, which is by circulation not only promoted, but also conveyed to all parts of the body, and by the same causes preserved, which possibly may prove the sum of 
s Riverius ubi supra.  Riverius' implanted and influent heat. These things presupposed, 'twill not be impossible to guests that this heat is no such Celestial fire, as the most famous Fernelius would have it, but only the igneous result of the combinations and commotions of the most active elementary Principles; and if there be any other heat, it may prove to be (according to the conjecture of great Riverius) the product of the immateriate soul; but of that I understand little, only this is unquestionable, that the celestial Soul chooseth for its more immediate organs, the most subtiliated, spirituous, and active parts of matter, such as the vital and animal spirits, and the heat before mentioned, which seems to be of the same Genius, and all but the mechanic productions of various fermentations, percolations and distillations in the humane Engine: Wherefore, I shall crave leave to dismiss this fire till we come to discourse of Fermentations.  
And so I pass on the next flame, which is the Biolychnium, or the actual flame of the blood kindled in the heart, asserted both by Ancients and Moderns of astonishing titles, and tremendous veneration; which devouring flame, if once kindled, will quickly depredate all the oleaginous aliment, if not renewed by frequent and plentiful assumptions; but, therefore 'tis greatly suspected to have no existence in our bodies, because in these Jejunants it must needs extinguish for want of Sulphureous supplies, and produce death to those that have lived long enough to help to entomb it. 'Tis strange to me, that provident Nature should require such vast supplies both of meat and drink, out of which to extract a small quantity nutritious juice; which with divers Ferments, Colatures, Emunctories, and rapid motions, it endeavours to exalt and defecate, and yet after all should expose what she hath attained of purity and activity, and consequently of noblest use by her unparallelled artifices, cost and toil, to the improvident disposal of wasteful flames; for indeed flames are great wasters, as appears in the preparation of the Balsam of Sugar, etc. no less wonderful it is that a flame should continually burn in the heart, and yet the fleshy walls thereof not boiled, roasted, nor so much as a fuliginous or cineritious colour imparted. But lest Sir, you should be confident that this perennial flame scorns an extinction by these few drops, I therefore commend to your observation those numerous and plentiful buckets that are poured thereupon by the dexterous hand of the very learned and 
t Needham de format. foetu. p. 129, etc.  candid Dr. Needham. But yet lest you should be so far praepossessed by the determinations of venerable antiquity, as to reject this new Doctrine, and avowedly maintain this unseen fire, I shall therefore add: 1. That this Flame can be but small through the defect of bodily exercise, and freer ventilations, (these fasters being mostly close Prisoners) as also of strong fermentations; therefore the less the Lamp, the less Oil will sustain it. 2. Through the defect of heat the pores are bolted, and transpiration restrained, whence a scarce credible quantity of moisture is retained, which returning both by Veins and lymphatics, gives no contemptible quantity of food to this fire. 3. Through the restraint of Transpiration the igneous particles are secured from their excursions, to the great increase of intestine heat; for in feeders the loss of transpiration often kindles in the blood a feverish fire. 4. The Air (as impregnated sometimes especially) entering by the mouth, the nose, and pores in parts passing the various concoctions, may be converted into a humour not altogether inept to preserve the lingering life of this dying flame. 5. In pituitous bodies the abundance of phlegm through the various concoctions which it undergoes in the body, may become useful in the room of more proper aliment to this analogous' Lamp in its Table-supplyes; which phlegm though some reject as excrementitious, yet I suppose they do it only when consideration is from home, of its usefulness in the mastication of our food, wherein (as some say) lies the first concoction; at least therein lies the main preparation for the grand concoction in the ventricle; the constant mixture of our food with our spittle in the Jaw-mill, may enforce some considering men to think, that 'tis nearer of kin to our natural moisture than hath been formerly acknowledged. 6. The colliquation of the parts of these emaciated bodies may yield Oil to these Lamps; as 'tis usually affirmed in Hectic fevers; besides, if fire be nothing but an innumerable host of sulphurous atoms breaking the Prisons of their former compositions with other heterogeneities, 
u Willis de Fermeat, p. 66.  then certainly all fire is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, for nothing of that Sulphur remains, it leaves only the heterogeneous Principles, with which it was combined. 7. 'Tis probable that the moisture of these jejune bodies is much not only condensed by their cold, but also loaded with terrestreities through the non-reception of aliment impregnated with active Principles; whereby 'tis rendered more durable in this flame. As Oils the more impure, thick, and clammy they are, the less fiercely they burn, but the more tenuious and spirituous, the more nimbly do they flame and expeditiously consume. As my face and hair did sadly experiment upon the unexpected and sudden conflagration of a quantity of the Oil of Turpentine, as I not long since drew it from the fire; I dare say, the Turpentine itself would not, or rather could not have served me so. 8. This moisture being drawn from more jejune Principles (as air, phlegm, and lympha) 
x Willis de ●●br. p. 103.  is the less impregnated with intro-sulphurous particles, and therefore less inflammable; 
Willis de Fer●. p. 8 66. French's Art of Distillation, p. 148.  as in oligophorous Wines, where the spirit and sulphur are greatly exhaled, and with a quality abundantly dilated, there fire slowly burns. 9 'Tis probable, that the crasis of these bodies is so altered by the predominancy of fixed Salts not duly actuated by powerful fermentations, 
joh. Baptist. Porta. Card. de subtilitate.  that they much retard the consumption of Oil by this vital fire; 
Ludovic. Vives i● l. 21. c. 6. de Civitat. Dei Augustin.  as if Quicklime, Soap, or other saline concretes be added to Wax or Tallow, they will (say Chemists) make a candle of far greater duration than ordinary. 
Guido Pancirollus.  Strange is that story of St. Austin, who reports a Lamp to be found in the Temple of Venus, that no storms could extinguish. Yet much more strange was that Torch, reported to have burnt 1550 years in the Tomb of Tullia, Cicero's daughter, which being exposed to the Air, by the opening of the Tomb, was quickly extinguished: Now if our humours should chance to attain the disposition of these ancient Oils, they might supply the Byolychnium long enough. 10. Or if these fixed Salts should attain fluidity, as 'tis probable they have done, because some of these Abstinents were of melancholic complexions, 
Se●●ert. pract. l. 3. pa●l. 1. Sect. 2. de lo●ga absti●●tià.  than the sulphurous parts of the humours would be so fettered and oppressed thereby, that they could not so quickly burst from under the yoke into violent flames, but by degrees and leisurably as they could disentangle themselves; from whence will arise a more durable though less forceable fire. Lastly, it seems probable, that extraneous particles of fire may be conveyed into a body, and therein lodged, which shall afterwards cause heats to kindle therein. That igneous particles pass from one body to another seems a matter of daily experience: for 'tis not easy to demonstrate how our bodies are warmed by their approach to the fire, if there be not fiery effluviums from the burning matter that enter our bodies; and that these fiery atoms thus lodged in a foreign body, may afterwards by water, air, or the like, break forth into a considerable heat, is very imaginable; as in Quicklime, which before 'tis burnt is not at all subject to ●●mbustions by air or water; but when it hath endured the Kill-fire, then 'tis readily kindled by the addition of almost any humidity; which humidities may not be supposed directly to contribute to the kindling of the atoms, but to the dissolving of the Concrete, and thereby the disentangling of the Atoms, whereupon they fly out into a considerable heat; like whereunto is that Powder, boasted by Chemists, to take flame in your hand by the only addition of spital. 
〈◊〉 Art of 〈…〉  Thus Sir, having tendered a slender repast for your antique lamp, I crave leave to attend the more modern Hypothesis of famed fermentation.  
Thirdly, How shall Fermentation be continued in the blood without the addition of chyle? and how can chyle be added without food assumed? 
〈…〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  It is the opinion of ingenuous Henshavius that fermentation is caused by the addition of chyle to the blood in the heart, like that of Wine by the adding of Must, from whence doth arise (he saith) a necessity of frequent feeding: 
Niche. de form. 〈◊〉 p. 132. 〈◊〉 de s●b. p. 113.  which the excellent D. Needham seems much to approve: and both the incomparable Willis and ingenious Castle cite Hogeland for ascribing heat to a fermentation in the heart, 
Cast●●'s Chym. Gal. p. 81, 82.  like to that which happens upon the pouring of Spirit of Nitre on Butter of Antimony. R. Now Sir, to help us out at this dead lift also, I shall take notice of the several opinions of the Learned touching the causes of fermentation. 1. There is a ferment placed in the heart itself by the great Willis and his Hypaspistes, 
Wi●lis de 〈◊〉. p. 24, 25. ●e 〈◊〉. 101, 102, 113.  the dexterous anatomist Dr. Lower, with Dr. Castle, and other renowned Assertors of fermentation. This Sir would serve us eximiously, 
Low●● Diatr. p. 121, 124. Castle's Chym. Gal. p. 81, 82.  to supply the defect of new chyle, if it were but sufficiently evinced; but I must confess ingenuously though (as 'tis not unknown to you) I have laboured to advance the antique glory of the heart, yet I cannot satisfy myself, though I would, that there is any such implanted ferment therein; for I find not this ferment confirmed by any experiment, or other sufficient evidence, but (absit invidia verbo) too precariously asserted: nor any necessity assigned for such a ferment; the doctrine of fermentation being sufficiently demonstrated without it; and though the honour ascribed to the heart may seem to require it, yet I cannot approve of conferring honours, which infer a necessity of multiplying Being's above what the opus and usus of Nature createth. Neither can I conceive where this ferment should be nested; it must be either in the walls of the heart, or in the chambers thereof; in the walls (saith Dr. Castle from Severinus, 
〈…〉  Danus, D. Cartes and Hogeland) are mechanic spirits, seminal salts or ferments; but yet (pace tanti viri) the heart by its carnous fibres, membranes, colour and consistence seems to be but a muscle, as our worthy Dr. Needham, 
〈◊〉. foet. 132.  and acute Steno affirm; and if so, how a ferment should be there generated any otherwise than in other muscles, 
Ste●o de Muse. & Gland.  I do not understand; it hath not the Parenchyma of the Liver, Spleen, or other parts which are colatures to the blood, whereby they easily separate, and having separated retain what may conduce to constitute ferments; but the walls of the heart seem only like other muscles to receive blood for their own private use, but none for a public stock. Moreover, if there were such a salt ferment, it is a wonder it doth not discolour the rutilous fibres; as the salt in the Spleen manifestly doth, but leave it of the same hieu with other nonfermenting muscles; neither are there any cavities within these walls capacious enough to contain these mechanic spirits for public offices; nay it is observable that the heart is more firm, fast, hard, and less stored with porosities than other muscles: neither in the auricles, or venticles can these spirits keep quiet possession, by reason of that impetuous torrent which many times in every minute washeth both flores and walls; and though these cavities have their cellars, yet by the so frequent constrictions of the omnimodous fibres causing the systole, there's not only a mixture of the blood at the bottom with that on the top, but also a violent extrusion of both made in the same pulsation: neither in dissections is there any considerable difference found betwixt that in the heart, and that in the veins, as famous Harvey observeth. Yet with a non obstante to these premises I must tell you, I opine that fermentation may not abusively be ascribed to the mechanic structure and operations of the heart, though not enriched with an innate ferment, of which hereafter more seasonably.  
2. It is not unknown that several liquors are self-sufficient to command a fermentation, and that perfective; as Wine, Cider, with other like spiritosulphuro-saline-fluids, as also fruits of a more crass consistence, as Apples, Pears, Plumbs, etc. whereof many are advanced, by lying, to a greater perfection after pulled from their Mother's Breast; and it is at least a violent presumption that the blood confected by such self-fermenting bodies, and they exalted greatly by the various additional concoctions, percolations, and (as it were) distillations in the transcendently exquisite, and proto-laboratories of humane bodies is crowned with the same Diadem of self-fermenting principles: and indeed an ordinary analysis of blood according to the rules of Pyrotechny will discover all those principles of Spirit, Sulphur, Salt, Water and Earth, lodged in its embraces which are sufficient to elaborate fermentations: which is further confirmed in that when some of the innate fermenting principles, as suppose Salts begin to languish, several artificial ferments prove highly useful; 
De ferm.  under this notion (saith the sagacious Will●) are the fixed Salts of Vegetables, Chalybeats, etc. of such Sovereign efficacy.  
Thirdly, after various disquisitions touching the use of the Spleen, some exalting it to the honour of sanguifying for the lower belly, others depressing it to the vile use of a sink, 'tis now by many upon consideration of its colour, site, and vessels resolved to be a colature, wherein the more black and feculent juice is severed from the blood, and being there reserved it becomes a ferment to the scarle● liquor; even as a small parcel of dough reserved in a ●aline condiment grows acid, and so arrives to the dignity of a levain, or ferment to the new farinaceous mass. The principles which in this bowel are supposed to be regent, are salino terrestrial, which by over long abode attain fluidity, and so become acetous, like Spirit of Vitriol, Nitre, and of other saline concretes, and that which renders this the more probable, are the sour belchings of hypochondriack persons, the whiteness of their tongues, the soreness of their throats, the excess of their appetite, and the emaciating of their bodies: all which seem to proceed from a preternatural acidity: and vice versa, when the Spleen hath lost its ferment, than the blood grows too insipid as appears in Cachexies, Ascites, Tympanites, etc. These things premised, 'twill be no difficulty to prove that the blood is fermented by the Spleen: 'tis but very lately that I added Spirit of Vitriol to a small quantity of the recent blood of a Patient, which caused a visible fermentation, and such a coagulation that it became almost of the colour and consistence of our table Mustard, only there remained some perfect black parts, but no red ones: from whence I conjecture, that 'tis an acid humour which causes such a black sediment in the urine of many hypochondriack persons, and that the same humour it is that coagulates the blood often, if not always, and renders it so unapt for circulation: wherefore by the way, I would offer it to your consideration, whether that sort of Scorbute and Melancholy which is rooted in blood more than sufficiently hot, florid, and fluid (as ofttimes they are) can ascribe its origination to a mere acidity, or to fluid Salts: and consequently whether it be not a misapplication of the nitrosulphurous Plants which renders them of late suspected of impertinency? for to what end should these Plants be given to those persons whose blood exceeds with salt and sulphur already? yet in the colder more chachectical Sorts of Scurvy and Melancholy nothing possibly may be found more proper; for 'tis well known that fixed salts and fluid salts, or (which is the same thing) acid spirits do highly ferment, and cause a considerable heat; as lately discovered itself to me in the preparation of Tartarus Vitriolatus, whence I further conjecture that those preparations of Chalybs, Coral and other saline concretes which rob them of their salts, or (which is the same thing) that glut them with acidities so plentifully as to leave no capacity to receive more acids do spill them eo nomine of their fermenting virtue. But lest I should seem to transgress whilst I intent searcely to digress, I return to remind you that you have a third ferment which in these Abstinents is presumeable to be highly useful, for several of them (not to say all) were Spleneticks before they were Abstinents.  
Fourthly, 'Tis probable that the seminal humours in these Virgins may by a long abode in their vessels grow acid, and thereby supply the blood with a more than ordinary ferment. Here are two things supposed, the first is that the seed is impregnated with salt, and that is proved by the many arguments of the Philosophical Dr. Ente, 
〈…〉  the other is that the seed by its principles may elaborate the blood, this is evident in females whose seed being grown fecundate and vegete; it so levains the blood, that except it purge 〈◊〉 by menstrual terms it exposes to innumerable diseases; but much more manifest in men by the eruption of their Beards, the greatning of their voice, the heating of their blood, esseminate desires, etc. These things being evidently so, 'twill much strengthen our Hypothesis to observe that most of these Damosels fall to this abstinence between the age of fourteen and twenty years when the seed hath so fermented the blood, that various distempers will probably ensue without due evacuations; except in our case, wherein through the defect of fermenting food we are enabled to bear the excess of these so much the better.  
Fifthy, There are several other innate ferments placed by nature in humane bodies, as the Learned testify, 
De 〈◊〉 p. 〈…〉.  as that ascribed by Dr. Willis to the brain, for the freeing the spirits from the entanlemen●s of other principles to which they were married whilst they abode in the blood, that so the brains distillation might proceed the more prosperously; likewise that in the reins, which is like Runnet to Milk, to precipitate the serosities, that the ureters may exterminate them as useless, burdensome excrements. There are many more assigned, yea more than can be numbered, 
〈…〉. c. 20. p. 139.  if Dr. Willis's Doctrine be true of a fermentation through the habit of the body, caused by the concurrence of arterial blood and nervous juice; but these I lightly pass over, because I conceive they are not immediately intended for the elaborating of the bloody mass; yet I may not forget them, because working upon the blood, 'tis not to be doubted but the veins derive somewhat of their virtue with the retrieved blood.  
Sixthly, But to approach yet nearer to our mark, I affirm that though there be no edibles received, yet it follows not that there's no sort of new chyle to renew the blood's fermentation: for First, In these cold bodies there must of necessity be a far greater quantity (consideratis considerandis) of pituitous humours than ordinary: for if transpiration be denied to our bodies but a very small time, what a redundance of phlegm doth presently oppress us: which phlegm being led into the mouth by a great variety of salivating ducts, and thence conveyed into the Ventricle may take off the acidity, the edge of the appetite, by which they tolerate their abstinence with the greater patience; and also suffer a sorry concoction, which is much advanced by the attendance of all the concoctive forces to subact this sluggish matter, which is other bodies are variously diverted by the great variety of food frequently admitted. Secondly, 'Tis probable that some of these Fasters were more than ordinarily addicted to phlegm before their abstinence, which is usual with those whose concoctions are low, and with these 'tis more than an even lay they were not very high, which must needs be augmented by the defect of urine and stool, which if granted, adds somewhat to our purpose. Thirdly, The air received continually into the Stomach by the Mouth and Nose, and also into the blood more directly, though sparingly by the pores, and virtually, if not formally by the Lungs, may contribute much to this humour, but more to the fermentation of the blood: that the air is impregnated with Salts, 
Apolog. 〈…〉. p. 93.  the Learned Dr. Ente affirms and ascribes vegetation, as also the production of various animals thereunto, as the worthy Willis doth frost and ice: and 'tis asserted by Chemists that Caput Mortuums lixivated, if exposed to the open air for a good space they shall re-attain their saline principle: and that salts cause fermentation in the blood, hath been already noted. Yet one step further I may advance upon good ground, and that is, these salts may much renew the ferment of the stomach also in lieu of other condiments. 
〈…〉  Moreover the Liver being an ample bowel, instructed with a great variety of vessels, enriched with constant traffic from most of the Corporations in the Microcosm, so curious in its elections and collections of the sulphuro-saline commodities so diligent in reconding them in a peculiar Cell, and thence transmitting them to the intestines upon all occasions; these severals, I say, considered, it may be rationally inferred, that 'tis not only helpful to the guts in their excretions, but also in their fermentations, whereby the chyle is rendered not only more fermentiscible in the blood, but also more fermentesce●t thereunto. Yet Sir, lest this lean meat should not satisfy your more delicate palate, I must advertise you, that the blood in these persons must needs be sparing, and therefore the lesser chyle may ferment it, especially considering that their fermentations are but small, as appears by the smallness of their heat, and therefore pray do yourself the right, not to expect an account of robust ones.  
Seventhly, The heart itself contributes much to this fermentation. 'Tis acknowledged by all that the circulation of the blood being a rapid motion through the indefatigable pulsation of the heart adds much to the fermentation; we see that motion given to Wine, Ale, Cider, or Cream of Milk though sufficiently fermented, will yet without a new ferment give a new fermentation. But Sir, lest you should mistake me when I stumbled at an innate ferment in the heart, and yet stood upon't that fermentation may be ascribed thereto, let me unbosom myself, that you may see what the heart contributes thereunto. First, The heart is as it were a cistern into which the bloody veins, milky veins, and water veins, or lymphducts by mutual consent deposit their multiform juices. Secondly, It hath the force of a Mill by its quaquaverse fibres continually busied in their constrictions and dilatations to grind and make small the more crassy particles of the juices. Thirdly, Of a Mortar wherein the more exact mixture of these different juices is highly promoted. Fourthly, Of a ●inne expelling the blood sufficiently subacted, and then to the further execution of its Offices, but too too troublesome; and by the way, the burden of the blood may be one cause of its pulsation, for 'tis said, if a live heart be taken out of the body, the prick of a Pin will renew its pulsation. Fifthly, Of a Pump to give motion and according to the sanguiterious ducts to the several parts distribution of this juice adapted to nutrition. 
Walaeus i● Meth. 〈◊〉.  Sixthly, Of a Loom wherein the blood is fermented. Seventhly, Of a kind of Philosophical Furnace, wherein a spirital Biolychnium is kindled, I intent only a heat perchance caused only by the motion and fermentation aforesaid. Eighthly, Of a Pelican to rarify and exalt the vital spirits. Ninthly, of an Alimbeck (not vulgar) whereby the spirits receive a kind of separation (though yet they run with the blood) which being condensed in the Refrigeratory of the habit of the body (as the learned Walaeus expresseth it) are the more easily subject to the brains Philtration, and the nerves preservation. Tenthly, of a potential Philtre, whereby there's made such a fegregation of homogeneous particles into their proper classes, as renders the blood much more obedient to the colatures, and emunctories of the body; as rennet in the milk potentially separates the whey, and prepares it for an actual separation by the sieve; and in chemical preparations the acid liquor, or diluteing large quantity of weakening water, provoke a kind of fermentation, whereby the suspended atoms in the strong Menstruums are precipitated, and so prepared for a more facile separation: so that indeed all the Engines in Nature's shop depend mainly upon the right ●o●e, texture, and operation of the heart. From which it seems apparent to me (which yet I submit to clearer minds) that the heart is further serviceable to fermentation, and other offices of Nature, than merely Pump-like to conciliate motion: which may be further confirmed by the site of the heart in the centre of the body, as also by its firmest muniments by which 'tis garrisoned on its back by the spin, on its face by the sternum, on its sides by the ribs, under its feet by the diaphragme, and over its head by the canopy of the pyramidal thorax, and lastly by its buffcoat the Pericardium; and which is not nothing, the curious fabric with various camerations, the retiform fibres and various passages, the uniform procedure of Nature in the formation of the hearts of Animals, whilst often it sport's itself in the building of other parts, and its primogeniture, as appears by the 〈◊〉 vesi-cula palpitans first formed in Eggs (according to the renowned Harvey) the rudiment of the heart, and the bloods constant flux and reflux to and from the heart, even then when the liver and lungs (though famous bowels) are passed by unsaluted in the circulation of Embryo's; as also Nature's great care to supply the defective passages of those viscera by foramen ovale in the septum of the heart, lest the intercourse of the blood with the heart should be impeded, which hole is yet afterwards precluded when the Infant is midwived into a new World; much of this curiosity of Nature about the heart, seems utterly unnecessary, if it served only for motion; but we are sure that God and Nature do nothing frustraneously. Neither am I yet satisfied, that the whole of the blood's motion is to be ascribed to the heart's pulsation; for Conringius affirms that in live dissections the blood strongly circulates a long time after the left ventricle hath lost its pulse; yea though the heart be taken out, yet presently is not the motion of the blood destroyed; which seems to be confirmed by the experiment upon Frogs, which leap so nimbly, and swim so freely after their hearts are exempted, that they cannot be known from unwounded Frogs that exercise in their company; the story whereof that most dexterous Anatomist D. Needham hath published; 
De format. foetu▪  moreover, if a Ligature be applied to a Vein or Artery, whereby the pulse is intercepted with the undulation of the blood also, yet the blood beyond the bond runs its course towards the heart; and which is so much the more strange, because 'tis the motion of a heavy body contrary to its natural tendency, upward. Moreover, if the pulse of the heart were the only cause of the motion of the blood, why then is not the menstrual blood thrust into other parts as well as into the uterine? sith the other parts equally with these receive the constant force of the hearts even pulsations and impartial distributions; likewise we see that the animal spirits in the nerves, with their juice, the Lympha in its ducts, the Chyle in its thoracicks, the Seed in its seminals, the Urine in the ureters, and the Phlegm in its pituitary Vessels are all in motion without the force of any such Engine to give the origin thereto. Whereupon I am apt to conjecture, that Nature hath furnished several parts with an attractive power, the blood with fermentation, and several Vessels with a kind of Vermicular motion of their own (no doubt excited by the nerves) the Porta with Asinus in the Liver, which serves for a Pump, and the Cava (or one part it) with a pulsifick energy (by which blood is thrust into the right ventricle, as the learned Walaeus asserts) by which the motion of humours is promoted; and consequently that the rareness of the structure, unweariedness of the pu●sations of the heart, etc. are designed to some higher ends, than merely, and as such, to give motion, though that it doth with an Emphasis.  
Fourthly, How can Spirits both vital and animal be prepared and separated without food, and frequent fermentations? ●. I. Whether there be a flux of animal spirits through the genus nervosum seems yet not fully resolved; and if no flux then the waste is small, and a small reparation may supply a small waste; but I confess, I understand not how Narcotick fumes, nor redundant humours restagnating in the brain can cause an Apoplexy, Epilepsy, Palsy, etc. in the whole body, if there be no flux of spirits from the brain; nor how the hurt from a Coach in the seventh Vertebre of the back (mentioned by great Galen) could cause a Palsy in three singers; nor why we anoint the Vertebres of the back for Palsies in the extreme parts, if there be no flux of spirits. 2. Supposing a flux of animal spirits through the nervous system, yet (according to the Doctrine of famous Dr. Wharton) much of the nervous juice separated by the glandules, 
De. 〈◊〉.  is returned by the veins and lymphatics, and so not lost, though ense●bled by its peregrination; and more yet deposited (according to Dr. Willis the great Reformer of Physic) by the extremity of the nerves in the habit of the body, is again retrieved by the Lymphaticks, which serving in our Abstinents little or nothing to assimulation (only somewhat to the cherishing of the implanted spirits) is the more plentifully returned and so the loss (thus far forth) less considerable than ordinary▪ 3. 'Tis apparent that there's a decay of these spirits, as well as an obstruction in most of these Abstinents, as witnesseth their great inability to motion▪ 4. The fermentations mentioned before, though small may contribute something to the increase of these spirits; for Chemists know that there are few juices so 〈◊〉, so sterile, but by the help of fermentation may yield a not contemptible spirit. 5. Those spirits that pass from the brain to the extremity of the body, and thence returned as before by the Lymphaticks, and that more forceably and plentifully being reflected by the impervious cold and constipated skin seem rather tired than exhausted, which may by the small ferments aforementioned, the contritions mixtions, and exaltations of the heart, and the perpetual motions of the scarlet liquor be rarified and volatilised to do at a dead lift further good service. 6. 'Tis notorious, that scents do hugely affect the brain; as to instance in Apoplexies, hysterical passions, and in some sort of Syncopes and Cephalalgies common practice doth demonstrate; so than if feeding animals perceive such strange alterations by odoriferous exhalations (as of Assa faetida, Galbanum, Verrucae Equinae, etc. which according to the prodigious invention of the most Philosophical Dr. Willis are able to restrain the most violent explosions (like those of Gunpowder, than which none more violent) of the Nitro-sulphurous atoms with which in spasmodick distempers the nervous juice is impregnated, (and by which it's reduced to the greatest disorders) why may not these Abstinents be relieved by such enriched fumes also?  
Fifthly, 
Aristot. de 〈◊〉 & 〈◊〉. c. 3.  without sleep no long life, and without food no sleep; for say the Ancients, sleep is the binding up of the first Sensorium, 
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Galen. de sympt. cause. c. 8. & de 〈…〉. c. 4.  or common sense caused by the food digesting in the stomach, elevating its fumes to the brain, which there condensing stop the passages of the animal spirits, whereby they are detained from their just visitations, whence the senses are disenabled for the execution of their offices. R. 1. 'Tis not certain that sleep is absolutely necessary to life, for we read of many that lived waking: 
〈…〉. de med. 〈◊〉. hist. p. 23, 24, 25. l. 5. Patholog. l. de 〈◊〉. cap. c. 16. l. de Pro●identia.  'Tis said that Ramus studied Philosophy so uncessantly, that he became blind, or deaf, or both, through defect of sleep. Bhasis watched so long at his study of Physic till at last he could not sleep at all; likewise a Doctor of the Law studied so indefatigably, that he never laid his eyelids together for four months; yet all recovered by the use of Hypnoticks. The most inquisitive Galenist Fernelius reports a certain man to have survived 14 months waking. The grave Heurnius relateth a story, from (he saith) a truly learned man jerom Montuus, of a Noble Matron that lived 35 years without sleep, nor hurt thereby; and of another that lived 10 years waking. Seneca reports that Maecenas lived three years without sleep, and at last was recovered by music. 2. But I affirm not that our Jejunants are Vigilants, and therefore add, that though these persons receive no external food, yet airy condensations and concretions, the phlegmatic humours, colliquations of the parts, etc. afford matter for such vapours, and so much the more plentifully, because they are environed with a thick wall, whose very crevices, and much more gates, and public outlets, are so close shut up and barricadoed, that these troops of Exhalations that were wont to be dispersed, are now crowded together, which assaulting the brain may do much to bind up her common sense. 3. It seems probable by Apoplectical Dormitators that a cold humour lodged in the brain is a great causer of sleep; and why such a humour may not lodge in a sufficient proportion in these constipated brains to procure intermitting sleeps, I see not. 4. 'Tis apparent that Narcoticks, as Opium, and in their measure, Wines, Tobacco, etc. provoke sleep, not by any cold quality, for they are all proved to be hot, but ('tis probable) by adding such a ferment to the blood, as renders the spirits separated in the brain more torpid, ignave, and consequently inept to motion, and the execution of their offices; or, (which is almost the same thing) as renders the blood inept for separation of spirits in the brains Alembick, whence the wearied spirits for want of fresh supplies are becalmed and quiescent. So than if the humours in the bodies of these Abstinents should haply partake of these Narcotick sulphurs, they may prove somniferous without the elevation of fumes from digesting food. But Sir, lest you should be startled at this unphilosophical discourse, in representing sleep rather as a non-emission of spirits from the brains, than a non-immission of them to the brain from the external senses, and consequently as a negation of action rather than of passion, I crave leave to mind you, that I am not only deficient in the beard, but much more in the brain of some very great Philosophers who rank not only the external senses but the first internal or common sense in the predicament of passions; which I confess I cannot understand, because I know, that when devout persons are taken up in divine services, though their eyes be wide open, and presented with various objects, yet they see them not, because they mind them not; likewise when diligent Students are intent on their books, they hear not the Clock that strikes at their ears; and sound sleepers with lethargical persons feel not the pulling and haling of their friends that would awake them, etc. From whence I conjecture, that though objects act ad ultimum virium upon the external senses in imprinting their species, yet that causeth not sensation, except there be an actual attendance of the sensitive spirits upon the sensible objects, a framing of their effigies or species, and a conveyance thereof to the understanding. Can you imagine that Columbus his journey to the Indies, his surveying that unknown World, and returning a map thereof to his own Countrymen, was a mere passion of his, and only the action of a novel Jig of American Atoms? or Camden's perambulation through all the Coasts of this Island, with his observations thereon, which he digested into a valuable volume, was merely his suffering, but wholly the doing of subtle spirits, and aethereal globules magically charmed into a once happy combination. But to return, 5. Cold juices, as of Housleek, Lettuce, Violets, etc. will conduce to our sleep, and 'tis not to be doubted but the Juices in these bodies may be cold enough to effect the same. 6. The animal spirits in these persons being but languid, are the less active, and consequently can give the fewer repulses to the insinuating courtships of somniferous causes. 7. The spirits of these languishers ('tis probable) are scant and defective, and therefore easily tired by their constant operations, and consequently easily persuaded either by a command of the Heavenborn Soul, or an Exhalation from the earthy body to yield to this temporary death. 8. Great security of mind, pleasing Fancies, either from Imagination (such as some of these are said to be swelled withal) or from the senses affected by Music, dropping waters, gliding Rivers, whistling winds, etc. are usual promoters of insensation. By all which you may perceive that there are more doors 〈◊〉 our Bedchambers than one.  
Thus Sir, to satisfy your curiosity, I have travelled somewhat an unbeaten, yet not altogether unpleasant path, and that I might not return these fruits of my travels as jejune and sterile as the Country visited, I have therefore taken a slight view of some of the Monuments of Antiquity, as also of the stately superstructures of the new model that occurred in our Journey; yet there is one thing remaining that should have been premised; and that is an exact history of our damosel, but that you cannot expect, because you did not demand, and I suppose you did not demand, because you knew I was unable to perform; yet that I might not seem to build on the sands, I shall present you with a short Narrative received since I began this Discourse, from a person of known ingenuity and honesty, and therefore most worthy of credit.  
This Abstinent is one Martha Taylor a young damosel, born of mean Parentage, inhabiting not far from Bakewell in Darbyshire, who receiving a blow on the back from a Milner, became a prisoner to her bed for several days, which being expired, she obtained some enlargement for a time, but by increasing distempers was quickly remanded to her bed-prison again; where continuing some time, she found at last a defect in her Gula, and quickly after a dejection of appetite, so that about the 22. of December, Anno 1667. she began to abstain from all solid food, and so hath continued (except something so small at the seldom ebbings of her distemper as is altogether inconsiderable) till within a fortnight before the date hereof, which amounts to thirteen months and upwards; as also from all other sorts both of meats and drinks, except now and then a few drops of the Syrup of stewed Prunes, Water and Sugar, or the juice of a roasted Raisin, etc. but these repasts are used so seldom, and in such very small quantities, as are prodigiously insufficient for sustentation; she evacuates nothing by urine, or stool, she spits not that I can hear of, but her lips are often dry, for which cause she takes water and sugar with a feather, or some other Liquids, but the palms of her hands are often moist, her countenance fresh and lively, her voice clear and audible, in discourse she's free, her belly ●●ap'd to her backbone, so that it may be felt through her Intestines, whence a great cavity is admitted from the Gartilago ensiformis to the Navel, and though her upper parts be less emaciated (though much too) yet her lower parts are very languid, and inept for motion, and the skin thereof de●iled with a dry pruriginous scurf, for which of late they have washed them with milk; she sleeps so sparingly, that once she continued five weeks waking: I hear nothing of any extraordinary previous sanctity, though since her affliction, being confined to her bed (which lieth in a lower room, by the fireside) she hath learned to read, and being visited so plentifully by the curious from many parts, as also by the Religious of all persuasions, she hath attained some knowledge in sacred Mysteries, but nothing of Enthusiasm that she pretends unto. And lest she should prove a Cheat, she hath been diligently watched by Physicians, Surgeons, and other persons, for at least a fortnight together, by the appointment of the Noble Earl of Devon; as is already published by Mr. Robin's B. of D. that is, Ballad-maker of Derby, whose Ballad (they say) doth much excel his Book. Likewise several other persons at other times have been pleased to watch for their own satisfaction, who detecting no fraud, have given the account above mentioned, which was for the main confirmed to me by a Sophy, the renown of whose wisdom hath often made England to ring, who assured me, that he had an exact account of her.  
This story being born thus out of due time, it may seem necessary to make some reflections therefrom on the precedent discourse. And 1. her Age confirms the probability of a ferment in the seminals. 2. An antipathy to meat was not the promoter of the Tragedy, but an inability to swallow. 3. Her assumptions of Liquors, though seldom and slender, contribute not only to a petite concoction in the Ventricle, but also to a fermentation in the Heart. 4. Her restrained Evacuations by Urine and Stool add much to her moisture, as well as to our trouble to render the assumption and non-evacuation consistent: to the performance whereof, let it be remembered, that in this respect she was formerly compared to Embrio's, who use no excretion by the fundament, but retain in their Intestines the more crass feculencies, till the time of their exclusion the uterine embraces; which is the rather to be admitted, because she, as well as they, receives nothing but liquids; only in this she differs, they evacuate by the Urachus into the Allantoides their urinal excrement, but she hath no excretion of Urine at all: the defect whereof may yet be supplied by these three advantages which she hath above them, as is her expiration, extraordinary transpiration in the palms of her hands, and the far smaller quantity of Liquors that she receives. 5. Her non-excretion, and the dryness of her mouth, argue the remanding of the humours to the further services of Nature. 6. The Atrophy of the parts, and inability to motion, seem to argue a defect of nervous juice and animal spirits; which weakens the necessity of our giving a perfect account how Nature may be completely sustained in the absence of food. 7. Her impetiginous Eruptions argue the saltness of her blood, which adds the greater probability to the several saline Ferments mentioned before. 8. Her sparing sleep shows not only the no-necessity of the ordinary measures of healthful Dormitators, but also that sleep may be conciliated otherwise than by the powerful mediation of fuming food. 9 There's no cause from any antecedent sanctity to ascribe this mirandous production to miraculous causes. 10. Her abode in a lower Room doth accommodate her with a moister Air, which is more generative of humours, 11. Her propinquity to the Fire conduceth to the extraneous reception of igneous Atoms. 12. Her non-pretensions to Revelations, and the constant visits she receives from persons of all forms, may serve to occlude not only the mouths that are so unevangelical as to cry her up for a Miracle, but those also that are so unphilosophical as to cry her down for the cheat of a Faction.  
Now Sir, should I take my hand from the Table, did I not suspect that some one may possibly reply upon me, and say, If I take it to be possible to live without food, 'tis a wonder I fall not myself to this piece of frugality; I therefore add, though with this jejune Table one may possibly live, yet it follows not that I can, for according to the old Saw, that which is one man's meat is another man's poison: And even in Physic 'tis affirmed by that noble Philosopher Esq boil (a worthy Fellow of the Royal Society, of whose admirable designs I would you should know that I am a great admirer) that some medicines as particularly, 
Scept. Chym. p. 251.  Salt of Amber is effectual for Epileptical Children; not so for adult epileptics; and the deserving Dr. Castle affirms, that Mercur. dulc. is more safe for children, than grown persons, especially if irrigated with acidities. But Sir, 
Chym. Gal. p. 26.  I find myself launching into a wide Sea, I shall therefore tack about to do my Devoir, and crave your acceptance of this slender Offering, and your quietus est for the present, giving you assurance that in so doing you may hereafter command  
SIR, King-Norton. Feb. 25. 1668. Your Observant Servant, Jo. Reynolds.