want true art and the methode of their right dispensation There is no place nor person ignorant with what confusion of good order either by abuse of immunities or impunitie ill prouision or ill execution of good lawes through all parts of this kingdome all sorts of vile people and vnskilfull persons without restraint make gainefull traffique by botching in physicke and hereby besides many wicked practises iuglings cousinages impostures which maske vnespied vnder the colour and pretence of medicining numbers of vnwotting innocents daily in thrall and betray themselues their liues and safetie to sustaine the riot lusts and lawlesse liuing of their enemies common homicides It is a world to see what swarmes abound in this kinde not onely of Taylors Shoemakers Weauers Midwiues Cookes and Priests but Witches Coniurers Iuglers and Fortune-tellers It were a wrong to exempt any that want wit or honestie in a whole country yea and many that haue too much of either must be priuiledged by an old prouerbe to be Physitions because it is no manners to call them fooles And hereby not onely the simple and vnlettered but oft times men of better sort and qualitie casting their eyes vpon some attempts of these barbarous medicine-mongers good oft in their euent and not considering the dangerousnesse of such habite and custome desirously oft times entertaine the messengers and ministers of vnrecouerable miserie vnto their after life For as in militarie designes oft times a bold and foole-hardy enterprise aboue and besides reason and beyond expectation produceth an excellent and admired good in the happie issue yet is it not commended or in any case permitted as being verie dangerous in ordinarie practise or custome of warfare so likewise diuers euents of medicines proue good whose bold vse and rash prescription is dangerous and vnskilfull I do not onely herein pittie the meane capacitie but wonder also at the madnesse of men in their wits who in other kinds of knowledge reuerend yet herein with desire of life seeme oft to haue so little care of their liues It is strange to obserue how few in these dayes know and how none almost labour to know with election and according to reason or reasonable likelihood to bestow in cases of their liues the trust and care of their crased healths but for the most part wanting a right notice of a iudicious choice take counsel either of common report which is a common lier or of priuate commendations which are euer partiall The vnmindfulnesse hereof and the more minde of mindlesse things do steale from men the minds of men Hence euery where preposterous intrusion doth disorder the right and propriety of euery thing and the generall forgetfulnes of that which to euerie one is most pertinent doth beget an itching businesse in that which to euerie one is most impertinent and selfe conceited and presuming ignorance doth pricke forward rash spirits to become more bold busie then modestie doth permit discreete mindes soberly limited within their owne bounds This is the cause that vnwottingly to the poore patient vnwittingly to the vnskilfull workeman and generally for the most part vnobserued of all is the thread of many a mans life ordinarily by vnskilfull hands intangled in such inextricable knots of sicknesse paines and death as no time nor art are euer able to vnfold Vnproper remedies are for the most part worse then diseases and vnlearned Physitions of all bad causes of diseases themselues the worst That therefore men continue not in this generall confusion through voluntarie ignorance euer ignorantly vnfortunate it is not a needlesse learning more studiously to know and discerne good from ill and ill from good beginning with the last first CHAP. II. Of the Empericke RIght reason and true experience are two the sole inseparable instruments of all humane knowledge the Empericke trusting vnto experience alone without reason and the Methodian vnto the abuse of right reason the Ancients haue deuided all sorts of erronious Physitions into these two For ignorant experience and without reason is a false sense and mistaking reason is deniall of reason As therefore vnto these two other ages before so we now may reduce all the faultie practitioners of our time beginning with the Empericke The Empericke is he who reiecteth the disquisition of diseases and remedies their causes natures qualities according to iudgement and vnderstanding and the carefull perpension and ballancing of his action and practise vnto a iust proportion with reason but onely informeth himselfe by such things as oft appeare euident manifest vnto sense and experimentall proofe carrying his heart and vnderstanding for the most part in his hands and eyes taking nothing sure but what he sees or handles and from the differing maners of experience are numbred seuerall and diuers kinds of experience The defect in the Empericke hence appeareth to be want of true methode the habite of right operation and practise according to reason which is art through which defect his actions must needs oft be reasonlesse and by consequent as blind in their intention so likely to be foolish in their issue and execution For there must needs be in all actions want of much more necessary knowledge then sense and experience canne aduance vnto and experience must needes witnesse against it selfe that the longest age of experience doth nothing so fully furnish and instruct in many things as much more speedily doth prudent inuention which though occasioned and helped by bookes and reading which are both keyes vnto all knowledge and also rich storehouses of experiences not onely of one age and countrie but of all times nations yet do they only glut the sense with stories of experiences past but reason and iudgement truly enrich the mind and giue daily new increase and light in before vntried vnexperienced truths Indeede particular experience if it be accompanied with vnderstanding and right reason which is the touchstone of truth and right in nature establisheth and confirmeth knowledge but if experience be no more but experience it must needes proue in many cases a slow guide to lame instruction For as it is with the souldier in the field let his owne speciall experience in armes be neuer so ancient so true so sound yet without a more generall vnderstanding or theorie and a more enlarged knowledge then his particular and limited experience can bring forth he must be lamely fitted vnto many suddaine and oft before vnseene occurrents which the perpetuall mutabilitie and change of circumstances in warfare must needes produce The field the enemie the time not alwaies the same require a diuers and oft a contrarie consultation designe and manner wherein one particular experience by it selfe cannot but be much wanting because the same thing or actiō seldome or neuer happens againe the same in all circumstances one circumstance alone cōmonly altereth the whole cōdition As it is in military affaires so is it
scandalously and continually much hurt it is too ordinary vse and manner generally with all orders of men for since most men are not capable worthy nor vnderstandingly able to discerne a true good it is no wonder that the fewest speake truly good of good Some of these sorts do not simply or absolutely disswade physicke but as an inducement vnto their owne practise and admittance such physicke onely as cometh vnknowne vnto them out of Apothecaries shops or from Physitions hands and directions thereby preferring their owne priuate ointments plaisters ceareclothes drinkes potions glysters and diets because by time and custome they are become familiarly knowne vnto them and now are of their owne domesticall preparation therefore are by their knowledge acquaintance and auouching of them growne into some credite and reputation with them With this insinuation officious promise of their knowne gentle and pleasant medicines and of vndoubted good from this their owne protested proofe and experience many allure the sicke miserably to beguile themselues to exchange reasonable likelihood for personall confidence the knowledge of the right and safe vse of medicines for the knowledge of the composition of their medicines the preciousnesse of time and oportunity of health For the partiall expectation of vncertaine triall these knowne defects as the perpetuall consequences of this ignorance and want of knowledge as they are ordinarily admitted so are they continually manifestly obserued and noted by others harmes and ofttimes too late repentance for since want of knowledge doth euer lamely giue supply to any want what safe expectation or probable hope can the diseased haue of ignorant persons in their distressed wants Old Eue will neuer be worne out of Adams children Alas an apple can do no great hurt It is faire and beautifull vnto the eye pleasant to taste and but a trifle a small matter a little quantity and of excellent quality Adam must needs taste It is good for his eyes it will cleare his sight an excellent medicine to make him see What is more faire more easie more gentle more harmelesse more cordiall more daintie then an apple Eue in good will offered it and so Adam tooke it It made him also see but Adam had bene better still blind A dangerous and incurable leprosie and infection thence seised vpon him which after none but the great Physition of heauen and earth could cure Many medicines are small harmelesse gentle pleasant and in themselues do not hurt But by accident by consequent by circumstance death oft followeth them at the heeles Milke broth butter and many other wholesome meates iuices and fruits in themselues are of common harmelesse vse milde nourishing and comfortable some of them sometimes soueraigne antidotes against many poysons mitigators of diuers paines yet because sometimes against some circumstances against art or reason vsed they proue a destruction vnto the vser and as sometime a smaller dammage sometime a greater so therefore sometime more and sometime lesse obserued Who almost suspecteth a messe of milke or a cup of beere things so familiar and customary in daily vse and diet yet permitted in some conditions in some manner with some error the messengers of death attend them oft faintings swoundings sodaine extinction of the naturall heate anxietie and vexation with other accidents of easie corruption and putrifaction in the one as of stupefaction and mortification in the other This did witnesse a late Sommers sodaine heates wherein the vnaduised hasty satisfying of thirst with cold drinke by heapes in diuers places in Northamptonshire sent labourers haruest people into their graues With these for farther illustration I might number without number many more but vnto the wise and worthy a word is sufficient intimation And thought many ignorants may speake faire and pleasing and commend things that looke smooth and smiling vpon the liking of the sicke yet prouident necessitie will hence be warned to be wise for it selfe not rashly admiting so dangerous flattery nor too swiftly trusting Syrens for their songs nor Crocodiles for their teares but in matters so nearly concerning life and death duly and carefully inquiring and according to the verdict of vnderstanding and reason trying and examining and not forgeting beside the hazard in vnsafe error by vnsufficient Counsellors the losse of time and oportunitie for better helpe which ofttimes is neuer regained And for entertayning so meane counsell in the vse of such meanes as carry a manifest danger and malignity in their nature and vse I could thinke no man so voide of counsell as to neede therein counsell yet because experience of some errors herein past is argument of other remaining possible to come I will onely by one example aduertise and from that example it will be easie for euery one to raise a rule and caution to himselfe It is ordinary with many vnskilfull busie-bodies vnder colour and pretext of gentle and safe dealing to make familiar and ordinary the vse of perillous medicines which haply also they do not so distinguish or repute and therefore cannot be said to lye because they speake their thought yet tell not truth because they thinke not right I was sometime solicited by a carefull mother for her child whom I found by a sharpe and acute conuulsion violently distorted and before time allowed leasure for preparation of remedies swiftly strangled In any propension thereto in the constitution or other disposition of the child was nothing which might apparently be accused and therefore making diligent inquirie after some outward cause I found that the suspition of wormes had occasioned the commendations and vse of of the hearbe Bearefoote which though ordinary and much accustomed for that end among women and oft by good hap without hurt yet we could not but with good reason hereof conuince conferring the present harme which no presumption could vnto other thing impute with the danger and maligne nature of that herbe in production of such like effects although many for the like vse haue in like manner giuen it vnto their children without blame Thus sometimes some men haue deuoured mortall poysons not onely without harme but with good and commodious effect By these conueyances through the like presumption many vnwotting bodies oft bury in themselues vnbewailed because vnknowne Ellebor Quicksiluer Precipitate and the like coloured with better names and at the present vnperceiued Desperate trials sometime bring forth strange deliuerances yet neither is the boldnesse warrant nor the escape encouragement There happen oft in these daies many sodaine maruailed and strange accidents posing the best Physitions themselues without doubt oft raised from causes by these errors vnknowne secret concealed or haply by time before the effect appeare forgotten for secret mischiefs long time insensibly vndermine before the sensible euent appeare For proofe of dangerous customes in ignorant hands I will make one example a light vnto many A woman sometime came to
after described as some say It is not vnusuall with the sicke oft to imagine indifferently as well things inconsiderate and incomposed as truths and therefore are their imaginations of no validitie without better proofe or reason which I thinke before sufficiently satisfied And in this gentlewoman hauing her head where her disease had so manifestly deeply seated it selfe therefore so mightily oppressed it was more easie for any faculitie therein to mistake and erre then to conceiue aright And therefore though it might haply manifestly appeare which may be and is ordinarily rather the abusiue impression of some indiscreete whispering about the sicke that she of her selfe primarily and without suggestion conceiued the forme or shape of a witch yet is that no sound proofe or clearing of the question of witchcraft in generall nor any reasonable euidence against one particular since the trials of truth are not sterred by imaginations It is lastly obiected that certaine witches lately dying for sorcerie haue confessed themselues to haue bewitched this gentlewoman I grant the voluntary and vncompelled or duly and truly euicted confession of a witch to be sufficient condemnation of her selfe and therefore iustly hath the law laid their bloud vpon their owne heads but their confession I cannot conceiue sufficient euiction of the witchcraft it selfe It is knowne euidently vnto men learned that the subtill serpent and deceiuer the diuell doth vsually beguile delude and deceiue those that trust in him by his iugling collusions perswading oft times those actions and euents to be his gratification of their malicious affections which are indeed the very workes of nature and oft times the rare effects onely of hidden causes in nature A witches confession therefore being onely grounded vpon his credite information and suggestion whose nature custome and propertie is and euer hath bene to lie and deceiue is a meane poore and vncertaine proofe of witchcraft though a iust condemnation vnto the witch her selfe being proued an associate with the diuell in any sort Her death therefore doth satisfie the law for her offence but is no sound information of the iudgement of the witchcraft Thus according to that whereof my selfe could take notice in this gentlewoman if more full information of others obseruations in those things that by my selfe were not seene or noted faile me not I haue truly and fully described euery materiall accident and circumstance and to all the knowne or conceiued likely doubts and difficulties therein haue carefully and directly answered and therein also haue I suppose satisfied the ingenuous and reasonable with breuitie at full Now to conclude the former explication of the question of witchcraft in generall I intreate the Reader to call vnto mind the formerly mentioned feares and doubts of witchcraft which vnknowne accidents and diseases easily impose vpon mindes herein vnacquainted and not discerning their cause and reason and in them farther for future good to consider the possible contingence of many more of like nature and sort in other the like cases elsewhere hapning and here vnmentioned In both and with both let also be recalculate and cast the strange and slie suggestions of the fancie and imagination sometimes countenanced by admired casuall euents and chances sometimes applauded by ignorant credulitie and sometimes aduanced by superstition in all and euery of these still with the vulgar sort aduantaging the same error and opinion of witchcraft I haue so much the rather thus farre laboured for that ordinarily herein I see truth and iudgement too much peruerted the diseased their health and life thereby neglected and many times simple ideots and fooles oppressed whose weaknes doth oft seeme guiltie because euer vnable to defend it selfe Euery one in these cases is not fit or competent arbiter it requireth the learned and not learned in word and superficiall seeming but indeed truly iudicious and wise whom euer to preconsult in these occasions is onely safe is right expedient and euer necessary CHAP. IX Wisards THe mentione of witchcraft doth now occasion the remembrance in the next place of a sort of practitioners whom our custome and country doth call wisemen and wise-women reputed a kind of good honest harmles witches or wisards who by good words by hallowed herbes and salues and other superstitious ceremonies promise to allay and calme diuels practises of other witches and the forces of many diseases But these being of the same nature with those before mentioned to vse spels and as they before so these now sometimes onely superstitiously vaine sometimes diuellishly assisted I will referre these vnto them and onely dismisse them both with a short historie Anno 1602. a poore boy of Pychley in Northamptonshire was sodainly surprised with a vehement conuulsion drawing his head and heeles violently backward and in that sort carrying his whole body into a roundnesse tumbling vp and downe with much paine and inward groning The parents of the child posed with the strangenesse presently accused witchcraft sent for a wisewoman her wisedome came vnto them At the same time it fortuned my selfe to be in the towne with a patient of mine a worthy and vertuous Lady there inhabiting who moued me to see the bewitched child and vpon the motion together with her Preacher then liuing in her house I went vnto the place where the child lay There among other standing silent and vnknowne I beheld the fits heard also the wisewoman wisely discoursing and among other things of the like nature declaring vnto the cōpany that the lungs of the child were as white as her kercher With this and some other such like kercher learning I silenty departed When I was returned vnto my patient I there professed my opinion concerning the manner and nature of conuulsions with their seuerall causes amongst the rest not omitting the strange accidents which did oft fall out in such diseases by wormes Not long after when the cunning of the wisard was now growne without profite stale and forsaken the child auoyded a great and long worme and immediatly after recouered without other helpe or meanes and so hath continued euer since Thus the serpent beguiled the woman and the woman beguiled though not Adam many foolish sonnes of Adam At length a poore worme gaue them demonstration of their ridiculous folly Such teachers are fittest for such schollers whose grosse ignorance is euer so farre in loue with it owne preiudicate conceite that though they were brayed in a mortar yet cannot this loue be beaten out of them for any loue of truth or reason I did not therefore trouble them with my patience to instruct them nor they molest me with their impatience to heare CHAP. X. Seruants of Physitions Ministring helpers NoW to fulfill our iust computation of Emperickes and therewith to conclude their mention and number the last but not the least that offer themselues ordinarily in this kind and name are suchas either by oft seruing Physitions or by
pedlarie wares remaining keepe shop in their owne hose or else in their guts who wanting other vse imagine them sufficiēt to make cleane the kitchin Let thē that desire their meate in the stomacke should long finde good cookerie take heede who put herbs into the pot It hath bene required and by some imposed that a Physition should be both Surgeon and Apothecary himselfe It is easily decided In iudgement skill knowledge and ability of direction it is very requisite and necessary and the contrary is not tollerable in a true architect but euery particular execution or manuall paines and trauell is neuer vniustly sometime necessarily and oft more conueniently distributed and deuided vnto others whose vicissitude assistance and oft more ready handling thereof is as sufficient nothing inferiour yea for operary proofe and cunning handworke far without enuy superior because the maine and continuall exercise therein doth therein also make the meaner iudgement better apted and more prompt Galen indeed himselfe in necessity want of other whose better and more speciall practise and exercise therein might make it their more proper performance put his owne hand vnto chirurgie but when he found it another distinct office as an ease vnto himselfe and a commodious liberty inlarged helpe to his other imploiments studies and care he thereunto referred hand-operation though euer haply conferred his mind iudgement In like maner Hippocrates refuseth by oath to meddle in Chirurgerie expresly in the extraction of the stone of the bladder and leaueth it vnto those that are therein exercised The fewer offices the lesse distraction where lesse distraction there is the better bent vnto the more maine and proper scope Where therefore with as sufficient supply by others the suffection or deputation may ease of a burthen as indifferently else were imposed there the businesse lesse and the diligence and incumbence equall the remaining taske must needes be completely and absolutely attended perfected Concerning the Apothecarie included in the Physition indeed the first Ancients were Apothecaries vnto themselues because in themselues onely was then newly sprouting in the infancie the inchoation of that skill and therefore as yet they could not communicate perfection vnto others But now time and age haue accomplished it the Physitions eye and skill hath vsed anothers hand both as a needfull and requisite helpe in the mechanicall ministery and also as an aduantage and ease to the more necessary laborious and studious trauels of his mind In ordinarie dispatches therfore it is vnauoidably necessary an Apothecarie be euer at hand as faithfull as his owne right hand and in extraordinarie the Physitions owne heart must onely trust his owne hand and his owne eye witnesse their consent This equitie may satisfie curiositie CHAP. VII Of Practisers by Spels NOw to leaue both Surgeon and Apothecarie the opposition against the vse or need of either doth put in mind in the next place not to forget those who professe the performances vses and end both of Surgeon Apothecary yea and Physition himselfe without their helpe or need such are such as cure by spels and words If men beleeue as reason would and as reasonable men should for men are no men if vnreasonable of any effects from spels among the wise is no true reason or cause and without reason can be no right perswasion Betweene a true cause and his proper effect there is an immediate necessity betweene a cause by accident and his effect there is a mediate consequution but this cause being onely ni opinion can be no more then opinion and in opinion is no truth Some finding spels to do no good obiect as a good they do no hurt This hurt I am assured they do while men haue gaped after such shadowes they oft in the meane season haue lost the substance their life and health which while due season offered vnto them that had learned to know oportunitie bad scholers were still at spelling schoole To speak more seriously of such a toy If the faithfull and deuout prayer of holy men vnto which the promise of God and the blessings of men are annexed hath no such assurance or successe of necessarie consequent without laborious industry and the vse of good meanes how can religion or reason suffer men that are not voyd of both to giue such impious credite vnto an vnsignificant and senslesse mumbling of idle words contrarie to reason without president of any truly wise or learned and iustly suspected of all sensible men It shall be no error to insert a merrie historie of an approued famous spell for sore eyes By many honest testimonies it was a long time worne as a iewell about many necks written in paper and inclosed in silke neuer failing to do soueraigne good when all other helps were helplesse No sight might dare to reade or open At length a curious mind while the patient slept by stealth ripped open the mystical couer and found the powerful characters Latin which Englished were these The diuell digge out thine eyes and fill vp their holes with his dung Words without meaning are nothing and yet so here are best Of nothing can come nothing much lesse good yet so it was and yet it was not so oathes and testimonies auouching the one religion truth denying the othes Thus ofttimes things haply begun in sport and ieast with light minds by vaine opinion grow to sooth and earnest It is strange in these daies to behold how this follie doth laugh euen wise men to scorne while their vnreasonable parts of imagination and fancie so iuggle with their iudgements and vnderstanding that they can scarce containe themselues from beleeuing and consulting with such ridiculous folly Thus able is fancie not onely to deceiue sense but to obscure our reason If there be any good or vse vnto the health by spels they haue that prerogatiue by accident and by the power and vertue of fancie wherein is neither certaintie nor continuance Fancie according vnto the nature thereof can seldome be long fixed vpon any thing because naturally being euer full of fiction it must needs easily and continually be transported Fancie therefore can be no ordinarie or common remedie being but rarely fixedly detained and where it is most earnestly bent yet hardly of long continuance If fancie then be the foundation whereupon buildeth the good of spels spels must needs be as fancies are vncertaine and vaine so must also by consequent be their vse and helpe and no lesse all they that trust vnto them I speake not of inchanted spels but of that superstitious babling by tradition of idle words and sentences which all that haue sense know to be voide of sense as the other diuellish The one if there be no remedie we must permit vnto fooles in the other we cannot denie the diuell CHAP. VIII The explication of the true discouerie of
him a witch there shall thereby be allowed vnto the diuell a large commission which his malice will easily extend beyond the latitude as by right obseruation of many learned in their own experiences hath ben◠and may be oft truly noted I do not deny nor patronage witches or witchcraft but wish that the proofes and triall thereof may be more carefully and with better circumspection viewed and considered that rash determination beguile not the wise nor condemne the innocent vpon whom the diuell can with more nimblenesse and agilitie transferre his owne euill workes then either they can auoide it or others easily espie it Euerie thing whereof euerie man cannot giue a reason is not therefore a miracle There are many things whereof few men many whereof no man can attaine the reason yet euerie man knoweth to haue a reason in nature Behold a toy for an example There is seene in the hand of a iugler a thing as it is indeed sodainly in a moment without perceptible motion it is againe seene as it is not That there is a cause of the change who knoweth not what it is who knoweth except to whom it hath bene made known With great wonder and admiration haue diuers in this age shewed mercenarie spectacles incredible euen vnto the beholding eye and yet in the actors by meane vnderstandings deprehended to be nothing but agilitie and nimble cunning by continuall practise and custome working desperatenesse into facilitie Thus with common wonder haue some walked and danced voon cords Some are written to haue leaped and danced vpon the edges of sharp swords without hurt vnto thēselues with pleasure vnto the beholders Some haue credibly bene supposed to deuoure daggers and other sharpe and dangerous weapons That naturally the loadstone draweth iron the meanest know the reasō or cause the wisest neuer knew There are wonders in nature wonders aboue nature these are subtilties the other miracles That fire and aire contrary to their owne particular nature of the owne accord descend and waters ascend that the heauie mettals of iron and lead contrary to their owne naturall motion should with such admirable swiftnesse in so short a moment passe so large a distance through the aire from a small flash of a little flame these and such like are subtilties because the cause and reason thereof doth vnfold it selfe to few or not to all yet vnto the learned That the Sunne should stand still in the firmament the Moone be ecclipsed in no interposition the bodies of men should flie in the aire or walke vpon the face of the water these and the like are miracles because hereof is neither power nor reason in nature And as in the former to be easily drawne to admiration and to ascribe naturall effects to supernaturall causes is grosse ignorance so in the latter to enquire naturall causes in supernaturall effects is profane curiositie In both these extremes men too commonly erre the learned for the most part in the latter the vnlearned in the first the one too wise the other starke fooles None truly learned or that truly know the face of nature whose scholers the learned euer professe themselues can be vpon the vaine flashes of seeming wonders lightly moued to denie or call into question the power and force of nature With therfore the common amazed thoughts of vulgar people to be blasted by the stupiditie of euery idle feare to gape after witchcraft or to make nature a diuell or a bugbeare must needs be base procliuitie and vnlearned lightnesse To admit also nothing aboue or beside nature no witchcraft no association with diuels at all is no lesse madnesse of the opposite and extreame But those whom true learning and wisedome hath well instructed know how to stay themselues and to consist in a temperate mediocritie betweene both these The actions of the diuell are discouered by the proper notes and difference First they are euer euill either in themselues or in their end Secondly they are aboue the power and course of nature and reason This appeareth manifestly in his violent cariage of so many heards of swine headlong into the sea mentioned in the Gospell in his bringing fire from aboue so sodainly to deuoure so many thousands of Iobs sheepe These with other such like carry in their mischiefe and hurt the stamp of such an author and in the transcendent and supernaturall power thereof the testimonie of a spirit This is plaine and by these notes men may learne to distinguish between an imaginarie and a reall diuellish practise Now the doubt remaineth how we may in these workes and practises of the diuell detect the conuersation and commerce of men I do not conceiue how any markes in the flesh or bodie of any one may be any triall or manifest proofe for besides the grant that likenesse may deceiue who can assure me that the diuell may not as easily secretly and insensibly marke the flesh of men as their soules vnto destruction If the diuell may marke them without their knowledge and consent shall his malice be their offence or how shall I be assured he cannot so do He that can do the greater can do the lesse He that could giue vnto the Son of God a view of all the kingdomes of the world in one instant which was no doubt a speciall straine of his vtmost spirituall cunning considering he was then to deale with wisedome it selfe can that cunning finde no meanes to make a small scarre impresse or tumor in flesh Who dare presume to say God will not suffer him Who euer so farre entred into the counsell of God or measured what therein he doth permit If no holy writ no reason manifest it proud and blasphemously daring is obseruation in so infinite and vnmeasurable a subiect I denie not that the diuell by couenant may sucke the bodies and bloud of witches in witnesse of their homage vnto him but I denie any marke of neuer so true likenesse or perfect similitude sufficient condemnation vnto any man and beside and aboue all other notes or marks whatsoeuer iudge it chiefly and principally and first to be required that both the diuels propertie therein also the parties consent thereto may be iustly and truly euicted which is oft too lightly weighed It may be with good reason iudged that the diuell doth not blush to be both bold and cunning there to set his marke yea and make his claime where he hath no interest But when the diuell doth appeare in workes and signes proper to himselfe and therewith shall be euident either directly or by good consequent the act of any man consenting or cooperating there law may iustly take hold to censure and there also the former presumptions and markes denied sufficiencie while alone and single may now concurring be admitted and allowed I speake not this in contradiction of other learned iudgements but retaining
which are truly set downe according to the common consent of most writers The mixture of diuers of them one with another must needs make some difference in them from themselues where they are each alone and seuerall but he that with that iust allowance of that oddes onely can consider the particular accidents in the speciall example with the true notion of the diseases before it generally described must needs grant them to be the same in kind and nature It may farther perswade that my selfe with reason from the knowne custome and nature of such diseases gaue both by speech and writing prediction of the conuulsion which after followed and also of the termination of her Apoplecticke accessions in the lamenesse and palsie of some parts which also came to passe and cannot now be denied testimonie of many It maketh yet farther against the opinion of witchcraft that such medicines as were ministred vnto her in reason good for her according to that reason and expectation for the most part euer profited sometimes immediately with their vse reducing her vnderstanding before lost sometime recouering her speech when she had diuers weekes together before continued speechlesse and by litle and litle euermore repairing continually some decayes notwithstanding many and diuers relapses which both her parents themselues and the seruants and all that ministred vnto her must needs vnto God and truth with thankes acknowledge It farther confirmeth the negatiue of witchcraft and is not the least that while the opinion thereof most hotly possessed most hearers and beholders the parents of the gentlewoman at no time in the height of their daughters affliction or a good space after could resolue vpon whom with any iust shew of reason to cast the suspition of bewitching as they oft auouched vnto me both then and since The most certaine and chiefe proofes of witchcraft diuellish practises vpon the sick among the learned esteemed are generally reputed three First a true and iudicious manifestation in the sicke of some reall power act or deed in aboue and beyond reason and naturall cause Secondly annihilation and frustration of wholesome and proper remedies with discretion and art administred without any iust reason or cause thereof Thirdly ought either in the knowledge or speech of the diseased discouering a rauishment possession or obsession of their minds or spirits by any infernall inspiration Hence the sicke oft speake strange languages vnto themselues vnknowne and prophecie things to come aboue humane capacitie To the first doth satisfie the former manifest reference of all accidents befalling the gentlewoman mentioned vnto the preualence and power of diseases before related The second is negatiuely answered by plaine testimonies Of the third and last was neuer mention nor question nor reason of either There can nothing be required more vnto ample satisfaction and as I therein rest and stay my selfe so I doubt not the consent and content of all that affect truth and embrace reason I will notwithstanding for the better exercising and stirring vp of diligence circumspection and vigilance generally in this so hard and deceiuable point of witchcraft and also for their sakes whose weaknesse may as yet be vncapable of satisfaction in the former particular answer some obiections therein made The forenamed conuulsiue fits of lifting vp her hands aboue her head which were the last remaining fits toward their decay and latter end neuer came vnto her but onely when prepared at the night for bed and vnclothed into her night-weeds she began to yeeld and decline her body to lie downe In that instant each night without failing euer and neuer before began her fits When she at any time lay her selfe downe to rest vpon her bed in her clothes whether by day or night her fits notwithstanding appeared not Some haue imagined some coniuration or witchcraft vpon or in her nightcloths or sheets but to them that seek reason I suppose it found The power of voluntary motion which is the animall facultie and the disease it selfe both possessing the same parts namely the sinewes and muscles while the disease was in his vigor and strength in the beginning it therfore mastered the facultie and mouing power and continually ruled so that the fits then neuer almost ceassed by day or night Now in the declination and weaknesse of the dissease and toward the end the facultie grew strong restrained and commanded ouer the disease whereby all the day there appeared no fits at all But when the mouing power or facultie composed it selfe to a true and generall cessation and rest then in that instant the disease tooke his aduantage and libertie to stirre But why was it not thus also when she slept in her clothes The sense and incumbrance of the day-habite is euer an hinderance of perfect sleepes Therefore to them that sleepe in their clothes or vpon their beds commonly there is not so true a ligation of their senses neither are their sleepes so sound nor of the like continuance While therefore she lay or composed her selfe to rest in her clothes the sense thereof both interrupted the facultie from the true and sound disposing it selfe to rest and also thereby put it in mind of the disease which had so lately sharply visited it with tart remembrance and the disease being now too weake to resist or to prouoke the facultie could not vpon that vnperfect aduantage stirre vntill by a more sound and true dispose to rest and sleepe the spirits and naturall heate more truly retiring inward had more perfectly left the outward parts and thereby the disease there still remaining might haue more libertie and power to stirre which notwithstanding also soone after of the owne accord desisted because it wanted the former strength to maintain continuance That which breedeth other doubts is that at such time when she wanted all her senses and altogether seemed senslesse of any obiect offered vnto her or of it selfe occurring yet had she a curious feeling of such things as her minde and liking sought or seemed to hunt after This is no wonder to them that know where the imagination intently and earnestly worketh it there giueth sense to those parts it exerciseth though all other parts be stupified or asleepe This is oft seene in many who in their dreames walke talk and do seriously many works distinguishing and feeling those things whereabout the fancie occupieth them of other obiects though haply more neare hand and of quicker remembrance taking no notice at all The disease or accident which most oft and frequently possessed this gentlewoman was a kinde of heaue sleepe in degree onely exceeding the ordinarie resolution and ligation of the senses by sleepe and therefore the same reason may indifferently serue both It is farther obiected that the gentlewoman oft pointed sometime this way sometime that as seeing the appearance of a woman of such and such forme and colours which also according vnto her maner of vnperfect speech she
neutralitie in both doth proue their nullitie in either Perfection in any facultie requireth more then a man and competence a whole man nor euer was any in an excellent whom one calling could not 〈◊〉 deserue and employ Within this compasse also stand such as hauing spent a good part or most part of their time in one art or science towards the end 〈◊〉 in them iddel course exchange These from the 〈◊〉 flowing and wanting of their minds in a former streame 〈◊〉 arriuing in a new 〈◊〉 cannot sodainly lauch vnto any depth or profoundnesse of iudgement which onely time by stealing steps by little and litle doth mature and ripeth as a timely fruite and therefore they may in hast and greatily swallow vpon hole sentences yea volumes vnche wed yet can they neuer truly digest them but with many dayes and much leisure Euery Art is an habit an habit is by small degrees and length of time and custome acquired and thence riseth by little and little to perfection and full growth There is to euery facultie belonging first an habit of right iudging therein and distinct knowing secondly an habite according to iudgement and knowledge of right action and disposing A double habite in euery facultie requireth a double time in euery facultie which therefore cannot but with long patience and carefull assiduitie therein be inuited The too common want hereof in these dayes is the cause that many reputed great clearks scholers haue in their mouthes and discourse the phrase the language and sentences of wisedom but want the soule the substance and the sense Hence it cometh to passe that tongues ouerflow with aphorismes maximes and rules of ancient truth but for the most part confusedly not rightly distinguished mistaken or supposed Neither cau excellence in one facultie giue prerogatiue in another Therefore those that are perfect and absolued artists in their owne facultie and will impaire their dignitie by engaging it in another where neither their time nor proofe can equall it let wise men cuatelously and with suspition admit their counsell or trust their practise I sometime knew a learned Diuine batchelar in that facultie a great clearke of much reading and studie therein whose busie and ambitious braine not contenting it selfe within so infinite an ocean of sufficient sacred and sweete imploiment would needs breake out into other bounds and from some borowed houres and time for studie in physicke grew to affect therein more then a common name and vnderstanding In the end his pride and conceit of his knowledge transported him so farre that among other ridiculous paradoxes he both in schooles and common profession defended an indifferencie in the natures qualities and vse of Stibium and Ratsbane to conclude his confidence herein so farre bewitched him that he made triall thereof in himselfe and as a iust execution vpon himselfe was the same day poisoned Another of my knowledge and acquaintance a man in the Greeke Latine Hebrew Chaldey and other languages much studied and in the iudgement and theory of Diuinitie of approued worthinesse and vnderstanding hauing therein bestowed the best part of his time sodainly interchanged with an vnaduised course of practise in Physicke he spent some time in trauell beyond the sea and returned againe thence dignified but his former studies were so well and soundly foresetled that they admitted not so true and right after-setling of the second Hence as his braine ouerflowed with vnconstant propositions and his tongue with paradoxes his actions also thereto suited In the end he made vpon himselfe an experiment of the force of Opium in a more then ordinary dose and so composing himselfe vnto a desired sleepe neuer returned to view the issue of his experiment but descending into the graue left this memory behind him If any man wonder at these grand lapses in men learned let him stay and satisfie his doubt with admiration of the multitude of sects in all ages swarming with grosse errors and opinions euen amongst the learned of all faculties and professions This vndoubtedly groweth from no other ground but want of entire vnderstanding of those things men studie and reade through imperfect and distracted imploiment of their mindes seriously and wholy required vnto any measure of perfection Therefore Galen in his learned treatise of the method of right cure as also in other places doth oft times witnes that where sects and sectaries abound there is infallibly mistaking and vnsound apprehension of truth and therefore lamely defectiuely and in part attained because so onely sought If any man require a more speciall proofe or triall hereof let him with me here cull and examine any few Aphorismes of Hippocrates and in them though commonly and orderly read and auouched by euery mouth ye shall he find how easie and ordinarie it is for any man in any one to be inconsiderately deceiued and mistaken if he do not with all possible diligence indistracted vigilance and circumspection continually wholy and indefatigably exercise all his powers in seeking out their hidden truth which doth neuer freely reueale it selfe to those that carelesly or in part or for sinister trifling ends labour after it For example in his sixt booke of aphorismes and 52. aphorisme Hippocrates doth nominate a mortall signe in the diseased the appearance of the white of the eye in sleepe and sleeping with vnclosed eyes In many diseased this oft is found vntrue but with Hippocrates vnderstanding it is neuer false He that simply and verbally onely vnderstandeth and without meditated differences and exceptions or maketh not more narrow search shall hardly truly find the certaine and true limitation of this truth For if this maner of sleeping fall out from any outward cause or besides reason or cause thereof in the inward disposition it is not simply or altogether bad much lesse mortall For where the sicke are thus accustomed to sleepe in health or so sleep by reason of fumes and vapors ascending vnto the head and thence distilling into the eye-lids and so hindering their right closure as it is oft seene in great drinkers or where it proceedeth onely from wormes in children and the like the incautelous and superficiall vnderstanding is readily deceiued In like maner the 51. aphorisme of the same booke doth promise by the coming of a feauer thereto the profligation of the apoplexie But this is not true confusedly interpreted and therefore beyond the first view requireth further studious inquisition to find out the quantitie of the feauer with the degree of the apoplexie Great wounds and cuts of the head saith the 50. aphorisme of the same booke procure and incurre feauers but he that doth no further search to know the times that feauers may differently in swiftnesse or slownesse of their coming take nor vnderstandeth the causes slackning or quickning the feauers speed may easily too hastily before iust time accuse the truth hereof The 3. aphorisme of
sensible deliuery from those accidents with great lightsomnesse and alleuiation the opposite side still continuing in the former manner oppressed and greeued vntill the same remedy of phlebotomy hath bene thereto likewise applied In cōmon stoppages of the wombe I haue oft seene when the vsuall bleeding in the foote hath nothing at all profited but in vaine wearied the parts thereby fruitlesly vexed that the incision of a veine in the arme hath immediatly opened the stoppage and the former current hath freely streamed In some kind of dropsies cachexiaes or greene sicknesses I haue obserued that letting bloud by excellent fruite and benefite hath proued the succesfull remedie aboue beyond and after all remedies These things are witnessed by many worthy testimonies and yet are generally esteemed violations of rule I will not here dispute the causes and reasons of these things nor disquire how iudgement did guide vnto these trials nor how necessarily or probably the effects and consequent followed or cohered with the iudgement I will leaue it indifferent vnto euery one learned and vnto right perpension in iust occasion of due consideration hereof I giue not these instances as rash supposall may imagine to encourage Empericall boldnesse vnto common imitation hereof nor do hereby allow as some not distinguishing may imagine bloud-thirstie phlebotomy to suck mens liues in rash trial hereof but to proue and manifest how necessary it is for a iudicious and orthodox Physition diligently and prudently in his facultie exercised according to art to retaine and enioy a reserued power and warranted sufficiency within himselfe to varie and differ sometimes from too strict superstitious imitation of a common rule and receiued custome And from this worth and vertue hath it come to passe that many learned famous men in their seuerall ages haue left so many worthy additamēts vnto knowledg and the common good by their owne speciall proofes trials of rules in their peculiar practise oft different from vulgar conceit vse and custome vnto whom may not be denied beyond the ordinary bounds a libertie and dispensation contained within the latitude of safe discretion and art And thus briefly both by the vse of common distracted reading and thence indigested vnderstanding and also by the former particular proofes of easie deception in acception of common rules and lastly by examples of practise it is manifested that men otherwise and in other respects esteemed iustly learned may inconsiderately easily erre whē distractedly deuidedly they employ their thoughts and cogitations or want that sole or solide possession of their whole minds and meditations by their owne proper faculties and functions This is the reason that though comparably to these times no age hath euer affoorded writings more prodigally obuious nor shew of knowledge with greater affluence yet in Authors neuer hath bene either lesse true meaning or lesse right vnderstanding Hence as seeming vnderstanding did neuer more abound so neuer was it of worse report the goose so liberally giuing wings and feathers vnto fantasticke thoughts but the eagle-eye of cleare sincere iudgement seldome vndazedly or without winking fixed vpon the perfect brightnesse and puritie of serene and clearly distinguisht truth And thus much touching those that are of best proficience and most learned note in deuided studies and callings distraction necessarily leauing a remisnesse and neglect in many things both of minde and action As for those that are of meane literature in their owne professions their intrusion in others and desperate esteeme and qualitie in their owne must needs preach their insufficiencie in the latter by their mediocritie in the first CHAP. II. Of beneficed Practisers THE grand and most common offenders in those kinds before remembred and in these dayes are diuers Astrologers but especially Ecclesiasticall persons Vicars and Parsons who now ouerflow this kingdome with this alienation of their owne proper offices and duties and vsurpation of others making their holy calling a linsey wolsey too narrow for their minds and therefore making themselues roome in others affaires vnder pretence of loue and mercie Besides their profane intrusion into inhibited lists their vnlimited breach of law and want of reuerence and respect of order and distinction of callings which true Diuinitie doth teach holy men reason and experience do dayly witnesse that by the necessarie coincidence oft times of both callings requiring them at the same moment in distant places without conscience they impose vpon themselues a necessary neglect of both by an vnnecessary assumption of the one This the poore patients necessitie and need must oft complaine though haply more seldome obserued and therefore of few is that which herein is lamentable at all lamented Many times many poore people and sometimes men of better worth in their necessities and oft last extremities through this voluntarie ouermeasure of emploiment in these enlarged spirits are not onely deferred procrastinated and neglected but oft times euen to death illuded For from report and information by others vnto the Physition and from the indication by vrine which are borrowed and therefore slipperie grounds many diseases conceale themselues oft for want of the presence of the Physitions owne view the chiefest opportunitie and hopefull houre steale away vnespied and death maketh many blind because they had not their Physitions eyes In these difficulties therefore wherein consist the greatest vses and benefites of a Physition these men by their double and both-hand emploiment compell themselues commonly to a double crueltie either for the most part to denie their presence or else not to performe the promise of their presence being euer subiect to a countermaund by their voluntarie subiection to a double command If therefore they would consider the shortnesse of their liues with the immensitie of their owne taske they would not allow so large a vacancie to succisiue houres and workes which now for the most part are most part of their time vnto the great hurt and iniurie of others and the increase of scandall vnto their owne vocations I know the learned and reuerend Diuine is herein for the most part free or if some few be iustly taxed their modest minds will easily moderate and reduce them and for the rest whose dispositions are shamelesse and incorrigible that may haply still become the foole which is a reproach vnto the wise and befit the vnhonest that defames the iust I do not dislike the deuout and charitable deeds of their holy minds nor reall compassion and contribution vnto the sicke and needie nor yet their medicinall aduice with incorrupt hands free from implication of priuate gaine and vnobserued and concealed merchandizing in charitable deeds but I abhorre and wish repented which in many of them is abhominable and sacrilegious their pecuniarie trafficke and trading by vsurped erecting in their houses Apothecarie shops by manumission of base wares that are not allowed nor haue obtained freedome elsewhere whereby vnlawfully they exenterate and eate out the bowels of
poore mens purses Neither is it any way to be iustified that they ordinarily trauel vp downe to spoile the more worthy of his fee and the proper laborer of his hire nor yet is it lesse shame that without shame or blushing their bils in many places inhabite ordinarily Apothecaries files and shoppes as if their owne vndoubted right Their maister Saint Paul teacheth euery man to walk within his owne calling and not to be busily stragling in others so shall they honour their calling and their callings honour them and both honour God that sent them I know the gift of healing in the Apostles was the gift of God his grace and speciall fauor and allowance vnto them for those times but it was in them a miraculous and diuinâ— power conseâ—rated vnto an holy end but in these times it is an acquired facultie and in these men vnto a mercenarie vse It is indeed a deede of mercie to saue and helpe the sicke and a worke of charitie to aduise them for their health ease but the common good and publicke weale the law for both doth inhibite the doing of euery good by euery man and doth limit and restraine it vnto some speciall and select sort of men for necessary causes and respects vnto good gouernment and policie and for auoiding confusion which is the ruine of publicke weales Shal then Diuinitie teach and allow for priuate deedes ends and respects of charitie and mercie to breake publicke edicts to transgresse lawes to contemne magistracie to confound and disturbe good order Good order forbiddeth that for pretence of any necessitie whatsoeuer cause or reason one man presume to breake into anothers bounds yea and Diuinitie teacheth the same God himselfe tieth men in all things in all necessities vnto certaine and appointed ends He ordained a select number of Apostles and Disciples and vnto them onely annexed the diuine worke and calling of nations and people vnto saluation commanding all men vpon paine of damnation to seeke out and follow that meanes wheresoeuer or howsoeuer distant and did not ordaine the meanes confusedly in euery person to waite vpon euery priuate necessitie In like maner in a commonweale lawes and policie ordaine preferring the common good before euery priuate ease and benefite that euery man haue his distinct calling vnto which all other mens necessitie therein may and ought to repaire For if euery man might be of euery calling confusion of callings would in the end leaue no calling Therfore euery mans need or necessitie is not sufficient to make euery one capable of giuing supply needfull thereto but God and nature and law haue tied and allotted men to seeke meanes and those meanes confirmed to certaine set bounds and limits that men may still in all things according to the law of mortalitie be euer in this life subiect vnto casualties oft for their triall sometime for their punishment or else for a further decree and secret purpose of the Diuine prouidence so and to such ends thus ordering Thus by cleare truth ouershining the mists clouds of false pretexts to the contrary it is manifest that this fluctuation of these men betweene two callings is offensiue to God scandalous vnto religion and good men and iniurious vnto commonweales and but presumption borrowing the face of Diuinitie What encouragement their example hath giuen vnto drones and idle persons abounding by their example infinitely in the same wrong he hath no eies that doth not consider Their many ordinarie rash ignorant and vnskilfull errors and commissions against the health and life of many besides their forenamed omissions intrusions procrastinations and neglects of one calling by another I could by many too true instances confirme but for reuereÌ„ce of the callings I spare the men I wil onely giue two knowne instances wherein as in a glasse men may view the diuers faces of many more of the like sort A gentleman in Bedfordshire not long since was sodainly surprised by a continuall feauer accompanied with a generall lassitude and wearinesse of the whole bodie and together with heate and burning delirations and lightnes of braine The habit of his bodie and his flesh were musculous and well liking the season warme his age firme and constitution sanguinâ— his pulse high full large and in the vehemence and strength of motion manifest euen vnto the beholders eye A Parson or Vicar comming vnto him maketh many feares and seeming-graue discourses of the danger and imminence of a Marasme and from this supposed grand perill stoutly withstandeth the needfull vse of due phlebotomie The allies and friends of the patient obseruing the dayly decrease of hope and health diligently enquire after another Physition and by happe found me where then employed When I came vnto the patient the Parson entertaineth vs with confident discourses and disputes concerning a Marasme whom when I found after long patience and calme conference in the presence and hearing of diuers worthy knights and gentlemen still endlesly and reasonalesly vaine and yet possessed with an inâ—incible spirit of open and obstinate contradiction I in the end with their common consents contemned and reiected him The patient I found free from any particular which might inhibite phlebotomie and manifestly saw the danger of the delay thereof both which may appeare by the description of his estate and therefore seeing the indication so plaine and the necessitie so vrgent contrarie to the babling opposition and causâ—esse predication of needlesse danger I caused him to bleed whereupon within few houres after besides immediate alleuiation nature seconding the worke expelled at his nose diuers quantities of bloud at seuerall times and thus was enabled to performe her Crisis being before detained by the oppression of the former quantitie of bloud whereunto her strength was not equall The life of man vnto God and men is deare pretious yet behold how presumptuously glorious ignorance and the lawlesse breach of the due lists of distinct and proper callings doth licentiously hazard the vtmost price and date thereof And how likely may it seeme that the memorie of this wrong had bene in the same graue buried if it had not bene preuented and by the preuention solely obserued I will now annexe another example of secret betwitching flatterie by close whispering of the sicke ordinarily practised by these kind of men vnto the vnobserued and stoln perdition of many Anno 1611. a gentleman in this maner falleth sicke He was sodainly surprised by a continuall feauer with burning thirst troublesome heate in the soles of the feete and palmes of the hands frequent delirations and perturbations of the mind fulnesse of the stomacke loathing painfull distentions and ructuations drinesse and yeallownesse of the tongue bitternesse and heate of the mouth paines about the short ribs loynes backe and shoulders ill sleeps confused dreams There entertained these accidents the vsuall fulnesse of his body vnto the coÌ„mon outward view
Philosophie reason experience with an vnitie of consent confirme If then a mans action be his owne if the end his owne the effectuall prosecution thereof vnto the end his owne if God himselfe haue granted this priuiledge vnto all men as indifferent and common vnto all whom he hath created vnder the condition of men what creature shall intercept the endowment of the Creator what shall take the honour of this gift from him that gaue it or the right thereof from him that thence receiueth it The heauens cannot so blaspheme their Maker though men thus dare belie the heuens to iustifie their owne impietie All things depend vpon the prouidence of God and from him and by him are ordained second causes which indeed in nature haue their necessitie but in the will of man haue a power onely to moue or incline and not to force This is the reason that though man by his starres be borne to infinite miseries diuersly mouing and affecting him continually from the earth from the sea from the land from the aire from the fire from his owne affections infirmities diseases from diuers haps and casualties yet vnto him that knoweth the free gift of his Maker and the good that he hath done for him none of all these things by any necessitie in themselues therto can touch him or once come neare him For whether calamitie approch from aboue or below from maligne constellation or other inferior or terrestriall incumbrances man by his spirit of vnderstanding by prudence and circumspect prouidence hath a large immunitie whereby he may and oft doth auoide these violences and delude their forces The wise man saith Salomon foreseeth the plague and hideth himselfe neither can any euill befall the wise which he may not and doth not either being to come by prouident foresight preuent or present by carefull industrie allay or past by diligence redeeme no influence or destinie being able to bring mans will and endeuour to an higher point then wisedome and goodnesse This is the reason that common calamities befall not all men alike yea rather to euery one vnlike This is also the reason that many borne vnder the same constellation haue different fortunes from each other and farre vnlike their like constellation nay it is oft seene and cannot be denied that many men by their owne industrie haue contradicted their starres whereby vnfortunately marked in their natiuities they haue triumphed ouer the heauens in the felicitie of their owne wisedome and vertue Of this sort haue bene not onely one Socrates and the great Philosophers but many common men Socratically disposed and endeuouring Contrariwise also diuers borne vnder good starres vnto good destinies in their growth haue either ouerunne or come short of their destinie For although the heauens doe worke by their hidden power and influence secret impressions procliuities and inclinations as in all things vnder heauen so in the constitutions and tempers of men in their generation conception and birth yet are their effectuall productions thereof in men themselues variously alterable according to education inclination occasion and circumstance and therefore as touching the absolute power of the heauens euer varying There is no man that can so farre deny himselfe a man as to make doubt of free arbitrarie choice in himselfe to do or not to do to like or dislike to do that he will to refuse that he nill For if heauenly influences compell or force mens actions and their wils be led and not free vniustly any man shall be vniust neither can the lawes of God or men be iust ordained against wilfull offenders but God is iust and lawes are righteous and therfore mens actions are their owne moued from an inward power and essence peculiar vnto themselues and from an end and intention which is their owne Touching those therefore that from the heauens promise to tell fortunes to cast figures to turne Ephemerides for natiuities for good haps for ill haps successes losses fortunate infortunate euents he that hath but common sense and reason and can thinke but worthily of himselfe may easily discouer their falshood imposture deceit and cousenage howsoeuer sometimes euents may countenance for hoodwinked happe may sometimes light vpon truth and craft working vpon credulitie may make any truth of any falshood Thus farre briefly concerning the powers of the heauens ouer the minds and willes of men their voluntary actions their consequences and issues Now concerning their vertue ouer the bodies and humours of the sicke and diseased No man can deny the heauens as generall and superiour causes to haue power ouer all things created vnder heauen by whose influence and radiation all things increase grow liue and are conserued and by whose recesse all things mourne wither fall and droupe This doth witnesse the sommer and the winter all other seasons which the heauens by their motion varying bring vnto all things vicissitudes changes and alterations and by their secret influence imperceptibly distill different and contrary inclinations tempers and affections Hence winter sommer spring and autumne breed their peculiar diseases Euill and maligne constellations beget plagues pestilences and other epidemiall contagions which the aire as the great mother of all things breathing doth fruitfully conceiue and plentifully bring forth Vnto what sight or sense hath euer bene vnknowne either the pride or splendor of the Sunne mounting in his glorious altitude or his eclipsed force and light somnesse opposed and abased Who is ignorant of the monethly metamorphosis of the Moone What thing is or can be insensible of the Cynosure and the nipping frosts Is not the glorie of the heauens ouer all and are not his forces in all Notwithstanding generall causes produce not particular effects and the heauens are but generall causes second causes outward causes remote causes mediate causes vnto those things which immediatly fall out in the bodies of men from inward causes contained within themselues and therfore soly hauing by their inseparate nearenesse an ineuitable and vnauoided necessitie in themselues The inward causes of diseases are the humors of the body which can neuer be separated from the body because in them consisteth the life and being of the body Therefore when either they corrupted frō their kind or offending in qualitie or quantitie raise diseases in the body how or by what meanes can the body choose but be therewith affected except it could leaue it selfe From any outward cause which is without and of another deuided and separate nature separation doth free from immediate necessitie or consecution Since then the heauens are outward causes and remoued causes therefore neuer necessarily or simply of themselues affect and the inward causes of diseases sticke nearer and so closely touch in their effects that they suffer no interposition it is manifest that the heauens haue no certaine or absolute h power in the diseased nor can match or equall the immediate force appropriate onely vnto the
disease The heauens indeed do oft and much also preuaile in raising allaying increasing diminishing enraging and calming the inward causes but euer by a proportion either with the temper and constitution of the sicke or the humours of their bodies whether originally bred or after by time acquired Saturne is therefore said a great Lord ouer melancholy bodies in like manner the Moone ouer phlegmaticke Iupiter and the Sunne in sanguine Mars in cholericke whether in their seuerall reuolutions apart or their coniunctions and combinations and according to the greater or lesse proportion of their peculiar humors in the bodie and the dispositions of the particular parts of the body they more or lesse exercise their rule Therefore also according as meanes more or lesse accrew to lessen or increase their proportion so more or lesse manifestly are their effects and operations weakned or quickned If the wise Physition foreseeing the euill approach of a maligne and Saturnine aspect by discreete preuention abate and withdraw the melancholy humor from the body Saturne shall thereby want a part of his proportion and as the greater abundance thereof doth necessarily more aduance and promote his efficacie so the exiguitie there of must needs abridge and obscure it The like may be said of all other aspects in their seuerall destined and appropriate humours For the constellation of it selfe simply cannot effect anything nor can build or ruine any being which first hath not the seminarie and prime foundation thereof in it self both as his subiect and his meanes And this is the true cause that the body either by Physick reduced to iust temper in it selfe or to an equall contemper of all the humors or of it selfe strong and healthfull in the most different constellations doth commonly find indifference of alteration And this is the reason that many in the most Saturnine and deadly constellations liue as the contrary also cause that many in the most faire and Iouiall die From this vncontrouersed ground Astronomers generally themselues aduise and prescribe meanes both to preuent the harmes of influences to come and also to redresse them present and giue vnto the Physitions hand powers and remedies to command countermand delay allay and abolish And from this reason Pâ—olomy himselfe the Prince and father of Astrologie in vnfortunate aspects doth aduise to consult the prudent Physition and by his counsell and helpe to decline the maligne constellation For right remedies rightly administred vnto the diseases and their inward causes by the decree of God and Nature necessarily oppugne allay preuent and expell diseases and therefore are not prescribed vnto outward causes but onely vnto the inward And although the outward cause haply first raised or impoâ—ed the disease yet in the cure is not that cause so much respected but his effect which is the disease it selfe or the inward causes by which and through which the outward had admission to their effects If the inward causes the antecedent and the immediate be remoued it is a miracle and a thing supernaturall that there should remaine his effect the disease but the outward cause may be remoued and yet his effect therein not follow him Thus corrupt and hote constitutions of the aire and constellations from the heauen breed pestilent and hote diseases in the body and the diseases still remain when the constitutions or constellations are changed but when the pestilent hote humors and dispositions within the body which are inward causes are throughly remoued there can no such effects continue be farther fed or maintained The outward cause may also be continually present yet particular subiects or bodies feele or participate no effect but if the inward cause grow in quantity or quality vnto the excesse it is impossible it should not in the same moment produce the like sensible effect For example in some heauenly coniunctions or combinations there may arise an hydropicall constellation though many particulars be nothing therwith affected or therto therby inclined but if hydropical humors or causes abound within the body it is impossible they should there be without not only the imminence but present coÌ„secutioÌ„ of the dropsy By these examples it is not obscure that the heauens are a forreine inuasion and therefore more easily admit interception and that diseases are euer to be suspected because euer present Where there is an vnproportioned congruitie or susceptibilitie in the bodie and humors with the heauenly inclination there the heauens haue no edge Where the disease hath once taken possession in the body the necessitie of his effect is absolute and vnauoidable howsoeuer the heauens or any outward causes are disposed He therefore that finding the inward disposition shall for the superstitious feare of starres delay with speed to seeke present remedie or in hope of forrein supply from constellations neglect certaine rescue more neare hand is a foole a mad man or worse then either The first is continually acted by common simple deluded people the other patronaged by obstinate defendants of vaine paradoxes and the third by our impudent Astrologers prostitute for gaine I commend not senslesse morositie in the peruerse reiection of true Astronomie so farre as is commodious for Physicke vse which reason it selfe experience and all the Ancients worthily extoll but with reason and authoritie I dislike superstitious and needlesse curositie in the ouer-religious esteeme thereof He that obserueth the wind shall not sow and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reape saith Salomon Ecclesiastes 114. And I cannot but detest the shamelesse dayly cousenage and imposture heathenishly practised by many vnder the colour pretext and false shadowes of true Astronomy An example here of may not impertinently for better illustration be here proposed A gentleman of Northampotonshire diseased by an immedicable vlcer of the reines was moued by his friends after my despaire of his recouerie signified priuatly vnto them to call the aduice of a famous Ephemerides-master who coming vnto him and not knowing and therefore not considering his disease from the counsel table of his Ephemerides pronounced that if the patient suruiued 3. or 4. daies which we must suppose were of an il aspect vntill the next ensuing Tuesday which was it seemeth a fairer influence he made no doubt of his recouerie and life But he suruiued three moneths or thereabout and in the interim neither did the aforesaid ill disposed starres any apparent hurt nor the wel disposed any eminent good but after the forenamed three moneths the starres brake promise the disease kept touch the gentleman died The reason in the disease was manifest without a new creation or generation a part in it selfe radically and in the whole substance perished can neuer be restored The disease therfore could not lie nor all the heauens could performe either a new generation because the patient could not again enter into his mothers womb nor a new creation because the world could not againe
accoÌ„panied a pulse swift vehement and large an vrine high coloured red and thicke al which many witnesses of vnderstanding confirme According vnto the former indication the patient was twise let bloud the quantitie lost the first time coming short the second time not exceeding ten ounces as the Surgeon doth witnesse He was once vomited by due respites twice purged with good effect and alleuiation oft by glisters gently moued his diet prescribed cooling opening and altering the euill qualitie of humors After these things done within few daies the vrine in colour substance and residence manifesteth concoction and therewith follow some disquiets and anxieties not vnhopeful forerunners of the approch of the expected Crisis of the disease by the vrine so fairely promised In this faire hope though by vnbeleefe of sense denied a Parson-Physition led by a secret ambition of stealing the praise of such a cure if fortune might haply fauour the patient with ease and himselfe therein with the opinion of the merit as was verie likely in this hope taking opportunitie of the patients impatience he whispereth vnto him the excellencies of Aurum potabile farre beyond all other remedies After the patient had from him receiued it within short time good hap gaue ease Ease being gained begetteth in the patient an euer after incorrigible consultation with his owne sense and now measuring his good by his ease and setling in his thoughts an assurance of his recourie he studiously and continually defameth his Physition and with euill clamours filleth all corners of the countrey as farre as his agents his owne tongue or credite could extend In this interim likewise he reiects the former begun methode of discreete euacuations and alterations of the offensiue humours of his body and in steed therof he cherisheth and cheareth vp himselfe with daily magnifying and worshipping Aurum potabile as the God and sole author of his supposed recouery In this meane season and intermission of former courses the forward signes of faire concoction so hopefully before appearing diuers dayes together now retire and vanish and painfull swellings fall into his legs and neather parts and then compelled he sendeth for other learned Physitions but vseth them by vncertaine fits as his owne conceit induced and with a reseruation of his sole happinesse and best securitie in Aurum potabile To conclude he escaped the present perils of the former sharpe accidents but continued lingringly and languishingly sicke from about the middle of March vnto the the latter end of August next following About that time he first beganne to find some reasonable satisfaction in ease and the recouery of some better strength but a secret remainder or impression of the former delirations continued and some suspitious signes of a Scorbut seemed to increase which before likewise did obscurely show Beside the shamefull wrong vnto Physitions and patients and the iniurie of Arts and truth it selfe in men that are professors of diuine and holy callings behold the vsuall insidiation of Death and Danger by the spirit of flattering intrusion and secret lenocination of false hopes and ease possessing the distraction of the distressed sicke What man learned and iudicious cannot determine whether this dangerous long continuance of this Gentlemans disease may not iustly and in good reason be ascribed vnto the sodaine discontinuance of his first meanes to the neglect thereby of perfecting the hopefull Crisis so fairely promised and intended Or vnto whoÌ„ doth it not appeare palpably grosse that Aurum potabile can containe in it selfe any such golden sufficiency as soly to remoue or preuent all the former accidents in this gentleman described which God and nature and reason haue euer denied vnto any one particular or speciall medicine whatsoeuer Let al men then vnto whom God hath giuen eares or eyes aduisedly behold and consider how dangerous and iniurious these ordinary and ignorant intrusions in reason proue vnto poore patients who thus beguiled with opinion and blinded with deceitfull hope or â—ase or sense ioyously oft giue thankes for their owne hurt magnifie the authors and not seldome perish in the praise of their own harms The vnlimited expatiation of so foule wrongs do challenge all men not onely the learned but all honest or ingenuous vnto the vendication of art and truth from oppression by so grosse and harmfull ignorance These examples are sufficient to admonish the offenders of their impietiâ— and others of their owne perill in trusting vnto them CHAP. III. Of Astrologers Ephemerides-masters NOw concerning Astrologers-practisers There is a sort of men who beside and beyond that is sufficient and profitable vnto Physicke vse in Astronomicall science hauing vnaduisedly prodigally or vnrecouerably spent too much paines and time in the too curious or superstitious or supposed excellence in the vanities of Astrologie or else finding by their other defects in themselues the want and insufficiencie of knowledge more proper and essentiall vnto a Physition do therefore which now is all the hopefull remainder of their time so farre spent fish for a name and fame amongst the common and easie deceiued vulgars with the glorious baites of prodigious precepts Thus they hook simple credulitie to worship and admire their lying reuelations prescribe fortunes and fates and limit the dayes and dates of mens liues and deaths vnto the darke points of their KaleÌ„dars Neither do they blush to promise and professe that they take counsel of heauen when heaueÌ„ denieth them thereby gaining to themselues glorie in the slander of heauen and the scandall of truth Thus vsually they peruert the right vse of Astronomicall science vnto deceit imposture and iugling merchandizing for vniust and iniurious gaine and perswade the voluntarie motions and arbitrary actions of men their consequences and issues to be driuen by the heauens vnto ends and destinies there inrolled and themselues as if the onely true sons of heauen forsooth there onely admitted to reade and view Indeed the will of man hath not power in it selfe to will or moue it selfe to any good pleasing vnto God or sauing to it selfe but by the speciall grace of God drawing guiding or mouing his will thereto yet doth the generall concordant consent of most Diuines grant as vncontrouersed a libertie and freedome of mans will vnto any morall naturall ciuill or politicke good And in these kinds all Diuines both ancient and neotericke haue both acknowledged and admired the worthy examples of vertue in Philosophers and heathen men whose infinite studious paines and voluntarie laborious industrie in atchieuing so many incomparable excellencies no ingratitude can denie or without honour mention Vertue is not forced but free in whom it is and therefore not to be ascribed vnto the heauens or any other outward cause but vnto the free and voluntary agent of it selfe and by the owne inward power in it selfe mouing it selfe thereto from his owne purpose therein This all men Diuinitie