THE Good Housewife MADE A Doctor, Or, Health's Choice and 〈◊〉 Friend Being a Plain Way of Nature's own prescribing, to Prevent and Cure Most Diseases incident to Men, Women and Children, by Diet and Kitchen-physic only.  
With some Remarks on the Practice of Physic and Chemistry.  
By Thomas Tryon, Student in Physic; And Author of The Way to Health, Long Life and Happiness. Countryman's Companion. The New Art of Brewing, etc.  
The Second Edition. To which is added some Observations on the Tedious Methods of Unskilful Chirurgeons; with Cheep and Easy Remedies. By the same Author.  
London, Printed for H. N. and T. S. And are to be Sold by Randal Taylor, near Stationers-Hall, 1692.   

THE PREFACE TO THE READER.  
HEalth is the greatest temporal Blessing we can enjoy in this Mortal state: Without it the choicest Beauty vanishes in a Moment, like a withered Flower; the stoutest Strength dwindles into a childish Weakness, scarce able to support the tottering Carcase; Riches become insignificant Lumber; Honour an empty Bubble, or extrinsic Shadow, yielding no delight; Nay Wit and Parts grow useless, and Life itself but an unwelcome load and continual Torture. For how often may we see Lords and Aldermen, the Rich and the Great, swelled with Dropsies, or wasted with Consumptions, or racked with the Stone, or laid up with the Gout, or crippled with Sciatica's, and the like, heartily envying those Jolley Swains, who feed only▪ with Bread and Cheese, and trotting up to the Knees in Dirt, do yet with lusty Limbs, and vigorous Stomaches, and merry Hearts, and undisturbed Heads, whistle out more solid Joys than the others, with all their Wealth and State can purchase.  
So that 'tis undeniably one of the most important Businesses of this Life, to preserve ourselves in Health. And this all People, when they are actually groaning under the smart of Sickness, will readily acknowledge. Oh! than they would give all they have in the World for Ease and Remedy, though it be but an Ague, or a fit of the Toothache! but as soon as the Pain is over, and whilst Nature is yet pretty sturdy, and as long as ever she can bear up, they care not how they use her, and seem to value this precious jewel [Health] no more than the silly Indians of old did their Wealth, when they contentedly parted with Gold and Pearl, for Toys, and Baubles, and Knives, and Beaugles, and Looking-Glasses. Most men will moil and toil like Horses, and rise early and lie down late, and eat the Bread of Carefulness, to get Money and Land, though they neither make good use thereof themselves whilst they live, nor know who shall enjoy it after they are dead▪ And how diligent are others by fawning and flattering, and courting those whom in their hearts they hate and scorn, and by servile Offices and irksome Attendances, and a thousand other pitiful Arts, to acquire a Rattle to their Name, and get a Title of Honour, or some Place of Preferment that may give them an opportunity▪ to domineer over their Inferiors, but there is scarce one Man or Woman of a thousand that does in earnest consider and pursue the means of preserving their Health, but either lives at Random, or at least takes up with the pernicious Notions of Custom, Tradition and Blind Guides, whose Prescriptions of Diet are most improper and prejudicial, their Medicines Nauseates to Nature, and their Physic a close Confederate with the invading Disease.  
Nay, so prodigal are the generality of this in●steeamble Blessing, that they use it not only with Neglect, but Contempt, as if they exposed it to sale by I●ch of Candle, and he that bid lest should have it. Rather than ●ot gratify a liquorish Palate, the Stomach shall be overcharged; and rather than break up a foolish lewd Company, or refuse to comply with a wicked Drunken Custom, the Brain shall be set afloat, and Reason turned a-drift, and Nature exposed to a general Inundation of violent strong Liquor, and left to shift for herself, without either Pilot or Rudder. I am confident most People are more careful to provide wholesome proper Food for their cattle, and Gentlemen are more curious in ordering and dieting their Race-Horses (though therein too they are generally mistaken, as I have demonstrated in a little Treatise, entitled, The Country-man's Companion) than in the Food which they take themselves, or about the course of their own Eating, Drinking and Exercises, whereon not only their own Health and Lives, but the strength and vigour of their Posterity, does in so great a measure depend.  
The Meats and Drinks commonly used are for the most part improper, and detrimental in their Nature and Composition, more in their unskilful ways of Preparation, and most of all by the Heterogeneous Mixtures, and excessive Quantities. And this more especially to those that are already sick and languishing. Having therefore in this small Treatise resolved to detect those Errors in all three respects, and the Reasons thereof: And on the other si●e, to show the true Method of Diet fit for the Prevention or Cure of most Diseases, intermixing therewith several most useful and necessary remarks touching the Nature, and right ways of preparing of divers sorts of the most beneficial Foods, I shall begin with those that best serve for the Assisting and Restoring of decayed Nature, because I have therein observed both the most common and the most dangerous and irretreivable Errors to be committed; as also because from what we shall deliver on that subject, every one that has the Wit to know by a Penny how a Shilling is coined, may learn what Diet is proper to b● used both for the Preventing and Curing of most other Distempers. For Nature, like Truth, is always entire, uniform and agreeable to its self, so that whoever has the right Key, may therewith unlock her whole Cabinet; whereas the blind Paths of Tradition, Ignorance, Custo● and Error, are not only various and interferring, but many times opposite and contradictory to each other.   

The Contents.  

Chap. I. OF the several Causes of Consumptions, page 1, 2, 3, 4.  
The absurd Course of Diet usually oraer●d in those cases, p. 5, 6, 7.  
And the proper Remedies for prevention and Cure of those decays of Nature, p. 8, 9  
Other preposterous Courses prescribed by learned Doctors, Chemists, etc. for Cure of Consumptions, p. 20, 21, 22.  
Chap. II. The Nature of Milk, and the best ways of preparing and Cooking it, p. 25.  
How Milk ought to be eaten entire, p. 26, 27.  
An Excellent way of preparing Milk with Wheat-Flower, p. 28.  
Another way of preparing Milk with Water, Oatmeal and Eggs, p. 29, 30.  
Of Furmety, p. 33.  
Of Boniclapper, its nature and operation, p. 34.  
Chap. III. Of Water-Gruel, p. 39, 40.  
What it is that causes Butter made in Winter to have a bitter Taste, p. 42, 43.  
Another excellent healthy Food for all sorts of People, p. 45, 46.  
Chap. IU. Of Flesh Broths, p. 49.  
Chap. V. Of F●umery. p. 56.  
Chap. VI Of the several sorts of Bread, and which is best, especially for sickly People, p. 61.  
Chap. VII. Of Butter, its Nature, and how best to be eaten, p. 68  
Chap. VIII. Of Cheese, p. 71.  
Chap. IX. Of the best sort of Puddens, and the contrary, p. 74.  
Chap. X. Of Eggs, their Nature, and the best way of dressing and eating them, p. 80.  
Chap. XI. Of Pies, etc. p. 83.  
Chap. XII. Of Raisins of the Sun, p. 93.  
Chap. XIII. Of Currants, p. 96.  
Chap. XIV. Of Spices, viz. Cloves, Mace, Nutmegs, Cinnamon, Ginger, Pomento, etc. their Nature and Operation, p. 101.  
Chap. XV. Of Oil, and its Nature, p. 115.  
Chap. XVI. Of Honey, its Nature and Operation, with some Notes on the Practice of Chemistry, p. 118.  
Chap. XVII. Of Sugar Sugar-Candy and Pan-Sugar, their Nature and Operation, p. 137.  
To prevent and Cure Colds certainly, p. 148.  
Chap. XVIII. Of the four principal Tastes, or th● Bitter, the Saltish, the Sour, and the Sweet Qualities, and their respective Natures, p. 157.  
Chap. XIX. Of Drinks, and first of Canary, p. 170.  
Chap. XX. Of Sherry, p. 179.  
Chap. XXI. Of White-Wine, p. 180.  
Chap. XXII. Of Rhenish-wine, p. 185.  
Chap. XXIII. Of Claret, p. 188.  
Chap. XXIV. Of Cider, its Nature and Operation; and several new ways prescribed how 〈◊〉 make good Cider, p. 195.  
Chap. XXV. Of Mum, its Nature, p. 205.  
Chap. XXVI. Of Coffee, p. 207.  
Chap. XXVII. Of Tea, p. 215.  
Chap. XXVIII. Of Herbs and Salads, both boiled and raw, p. 217.  
What Herbs may properly be mixed in a Salad, as also how to season and eat them to best advantage, p. 219.  
Salads for the Winter, p. 223.  
Of the most proper times for eating of Salads, p. 225▪  
●ow to supply the want of Oil in Salads where Persons do not love it, or can't have it, p. 227.  
Chap XXIX. The best way to make Herb-Pottage, not only in the Spring, but also at all times of the year, p. 229.  
Chap. XXX. The best way to make Diet-Drink with Herbs, Grains, Seeds, etc. or the proper methods of Infusion of Herbs in Beer, Ale, or other Drinks, p. 235.  
Chap. XXXI. Of Salt, its Nature and Vperation, p. 241:  
Chap. XXXII. Of the Scurvy, and its Generation, p. 253.  
Rules and Derections to prevent th● Scurvey, p. 260.  
An Excellent Poul●●●● which cures Burns, Scalded Limbs, Boils, Felons, Tumours, etc. p. 271.  
Another, etc. ibid.▪  
Another, etc. p. 272.  
Another, etc. ibid.  
Another, etc. ibid.  
Another, etc. ibid.  
Observations on the tedious ●ethods of unskilful Chirurgeons, etc. p. 274.  
The Conclusion.    

EVERY Good Housewife MADE A Doctor, etc.  

CHAP. I.  
Of the several Causes of Consumptions: The absurd course of Diet usually ordered in those c●ses. Together with the proper Remedies for Prevention and Cure thereof.  
OF all Diseases, Consumptions, and the like wasting Distempers, are those which hitherto ●ave been most attempted to be cured by Diet, but after such an unnatural and preposterous Method, that those very Rich and chargeable Foods which generally are by the learned prescribed in such cases, are apt, instead of bringing Relief, to increase the Disease, more impair the Powers of Nature, and hasten on Death, rather than a Cure: This, I doubt not, will appear to every considerate Reader, from the following Discourse, wherein I shall first give an account of the common Causes (or occasions) of those Diseases, and in the next place inform my Countrypeople of the proper Remedies for the same, by Foods fitly prepared and adapted for the supply and assistance of Nature in all such Languishments; withal, showing how improper and mischievous those things are which be commonly used and prescribed for that purpose.  
Those Diseases called Consumptions are Decays of the Radical Moisture or Essential Oil, whereby the Natural Heat of the Stomach is so weakened that it cannot make any perfect or due separation of the Meats and Drinks received, from whence arises abundance of evil Juices and Phlegm, so that no good Nourishment is bred, though the Food be never so Rich, and the Drinks never so Cordial, as most that are afflicted in this kind, may find by Experience.  
But though this be th● general Nature of these Diseases, yet they proceed from various Causes and Intemperances'; As,  
1. In some Complexions, from overcharging of Nature with Rich Food, and too great Quantities; or in others, by much drinking of Wine, Brandy and Strong-Drinks, which weaken the Natural Heat, and wash (as it were) Nature away by destroying the action of the Stomach.  
2. In others, these general Decays and Weaknesses are caused by a Sedentary and Idle course of Life, for want of proper Labour and Exercises, over-warm Clothings, soft Featherbeds and excessive Lying in Bed, which always proves pernicious to the Health both of Body and Mind.  
3. There are others that contract these consuming Diseases by their too much Dalliance, and frequenting the Shades of Venus, and that not only by eating and drinking such things as irritate and provoke Nature, but also by their heightened Lusts and depraved Imaginations, force her beyond her Power and Ability, who oft times corrupts her in her very Radi●: Many are caught in this Snare, as well Young-Marriea People, as the more Lewd and Lascivious, which prostitute themselves to common Mixtures; and many of these 〈◊〉 Incurable.  
4. Others fall into these Diseases by Surfeits of Over-labour, excessive Heats or Colds, and the like Accidents.  
5. Some by great Fevers and long Fits of Sickness, which frequently leave behind them such Seeds of Diseases as are not without great difficulty overcome or rooted out.  
6. To some they happen through Grief or Trouble of Mind, a Melancholy Disposition, (one of the worst Companions of Life) violent Passions, as of Love, Hatred and Envy, or a Disp●ir of God's Divine All-sufficient and always Liberal and Indulgent Hand of Providence; and these by pining and fretting, waste their Spirits, and thence the Natural Heat being weakened, is unable to generate a new Supply; and so having first disordered their Minds, the Body is destroyed by Concomitancy●▪ for these two mutually operate upon, and enfluence each other, and you can hardly preserve either of them in its due state, unless you take care of both.  
Lastly, In not a few a Consumptive Constitution is Hereditary, and derived from one or both their Parents; and Th●● of all other is the most hard to Remedy.  
Now let us see what are the Common Methods whereby not only the Vulgar, but also the Learned many times, do think to help these Decays, and what are the usual things prescribed for the sick Party in this case, to restore him to Health and Strength? And that is, when any one is in such a weak languishing state of Body, every one, Doctor, Apothecary, Nurse and all, cry out, You must take Nourishing Meats and Drinks, sup goo● Sack, Old Malago, Tent, or the like, with Yolks of Eggs in i●; and get you good Rich Broths, and Jellies, and Pottages made of Knucles of Veal, and the Flesh of an old Cock beat, and bruised, and battered, and boiled all to pieces; for you must boil your Flesh till it fall off the Bones, that all the goodness and virtue may diffuse itself into the Broth; and be sure you boil it in but little Water, that it may be the Heartier; and keep your Vessel or Pot close covered, that the Virtue may not evaporate, but your Broth may be thick, and good, and strong; for you want Strength (poor Creature!) and Nourishment, and this will cherish you bravely; together with a Rich Cordial of Alchermes that I'll send you: But forget not to keep yourself warm with a Flannel Shirt, and a Waistcoat, Doublet, Coat and Campaign, a Gown over all lined, and a quilted Stomacher for your Breast; and have a care of Cold a Nights, but bathe your tender Nerves in a Down or soft Featherbed, and get a quilted Cap and a Napkin over it for your Head, and draw your Curtains before your Windows and round your Bed, and there lie as long as you can; so Sleep is a great Refresher and Nourisher: And against you rise let there be a Rousing Fire in your Chamber, and a Quart of New-Milk boiled above half away, with Snails in it, and well sweetened with Sugar, and then three or four hours after take a Mess, as much as you can get down, of the aforesaid Cock or Jelly-Broth, with good Spice in it; and after that you may eat a good Chicken, or some other nourishing Flesh tenderly boiled; and when you have done, take a good piece of fat toasted Cheese for Concoction, and wash all down with three or four Glasses of Racy Canary or stout Old Malago, wherein there is stee●ed a Quantity of Raisins of the Son stoned, and a little Saffron to cheer the Heart; but if you do not so well like Snails, then take only Milk hot from the Cow, or Stroke, and swee●ten it with Sugar or Sugar of Roses. And be sure continue this course constantly, and though you are now weak as Water and have no more Spirits than a Dish●● clout, you shall shortly be as strong as Samson, and as lusty as Hercules, who (they say) got fifty Children in one Night.— Probatum est.  
This is the sum and substance of many a learned Lerry, and passes with the Crowd for most Orthodox Doctor Croft, though in truth the whole is altogether Ignorant Tattle, contrary to Nature, Reason and Experience.  
But lest I should seem (like those I oppose) to assert things without Proof or Demonstration, I desire the Reader would with me, impartially consider the unproperness and contrariety of these Prescriptions, to the end intended: First, In their Nature and Composition; and Next, in respect of the undue Preparations.  
1. When Nature languishes, and is already weak and decayed than they cry, You must taken Nourishing things; when ●tis probable most times▪ that the first occasion of the Disease was 〈◊〉 and up●rst●●ty in Meats and Drinks, that did over charge Nature with two much Nou●ish●●●nt. But however, 〈…〉 be what it will, Nature is no● we●k and indisposed, the 〈◊〉 dulled, the Stomach●s Natural 〈◊〉 and digestive Faculty decayed, so that they cannot bear either with great Quantity, nor Foods that are of a strong Quality which ought in the first place to be considered; for Overcharging, either in Quantity or Quality, is generally very prejudicial to those that are in Competent Health, but much more to such as are Sick; This being a most certain Aphorism, That Nature ought at all times to be stronger than the Food, and not the Food too strong for Nature, as in these cases is general, but very absurdly practised; for if there be not a proportionable agreement between the Food and the Stomach, in vain do you expect Relief, but rather thereby Nature is yet further oppressed, and her whole Concord and Tranquillity disordered and destroyed. For whenever the Natural Heat is weak and impotent, the Food ought to be suitable: And to do otherwise, is just as if in very cold Wether, when your Fire is almost quite out, and not above a Spark or two left upon the Hearth, you should cry out, Throw 〈◊〉 an huge ●imber-Log, or bring a B●sh●● or two of larg● round Coals, for 〈◊〉 is 〈◊〉 best Fuel ●hat can be to make 〈…〉 Fire; which is very true; but yet, in this case, instead of increasing your Fire, it will, by its weight and unsuitableness quite put it out; whereas if you had fed it at first with a little Small-Cole, Shave or Chips, you might have nursed it up into a competent Flame, and then, and not before, it would be able to deal with your Coals and your Timber, and turn them into Aliments for its self. The Application is easy, Nothing does more hurt the Health than Disproportion, and to heap together Superfluity of Meats and Drinks, beyond the Power of the Digestive Faculty, especially when they are made strong and fulsome by bad Preparations; and this respect the usual Prescriptions to Consumptive Persons are very much to be blamed. For,  
2. Broths and Pottages made with any kind of Flesh, be it what it will, where 'tis boiled in small Quantities of Water, and the Vessel or ●ot kept close covered, and boiled so long till it becomes soft and a mere Mash, so that it falls from the Bones; such Broths, I say, will become thick, and of a blackish colour, or a stron● unpleasing scent or smell, and of a fulsome nauseating taste, hard of Concoction, and apt to cloy the Stomach; for the much, or overboiling of any sort of Food (especially Fl●sh, which is of its own Nature th● grossest of all Food, and most subject to Putrefaction) does destroy all the good Virtues, and so much the more speedily and certainly when it shall be boiled in small Quantities of Water, and the Vessel kept covered; for thereby the pure volatile Spirit is suffocated, and then presently the sweet Oil of such Food turns strong and ●our for want of the egress and regress of the Air, which is the true Life and Preserver of the essential Spirit, as the Spirit is the Life and Preserver of the sweet Body in every thing, and in whatsoever the Spirit suffers violence, the Balsamic Body and Oil is turned into a strong fulsome substance as is manifested by all fermented Liquors, which if exposed to the open Air, the Spirits will evaporate, and then the sweetness thereof turns sour, and becomes of an heavy dull Nature and Operation. But in the preparation o● a● gross phlegmy Bodies, especially Flesh, the Vessel being open, and having good Water▪ with the free Influences of the Air, keeps the Spirits living, till such Bodies be digested, and the Spirits set at liberty; and then such thing is said to be enough, or rightly prepared: For if such Preparations or Digestions be afterwards continued, the spirituous parts and brisk lively Tinctures become either suffocated or evaporated, let the thing be of what Nature it will; as is manifest in all Preparations, especially in making of Hay, for there, when once the gross phlegmatic Body of the Grass is sufficiently digested or exhaled by the virtue and power of the Sun and Elements, if the Hay be afterwards continued open abroad, the Sun and Air would quickly exhale and destroy the essential Virtues and good Properties also; the very same is to be understood in the Preparation of all sorts of Food  
Furthermore, if the Vessel in which your Food is prepared▪ be close covered whilst it is boiling, such Food is thereby made yet worse; for then those ●●ery sulphurous Fumes▪ and Vapours which are raised by the Fire, and would freely pass away, as you see in a mighty continual Reek or Steem, if the Vessel were uncovered, are stopped and forced back into the Meat, and being of a fiery sharp Nature, and full of gross Humidity, by this Repr●cussion or Confinement, they become gradually more intense and raging, because of the want of the free Influence of the Air, and so sinking down again upon the Meat, do wound the pure volatile Spirits, and not only destroy the natural Colour, Smell and Taste, but also make the Food Lumpish, close, heavy, dull and gross on the Palate, hard of Digestion in the Stomach, generating thick Blood and unwholesome Nourishment; from whence proceed dull Indispositions, and noxious Fumes flying up into the Head.  
For all Cooks and Housewives ought to note and understand, that the digestive Faculty and true Virtue of all Food does consist in the pure spirituous parts, and if any violence be offered or done unto them in the Preparation, ●hen such Food becomes dull, and as it were half dead of Taste; for the Fumes or Vapours which Pots and Vessel, surrounded with the heat of the Fire, do send forth, are of a poisonous pernicious Nature, and contrary to the genuine heat of the Food; as you may perceive, if you take up any sort of Food, when boiled, and presently whilst it is hot, cover it close, which will force those fiery sharp Fumes back, and cause them to re-enter the Food, which will thereby presently become palled, and lose its natural briskness of Taste, Smell and Colour, because the pure Spirits are suffocated, and so such Foods will not only be heavy, and have a dull gross Taste and Smell, but shall be unpleasing both to the palate and Stomach, and harder of Concoction.  
Therefore nothing is more unnatural than for People to eat or drink any kind of Food, whilst those fiery Steams and Fumes are in it, especially such as are weakly Consumptive People; for they Swell the Body, and generate Wind in abundance, send Fumes and Vapours into the He●d, infect the ●hole Mass of Blood with hot sharp Itching Scorbutic Humours: And indeed no sort of Food or Liquors ought to be eaten or drank hotter than the Blood in cold Wether, but in hot Seasons most sorts are best cold, which a little use will make very easy and familiar to every one, let their Stomaches be never so much depraved by Custom, as I have more at large demonstrated in my Way to Health, long Life & Happiness, etc.  
What hath been said of thick strong over-prepared Pottag●s and Broths made of Flesh, the very same ill effects have all or most jellies; for by their improper Mixtures and over preparing they became loathsome, and Nauseates to Nature, even as sick as the languishing Patient that takes them: And the like also may be understood of Snails and Milk boiled till it becomes of a jellous substance, and then lustily sweetened with Sugar or Sugar of Roses (which is ten times worse than common Sugar) being burdensome to the sick Patient's palate and Stomach, very heavy and hard of Concoction, and therefore the use thereof does generally prove of evil Consequence; for undoubtedly if Healthy People should confine themselves to such t●●ngs, they would in a little time bring Disorders upon them, and how profitable they can be then to the sick and weak, or rather how very destructive they must needs prove, may easily be judged.  
But here some will say, Many have been known to recover by or after the eating and drinking of such things.— To which I Answer, That it can never be proved, but is absurd to Reason, that they recovered By such things, but that some may have recovered After them, may be true; for tho' I know them to be improper and dangerous, yet I do not say they are Mortal to all that take them; and if an hundred People be at one time sick of the same Disease, if they had neither D●ctor's Advice nor Physic, there would (no doubt) many of them recover▪ but amongst the Ignorant, when any one happens to escape they attribute the Glory to the Doctor and his I●●scriptions, never considering the Divine Hand of the Lord, nor the secret working Power of his Hand maid ●atu●e, but cry with open Mouth Such or such a Doctor cured me, or e●se I had been i● my 〈◊〉; Or such a Pottage or wehy is a rar● thing, it cured me when all hopes of Life were passed; when in truth neither the Doctor's Prattle, nor the Nauseous Slip-slop contributed any more to the Cure, than the Chattering of a Magpie, or the Roe of a Red Herring.  
But if the People will be cheated, let ●●em; only give me leave to whisper a litter better Advice to the Sons and Daughters of Wisdom, who will be so thankful to Truth, so obedient to Reason, and so kind to Themselves as to hearken unto it; And that is thus, When any Person shall find him or herself indisposed, their Stomaches to grow weak, with a general Disorder through the whole Body, and a decay of Strength, than first of all they ought to look back and consider what manner or course of Life they have driven, as to Temperance or Intemperance in Meats or Drinks, and that both in respect of the Quantity and Quali●y as also their Exercises, and all other Extremes they have enured themselves unto, which none can so well know, or be able to judge of as themselves; and likewise ●o consider the Air he hath lived in▪ where the Disease was bred. And by this Reflection, if it be impartial, serious and considerate, every man will be enabled to guests much more rightly at the Cause and Nature of his Distemper, than any Doctor can by the supposed Magic of the Urinal, Thumbing the uncertain Pulse, or any other of their Whimsical Oracles.  
Having well considered the past Causes, that gave Birth to his present Distemperature, he ought then (gradually) to Alt●r for the better the whole course of his Life, not only in the Nature and Quality of Meats and Drinks, but in their Quantity; as also his Exercises, and the Air, as far as the condition of his Life will admit thereof. For if the same Intemperances', bad Airs and ill regulated Exercises, which were the first original of the Disease, (or rather Worse, as most do make it, by such strong and fulsome Preparations and contrary Mixtures, under the Notion of Helps and Remedies, as aforesaid) be continued, then there can be no rational hope of Cure, either by Medicine or any other way; but change of Food, Exercises and Airs do work wonders, especially when People betakes themselves to mere simple Meats and Drinks that are easier of Concoction, and generate a finer and firmer Substance; for there is less danger in declining strong Foods and Drinks, and using meaner, than in going from mean and simple to rich and strong▪ for this Alteration of Food, Drinks and Exercises, has power to alter, and does actually change the whole Humour and Constitution, according to the nature and sympathy of the Food, for the better or worse: And this not only manifest in the Humane Nature, but also in Beasts; for if the Food, Drinks, Air and Exercises be innocent and natural▪ than good Blood is generated, whence proceed pure fine Spirits, and the sweet Oil or Radical Moisture burns clear and bright, and consequently the whole Disposition is airy, brisk and pleasant.  
And if this good state of Body happen in Beasts, as often it does, than such are of lively Dispositions, and their flesh proves tender sweet and delicate, and full of brisk Spirits, by reason of the plenty of which it will take Salt greedily: But on the contrary, if any sort of cattle be fed plentifully with Flesh (as some Creatures will eat it, as Swine▪ and the like) or with other strong Food, and kept close up that they cannot exercise their bodies in the open Air, as Swine in Sties, and Ho●ses in their close hot Stables, than their Blood becomes very thick and waterish and the whole Humours of their Bodies are gross tending towards putrefaction, their flesh Rank, and more fulsome than such as divert themselves in open airy places▪ neither will such flesh take Salt so well, nor keep so long from 〈◊〉.  
These things ought to be considered by all People, but more especially by such whose ●ea●th is already wounded by any of the aforesaid Accidents, but are too seldom thought of, either by the Learned or the common People; but presently when they find themselves, or their Friends, or Patients disordered, as aforesaid, they muster up all the Richest sorts of Food, and most Cordial Drinks they can think of; and to mend the matter, or rather to complete their own Tragady, they take the general Advice of some Lip-Learned Doctors, together with the no less infallible Counsel of the good Dame and Sage Mistress Nu●se, what sorts of Meats and Drinks are most suitable to recover them out of their wasting Condition; and then (as every body is either a Fool or a Physician) One adviseth ●●llies that are compounded of several Ingredients of disagreeing Natures, and to be boiled stewed or baked so and so abundantly; Another directs A●●s Milk, which perhaps may prove a Cure by ●●mpath; The Third will have Cows Mink, (but for all Loves, let it be a Red ones, though you go to Highgate for it) and Snales boiled in it; but be sure wash them well with Salt for you know Man was made of the Slime (for so I am told the Word in H●brew signifies, rather than Dust) of the Earth; and if they should not be well scoured, they might happen to be too like him, and do him too much Good, and so spoil the Doctor's Practice) and when you have carefully Rinsed away all that's good of them, yet still to prevent any suspicion of Virtue from them, Boyl them stoutly to a tough thick substance, and sweeten them with Sugar till they are able to Cloy the Stomach of an Horse; And if this will not recover the Co ●sumptive Creature bespeak the Sex on and the Flannel-Shroud; for there's no withstanding of Death.  
But upon this, up starts a Politic paty Man-Le●ch, who always farts in Plush, and never strokes his Beard without an Aphorism of Hypocrates, and he cries out, Ho●d a Blow my Master! stop the Kn●ll; there's Life in a Muscle: Let me tell you what you shall do, you see the poor Soul wants Flesh and good Heartening things, therefore get me a dozen or two of Cock-Sparrows, a brace of Turtle-Doves, taken just as they are Billing, and a parcel of Eringo-Roots, and boil them in a Gallon of Alicant, till it is wasted to a Quart, and then let him sup up Meat and Broth with a Boon Courage, and it shall make him as lusty as old Father Aeson, when he came out of the Life-renewing Balneo.— You prate like an old Gallientical Coxcomb (says a young spruce Gallant that stood by, and affected the Title of Vertuoso I'll have a lusty Ram sent for, and first let the sick Patient have a Vein opened, and at the same instant broach the Sheep on the Right Shoulder, and by Transfusion of his Blood into the Man, you shall presently see him restored, and g●ow as hail a●d s●u●d as a Trout▪— But then a Chemist interposes, and tells them, None of these dull stale galenical Devices are sufficient, 'tis only Philosophy by Fire must do the Feat; therefore (quoth he) reach me my Crucible, and an Ounce of Aurum Potabile dissolved in the Yolk of a newlaid Phoenixes Egg, with a Dram of Quicksilver, and a little of the Tincture of the Sun; let this be distilled seven days in Balneo Mariae, when Jupiter beholds Venus with a friendly Aspect, and whilst the Moon is in Leo, let the Patient take three Drops every four hours; and then I'll venture fourteen years Purchase upon his Life, though he were already as much stricken in years as old Father Parr, that outlived six couple of Ravens.  
The serious Reader, I hope, will pardon this Mirth; for in earnest, 'tis but the effect of those Extravagances which some Pretenders to Science daily impose upon the credulous Vulgar; An hundred such Ridiculous Whimsies being advanced, as the Products of famous Skill, though they carry neither Reason, Sense nor Possibility with them, but are mere ignorant fraudulent Fancies, the Authors knowing nothing (as they ought to do) of God Nature or Themselves; and by their Talk, poor silly People being persuaded, that they want Nourishment, heap up all the rich costly things they can get or think of, with which and the unnatural Preparations thereof they overload and oppress the weak Heats and Stomaches of the Sick so that they do not only continue the Diseases, but increase them, forgetting that sure and stable Rule of Health and Temperance, That weak Heats and languishing Nature's o●ght to have simple innocent Meats and Drinks, of a Nature proportionable.  
These mischievous Opinions, abominable Customs and irregular Courses have much grieved me, when I have considered and consulted the innocent Ways of God in Nature, which hath moved and stirred me up to set down for a general benefit and service, Food, Drinks and Preparations more natural and agreeable to the Stomaches of sick and languishing Persons; And since Milk, and its Product and Compounds, is one of the most excellent things i● that kind, when rightly ordered, therefore I shall begin with That.   

CHAP. II.  
The Nature of Milk, and the best ways of Preparing and Cooking it.  
MILK in its own Nature is of a brave mild friendly nature and operation; for in this sublime Liquor, or rather Nectar, the Qualities of Nature seems to stand in Equality, and therefore it may justly be called Concord, or a thing which God and his Handmaid Nature hath befriended with all the good Virtues of the Animal Kingdom, having no manifest Quality that does too violently predominate, but is as well in its inward Nature, as its outward Colour, the Emblem of Innocence, deriving that aimable and pleasant Candour from a Glea●● of the divine Light; and therefore 'tis said, The Holy Land did flow with Milk and Honey.  
'tis certainly an incomparable Food, and being joined or mixed with Bread or the Flower of Wheat, hath the first place of all Victuals, and is a Foundation to all good Nourishment, there being so great an agreement in Nature between the Flower of Wheat and Milk, that when they are incorporated together, there is hardly any Food of equal Excellency, or that will gratify Nature to that degree; for it does not only afford a brave friendly Nourishment, but also of a strong firm Substance, standing nearest the Centre of UNITY, (whence is derived all Perfection) of any sort of Food, except Bread; and for this cause it is so much desired by Children, and the Young Ones of most other Creatures.  

How Milk ought to be eaten as it is entire.  
The best way for weak sickly Consumptive People to eat Milk Raw, as they call it, or not altered, is after this manner, Take a Pint (or what quantity you please) of New-Milk from the Cow, let it stand open to the Air two hours, and then skim the thick or creamy my substance off the top thereof, and put it by, but the rest of the thin Milk that remains, eat with well baked Bread; but remember you neither Toast your Bread nor warm your Milk, except the season be cold, and then you may warm your Milk as hot as your Blood, but do not then toast your Bread, for it does it much harm; or if you please, you may eat Biscuit with your Milk, but be sure you do not eat too great aquantity at once; and sometimes it will do well to mix a little Water with your Milk, and then you may sweeten it with good White Sugar; if you make this your whole Food, you may eat thereof three times a day; for 'tis a brave sort of Diet, and will gallantly support Nature, and recover lost Strength, but than you ought to continue it for 6, 8, or 12 Months, or else you cannot prove it; for Diseases that have been several Months or Years a generating, and have crept on by degrees, cannot be recovered in a Moment, as some vainly and ignorantly imagine, but will require the like Graduation in the Cure.   

An excellent way of preparing Milk with Wheat-Flower.  
Take two thirds of new-Milk, after it has stood six or seven hours from the time 'tis milked, and add thereto one third part of River or Spring-Water, set it on a quick clear fire, then take some good Wheat-Flower and temper it with either Milk or Water into a Batter, and when you see your Milk ready to boil, but before it does actually boil, put in your thickening, and stir it a little while, and when it is again just ready to boil take it off, and add Bread and Salt to it, as much as you please, and remember to let it stand in the Dish or Platter you put it out into, a while to cool, but do not lad it with your Spoon, as the manner is, but let it cool of itself, without any such Motion, which will make it much sweeter than it will do when it is cooled with a Spoon.  
A good Spoonful of Flower is sufficient to thicken a full Pint of Milk and Water, and so proportionably, but you may make it either thicker or thinner, as you like it, but it is best about the thickness of ordinary Milk-Pottage, and will eat sweetest, and be easiest of Concoction. This sort of Food affords a Nourishment of a firm Substance, does neither bind nor loosen the Body, but keeps it in good order, and breeds good Blood and fine Spirits, whence brisk and lively Dispositions proceed; this way of Preparation being much more friendly to Nature than the common way of Boiling, and the continual eating thereof will have better success, and never tyre or cloy the Stomach.   

Another good way of ordering Milk.  
Take two thirds of Milk and one of Water, add what quantity of Oatmeal you please, or as you would have it in thickness, but inclining to thin is best, set it in your Sawcepan on a fire that is quick and clear, and when it begins to rise or make a show of boiling, take it off, and brew it in two Vessels or Juggs for that purpose eight or ten times to and fro, which will cause the fine Flower of the Oatmeal to give itself forth, and incorporate with the Milk; then put it again into your Sawcepan, and set it on the Fire, and as soon as it is again ready to boil up, take it off, and let it stand a little, if you would have it fine (for the Husky or Branny part of the Oatmeal will sink to the bottom) then add Bread and Salt, and let it stand in your Platter or Pottinger till it be Bloodwarm, without causing any Motion to cool it. This is an excellent sort of Pottage, very friendly and agreeable to weak Natures▪ affording a good firm Nourishment, and easy of Concoction.  
But if you are not satisfied that this will afford sufficient Nourishment, than you may between while, both in this Pottage, and also in the beforementioned Flowered Milk when you are minded to regale yourself with a Rich Dish, add one Newlaid Egg to a Pint, or a Pint and half, after this manner, viz. when your Milk and Water is ready to boil, have your Thickening ready, with the Egg or eggs beaten in it, and put it in, as aforesaid.  
So when you would add Eggs to Milk-Pottage, first put your Milk and Water into your Sawcepan, then take one spoonful of good Oatmeal newly make or growned, and beat it up with your Egg or Eggs, with either a little Water or Milk, and when it is ready to boil, stir it in, as you did in Flower'd-Milk, and then you will have no occasion to brew it, as aforesaid. This is also a brave substantial friendly Food, and the Composition agreeable, there being no variation made by the Ingredients, but they embrace and incorporate themselves mutually as one entire Body. However, in all the aforesaid Milk-Meats you ought to add some well baked Bread, and a little Salt, but do not by any means put Sugar in any of these Pottages; for Sugar is apt to obstruct the Stomach, hinder Concoction, fur the Passages, and dull the edge of the Appetite; it also heats the Blood, and causeth a sharp itching Humour to possess it; for this cause the frequent eating of it in our common Food, doth prove of evil consequence to our Northern Bodies, but more especially to Children and Sickly weak People; the ●ame is to be understood of Spanish Fruits, and the Spices that come from the East-Indies, they all growing in Countries as different from ours as Summer is to Winter; and therefore ●hose that do indulge themselves with such things may daily find the Evil effects thereof, as I have more particularly demonstrated in The Way to Health, etc. But when there shall be occasion or reason for the sweetening of any kind of Food or Drinks, let it be done with good White Sugar, and not with Syrups as the custom of most is.  
Milk boiled entire or by itself, is nothing so commendable as when it is mixed with Water, Flower, Oatmeal, as aforesaid, being not so easy of Concoction, nor of so cleansing a Quality.  
Note also, That Milk is best the first half year after the Cow hath calved, but not so good after taking Bull or Conception, nor so wholesome either for the ●ickly or the healthy; consider women's Milk after they conceive again with Child, is it so good as before? none will pretend it: Therefore those that have a mind to prove the Virtues of a Milk-Diet, let them begin in the Spring, viz. March or April, take their Milk from Cows newly calved, not from through-milched Cows, though this last sort is the thickest, but I advise none to esteem of Milk for that Property.  
There is yet another Preparation of Milk, called Furmety, viz. Milk and Wheat, which are in themselves two excellent things whilst they remain entire, but when mixed and made into Furmety, according to custom, with Spanish Fruit, Sugar and Spice, it is no commendable Preparation of Food; for first, the long boiling of the Wheat destroys not only the brisk spirituous Virtues, but also the firm binding substantial Essence, so that thereby it becomes weak, feeble and insipid: 'Tis true, being mixed with Flower and foreign Ingredients, it may be made a pretty pleasing grateful food, but the common frequent eating thereof will quickly tyre and glut the Stomach, by reason of the improper Preparation and Mixtures; therefore 'tis nothing so good as plain Flower, Milk and Water, the same is to be understood of Wheat ●utier'd and suga●r'd.   

Of Boniclapper, its Nature & Operation.  
AMong the various sorts of Milk-Meat▪ I thought good to mention this, which though last spoken of deserves the first place, for its excellent use and virtue. Boniclapper is nothing else but Milk that has stood till it was sour, and become of a thick slippy substance, which will be in twenty four hours after it is milked, or thereabouts, if the weather be very hot, not else; but if it be put into Vessels in which Milk use to be soured, it will be done sooner; and being of a pleasant sowrish Taste, and thick slippy Substance, it must be eaten only with Bread, especially by Consumptive People; it is a brave Noble Food both for healthy and unhealthy, especially for all that are troubled or subject to any kind of Stoppages; for it it powerfully openeth the Breast and Passages, its easy of Concoction, and helps to digest all hard or sweeter foods, and makes them easy; it also cools and cleanseth the whole Body, and renders it brisk and lively, quenc●eth Thirst to admiration; and we know no sort of Milk-meat or other spoon-meat, that is so proper and beneficial for Consumptive and languishing People, as this; for tho' Nature be much debilitated, and the natural Heat wasted and the Spirit dulled, yet this sort of Food will be light and easy on the Stomach, and be easily separated, and consequently digested, when new sweet creamy Milk cannot; for there is a ferment awakened in Milk by standing, viz. out of its own Body, which does tend to separation, and indeed is a high degree of Digestion, which hath a near simile with the ferment and separative Quality of the Stomach; for in this time of standing, the Milk, by virtue of its own ferment, hath done that which is left for the Stomach to do, when Milk is eaten sweet and new; and indeed if the Stomaches of those that eat new sweet creamy Milk, be not in good habit and case, it cannot possibly make so gentle, mild or friendly fermentation or digestion, as this sort of Milk does by virtue of its own ●erment; for most distempered People's Stomaches are so much depraved, through ill habits, that they are too sour, with a keen sharp matter, which doth in a moment's time so violently coagulate and turn the creamy part into a thick curd or hard substnace, and the Wheyie parts into a sharp keen Liquor, both which are very hurtful to Nature; Others Stomaches are dull and flat, the ferment, separative and digestive Faculties have (as it were) lost their brisk Liveliness and Power, so that it cannot make any true separation or digestion, but the creamy and thick parts of the Milk and other Food, doth not only fur and obstruct the Passages, but they naturally generate crude ●lumors, evil Juices, dull heavy Spirits, and bad Blood; for this cause those People are dull, heavy and indisposed, full of disorders and pain, apt to be oppressed at the Stomach, especially after eating▪ indeed they are not well full nor fasting; wherefore we have advised such People, if they betake themselves to a Mild-Diet, to let their Mild stand three or four hours, or more, and then take off the ●op, which doth contain the thick or creamy substance, by which means the Milk becomes more easily digested and separated.  
But here ●ome will be ready to say, That this soured Milk will not agree with the Stomach, nor be pleasant to the Palate. This may be true at first; for Nature seems to dislike with all changes, though it be for the better, but a little custom and use will salve this sore, and make it not only familiar, but most pleasant to the Stomach and Palate; and he or she that have neither patienc● nor wisdom to admit of a little inconveniency, shall never have opportunity to know the true intrinsic Virtue of any thing, nor its nature or Operation. We know no Reason in Nature why people should dislike with this soured Food, seeing most desire it in one degree or other, more especially such as have disordered Stomaches and weak Heats? for the help whereof Vinegar, Verjuice, the Juice of Lemmones, Oranges, and many the like sharp keen Juices have been invented & mixed with Food, and no doubt to good advantage, if order be observed therein because all such things have some affinity with the ferment 〈◊〉 Stomach, or rather with the separative Property▪ therefore Food, eaten, in which a proper quantity of such Juices are mixed will be easier, and digest sooner than a like quantity of food will do, in which there is none. But still, this soured Milk hath a far nearer affinity both to the ferment, separative and digestive Faculties of the Stomach, than any of the sharp Juices last mentioned; for in this Milk, as is said before, there is a real ferment and separative Quality arises and proceeds out of its own body, and from the Animal Spirits therein contained, which hath much agreement with the Stomach, and above half the Work is done to Nature's hand. And before People do envigh against this innocent simple Food, they should consider, that the Stomach and natural Heat cannot make any separation or digestion of any Food before there is a souring or fermentation? This is most manifest in all Chemical Operations and Preparations▪ the spirituous parts will not separate from the gross body until such Menstrums are fermented, and become somewhat keen or sour, but than it must not be too keen or sharp, for the the Spirit will suffer, and receive hurt; the same in some degree is to be observed in all soured Food▪ it most not be too keen or sharp, for than it will heat the Blood and irritate the original or sleeping Poisons in the Body? but when this Sour Quality is moderate in any thing, or properly mixed, it's a gleam of the life, and the true delight of the Spirit, it opposeth the fierceness of the Bi●ter and Astringent Properties, and quickens and enlivens the Sweet, and is the quickening Power in every thing, all things are heavy, dull and flat when this Quality is impotent.    

CHAP. III.  
Of Water-Gruel.  
ANother thing very proper for weak Consumptive Natures, is Water-Gruel, and that is best which is made after this manner, viz. Take a quart of River or Spring-Water, add to it one spoonful and an half of good Oatmeal newly made or growned, being stirred well together, set it on a clear Fire, when it is rising, or just ready to boil, take it off, and brew it out of one thing into another, and so back again, as you do Buttered Ale, than set it on the fire again till it be ready to boil, but before it do so, take it off, and let it stand a while in the Swacepan▪ that the course Husks of the Oatmeal may sink to the bottom, and then putting it out, add Bread and Salt, or if you please, Bread, Salt and Butter, stirring it about well until your Butter be melted, that it may not turn to Oil, and then let it stand without any further stirring till it be but Bloodwarm; for much stirring or motion to cool it, does ofttimes offer some violence to the pure Spirits; for all Gruels, Pottages and Milk-meats, if they are let stand after they are prepared and put into the Dish or Platter, do naturally, as it were, skin over, which does retain and keep in the pure Balsamic V●rtues, but will not confine the fierce furious Fires of Saturn and Mars, which being Aliens to the good Virtues of such Food, will not continue in it any longer than forced by the continual heat of the Fire, wherefore of their own accord they hastily fly away. Besides, it is to be noted, that continual Motion in all Liquid Bodies destroys and causes to evaporate the essential Spirits and good Virtues thereof. An Example of this we have in that Milk Women carry about two or three Miles in their Pails, shaking and measuring of it out by degrees, causing thereby, as it were, a continual Motion, which makes the Volatile Spirits to evaporate, and then presently the sweet Body and oily Quality is thereby wounded, and the Milk becomes thin and Wheyish, and it will not afford half the quantity of Cream, as Milk will do that is set to cream as soon as 'tis milked; for that skinny substance that all Milk covers itself with, does keep in the pure essential Spirits, whereby the sweet Oily Body is preserved in its full Virtue and Strength; for the Volatile Spirit is the true Life of the Balsamic B●dy, and the Oily Body or sweet Quality in all things is the House or Habitation of the Volatile Spirits; therefore if one be destroyed the other cannot subsist, but immediately dyeth. Likewise all violent Heat and Cold doth the same; for which cause in cold frosty Wether the like quantity of Cream will no● make above two thirds of the Butter as it will do in warm moderate Seasons, and it will be much longer 〈◊〉 coming: The like in some degree is to be understood when the Season is extreme hot; for hot weather too v●olently evaporates the volatile Spirits, and causes the sweet Body to sour, as the cold condenses the spirituous parts, whereby they become less volatile, which hinders separation, so that the oily fat Quality in the Milk cannot rise to the top in such quantity as in warm moderate Seasons.  
For this cause all Dairy-Women ought to have such Milk-Houses as are Warm in the Winter and Cold in the Summer; for in cold Wether most Women are forced to let their Milk stand a long time, viz. several days, or else they will have a very small quantity of Cream; which long standing of Milk to get the more Cream, does awaken the original Fires, viz. the astringent and bitter Qualities; for which reason most of the Butter made in the Winter has a kind of sour bitter Taste, which does not proceed from the Hay or Grass, as some suppose, but from the long standing of the Milk, as aforesaid. For Butter made in Winter, if the Milk stand no longer than in Summer, will be very good and sweet: And if the Hay had any such nature to cause a sour bitter Taste, how comes it to pace, that the Flesh of all Beasts fatted in the Stall in the Winter with Hay, is not only more firm, but also far sweeter, and fuller of brisk lively Spirits than in Summer, and therefore will take Salt much better, and afford a firmer Nourishment, and also continue sound and good much longer.  
Note also, That Boiled Milk is nothing so good as either raw or scalded; for the boiling it does not only fix it, and thereby render it more stopping and harder of Concoction, but also the violent Motion of boiling does, as it were totally destroy the volatile spirit, so that if boiled never so little, it will not afterwards afford any Cream but only a thin skin; for the volatile Spirit is so pure and subtle that it will not endure any harsh or violent Motion, and so soon as that delicate Spirit is wounded, the sweet Quality of fa● Oil losing its Power and Virtue, passeth away in an invisible vapour or●fume, ●nsensible to the Preparers; and this is the true cause why boiled Milk will not cream; whereas if you take Milk and scald it (but it must be done to a point, not too hot) and then take it off the Fire and let it stand in the same Vessel, and there will arise a brave thick clouted Cream, which way many use in the West parts of England, and therewith make very good Butter; but if you let your Milk be too hot, it will not cream to such advantage as otherwise. And this I hope may be a sufficient demonstration to the good Dame and provident Housewife, that the boiling of Milk entire, or by itself, is not proper, especially for weak Consumptive Persons, or Children, but that it is much better for Health, and to prevent Windy Diseases, and breed good Blood and Nourishment, to eat it raw, or altered with Flower, as above directed. And if Women were so wise and kind to themselves and their Children, as to eat such Foods as are proper both in Quality and Quantity, properly mixed and duly prepared, and to give their Children no other, we should quickly have a healthier Generation, and not be so strangely afflicted with such variety of torturing Diseases, nor have such great Numbers snatched away with immature Deaths. And for their benefit herein, if they are not too foolish to learn, and too froward to be taught, I will here add,  

A very excellent healthy Food for all sorts of Ages, but more especially for Children and sickly People.  
Take a quart of good Water, two full Spoonfuls of Wheat Flower, and two or three Eggs, beat the Eggs and Flower together with some Water, and when the Water is ready to boil, but before it quite boil, stir in your batter or thickening, and keep stirring it till it be ready to boil, by which time it will be sufficiently thick; then take it off, and add to it only Salt and Bread, and let it stand and cool without your help, till it become about as warm as Milk from the Cow, and so eat it. If you wnat Eggs, you may instead thereof add But●er after the Water and Flower is so prepared with Bread and Salt, but Eggs are best.  
This is a curious clean sweet Food, affords a brave sound Nourishment, opens all the Passages, breeds good Blood and pure brisk Spirits, is pleasant unto the Palate, grateful to the Stomach, and easy of Concoction; the common use thereof sweetens the Blood, and all the Humours, prevents Windy Distempers, and griping pains, both of the Stomach and Bowels, having no manifest Quality that does too violently predominate, all the Ingredients bearing a simile with each other, so that it may justly challenge the first place of all Spoon-Meats or Pap, and is the next Food to Breast-Milk for Children, and indeed oftentimes much better, by reason of the many Diseases and improper Foods many Women are subject to, or use. 'Tis also a special Diet for Consumptive people, if they will keep constant to it for one half year or a twelve Month, eating nothing else, and drinking every day two or three glasses of clear well brewed Ale, with gentle Exercise, and sweet clean hard Beds, and moderate Clothing. But remember that you do not add any other Ingredients to this sort of Food, as Sugar, Spices, Fruits, or the like, for than it will become of another nature and operation, and that for the worse, as I have demonstrated in the Chapter of Mixtures of Foods, in my Book entitled, The way to Health, long Life and Happiness, etc.  
It is further to be noted, that this sort of Spoon-meat, and also all others, ought to be made rather thin than thick; for in such Foods the Liquid Element ought to predominate, whether it be Milk or Water, else the pure spirituous parts being in a degree suffocated, they will become dull on the Palate and heavy on the Stomach; therefore all Pottages and Spoon-meats that are made thin, and quick prepared, are sweeter and brisker on the Palate, and easier of Digestion, as being more spirituous than those that are thick and long a doing. And as all Foods that are properly mixed, and a due order observed in the Preparation, will have no manifest Taste or strong Hugo, as all others have, but on the contrary, will yield a pleasant friendly Taste, and Smell most grateful; so you may observe of all Meats and Drinks, whose Taste and Smell are innocent and fine, they never cause any loathing in Nature, because there is no manifest Quality that does too violently predominate, but all the Properties or Tastes seem to be united, or stand in equal weight and measure; for where any doth bear sway, it will quickly awaken its Likeness, whence Discord, and an unequal motion ariseth, and thence a loathing follows; for in Sickness, all such Meats and Drinks as were the original of the Disease, the very sight and smell thereof is offensive, and for that reason English People eating much Flesh and strong Drink in Health, do for the most part perfectly loath and abominate such things in Sickness, desiring Water and more simple Foods, wherein wise Nature indicateth and points out the proper Diet in such cases, if Men would but hearken unto her.    

CHAP. IU.  
Of Flesh Broths.  
IF sick languishing People must eat Flesh, which in my opinion is nothing so proper to recover lost Health and Strength, as more simple innocent Foods, for several Reasons; As, 1st. Because it is that which most, both Young and Old at all other times make their chief Food, and consequently from thence their Distempers mostly proceed. 2dly, 'Tis of a gross Phlegmatic nature and operation, of a moist oily Quality, therefore harder of Concoction than many other sorts of Food, whereby it generates gross Humours and thick Blood. 3dly, The Beasts are often distempered, sometimes for want of care and skill in their Keepers, at other times by hot Wether and much driving they are surfeited, and yet killed before they have recovered those Disorders. 4thly, By being killed in improper Seasons, viz. in the declining part of the year, as August, September and October, at which time the central heat in all things decays, and the Flesh of all Beasts becomes more gross, their fat soft, greasy and full of Phlegm and corrupt Juices; and therefore Flesh will not take Salt nor keep so well then as at other times, and also, 'tis then their time of Generation and Uncleanness, which renders it still more dangerous and pernicious. However, the common eating of almost all sorts of Flesh, both clean and unclean, hath gotten such a dominion in Man, that all that I can say is little likely to abate those furious Inclinations; therefore if the Sick will still follow Custom, and gratify his Humour, and must needs have his fleshpots and Flesh-Broths, we shall give some directions for the best ordering thereof, which is done after this manner, VIZ.  
Let your Flesh be fresh killed, and otherways good, whether Fowls, Beef or Mutton; First, make your Water boil, then have your Flesh ready to put in, and increase your Fire that it may not lie long in the Water before it boils again; and let your Pot or Vessel be large that it may hold a sufficient quantity of Water, that the flesh may swim freely; and when it boils take your Potlid off, that the sulphurous fiery Fumes may pass freely away, and the Air have its free Influences upon it; for that Element is the true Life of the Spirit, and by having plenty of Water, the flesh is cleansed from its gross Impurities, which the best of Flesh is subject to; likewise you ought to keep a brisk clear Fire, that there be no intermission in the boiling, which would deaden or flatten the spirituous parts, so that the Meat will become dull and of an heavy operation, and grosser nourishment; nor ought you to let it boil too long; for Flesh over-prepared is of an heavy dull nature, and ungrateful to the Palate and Stomach.  
All Broths made of Flesh ought to be thin, brisk and full of Spirits, which render them easy of Concoction, and breed thin pure Blood. Many People imagine Flesh not only the most Nourishing, but also the Substantialst Food; but this must be numbered amongst Vulgar Errors, it is indeed endued with abundance of gross Phlegmatic and corrupt Juices, and therefore those that make it their chief Victuals are most obnoxious to gross Scorbutic Humours in their Blood, whence proceed very impure Spirits, and burdensome unactive Dispositions, whic● by degrees occasion and increase man Diseases; for all Flesh is of a moi● Phlegmy Nature, subject to Putrifacti●on; and therefore such as make i● their common Food are forced to dri●● much either with or after it, or 〈◊〉 lest they accustom themselves so 〈◊〉 do, which much increases the aforesaid Inconveniences and Distempers But on the contrary, many sorts o● Fruits, Grains, Herbs and Seeds are for the most part endued with a far mor● firm, dry and cleaner Nourishment free from Corruption, and yielding more sublime Spirits. And there as much difference between Them a●● Flesh as there is between Grass and Cor● for true it is, Grass generates mor● Humours, viz. flesh and fat, and in shorter time in all cattle, but then suc● flesh is more soft, greasy, phlegmatic and subject to Putrefaction, than that which is fed with Hay and Corn.  
For this cause, the Flesh of all Beasts is much better in Winter than in Summer; and also all Grains and Fruits when the Sun and Elements have dried up and exhaled the gross cold phlegmy parts, are thereby made substantial, warming, and full of brisk lively Spirits, and will keep good several years without the help of Art; for the gross Humidity being purged away, their own innate Salt and spirituous Virtues preserve them; but Flesh cannot be kept without Salt, nor with it but for a little season. So that most Men, as well the ignorant as the learned, are deceived, when they fancy F●esh to be a more substantial warming Food than Fruits, Grains, Milk, Herbs, etc. for Experience will tell us that Bread, Bu●ter, Cheese, flowered Milk and Water, Raw Herbs in their Seasons made into Salads, mixed with Oil, Salt and Vinegar, and the like, are not only cleaner Foods, but more substantial, affording a more cheering and warming Nourishment, and all that have ever lived on them for any competent time, do find themselves not so subject to Coldness and Qualms at their Stomaches, as those that frequertly eat Flesh; for all sorts of Foods that are in their own Nature clean, dry, and free from gross phlegmatic Juices, will not only keep longer from Purifaction without the Body, but they afford a cleaner and more solid Nourishment, in the Body, warming, cheering, exhilirating and increasing the Spirits, whence proceeds an healthy vigorous Constitution of Body, strong and active Limbs, good Stomach and free Digestion; for always the more you imitate Nature in the Choice and Preparation of Food, the more useful it will be to you: For many Distempers, especially that general one, (The Wind,) which few that outlive Youth are free from, are chiefly caused through bad Preparations and improper Mixtures, or excess in Quantity or Quality of Food; which Defects are not to be remedied without great Wisdom and Temperance. But those that have not the knowledge and measure of their own Natures and Complexions, nor have seriously considered the intrinsic Qualities of what they eat o● drink, 'tis no wonder if their Thoughts or Imaginations are wrong (for blind men will stumble) so that what they think is best and most profitable for the Health of their Bodies and Minds, Proves the contrary. An Example we have in People's eating of Food hot from the Fire, or out of the Pot or Oven, they cry out, The Meat will grow cold and be spoiled, and there is little or no virtue in it if the fiery heat be g●ne; Others are for Boiling their Food and Pottages very much, until they become unpleasant for Sight, Taste and Smell, and grow thick, gross and dull; Others there be that think themselves brave Doctors or Cooks, when they mix ten or twenty rich things together, crying, The more and the Richer, the better, as if they were to make Mithridate in their Bellies. All which, and many other the like preposterous Conceits and unnatural Ways, serve only to wound their Healths still more and more, as first to Contract, and afterwards to Continue and Increase great numbers of Diseases.   

CHHP. V.  
Of Flumery, its nature and operation.  
FLumery is the ancient Gruel the Britain's used to eat, and the use of it is still continued amongst the Welsh; it is made after this manner; Take two or three spoonfuls of Oatmeal, more of less, and put into it a convenient quantity of Water, and let it stand until it begin to be sowrish, th●● ta●e this Water and Oatmeal and put it into a Vessel▪ stirring it, and make it boiling hot with a quick Fire, and when it begins to rise, brew it to and fro with your Ladle, to keep it from boiling, this do about five or six Minut●s, and th●n take it off the Fire, for it is prepared to the highest degree. The Br●●●ains and those that now eat this 〈◊〉 of Gruel, had and have various ●●ys of eating it, viz. to mix Al● amongst it, and so eat it with Bread, o●hers Milk, Cream, and the like, which Mixtures are not much amiss; but in my judgement those that have regard to their Healths, Strength, and brisk lively Dispositions, or such as eat it to open, cleanse, and help the digestive Faculty, and to remove offensive Matter from the Stomach, aught to eat this sort of sour Gruel only with Bread; for thereby it more powerfully removes the Obstructions of the Breast, helps the natural Heat, strengthens the Stomach, cools th● whole Body, openeth the Passages, and makes the Body lightsome and airy. This is a most commendable Gruel to be eaten for a Breakfast in all hot Seasons and Climates; for the sourness, or the fermentation doth so aptly fit it to the Stomach, and has, as it were, digested all tough or slimy matter, so that it becomes easily separated, and so passes away more quick and free, leaving no Dregs behing it that doth either fur or obstruct 〈◊〉 Passages, which most sweet foods are 〈◊〉 to, especially when any shall exceed in Quantity. I commend this sort of Gruel to all weak Stomached People, and to such whose Breast and Passages are fur'd and obstructed by sweet, tough or Phlegmy matter.  
There is also another way of making this Gruel, used chiefly among the wanton Gentry, viz. they take Water and Oatmeal, as is before mentioned, and let it stand a day, more or less, as they think fit, than they pour off that Water and put on fresh; some will do this four, five, six, seven, eight or nine times one after another, letting each Water remain on the Oatmeal a certain time, than they take it and boil it up, and mix it with Milk, Cream and the like: But this way is nothing so brisk, lightsome and lively as the former; for Oatmeal hath passed through, in its Preparation, a certain fermentation or digestion, by which the gross body in the Oats is opened, and the more internal or central Virtues become thereby volatile, so that it readily gives forth its virtue when it is committed to the great Menstrum, viz. Water, even as Malt doth, though not to that degree, because the digestion or fermentation is not so high; but being washed with several Wa●●r, it becomes thereby stupid and destitute of all its good Qualities; nay, the very Air will exhale and draw forth the more spirituous parts of all Flower, if exposed to it; though the Grain have never passed through any fermentation or digestion, as the Flower of Wheat, which is the strongest, and of the best substance of any others; for this cause, Flower that hath been growned five or six Weeks, or more, though it be kept close in Sacks, will not make so sweet nor so moist pleasant Bread as that which is newly growned; therefore all Bread in London does eat drier and harsher than Bread in the Country that is made two or three days after the Wheat is growned; for so soon as any Grain is bruised or broken into a powdery substance, the essential Spirits become thereby, as it were, violated, and liable to evaporation; for they are so subtle, quick and penetrating that nothing can hold or continue them, but of necessity they either evaporate or become suffocated, if enclosed by any thing: Therefore all Gruels ought to be made with new grown●d Oatmeal, and Bread with new-growned Flower; but this way does not please, neither is it so profitable for those that make a Trade of selling Meal; for Meal new growned will not so freely separate from the Branny substance, nor yield so much Flower; but lying a while after it is growned, makes a kind of Distillation, or giving way, that the branny parts, as is said before, are easier to be separated, and the flowery parts seem ●iner to the Nice Da●es, but the Bread made of such Meal is nothing so good and balsamic, or at least not so opening nor cleansing; besides, or Flower in a little time will from its own Body generate Worms, which comes to pass by reason of the Essential Spirits and pure volatile Salt is wounded, suffocated or evaporated; but all sorts of Grain kept entire and not violated, will remain sound and good a long time; and if the essential Spirits and sweet Virtues of any thing or Creature could be preserved entire from evaporation or suffocation, than that thing would continue sound and good forever; for the true Life, pleasure, delight and joy of all Bodies does consist in the essential Spirits and balsamic Virtues, therefore no Vegetable, Animal or Mineral can be preserved any longer than the Spirit remains entire and unviolated: This we would have all Men consider, especially Physicians and Preparers of Food; and we must needs say, he that invented this last way of making Flummery; was no Philosopher, his Eyes were too dim to behold the true Spirit and Life of things.   

CHAP. VI  
Of the several sorts of Bread, and which is best, especially for sickly People.  
ONE of the best sorts of Bread for sickly People is made of Wheat Flower, the course or husky Bran dressed out, but not fine dressed; for than it will be dry and hus●y, apt to obstruct the Stomach; for the inward skin or Branny parts of Wheat do contain the moist Quality, which is opening and easy of Digestion, and in the fine flo●ery parts does consist the Nutrimentive Property, therefore they do best together, and ought not to be too curiously separated, as some nice People will do, who know no more of the Nature of things than an Horse, and observe less  
Also it is to be noted, that Leavened Bread is to be preferred before that which is made of Yeast; for Leaven was a Philosophical Invention, that Sour quality therein being much more agreeable to the ferment of the Stomach than Yeast, and easier of Digestion, and more cleansing; So it opens the Vessels and Increases the Appetite; and a little use will make it familiar and pleasant to the Eater. But Yeast has a contrary Nature and operation, it being a mere frothy fume or nauseous Excrement, which Nature throws off, and spews out as her Enemy, and when it is mixed with any thing it endues it not only with an ill Taste (which you will quickly perceive, if you are not accustomed to it) but also is apt to send fumes into the Head, and to foul the Stomach, and therefore nothing so profitable and wholesome, as well made Leavened Bread; which may more manifestly appear by most of the Ale in London; for that not being sufficiently wrought and cleansed from this Yeasty matter, it is not only thick, but its Taste gross and unpleasant, sending dulling fumes into the Head, fouls the Blood, destroys the Appetite, and generates evil Juices in the Body.  
leavened Bread is best when made after this manner; Take what quantity of Flower you please, make an hole in the midst of it, then break your Leaven in, and take so much Water made as warm as your Blood, as will wet half your Flower, mix the Le●ven and Flower well together, then cover it with the Remaining Flower close, this do at Night, and the next Morning the whole Lump will be well fermented or Leavened; then add so much warm Water (but remember it be no hotter than the Blood) as will suffice, and knead it up very stiff and firm, until it be smooth and pliable; but the more pains you take in kneading it, the better and smother the Bread will cut, and eat much softer and pleasanter in the Mouth, and be easier of digestion; and when you have well kneaded it, let it lie warm by some fire about two hours, until your Oven be ready, then make it into small Loaves as you think convenient, and let them be Baked▪ with the Ovens mouth not close stopped, that the Air may have more or less Egress and Regress; but the better way is to make it into thin Cakes, like Oat-Cakes, and bake them on a Stone, which many in the North of England use for that purpose, making a Wood Fire under it. This sort of Bread is sweeter, of a more innocent Taste, and far easier of Concoction than any Bread baked the common way in Ovens.  
After the same manner you may make Cakes of any sort of Grain, viz. Rye, Oats, or Barl●y, and you will find it a brave wholesome hearty Bread, and every way more profitable to Nature, than such as are made in the usual manner.  
Note also, that the putting of Salt into Bread is injurious; for Salt is an unseparated body, in which the Original Qualities do too violently predominate, being of a keen tart hot Nature and Operation, and therefore if it be joined with any Body or thing that is not subject to Putrefaction, or full of Phlegmy gross Humours, than it presently preys on the good Virtues and essential Spirits; For this cause Salt does cause all forts of Bread to corrupt; for in it▪ it finds no manifest matter of Putrefaction to work on, and therefore seizes the good Virtues, and by its keen fierce hot property destroys and corrupts it. Therefore such Bread as is intended to be kept a considerable time, no Salt is wont to be put into it, as Biscuits that are carried to Sea, and the like: But for such as make Flesh most of their Food, Salt is an excellent Ingredient, and for some other sorts of Food, that is for present eating, For Salt naturally sharpens 〈◊〉 Appetite, begets good Digestion, being grateful to the Stomach, and resisting Putrefaction, provided it be not used in too great a Quantity, for than it spoils all or, when it hath lain in any Flesh or Fish too long, by which the good Virtues are Evaporated or Distempered; for then such Flesh and Fish proves very Injurious to the Health, and corrupts the Blood, as is most manifest by such as feed on such over-kept salt Meats at Sea, for they are at the very next door to Putrefaction. And as Salt is endued with the fierce Original fire, so on the other side, it hath a most powerful lively spirituous Quality, but the fierce harsh fires do predominate; Therefore 'tis fit to eat Salt with all fresh Flesh, or to have the Flesh salted three or four weeks before you eat it; but Bacon of all other is best when longer salted and smoked. Likewise many Innocent Foods will admit of Salt, but then they must be eaten presently, as Pottages, Salads, and the like; so likewise in Butter and Cheese, Salt preserves them a considerable time.  
By the way, I would have the Housewife take notice, that Bread or Cakes baked on Sto●es in Chimneys, or at the Ovens Mouth, will be much whiter than if the same were baked in an Oven close stopped up; for the former having the free Influences of the Air, the pure Spirits are thereby kept living, and their pleasant white colour does not only show its clean Innocent Nature, but it proceeds from and is a true Gleam of Light, arising from the Tincture and Volatile Spirits, which are destroyed when the heat is intolerable, and the egress and regress of that Friendly Element, the Air, obstructed. And therefore Bread baked in close stopped Ovens is of a duller dusky Colour, more Saturnine and Martial, according to the degree of Heat, and time of standing in the Oven. The good Housewife may also remember, that Bread is not of so strong a substance and nourishment as Flower, when it is mixed with Water or Milk, for that potent glewy tough substance that naturally Flower is endued with, is lost and destroyed in Bread by the intolerable heat of Ovens, and some other Circumstances that belong to the making of Bread; therefore it will not thicken either Water, Milk or any other liquid Body, nor be so strong, tough and glewy; and therefore all such Foods as are made with Flower are more strong and substantial than Bread mixed with such things. Also ●lower so eaten is white, innocent, soft to the Touch of the Palate though otherwise it is a brave food, proper to be eaten with Flesh, Butter, Cheese, Herbs, and many other things, in so much that for its frequent and excellent use it is not undeservedly called and accounted, The Staff of Life.   

CHAP. VII.  
Of Butter, its Nature, and how bes● to be Eaten.  
BVtter consists of the fat or Oily parts of Milk, and is a brave wholesome Ingredient to be eaten moderately with Bread, For few, and indeed scarce any of the other ways of eating and using it are proper or so agreeable to Nature; and that my asserting this may not startle the Reader, I shall give him my Reason for it, which is this, Because Butter having already in the making of it passed through due Fermentation, the Spirituous properties thereof, are thereby unbounded or set at liberty, and become Volatile, the truth whereof you may perceive by this Experiment, If Butter be but exposed four or five days to the open common Air, it will lose a great part of its pure smell and taste; but much more if it be committed to the Fire; therefore all melted Butter, and such Foods wherein Butter is mixed, that are baked or fiyed, are not profitable for Health, but become heavy of Concoction, and strong upon the palate, and the common eating thereof doth generate evil Juices, thick Blood and dull heavy Spirits, whence proceeds, scorbutic Humours and various Diseases in the Blood, But Butter in its own Nature is an excellent thing, and very profitable, if mixed with proper Food, as Bread, Herbs, Roots, and the like; but if not properly mixed and eaten, than it Oils and Furs the Vessels of the Stomach and Passages, hinders Digestion, and generates evil Juices and many Diseases.  
The best Butter for the Stomach is that which is made from the beginning of May, to the last of july, or middle of August, or thereabouts; for then Grass is in its full strength and Virtue. Yet what is then potted or firkined up for Winter will have somewhat a stronger taste, by reaso● of the length of time, and heat of Wether, but still it is much finer and more wholesome, and free from phlegm, and easier of Concoction than that which is made of Rowing or Leather-Math (as they call it) though this latter sort is oft times much sweeter to the palate at first eating, but it quickly cloys, by Greasing the Stomach; for it is endued with much gross phlegmy matter, like the Grass at that season; For Hay made thereof is of little strength or Virtue, as all Husbandmen do know. And as to Bu●ter you may try it thus, melt a like quantity of the Summer and After-Math Butter, in two several Vessels, and let it stand a while, you will find the latter throw off and afford more Phlegm a great deal than the former; But as this is made near the Winter, so it is new, and that is the cause why it seems somewhat sweeter to the Touch of the palate, though the former be much better, and wholesomer, and will go further. All Butter ought to be well seasoned with Sa●t, for that quickens and makes all fat Bodies brisk and easier of Concoction; For Butter otherwise is but a dull heavy body, and aught by all People to be eaten sparingly, but more especially by those that are weakly.   

CHAP. VIII.  
Of Cheese.  
CHeese is an hard tough strong Food, very nourishing and substantial, and excellent for healthy working People; for being eaten with good store of Bread, it endues those that commonly feed thereon with clean sound Bodies, and brisk lively Spirits, able to endure Labour and Travel, if good Drink be not wanting; And this so far beyond those that make Flesh their Food, that experience teaches us, that no Men are able to hold out in hard Labour with those that eat good Wheaten-Bread, and Fat Cheese, that is one or two Years old, (for both sorts are good according to the Country they come from, and as the Cheese is in thickness, or the contrary) 'tis true Bread; and Cheese does not breed so much Nourishment as Flesh, but it is clean and of a stronger firmer substance, digesting and relishing Drink to better advantage than the best Flesh in the World can. And suppose four Men were only to eat Bread and goo● Cheese, intermixed now and then with Flower'd● Milk, Milk-pottage, Water-Gruel and Raw Salads seasoned with Vinegar, Salt and good O●l, and for their Drink good sound well prepared Beer or Ale, not overstrong: And a like Number of Men, seeming of equal Limbs and Strength, were to live on variety of Flesh, with Br●ad, and the same Liquor; and let both Companies be kept to the same hard Labour: In one half years time the former, by virtue of their plain simple Food will be able to outdo the latter, and tyre them to Admiration; and the Reason hereof I taught you before, viz. because Flesh is gross and full of Phlegmatic Juices, which load the Body with superfluous Humours; but Bread, Cheese, Pottages and Herbs are clean, and free from such Impurities, and consequently breed better Nourishment, fine Blood, pure brisk sparkling Spirits, which give great strength and virtue to the Body. Nevertheless, Cheese in its own Nature is somewhat hard of Concoction Where good strong natural Heats are▪ it proves a great strengthener to the Stomach and all the Vessels thereof, but all weak People ought to eat Cheese sparingly, viz. a little Cheese and a great quantity of Bread, so that the Cheese may serve only to relish it; for as Cheese is a pleasing Food to the Palate, so it is grateful to most dull flat Stomaches, if it be eaten sparingly, and with discretion, and will comfort, cheer and strengthen them. What we said of Better may be repeated of Cheese, That the best is that which is made from the beginning of May, to about the beginng of August; for after that season, the Sun, which is the central Heat and vivifying Power of all things declines with winged speed, and all Vegitations by sympathy do the same.   

CHAP. IX.  
Of the best sort of Puddens, and the contrary.  
THis is a great sort of Food in England, we are famous for it abroad, and there is no Nation besides, that I know or have heard of, that practices it so much, and if we were not altogether so fond of them, especially as they are commonly made, 'twere no matter; for such Puddens as are enriched with various sorts of Spanish Fruits and Indian Spices are for the most part very hurtful to Health, because the variety of improper Ingredients does destroy most of the good genuine Virtues of our own Country-simples, so that such things cannot properly be called Food. 'Tis true, all sorts of Spanish Fruits, so long as they remain entire, and in their own simple Nature, and for proper uses, are brave rich things, but if any sort of raisins be altered, by being mixed with several things, and then boiled, the true natural Virtues are hurt, and they are rendered next door to Putrefaction; for the Sun and Elements had before already prepared them to the highest degree, and whatever else is done by way of Preparation, proves injurious to them.  
In Puddens it is usual to mix Flower, Eggs, Milk, Raisins or Currants, and sometimes both Spice, Suet, the Fat or Marrow of Flesh, and several other things; whereas in truth any two of those things would far better have supplied Nature with true and proper Nourishment; and if any healthy Person should be confined to such Puddens but for one week, he would be tired, and perfectly loathe them: whereas he may well live many years upon ●lower and Milk, or Eggs and Bread, or Raisins and Bread; but when all these, etc. are jumbled together, they make a confused Portion.  
There is another sort of Pudden, called, Bread-Puddens, which are a sick fainty Food; for nothing can be good and proper, if twice prepared, if the first Preparation be to the highest degree, as it is in Bread; also, to put some things prepared, as Bread, with things unprepared, as F●ower, Eggs, Spices, and the like, is not only improper, but unnatural to the Stomach: Therefore such Foods ought not to be eaten by any that love thei● Health and Strength. For common sense may suggest what a strange disorderly jumble and Mishmash so many contrary Ingredients must needs make, when boiled together in the Stomach, and what Heterogeneous kind of Juices or Nourishment the same will produce. ●o● Experiment, be pleased to take F●ower, Fat, Spices, Eggs, currants and Raisins, put them altogether in any Vessel, and then take Flower and Milk and put into another Pot or Vessel, or Eggs and Flowers, or Fruit and Flower, or Spice and Flower, or Bread and Milk, and let both Pots stand two or three days, then observe both, and smell and taste of the one and the other, and you will certainly find, that the simplest and where the fewest Ingredients are, will smell and taste better, and be less offensive than that wherein they all are mixed; for the first will stink, corrupt ●●d putrify much sooner than the simple things will. But this is nothing— How many things more besides these confused Puddens, do men eat at the same Meal, cram down into their Paunches, viz. various sorts of Flesh, Fish, Butter, Olives, Capers, Herbs, Roots, Mustard, Tarts, Raw Fruits, Cheese, etc. which when rightly considered cannot but appear a strange Composition, and odd Mess of Stuff, able to corrupt the strongest and best of Stomaches, only Custom does make them somewhat more friendly, and easier for Nature to bear, than otherwise they would be; for do but put all the beforementioned Dishes of one extravagant Meal altogether in a lump into a Pot, or if that be too little, into a Cauldron or Furnance, and mix them all together, Hicklede-Pickledy, and let them lie a day or two so and ferment, and then smell to the heap, and if you do not conclude that the common use of such Dinners or Suppers is Nature's Destruction, and the Parent and Nurse of a multitude of strange and complicated Diseases, you are fitter to eat out of a Trough with Swine in a Sty, than to be consulted with about Diet for Health.  
But since 'twill be difficult wholly to wean People from their beloved Puddens, the best way of making them is thus, Take Wheat-Flower, Eggs, Milk and Water, of each a convenient quantity, mix therewith a little Salt, and beat them well together, put this Batter into a Bag, boil it sufficiently in a good quantity of Water, with your Potlid off, and a quick clear Fire, and let it boil without intermission, till 'tis enough, and then s●ice it, and butter it with good Butter. This is a good sort of Puddens for such as admire the●, which 〈…〉 〈…〉 baked, before the hot furious Fumes are evaporated and dispersed, it will, the most of any Food generate Windy Diseases, which you may prevent by letting it lie in the Dish or on your Trencher a while, and these sulphurous Vapours will separate and fly away in a Rapid Motion. And in truth, a little use and custom will render this sort of Pudden, or any others, more friendly to the Stomach, and in all respects wholesomer, and freer from Windiness, if eaten quite Cold, which is for certain more commendable than any other way. I cannot perhaps by words make People either believe it, or be sensible of it, Custom, and the false Prophet ●r●dition hath so blinded the Eye of Mankind, so that nothing but Experience will be able to convince them: And if none will try nor follow the Rules of Reasen, I shall yet be well satisfied, in that I have done my Duty; therefore let none be offended at, or despi●e the simplicity of what I recommend; For all the Ways of God, and his Handmaid Nature, are plain and familiar, and all needful Furniture, both for the Body and Mind, are every where ready at hand, cheap and obvious: But the Evil one hath taught subtle Devices, and men have found out many Inventions, equally chargeable and pernicious.   

CHAP. X.  
Of Eggs, their Nature, and the best way of dressing and eating of them.  
EGgs are an excellent sort of Food, each of them completely containing all the true Properties and seminal Virtues of that Creature whence they proceeded, therefore are one of the best sorts of things that is eaten, being of a fat oily quality, but very friendly and innocent in operation, if well prepared, affording a strong substantial clean Nourishment, easy of Concoction, and such as breed good Blood, but then they must not be eaten after the common way of dressing, that is to say, 〈◊〉 and after eaten with Butter; for Eggs, I told you before, are of an oily f●t Nature, especially the Yolks, and being eaten with Butter whilst the sulphurous heat of the Fire remains in them, that turns the Butter to a kind of a gross Oil, which does not only tie or hold captive the sierce Atoms of the Fire, so that they cannot separate and fly away, but the melted Butter does dull and flatten the brisk spirituous part of the Egg, and makes it gross and heavy of Concoction, as also cloys the Stomach; and for this cause many cannot eat hot buttered Eggs, without having their Stomach● much offended, and so many do not love nor eat Eggs on this very score, but are insensible of the true cause thereof. But these very Persons shall love them, and find them very agreeable, when prepared properly, as I have often known. Therefore I shall here briefly set down several Methods of preparing of Eggs both proper and natural, and very agreeable to most Stomaches, both of strong, and of weakly, or consumptive People.  
1. Boil Eggs rear, or soft, then break the Shells, and put them into a Plate or Pottinger, and let them stand till they are but Blood-worm, then eat them only with Bread and Salt, or such whose Stomaches are strong, and 〈◊〉 are great lovers of Eggs, may eat them with Bread and Butter, but the Butter not melted, but spread upon Bread.  
2. You may boil them pretty hard, peel the Shells off, and when cold, eat them with Bread, Vinegar and Salt.  
3. Poaching, or boiling them unshelled in Water, is a commendable way, being eaten with Salt and Bread, or Bread, Salt and Vinegar.  
4. Take a Pint of Water, and one large spoonful of Wheat Fl●wer, made into Batter with Water, when your Water is boiling hot, break one Egg into this Batter, and beat it together, and just as the Water is ready to boil, stir in your Batter a little while, until it be again ready to boil, then take it off, and it will be of a sufficient thickness, put thereunto a little Bread and Salt, and a small quantity of good Butter, stirring of it about that the Butter may not turn to an Oil, than ●●t it stand till Bloodwarm, and eat it. This is a brave clean Food, easy of Digestion, breeds good Blood, and a firm Nourishment, with brisk Spi●●ts▪  
Lastly, Eggs are very wholesome raw, supped off in a Morning, and Bread eaten after them; for they clear the Stomach and free the Passages from Obstructions, and make the Eaters thereof lively, and long breathed, if frequently eaten. But let all People remember that they do never eat Eggs boiled in the Shells, whilst they are hot, for they often then prove pernicious to Health.   

CHAP. XI.  
Of Pies, how they ought to be made.  
APple and Pear-Pyes are a good wholesome healthy Food, provided such Fruit be thorough ripe, and no improper Ingredients added, as too frequently People of late do, both amongst the Apples and in the Cr●s●, for most put a great deal of Butter into the Crust, and such Dough or Crust having no Fer●ent, viz. Leaven or Yeast to make inlight, thereby becomes of a close ●ea●y ●●b●tance, and the Butter makes it still more heavy, close and ponderous, and being baked in the close strong sulphurous heats of Ovens, they yet become more unwholesome, hence piecrust does load the Stomach, and disagrees with many; and those that find it best are more beholding to use, which has familiarized it to their Bodies: Besides, most that have wherewithal do put too great quantities of Sugar amongst their Apples and Pears, whereby it becomes more like a Medicine than Food; therefore such Pies, if a man makes a Meal of them, will not give his Stomach that satisfaction as all proper Foods will; and also the eating of much Sugar in our Food does extraordinarily foul the Stomach and fur the Passages, is injurious to the natural Heat, and breeds bad Blood, and fills the Body full of the Scurvy, taking off the edge of Appetite, and generates evil Nourishment; for this cause most People, and especially Children and Women, who eat much Sugar and Spices in their Victuals, are so ●uling, and afflicted with a number of Diseases; for much sweetness in Food is as dangerous, and proves as great an evil to Health, as the bitter, ●our or astringnt Qualities do, when they shall ●●ceed in any Food, and far more, because sweetness is more enticing to most sorts of People, especially to Children and Youth; whereas the other Quality is not so, but the contrary, and no Person need so strongly to arm himself against those Intemperances' that his natural Inclinations do not lead to, but the greatest danger of his being misled or overcome, is by those Intemperances' that are most agreeable to his temper, for by such Evils he is overcome, as it were, insensibly: For sweetness is an enticing Quality, and though in itself the best, yet proves of dangerous consequence where it exceeds in Food, in which too much Sugar is mixed; for indeed every sort of proper Food has sufficient quantity of Sugar, I mean sweetness in its self, to moderate the other Qualities, viz. the bitter, sour and astringent, so that when People mix such quantities of Sugar in their common Food, they destroy the Equality and Harmony of that thing, so that it becomes an extreme, and causes the like disharmony in the Elements of the Body; for the best Quality in Nature is as great an evil when it too violently predominates, if not greater than those we least esteem of, as the Bitter, Sour or Astringent; for these last carry their corrector with them, as having no enticing property. But these things are seldom consulted either by the Learned or by good Housewives, but they go on in the Road, and every day increase hurtful Extravagances, persuading themselves that the more cost they bestow, the more rich things they jumble together, the better and more nourishing their Food must be; and more nourshing indeed it is, but of Diseases and evil Juices; whereas plain, course cheap, simple Foods are much more friendly to Nature, and consequently more strengthening and restorative. And therefore in former Ages, when Sugar, Spanish Fruits, Spices, Sweetmeats, and the like, were not known in these Northern Climates, People were not o●ly healthier, but stronger, larger, and bigger boned than of late Years, since the frequent eating and mixing those foreign Ingredients with our more natural Food, whi●h have and do daily prove of fatal consequence to the Healths of many that immoderately use them.  
The best Pies, whether of Apples or Pears, are made thus. Take good Wheat Flower, make it into a Paste with a little Leaven or Yeast, as you do Bread, with warm Water, or Milk and Water, but no warmer than your Blood; let your Apples and Pears be full ripe, and you need not mix any other Ingredients with them, except you please to put a few of our own Country Seeds, either Carraway or Fenn●l-Se●ds, which are very good and agreeable to most Stomaches: The best fashion to make these Pies in, is that of Pasties, which in some Countries they call Ov●rstaps; for Crust or Paste that is made after this manner will not stand or be raised according to the common custom And indeed if this wholesome Food were in shion, and that esteem which it deserves, People need not be at that charge with their Daughters to learn them to R●is● Paste, which invention was more for State and Pride than Health. This last sort of Apple and Pear-Pyes are the best, most natural and agreeable of all others; for they afford a Nourishment of a fine clean substance, open Obstructions of the Breast, cleanse the Passages, and gently open the Belly, and you may eat of it every day, without any kind of weariness, during the time such Fruits are in their full strength and virtue: I wish the Nice-Cockered Palated Citizens would but try the difference for one year, and then many of them would hate that Ignorance and Vanity whereby they have contracted Diseases on themselves, and entailed them on their Posterity, which have no Remedy, if they shall continue stubborn, and walk down Hill to Destruction in the Path of blind Tradition; for no Medicines have power to cure the Distempers that are contrcted by improper Preparations, Mixtures and Superfivity, if the smae be still continued. This is evident from daily Experience; for do we not find every succeeding Generation more infirm and diseased than the former?  
2. In the baking your Pies the O●●u. aught to stand open, or at least the Ovenlid not so close but that some Air may pass, for this Element is the true Life of the Spirit: therefore all Preparations in which the Air has its free circulation the Tincture and pure spirituous Virtues are preserved from Suffocation, and thereby the true natural Colour, Smell and Taste preserved without violation, which otherwise cannot be done to that advantage.  
3. When your Pies are sufficiently baked, draw them, and cut holes in the top of each, that the sulphurous Atoms and fiery vapours may the better pass away, and separate themselves, which will make such Pies sweet, and less windy, and much more wholesome.  
4. You ought neither to eat them hot, nor put Butter into them, as the custom of some is; for that does but waste your Butter, and render your Pies less wholesome than otherwise they would be. But if you let them stand, as aforesaid, till they are through cold, you may eat freely of them, for they are a brave wholesome food.  
Also, ripe Apples raw are ve●● good, being eaten alone, or with Bread, not as a common food, but sometimes between while; for they clear an● open Obstructions of the Stomach, an● gently loosen the Belly; the same 〈◊〉 most other Fruits, as Apricocks, P●ches, Plumbs of all sorts, Gooseberry Currant, and the like, if eaten moderately on clean well-prepared Stomaches, not after Dinner, or in Wantonness on full Paunches, as is the custom of Gluttons, and such as are 〈◊〉 much strangers to Nature as to Temperance  
As for Pies made of ●iesh, with Fruits, Spices and Butter in the Crust, they are utter Enemies to the Stomach, and the natural Heat thereof, they dull the edge of the Palate, stop and cloy the Orifice of the Stomach, obstruct and fur the Passages, breed evil Juices, bad Blood, and consequently, impure Spirits, causing heavy lumpish Dispositions to attend all those that frequently eat such improper Food, and this so much the more if eaten Piping-hot, as the common way is; And rather than the Ve●ison-Pasty shall want store of poisonous sulphurous Steams, my Lady will have it put into the Oven three of four days one after another, that it may forsooth!) come to the Table R●eking-hot; whereas if her Madamship had but any Acquaintance with Dame Nature, or the Princess Reason, or plain Grammar Experience, they would all tell her, That though her fine Pastry, with as many Towers o'th' top on't as a fortified City, presaging danger or destruction to those that shall attaque it, be at best but an untoward unnatural kind of Food, yet 'twere much better Cold than Hot at first, much more after the greasy Cru●st and stifled Flesh has so often been parboiled in the furious Steams of a close sulphurous Oven. The cause of which I have oft told you already, and fear I must do so again, before you will understand, and so regard it as to abandon your old silly mischievous Customs; but the Reason is this, The pure volatile Spirits and sweet Balsamic Virtues of all things are in a great measure destroyed by the sierce Saturnine and Martial Fires, and for want of the free Egress and Regress of the Air, and therefore a less quantity of baked Flesh, espe●cially hot, will cloy and dull the edged the Appetite, than either Roasted o● Boiled, which is a sure demonstration that the Preparation is not so proper or natural.  
Likewise, here by the way I cannot but advertise all that regard their Health, That they ought to for bear the eating of Hot Bread; for the same does plentifully contain the fierce fulpherous Vapours and windy Fumes which are very injurious to the Health, of the Body; as also, that Bread ought not to be eaten till 'tis at least two days old; for before, it is stopping, and apt to fur and obstruct the Stomach, being harder of Concoction than that which is two, three or four days old, because in such new Bread, not only the fore mentioned sulphurous Atoms of the Fire lie lurking, but there is also a phlegmy humid part, which a little time does dissipate and dry away, and then the Bread becomes much wholesomer, and also easier of Concoction: 'Tis true, new Bread is much desired and eaten in Towns and Cities, but it is not for its Virtues, but merely for Wantonness and Custom, and want of Understanding   

CHAP. XII.  
Of Raisins of the Sun.  
THis is a Foreign Fruit, but of late years become of general use, and by some admired and esteemed, especially in Diet for sick and weak People, as if it were as necessary as W●eat, which is much to be pitied, except People did know how to use them to better advantage than commonly they do. The truth is, Raisins are a brave noble Fruit, endued with an excellent Virtue the aimable and friendly sweet Quality is predominate in them, and therefore they afford a good strong lusty Spirit, and are hot in operation, if not allayed by the mixture of some proper Ingredients; but they being unequal in their parts, the frequent eating them does naturally h●at and sharpen the Blood, generate Phlegmy Humours, obstruct the Passages. clog the Stomach, dull the Appetite, and consequently indispose the whole Body; and they are far more injurious to Children than to mature Age, though bad to both: 'Tis a sort of Fruit that ought not by any means to be mixed with our common Food, nor to be boiled or baked, as the usual Custom of the English is; for that destroys most of their pure Virtues, and renders them unhealthy, as most people may find by Experience.  
Besides, our Women, who are the chief promoters of such things, aught to consider that the Fruits that grow in hot Climates, are nothing so agreeable to our Natures and Constitutions as those of our own Growth, especially such things in which any Quality of Nature is extreme, as it is in this Fruit, which the Sun and Elements have already prepared to the highest degree, and therefore they will not endure any other Preparation without violence done to the good Virtues, wh●ch renders them next door to Putrefaction, and whatsoever Food they shall be either boiled or baked in or with, such Food will stink and putrify so much the sooner; and as they will keep good a year, if they remain entire, so being any ways altered, than they will not keep three days good: Therefore all that are wise will forbear using them in such manner and Mixtures.  
Yet it must be acknowledged, that Raisins have their Uses, though we might well be without them, and many others of the like Nature; For 1st. They are very good and wholesome being eaten with Bread for a Breakfast or a Supper; for the Bread moderateth the Inequality of the Raisins, and makes them easy of Digestion, cleansing the Stomach, and gently loosening the Belly; and indeed this is the o●ly proper way of eating them as Food. 2dly, They are better in Physical Operations then any other sweet thing, especially than Sugar, because they are not altered from their first entire state, therefore their Juices are far more cleansing than Sugar, or any other Sweets that have been prepared by the Fire.   

CHAP. XIII.  
Of Currants, their Nature, etc.  
CURRANTS are much more injurious to the Health of English Constitutions than Raisins; for the latter may be properly used by eating them with Bread; but do what you will with Currants, they will be no better than Doctor Butler's curiously prepared Dish of Cucumbers, only most excellently fit to be thrown away to the Dunghill: And indeed, the Inconveniences of eating or mixing Currants amongst common Food, the Natives of those Countries whence they come teach us, if Custom, and the common Cry of the Ignorant Multitude did not blind People with strange Prejudices against all the R●mon●rances of Reason or Expe●ience; for they will rarely ever eat them, either alone or mixed amongst their Food; for they do not esteem them wholesome, nor hardly so proper as our Hawthorn or Elderberries; nay, these by a little custom would be much more proper for our Healths to be eaten by themselves, or mixed with other things, than Currants, which are of such an untoward Nature, that those Natives that work amongst them, and strew and pack them into the Casks, have their Feet, Legs and Hands made Leprous and S●abby thereby, which proceeds from their hot v●n●mous Qualities, and with these loathsome Leprous Feet and Legs they tread them into the Casks, and then you ca● them for Dainties. And though when eaten here these evil Qualities, are mitigated by being mixed with our moderate and more friendly Grains and Fruits; yet still, whatever they are put into, does thereby become the worse, and the more unwholesome. Amongst other Extravagances, it is a great fashion to boil them in Water-Gruel, and after they are so boiled, this Water-Gruel cannot with any delight or pleasure be eaten with Bu●ter and Salt, as plain Water-Gruel can, the Currants give it such an unpleasant flat nauseous Relish, having no true natural Sweetness, or lively Briskness in it; the very same is to be understood of Raisins, when boiled; therefore the good Housewife is forced to add another Ingredient viz Sugar, to raise it to a more full and perfect Taste and Relish. Now by these improper foreign Ingredients the true genuine Nature and Operation of that friendly Grain Oatmeal is destroyed, as though there had been no such thing; nor is the hurt less to many other sorts of Food that are of greater Consequence, which are daily spoiled by these improper Mixtures, which render them hot, and subject to s●op and fur the Passages, generating evil Juices, gross Blood and impure Spirits. For which cause all People that eat frequently of such Foods, more especially young Children, are nothing so strong, brisk or lively as those who are constrained by pure Necessity to feed and live on the most simple, and meanest of our own Country Fruits, Grains and Herbs.  
This all will confess, yet most that have wherewithal are so bewitched to Foreign Novelties, that they had rather be afflicted with an hundred Diseases and Miseries, and have their Children weakly, Ricketty and Leprous, tha● not to gratify a wanton Desire.  
It is the common Opinion that Currants are Cooling, therefore both the Learned and your common Nurses advise, that they should be boiled in Water-Gruel for sick People, and then Bs●ter'd and sugared, which makes it not only very hot, but strong enough for an Healthy ploughman, whereby it overcomes weak Stomaches, they always forgetting what ought always to be remembered, viz. Tha weak Heats must have proportionable Foods, or else Nature will come by the worst of it. And as for Currants being to ●ing, 'tis absolutely false, like most of the rest of the grounds they go upon; for all Fruits in which the Sweet Quality does carry the upper Dominion, are hot i● operation, and if it were not so, such things would not afford the greatest Spirits, and also the most in quantity when the Distiller takes them in hand. Also, their Heat will hereby appear, if you put such things into Beer, Ale, Wine, nay, Water itself, it will make such Liquor to ferment, and render it much stronger than before; for if you put Sugar into Str●ng Beer, a less quantity will make a Man drunk, than that which hath none in it. Let a person eat a Pint of 〈…〉 that is, only ●ater and 〈◊〉 with a little Selt, Bu●ter and Bread in it, and at another time a Pint made with Cu●rarts, Sugar, Butter and B●●ad, as the ●s●al way is, and let him observe whi●h is hardest of Concoction, and hottest of Operation, and also which he is lightsomest after; he shall certainly fi●d by Expe●ience, that the Plain Gruel is not only coolest, but easiest of Digestion, and he most Airy and pleasant after it. The truth is, it Men would but give themselves the leisure to try and observe things, they could not be such strangers to the Method of Well-living and to the knowledge of Nature, who is the Handmaid of God. For the Reason's aforesaid, you may undoubtedly conclude, Currants are not only hot, but may also learn, that they are of a Nauseous Quality, and if much eaten or frequently mixed with Food, they breed thick gross Juices in the Body, and infect the Blood with a sharp salt itching Quality or scorbutic Humour, whence proceed general Weaknesses in the Joints and Limbs, and unnatural Heats in the external parts, causing a lumpish Indisposition both of Body and Mind. Therefore we advise all that have any regard to their Healths, to refrain all such hurtful things, and content themselves (as their innocent lusty Fore Fathers did) with the Growth of our own Country, which will abundantly furnish our Tables, and contribute whatsoever is needful for the maintenance of Health and Strength; but especially, we caution Children, Young People, and such as are Sickly, from the use of them, they being most hurtful to weak Natures.   

CHAP. XIV.  
Of Spices, their Nature and Operation.  
ALL sorts of Spices that come from the East or West-Indies, are in nature and operation hot and dry, and therefore not agreeable to our Northern Constitutions, nor by any means fit to be mixed with our common Food; for they too violently heat the Blood, and destroy the pure thin refreshing Vapours and Spirits, and awaken the central Heat, which ought by no means to be stirred up; for it presently sets Nature into an unequal Motion, making all the external parts in a flame. There is a vast difference between the Regions and Climates, both in respect of C●elestial Influences, and by the Nature of Soil and Constitution of Air whence those Spices come, and ours, that it amounts to almost a perfect Opposition; and what is Poison, but a violent Antipathy or Contrariety in Nature? And if the Natives of those Countries will so cautiously mix or use them, how sparingly ought we to meddle with them? But our English have such an itching desire after Novelties, and every joan is so proud to be of my Lady Fiddle-faddles Humour, and long for things Far-fetched and Dear-bought, that if we had ten times as many more brought over as we have, there be those amongst us would cry up the excellent Virtues of them, tho' there is scarce any one thing so much destroys and hurts our Health, both of Body and Mind, as the eating and drinking Foreign Ingredients with and amongst our common Food; and how absurdly are those things mixed together, whose Virtues and Vices are as contrary to each other as the Climates are different? What agreement or affinity is there between our Fruits, Grains, Herbs and Seeds, and those that come from the East and West-indies? not so much as between the Complexion of a Fat-nosed Lubber-liped Blackamoor, or swarthy Bantame●, with a Head like a Sugar loaf, and our most Florid Beauties. In particular, what likeness or correspondence is there between Cloves, Mace, Nutmegs, Cinnamon, Ginger, or Pomento, and the Flower of Wheat, or any other Grain, or with Apples, Milk, Bu●ter, Herbs or Flesh? Verily there is no simile between them, and the foolish Painter, that to a Man's Head added a Stags Neek and a Fish's Body, did not Limn a more deformed Monster, than those prepare a monstrous unwholesome Diet for either the well or sick, who jumble together Ingredients so heterogeneous, and as it were diametrically opposite. The compounding of these Foreign Ingredients with our Domestic Pr●ductions, that chiefly destroys the Health of our People, and not so much the Compositions of our own Growth, though there are too often very improper Mixt●res of them also, but those however are not pernicious to that degree as the others are: For Example, Is not S●gar the occasion of such great Quantities of G●os●r●ies, and many other Fruits are gathered and eaten whilst they are immature, and have no more goodness nor virtue in them than the Leaves or Sticks of the same Trees? Also, what abundance of the like unripe Fruits are Preserved (as the call it (though more properly they might say, Destroyed) and when you have been at all that pains and charge, pray tell me what they are really good for, unless to please Children and Fools, and indulge wanton Liquorish Palates, who yet for the most part pay dear enough for those Vanities, by losing all Appetite to wholesome Food, and bringing upon themselves variety of Diseases, and then the Wizard of a Doctor must be sent for, to Redress those Mischiefs which the Mother's Fondness occasioned; but then he goes so awkwardly to work, that instead of Remidying, he Increases the Distempers, and at last the puling Young Heir, or the most beloved Girl dies, and then Father and Mother weep and wring their hand●, and are ready to be distracted; And indeed they have more cause of Grief than they commonly think of, for Thousands of Parents by their foolish Indulgence, in giving their Children rich costly improper Food, become accessary to the shortening of their Lives.  
Many of our Gentlewomen, who look upon themselves to be Saints, do yet make no Conscience of spoiling those good Creatures and hopeful Fruits which the Providence of God sends into the World for the real use and benefit of Mankind, whilst they turn them into Wantonness, and waste and pervert them before ever they come to Maturity, to quite contrary ends than that for which the great and good C●e●tor designed them; for he intended them to supply humane Necessities, they abuse them to Extravangance, and Riot, ●●d ●iquorishness, He gave them Virtues to add Health and Strength to such as should in their due season eat them, but they, by seizing upon them with an unnatural and untimely Violence (the same thing to Vegetables as Mu●der or Killing is to Animals) and using them absurdly and preposterously, make them the occasions of Diseases and Destruction; and yet how many Pounds do some Women tristle away in a year upon these harmful Vanities and Superfluities? yea, and think themselves rare Housewives too, for this Prodigality, and are at Pains or Cost to bring up their Daughters to these Baneful Mysteries of Preserving, Conserving, etc. All which, besides a most impetinent Waste of their Husband's Money, and spoil of God's good Creatures, tend likewise to the destruction of their own Health, and that of their Children; for no sooner have they by Gluttony, or eating of too great Quantities of Flesh, Fish, or other Rich Floods or overstrong Liquors brought themselves out of order, but away they run or send jillian the Chambermaid (who has already spoiled her Teeth with Sweetmeats and Kisses) to the Closet for some Conserves, Preserves, or other Confectionary-Ware; and if that will not do (as alas! how should such sour abortive things, only Embalmed with nauseous Sugar, do any good?) then fetch the Bottle of Black-Cherry-Brandy, the Glass of Aqua Mirabilis, and after that take a Dose of Plague-Water; and she is no Body that has not a Room furnished plentifully with these pernicious confused Slip stops and Extravagancies.  
But tell me, my good Dames! what have you to say for these Curiosities? What Benesit, what Advantage do you receive by them? Are you more Sound, Healthy or Strong than the Honest poor Countrywoman, that has none of them? Are you more free from sudden Qualms or settled Distempers? Have you better Appetites than they? Have you more Pleasure in eating your Larks and Pheasants, your dainty Bi●s, with Rich Poignant Sauces, and delicious costly Wines, than they have in a Mess of good Milk, or a lusty piece of Br●ad and Ch●ese, and a Cup of Nutbrown-Ale of their own Brewing? Are your Sleeps more sound on your Down Beds, double fortified with Curtains of Silk and Sarsenet, than theirs on their wholesome S●raw-Couches open to the Air that whistles in between the wooden Windows? Are you more free from Colds with your flannel Shifts, and your Manlike Drawers, and your Quilted Waistcoats, and Petticoats so many as makes you show as big about the Haunches as a Dutch-Woman, and would half set up a Long-Lane Bro●er? Are you, I say, with all this Furniture free from catching Cold, any more than the Rosie-complexioned Lass that courts the sweet kisses of the Air in her Smock Sleeves, and trips over the Dewy-Plains in a Winters ●rosly M●r●ing with but a brace of Linsey-Woolsey Coats that are not long enough to conceal the shape of her Well-Proportioned L●gg? Or are your Children born more Lusty, or more free from Disease's, as the Kings-Evil, Lepr●sies, Rickets, joynt-aches, and other Distempers? Or are they better Complexioned, or strai●er-Limb'd, or handsomer Shaped, or in any kind more active, sprightly or vigorours' than theirs?  
Alas! none of all this; the Advantages lie all on the other side: Whilst you are continually complaining and sighing, they are merrily Singing; Whilst you are weak, and lose your natural Complexions, and have no Appetite, and can scarce relish the rarest Dainties, and your Sleeps are restless, and Distempers are continually either actually seizing on you, or at least threatening you, so that you are always forced to keep a Doctor or two in Pension for your Lifeguard; They are strong and lusty, and look as fresh as a May-Morning, and have Stomaches as sharp as a Scyth, and all their Meat seems Nectar, and their Drink Ambrosia, and their Sleeps are sweet as Mariners after a Tempest, their Breath as fragrant as Honey-Suckles; they never so much heard of half the Diseases that you groan under, and look upon Doctors as only Baubles for Gentlefolks, and find an Oatmeat Cawdle or a Cardus Posset better Physic than any the Apothecary's Shop affords; their Children are in all respects lustier, founder, healthier, more active and strong, of better Complexions and completer Proportions for the generality, than yours And why then will you still so indulge a Sottish Fond Humour and wanton Pa●ate, seeing it is so destructive to your Wellbeing, and that of your Dear Posterity!  
But waving this not unseasonable Digression, and to return to Spice,— It must be acknowledged, that God made nothing in vain; Cloves, Mace, Nutmegs, Cinnamon, Pepper, Ginger and Pomento or jamaica Pepper are brave noble Fruits, and smell, as it were, of Paradise, and the great and good Creator is as much to be admired in them as any other Vegetations, for though they are not so useful for common Food, yet they have their excellent uses: Their chief Virtues reside in their most pleasant Scent, which is very refreshing and cheering to the Spirits; also, they are endued with a warming Quality, very profitable in Physical Operations, especially for some sort of Melancholy and Phlegmatic Complexions. The same is to be understood in Brandy, and other distilled Spirits, which often prove profitable being taken when there is just occasion, in a Physical way; but of fatal consequence to such as accustom themselves to the drinking of it at every turn; for than it quickly wounds the Health by destroying the natural Heat; the like is to be understood of all Extremes, in Drinks and Food, which are disharmonious in their parts. Therefore it is no ways safe to mix unequal Fruits with those that are equal; for then the Harmony of the whole will be violated. As to use our familiar Example, Take the Flower of Wheat, Milk and Water, mix them and heat them to a Pap, these three things are equal and agreeable in their peculiar parts each with other, and make a brave wholesome Food either for young or old, on which alone you may live healthy and contentedly for divers years; but if you mix with them Sugar and Spice, or either of them, than the company of this Stranger puts them out of Tune, and breaks the Consort, so that if any one should be confined to this last sort but for one Month or two, their Palates and Stomaches will grow weary and loath it; And so it is with Cakes, in which eight or ten Ingredients are mixed; how long could those that love them best, eat them, and not be weary? Not sixteen days together: But take Flower and Water and make Cakes thereof, and on them you may live several years and never be tired.  
In like manner Flesh, Bread and Herbs harmonive, and a man may eat of them every day, but mixed Spanish Fruits, Spices, and the like, with fat Flesh and Butter, and prepare them as well as you can, you shall not eat them every day for one Month without loathing and weariness; the very same is to be understood of all other Foods and Drinks, and if People would not prefer Custom, and what is cried up by the Multitude before the simple innocent ways of Nature, it would be easy for every one to choose and understand what is most proper and agreeable to the Stomach. For if they would set Gustom aside, then most would be led to Meats and Drinks that are natural and proper by mere instinct, as most of the inferior Creatures are, except some unclean Savages, as Swine, Bears, Lions, and the like: And in truth the greater part of Beasts have more understanding in Meats and Drinks than many Men; for Man cries, What were those things made for? As if God intended that all, right or wrong, must be crammed into his Paunch, and that there could be no other use for them, but for him to devour them; as if to be Ornaments to the Universe, to set forth the Power and the Wisdom of God, in the making, and feeding, and preserving so many innumerable Creatures, and invite Man thereby to praise, magnify and adore his Maker, were not more Noble ends than to eat them to his own Prejudice. But so greatly precipitated is he into Wrath, Violence and Oppression, that he is not willing any thing should escape his luxurious Throat, though the use of it be to the destruction both of his Body and Mind. For the source of all Evils to Man hath been his suffering his Imaginations and unclean Desires to wander after those things that are neither needful nor any way beneficial; for faslly imagining that all things were made merely for his use, he entered with the power of his free depraved Will, with a rapid Motion, into all Beastiality, and so deprived himself of the divine Vision which he was made in and for, and not to live in the Power of the dark Magic and Brutality, to domineer, and rend, and tear each other to pieces, far worse than the Savages of the Desert. For Man was created in the Image of God, and ordained to live under the Government of the divine Principle, and if he had continued under its dominion, than every sort of innocent Food would have satisfied him, according to that Commission, Every green Herb and Tree bringing forth Fruit shall be to thee for Meat. Nor was he clothed with the Skins of Beasts before his Transgression, and they are still the Spoils and Relics of Violence; for he was made Naked, that is, in Innocency, and his Clothing himself with the Excrements of Beasts, does truly intimate his depraved state, especially when he becomes proud thereof; than which there cannot be a greater Vanity in the World.   

CHAP. XV.  
Of Oil, and its Nature.  
AMongst all Fruits or other things eatable, brought from beyond Seas, OIL is one of the best, being of a brave nourishing clean Nature, mild and friendly to most Constitutions, far exceeding Butter or the Fat of ●lesh, and that it agrees not with some, is for want of use when they are Young; 'tis endued with Equality and Concord, as being distilled by Nature's choicest Limbeck, and It would be much for the Health of our English People if they did eat more of it, and less Fruits and Spices, though we have no necessity for either; but since our Desires do so itch after Novelties, it were much more commendable for us to choose those things that have the nearest affinity with our Natures; and of all sorts of fat things, Oil is the most innocent, as proceeding from the cleanest Radix, and being the product of Vegetation, and therefore is very proper and agreeable to humane Nature, being joined unto and eaten with Herbs and Fruits, they having the nearest affinity in their Basis or Original, and therefore Gyl being eaten with Bread or Herbs, is to an undepraved Palate, not only more delightful, and to the Stomach easier of Concoction, affording a finer and cleaner Nourishment, better Blood and purer Spirits, than either fat of Flesh or Butter, though the last of them is very wholesome, Cream and Butter being our Oil, and eaten with proper or cleaner things, as Bread, Herbs, and the like, does make a proper Mixture, and consequently good Food.  
The Reason why Oil is with greatest commendation eaten with Herbs and Bread, is, because all Mixtures of Food are most agreeable to the Human Nature that bear the nearest affinity in their Basis; and as Oil is the true fat of Vegetables, so it suits and agrees better with them, than with any sort of Flesh, or other Food proceeding from Flesh; but with Fish it is very good and wholesome, especially Saltfish, for by its Balsamic Quality it allays the ●ierce keen Property of the Salt, and sweetens the lean Body of the Fish: And for these Purposes it is far better than Butter.  
But it is to be noted, That Oil ought not to come near the heat of the Fire, for that will presently destroy the purer parts and virtues thereof, and then it will become strong and fulsome; the same is to be understood if it be mixed with any Foods whilst hot which ought always to be pretty cool before you mix your Oil: Therefore To stead Brend and Oil, though frequently used, is not so good as cold baked Br●ad and Oil; than which there is scarce a better Breakfast or Supper; for it cleanseth the Passages, is easy of Concoction, breeds good Blood and fine Spirits, whence proceeds any airy lightsome Disposition, and good habit both of Body and Mind. However, those that accustom themselves to the frequent eating thereof, aught to remember their best Friend Tem erance, that is, to eat it sparingly, and not in too great Quantities.  
Olives, or the Fruit whence Oil proceeds, are nothing so good as the Oil itself; for being gathered unripe, o● immature, and put into a Pickle made for that purpose to keep them sound, they are apt, especially if frequently eaten, to obstruct the Stomach and Passages. The best way is to eat them with store of good Bread, now and then between while, but most that are eaten in England are taken on full Stomaches, in Superfluity and Wantonness, so that it would be no loss to is to be without them.   

CHAP. XVI.  
Of Honey, its Nature and Operation, with some Notes on the Practice of Chemistry.  
THe Ancients have attributed some hundreds of Medicinal Virtues to Honey; but in my opinion it will hardly perform half that which is said of it; yet to give it its due, it must be acknowledged to be a brave Noble and friendly thing to Nature, of which, some is better, some worse, according to the Nature of the Herbs and Flowers out of which this King of Flies extracts it; for cause, some Honey is of a more unpleasing Taste than other, as being harsh, and with a kind of bitterish farewell, apt to gripe the Stomach and Bowels when it is tinged with Martia● and Saturnine Herbs, as when the Bees gather it from the Blossoms of Furz, Centaury, or other Vegetables of like Nature, that grow upon harsh, sour, poor Commons and Heaths; yet for Women and Maids, who are afflicted with Stoppages, and the Disease called the Green-Sickness, Medicines made with this sort of Honey, are very powerful to remove those Evils: But for general use that Honey is best which is extracted or drawn from the most pleasant fragrant Flowers that grow in Meadows and sweet Downs, where Cowslips, and the like, delight to grow; as also from the Blossoms of Corn, Peaches and Honey-Suckles; for the Honey thereof made is smother, finer and pleasanter than the other, and more agreeable to Nature.  
But there is yet a more subtle and almost nnknown difference in Honey, which ought to be noted; for as Honey being drawn from a vast variety of innocent delicate Herbs, and most beautiful sweet smelling Flowers, (the bright Stars of Earth, as the Planets and Constellations are the Flowers of Heaven) may justly, in its own Nature be styled, The most Transparent and Richest juice or Liquor in the World, and the finest and most pleasant Sweet of all others; so the same is to be understood not so much of our vulgar Honey, as in its original Preparation and Perfection, viz. if it could be procured whilst it remains entire, as it is extracted out of the Herbs and Flowers into a little Bag or thin Skin, which lies in the very centre of the Bee, as may be manifest to sense, if you can be so cruel, when you catch one of them, to sever it in two, for then, if you are quick, you may take out the bag entire, but if you are too long about it, than the Bee will suck it up, or destroy it. This Bag contains a most curious thin transparent Liquor, of an excellent fine Colour, and fine innocent and perfect Taste, leaving behind in the Mouth no Hugo, or strong Taste, as our vulgar Honey does, when eaten alone. Now this is the Bees true Elixir, the proper Paradisical Honey; but when the Bees ha●e digested it, which cannot be done without some violation to the pure volatile Spirits, than they spew or vomit it up. A●ter which it becomes of another colour, smell and taste, and also of a different nature and operation; for whilst it remains entire and undigested, its Colour is clear and white, its Taste an innocent sweet, with a grateful come-off on the Palate, its Small pure, airy and delightful, but after the Bee hath digested or separated it, and spewed it up with her Winter's Provision or store, than i loseth its white Colour, and its pure Ta●●e, and its airy Smell, and becomes more strong, dull and unpleasant, and in no particular so gratefully as whilst it remained in the Bag entire.  
It is further to b●understood, that this Spagyrical or Chemical Art of the Bees do sc●i●fl consi●● in the Poys●● us Root or Sting in Nature; for the Attractive Faculty stands in the wrathful Poisons of Saturn, which powerfully attracts all things unto itself, and the S●paratire Proper●y consists in the bitter S●ing of Mars and Mercu●y, therefore the Chemical Furnace, the Bees Laboratory, or that Tool whereby they and some other Flies perform these wonderful things, and separate the pure Essential Spirit and Balsamic Body of what they gather from the gross phlegmy Qualities, is their Sting, which is of a poisonous Nature, as it appears, when they in Anger leave it behind them in any Animal, for presently the part rages and swells; but when they have thus lost or despoiled themselves of this Sting or Poison, than they cannot be Labourers in this Spagyrical Art any longer, nor draw more Honey out of the Flowers, but pure necessity compels them to become Thiefs and Robbers, and live on the spoil of others, and thenceforth are called Drones. Now so it is, that most sort of Flies do love Honey, and all sweet things, as Sugar and the like, to feed on, but only those that are naturally endued with a Venom or Sting, are able to extract it; for 'tis by that sting that they separate the Virtue from the Vice, which is a wonderful Arcanum, and may afford a most curious Philosophical Speculation; for indeed it surpasses all the Spagyrical skill of men; for they make a present separation, and are not obliged to serment or sour their Liquor before they put it into their Limbeck; for if they should, they could obtain only the fierce fiery wrathful Spirit, as happens in all Distillations of Balsamic Liquors, as Wine, and the like; but the Bees extract the more pure substance, viz. the Volatile Spirits, Tinctures, and sweet Balsamic Body, which in all Distillations is destroyed, and only the fierce original fiery Spirit preserved, which when it loseth its friendly Companion, i●s amiable Sun of true Light, and sweet pleasant Virtue, then presently it becomes a high lofty untameable Power, of a fierce fiery Nature and Operation, as is manifest in all such Spirits as Brandy, Rum, etc. which all prey upon the Natures of such as accustom themselves to those fiery Liquors; of which, if poor Mortals were sensible, they would hate themselves for their Labours in that ●i●d, and Kings and other Governors would make Laws, not only against the I ●inkers, but against the Invention too of such pernicious Arts.  
Wherefore th●n do our earned Spagyrist men spread their ●●ums so large and loftily, and keep such a clutter and boasting of their Art and Chemical Medicines, which in their highest Preparations are not to be compared to the skill and product of a poor silly Fl●e● 〈◊〉 Bee? Let us survey the Method taken by these fiery Philosopher's, and let Reas ●n●judge what Virtues are to be extracted from such Preparations. First, when they t●ke any Herb, Flower, Seed, Crain or 〈◊〉 to make a Medicine of, they put it into some Mers●ru●m as they call it or Liquor, wherein it may lie and ferment or sour, which does presently ●urn and suffocate the odoriferous Smells, pure Volatile Spiri●s and sweet Body, in which consists the true Virtue and healing Quality of all things, both in the Animal, Veger●ble and Mineral Kingdoms: After this, they put it into the Furn●er or Lambeck, and through the fierce heat of the Fire there will run off a Brandy, or hot sulphurous Spirit, which does contain only the fierce original S●irits, void of the middle Quality, and all the Seminal and Balsamic Vertu●s; therefore such their Spirits are at the end of Nature, and you may add what Balsamic Bodies or Sweets you please, th●y cannot be made to work or ferment; and although such fiery Spirits are good in some Medicines, being properly mixed with things of a Balsamic Nature, yet alone they are not, because they have lost the Medicinal Virtues in their Preparation; for the healing Virtue in all things proceeds from and consists in the benign and friendly Quality, which the Fire dissipates and destroys; and as long as it remains, so long the pure Smell and sweet pleasant Taste of that thing continues; but in the hot sulphurous fierce original Fires the evil Smells and nauseous Tastes (which most of the vulgar things called, Medicines, are subject unto) do consist.  
There is a certain Maxim, though ☞ little understood or regarded,  
That all Preparations, either in Food or Physic, that do not conserve the Essential Virtues of those things pretended to be prepared (that is, the pure volatile Spirits and sweet Body, whence the true Colour, pure Smell and delightful Taste, and all other good Quali●ies, both Medicinal and Nutrimental, do arise and proceed) such Food and Medicines can never answer the ends of Nature, being weak naus●●ous, improper, and deprived of those very Virtue's whi●h should do the business for which they were administered. The truth of what is here delivered may be confirmed from daily Experience; for do not all Vegetations quickly putrify and rot when there is any Violence offered, to the subtle Spi●its and sweet Qualities, whether it be by improper Preparations, or other Accidents proceeding from the Elements.  
Therefore there is required greater Understanding and skill in preparing Medicines, than most are either endued with or imagine; for the amiable healing Quality in all things is of a very subtle tender Nature, and the pure Nutrimental and Medicinal Virtues, lie, as it were hid, or captivated in the crude Phlegmy Body both in Vegetables, Animals and Minerals; and when the Artist would make a Medicine thereof, he must either by the help of the Celestial Fire and Elements, or by the common Fire, or some proper Menstruums digest and open the gross Saturnire and harsh Martial Body, which in all things does in some degree captivate the Essential Virtues and Paradisical Properties, but so delicate is the friendy Nature, that it will not endure any kind of Violence without great Prejudice; for being (by opening its Poison, the crude Body) set at liberty and becomes volatile, if such Preparations be continued any longer than the proper point of time, the Essential Virtues being already upon the Wing, will presently fly away; and if the friendly Element the Air have not its free Circulation, than they become suffocated; for the Air is the Life of the true and living Spirit in all things.  
Is not this clear and manifest in Herbage, as Hay, which Husbandmen preserve for their cattle; and in Corn, if it stand after it is full Ripe, or when cut, if it lie too long in the open Air, will not the pure Essential Virtues depart and evaporate? and then, do not all such things lose their natural Colour, pure mell and pleasant Taste, and so become of no use nor true ve●●ue either for Food or Physic? The very same comes to pass in all Housewifery and Preparations; if it be under-prepared, it is gross, heavy and full of flatulent ●ui●es; if over, than its pure Virtues become evaporated, and it will afford no good nor firm Nourishment, but is of a ●●ull Taste, a Duskie or else Martial Colour. For Example, Bread, whose predominant Quality stands in the Ventrial and Jovial Nature, and therefore of a pure White; but the saturnine and Martial heats of the Or●●, where the friendly Element, the Air, hath not its free egress and regress, it becomes of a Duskish Brown or Yellowish Colour, and a rough harsh Taste; whereas if the Preparation were proper, it would be white, smooth, soft, and of a sweeter Taste, and easier of Digestion.  
From what hath been said, it appears, not to be an easy matter in Physical Preparations and Separations to preserve the friendly healing Properties complete and entire, and yet at the same time open, digest and destroy the gross Phlegmatic Body, since the former is so apt to be violated, if great Prudence be not used; And if once this benign Quality be wounded, such Foods or Medicines become fulsome, fierce and nauseous to Nature, far worse and of more dangerous consequence than they were whilst they remained crude, as being hotter and more fierce, because the Moderator is gone; so that it would prove much safer if the diseased took the crude Herbs, etc. for then they would have the innate Virtues, as well as the Vice; but after the common Preparations, which most Physicians and Apothecaries use, you must be contented with a mere Nauseate or Loathsome Medicine, in which the pure Essential Virtues are all, or for the most part, destroyed; for all Vegetations and other things, in which the Properties and Qualities of Nature are unequal, either by Nature, or rendered so by Artless Art, will be strong, and of a fulsome Taste, dull and heavy on the Palate and Stomach, etc.  
And whatsoever is said here of the improper Preparation of Vegetables, and the Evils that come thereby, will in a more especial manner take place in the Spagyrical or Chemical Art, when it drives into the Mineral Kingdom; for all or most of the benign Virtues or good Properties of Minerals are locked up and captivated in the harsh Poisons and gross crude Bodies of Saturn and Mars, and their Birth and Generation is in the deep Bowels of the Saturnine cold Earth, where the Sun and Elements have not so free Influences and Circulation through them, as they have on all Vegetations and Fruits; therefore they are far more harsh, hard and poisonous, than those things that grow in the open Elements; neither are they in any degree so friendly and familiar to our Natures, as Herbs, Fruits, Grains and Seeds; therefore Mineral Medicines are of much more dangerous and fatal consequence than the others, if they be not prepared as they ought to be, that is, so as that the good Virtues be not destroyed; for in Vegetable Preparations there does at best remain only a dull gross flatulent Body, which indeed has no power to cure, nor very much to hurt. But nothing is more dangerous and poisonous than ill prepared Medicines of Minerals: Therefore in Si●kness I had rather fall into the hands of an unskilful Gallenist, than of a rash and ignorant Chemist, the last being much more to be dreaded than the former, though both are bad. And it is common with some that think themselves great in the Chemical Art, to take Antimony and other Minerals, and prepare them, and make Medicines, which are tenfold worse than when it was in its natural crude Body, as appears by its fierce poisonous operation; for before its Preparation a man might take forty, sixty or an hundred Grains without any manifest prejudice, but when it has passed the strong sulphurous Fires and Calcinings of the Chemists, than ten or twelve Grains will do the business, that is, purge and vomit, as if it would rend and tear Nature to pieces; and if any should take but half the quantity that might safely have been taken whilst it remained crude in all its parts, it would prove an infallible Cure for all Diseases, by putting a period to Life.  
Whereby i●undeniably appears, that the Chemist has not, as many falsely boast, by his Art digested or meliorated the terrible fierce Wrath and strong Poisons of Saturn and Mars, and preserved the blessed and most aimable Properties of Venus, jupiter and Sol, which last endue all things, in which they carry the upper Dominion, with a gentle mild friendly Nature and Operation; but on the contrary, they render the poisonous Qualities more violent and intense; and the benign Properties in most Mineral Preparations are destroyed, suffocated and wounded by their fierce and improper Fires, and for want of Understanding in the time, so that the venomous Wrath becomes tenfold more fierce than it was before; and the chiefest matter they can boast of, is, That with much Art and Industry they have destroyed the good healing balsamic Virtues, and so enraged the poisonous Wrathful Nature, that a less quantity will do their business. But let them know, that all the Healing and Medicinal Properties re●de in the friendly Principle, and in whatsoever Food or Medicine the amiable Virtue or balsamic Oil is wounded, that thing thenceforth becomes abominable, so far from deserving the Name of an Help or Remedy, that it is a mere Nauseat to Nature.  
It is further to be noted, that all Medicines that are fierce, wrathful, poisonous, and unequal, in which the benign Properties are impotent, and the fierce original dark Powers so predominate, that ten, twenty or thirty Grains or a few Drops will affright Nature, and put her into an Agonious fit, as for the most part destructive to the Wellbeing and Health both of the Body and Mind; for they do incorporate with their Similes, and excite the lurking Poisons in the Body, and put a further Dismayment on the weak Oil and pure Virtues, the strengthening of which would be the right Cure. And it is a very great chance if any such rough churlish Medicines do any Cure, but altogether the contrary. 'Tis true, many perhaps may recover after such Physic, but that is no Argument of their excellency or safety. If a Physician should have at any time three hundred Patients, one might safely pass ones words, That if not one of them took any of his Medicines, yet two hundred and fifty of them would recover; and ye should the Physician in this case have the glory of Curing them all, when in truth they owe the benefit solely to the Mercy of God, and goodness of his Handmaid Nature.  
It is also to be considered, That there are some Chemical Preparations, as Powders, and the like, that have no Purgative or Vomiting Quality, nor any other manifest way of working or altering of Nature, being no more sensibly felt than a crumb of Bread after it is in the Belly. And these have been and are much cried up for the wonders they do: And in truth they are much to be preferred before the former uncorrected Poisons, which rend and tear the Body to pieces; for these, perhaps, do not hurt, and what do they do, I am not able to say; but most certain it is, that as many as happen to be well after the taking them, do attribute their Cure to these silent Medicines. However, this I will be bold to tell you, That in Chemical, and especially Mineral Preparations, it is a very difficult point, and I think, more than any mortal man can certainly undertake to perform, To correct, alloy and destroy the Venom's of Saturn and Mars, and at the same time preserve the more amiable and friendly Virtues, which are in their own Nature so very subtle, tender and fine, that every little Inconveniency or Violence wounds them; and the difficulty is hereby further increased, for that in what Medicine soever the original Fires of Saturn and Mars are destroyed or wholly annihillated, the benign Properties can no longer subsist; For where there is no Fire there is no Light; for the Fire is the Father of the Light, and all Life and Moveability stands in the Poisonous Root; therefore the Artist must not annihilate those poisonous Principles in Nature, for they are the very Original of every Life, but his work is to correct them, that the benign Principle and healing Quality may arise and tincture, or shine through them, that so their Strife may cease, and all the Properties incorporate and embrace each other, and so attain the Unity, and then such a Medicine will have power and virtue to tune the Discords of Nature into an Harmony, and allay the irritated Poisons in the Body, and so awaken and strengthen the dismayed Oil and fading Virtues, and so the Cure will be soon effected.  
Thus it appears, that to take a crude poisonous Mineral or Vegetable, and open its gross Body, and correct the Venom's, and awaken the good Balsamic Virtues, that so they may predominate and tinge the whole, is one of the highest and most difficult Points in the Spagyrical Science: But on the contrary, 'tis no great matter to make a Devil, being half made already, that is, 'tis easy to make a thing worse, but hard to render it better; for its Virtues cannot appear till the Poisons be moderated, which must be done by the Artists helping hand, which to do, requires as great Understanding as to obtain that wonderful Thing, so much talked of, but rarely, if at all known or understood, viz. The Grand Elixir or Philosopher's Stone; whereas indeed neither this nor the other can be attained by any humane Study, Learning, or Industry, but only by the divine Bounty and favourable Mercy of the God of Peace and true Love. But however, it often comes to pass, that though the Medicines be not prepared in Nature's own way, nor so as to them narurally profitable and Homogeneal, yet nevertheless the Prayers of the Administer, and the Faith of the Receiver, may and do often work Wonders; for Faith is able to remove Mountains. Therefore many Medicines, though in themselves improper, have wrought great Cures, so great is the Power of Zeal and Faith, and sincere calling on the Name of the Lord, which is the only Universal and Infallible Medicine, and surest Port of Safety.   

CHAP. XVII.  
Of Sugar and Sugar-Candy, their Nature and Operation.  
SUgar is of late Years become of almost universal use with all that have where with to procure it, which proves of evil Consequence to most of them, especially Women and Children, who are the chief eaters thereof; 'tis in truth an excellent and rich Fruit, being endued with the King of all Tastes; for Sweetness is the best and richest Quality in Nature, being the moderator and qualifier of the Bitter, Sour, Astring●n● or Saltish Quality, both in Animals, Vegetables and Minerals, and from this amiable Quality doth arise all beauteous Colours, Smells and Tastes in Meats and Drinks, and other things, the House or Cabinet of the pure volatile and essential Spirits, the appeaser and qualifier of the fierce wrathful Saturnine and Martial Fires; therefore in whatsoever things that sweet Quality is impotent, the same become fierce, wrathful and harsh; if in Animals they are ravenous and cruel, as Bears, Lions, Tigers, Butchers, Soldiers, Wolves, Dogs, Crocodiles, Pikes, Cormorants, Sharks, Vultures, and many others both on Earth, and in the Air, and Water, of monstrous Shapes and hideous Forms; if in Vegetables, as Herbs and Fruits, they are strong, rank & poisonous, and much more in Minerals.  
Nevertheless, if this sweet and so much desirable Quality shall be too strong, so as it were totally to captivate all the other Qualities, as happens in Sugar, and many other Fruits, than its good and amiable Virtues are turned e●il, for such are all extremes of whatsoever kind in Nature, and of bad consequence, if it be no● properly mixed or incorporated and eaten with other things, or by itself very sparingly; for many times the best things prove as prejudicial to health as those of less value, nay, more harmful to Health, because they are more enticing. Thus the too frequent mixing of Sugar with our common Foods and Drinks, obstr●cts the course of Nature, heats the Blood till it becomes thick and putrified, whence proceed Stoppages of the Nerves, hindering the Passages of the Spirits, so that they become heavy, dull and impure, because the Blood cannot freely circulate; and these Evils do in an especial manner take place amongst Children, Women and Young People, who chiefly maintain the Confectioners, and are the great Devourers of Sweetmeats.  
Few there be that are sensible, or indeed so long as they live intemperately, can be sensible of the mischiefs of improper Mixtures; and as it must be confessed that Sugar in its own nature is one of the best Vegetables, so it must be affirmed, that as it i●an Extreme or a thing unequal in its Parts and Qualifications, so whatsoever Foods and Drinks 'tis mixed withal, it inclines them to its own Nature, viz. to Inequality, if care and wisdom be not use●; and therefore is not to be used with e●●able Fruits and Grains, as Wheat, and the like, nor with Milk, nor several sorts of Gru●ls and Pott●ges, for they are all endued with sufficiency of this Balsamic or Sweet Quality already.  
Besides, the art that is used to make the Juice or thin Liquor of the Sugarcanes into Sugar, does so alter and change it from its simple Original, that it becomes of another Nature and Operation, as is manifest from the different Tastes of the one and the other; for the Juice of r●pe Sugarcanes has a most delicate fine simple, and as one may say, innocent sweetness, leaving Behind in the Mouth no strong Taste or ill Relish, but every way perfect, and without offence to Nature, and a man may without weariness eat more thereof than he can of Sugar, especially of fine Sugar; but on the contrary Sugar after the first 2 or 3 Mouthfuls, doth not only leave behind it a●n us●ous strong Taste or Hug●▪ but also quickly tires the eaters thereof. And as the mixing of Sugar with the before-m●n●ion●d benign Grains and Fruits is improper, so ●●kewise is it in vain to add the same to Martial saturnine and unripe Fruits that are harsh, sour and bitter; for unripe Fru●●s can no more be made prop●r by mixing mature Fruits with t●em, t●an Brandy can be made wholesome Drink by mixing Sugar or Sweets with it; This you may perceive in the case of stale harsh Beer, you may mix Sugar with it, viz. such a quantity as will allay and hide the roughness and hardness of the Beer, as to the palate, and make it go down somewhat pleasantly, but when it comes into the Stomach, (Nature's Laboratory) ●here she makes separation, than t●●● saturnine and Martial harshness will again appear in its own Form, and he●t the whole Body, and generate the Gravel or S●one, if it find suitable matter: The same is to be understood in Foods; what Stomach will be satisfied after a whole Meal only of Goosebery-Tarts made of young green Gooseberries made palatable with Sugar? and so of all other things that are either unripe or unequal in their parts, and the reason is at hand, viz. because two Extremes, though never so cunningly joined, cannot produce a thing of a middle Nature or equal Operation, and agreeable to Nature.  
But here perhaps some will object, If these good things, Sugar, Spanish Fruits, etc. most not be eaten, wherefore were they made?  
To which I answer; The Creator made all things for his own Honour and Glory, and made Man in his own Image, and endued him with divine and humane Wisdom, by which he might be able to choose unto himself the better part; but this Eye of the understanding he hath ●●ut out, by suffering himself to be precipitated into all Evil, Superfluity and Intemperance; but the Alwise Creator did never command mankind to increase and make vast Quantities, viz. a thousand times as much more as is needful of any sort of eatable or drinkable things, and then oblige them to swallow them down their Throats for fear (forsooth) they should be spilt, or be counted useless, as if there could be any greater Spoil than that which spoils both the thing and the receiver, or as if it were not better to let a thing remain seemingly useless, than to abuse it to my own Destruction? the truth is, the original of most superfluous and pernicious Inventions, and also of such a prodigious increase of Sugars, Spanish Fruits, Wines and Spices, have chiefly sprang from the hellish Root of COVETOUSNESS, being promoted for the sake of Gain, and to raise great Estates, and to live a rich easy superfluous Life, and not for any private or public good; and as their ends were bad, so the effects prove no better. Some also will say, We have need of them, and why should we debar ourselves of those things? And thus if there were an hundred Toys and needless Novelties brought into England more than there is, they would quickly find footing, and the People would quickly have as much need of them as they have of Tobacco, Bra●dy, Sugar, Spices, etc. And that we have no real deed of any of these things is undeniable, since our Forefathers lived not only as well, but much better too, that is, were stronger, lussier, longer-lived and freer from Diseases, before the use of such things, than their Posterity are since; nay, many Discases which we nowadays groan under, were not then known.  
But yet for all this it must be acknowledged, as I said before, that Suga● is a brave noble Fruit, and has its uses, but chiefly as Wine, it ought to be taken and used as a Cordial, or in a Physical way, and not at every turn to be mixed with our common Food and Drinks, as most do at this day, it being o●e of the richest Juices in the world, and therefore the fitter for Cordials, when Nature wants such Recruits: but the too common use thereof is of eull consequence, particularly all sweetened Drinks and Foods do much forward the generation of the Gout, and other Obstructions and Diseases in the Body, which sim●le innocent Foods will prevent, if Temperance be at any ●ate observed; but if Suga● be now and then a little used in Milk-Meats and Pottages for old People, it will prove grateful and benefical; for of all sorts of People sweetened Foods are best for the aged, and are least hurtful to them.  
Touching Sugar-Candy and Pan-Sugar, I shall first describe to you how it is made, and then shall the more easily make it appear how improperly it is used commonly amongst us.  
Sugar-Candy is made thus, First it is boiled as high as other Sugars, than they take this Syrup out of the Pans, and put it into an earthen Pot, and set it in an hot Stove, there to stand eight or ten days, in which time the fierceness of the sulphurous heat does Candy or coagulate it into an hard tough substance, and then you take it out from the Syrup, and put this Candy, or the hard lumps into the Stove again, but made two or three degrees hotter, where it must remain ten or twelve days longer, and then it is done.  
There are two sorts of it, White and Brown, but they are both of one Nature and Operation, and the chief use that is made of either, besides spoiling of children's Teeth, is to several sorts of People as a Medicine, when they are troubled with Coughs, Colds and inward Stoppages of the Breast. Now Sugar-Candy, as to its Nature and Operation, is the same in the Radix as Sugar, from whence it is produced, only it is nothing so good, nor of so cleansing and opening a Quality as Common-Sugar, though the contrary is generally believed, but any Man that wears Eyes in his Head, may from the before cited method of its preparation easily perceive my Opinion to be true, for by that tedious unnatural preparation, and being made stronger of the Lime, that thereby it may more easily harden and coagulate. This Candid Sugar must needs become of an hotter Nature, and tougher Substance than the common Sugar, and consequently not so wholesome especially for those People that are troubled with Colds or Stoppages, for being by that way of preparing dried, hardened, and brought into an hard glewy tough Substance, of a slimy ropy Nature, when it comes to dissolve, it naturally heats and stops the Passages, instead of opening them, causing Drought, etc. there being nothing more contrary and burdensome to Nature in such cases, than this very thing which is given almost as an universal Medicine to both Young and Old; and therefore ought by all wise People to be abandoned; for all things in which the Sweet Quality is extreme (in which respect Sugar is chief) do dull the Palate, clog and obstruct the Stomaeh, stop the Passages, destroy Concoction, spoil the natural Heat, making it weak and feeble, heats the Blood, and renders it thick, whence proceed dull and impure Spirits. Therefore all such things ought to be avoided by ●ound and healthy People, but much more by such as are already obstructed, except they intent to increase their Maladies, which is often done by such improper means, it being a custom too general when any such Disorder is on People, to make most of their Foods and Drinks sweet, that (forsooth) they may Rot away the Cold, as they call it; never considering the evil Consequences of such things, which are as far from any Property to help such Infirmities, as I 〈◊〉 is from Darkness, and only 〈◊〉 Blindness and ●olly have been and are the original of all such Customs and Inventions; for in truth, such as find themselves invaded with such Distempers, the best Food is thin brisk Gruds and Pottages made in the manner we have taught before in the Chapter of Gru●ls, etc. also good Raw Salads, with Bread and Oil, but Oil sparingly; likewise Bread and Butter and all sorts of lean Food that are light of Digestion: And for Drinks Toast and Water, Water and Rhenish Wine, or Water and White-Wine, two parts Water and one Wine, or clear small Ale, with moderate Clothing and Exercise in open airy places, which will gradually cleanse the Passages, open all Obstructions, and s●on remove those Evils.  
It is further to be noted, That all sorts of sweet Fruits, as Raisins, Figgs, and the like, being frequently eaten by such People as are subject to Stoppages and Colds, does increase those Distempers, by heating the Blood and weakening the digestive faculty and natural Heat, and generating evil juices, except such Fruits are eaten sparingly and with Bread, which with such Fruits is to be preferred before any other things mixed or eaten with them whatsoever: Likewise there are various sorts of Drinks made by boiling Fruits in Beer, Ale, Wine, and the like, with various sorts of Herbs, Roots, Seeds, and Drugs of disagreeing Natures, and stoutly sweetened with Sugar or Honey, such Liquors for the most part prove of very evil consequence to Health; For no sweet Fruits ought to be boiled, neither for Food nor Physic; for boiling does naturally evaporate and destroy the pleasing friendly opening Qualites, and sends packing the purer Spirits, as appears both by the Fruits after they are so boiled, and also the Liquor that they are boiled in, and the nauseous unpleasing Taste which remains in both, which is the Reason that all that use this way of Preparation, are forced to sweeten such Drinks with Sugar or Honey, or else they will not be drinkable; but if you take any of the beforementioned Fruits raw, and bruise or stone them, and then infuse them in any of the said Liquors, especially in common Water, it will become sweet and pleasant, and far more opening and cleansing, and every way wholesomer: The same advantage you have when you infuse Herbs properly gathered, dried and preserved, and also Seeds, Drugs and Roots, and all such Drinks will have a pleasant Taste, and be welcome to the Stomach; but if the same be boiled, it will be altogether the contrary, as having lost their essential Virtues by the Violence of Fire; for the pure volatile Spirits in all sweet lucious Fruits, are not only very powerful, but stand, as it were external, and on the surface, and therefore will not endure the fierce motion of the Fire, as Flesh, and several sorts of Martial and Saturnine Fruits, Grains and Seeds will; for in them the pure sweet virtues and spirits, are (as it were) locked up under the harsh Forms and earthly Properties of the Original Poisons, and therefore cannot be brought out to manifestation, but only by the heat of the external ●ire. These things ought to be considered and understood in all Preparations, both in Food and Physic, or else there will be but sorry Diet and worse Medicines.  
As for Coughs, Colds and Stop●ages, (for which People commonly use Sugar-Candy and Pan-Sugar) the same are generally procured by Ill-living, and Intemperance in Mea●s, Drinks, Exercises and Habits, and also by eating and drinking too much in quantity, and things of a contrary quality, or improperly prepared. These things are the original Inlets of your Colds; nor do proceed so much from thin Clothing, as most imagine; for if the inside be sound and clean, then there is but little danger of outward Inconveniences; but the best way for such as are of weak tender Spirits and sanguine Natures, and indeed for all sorts of People to prevent outward Colds, and the evils that happen through thin and thick Clothing, and by Heats, Sweatings, and the like, is to use themselves to change their Clothes often. As for Example; such as stay in the House in the Morning to put on one sort of Clothes, and when they go out to put off their Coats and Waistcoats to their Shirt, and put on fresh cold Clothes; and then again in the Afternoon or at Night, when they stay at home, and have no occasion to go forth, to put off their Clothes they went forth in, and put on the others; which a little custom will make so easy, familiar and delightsome, and so refresh them, that such as use themselves to such change of Habits, will not be satisfied if they omit it: And for others who are subject to Sweat by their Labours, if it be Extreme, and more than is usual, then let them at all such times put off all their Clothes, Shirts and all, and put on fresh Shirts and cold Clothing; And for such as Over-Travel themselves, and are sweaty and weary, let them also put off all their Clothing, and put on fresh; but let both one and the other observe to sit still a little while before they either eat or drink. Also, when you change your Clothes, as to put on thinner or thicker, or when you put on New-Clothes, which generally are warmer than old, you ought not to wear the thick or the thin, the new nor the old constantly, but to wear the new one day, and then on the Morrow to wear the old or thinner again, and so by degrees you may wear either without danger to your Health; for Nature, especially when weak will not admit of sudden alterations or changes, either inwardly or outwardly, without injury.  
But some will be ready to say, That it is not only troublesome to change a Man's Clothes so often, but also the ready way to procure great Hurts by putting on old Clothes when they are hot. And 'tis confessed, this may at first seem very improper; but if the matter be better considered, our Directions will not appear either unreasonable or unwholesome; for does not every one, even the most tenderest People, and such as do often sweat a Nights, and lie, ten, twelve or fourteen hours soaking themselves as in an hot Bath, yet every Morning rise out of those close hot Beds, and put on cold Clothes, without any prejudice to Nature or catching Cold? And if so, why then should putting on cold Clothes, when they are up in the cold open Air (which is far more tolerable than the former) do them any prejudice? Besides, the putting on cold Clothes, provided they be not wetor damp▪ is so far from being an injury, that it is altogether the contrary; for this fresh cold Clothing shuts and closes up the Pores, and drives the natural Heat more central, which is the greatest security that may be to Nature, causing a lively briskness through the whole Body, sharpens the Appetite, and helps Concoction, enabling the Natural Heat to withstand the attaques of outward Inconveniences: Is not this further manifested in Swimming, Wading, and the like? Do not such Exercises wonderfully beget Appetite? Which is for no other Reason but by the Coldness of the Water, which shuts the Pores, and forces the Natural Heat more inwardly, which does in a moment's time digest Crudities and cleanse the Stomach from all slimy superfluous matter, which did dull and fur the Passages and hinder Concoction; so that you see what you fear as your greatest Enemy, is your chiefest Friend.  
Is is further to be noted, That ●iggs, Prunes, and also several sorts of Nuts, as Almonds, and many other things of like Nature, that are the Productions of hot Climates, are not 〈◊〉 agreeable to our Northern Constitutions, and ought not to be frequently eaten, or indeed not at all, except only with common Bread, or in a Physical way in opening Drinks. The Mischiefs of eating such Fruits alone, may appear by their effects, viz. the Stoppages and Obstructions, thick Blood, weak joints and Limbs, and troublesome unnatural Heats, possessing all the outward parts, whilst the more central are cold, whence proceeds dulness of Appetite, and many other Inconveniences, especially to Women and Children, who are the chief eaters of such things, to the great imparing of their Health. The like is to be understood of Green and Candid Gingers, as also all sorts of Conserves and Preserves that many of the more curious Dames stuff their own and their children's Paunches with; not forgetting the great quantities of the Confectinners Hodgepodge, and the Cakes, the Buns, the Gingerbread, etc. All which do wonderfully fur and obstruct the Passages, and generate Crudities, and indispose the Stomach, and prepare matter for the Regiment of Diseases.  
Some may think or say, That I talk after a strange rate: But if they be so discreet and wise as to consider the Nature's, Ingredients and Operations of the beforementioned things, or consult either Doctor Reason, or their near Neighbour Doctor Experience, they will be of my mind. For there are as great Superfluities, Intemperances' and Disorders committed in Meats and Drinks, as there are in Cloathings, Houses and Furnitures, but the Mischiefs arising from the former are worse than those from the latter; for Excess, bad Preparations and improper Mixtures in Foods and Drinks, do an hundred times more injury to Health and Tranquillity of Body and Soul, than the highest Extravagances in Ornament and Clothing; The one being external, but the other inward; One is seen, but the other lies hid, and is felt to the disquieting of the Body and Mind; and as it is less Ornamental, so is it less excusable; For what are Monuments that Gluttons leave behind them? Verily nothing but an Ill Name, as stinking as their Carcases, weakly and diseased Children to curse their Intemperances' and Fat Houses of-Office.   

CHAP. XVIII.  
Of the Four Principal Tastes, or the Bitter, the Saltish, the Sour, and the Sweet Qualities, and their respective Natures.  
HAving occasionally in the foregoing Discourse several times mentioned the Sweet Quality I shall here take leave to inform the Reader more particularly of the Nature of the four principal Tastes or Qualities, since the knowledge thereof will be very useful to all discreet Lovers of Health.  
The BITTER Taste or Quality is the Radix or central Fire in every Life, whether in Animals, Vegetables or Minerals, it hath the strong might of the Fire, whence ariseth the Attractive Quality, which draweth together the Water in the Air, and again dissipateth it, by which it becomes separable, distilling itself in drops and Showers. And if Men or other Animals be dignified with this Quality, then have they strong Attractive Faculties and great Heats, and consequently eat much, and are subject to Wrath and Fierceness, especially if the Male Aspects and Configurations of the Stars and Elements be awakened; for then presently this bitter harsh furious Fire breaks forth, whence follows Thunder, Lightnings and terrible fierce Storms of Hail, Rain, Wind, and the like; and if it gets dominion in the Hearts of Men, then follows War, Desolation of Countries, Burning of Cities, Devastation of Towns, etc. Also, this Quality being incorporated with the pure spirituous parts or vapours of the Air, Clothes all Vegetables with a pleasant lovely Green, but it does differ, some deeper, some more light, all according to the strength of the Salnitral Virtue in each Herb or Tree.  
If this Bitter Quality be temperate, and dwell meekly in either Men, Beasts, or other thing, than it is a most friendly cheering Life thereunto; for by its central and pleasant Heat, it dissipateth all Malignity and Evil Influences, is the cause of all joy and the Root of Motion: Therefore Men and all other Creatures in whom this Bitter Quality is strong, are brisk, lively, active and nimble; so Vegetatives wherein the same doth bear sway, are powerful Openers of all Obstructions in the Body, of which the Ancients seems to have been sensible, by their attributing opening cleansing Virtues and Qualities to Bitter Martial Herbs, S●eds, Fruits and Grains.  
It is most true, that this is a powerful Quality, and when it is temperate in any Creature, causeth a pleasant Noise or Emotion, which in Men we call Laughter, in other things an Elevation of Spirits; and when the Astringent, Sour and Sweet Qualities do equally incorporate, gives the brisk lively Taste to all Food, which renders it not only pleasant and delightful to the Palate and Stomach, but affords a profitable Nourishmennt that will never tyre the Eaters thereof, being soberly used; For Equality and Concord maintain their like Properties, both in the Body and Mind.  
But this Bitter Spirit or Quality hath likewise in it another Species, viz. a Fierceness and Wrath, which is a terrible furious Spirit, and the House of Death, a Corruption of all good, and Destruction of the Life in Body; for if it be too much elevated in Man or Beast, than it presently inflames the central Fires, whence proceed cruel Burning Fevers, and other acute Mortal Diseases; for this Quality is the principal Mother and kindler of the hot poisonous Fire in all Elements; and when it too violently predominates in any Herb, Fruit, Grain or Seed, they are strong, fulsome, hot and bitter, not fit for Food, nor indeed for Physic, without skilful Correction; but if a wise Artist takes them in hand, that knows how to alley their fierce Martial Poisons and hot bitter Fires, than they prove excellent Medicines; and if any shall mix such Herbs with their Drinks or Foods, as some do unadvisedly, by infusing of Wormwood, or the like, in Beer or Ale, letting it lie too long, till it becomes almost Rotten, by which means the volatile Spirits become suffocated, than such Liquors will be apt to awaken the bitter hot fulsome Qualities, and prove hot and unpleasant, and send dulling Fumes and Vapours into the Head, prejudicing both the Eyes and Brain. Nor can the wisest Cook make proper and agreeable Foods or Drinks of any thing in which either of the four Qualities are extreme; indeed they may by various mixtures palliate and hide the Excess, and for the present render them pleasant to the Palate, but when the natural Heat of the Stomach comes to separate them, there still remains a Touch of the old Relish, and they afford neither a firm nor good Nourishment; and should any Person be confined but a Month to live only on them, he would perfectly loathe them, which is a demonstration that they are not natural and wholesome.  
The SAITISH or ASTRINGENT Quality is the very original matter of every Creature in the four Worlds, it attracteth or naileth all things together, 'tis the Vestment of the Spirit, and the true Clothing of Life in all things, whether Animal, Vegetable or Mineral, an harsh drawing Property, which encompasseth and encloseth the Life, Spirit and Power of every material Being, whence proceeds the Shell or Body▪ which serves to preserve the more essential parts from being evaporated, suffocated, or otherwise violated: Thus if the Skin, Shell or Body of any thing be any ways hurt, then presently the most essential parts are disturbed, and the Spirit of Life suffers, and becomes wounded, it being the first and the last in all things; and when this coagulating or saltish Quality is temperate in any Creature or Vegetation, being equally incorporated or mixed with the Bitter, Sour and Sweet Properties, it renders it benign and pleasant, and operates in number, weight and measure; for 'tis this sharp Quality that gives that delightful pleasurable Taste in all Meats and Drinks.  
But if this Astringent Quality be too highly exalted, if it be in humane Nature, It becomes a terrible Fiercess, and inflames the bitter Root or Fire, whence are engendered in the Body Diseases of a tearing stoney Wrathful Nature, as the Gravel, Stone, Gout, Palsies, Agues, etc. or if it happen to be inflamed in the Water, than it engenders Scabs, tedious Sores, Small Pox, Leprosies, Dropsies, and the like; but if it be violently enkindled in the 〈◊〉 Quality, then follows Consumptions, general W●stings of the Radical Moisture, Plague Sores and great Pox; or if inflamed in the Sour Property, than the Palate forfeits its Taste and good Relish, thence arises Loss of Appetite, Stoppages, sour Belchings and Vapours, Windy Diseases, and cruel Obstructions of the Stomach and Passages: And when this Inequality happens in any sorts of Foods or Drinks, than they are astringent, harsh, sour, sharp and unpleasant both to the Palate and Stomach, binding the Body, and generating the Gravel and Stone, and various other Diseases, according as it finds matter in each Constitution. And though Cooks and others do by their divers Ingredients and improper Compositions hide or captivate this harsh Saturnine Fire, so that it cannot be felt, or very little tasted on the Palate; nevertheless when the natural Heat of the Stomach has made separation, than the aforesaid ill Juices become manifested and exert their harmful Operations and Effects, as all may know, if they will but give themselves the leisure and heed to observe it. For Example, Take any kind of harsh astringent Fruits, and allay them with Sugar, Spicies, Spanish Fruits, Flower, Butter, Milk, or any other Balsamic pleasant things, and make it up together for Food, as in Pies, Tarts, and the like, then make your whole Meals thereof for several days together, and you shall certainly find an unpleasant sour keeking or qualmish gnawing or gripping at your Stomach, as if it were always unsatisfied.  
The SOUR Quality, when it is moderate, opposeth in any Creature, or other thing, than it opposeth all Extremes, both of the Bitter, Sweet and Astringent Properties, being of a cooling refreshing nature and operation, it makes an excellent temperature, giving a most pleasant Taste to all sorts of Food, causing them easily to ferment and digest, so that they become, as well the most pleasant as the wholsomest of Foods, being a quick lively powerful Quality, the true Habitation and delight of the pure Spirit; but if this Quality be too weak in any Creature, than they are dull, sottish and heavy; if in Foods, unpleasant, and apt to cloy both Stomach and Palate; but when it is too highly elevated, it engenders Sadness or Melancholy, causing a stink, or Putrefaction and Rankness in all Animals ane Vegetables.  
The SWEET Quality opposes the other three, being an amiable, blessed and pleasant Property, comforting and refreshing every thing; 'tis an Asswager of Wrath and Fierceness, a Calmer of Storms and Tempests, and gives all things their pleasant and friendly Look, affords the pure spirituous fragrant Taste in Vegetables, whose fair, yellow, white and ruddy Colours do all from hence proceed; 'tis a Glimpse of the divine Ray, a Qualification of Love and Mercy, the sweet Solace and joy of every created being; and when it is temperate and moderate in any thing, bearing a gentle sway over the Martial and Saturnine Properties, than such Creatures are Sanguine, of Friendly Dispositions and Temperatures, of tractable humane Inclinations, and all Meats and Drinks in which it does a little predominate, are endued with Concord and Equality, as Bread, Milk, mild Ale, Beer well Brewed and fermented, Cider, Wine sufficiently allayed with Water, etc. such Foods and Drinks do by consent administer a proportionable Nourishment by equal Portions to all parts of the Body; for this good Quality does sweeten and allay the bitter hot Fires of Mars, and opens all the doors of the Melancholy Astringent Chambers of Saturn, by its friendly Influences.  
But still this amiable Property doth contain a fierce wrathful Poison, which is the Root and very Centre of every Being; for if there were no harsh nor fierce wrathful Fire, there could neither be any Light or Love, and when this lurking Poison is too violently kindled in the bitter Quality in the Element of Water, than it engendereth many Disorders, as botchy S●es and Leprosics, which quickly corrupt the Flesh; but if it be kindled by the heats of Mars, than it infecteth the Element of Air, and occasions a sudden and spreading Plague, that corrupts all in a moment. So when this Quality shall too violently bear sway in Foods and Drinks, they thereby become heavy and dull, apt to clog both the Appetite and the Stomach, hot in operation, making the Blood thick and sharp, and consequently the Spirits impure, the Senses stupefied, the Understanding clouded, the Joints loaded with pernicious Juices, etc.  
By all which it appears, that whensoever any one of the four Qualities beforementioned, does too violently predominate, or is inflamed, it presently kindles or awakens the hot bitter astringent Poisons, whether it be in Animals or Vegetables, so that the central Fires which lay hid or captivated in the sweet Oil begin to burn fierce, and appear in their own Form. Most People that enjoy Riches and Plenty may know this by their daily experience as when they have drank freely of Wine or strong Drink, doth it not first too violently burn up and waste the sweet Oil and pure volatile Spirits? It's either by Evaporation or Suffocation, and thence follows excessive Heat, so that all the Body burns with a burdensome and unnatural Flame; whereas before the intemperate drinking of such unequal Liquors, all the Body and Members were cool, brisk, and full of Life and Pleasure; yet the same fierce wrathful central Fires were then as strong and powerful, only they lay hid or captivated in the sweet Oil, and pure spirituous parts, which is the Moderator of those central Fires, but when by Inequality or disorder that sweet Oil or Humour Radicalis is wounded, than these original Poisons appear, and manifest themselves in their fierce Forms and Natures, which so long as the good Virtues were strong, they could not do; for these four Qualities are set in opposition to each other, that thereby the fierceness of each may be tempered and mitigated, that so all Creatures, Animals, Minerals and Vegetables might be brought to a fit temperature, by the embracing and incorporating of the said Qualities each with other; for the sweet Quality opposeth and moderateth the fierce Elevation of the Bitter, Astringent and Sour, and maketh an Harmony, resulting from them all; and the sour Quality opposeth the fierceness of the bitter, sweet and astringent, being their cooling and refreshing Life; So again the saltish or astringent Quality makes an excellent Temperature in the better, sweet and sour, as the bitter Quality opposing the excess of the other three, reduces them to Equality, making them more p●easant and gentle in their operation. Therefore all sorts of Food and Drinks, in which any one of those Qualities are too highly exalted, become unequal, and the predominate quality presently incorporates with its 〈◊〉 in the Body, and thereby discompose it, destroying the Health and Harmony of the parts. But on the other side, all mean simple Meats and Drinks, in which the Properties are near equality, and have no manifest Taste that does too violently predominate, do by Sympathy embrace and incorporate with their Likenesses in the Body, equally distributing proper Nourishment to all parts and Members, which makes the whole Lightsome, full of Joy and Pleasure; if this were understood, a little practice of Temperance would make many loath themselves for their Disorders, and their continual affronting of Nature, causing her to lose that simple innocent Way, wherein she delights to walk to Health and Felicity.   

CHAP. XIX.  
Of Drinks, and particularly of Canary.  
I Now proceed to speak of the most usual Drinks at this day used amongst us, especially such as are esteemed most Cordial, and prescribed many times in a kind of Physical way for Diet, or in order to the preventing or remidying of Diseases; and because the Richest of our Drinks is Canary, I shall begin with that.  
CANARY (commonly called Sack) is a brave noble Juice or Cordial, one of the most excellent Drinks in the World, far transcending any Cordials prepared by the Apothecaries, or any Juice which the best of Flesh affords; the same being enriched with the choicest Virtues of Nature, being too rich for common Drink, but nothing more cherishing and reviving, if taken on special occasions, when Nature doth require a Recruit; and indeed the intent of those that first brought it into England, was for no other use: And therefore the first Engrossers and Buyers thereof were Apothecaries, who sold it again to their Patients in small quantities, as by the Advice of Physicians, which then was of good use for the comforting and cheering sick weak decayed People, it being endued with a brave Balsamic Body, yielding abundance of pure subtle Spirits; its predominant Quality stands in the Sweet Body, therefore ought not to be frequently drank in times of Health, its Virtues being too great for common use; for that which is extraordinary good in season, may prove of ill consequence when used unseasonably; for the common use thereof dulls the edge of the Appetite, weakness the natural Heat of the Stomach, and spoils the Concoction, and for that reason a very little will satisfy those that drink much of this Cordial Liquor; besides, it replenishes the whole Body with superfluous Humours and evil Juices; for all sorts of Wine are Extremes, especially Sack, and though it e●ceed in the best Property of Nature, yet the frequent use of such high graduated Drinks may prove as prejudicial to the Health and Strength both of the Body and Spirits, as things of meaner Vertu●s, nay, much more harmful; for all Extremes, or things in which any Property of Nature is too highly advanced, aught to be taken very sparingly, and as Physic rather than Food.  
'Tis a dangerous Error to imagine (as most People do) That the sweeter and richer Drinks and Foods are, whether simple or compound, so much the better or stronger Nourishment they shall ●fford. Whereas the clean contrary is true; for nothing can maintain the Body and Spirits in good Health and Tranquillity but such Meats and Drinks as are simple, and nearest the Equality. For Drinks wherein the Spirit is predominant, if not taken very seldom and sparingly, are apt to destroy the action of the Stomach, and to incorporate with their similes, viz. with the pure natural Spirits, and balsamic Virtues in the Body, causing them to burn too violently, so that an evaporation or suffocation of them follows; therefore although whilst such spirituous Drinks are in operation, all the Spirits of him that hath drank, are in an hot Rage or Tumult, and he forgets all Sorrow, Modesty and Temperance, and by the awakening an unequal Motion of the Spirit, skips like a Wild Ass' Colt, and Sings and Rants, and becomes brisk and Jolley, and in his own floating Imagination as Great as a KING; yet when a little Sleep has quelled this Tumult and dissolved these Fumes, you shall find the poor Creature with much fewer Spirits and less Oil in his vital Lamp, than he had before the Merry Carrouze, and he is weak, and faint, and feverish, and goes trembling, and looks as dejected as a conquered City; which shows what Spoil and Waste, what Havoc and Desolation the strong spirituous Liquor has made upon his natural Spirits; and this is a sure Demonstration, which all true Topers cannot but subscribe to and confirm from their own wretched Experience.  
Moreover, all Rich sweet Wines and Cordial Liquors, if frequently drank, though not the degree of disturbing the Brain, do yet heat the Blood, and put it into a kind of disorderly ferment, and set the Gate of Venus' open, and makes Men too Effemenate and Women too S●lacious, being not at all agreeable to our Northern Constitutions; therefore if healthy People will drink Wine, they ought to allay it with Water, and then it makes a Drink more equal and more wholesome, viz. two thirds Water and one Wine. And for such as are weak, sick and fainty, if they would have stronger Cordials than our own Country affords, let them drink some Wine, which is the choicest of Cordials, and higher graduated in Nature than any other Liquor that can be made by Art; but if Men and Women addict themselves in health to guzzle down the Richest Wines daily, as many Thousands do now a days, what must they have for Cordials in their Sickness? for their Bodies being so habituated to Wine, that will have no operation to help them. Shall they take Brandy and Rectified Spirit of Wine? Alas! this too they have already made their common Drink, and Wine is long since become too cold for their destroyed Stomaches, even when they are in the best Health they are capable of; and B●andy, Rum and Whisky are scarce able to furnish out so much warmth and activity to the natural Heat, as to digest a small Dinner: Now when such People come to be sick, (and to be sure long they cannot continue well) what Cordial shall be prescribed for them? I believe the learnedst Doctor in Europe cannot tell, unless he should make them swallow two or three Ladles full of scalding Lead, boiling Pitch or flaming Brimstone: They are at the end of Nature, and therefore cannot arrive any higher; for those that drink strong Ale and Beer in Childhood, their Nature shall require Wine in their Middle Years, and Brandy in Old Age; for Nature as it grows old, becomes weaker and colder, and so requires more hot spirituous Drinks; and therefore Wine and such strong Liquors are drank with most advantage by the Aged.  
And if Children and Young People be used commonly to drink Water (which will be most for their Healths) then Small or middle Beer or Ale will be as cordial to them, and warm and comfort them as much in their middle Age, as Wine will, that drank strong Ale or Beer in Youth. And to speak truth, no sort of Drink does maintain the Spirits and natural Heat in such vigour and strength as mean Liquors, viz. such as are of the middle Nature, or nearest the Temperature, viz. good Water, or well-brewed Ale or Beer of a middling strength, or Wine allayed with Water, as aforesaid. But now, most are grown to that degree of Blindness, Excess and Folly, that nothing will give their voracious Desires and greedy ●aunches satisfaction, but such Drinks as are strong, hot and unequal in their Parts, which indeed is like themselves; for ever since man hath suffered his desires to enter into Discord, he cannot but desire such disagreeing meats and drinks, for every Like desires its Likeness, and is its highest Joy; Inequality begets Discord, and Concord's Peace. Therefore all plain simple Meats and Drinks, are for certain of the greatest strength and virtue, and the only maintainers and continuers of Health and long Life. And English People have need of no other or better Drinks and Cordials than may be made of our own Seeds, Grains and Fruits, as Ale, Beer and Cider, which may be made to what degree of strength and goodness you please; and being well prepared, are far more agreeable to the Constitutious of English People, than the Liquors that come from other Counties.  
But all thick strong Ale and harsh, bitter, or stale, strong Beer, is very injurious to the Health, as also Double Beer, which is now a fashion, but never invented by Philosophers. The common drinking of such Drinks does strike at the very Sinews of Health, being much worse than Wine, especially than Wine and Water, which is 〈◊〉 commendable clean healthy Drink, that begets Appetite, cleanseth the Stomach, Purgeth●y Urine, and is endued with many excellent Faculties, and if it were the Growth of our own Country I would commend the use of it to my Countrymen, but being a dear Drink, and therefore not Come-at-able by the middle or meaner sort of People, I shall forbear to speak any thing more of its Virtues, only I advise the Physicians and Apothecaries to use and prefer Wine, especially right Rich Racy Cana●y as their best and general Cordial in times of Disorder and Sickness; and do commend all People in general, to that brave mild friendly Drink, viz. Ale, made and brewed according to our Directions in the Book, entitled, The Way to Health, Long Life and Happiness, etc. there also you will find an account of the Virtues and Vices of Beer and common Ale, and which is most agreeable to Nature and best to preserve Health.   

CHAP. XX.  
Of Sherry.  
SHERRY (by many here in England called Bristol-Milk) is a fine Cordial Wine, as good for common drinking as Cana●y, but nothing so Rich; being mixed with Wa●er it begets Appetite, helps concoction, cleanseth the Passages, and purges more by Urine than Canary, neither is it so apt to weaken the Natural Heat, nor lead the Lovers thereof into Consumptions; but as it is a strong Wine, and heady, discretion and Temperance ought to regulate the use of it; for being too frequently drank, or in too great Quantity, it may prove of ill consequence: To which purpose, most of those Observations we have made upon Canary, may also conveniently be referred unto this sort of Wine. And though I am forced to use Repetitions sometimes for the Readers sake, I take no delight therein for my Own.   

CHAP. XXI.  
Of White-Wine.  
WHite-Wine is a brave clean brisk Drink, if moderately taken; it begets Appetite and purgeth by Urine; yet it contains two Qualities that are not friendly to nature, especially if frequently drank, viz. Heat and a keen Sharpness, whereby if Temperance be wanting in the Drinkers thereof, it will quickly kindle and irritate the central Fires of Mars and Saturn, which will not only indispose the Body and Spirits, by putting them into an unnatural flame; but in some Complexions generates an hard gritty matter or substance both in the Reins and Bladder: Therefore this, as well as the other Wines, aught to be well allayed with Water, which will bravely moderate, cool and sweeten the hot sharp Properties thereof, and bring them near the Equality; and then, viz. 〈◊〉 th●s sort of Wine is thus allayed, Two thirds of Water to one of Wine, it is one of the best Stomach-drinks that I know; for it powerfully helps Concoction, washes and cleanses all the Passages and Vessels, and begets Appettite, and gallantly purges by Urine.  
But if too frequently drank alone, as the custom of most is, than it heats the Blood and fumes into the Head, and after a little custom of drinking, is so far from being a Whetstone, (as our Tavern-haunters, to excuse their Morning-Debauches, call it) that it dulls the edge of Appetite, and hinders Concoction, and breeds the Stone or Gravel by its sharpness and heat, and yet at the same time purges powerfully by Urine, by reason of its pure thin spirituous and Balsamic Virtues, but notwithstanding that Torrent of Urine, it leaves behind it an hot harsh or gretty Substance, which in some Natures or Complexions doth generate an hard stoney substance; and indeed all sorts of Drinks or Foods in which either hear or sharpness doth predominate, are not proper nor Healthy to be frequently drank or eaten; for all such things do by degrees awaken and strengthen their like Properties in the Body, stealing on them, as it were, insensibly, till such matter hath gotten strength, then presently they put Nature into an unequal Motion; for which cause all Old Wines, (which some so much love and commend) are injurious; for the longer any Wines are kept after they are fit to drink, the clearer, sharper, brisker and hotter they become; for length of time does, as it were, digest or waste the sweet Balsamic Virtues, by which they become more sharp, harder and nearer to the strong original Spirit: Therefore all Old Wines and Stale Drinks do more heat the Body, and sooner irritate and awake the natural Heat, than New; it being a grand Error for any to imagine that New Wine or Ale is not so good or wholesome, or does not afford so proper a Nourishment as Old Wine and Stale Beer; for indeed the former is far to be preferred before the latter; for the milder, sweet and friendly any Drink is, the more true Nourishment it affords both to the Body and the Spirit; and the Reason why such Liquors do not so soon and so much heat the Body and irritate the Spirits, is because New Mild or Sweet Liquor contains more of the balsamic Body, which does qualify, and as it were captivate the fierce original Spirit, so that it can hardly be tasted or perceived. Not but that in all New or Balsamic Drinks, whether Wine or Ale, there is contained a far greater quantity of Spirits than in Old Wine or stale Beer; for the more gentle and the sweeter any Liquor is, the more Spirits it contains, as all that are versed in Distillations well know; for such as make Spirits of Mault-Drink do always distil Ale, not stale Beer. And so in boiling strong sweet Wort, it shall waste more in quantity in one hour, than small Wort will in three; And wherefore is this? Only because the strong sweet Wort has a greater Body, mild, friendly and Balsamic, containing a larger quantity of pure Spirits, that will not endure the Violence of Boiling without Evaporation.  
Likewise, the older any sort of Drink is, the leaner it becomes; for as the sweetness digests by length of time, so the original hot fierce Spirits seem not only to be more in quantity; but stronger too, but it is not so, only the sweet pure Body or friendly Quality is weakened or digested by long keeping, which was the Allayer or Moderator of this hot Spirit; for a quart of New Ale contains more Spirit than a quart of stale Beer that was originally of like strength and sweetness; the same is to be understood of New and Old Wine, and other Drinks. For which Reasons we conclude New Wine is far more wholesome, healthy and agreeable to Nature than Old; And Ale, when well-brewed, and according to the Rules set down in our Way to Health, etc. is to be preferred before much boiled or stale Beer, and so of other Drinks, especially by all such People as are subject to the Stone or Gravel, who must observe to drink mild gentle friendly Liquors, that are neither sharp, keen nor hot in operation, as middle Ale, Water and Wine, and Water. The same Rule they ought to follow in their Food; for some sort of Victuals are altogether as apt to generate the Stone and Gravel as any sorts of Drinks, if not more; Therefore all such Foods and Drinks as are of a middle Nature, and nearest the Simplicity, are always safest, as to Health, and for preventing all kinds of Diseases.   

CHAP. XXII.  
Of Rhenish-Wine, its Nature and Operation.  
THis sort of Wine is a kin to White-Wine, but more substance, a brave noble Juice, an excellent Cleanser of the Stomach, whereby it begets Appetite and helps Concoction. Nevertheless it is endued with an hot sharp Quality, which when the same is too plentifully drank, heats the whole Body, and is apt to precipitate the Drinkers thereof into Fevers; and as for such as by their Complexions are any thing subject to the Stone, it will help forward the generation thereof; for though this Wine doth naturally purge by Urine, yet there is in it an hot or harsh Quality, that heats the Blood and congeals the Humours with a Saturnine or gretty Substance; for all sorts of Drinks and Foods in which the hot sharp Quality does predominate, are friends to the generation of the Stone and Gravel: But as every thing has in it a latent Poison, and yet carries always above it its own Antidote, if wisely handled; so if this sort of Wine be discreetly mixed with Water, and drank only with Food, or when Nature require, than it will prove one of the best sorts of Drink, not only to beget Appetite, help Concoction, and cleanse the Stomach, but also prevent the generation of the Stone and Gravel; for this Drink does Purge by Urine, as much, if not more than any other. The truth is, all sorts of Wine drank in Health, aught to be allayed with Water, or otherwise taken very sparingly; for there must be a sympathetical agreement between the Meats or Drinks and Nature, both in number, weight and measure, or as near as may be, or else the Tranquillity and Health of the Body and Mind cannot be continued; but such as are ill or faintish may drink now▪ and then a Glass of entire to great advantage of their Health, being the best of Cordials, if used with discretion.  
As for Old Hock, a sort of Rhenish, of which some will now and then boast, that it is twenty or thirty years old, I will only say, that then it has been kept seventeen or twenty five years too long. The keeping of Wine to that Age was only to gratify Conceit, Vanity, Ostentation and a drunken Humour, and to offer the greater Violence to Nature; for how improper all such very stale supernatural Wines are, we have mentioned in the last Chapter. And if People would be but so kind to themselves to observe the Distempers of their Bodies, and what feverish Heats they labour under after the drinking of such stale Liquors, they would certainly for the future forbear them.   

CHAP. XXIII.  
Of Claret, its Nature and Operation.  
CLARET is a good Stomach-Wine, of a brisk cheering Operation, the moderate use thereof helps Concoction, and begets Appetite, but it purgeth not so much by Urine as White-Wine, being of a rough or harsher Nature, but of the two more agreeable to English-men's Stomaches; if healthy strong People drink frequently of this Wine, 'tis apt to make them fat, phlegmatic, especially such as therewith use little Exercise, as Gentlemen, Citizens, and the like; for no Creature, Man or Beast, will be fat, except they be given up to Idleness and Superfluity; 'tis true, some People, and some Beasts will with the same Meats and Drinks be more full and fleshier than others, but not fat: Others that use Exercises, and but ordinary Food, seem to be fat, but for the most part the same is a Distemper, as watery dropsical Humours, which in some puff up the members and swell the Body; but the chief reason Claret-Wine makes Gentlemen, Citizens, and the like, fat, is for want of Exercise, and by its agreeableness with the Stomach, which sharpens the Appetite, and opens the Vessels by its rough harsh quality, whereby they are enticed to eat great quantities of fat rich Foods and so passing their time without due labour, they become overgrown with Fat, like crammed Capons (their beloved Dish) or Swine in a Sty.  
Yet it must be acknowledgeded, that Claret is the best of Wines, for those that eat abundance of fat Flesh and succulent Foods, for by its rough keen quality, it digests and separates such oily Foods, as many of our English Epicures too frequently gourmandise, which milder sweeter Liquors cannot do, as Canary, Ale, or the like; for this cause many that eat such fat Foods and Sauces made with Butter, do so m●ch desire brisk spirituous Drinks, finding that such Liquors do best digest them.  
But yet they are to know, that the frequent use of such Drinks will weaken the natural Heat, so that by degrees the Appetite of such People grows dull, and the Vessels of the Stomach are contracted, and then their Stomaches will desire still more and greater quanties, and to drink them oftener, till at length Health is utterly subverted, and Nature debilitated; for (I cannot say it too oft) the frequent use of all spirituous strong Liquors, being unequal in their parts, do in a little time beget the like Inequality in the Elements of the Body, and instead of preserving Health destroy it; for there cannot be a better thing than a glass of Claret, or a dram of Brandy, or the like, now and then when People have eat too much in Quantity, or Foods too fat or gross in Quality; but I know no necessity for those Spurs and Helps, except to such as lead idle gluttonous Lives, but for others who feed on plain simple Foods and middle Drinks, and use proper Exercises, and keep within the ●ounds of Moderation, they shall have no need to drink a glass of Claret before Dinner as a Preparative, nor a dram of Brandy after for a Restorative of their natural heat, to help it concoct their simple natural Foods; for such innocent natural Diet will maintain the natural Heat in great Vigour, especially if the friendship and advice of Temperance be observed; but if Temperance be wanting, than the necessity which men do thereby bring upon themselves by drinking of Claret, does sufficiently revenge itself upon their Bodies as well as Purses; for it heats the Blood, sends Fumes up into the Crown, destroys the vigour of the Natural Heat, awakens the central Fires, makes the Stomach (by its continual use) flat and dull; by which means, Drinkers of this Wine can fast long, neither can they eat heartily with Appetite, except they do fast a considerable time, which gives a further occasion to a phlegmy Fatness, which many of its common Drinkers are subject unto; for those Persons that are of the Phlegmatick-Melancholly, Phlegmatick-Sanguine, or Phlegmatick-Chollerick Complexion, if once they get the habit of drinking this sort of Wine, though they do not well love it, yet their Nature will seem to require it, so that if their Purse be but strong enough, they must have a Glass or two or three before Dinner, to clear their Stomaches of that gross slimy matter which their Over-nights' D●bauches, or superfluous Evening Draughts have occasioned and left behind and four or five Glasses at Dinner, as a spur to force it down, and five or six more after Dinner, with a File of Pipes o● Tobacco to help Concoction.  
This is the Trade which some Gentlemen, and too many Citizens' drive, which not only wastes their Estates, and destroys their Health (which is the greatest Enjoyment in this World) but also beclouds their Intellectuals, stupifies their Senses, destroys that true natural Pleasure of eating and drinking, which is one of the greatest where Health is, and a well-prepared Appetite, joined with a clean Stomach, free from Obstructions; for he that has a full-spread Table every day of various sorts of Rich compounded Foods, with strong Drinks and Wine, is a Thousand times more weary and glutted with it, and hath nothing of that pleasure which the Poor Man (who eats his Bread and Cheese in the Sweat of his Brows under an Hedge) enjoys.  
Nothing so much cloys and oppresses the Appetite and Stomach as always to have varieties of Flesh and Fish, compounded Sauces, Pudd●ns, Pies, Broths, Bisques, Oglios, and the like Extravagant furniture of Gluttony, enriched with East and West-indian Ingredients, and followed with heaps of Sweetmeats and lucious Fruits, and other Kickshaws. This all that use such Intemperance, may know by their own woeful Experience, and by the great number of Diseases, they do through Wantonness contract, and yet (their Brains being sunk into their Bellies, and their Understandings buried in the Ordure of their swelling Paunches) they have not the wit to consider it, but finding their Stomaches dull, weary, and apt to loathing, never thinking of the true cause thereof, will needs go about to mend this defect of Appetite by invented New Dishes, and more Poignant Saw●es, and greater variety of Compositions foollishly imagining thereby to cure all, as if they would quench Fire with pouring on Oil; for too much of this was indeed the original cause of their Grievance.  
Therefore let all Men, that prise the Health either of their Bodies or Minds, fly such Excesses, and the Pomp of Gluttony as they would do the Pestilence; and for such as have a desire to drink of this charming ruddy Wi●e, they ought to allay and mix it with Water, Two thirds Water and one Wine, but if you drink it commonly or frequently, than three fourth's Water and one Wine, will be enough, which will be an excellent Drink to beget Appetite and cleanse the Stomach; it also Purges powerfully by Urine, cools the Body, makes the Blood thin and fine, whence proceed brisk lively Natural Spirits, Senses, Intellectuals, Dispositions and Inclinations.   

CHAP. XXIV.  
Of Cider, its Nature and Operation.  
CIDER, if well made and fermented, is a fine brisk or quick Drink, and that is best which is made of good sound and proper Apples, of which there are various sorts, as Redstr●aks, Pippins, Pearmains, jillyflowers, Golden-P●ppins, and many others well known to the Makers of Cider, and therefore needless here to enumerate. But this aught to be noted, that the Apples you intent for Cider, be they of what sort soever▪ aught to be ripe before they are gathered, and afterwards to lie in an open Airy Room for two, three or four weeks, in which time, by the Apples sweeting the phlegmatic raw Quality will in some degree be digested, which will ●●nder your Cider sweeter, of a better B●dy, and more Balsamic than that whi●● is made of Apples either unripe▪ or made into Cider as soon as they are gathered.  
Note further, that those that would have a sweeter, stronger and better bodied Cider than ordinary, aught in some degree to observe the Rules as are usual in Brewing, viz. not to press your Apples too hard, as commonly is done, but to half press them, and then put them by for a smaller Cider; for the first that runs off, when you do but gently squeeze your Apples, (as flowing almost of its own accord) is much sweeter▪ and more balsamic than that which is pressed forth with violence from the harsh centre of the Fruit, and consequently is stronger and more Spirituous, as from the Malt, that liquor or Wort which runs off first is many degrees better than the latter; for though it must be confessed, the case is not altogether the same, because the Malt has passed through several Digestions, which have opened the Closet of Saturn, and set the sweet spirituous Quality at liberty, just upon the Wing, by which it readily gives forth its good Virtues, yet the Analogy holds in Apples and other Fruits (for Nature's Operations are uniform, he that rightly understands one Link, will easily comprehend the whole Chain) for if you observe, you shall find, that any sort of Fruits will, when any violence is offered to them, first give forth their more sweet Virtues and pure spirituous Qualities, as if you by't a piece of Apple, will not the sweeter and more pleasant Juices be extracted first? And so by degrees yield that which is harsher and more unpleasant? The astringent Properties of Saturn and the hot bitter harsh Qualities of Mars are the first and last in all Vegetations: The same we find in the Stomach (Nature's Laboratory) does not she separate and extract all the Balsamic and good Virtues first, to the supply of Nutriment for all parts of the Body? As you may perceive if you give your Stomach any occasion of Casting, if it be within an hour or two after you received your Food or Drink, than it will be somewhat sweet, very tolerable, and come up easy, but if this Puking happen long after, as sever, eight or ten hours, than it will be very nauseous, bitter, sour, and of various Colours, as Yellow, Green, and the like, whereby 'tis evident that the bitter parts are drawn away first.  
So if Apples be pressed hard, there is forced out an hard, harsh, astringent, ●our Property, which may cause such Cider to ripen sooner, and be thereby fit to drink in a shorter time, but it will also cause it to fret, or become of a keen sharp Nature, and often causes it to sour, more especially if such Cider shall be put on a fresh ferment by Carriage; either by Land or Sea.  
Now to know when you have drawn enough from your first gentle pressing, the best way will be to taste your Juice as it comes from the Press, and when it begins to taste any thing harsh, unpleasant or bitterish, then hold your hand as to that, and keep the Juice of the latter pressing by itself, as Brewers and Housewives do their latter Wort.  
If this course be duly observed, your first running from the Press will make a Noble Balsamic Cider, altogether as good as White-wine or Claret, and perhaps better than either of them for our English Bodies, If drank temperately. And as it will be thus much better than your common Cider, so it will keep longer from being sour, sharp or eager, and consequently continues more friendly to Nature.  

Another, or new way to make Cider.  
Take the first or second Juice you press out of your Apples, and put it into a Kettle or Copper, and make it ready to boil, or boiling-hot, but not boil, than put it into Coolers for that purpose, as you do in Brewing Ale or Beer, and when it is at the degree of coolness, as is usual for Wort, when set a working, then put a convenient quantity of Yeast of Barm to it, and let it work, observing the very same Method as is done in working and tunning up Beer and Ale, and when it hath done working stop it close up.  
This will be a brave full-bodied wholesome Cider, keep very well, and drink pleasant and mellow; for this heating and fermentation does digest that crude phlegmy Quality which makes Cider drink lean and sharp, from which also it often gets a sour Quality.  
But if you would have your Cider to keep long, or draw as Beer and Ale does, and not grow flat for a Month, two or three, then when you have heat your Juice or Liquor, as aforesaid, so that it begins to be hot, put in what quantity of good Hops you think fit, and let them infuse a full half hour, but let it not boil, and then strain it as you do Wort, and put it into your Coolers, and when cool set it a working, as before directed; But therein observe two things, 1. That you do not let it stand too thick in your Coolers, 2. Nor put it in to working before it be sufficiently cold; for if either of those Accidents happen, it will cause the irritation or awakening of the Saturnal and Martial Poisons, which will destroy the Balsamic Virtues or S●eet Quality, by causing it to ferment too fiercely, which is cal●ed Fr●●ting, and causeth all sorts of Drink to grow hard and stale in a short time.  
This last sort of Cider will not only drink pleasant, with a good Body, but will also keep a long time, and draw or ●run good as long as Beer or Ale, and not flatten, as is usual for Cider; so that you will not be obliged to the trouble of Bottling it, which for Families, and the common use of an House, is tedious and chargeable, and not so wholesome, as I have demonstrated in my Way to health, in the chapter of Beer and Ale.  
Note, that you may Boyl your Cider, either small or strong, and use the same Order as common Brewers do in making of Beer and Ale, and some People of late years do manage their Cider accordingly; but in my opinion it is not so good as that which is made either without boiling or heating at all, or that which is only heat, without boiling, as is before mentioned; Not but that which is boiled may be made very good▪ and to drink, full and satisfactory to the Stomach, but still the former is to be preferred before it.  
No sort of Cider ought to be kept above One Year, i● th● Drinkers thereof regard their healths though it may be kept several years in Bottles, and drink pleasing to the Palate of many People, especially such as have dull flat crazy cold Stomaches, but as I have told you already, no stale Drinks, whether Wine, Cider, Beer or Ale, are so homogeneal and profitable to Nature as those that are Newer, provided they be first sufficiently fermented; for the longer any fermented Liquors are kept after they have obtained to proper ripeness and clearness, the harder, keener and sharper they grow; and therefore are not so agreeable and friendly to Nature as milder, fatter, or full-bodied Drinks; for every thing being come to its mature Age, does by degrees tend towards the centre, and decline; for there is no standing still in the operations of Nature. Thus in all Drinks the keeping them a proper time after they are made does digest a gross phlegmy Quality, which would make it drink fulsome or nauseous to the Palate and Stomach, which a little Age consumes, even as it comes to pass in all Herbage, as Hay, which when new cut down is sweet and faintish in comparison of what it will be when it has lain half a year or more in the Rick or Mow, but if such Hay lie too long, viz. three, four or seven years, than it becomes dry, harsh, and of less Virtue and Substance, and in no respect so good, as in its proper time: So when fermented Drinks have reached to a proper degree of Age, or digestion of the more unpleasing and phlegmatic Juices, then if it be continued much longer, it goes as fast backwards towards its Original, and the sweet Body or Balsamic Virtues are by degrees wasted, and as it were, eaten up by the fierce hungers and eager properties of the dark original Forms, viz. of the Saturnine and Martial Natures, which are greedy devourers of the amiable sweet Balsamic Body; for the harsh astringent bitter fierce Qualities of Nature are always and in every thing the first and the last; Are not your curious delicate well-tasted Apples in the beginning of their generating, or whilst they are young and green, harsh, astringent, bitter, sour, and very unpleasing both to the Palate and Stomach, affording a Juice or Nourishment altogether as ungrateful to Nature? But through the sweet Influences of the Coelestials and Elements, the Solar, Iovia● and Venerial Qualities are awakened and strengthened to that degree that by their benign Particles they moderate, allay and qualify both the astringent, bitter and sour harsh Properties, so that each of them does with an hearty and corteous friendliness incorporate and embrace each other, whence does proceed that lovely pleasant Taste, Smell and Colour, which being once become full ripe, if they be kept much longer they will decay and fall into Putrefaction, and neither be pleasant nor wholesome, and just so it is with the Liquor that comes from them after its kind; if it be kept too old or stale, it proves injurious to Health, being of a hot tart keen Nature and Operation, which heats the Blood, irritates the pure Spirits, causing weariness and hot I●dispositions to possess the whole Body and generating various Diseases, according to the Nature of each Constitution and Complexion, it being Ignorance, Vanity and Custom that have and do make so many 〈◊〉 and use such over-stale Liquors, not that ever any found any real benefit thereby; for 'tis a neverfailing truth, That all sorts of Drinks are best whilst the p●re volatile Spirits are strong, a●d the balsamic Body potent; and that the same is not only the wholsomest of all others, but the most pleasant too to the Palate and Stomach, and in every respect more agreeable to the needs and operations of Nature.    

CHAP. XXV.  
Of Mum, its Nature and Operation.  
MUM is a brave Balsamic Liquor, very wholesome for Melancholy Phlegmatic Complexioned People, if they observe the Rules of Temperance, viz. To drink it sparingly, as also for those whose Food is dry, hard and lean, as course Bread, ordinary Cheese, flowered Milk, Herbs, and lean Pot●ages. But this sort of Drink 〈◊〉 another Species or Property, viz. It is of an hot strong Nature; It dulls the Appetite, sends fumes into the Head, and is nothing so good, healthy and wholesome as clear well brewed Ale; for being much being much boiled with the Martial Ingredients, they do not only suffocate, evaporate and destroy the pure thin su●tle spirituous parts, but it thereby becomes of a thick gross tough substance, and consequently harder of Concoction, so that the Natural heat cannot so easily separate and digest it, as other clearer finer Drinks, as Ale, Cider, Wine and Water, and the like: For this cause, it is not good for such as live at ease, and eat fat rich compounded strong Food; for it naturally heats the Blood, and makes it thick, generates heavy dull Spirits, whence proceeds hot unpleasant Dispositions; for it being unequal begets the like Inequality, both in Body and Spirits, so that the common use of it lays Foundations for Diseases, more especially in Choleric and Sanguine Complexions, and all Children and Young People.   

CHAP. XXVI.  
Of Coffee, its Nature and Operation.  
COFFEE is a new Liquor, invented by the Turks and Heathens; for being by their Koran or Law prohibited all Wine, they wanted something to spend their time in, and be a Companion to their Tobacco, of which in late years they take great Quantities, and therefore gratified their Appetites with this Liquor, which in few years is grown into much Esteem and Practice amongst the English, more because it is a New far-fetched drink, than for its Virtue, though it must be acknowledged to be one of the most Innocent and harmless drinks that is used in Public Houses, and brings the least Inconveniency to the Drinkers thereof, only it wastes precious time and occasions many discourses which were better let alone.  
This sort of drink ought not to be used, but in a Physical way, by such as are troubled with Fumes and D●lling Vapours that fly up into the Head, and thereby stupefy the Senses; also it is profitable for such as have brought upon themselves such distempers by too large drinking of Wine and strong Drink, or by Weariness, Labour or Fasting, and for such as are troubled with the Headache. But for others that are well, and not troubled with any of the aforesaid Inconveniences, they ought not to addict themselves to the frequent sipping of this Black Broth, though there is not so much mischief to be apprehended from it, as from strong spirituous drinks. Yet it is not without its Inconveniencies; For Nature does not effect any kind of Inequality. Now Coffee is a Saturnine and Martial drink, it derives it sooty Colour and nauseous Taste from Saturn, and its Bitterness from Mars; For the jovial Solar, and Venereal Properties are destroyed in the preparation, or making it into ●owder, that is to say, the ●ure subtl● or Volatile Spirits and Oily Balsamic Virtues are suffocated, consumed or evaporated, by the harsh Fire, by which it becomes fixed in the properties of Saturn and Mars, and for that cause prevents Funes from flying up into the Crown, or at least it sends none; For all things in which the pure flying Spirits, sweet Oily Virtues and Natural Colour are destroyed by Preparations, are of a dull heavy Nature and Operation, and of no good Smell, Colour not Taste. Therefore this Liquor dulls the Appetite, and if frequently drank, obstructs the Stomach, and generates evil Juices.  
One of the chiefest Reasons why the Turks at first invented and made Coffee a common Drink, was to allay the Fumes and stupifying Poisonous Vapours, caused by the common eating of Opium, which ill custom most of them art subject unto. Now Opium is apt to disorder the Eaters thereof by awakening the Natural Spirits, and then stupifying and besetting them, even as the superfluous drinking of our Wine and strong Drinks does; For those mahometans being forbidden the Intoxicating juice of the Vine, had an itching desire to disorder their Brains some other way, so fond is depraved Humane Nature to make itself mad (as we see by the Indians, when once they have tasted Rum or Brandy, how passionately they will beg for more, crying, A little more, and then to s●ep) so at last they found out this way to Debauch themselves with eating of Opium, whose Poison by custom and frequent use they have rendered easy and familiar to them, as also they and most of our People have done Tobacco, whose predominant Quality does likewise stand in the same poisonous Root; But to allay the stupifying fumes and Vapours, which Opium and Tobacco send up into the Head, they frequently drink Coffee; for the Invention of this Liquor was not for any pleasure, as most other Drinks have been, as Wine, Ale, Beer, Cider, and many others, which do not only exhilerate the Spirits, but are of a most pleasant Taste; whereas Coffee altogether on the contrary, is very distateful to the Palate.  
Would Men but be so kind and Friendly to themselves as to observe the Rules of Temperance and Cleanness, a very little Coffee would serve, though it hath it uses in a Physical way, as is before mentioned, and no otherwise, it being an improper and unequal drink, therefore not good for Common use or at every turn daily, or two or three times a day, as now a days many Thousands amongst us, especially in London and great Towns do.  
It is further to be noted, that several of our own Grains will make not only as good Coffee, but in every particular like this sort, both in Smell, Colour and Operation, if it have the same preparation; for the species of Coffee before it is prepared is of a white Flowery substance, as our Grains are, and if you take Wheat, Barley, Ry● or Oats, and prepare it in every respect 〈…〉 Coffee, it will have a like Taste, 〈◊〉 ●mell, Colour and Operation; for there will only remain or lie hid in a Saturnine Powder, the fixed Salt, which no fire can destroy, and this too will stop or repress ●umes and vapours as well as the other, but whoever uses either of them frequently and wantonly, the Physical Virtues thereof to Him or Her will cease, and have little or no effect, and therefore were it palpable that men in general are set upon Conceits, and wedded to Humours and Customs, and mad after things new and Foreign, it would be a wonder to see such swarms of People so fond of this nauseous exotic Liquor, which always carries its own Brand along with it; do but consider its Taste, Colour and Smell, and compare the same with proper and agreeable drinks, as Water, Al, Beer, Cy●er and the like, how vast is the difference? Has not Water (that universal Mother of all Drinks) a pleasant friendly mild or meekly Taste, and to underbauched Palates, the most grateful of all Liquors, of a clear Whitish Colour and Airy Smell, and agreeable to all Creatures, because the four Qualties there stand and have their Operati●● 〈…〉 Equality? Is not Ale pleasant, sweet, brisk, spirituous or Balsamic Taste, its colour Solar and jovial, with a comfortable smell? The same is to be understood of all other proper Drinks, whereof the moderate use does ●hear, and refresh the Spirits, and maintain Health and Strength. But C●ffe● has none of these inviting properties, for its natural Virtues are burnt up and totally destroyed in the preparation; It's love●y White and Yellow C●lour, which proceed from Venus and Sol are turned into a Saturnine Bla●k, and its sweet Spirituous Taste into a nauseous fulsome Bitter, with a sm●ll unpleasant. And therefore the Drinkers thereof are forced to drink it very hot, to hide the ungrateful Taste; whereas Heat destroys the pleasant Taste of proper and Natural Drinks. And for this reason Coffee is dull on the Palate and Stomach, very apt to obstruct the passages and ●inder Digestion, and ought not to be drunk but in the way of Medicine; for there is as much and more reason for any Person to burn Wood, Herbs or ●rains to Ashes, and then take those Ashes and infuse them in hot Water, and when 'tis settled or clear, to drink it; ●or such sorts of ●rinks are medicines proper for several Diseases, but by no means to be drank as common Drinks. In a word, Coffee is the Drunkard's Settle-brain, the ●ool● Pass-time, who admire● it for being the Production of Asia, and is ravished with delight when he hears the Berries grow in the Deserts of Arabia, but would not give a farthing for an Hogshead of it, if it were to be had on Hampstead-Heath or Banstead-Downs; 'tis the Sauce for News, the Busie-mans' Recreation, and the Idle man's Business, The Lazy Prattlers' colourable pretence to spend his Money and more precious Minutes vainly, and whilst he is censuring his Superiors, and New-vamp●ing the Government, his Wife wants Shoes, and his Children cry for Bread. But since the Indiscretion of the Age has rendered Sipping and Tippling almost necessary to Bargains and Business, and that men, especially in Cities and great Towns, many times cannot so conveniently transact their Negotiations, nor discourse their private Affairs, as in such places where there is Liquor sold, a Dish of Coffee now and then to be drank by an healthy Person, will not hurt him, nor make any variation, the quantity is so small; but drinking of it frequently, and smoking Tobacco therewith, is injurious to Health; yet strong sound Bodies may drink or eat improper things, for continual custom will thereby render them less hurtful, especially if they be but small quantities at a time. However, the best and surest way for every one, is to let such Foreign Curiosities alone, and to take such Meats and Drinks only as are proper in Quality, and therewith not to over-charge Nature in Quantity.   

CHAP. XXVII.  
Of Tea, its Nature and Operation.  
TEN is another Forregn Drink, the use whereof hath not been long known in Engla●d, the best that can be said of it is, That 'tis a pretty innocent harmless Liquor, it hath an opening Quality, and purgeth by Urine, but not so much as many of our own Coun●ry-Herb●, and its great esteem is not from the more than ordinary Virtues that it is endued withal, but chiefly for Novelty-sake, and because 'tis Outlandish, and dear, and far-fetched, and therefore admired by the Multitude of ignorant People, who always have the greatest esteem for those things they know not. The truth is, our Herb called Dandelion (that is in English, Lion's Tooth, because of the similitude of its Leaf) being gathered according to our Directions in The Way to Health, etc. and infused in boiling hot Water about half an hour, and then the Liquor poured from the Herbs, and sweetened with fine White Sugar, is a far better Drink than Tea, though the latter costs sixteen or twenty Shillings a Pound, whereas the former may plentifully be had by most people for gathering, and is of far more use and virtue; for it cleanseth the Stomach, and powerfully purge th' by Urine; its natural Taste is a moderate Bitter, which being allayed by Sugar, becomes as grateful, if not more than the best Tea.  
There are several other of our common Herbs that will perform the like, which I shall not trouble the Reader with in this place, only this I must tell you, that Sage, Pennyroyal, Mint, Mother of Thime, and Garden Th●me being gathered and dried in their proper Seasons, and preserved in Baggs, will make more suitable Drinks for our Constitutions, and answer the end of Nature's wants to a greater advantage than Tea.   

CHAP. XXIII.  
Of Herbs and Sillads, both boiled and Raw.  
THere are various sorts of Herbs and fragrant 〈◊〉 that are endued with most excellent Virtues, many of which are so ravishing and sublime, that with the favour of a Metaphor they may be called, The good Food of Angels; and therefore they were the only Food for Man in the beginning, when he remained in his Angelical state; for till he defaced the Image of God wherein he was created, every green Herb and Seed was his Meat, and should have been to this day, if he had continued in that heavenly Condition he was created in and to; but so soon as he suffered his Desires to wander after Vanity, then immediately the original Wrath got mastery, and the divine Moderator became weak and impotent, whence arose that desire after Blood and Fl●sh, in which that outward Life stands, and has birth from that strong might of Wrath; for the original of all Life stands in Poison; therefore when Man entered into the Wrathful Nature and unequal operation of the original Forms, which does cause such greedy Inclinations, not only to eat Fl●sh a●d 〈◊〉, but also to Fight, Killing and Oppressions▪ both of those of his own kind, and all the inferior Graduates; for according to what Principle and Quality doth carry the upper dominion in man's heart, whether Love or Ang●r, such Food, Drinks, Exercises, and all other things he desires, Nature being always best gratified with that which has the nearest affinity to its self; whence it appears that men's coveting Flesh and Blood, is a true sign and testimony of their miserable Fall, and that they live under the power of the dark fierce Wrath.— But I have discoursed more of this in my general Treatise, entitled, The Way to Health, long Life and Happiness, As also I have there showed at large the excellency of Herbs, Grains and Seeds for Food, whereunto I refer the Reader; and shall here only tell you in particular how to make the best and wholsomest Salads, which if practised, may much conduce towards the Praservation of your Bodies in Health.  
1. Take Spinnage, Parsley, Sorrel, Lettuce, and a few Onions, then add Oil, Vi●gar and Salt, a good quantity of each to make it of an high Taste and Relish, but let the Salt a little predominate or exceed both the other Ingredients, and eat nothing with it but Bread, which is sufficient▪ and will be much more grateful to the o'late than if you eat Bread and Bu●ter, or Brea● and Cheese, or Bread and Meat, though all those things may be admitted, when you season your Salad only with Salt and Vinegar; but it is not proper to eat Butter, Cheese or Flesh with such things or Salads wherein Oil is mixed, there being but little affinity in the Radix of Oil and Butter or Cheese, and the natural Heat of the stomach doth not ●ike that Food in which there are several sorts of fat things intermixed, of disagreeing Natures; besides, ●at is always heavy of digestion.  

Another sort of good Salad.  
2. Take Lettuce, Spinnage-Top●, pennyroyal, Sorrel, a few Onions and Pers●●y, and season it as before mentioned, with Oil, Salt and Vinegar.   

Another.  
3. Take Lettic●, Sorrel, Pepper-Grass, Spinnage Tops of Mint, and Onions, and seasoned as before.   

Another.  
4. Take Spinnage, Lettuce, Tarragan, and Parsley, with some Leaves of Balm. Or, Sorrel, Tarragan, Spinnage, Letticee Onions and Parsley. Or Tops of pennyroyal, Mint, Lettuce, Spinnage, Sorrel and Parsle. Or Lettuce, S●innage, Onions, pennyroyal, Balm and Sorrel. Or Sage, Lettuce, Spinnage, Sorrel, Onions. and Parsley, and seasoned as before.   

Another.  
5. Take Sage, pennyroyal, Mint, Balm, a few Lettuce, and some Sorrel, and season it with Oil, Salt and Vinegar, as is before mentioned. This is a brave noble warming Salad, as indeed they all are, but this in a more especial manner.   

Another.  
6. Take Lettuce, Sorrel, Endife, Celery, Spinnage and Onions, seasoned as before.   

Another.  
7. Take young green Buds of Colwo●ts, or young Colow ●s, or Colwort-Plants, or a hollow C●lworty Cabbage, with some Onions. This is a good Salad, seasoned in the same manner. Some there be that will make Salads of hard Cabbage, but they are but very indifferent ones. Nor do I know any way of Preparation that can make an hard white Cabbage wholesome: Many People admire it for its whiteness; but though the pure White colour in some things is of excellent Virtues, it is not so in this, because it is not natural for it to be so, but it comes to pass by Accident, that is, because the friendly Element, the Air, hath not its free Circulation and Influence in and through it which causeth it to be so white; whereas its natural genuine Colour is Green. And therefore, if you please to observe it, all white hard Cabbages are more fulsome, and of a stronger nature and operation, either raw or boiled, than your open hollow greenish Cabbages, and harder of Concoction, and the Liquor in which they are boiled is more nauseous, and will sooner putrify and stink than that in which Co●worts are boiled. Therefore young green Colworts and Cabbage-Colwots, are the wholsomest, more cleansing and easier of Concoction.   

Another warming cheering Salad.  
8. Take the green fresh Leaves of Colworts or Cabbage Plants, L●ttice, Sorrel and Parsley, Tarragan, Ne●tle-Tops, pennyroyal and Mint, let the quantity of each be according to your Palate, being seasoned with Oil, Salt and Vinegar, it is a brave warming or exhilirating Salad, if seasoned to the highest degree.   

Salads for the Winter.  
Take Colwort-Plants, Sorrel, Lettuce, Endife, Celery, Parsley, Old Onion●s, (which are far better to be cut and eaten with Salads in the Winter, than Young) and season them well with Salt, Oil & Venegr. This is of a warming cheering Nature, and gives briskness to the Spirits, opening and keeping the Passages from obstructions and furring, which in Winter they are most subject unto; for then, Nature having, as it were, locked up all her Gates, the central heat is driven more inward, which causeth great Appetite of hard, strong, fat and succulent Foods, and strong Drinks, which where Discretion, Order and Temperance are wanting, sows the Seeds and lays the Foundation for Diseases, that commonly manifest themselves in the Summer following, which the common and frequent eating of Herbs and Salads in the Winter, will in a great measure prevent. And though Herbs have not so much Life and Vigour, nor are so much opening and cleansing in the Winter as in the Spring, yet all such Herbs as do grow and continue fresh and green, do also retain their true natural Virtues and Qualities, and being eaten in Salads, and seasoned as they ought, have in a degree the same operation as at other seasons of the year.  
This few People do understand or consider, but cry out, Herbs in Winter! Who will or can eat them then? they are cold, and very hurtful— And this foolish false Doctrine they receive by Tradition from one to another, without any experience or trial; whereas a Salad well seasoned and ordered in December or january, if the season prove open and mild, is as cheering, and (being eaten only with good well made Bread) will warm the Stomach as much as two or three Glasses of Wine, and is for more pleasant and natural; ●or there is a greater excellency in all green Herbs in the Winter, than most imagine, especially for old People, and such as are subject to Stoppages or shortness of Breath, who instead of Onions may use a clove of Garlic in their Salads, which is one of the best ways of eating it, and it will bravely open, cheer and warm the Stomach.   

Or you may make it thus:  
Take L●ttice, Spinnage, Endiff, Celery, and cut half an head of Garlic amongst it, and then season it well with Oil, Vinegar and Salt. This is a brave warming Salad, and very wholesome.   

Of the most proper times for eating of Salads  
Salads are not improper to be eaten at all Times and Seasons of the Year, but more especially from the beginning of February to the middle or last of june, for than they are more brisk, lively and powerful then at other seasons, and better able to Cleanse, Purge, open Obstructions, sweeten and purify the Blood, and make pure fine Spirits; for the frequent eating of Herbs do prevent that pernicious and almost general Disease, the SCURVY, and all windy Humours that does offend the Stomach. Then again from the middle of September till December, and indeed all the Winter, if the Wether be mild and open, all green Herbs are welcome to the Stomach, and very wholesome, because most People do then live 〈◊〉 hard strong substantial Food; and 〈◊〉 that can get them, on hot strong spirituous Drinks, which are apt to disorder Nature, if Temperance and some Cleansing Foods be not eaten between while.  
In the Spring, Nettle-tops, Spinnage, Corn-Sallet, the young Buds of Cabbage and Colworts that grow on Stalks, and others of the like Nature, being boiled; for though when you eat Herbs alone, as Food, you ought not to boil them, yet when you use them only as Sauce, or a Corrective to Flesh-Meats, you may boil such of them as are proper) make a good Sauce for such as eat Flesh, they loosen the Belly, help Concoction, and consequently open Obstructions, which the long Winter may have occasioned; but later in the Spring, as April, May or june, there are several other excellent Herbs, as Lettuce, Soweed, Spinnage, Parsley, Mint-Tops, pennyroyal, borage, Endive, Succory, Beets White and Red, and many others in Gardens, besides divers that grow common in the Fields, as the Red-Dock, Dandelion, Comfory, and the like, which being boiled in plenty of good River or Spring Water, with a brisk Fire (and one of Wood prepares any Food best) and the lid or cover of the Vessel taken off as soon as they begin to boil, till they are quite boiled, (which will be in a very little time) and then Butter melted with Water into a thick substnace, being put to them, and some Salt, and then eaten with Bread, or Bread and Flesh, makes a brave wholesome Food— Touching the Nature of all Green Pulses, and that the frequent eating of them does generate crude windy Humours, and thick gross Blood, and are the occasion of several Diseases; see our before-cited Treatise, viz. The Way to Health, long Life and Happiness, etc.   

How to supply the want of Oil in Salads, where Persons do not love it, or cannot have it.  
For seasoning all sorts of green Salads I have mentioned Oil as a principal Ingredient, and deservedly; for nothing is more excellent for that purpose, it being called Salad-oil from that very use. But whereas some People for want of use, (or by I know not what secret Antipathy) do not love Oil; and others many times cannot procure it, especially here in England, I shall here acquaint them how they may furnish themselves to supply the want of it: You must know then, that Butter is our English Oil, the nearest thing we have in affinity to the Nature of Oil, and designed no doubt by Nature to serve our turn instead of it; for no Country yields all things, and yet such is the gracious Providence of God, that every Region affords all things necessary to the Inhabitants; if therefore you melt good Butter thick, and pour it upon your Salad, it will relish and suit with it excellently well, and serve very conveniently instead of Oil, being so like it amongst the Herbs, both in show and Taste, that an ordinary lover of Oil will not doubt but he has it; and he that does not love O●l, may be sure he has it not, and both enjoy (upon the matter) as much Virtue, for Nourishment and Wholsomeness as if they had eat the purest Salad-Oyl that is brought from beyond the Seas. A curious Secret, not commonly practised, and which I am confident many People will have reason to thank me for.    

CHAP. XXIX.  
The best way to make Herb Pottage, not only in the Spring, but also at all times of the Year.  
TAke Elder-buds, Nettle tops, Clivers, and Watercresses or Smallage, and what quantity of Water you please preportionable to your quantity of Herbs, add Oatmeal according as you would have it in thickness, and when your Water and Oatmeal is just ready to boil put your Herbs into it, cut or uncut, as you like best, and then when it is again ready to boil, take a Ladle and lad it so that you keep it from boiling and when you have done thus near half a quarter of an hour, take it off the Fire, and let it stand a little while, than you may either eat it with the Herbs or strain it, adding a little Butter, Salt and Bread, the best way will be not to eat it till it is somewhat cooled, and not past as hot as Milk from the Cow, and you are to remember not to let it boil at all. This is a brave wholesome cleansing sort of Pottege, far beyond what is commonly made.  

Another sort of Herb-Pottage,  
Take Water and Oatmeal, make it boiling hot on a quick Fire, then take Spinnage, Corn-sallet, Tops of pennyroyal and Mint, cut them and put a good Quantity into it, let it stand on the Fire till it be ready to boil, and then lad it to and fro five or six Minutes, then take it off, and let it stand a while, that the Oatmeal may sink to the bottom, then strain it, adding Butter, Salt and Bread, and when it is about Blood warm, Eat it.  
This is a gallant sublime Pottage, pleasant to the Palate and Stomach, cleansing the Passages by opening Obstructions; it also cheers and comforts the Spirits, breeds good Blood, and makes the whole body lightsome. The same method you ought to follow in making all sorts of Gruels and Herb-Pottages, be the Herbs of what Nature they will; for the boiling of Herbs, not only in Pottage, but for any other use of Food, was not invented by wise Seers into the Arcana of Nature; for it does, as it were, totally destroy the pure volatile Spirits and balsamic Virtues, as also the strong warming Properties thereof. For this cause, Raw Herbs are much better, affording a firmer Nourishment, better Blood and purer Spirits, and feel more warming in the Stomach than boiled; nor are they so apt to loosen the Bowels. But if any shall make boiled Herbs their Food, though they prepare them by dressing them with Butter, and the like, they will prove phlegmatic, cold and windy, with other evil Properties, and not afford half so good a Nourishment as if they were Raw; nor are Raw Herbs more Windy than boiled, as some People, not for want of Ignorance, suppose, but rather the contrary; for the common eating of Raw Herbs does naturally resist all crude windy matter and gross Juices, by assisting the natural Heat and helping Concoction; they give Life to the Stomach, by opening the Mouth of the Appetite, and sharpen it, as appears by such as have dull flat Appetites; for when such shall come to a good Salle●, it does (as it were) create or revive a Stomach and good Taste, whereas before they could relish nothing: Also, they help to digest and carry off all heavy fat or gross Food, and make it less hurtful, insomuch that some have been thereby cured of windy Phlegmatic Humours that offended the Stomach, and consequently sent Fumes up to the Head, causing it to ache. Therefore this was the way the wise healthy long-lived Ancients prepared their Herbs, who made them one of their principal Foods; but now-a● days People do scarce eat them but as Sauce. And as boiling of Herbs does destroy the purer Virtues and firmer Substance of them, so that they become phlegmy, cold and windy; The same is to be understood in all sorts of Herb-Pottage, whether for Food or Physic; for boiling any sorts of Herbs does in a Moment's time either suffocate or evaporate the volatile Spirits of them, and then all the sweet pleasant opening cleansing Virtues are gone, and they become like Beer, Ale or Wine, that has lost its pure Spirits, which is further evidenced by that strong nauseous or fulsome Taste, ill Smell and dull Colour, all such boiled Pottages have, so that very few care for eating them, unless they are forced to it, as they are to Physic that is against their Stomaches. For the pure sweet pleasant Taste and lively briskness of all things resides in the power of the Spirits; which all Housewives and Preparers of Food ought to consider▪ and understand, as also the degrees of the Fire, the quantity of Water, and that the Water be in sufficient quantity, and that the Air have its free circulation, and to give it true time, or else none can prepare any kind of Food without prejudice; for in the sweet and spirituous Properties stand the healing nourishing Virtues, which will not endure any violent Heat or unequal Motion.   

To make Garlic or Onion Pottage.  
Take Water and Oatmeal, stir it together, and when it is ready to boil, bruise as much Garlic as you please, to make it either strong or weak, put this bruised Garlic into your boiling hot Gruel, and brew it to and fro with your Ladle, that it may not boil for five or six Minutes, then take it off, and let it stand a little, then add Butter, Salt and Bread, and eat it as warm as your Blood. 'tis a brave warming cleansing and opening Gruel, nothing so strong and nauseous as that which is boiled; for this way you do extract the finer and purer parts of the Garlic, and leaves the strong nauseous Qualities behind; but on the contrary, much boiling or boiling according to custom, does destroy the good opening cleansing Virtues, and awaken the Evil.    

CHAP. XXX.  
The best way to make Diet-Drink with Herbs, Grains, Seeds, etc. or the proper method of infusion of Herbs in Beer, Ale, or other Drinks.  
THe best, proper and most natural way to make all sorts of Herb-Drinks, is thus, First, gather your Herbs in their proper times and seasons, as we have taught in our ●ay to Health, etc. Then dry them in the Sun, and put them into close Paper-Baggs; and when you would use them, take such a quantity as you think fit, and put them into a Linen Bag, and hang the same in your Bear or Ale when it is a working or fermenting, for two, three, four, five, six, seven or eight hours, and then take it out. (But if you would make Wormwood-Drink, than you ought not to let it lie so long, for of that 3 or 4 hours will be sufficient.) And thus if your Herbs be rightly gathered and ordered as a●foresaid, all their good, pure and Balsamic Virtues will as easily and readily give themselves forth into the Beer, Ale, Wine, or other Liquor, whatever it be, as the pure sweet spirituous Quality in Malt does into the warm Liquor when you Brew, which is performed in one hour to admiration. But as in this Example, if after you have put in your Malt you should let the Water or Liquor remain six, eight or ten hours before you draw it off, than the pure sweet spirituous Quality will become suffocated, and such over long continuance thereof will awake or irritate the phlegmy gross nauseous Properties, which would, as it were, totally destroy all the good Virtues, as every one that can but Brew a peck of Malt, may know by experience. So the very same is to be understood in infusing any sort of well prepared Herbs; for in such dried fermented Bodies or things, the purer Virtues do stand as it were external, and when they are put or infused in any proper Menstruum or Liquor, they give themselves forth, first with all readiness, because the Essential Virtues of every thing consists in the volatile Spirit, and balsamic or sweet Body, which is an hidden flying Virtue, whence the true Colour, Smell and Taste do proceed: And therefore great care ought to be taken in all Preparations, that this benign Virtue be neither evaporated nor suffocated; for then the thing will presently tend to Putrefaction, and become a Nauseate and loathing to Nature. The Learned are Men of Tongues, and so they may talk at their pleasure, but I do assure all the humble Enquirers after Wisdom's Footsteps, That the long lying or Infusion of any sorts of Dry or Gr●en Herbs, does destroy their good Properties, as a Candle by being held downwards is extinguished by that which before fed it, and also do irritate the gross fulsome Qualities thereof, as is plain by the ill Tastes and Smells of all such Drinks, more especially if it be Wormwood; for than they become harsh, strong, bitter, and very ungrateful to Nature, and no less unwholesome; For the common Wormwood-●●ink that is sold in Alehouses, is of a string, bitter, hot, fuisom Nature and Operation, and the frequent drinking thereof does wound and destroy the natural Heat, and by degrees spoil Digestion, so that the Drinkers thereof cannot be well without Morning-Draughts of their nauseous Purt●; such fort of Drink especially if any shall drink much of it, being of kin to Spirits and Brandy; those that are once much used to them, cannot without great difficulty leave them.  
The long lying of Wormwood in the Drink does totally destroy the subtle Spirits and pure fragrant Virtues, awakens the strong bitter poisonous Quality, which not only checks and debilitates the natural Heat, but heats the Blood, making it thick and gross, causing the Spirits to become heavy and dull, and sends up stupifying fames to the Brain, which falling upon the Optic Nerves, do oft times extremely prejudice the Eye sight; but if Wormwood rightly gathered and preserved be infused but for two or three hours when your Drink is working, and then taken out, you will have all its good Qualities, and a most delightful odoriferous Drink, and unattended with any of those ill consequences; if you love it very strong of the Wormwood, then add a greater quantity, and not infuse it longer, as is usual with some.  

Another way of making Wormwood-Ale or Beer.  
Take what quantity you please, more or less, as you would have your Liquor strong or weak of the Herb, infuse it for half an hour in your boiling hot Wort, then strain it out, and put your Wort a cooling, the very same way as I have taught in The way to Health, of Brewing, and infusing Hops, which does far exceed all the common ways for goodness and virtue.  
Wormwood-Drinks thus prepared, either this or the former way, are brave noble Liquors, gentle, warming, helpful to Concoction, they fine the Blood, send no gross Fumes to the head, and therefore hurt not the Eyes, as the common sort generally does.  
The same Method ought to be followed in making all sorts of Drinks in which any strong bitter Herbs are infused; and whereas the usual way of making such Drinks does not only render them unpleasant but destroys all the Medicinable Virtues of the Herbs. This new Method which we recommend, makes them pleasant and grateful to both Palate and Stomach, and moreover preserves all the Physical virtues; for most bitter Herbs do naturally and powerfully open Obstructions, if they be wisely ordered, but otherwise they prove pernicious; for every thing has two ●a●dles, and Fire that is good to warm you, will also bu●n you, ●f you do not manage it with Discretion.    

CHAP. XXXI.  
Of Salt, its Nature and Operation.  
ALL common Salt is of an high sharp penetrating fierce hot wrathful Nature and Operation, an unseparated Body, wherein the poisonous fierce Original Fumes or Qualities of Saturn and Mars are predominant, and therefore 'tis unequal in its Operation, except it be allayed or moderated by some other thing whose Nature is more equal. The Sea or Sa●-Water is as it were, the Original or Fountain of the Essential Salts in each particular thing, whence does proceed the brisk sharpness and distinguishing matter in all Tastes, and in what Creature or other thing this essential Salt is strong and powerful, that Creature is brisk, lively, of good Complex on, strong Appetite and perfect Palate; if in Vegetables, than such Herb●, Seeds, Grams, or Fruits are vigorous, and of good Colour Smell and Taste.  
This is that Salt which the Wise Man saith, savours all things, and not that Pillar of Salt that Lot's Wife was precipitated into, which was the strong Original Properties, where each form has its Operation in strife and inequality, where there is nothing but sharpness, rending, tea●ing, bitterness and a Poisonous fierce Operation, of which the c●mmon Salt is a true figure; therefore it must be moderated with some mild or meeker Body, to render it fit for humane use. Hence if in any sort of Food there be too great a quantity of Salt, the same is very apt to heat the whole Body, and consume the Radical Moisture, causing drought and uneasiness, and filling the Body full of Wind: it also heats and frets the Blood with an Itchy or Mangy humour; and indeed common Salt destroys all sorts of Inanimate Foods, as Herbs, Seeds, Fruit●, or Grains, if the same be not presently eaten; for it preys upon the Spirituous parts, and by its fierce hunger destroys the whole; for there is no sort of Food can be long preserved but only by its 〈◊〉 Salt, as appears by intermixing Salt with Bread; For that Bread into which you put Salt, will sooner decay than that which has none; therefore Bread that is provided for the Sea, where it must be kept very long, is always made without Salt. And all Baker's and Housewives Bread would be be much better, if they put none in, it being nothing but custom that makes men's Palates expect or desire Salt in their Bread, and the less Salt any shall eat, the less they will covet it; for the mixing of common Salt with sundry sorts of Vegetable 〈◊〉, does hide or E●lipse the fragrancy and pleasant Taste of the Essential Salt, that it cannot be felt by the Palate; for as this innate Salt is the preserver and keeper of each thing from Putrefaction, not only in Inanimate things, but also in all Animals, and therefore a very little of our common Sa●● will serve such as feed on Veg●tatives; for the less Salt is put into those things, the milder, cooler pleasanter and easier they are of digestion; For much Sal● in Food makes them not only hard of Concoction, but heats and dries the Body, and by simile stirs up and awakens the Central Heat, thereby endangering Health.  
Yet still, our common Salt is a brave Noble thing and of mighty use, as the World goes, for those that eat Flesh and Fish; for it contains several Qualities, especially two, viz. One strong fierce hot Poisonous. Another, sweet friendly pleasant, sharp and lively, but the first exceeds and therefore all sorts of Flesh and Fish that do lie or are kept long after salted, do prove pernicious to such as eat them; for by length of time the corrupt parts of such Flesh does with a greedy hunger eat up and destroy both the pure brisk sweet Spirituous particles of the Salt, and also of the Flesh, and then such Flesh or Fish cannot be called back or recovered by a fresh salting, or any other Art, to its former state; and the reason is, because in such corrupt Flesh there is no simile for the second salting to Incorporate withal, therefore it will proceed to Putrefaction in de●iance of all Art.  
For this cause all Flesh and Fish that has been lo●g salted is Injurions to Health; for it dries, heats and frets the Body and Blood, and is one great cause of the SCURVY; It also spoils and loosens the Teeth and eats away the Gums: But ●●ill, Salt is very proper and wholesome to be eaten with fresh Flesh and Fish, and some sorts of Flesh (as B●ef) may be salted two, three or four weeks, and if smoked, it will continue good longer, and therefore the order used in Bacon is very Proper; for Salt, where it is moderate in food, doth quicken the Appetite, and makes the Stomach brisk and lively, especially for those who by some disorders or Intemperances' have wounded their Health and hurt the Essential Salts, which makes the Palate dull, and the Stomach flat and unrelishing, and then People cry,— My Stomach goes against both Food and Drinks; more especially they are averse to all such Meats or Drinks as are compounded or made by Art: But others, as for Example, fair Water, they can best take, it being more simple. The like is to be understood of Foods; but there is hardly any Food so simple in all particulars as Water; indeed Bread is a brave, mild, simple, friendly Food, but the mixtures in making, and the manner of common Baking does alter the case, and make it nothing so simple as Water; therefore Water in all states, both Health and Sickness is pleasant and delightful to the Palate, Stomach and all the Senses. For it is observable, that if you eat sweet things Water is grateful after them, or any other Foods of extreme Tastes, but other compounded or fermented Drinks are not; which does commend Water to be the cleanest and compleatest drink of all others, and that People may and can drink it with delight in Sickness, and when the Essential Saits have lost their savour, and also shows that the disease did not proceed from any of its Qualities; for when such Loathing and Distempers proceed from Meats or Drinks, as most commonly it does, than the Stomach and Palate do perfectly abominate all such things. Thus in all or most sicknesses People choose Water before Beer, Ale, Cider or Wine, and for Foods had rather eat Bread, Fruits, and the like, than Flesh, Butter, Cheese, Puddens, etc. and most had rather eat Fish than Flesh, the reason is, because in Health they seldom eat Fish, and so the Disease did not proceed from thence.  
Likewise Salt is a brave addition to Butter and Cheese, to preserve and keep it from putrefaction for a convenient season, but all sorts of Vegetations are highly to be esteemed, for that they have in themselves the Essential Salt, sufficient to preserve them a long time from falling into corruption; but that which is most to be admired is Oil, which tho' it be of an unctuous fat Nature, is yet so pure, and void of offensive matter, that it may be kept good several years, nor can the best salting preserve Butter half so long.  
Here you are to understand, that all sorts of Food that quickly tend and turn to putrefaction are not to be counted so good as those that by their innate Virtue and Essential Salt, will continue good a considerable time, as all sorts of Grains, Whe●t, Barley, Rye, Peas●, Beans, Fruits, etc. since they are far more strong, firm and spirituous, than any sort of Flesh or Fish. Not but that there is the same Essential and pure S●lt in these, as in Grains, or rather greater, but the gross phlegmatic Body overcomes it, and as soon as the Sensitive Life is destroyed, the good Virtues are in a moment's time dissipated and tend to corruption, and though it be sal●ed, yet the Salt doth not, nor hath any power to extinguish or purge forth this gross Body of Corruption, but the Spirituous parts of the Salt do incorporate and join with the Essential parts of the Flesh, and captivate the gross body for a season, that it cannot proceed to putrefaction, but in length of time, viz▪ two, three, four, five, six, seven or eight months, the gross body continuing so powerful, and the more pure parts or Essensial Salts both in the Flesh and Salt do by degrees waste, suffocate or evaporate, and then the Original fierce Poisonous forms of Saturn and Mars grow strong and powerful, and with a greedy hunger quickly destroy all the remaining good Virtues, and then all falls into Corruption, from which there is no recovery. And indeed so powerful in Flesh and Fish is the gross Phlegmy Corruptive part, that there is no way found that can continue it very long from Putrefaction; the best course to preserve it sweet, sound and wholesome is to dry Fish very well, and the same may be done with Flesh, but with more difficulty, and this is far the healthiest way. But I know no reason why People should be so fond of this sort of morose Food, or sustain any such difficulty to preserve it so extraordinary long, since the Lord our Bountiful Creator has in a superabundant manner supplied and furnished us with varieties of brave, noble, friendly and most fragrant sorts of sound healthy Foods, easily providable, and which may in all particulars gratify all the ends and necessities of Nature.  
To conclude this matter— Salt moderately used especially with Flesh, Fish, Butter and Cheese does prove of excellent use and benefit; for it naturally warms, cheers, comforts and settles weak or disordered Stomaches, prevents belching, vomitings, and other Inconveniences o● t●at Nature; but if 〈◊〉 be immoderately used or eaten, than it hath the contrary operations. And in many Countries where Salt is scarce, People li●e very healthy without it to great Ages. For as he that drinks all Water will never want any other Drink, so Custom makes every thing not only a second Nature, but causes great s●eming Wants to be where there is no real or natural cause for it; and so Salt is very unpleasant to such as have never or very seldom eat any.  
But some may say, How can fat Foods or things be eaten without Salt?  
'Tis true, if you have accustomed yourself to eat plenty of Salt with such Foods, than your Palate and Stomach will not without trouble, and some reluctancy, receive them without Salt; but if you had never eaten any Salt with them, than you would have counted them much sweeter without; though all fat Foods that proceed from Beasts do really want Salt, by reason of the abundance of gross humidity, but all f●t or Unctuous things that proceed from the Vegetable Kingdom, do not need any Salt, they being so sweet and clean in their Radi●●s, that if you incorporate Salt with them, (unless it be just when you eat them) i● will destroy their natural Virtues; which does further show the purity and excellency of the one, and the evil or grossness of the other. And this let all men know, and that of a truth; That there are no juices, Oils, Fats, or any thing of that nature, whic● depraved Man makes Food of, that a●e so rich, clean, simple, wholesome and grateful to Nature, as the Oils, Fats, &c. of Grains, and other things that proceed from the Vegetative Kingdom. What production of Animals is for Food fit to be ranked in equal esteem with the Oil either of Olives or Nuts? The former is enriched with such an essential Salt in itself, as can for several years preserve it soun● and good; whereas the Animal Fat is so gross and corrupt, that it will presently turn to Putrefaction, if you have not the assistance of the grand Pillar of Salt, the fierce original or unseparated Body. Is Flesh to be valued equal to Bread, which is deservedly entitled, The Staff of Life, and under which we are taught by our Lord to comprehend all things necessary to our subsistence here below, in that Petition, Give us this d●y●o●r da●ly B●ead? Is Flesh, I say, (●hic● is gross humid subject to putrefaction in the highest degree, always attended with dying Groans and dolorous Cries, Rage, Violence a●d Oppression, and in itself bo●h not healthy, and also unpleasant to the Palate and Senses, if once enlightened, and not debauched by custom) fit to be comp●●ed with Bread, a brave, noble, f●●m, innocent, substantial, healthy Food, and proper for Angelical Me? Nay, the Fruits that proceed from the Animal Kingdom, viz. Milk the most noble and useful of them all, cannot we use and dignify with the most delicious Juices that flow from the Vegetative Regions, as the various sorts of excellent Wines, Cider, Ale, B●er, etc. which if temperately used supply the wants of Man, and gratify Nature to the highest, and by their ow● innate alt preserve their own Bodies, without being beholding to the grand original Pillar of Salt? What have you in your Animal ●ore that can match the vast variety's of noble fragrant Herbs, Seeds, Grains, and Fruits, whose Number is beyond any humane Capacity to coun●? The one smells sweet, and fills the Air with most plea●ant odoriferous Scents, ravishing the Senses of man, and serving ●im both for Food and Physic, Use and ●e sure; whereas the other stinks, and fills the Earth with Ordure, and sends up Fumes alike unpleasant and unhealthy, and by no Art can long be preserved from Putrefaction and Rottenness. And as in these, so in many other respects, the Vegetative Productio●s so far transcend the Animal, as to Food, that whether you respect Innocency or W●olsomness, Delight or Cleanliness, there is no comparison to be made between them.   

CHAP. XXXII.  
Of the Scurvy, and its Generation.  
THe SCURVY is of late Years become an Epidemical, or almost general Disease amongst English people, the principal Causes of which are Intemperance, and want of care in some of the following particulars:  
1. By eating too much in quantity, beyond the power of the digestive Faculty, so tha● the natural heat cannot make any perfect separation, whence Crudities and noxious Juices are generated, which do replenish the Joints and Members, and not only cause the Blood to be thick, but infect it with a sharp keen fretting Quality, which discolours the Flesh and Skin, and makes the Limbs and Members ache with pain.  
2. The frequent eating of Foods that are of a contrary Quality to the Constitution, which do secretly wound the pure Spirits, and put Nature out of her natural way.  
3. Improper Preparations of Food, which do render them burdensome to Nature, generating evil Nourishment, bad Blood, and i● pure Spirits.  
4. The frequent eating of moist phlegmatic Food, which naturally dull, stupefy and drown the Senses, and makes the Sweet Oil burn dim, which causes Indisposition and unpleasant Humours.  
5. The common eating of Flesh, without distinction, or regard had to the season of the Year, healthfulness or unhealthfulness of the Creatures, which do as it were corrupt the very Radix of Nature, from whom proceed various Diseases, as Pthycks, Stoppages of the Breast, Phlegm, and Phlegmatic Humours, which makes the Spirits dull and impure, whence do arise heavy, lumpish Dispositions, with ravenous fierce Inclinations and cruel Passions, which cause many of them to use such evil Words, demonstra●ing that the dark centre of Wrath is awakened, and does predominate; for all evil Words are generated from the fierce wrathful or devilish Nature. This every one ought to consider, as in those two common Passions; when the poisonous and fierce fury of Saturn and Mars is stirred up, are not most then apt to belch forth vain, wicked and hellish Speeches as Swearing, Cursing, and not only impiously profaning the holy Name of God, but even challenging, and as it were daring his Tremendous Majesty, (whose Wrath is a consuming Fire) to damn and confound them, and calling their fellow Creatures, Dogs, Whelps, Sons of Whores, Devils, and a hundred of the like evil Names. Now consider O Man! from what Root such Word: do take their Birth? And so on the contrary, do not all good Men, and oteleys, when pleased or in good Humours, breathe forth amicable loving Words or Discourses, there being more, either good or evil, in words than most imagine, for they declare what Kingdom has the upper dominion in them; nor is it unobservable, that the word Scurvey denotes well and evil Affection of Mind, and a cross wayward peevish ill conditioned Disposition, as well as a disordered habit of Body, and not without cause, since they both proceed from the same occasion or radical cause of man's precipitating himself into the dark Ab●sse or Cruelty, preying upon and devouring his fellow Creatures.  
6. The much eating of Flesh and Fish does generate in some Complexions cloded Blood, King's-Evil, Pleurisies, Scabs, Leprosi●s, and many other mangy Diseases; or Dropsies, heaviness of the Spirit, and in some it causeth Fevers, Swellings of the Members, also the Gout, Stone, and many other unnatural Distempers; which at last having reduced the Body into a general dyscrasy or unnatural Ferment, terminates in the Scurvy, as so many stinking Puddles into one Common-Shore; for indeed the Scurvy is a Complication of several Diseases and Disorders, as appears by the various and very different Symptoms, appearing on such as are afflicted therewith.  
7. By eating most sorts of Food, whilst the fiery Heat is in it, not suffering the sulphurous Vapours and ●erce, Fumes to separate, after 'tis prepared, which causes a Scorbutic Itch to possess the Blood, and swells the Body with win●y Humours.  
8. By eating too often, that is, before the former Meal be concocted, which does not only dull, and indispose the whole Body, but also it generates Crudities and evil Juices, which cause Stoppages, and shortness o● Breath.  
9 By drinking too much in Quantity of rich Cordial-d●ink, which irritates and awakens the central Spirits, and by degrees destroys the digestive Faculty and natural Heat, and hurts the Blood.  
10. The drinking small Beer that is brewed after Ale and strong Beer, which is nothing but the washing of the Grains, viz. a sour nauseous Quality; nothing breeds worse Blood than the frequent drinking of such Liquor.  
11. The drinking of Ale not well fermented, or such as has the Barm or Yeast beaten into it, as is usual for Brewers to do in London, to make it seem strong, sweet and full in the Mouth, such Drin●● is very offensive to Nature, it generates Phlegm 〈◊〉 th● Stomach, dulls the edge of the Appetite, furs the Passages, sends dulling Fumes and Vapours into the Head, and breeds bad Blood; likewise new small Beer and Ale is pernicious.  
12. By drinking stale strong Beer, which is boiled a long time with Hops, this sort of Drink is pernicious, it heats the Blood, swells the whole Body, generates in some Complexions a hard gretty substance in the Reins and Bladder.  
13. By drinking various sorts of Wine, when need and nature doth not require it, which do irritate the Spirits, heat the Blood, destroy the Appetite, and indisposes the whole Body.  
14. By accustoming themselves to close Houses, warm Clothings, soft Featherbeds, and lying long in Bed, which does soften and weaken Nature that she becomes impotent, and hinders the free circulation of the Blood.  
15. Idleness, and want of proper Exercise in open airy places, destroys the Health and weakens the whole Body.  
16. By visiting the Shades of Venus too often, and forcing Nature beyond her Inclinations and Power, which does corrupt her in the very Radix; and this is frequently done by stimulating Nature with gluttonous Provocations, high compounded Foods, and rich Cordial Drinks, viz. such as need no Teeth to chew them, nor Stomach to digest them, that being done already in the Preparation.  
17 By Carking Cares and Perturbations of Mind, Passions of Love and Hatred, Superstition, Envy, and the like.  
These are some of the Intemperances' that have destroyed the Health b●th of the Body and Mind, even in the very Radix; and indeed when I consider the various Disorders that Mankind daily commits, I cannot admire at the great number of cruel Diseases they are afflicted with; but rather I am apt sometimes to wonder that there are any that escape, or that so many do outlive Childhood; but it must be said, That through the custom of ill usage and disorders, great numbers do crowd through many Inconveniences; as in the most fatal 〈◊〉 some escape.  

Rules and Directions for su●h as are Wise and Well minded, and would prevent the Scurvy, and other Diseases.  
1. Meat's and Drinks ought not to be taken ●hat are too strong for Nature, but rather she ought always to be stronger than the Food, and so the Stomach and the Natural Heat will be able to digest and make perfect Separation, whence will be generated good Blood and pure brisk Spirits, and they always make the Body light lightsome and agile.  
2. Meats or Drinks ought not to be taken that are of a contrary Nature or Quality to the Constitution; but such as are simple in their kind, agreeable to the complexion, and as near as may be, equal in the●r parts, which will breed good ●lood, and increase the Spirits, and keep the Passages free from Obstructions, and give strength to all the members of the Body.  
3. Neither ought any to eat to Dullness; for if healthy People feel themselves oppressed after Meals, they ought to make abatement in the quantity. Do not most People before eatting and drinking find themselves qui●k, brisk and lightsome, provided they have not, either by overlabour or fasting too long, evaporated or wasted their Spirits? But after their eating a●d drinking, because they do it immoderately, they are sensible of a cloging heaviness & dull Indisposition, which is a certain sign that the necessity and conveniency of Nature is exceeded; for the intention of Food is to refresh, not to oppress or incommode her.  
4. The pleasure of the Palate in eating a●d drinking is prolonged many degrees beyond the necessity of the Stomach, especially where Foods or Drinks are made by Art and Compulsition, enticing, and many People thereby over-charge themselves, before they are aware, whence Crudities, noxious Juices, and many cruel Diseases are generated, and in the end Death itself; therefore let all Persons watch over themselves in this respect, and take the wise man's advice, To set a Knife to th●ir● Throat; that is, to take up a Resolution of Temperance whenever they find their Appetites tempted, and like to be inveigled, and drawn in to Excess.  
5. Your Meats and Drinks ought in every respect to b● properly prepared; for Food ill dressed does destroy Health in a secret, yet Powerful manner. S●me will but ha●f do it, others overdo it, both are great and dangerous Errors, so that the Stomach cannot draw any good Nourishment from it for the Body, and so the Blood is thickened, the Spi●its wounded, and many Diseases are multiplied.  
6. All sorts of Flesh, and other gross Foods that are boyard, o●ght to be boiled in plenty of Water, with brisk quick Fires, without intermission, and as soon as they begin to boil, the Vessel should be uncovered until it be done; which will preserve the pure balsamic Virtues and Spirits, whence the pure delightful Taste, Smell and Colour do proceed.  
7. Forbear to eat Flesh without distinction, more especially in Iu●y, August, September and Oct●ber; for then the Flesh of all sorts of Cattles is more subject to putrefaction than at an● other season, not only from the heat of the Wether, but because the Sun is then declining, which causes all other things to do so too; and the Grass on which they feed is weak, fainty and phlegmatic, which is the reason why their fat is then so soft and greasy that it will not duly take salt, and more especially if hard driven, as most cattle killed about Lond●n, and other great Cities, has been; therefore in the forementioned Months the Griping of the Bowels and p●●nicio●s F●av●rs do reign more than at any other time of the year.  
8. Forbear the frequent eating of Fish without regard had to the Season, or to their cleanness or uncleanness, or their being killed after they are taken, that is, by a Wound, which would cause the free evacuation of the original Properties of Saturn and Mars, which is seldom done by the ignorant Fishermen, but they let them die, that is, strangle or suffocate themselves, whereby the pure Spirits and sweet Virtues (by the Agony of the Creature at the departure of Life) are fixed or overcome; for the original Venom's, in which all Life consists, are then so terribly stirred up and aggitated, that they immediately suffocate the pure Spirits and sweet Oil, if there be not a Wound made, whereby those raging Poisons may freely pass away in the Vehicle of the Blood. For this Reason Experience, that all Flesh, as of Fowls, or the like that a●e strangled, will not eat so sweet and pleasant as others that have a Wound made and bleed plentifully, but hath a stronger and grosser Taste and Smell, nor will it breed so good Blood or Nourishment as the other.  
9 Remember that you eat not before the former Foods be digested; nothing is a greater Preserver of Health than proper Fasting, it cleanseth the Stomach, keeps the Passages from being furred, prevents Stoppages, Colds and Shortness of Breath, and makes People Airy, strong, and of good clean Complexions.  
10. Drink moderate and simple Drinks, not exceeding either in Quantity or Quality, for fear you waste and destroy your Health; and be sure let your Drink be well fermented, clear and free from that Yeasty Quality, which most of your Ale in London is subject unto; nor such Small-Beer as is there commonly put off by Chandler's, which the Brewers make after the brewing of their Ale and strong Beer, being little better than the washing of their Vessels and contains a sour nauseous Property, that heats the Blood and hurts the Body.  
11. Let your ordinary Drinks be mild and friendly to Nature, not stale, hard, sour, nor too new; for all these are prejudicial.  
12. Let your Habit or Day-Clothing be moderate, rather thin than thick, whereby the pleasant vapours of the Air may freely court Nature, and be sucked in at the Pores as by Sponges on all parts, which will continually cheer, comfort and refresh the Spirits and whole Body, and makes your Limbs strong, nimble and lively, preventing Drought, unnatural Heat, and the like Indispositions.  
13. Let your Houses be Airy; your Windows large, and often set open, your Beds hard, clean and sweet, for which purpose Straw or Flock-Beds, with Quilts on them, will be much better than Featherbeds, and will not only prevent the generation of Vermin, but make you more healthful, and enable all the Limbs to discharge their respective Functions with ●ase and pleasure, as I have at large demonstrared, and given the Reasons thereof in my Way to Health, etc.  
14. Forget not to use proper Exercises and Labour in open airy places, which will prevent many occasions of Weaknesses and Obstructions; and such as cannot or will not labour, let them take good Walks every day by River-sides, or on Downs and Plains.  
15. Observe the Rules of Chastity, provoke not Nature, nor turn her out of her simple and innocent way, but use such Meats, Drinks, and Exercises, as will replenish her with brisk lively Spirits and Virtues; neither ought you to give way to loose Imaginations, but to abhor unlawful Lusts, and to make use of the Remedy he hath permitted with Moderation, and only for the ends for which the same was ordained.  
16. Avoid as much as may be, Compounded Foods, especially ●uch as have been invented to entice Nature beyond her proper Inclinations, but content yourselves with simple Meats and Drinks, which you will find to be the Sinews of Health and Strength, so that your Stomach and natural Heat shall continue good and vigorous all your appointed time.  
17. Let not Carking Cares, nor Perturbations afflict your Minds about such things as are out of your power to help or remedy, nor abandon yourselves too much to any Passion, be it Love, Hate, Revenge, or the like; avoid Envy, Strife, Violence and Oppression either to Man or Beast; Stillness and Complacency of Mind are two main Props to support our Adamical Building; a cheerful Heart causeth the Countenance to shine; a good Conscience is a continual Feast, and Content is Nectar to the Spirits, and Marrow to the Bones. Therefore study to be satisfied with your Portion, and thank and bless God for his Bounties which you enjoy, and use his Creatures for the end they were given thee; and above all, consider, that thou art made in the Image of God, and in thee is truly contained the Properties of all Elements, therefore thou art obliged to imitate thy Creator, and so to conduct thy ways that thou mayst attract the benign Influences of the Coelestials and Terrestrials, and the favourable Irradiations of the superior and inferior Worlds; and on the other side, not to awaken the Dragon, that is always lurking about the Golden Fruit in the fair● Garden of the internal Hesperides, nor irritate the Original Poisons, nor raise Combustions within, by falling into Disorders without; but managing all things in Temperance and Simplicity, and harkening to the Voice of Wisdom, and the Dictates of Reason and Nature, thou shalt transact the days of thy Pilgrimage here in Peace and Tranquillity, and be prepared for the fruition of more complete and undisturbed, as well as endless Felicity.   

Observing the tedious methods of some unskilful Surgeons, together with their improper Compositions and unnatural Applycations, which do not only Ruin and Undo many poor necessitous People, but to the losing of their Limbs, and sometimes their Lives too; therefore I think it no worthless Service to recommend unto the World, especially to the poor, the use of the following Remedies, which are not only cheap and easily Come-at-able, but certain in their Operation, far beyond any things hitherto known or published, viz.  
An Excellent POULTICE.  
WHich does Cure Burns, Scalded-Limbs, Boils, Felons, Tumers, proceeding either from Choler, Phlegm, or Melancholy: Also Cures all Inflammations, Contusions or Bruises, either with or without a Wound, Ulcers, old Wounds, or running Sores; also an excellent Remedy against all sorts and kinds of the Gout, (and Inflammations of the Eyes, let them proceed from what cause soever.) By assuaging the swollen part, and easeth the torturing Pains thereof, as it were in a moment's time; also it is admirable against sore Breasts, and bites of Dogs, or any other hurt of what kind or nature soever it be.  
Take one quart of good Water, viz. River, Spring, or Rain-Water, the last being the best, and as much small or ground Oatmeal as will make it thick, fit for a Poultice, unto which add two ounces of good Sugar, and a handful of dandelion cut small, then put it over ●he Fire in an open convenient Vessel, keep it stirring all the time till it be ●eady to Boyl, or boiling hot, the●● it is done.   

Another.  
Take one quart of Water, and as much good well baked Household-Bread as will make it thick, then add three ounces of beaten Raisins of the Sun, and one ounce of Sugar, and a glass of good new Ale, stir all your Ingedients together, and make it boiling hot over a clear quick Fire, and then it is done.   

Another.  
Take one quart of good Ale, three ounces of Raisins of the Sun beaten, two ounces of good Sugar with some Mallow Leaves, cut them small, put them over the fire till boiling hot, or ready to boil, than it is done.   

Another.  
Take one quart of Water, as much Bread as will make it thick, fit for a Poultice, five ounces of Raisins of the Sun, and one ounce of Coriander-se●● beaten with a glass of Ale, make 〈◊〉 boiling hot, and then it is done.   

Another.  
Take one quart of Water, as much Bread as will make it thick, two Ounces of Sugar, and a Glass of good Sack or other Wine, make it boiling hot, and then it is done.  
Apply the forementioned Remedies to the part grieved, viz.— Spread your Poultice indifferent thick, on a Linen Cloth, that will cover the whol● part, somewhat warmer than Milk from the Cow, but not so hot as is usual, for all extremes prove prejudicial to Wounds, Sores, and Bruises, except it be on some particular occations.  
These Poultices you must apply every hour, or every two hours, (at least) in the day, and three or four times in the Night, if your Hurt or Wound be dangerous, If not twelve or fourteen times in the Day and Night may do, viz.  
When your Poultice has lain on one hour, or an hour and a half, or two at the most, put it away off your Cloth, and put fresh on, and so keep a constant repetition of it for 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or ten days if occasion be, but it will heal and cure most of the forementioned Evils much sooner, if you observe this method,— but remember to wash your Wounds or Sores between while with Sugar and Water, and sometimes with fresh Butter and Water beaten together, to keep it clean and pliant.  
These are noble Poultices, and all the Ingredients do cast a friendly aspect to each other, being of a cleansing mild Balsamic Nature and Operation, and therefore they do by their active penetrating Power, strengthen and raise up the dismayed Oil or wounded Spirits by meliorating and assuaging the irritated or awakened fierce poisonous Humours, by which this doth as far exceed the common and usual methods and practices of Surgeons, and other Practitioners, as that light doth darkness.  
But here I shall meet with a swinging objection, viz. Why do you leave out of your Poultices the great l●gredie●t, viz. the fulso● Grease of Swine and other Fats? which all skilled in the Art of curing, have for the most part advised, and for no other reason as I know, then that their Poultices should not offend the Patient by sticking to the Sore or wounded part, for their long lying on the grieved part, if there were not some Fats or Oils, the Poultices would occasion them to become ha●d and stiff, and so stick to the Sore, which we prevent by our often repetition for the Spirituous Virtues and Qualities of Fats, are so hid and locked up in the oily Body, that Nature cannot separate nor draw forth their fine sweet Spirituous Virtues to that degree, as she can from Vegetations, as all Men skilled in Nature and Chemistry do know, they being of a heavy dull flat Nature and Operation, very offensive to the tender Spirits and Blood, by which they impede and hinder the Cure, therefore those Poultices wherein Fats are mixed, the fine Spirits and Virtues thereof do not so easily nor powerfully penetrate the Wound as rich Vegetations, whose Spirits and lively Virtues are as it were on the Wing, and therefore Poultices aptly compounded thereof, their Virtues do in a moment's time penetrate to the Centre, and incorporate with their similes, by which they strengthen and raise up the wounded Spirits, and at the same time do qualify the fierce raging Poisons, more especially if our method be observed, and ●o effect the Cure, not only in a shorter time, but much safer, and with greater ease to the Patient. For by this Philosophical Operation, of repeating 〈…〉 doth mightily advance and forward the Cure: An● Note, that every fresh Application of this Homogenial-●oultice to the grieved part, do add n●w and fresh Supplies of Virtue, for in all Operations of this Nature, the fine healing spirituous Qualities thereof, do first impart and give themselves forth, which by a secret simpathetical Power, do penetrate the whole, and incorporate with their similes, administering their sweet Virtues, which gives a new Life to the wounded Spirits, and dismayed Oils, and do at the same time withstand and allay the fierce raging awakened or irritated poisonous Humours; it being the way of Nature for all homogenial Bodies, that have passed through any Preparation; Digestion or Fermentation, when aptly applied or joined to any proper Subject or thing. For the fine cleansing healing Qualities and good Virtues, do give themselves forth and join or incorporate with their Similes; even as the fine sweet spirituous Qualities of Maul●●o imbibe or give themselves forth and incorporate with the hot Water in your Mash-Tub, in the method of Brewing; therefore every Application do add new Supplies of Virtue and strength to the wounded Spirits, and draws forth and consumes the gross humidity, and exalts the Essential Life of that part and are as refreshing to the wounded Spirits, as the pleasant influences and salutiferous Breezes of Wind in a hot season: For Note, that the Spirits and fine Qualities of each thing, are light, Volatile, ready, quick and powerful in Operation, that in a moment's time they penetrate even to the Centre; for every particular Quality in Nature, has a Key in itself to open the Gate of its own Principle; what Man in the World would believe the attractive inclination which the Loadstone has upon Iron, if it did not appear to his sight; the very same simpathetical Power have all other things, though in some it is more occult. And for this cause, one Body works upon another, by a certain natural attraction and simpathetic●l Inclination. Thus the wise and wonderful Creator, has endued every thing with an attractive and influential Virtue; it is not therefore the gross Body of your Poultice, that will do your Business, that is full of corrupt and poisonous humours, which are awakened by the long continuation thereof, for these Reasons, the long lying of Poultices and Plasters, on Wounds and Sores, have no better Effects, than the long continuation or standing of the Liquor on the Malt in your Mash-Tub, which if it continue more than two, three or four Hours, it will spoil and corrupt the whole, for First, (as I said before) the fine sweet Volatile Spirituous Virtues, imbibes or incorporates themselves with the hot Liquor, and then if there be not a separation made in two, three or four Hours, by drawing it off, but the application continued, then there will soon awaken another Quality of a gross harsh sour keen Nature, which with a rapid motion, tinges or transmutes all the fine sweet healing Virtues into their own Qualities, which all Brewers and good Housewifes' are sensible of; the like is to be understood in the applycations of Poultices and Plasters, do not their long lying of them on the wounded or sore part, cause them to smell sour and stink, when they have been continued on for twelve or twenty four Hours, which do not only endanger the part, and prolongs the Cure, but it puts the Patient to great pain and Torment, and often the Limb is cut off, and sometimes the Life too, which by this forementioned method might have been prevented; for if Physicians and Surgeons do not understand Nature, than there can be no certainty in their Operations or Cures.  
Also Note, that during the time your Poultices, Plasters, Ointments, or Salves, are making on the Fire, that you keep them stirring, by which you keep the fine Spirits and Qualities Living, for by this stirring, the friendly powers and thin Spirits of the Air do penetrate the whole Mass or Body, which incorporate and assist the Spirits and good Virtues, and keep them from being Stagnated or Suffocated, the Air being the Life of all things, and where its friendly influences and circulations are prevented, the Life and Spirits becomes heavy, dull and gross; for these Reasons, all Spoon-Meats made thin, are sweeter and of a more quick penetrating Operation and Digestion, than those made thick, therefore despise not our method, nor our plain homebred Poultices, I could produce many living Testimonies of its Success, but it is needless, since every Man's Experience that tries it, will soon confirm the Truth of what is here delivered, nor I am not much Solicitous whether I am credited or not; it is the consideration of the public good it may do to many poor People, prompts me to publish it, whether you will follow the forementioned Rules or not, I have done my Duty in offering it, and therefore am satisfied.    

THE CONCLUSION.  
THus have I presented thee (honest Reader) with some Observations; nor shall I trouble myself to make Apologies for them t● any, who having their Eyes blinded with the Dust of Custom and Tradition, may be apt to condemn or slight these Advices, as Heterodox-Paradoxes, or needless Chymaerea's; but let such Capers say what they please, I am certain what I have delivered is agreeable to undisguised Nature, and whoever shall act accordingly, will certainly find very great Benefits accrueing in respect of Health both of Body and Mind; but without Practice all Precepts are vain, or at least fruitless, unless it be only to remain as Monuments to reproach those Fools that despise and neglect them.  
I thought once to have proceeded further in this Treatise, to have discovered the ways of making up or preparing most of the Medicines that are now a-days cried up; but on second thoughts I desisted, not as envying my Countrymen any thing that might tend to their general good, but for such Reasons as these:  
1. There are very few of the common Medicines that deserve that credit, which by Knave's vapouring and Fools credulity they have obtained; and to speak truth, I humbly conceive the People had even as good be without them as have them; and therefore I was very well content that the learned Doctors and their Labourers, the Apothecaries, should enjoy to themselves their Pharmacentick Mysteries, or way of making of Medicines; and when they have done, let them alone, take and use them too if they please.  
2. Those that shall observe the Rules herein laid down, of Temperance, Choice of Diet, due manner of Preparation, etc. will (I am very confident) have little or no need of that which is commonly called Physic. And for others, if I had set down never so many excellent Receipts for the cure of Diseases, 'tis like they would have regarded them no more than these Directions for avoiding the same. He that scorns to prevent a Mischief foretell, scarce deserves a Remedy when he is fallen into it. But,  
3. The discreet Reader will here find such things recommended to his use, both in Health and Sickness, which though they are more plain, pleasant, easy to be had, and cheaper, are not less effectual both to preserve and restore Health than those administered by the learned; and in vain he goes about, that may go to rights; or gapes for a Remedy to be brought him by another from the Indies, when he may make himself as good an one (and better) at home.  
What I have here candidly, and in a plain familiar manner delivered, I leave to God's Blessing, and the Practice of all prudent Lovers of their Health, and humble followers of Nature, in her easy and innocent Methods. Farewell.   
FINIS.