heale Also they saye it is more harder to heale the vttermoste partis bycause they be farre of from the bodye it is longe er they can be nourysshed and fedde And there it is to be taken hede whether the grefe doth ascende or discende Celsus sayth that what so euer grefe gothe downewarde is the more curable And agayne All grefe whiche procedeth vpwarde is worse for the medicyne to come vnto And that suche diseases that chaunce in our secrete partis as they are moste peynefull and sharpe by reason of inflamation whervnto those partis are specially subiectes so are they forthewith and soonest healed Whiche as in all other medicines they maye be moued so for the newe vse brought vp of Guaiacum I wote not whether it be alway so or no. But this lette euery man take hede of that where so euer the grefe be and with what so euer kynde of the pockes they be peyned that they prepare well Guaiacum and after they haue dronke so long therof that it be spredde and rounne into the veynes thanne ye maye be sure theyr ache lytell and lytell goth away And otherwhyle the ache commeth agayne and is more sharpe and peynefull and goth away agayne For after it ones begynneth to swage and than waxeth soore and peynfull it endureth not longe And they that haue soores shall haue the flesshe eaten away about the soores of a greatte breadth And that is a token they begynne to heale For vnto me it chaÌ„ced as it neuer did afore that about the .xxv. daye my legges weare eaten so bare that ye myghte haue sene the bone the breadth of a mannes nayle whiche thynge putte me in great feare but without any difficultie within a fewe days after the flesshe grewe and was restored agayne And by this I perceyue well that the nature of this medicine is to purifie clense the soores vndernethe and vnder the fleshe to proue and shewe fyrste the vertue therof Hytherto haue I sene fewe or none whose soores were cleane healed that were kepte close tyll they helde And therfore I haue harde many experte therin saye that than Guaiacum maketh an ende of his operation whan the pacient returneth to his meate and in euery thynge taketh agayne his olde custome of lyuynge I tolde you before that it was necessary for me to kepe in tyll the .xl. daye All thynges welle pondered I perceyue that this medicine requyrethe a longe season to worke perfectely For the nature of this medicine is not to breake or plucke away the blondde but by lyttell and lyttell to amende and purifie hit in whiche blondde beinge corrupte resteth al the force and strength of this disease and to expelle and diuide from the body the hurtefull humours thht are norisshementes of this disease from some in theyr vrine and sweatynges and from other som in theyr sieges And whan of this disease a man begynneth to waxe whole than the fyrst operation of â—uaicuâ— is to make a man to 〈◊〉 and secondly by the passages of the vrine it purgeth by whiche meanes it fetcheth out and voydeth marueylous foule fylthynesses And than the handes and feete waxe meruaylous colde in so moche that they seme to haue no heate in them at all Wherof phisitions saye this is the cause that than this medicine draweth the heate from the vtter partes to the inner the whiche inward partis after they be warmed and made hotte thaÌ„ the hete spredeth it self into the vtward partis For this without any doubt is proued that theyr lymmes that be healed with Guaiacum be moste hotte And .vi. or vij wynters nexte folowynge my legges and fete wolde be so colde that I coude neuer gette them warme inough thoughe I wrapped them in neuer so many clothes nowe they waxe so warme that with a verye thynne hose or suche lyke garment I putte away the colde These thynges thus vnderstande and knowen we muste comme to this poynt that is to knowe the operation of Guaiacum and agaynst what sycknesses it helpeth ¶ What power Guaiacum is of and what sycknesses it helpeth Cap. xxiiii THe mooste principall and the chieffest effecte of Guaiacum is to hele the freÌ„che pockes cleane pluckyng them vppe by the rootes but specially whan a man hath ben diseased with them of a longe tyme. For I haue sene them that many a day laye soore peyned with the pockes sooner and better restored vnto theyr helthe thaÌ„ they on whom the scabbes beganne newly to appere Not that on those newely diseased any thynge shoulde be lefte vnhealed but that the curynge goth forwarde more hardly and the disease stycketh faster and is more greuously plucked out For Guaiacum doth resolue and destroy meruaylously swellynges getherynges to gether of yll matters hardnesses bumpis and knobbes Fluxions or runnynges it vtterly taketh awaye eyther consumynge or tournyng the same an other way It causeth the soores to impostume withoute any maner of grefe And if any thynge lye hydde within it rooteth it oute And so of some as it dyd to me it maketh the bones bare of some hit sheweth the synowes and breaketh the veynes or eateth moste depely in and it healeth these partis that be infected with this disease and with suche stynche and fylthynesse that the sauoure canne not be abyden And therfore the phisitions saye that the vertue of this medicine is to heate to drye and to amende the fautis of the bloud and of the lyuer but it worketh all these thinges with suche a temperance that indifferently whether the cause be hotte or colde it easeth the patientis Wherfore with the drynes therof it restreyneth the flyxe destroyenge the hurtfull humours that flowe oute or els pluâ—keth vp by the rootes the cause of theyr begynnynge and restorethe agayne the good disposition of the body It dothe extenuate fleme and the poores or passages of the vrine that chaunce many tymes by pervnctions to be shutte and also other in this disease hit openeth ye and prouoketh compelleth the vrine to make and haue way For the whiche skylle some thynke it helpeth them that haue the stone and that it compelleth the stones to issue out of the bladder I haue experience that hit greately minysshe blacke colere And therfore it maketh a man more gladsome and quencheth anger Vndoubtedly hit hathe a greatte vertue agaynste Melancolye And hit taketh awaye runnynges and droppynges and it lyghtneth his heuynes by heatynge as it may be thought the brayne It is sayde that hit amendeth soores whiche were before yll healed howe so euer they came and cuttethe agayne the scarres It amendeth the leannes whiche hath longe contynued in the body And therfore whan this cure is done meÌ„ waxe very fat al their lyfe after They saye it hath a meruaylous vertue ageynst the stynkyng of the mouth doth amende the griefe of the brethe whiche also cometh through the faâ—te of anâ—yntynge It helpethe the inwarde parteâ— and specially the stomacke the whiche hit holle reneweth and
the supper ¶ Playnly this disease is of that sort that Galenus thynketh to come of fulnes whiche thynge is thus to be vnderstande not that I thynke all that lyueth in surfetynge streight way to be caste into the french pockes al though suche shall not escape diseases no not most greuous but if any haue ben vexed before with them and than healed eate drynke intemperately he must nedes fall agayn into them And therfore the meate that is receyued let it nother be dyuerse nor moch that the stomake be not loded and digestion letted And agayne let it be as I monysshed easye in digestynge Plinie sayth All maner sharpe meates all that is to moche and all that is hastely receyued be harde in workynge and harder in somer than in wynter and harder in age than in youthe ¶ It is wryten in Tully he that medleth not with exquysite meates looded tables and often cuppes shal not be combred with dronkennes rawnes of stomacke or dreames But for as moch as whaâ— this cure is done we muste prouyde howe the bodye that hath hytherto bene emptied and made leane maye be brought ageyn vnto his olde state therfore peraduenture those meates muste be vsed that increace and fylle the body not with noyfull humours but suche as Celsus rehersethe in the .iij. chapter of the fyrste boke ¶ Plinie also sayth The bodies growe and increace with swete and fatte meates and with drynke they diminisshe and go downe with drye leane and colde meates and thurste But this muste be wysely vnderstonde for those thynges whiche I haue often before monysshed But seinge Galenus warneth vs in all thynges to take hede to the bealy For what so euer sayth he is corrupted in that it is a cause of rot vnto al the body and so of diseases I thynke hit beste to take those drynkes and meates as Celsus teacheth whichâ— do bothe norysshe and make the bealy soft ¶ But if any through the dyuess prouocation fyll hym selfe and lode his stomake with meaâ—e more than it is able to beare if he lyste to seke helpe by slepe let him here Plinie saying To digest in slepe it maketh more for the corpulentnes than the streÌ„gth of the body And therfore the phisitions wold haue the great fat wrastlers to make theyr digestion by walkynge But if he had leaâ—er ease hym selfe by vomyt as many do counsell and Paule specially teacheth for throughe vomites many euyls oftentymes haue ben stopped and withstonde lette hym rede his doctrine shewynge howe one maye lyghtly vomyt And if nother of these be regarded or to late proued than peraduenture he muste go to phisike whervnto if the sycke be compelled I can gyue hym none other commaundement but euen the same whiche I haue oftentymes spoken that he commytte hym selfe to a sober and lerned phisâ—tion or to a well experte rather than to one that is of high exquisite lernyng to hym that powreth in no medicines but of very coÌ„stranite ye those medicines that be symple and not compowned and myngled with many thynges and as moche as maye be ministreth the thynges of our owne couÌ„trey growyng and not thynges farre fette And if suche a phisition counsell you to take a laske than see ye remembre that whiche Paule teacheth whiche is that ye do it not ofte leâ—te through often prouokyng nature forgette the office of clensing of the body of her owne motion ¶ As concernynge meates whiche be holsome and whiche vnholsomme and howe euery kynde of meates helpeth or hurteth excepte a man declare it to the vttermost it were better speake nothynge thereof And therforeâ— I wolde haue the authors redde as Celsus whiche entreateth shortly of the kyndes of meates And Paulus which handleth at large in .xxiiij. chaptres the natures and vertues of meates or els Galenus whiche by him selfe is sufficient for all pretermyttynge nothynge in the bokes of nourysshementes And so wolde I nowe haue made an ende of feadynge if there had not chanced to come to my mynde certayn thynges worthy to be noted And fyrste I wyll admonysshe you of egges There is no meate sayth Plinie lyke egges that noryssheth in syckenes and lyeth not heuy and that is in stede of wyne and meate bothe And Auiâ—ene affirmeth that the yolkes of egges of a henne of a partrige or of a phesaunte do passe all meates for them that haue theyr bloud diminished or theyr harte faynted Alexander Aphrodisens thynketh that it conteyneth in it selfe the qualites of all the elementes and to conclude there is in an egge a certayne shewe of the worlde bothe because it is made of the foure elementes and agayne bycause it is gathered rounde in sphere fascion And hath a lifely power Egges fryed manye doo forbydde amonge the whiche are Paulus and Galenus And dothe not alowe the foode of herbeâ— And many other do forbyd the same although Marcê° Cato praiseth brassicaÌ„ aboue the mone He that eateth dayly his fylle of ptisana his nutrimente Galenus thinketh can by none other meates be hyndred And the same thynge wolde I say saythe he by beanes if they fylled not with wynde Of the vse of milke both in meates and also in medicines Paule dothe intreate verye goodly Alexander saythe mylke is lyghte in digestynge and nouryssheth well For that may lyghtly go into bloudde that is made of bloudde and in a maner hit is bloud made whyte ¶ Of manye thynges I haue shewed you a few but yet he that desireth to haue helth ought saythe Paule to knowe howe great power wyne hathe And the same saythe if wyne frete anye man he muste drynk colde water And the nexte daye drynke the iuise of wormewode and walke vppon it he must rubbe his body and wasshe it and than refresshe hym selfe with lyttell meate Wynes that were lately must and also wynes that be to olde must be auoyded sayth Galenus For these heate to moche and the other nothynge at all That fedynge faythe Paule that kepeth a man bare and sklender is moche surer for the helthe than that whiche maketh one fat But for as moche as lyttell meate gyueth nother strength nor stedynes vnto the bodye therfore he after addethe sayinge Suche meates as are of a meane nature are the chiefe nourysshementes of all For they ingender bloudde of a meane substance And as such are most metest coÌ„uenient for our bodies so be they that bring forth yll humours moste noyfull and therfore muste they alwayes be auoyded This saythe Paule And he teacheth more ouer that rye breadde nouryssheth more than all other and that wheaten breade is of harde digestion and wyndy and that barly breade is of lyttell strengthe He that wyll knowe the vttermooste of fedynge lette hym rede this Paule and Galenus as I saydeâ— we in this countreye neuer vsed annoyntynges in Italie they haue vsed them but nowe they be almooste lefte And Galene coÌ„mendethe rubbynges of the body aboue all thynges inculcatynge oftentymes and many thinges therof and
DE MORBO GALLICO LONDINI IN AEDIBVS THOMAE BERTHELETI M.D.XXXIII CVM PRIVILEGIO ¶ The preface of Thomas Poyneâ— chanon of Marten abbey translatour of this boke NOt longe agoo after I had translated into our englysshe tonge the boke called Regimen sanÃtatÃs Salerni I hapned being at London to talke with the printer and to enquire of hym what he thought and how he lyked the same boke and he answered that in his mynde it was a boke moche necessarye and very profitable for them that toke good hede to the holsome teachynges and warely folowed the same And this moche farther he added therto that so farforthe as euer he coude here it is of euery man very well accepted and allowed And I sayd I pray god it may do good and that is all that I desyre And thus in talkynge of one boke and of an other he came forthe and sayde that if I wolde take so moche peyne as to translate into Inglysshe the boke that is intitled De medicina guaiacà et morbo gallico wryten by that great clerke of Almayne Vlrich Hutten knyght I shulde sayd he do a verye good dede For seinge hit is soth as this great clerk writeth of this medicine GuaiacuÌ„ For he hym self hath had the verye experience therof how nedefull and howe beneficiall to the common welâ—h were it For almoste into euerye parte of this realme this mooste foule and peynfull disease is crepte and many soore infected therwith Whan he had sayd thus his fantasye aâ—d that I hadde bethoughte me and well aduysed his wordes I answered If I thought it wolde do good I wolde take the peyne with all my verye harte and hit were moche greatter and yet sayde I I feare me it be as moche or more than I am able to accomplysshe For I doubt whether I may come to the clere vnderstonding therof or not It is in ernest a matter straunge inough to translate not onely for the names of herbes and other diuers thynges therin conteyned but also for the phrase and eloquent style But what so euer aunswere I made hym I finally determyned to translate the sayd boke as I haue done in dede not so well I am sure so playnly and so exquisitely as many other coude if they wold vouchesafe to take the peyn but yet I trust I haue not moche erred from the true meanynge of the auctour And I saye not the contrarye but somme wordes haue I lefte barely englysshed and some nat at all but they be suche as are by those names in latine vsually knowen to phisitions without whose counsaylle specially those that be approued and knowen to be syngularly lerned in physike I wolde counsaylle noo maÌ„ to be to bold either to practise or receiue any medicine ¶ At Marten Abbey an dnÌ„i 1533. ¶ The table of this boke THe begynnynge of the frenche pockes and why it hathe dyuers names cap. j. fo 1. The causes of this disease Cap. ij fo 3. Into what diseases the frenche pockes are tourned cap. iij. fo 4. Howe men at the begynnynge resisted the frenche pockes cap. iiij fo 6. What helpe the author of this boke vsed in this syckenes cap. v. fo 8. The description of the wodde Guaiacum and of the fyndyng name therof ca. vi 10. Of the orderynge of Guaiacum in medycine ¶ The begynnynge of the frenche pockes and why it hath dyuers names Ca. i. IT hathe pleased god that in our tyme sycknesses shuld aryse whiche were to our forefathers as it maye be wel coniectured vnknoweÌ„ In the yere of Christ. 1493. or there about this pestiferus euyll creped amongest the people not only in Fraunce but fyrst appered at Naples in the frenchemennes hoste wherof it toke his name whiche kept warre vnder the frenche kyng Charles before hit appered in any other place By whiche occasion the frenche men puttynge from them this abhâ—rred name calle it not the frenche pockes but the euyl of Naples reckenynge it to theyr rebuke if this pestilent disease shulde be named the frenche pockes Not withstandynge the coÌ„sent of all nacions hath obteyned and we also in this boke wyll calle hit the frenche pockes not for any enuye that we beare to so noble and gentyll a nacion but bycause we fere that all meÌ„ shuld not vnderstande if we gaue it any other name ¶ At the fyrste rysynge therof some men supersticiously named it meuyn syckenes of the name I know not of what saynt some accompted it to come of Iob scabbe whom this syckenes I thynke hath brought in to the numbre of seyntes Some iâ—ged it to be the infirmitie wherwith the monke Euager was greued throughe immoderate colde and eatynge of rawe meates whan he was in desert And therfore he also was sought from ferre countreyes with great resorte of men offryng gyftes habundantly at his chappelle whiche is in Vestrike And bycause the name of sayncte Euager was not knowen amongâ— the common people of Almayne they called it Fyacres sickenes for Euagers Not enquerynge what the â—rues of these were but onely beleued that these coulde helpe them Suche opinions hadde the people and thus they dydde ryse There was ymages offered and hanged before saynt Roche and his olde sores were newe remembred whiche thynge if it were done of a godly mynde I do not reproâ—e but if it were done that those might get auaÌ„tage that were the inuenters therof I meruayle that disceyte shulde haue place in so great discomforte and sorow and in so myserable distruction of mankynde ¶ But the deuines dyd interpretate this to be the wrathe of god and to be his punysshement for our euyll lyuynge And so dyd openly prâ—ache as though they admytted into that hye counsaylle of god had there lerned that men neuer lyued worse or as who sayth in that golden worlde of Augustus and Tiberius whan Christe was here on erthe moste myscheuous diseases dydde not begynne or as who sayth that nature hath no power to brynge in newe diseases whiche in all other thynges maketh great chaunges or as who saythe that within shorte tyme in our dayes bicause men beth now of good fyuyng the remedy of Guaiacum is founde for this sickenes So well these thynges do agree whiche these mens myndes that declare god as they thynke do preache vnto vs. Than began the phisitions busynesse whiche serche not what shulde take away this disese but what was the cause therof for they myght not abyde the syght of it moche more they abstayned from touchynge For whan it fyrste began it was of suche fylthynes that a maÌ„ wold scarsely thynke this syckenesse that nowe reygneth to be of that kynde They were byles sharpe and stondynge out hauynge the similitude and quantite of acorneâ— from whiche came so foule humours and so gret stynche that who so euer ones smelled it thought hym selfe to be enfect The colour of these pusshes was derke grene and the syght therof was more greuous vnto the pacient than the
peyne it selfe aâ—d yet their peynes were as thoughe they hadde lyen in the fyre ¶ This disease not longe after his begynnyng entred into Germania where it hath wandred more largely than in any other place whiche thynge I do ascribe vnto our intemperaunce ¶ They whiche than toke counsayle of the sterres prophisied that euyl not to endure aboue .vij. yeres wherin they were disceyued if they ment of this disease and all the iuel that cometh therof but if they meÌ„t it of the forsaid most fylthye kynde whiche cometh of hym selfe not only of enfection but through the corruption of the ayre or the ordinance of god than were they not disceyued For it taryed nat longe aboue the .vii. yere But the infyrmitie that came after whiche remayneth yet is nothynge so fylthye For the sores at som tymes beth lytel not so hye nor so hard And somtyme there is a certayne brode crepynge scabbe for his benym entreth deper and bryngeth forth more diseases ¶ It is thought this kynde nowe adayes to growe in any person but through infection by defilynge of hym selfe which thing especially happeneth by copulation For it appereth manifestly that yonge chyldren olde men and other whiche are not gyuen to the bodily lust beth very seldome enfected therwith And the more that man is gyuen to wantonnesse the sooner he is infected And as they lyue that beth taken therwith so other it shortely leaueth them or longe holdeth them or vtterly consumeth them For it is very easy vnto the Italians and Spanyardes and to suâ—he as liue soberly but through our surfetynge and intemperate lyuynge hit dothe longe contynue with vs and greuousely dothe vexe and chafe vs. ¶ The causes of this disease Capitu. ij THe phisitions haue not yet certenly diffined the secret causes of this disease although they haue long peynfully w t great variete serched therfore but in this thing al do agre which is very euident that through som vnholsom blastes of the ayre which were at y â— time the lakes fouÌ„taines flodes also the sees were corrupted And therof the erth to receiue poison The pastures to be enfected venemê° vapors to come down froÌ„ the ayre which liuinge creatures in drawyng the breth receyued For this disese was fouÌ„d in other bestes like as iÌ„ meÌ„ The astrologers fetch y e cause of this iÌ„firmite from the sterres saying y t it ê“cedeth of y e coÌ„iuÌ„ctions of Saturn Mars which was not long before of .ii. eclipsis of the son they do affirm y t by thâ—se signes they might perceyue many colerik fleumatike infirmities to folowe which shuld long continue slowly depart as ElyphaÌ„cia lepre tetters al yl kynd of scabbes boils and what so euer euils deformeth vnfasshioneth the body as the gout palsey sciatica ioynt ache other lyke daÌ„gers And that these thinges shuld chaÌ„ce rather in the north part by reson of this signe Aquarius wherin fel the fyrst ecclypse And in the west part by reason of this sygne Piscis in the whiche felle the last eclyps But the phisitions affirme this syckenes to come of yll and habundant humours as of coler blacke advst yelowe and fleume salt or advst and that of one of these alone or of certayn or els of al these mingled whose sharpnes streking out to the outward partes of the body burneth and dryeth the skynne and fylleth it ful of scabbes but that whiche cometh of rawe heuye and grosse humours they say is driuen into the ioyntes and causeth greatte peine in them and to arise knobbes swellinges knottes to gether and the skynne to ryuell And moreouer the heed to ake wherby y e beauty of the body is clene altered gone Some breuely coÌ„cluding say that this infirmite cometh of corrupt burnt enfect blode And al these thynges were in doubtful disputatioÌ„ y e nature therof not yet knowen but now it is knoweÌ„ they be also apê“ued for in myn opinioÌ„ this sicknes is no other thing but a postumatioÌ„ rotting of vnpure blode the whiche after it beginneth to drie it turneth into swelling hard knobbes the which thinge ê“cedeth of the lyuer corrupt ¶ To knowe more of the nature or qualities of this infirmitie shulde be very tedious hard to iuge For we se in our time what diuers concertatioÌ„s opinioÌ„s haue beÌ„ to boldly disputed and what peyne the phisitions haue taken therin sens the begynnynge therof The phisitions of Germaynie for the space of ij yeres meddled with suche disputation and yet whan I was but a chylde they vndertoke to heale me but what profite cam therof the ende hath shewed not withstondynge they were bolde to medle with straÌ„ge dregges and spices and to myngle and minystre many thynges whiche they shulde not haue ministred And I remembre they forbode me to eate peasen For in some places there grow certeyn wormes in theÌ„ with wynges of the whiche hoggeflesshe was thought to be inâ—ected bicause that best specially was deceasâ—ed either with this or els with an other nat moche vnlyke vnto this ¶ Into what disese the french pockes are tourned Ca. iii. THe peynes of this dysease all redye rehersed are estemed in maner as no peines for this disease tourneth it selfe into great inconuenieÌ„ce and peyne that naturally it hath of hym selfe In so moche that all maner of syckenes hauynge or causynge any peyne in mannes ioyntes semeth to be conteyned therin For fyrst there is sharpe ache in the ioyntes and yet nothynge appereth afterwardes the gatheryng to gether of humours causeth the membres to swell but after that suche vyle matter is waxed harde that a man shall fele the vehemente peynes therof This is the fyrste commyng therof For it semeth to edifye and fortifye a castelle there to rest a longe season and thens to disperse and caste into euery part of the bodye all maner of ache and peynes And the longer the sayde swellynges tarye fro rottyngeâ— and rypynge the more peyne shall the pacient suffer And aboue all other peynes of this infyrmitie this is the violeÌ„test and that troubleth man moste I my selfe had suche a lyttell knobbe and swelling aboue my left hele in the inner syde the whiche after it was indurate and harde by the space of .vij. yere coude by no power of oyntementes or any maner lappynges and cherysshynges be made softe or caused to putrifie and rotte but contynued stylle lyke a boone vntylle that by the helpe of Guaiacum it vanysshed away by lyttel and lytel This thing as touching womeÌ„ resteth iÌ„ their secret places hauing in those places litle prety sores ful of venomê° poison being very daÌ„gerous for those y t vnknowingly medle with theÌ„ The which sicknes gotteÌ„ by such infected womeÌ„ is so moch the more vehemeÌ„t greuous how moch they be inwardly poluted and corrupted By this the senowes at somme tymes do slacke wax hard again at somtime they shrinke some time the sicknes turneth
none of them Stromer spekynge after this maner of this wodde with great grauitie of wordes sayde that he feared leest the helth som and excellent power of Guaiacum shulde be diffamed through the superfluous additions of vnlerned phisitions whiche thyng if hit were not done nothynge coude be founde better agaynste this syckenes And with his word is caused me streight without any taryeng to caste my selfe hedlynge into this experieÌ„ce of Guaiacum And therfore I wold this now ones spokeÌ„ shuld be generally vnderstond that as often as I shal coÌ„playne in this small treatise of phisitions al men shulde thynke me to meane them that haue no erudition nor experience and that boste them selfe amongest the common people of the title name of theyr doctorship which they bought that knew nother greke nor latyn and yet no science requireth more erudicion or knowledge of the tonges than phisike the whiche beynge moste ignorant do lyghtly abuse the symple people of Germaynie seinge there is no doubte made of his lernynge that is ones garnysshed with the name of Mayster doctoure But why haue I vsed in this thyng so many wordes Verily to make my cause good with the excellent prince and to defende my selfe agaynst them that by this occasion mought accuse me as one that spake wordes more snappysshe than besemed me Whiche thyng whan somme of the lawyers and diuines dyd of late agaynste whose lernynge they sayde I inueyed without good maner whan I dydde snybbe but onely the vnlerned and them whiche were sore greued and were bytter ennemies vnto suche good lernynge they caused many a good manne to thynke that I was agaynst them and yet was that thynge far from my maners and also the purpose wherin I than was occupied whiche thynge seinge I perceyue your excelleÌ„tnes to knowe well ynough I wyl leue these runne agate anoynters and theuysshe phisitions and also these vntaughte doctours and come vnto Guaiacum the whiche in medicine must thus be vsed ¶ The maner of curynge Capitulo .viij. THe pacient must be kepte in a close chambre without ayre or wynde where fyre must be nourysshed contynually or els he must be in a stewe after the maner of Almayn whiche shaâ—l not nede alwayes to be kepte hotte but muste be close and defended from ayre that no ayre blowe vppon hym for the tyme of this curation he must also beware of colde Therfore if he be cured in wynter or in Autumne he muste soke that he haue fyre in his chaumber erely in the mornynge speciallye before daye for than is the colde feruente he muste cause the cleftes of the wyndowes if any be to be stopped with playster or other lyke matter and vppon the chaumbre doore muste he hange carpettes or other lyke thynges within and withoute that no colde or ayre entre into the chaumbre or comme oute whanne he is thus ordered his meate muste be dymynisshed Fyrste the fourthe parte of that he was wonte to take and than the thyrde parte and shortely after the one halfe that he maye lerne to beare hungerâ— and his wyne muste be well watered Thanne muste he take a pourgacyon other with regarde that hit be suche a one as shall be thought sufficient to cutte awaye the cause or take awaye the matter that norissheth the disease other such a one withoute any regarde at all as maye emptye the hoole bealy For that thynge as I perceyue onely is requyred whiche thynge done thanne maye ye thervppon begynne this worke after this maner The docoction whiche was fyrste sodden and is strongest must be ministred vnto him twise a day mylke warme a gobblet or cyat ones in the mornyng at .v. of the clocke or ther about and agayn at nyght at viii of the clocke we call a ciates a cuppe that wyll receyue half a pound wherof we may gather seing .viii. pounde of water is required to the sethynge of one pounde of wod the one halfe therof muste be consumed in the sething that so there muste .iiii. pounde remayne and muste drynke therof twyse a day that the decoction of one pounde of Guaiacum is suffycient for foure dayes For hit is nowe a commen maner with phisitions to measure theyr syquores by weyghte and they haue cleane caste vp the names of measures It muste be dronke at one draughte withoute any brethe takynge After he hath dronke lette hym reste more than .iiii. houres and let hym the fyrste .ii. be couered that by the helpe of heate this medicine maye be digested abrode into the membres and the pacient maye swete out that that noyeth whiche thyng to do howe profytable it is I wyll declare whan place cometh And it shall not hurt if he be close couered one hole houre before he drynke that he may be hotte ¶ Some wyll not in any wyse he shuld rise frome his bedde in fyue houres after he hath taken his ciates of drynke ¶ He must take his meate in the myddaye and not before and than as lyttell as may be for this medicine aboue all thynges requireth an emptye bealy And therfore he muste eate nat to fyll his emptynes but to beare vppe the lyfe not to gather strength but to kepe hym self froÌ„ feinting Nother is there any ieoperdy to be feared For Guaiacum hath great strength in it selfe both to refresshe and also to comforte not suche as be full but onely those that are emptye Ye they saye that none faylleth eate he neuer so lyttell so that he drynke faythfully this decoction In the meane tyme he shall not be anoynted in the out syde excepte he haue soores or swellynges And for this there is a whyte oyntment made of Cerussa rose oyle of rosis with camphire whiche is layde on with a lynnen clothe Some anoynt them only with the skom of Guaiacum or els drye it into pouder and caste it vppon them And besydes this skomme there is nothyng of this decoction occupied in the out parte Some be healed in shorte tyme and some in longe The moste parte in .xxx. dayes They commaunde hym to be pourged agayne the .xv. daye For this reason I thynke bycause as Alexander Aphrodicius thynketh they that hunger and receyue not theyr meate as they were wonâ— to do falle awaye and gather a certayne sharpe matter and eger so that suche mater muste be auoyded that the body of the sike may be emptie This decoction shall not be dronken that mornynge whan he receiueth his purgation but at nyght lette hym take it agayne and after that day he may eate more largely And agayne the .xxx. daye more liberally how be it this more liberally and that more largely must be very lyttellâ— as I shall shewe you in the next chapiter But some leste any impediment shulde be to lette the operation of this medicine haue kepte one order of eatynge equallye through out the .xxx. dayes and truly the stronglyer a man abideth to hunger the better and more quyckely he shall be healed And although
that suche as are borne chaste or be gelded or chyldren or euer they fall to womans company and lykewyse women excepte them that haue theyr flowers stopped are seldom tempted with this disease And Alexander in his problemes sayth that suche as drinke water onely are quycker in all senses than other For wyne stoppeth the wayes of the mynde and dulleth the senses And Cicero sayth that for so moche as wyne profiteth the sycke but selde and hurteth very often it is moche better not to gyue it than vnder the hope of doubtfull helth to runne into open ieoperdie And Venus in what so euer state a man be coldeth the bely dryeth it if Aristotle be true For in suche couplyng the naturall heate departeth and throughe the euaporation that than is made drynes is caused and ingendred ¶ Lo sobernes and chastite two holy ordynances of lyfe be the principall obseruation in this thynge the highest precept the chief poynt of helth whiche diligently kepte no ieoperdye can ryse For be it they tary the medicine or vtterly stoppe and lette it yet they putte not a manne in ieoperdye of his lyfe whan they be neglected ¶ That salte muste be eschewed in this cure Capitu. xvj AMonges all the thynges that muste be auoyded somme men do meruayle why salt is forbiddeÌ„ to be vsed for the space of this dyete consyderyng there is other tymes nothynge more holsome for mannes bodye and they say that they can nat perceyue howe any hurte shulde comme therof in this disease The whiche commeth all together of the corruption and putrifaction of the bloode seinge onely salte moste of all thynges preserueth and defendeth from both these And more ouer the nature of salt is to make fast and drye vppe to bynde and clense whiche proprete were thought moste metest and necessary to be ministred to plucke vppe this disease by the rotes Fyrste bycause the bodye infected with the pockes is loosed and shaken secondly bycause the humours procede and flowe out from one mater Thirdly whiche is the chiefe poynt of al bicause the corrupt and infecte bloode is yet within the bodye vnpourged For this syckenesse is no other thynge than a certayne order state of the body changed through the trouble of the bloode Euen as it hapneth in a cytie whan a sedition partakynge entreth into a commen welthe and the coÌ„men people be moued in theyr myndes than are all thynges skattered abrode withoute order and moued out of theyr places nothynge hangeth to gether nothynge standeth nothynge abydeth no quietnes no peace but all ful of trouble vnto the whiche chaunge of the body motion of membres and shakynge of ioyntes with all suche troubles there muste come some sadde and wyse father a man of hygh auctoritie in the comen welth for his godlynes and good deseruynges towarde all men who as Virgyll sayth maye gouerne and rule with wordes theyr hartes and quiete theyr stomakes So in lyke maner is it in salte whiche as I sayde through fastnyng dryinge bynding and purgynge dothe put to quietnes thynges that are moued dothe vnite and knytte thynges that are broken doth bynde to gether thynges that are plucked aparte doth make caulme and quiete thynges that are troubled and bryngeth quietnes and sauegarde vnto all thynges yea howe greatte a thynge and howe necessarie thoughte Plinie salte to be sayinge without salte a mans life can not indure And therfore say they how can that hurte in this syckenes whiche in other diseases conserueth all thynges And for as moche as in this cure we muste take hede that no corrupt humours be abundaÌ„t and salte resolueth and clenseth all fylthye moystnes and also kepeth down and restrayneth the flowynge of the body it is thought we shulde be more plentuous of salte herein than els where Not withstandynge these reasons we muste haue an other consideration herein And fyrste of all as moche as appertaynethe vnto this disease howe the sycke muste forbeare salte meates not all maner but onely suche as are very sharpe Lette it be asked of the phisitions whiche haue longe before tyme prosecuted that matter to the vttermost for this tyme seynge the medicine of Guaiacum is specyally intreated of we may say that though al phisitions knowe the vse of salte excepte it be very lyttell to be noyous and hurtfull in all other passions of the synewes and in suche diseases as sprynge of corrupte bloode and of yelowe and blacke colour or salte fleume for so moche as with his tartnes it sharpeneth coler and burneth the bloudde and with his naâ—iue dryenes causeth the humours and nutrimeÌ„t of the body to dry vp and by that meanes distroyeth all thynges that shulde helpe vnto helthe Yet neuer the lesse aboute the administration of Guaiacum they forbede vtterly all maner vse of salt for the same consyderation they forbede all sharpe thynges and moreouer all thynges penetratiue and amonges these spices and wyne For so moche as all suche through theyr sharpenes and persynge power do open all poores and entreyes and go depe whiche violence runnyng through the body cum can haue no place to worke If these resons do not satisfie those mens myndes I wyll saye vnto them as the philosophers saye of the stone Magnes if it be anoynted with garlycke it draweth not yron to hit so lykewyse Guaiacum hath a certayne secret vertue and can nâ—t tell whither it be as yet knowen to abhorre specially the vse of salt and whiche power is loste if salte ones come vnto it And this haue we spoken of the forbearynge of salte in this cure Nowe wylle we speake of the sklender fedynge and hunger wherwith the body muste be weakened and made leane whervppon all the matter of this dyete hangeth ¶ Of sklender fedynge and huÌ„ger necessary in this cure Ca. xvij ALthough we spake before of the smalle and thyn fedynge that the sycke muste vse and how his meat must be diminished he brought to hunger yet we thynke it very necessary to warne you ones agayne of the same thynge in this place not onely bicause this medicine requyreth a voyde and an emptye bodye from all maner fulnes but also bycause I wolde declare tâ—at in olde tyme theâ—e was a lyke maner to cure the like And we may also rede in Diodoro that the Egiptians dydde heale theyr sycke other with fastynge or els with vomyt For they affirme as he recyteth that sycknesses are ingendred specially of the superfluite of meate And therfore they thought that way of curynge to make moste vnto helthe that taketh awaye the fyrste causes of the disease Let not therfore these dronkerdes these intemperate felowes gyuen to surfetynge be greued with this dyete whiche as Persius sayth delyteth only in delitious fedynge and may lyue scantely halfe a daye without meate whose bealy as the prophet saythe is their god and all theyr mynde and lyfe is nothynge but fedynge Let suche felowes as I sayde ceasse theyr grudging against this dyete seynge that
therby so excellent and so good a thyng is obteyned and so great an euyll is auoyded with so lyttell labour And let them not than in this thing speake of the great ieoperdye whiche maye comme of weakenes through longe abstinence as who saith that he may faynt that eateth after this maner For Plinie saithe that none dyeth for lacke of meate before the .vii. day and may continue vntyl the .xi. day And al be it he wryteth that in his time there was a woman in Germani which lyued sometyme full twentye dayes withoute meate and sometyme .xxx. And that he sawe a man whiche continued .vij. weakes without meate drynkyng euery seconde day onely water Plinie also sayth that he knoweth for a suretie that the Scythians hauynge certayne herbes in theyr mouthes abyde huÌ„ger thyrst somtyme .xij. days And some also say that the christen philosopher Amonius neuer eate but only tosted bread whiche thynge if any man greatly meruaile at lette hym remembre that this is also wrytten in the storyes that certayne of the mages lyued ones by meale and herbes only And that Diodore writeth that the olde Egiptians meate was herbes and rotes And Hesiodus monyssheth saying we shuld lyue eate Malus asphodelo And Plato writynge of the lawes maketh mention that Epimenides was contented sometyme so to lyue If any man wyl set these thinges before his eies coÌ„sider theÌ„ thaÌ„ shal he perceiue y t we liue very deinteously in this diete and do take in a maner more than nedeth But if it were a very harde thynge to absteyne so from meate what is he that loueth hym selfe so lytell but he wolde to get his helthe suffer this griefe or that hadde not leuer suffer .xxx. dayes hunger than to be sâ—cke as longe as he lyueth or had nat leuer passe ouer so many dayes with stronger hunger that he may lyue the resydue of his lyfe holle and sounde of bodye than to auoyde this lyttell griefe and to be tourmented all the dayes of his lyfe with intollerable sorowes and to haue runnynge frome hym stynkynge and fylthye matter I haue tolde you that this is no new maner of curynge for alwayes the best phisitions haue commaunded abstinence to the sycke Of the whiche nombre is Asclepiades who as Celsus saythe wryteth that the moste soueraygne remedy agaynste the feuer is as he hath proued it to diminysshe the strength of the pacient with moche watche and abstinence in so moche that at the fyrste begynnynge of the syckenes they shulde not so moche as wasshe theyr mouthe ¶ Abstinence sayth Eusebius both kepeth the bodyly helthe and the shamefastnes of mynde Wherby it appereth that lyttel and perate fedynge is profytable to the flesshe and the soule as wytnesseth Timotheus whiche being on a season with Plato at supper hauynge before hym suche meate as he was wonte to haue tourned towarde his frendes sayd They that Plato receiueth to souper shall be well at ease longe after meanynge that after moche eatynge of dyuers and aboundant costly dysshes deynteously dressed there folowed euyll and rawe digestion and greatte grefe of the stomake Wherfore afterwarde whan it chaunced him to mete with Plato he sayde vnto hym Ye Plato do ete this day rather for to morowe than for the tyme present ¶ And in Lucian Gallus the cocke Pithagory iugeth it a gret benefyt of god gyueÌ„ to Micyllus because he coude alway with huÌ„ger auoyde all feuers And for that cause was without suche disease Nowe what shall we saye to that whiche as saynte Hierome wryteth that certayne diseased with the ioynt ache and the gowte after theyr goodes were gone and were fro them and were broughte to poore fare and symple meate they dydde recouer theyr helth For they sayth saynt Hierome toke no thought nor care for theyr housholde and the habuÌ„dance of meate and drynke which do breke both the body and the soule And anon aâ—ter he sayth There is nothynge that dullethe a mannes mynde so moche as a full bealy rysynge and tournynge hyder and thyther blowynge out wynde with baskynge fysting and fartynge ¶ This story maye be a lernynge vnto many men whiche is redde of a certayne great belyed fatte abbot As he was caryed vnto certayn bathes hit fortuned hym to mete with a gentylman who asked hym whyther he was goynge the abbotte made hym answere and sayde that he muste go vnto the bathes Why quod the gentylman are ye sycke Naye quod the abbotte I am not sycke but I haue no maner appetite vnto my meate I go therâ—ore nowe vnto the bathes to gette agayne myne appetite whiche I dyd of late lose for they are holsomme therfore Verily que the gentylman In this thynge I can be a better phisition vnto you And toke the abbot with hym put hym in to a depe darke dongeon where he fedde hym certayne dayes hungerly and than at laste he asked hym whither he had an appetite to his mete Ye maâ—y quod the abbot I fayth quod the gentylmaÌ„ than is it reson that thou gyue me a rewarde for my medicine and made hym pay .ii. hoÌ„dred crownes and sente hym awaye in good helthe with suche an appetite that he coude haue eaten both beanes and lekes where as before he refused all maner meate were it neuer so deyntie And so was he well ordered seing he sought not mete with hunger but hunger with meate But paraduenture we haue spoken more than ynough of this thynge therfore lette vs go vnto other matters But fyrste I muste telle you to make an ende of this chapiter that Guaiacum requireth not a bealy that is replenysshed with varietie of meates or troubled with wynde in the inward partes but purified and clensed from all rawnes and grosnes of humours ¶ Howe hunger may easely be suffred Capit. xviij ANd this scarsenes of mete can nat onely be borne but also maye easely be borne and that through the vertue of Guaiacum whiche after the bodye is ones brought downe doth bothe preserue the life and also causeth that the sycke shal not nede to eate any thynge at all Therfore dydde I not without a cause gyue warnynge that the syck shulde absteyne from meate as moche as may be And if he wax feble or faint he may not be holpen with meate but with the swete saâ—ours which I speke of as moche as is possible put to his mouthe and specially with hote breadde But if any fele hym selfe to be wasted and redye to slyde away throughe weakenes Whiche thynge howe it shulde chaunce in any manne I can not telle for in me there happened no suche thynge at all that I neded any maner help Than I wolde counsayle hym to vse these thynges whiche Plinie thynketh easeth hunger and quencheth thyrste whan they be very fyâ—tell tasted of that is butter and lykeresse reclisse lykoresse Orels in this thing we muste folowe Celsus which sayth thus This one thynge muste alwayes be obâ—erâ—ed that the phisition
if he had beholde sene me whaÌ„ I was lykewyse vexed as they y t had the palsey and besydes that was so lothe som both in 〈◊〉 sauour that al were greued with me som did hate me And yet I dyd lyue and had som hope although I had ben ofteÌ„times deluded and mocked through the gret promysis of the phisitioÌ„s And left any man shulde thynke that my disease was eyther lyght or in one parte onely I wyll shew in what takyng I was Fyrst I could do nothynge with my lefte foote for there had this euyll dwelled .viii. yeres and more and in the mydlegge where the shynne is couered with fleshe very thynne there were soores inflamed through the inflamation of the flesshe rottynge with greatte ache and bournynge and as soone as one waxed hoole an other brake vp For there were many here some and there somme whiche could by no help of the phisitioÌ„s be brought to gether in one Ouer them was a knobbe so harde that a man wolde haue thought it a bone and in that was excedynge peyne and ache beatynge and pryckynge without ceassyng There was also very nygh to the ryghte ancle aboue a certayne swellynge and gatherynge whiche was also harde like a bone and was the oldest of all wher in remayned the remenantes of this pestilence fresshe and newe rysen ¶ Whan the phisition went about this with yron with fyre with hotte yrons or with any other instrumeÌ„t they profited nothing somtyme it was swollen very vehemently with great peyne and akynge somtyme it aswaged and was gentyller And it greued me lesse whan my foote was holde towarde the fyre and yet wold it not suffre to be couered with moche geare it ranne so that a man wolde haue thoughte hit wolde neuer haue ben stopped And as often as I wolde reste or stonde vppon my foote my peyne was intollerable than vpwarde the calfe and the knee were meruayllous colde and as thynges deed The thygh was cleane worne away coÌ„sumed to extreme lennesse and the skynne was so thynne that there semed nothynge els lefte to couer the boone with Moreouer the ioyntes were so louse that longe tyme I had moch adoo to stonde hilone and to be shorte the one of my buttockes was but a thynge wethered awaye In my lefte shulder there was suche peyne that I coulde not lyfte vp myn arme the extreme partes of my shulders were weke and woxen verye styffe in the myddes of the brawne of myn arme there was a swellynge as moche as an egge and as for the reste of myn arme euen to the verye hande was cleane worne away And on the ryght syde a lyttell vnder the lowest rybbe there had I a sore whiche was not in dede peynfull but it boyled out certayne fowle and stynkynge matter and issued very fylthyly after the maner of a fistule with a narowe mouthe outwarde and inwarde it was of a large holownes And aboue hym there was also an other as though a bone hadde bene bredde there vpon a rybbe And to conclude I dyd playnly feele a streme and issue come downe behynde from the toppe of my heed vnto all these And where it began the leeste touche in the worlde made my heed to work as though the brayn panne had ben brokenâ— nother myghte my face be tourned backewarde but as it was tourned with the hole bodye This one thynge yette wolle I not passe wher from if Guaiacum had delyuered me and done nothynge els yet oughte I to haue lauded and preysed his vertue greatly and that is noone slepe whiche I coueyted so deedly and was so moche gyuen therevnto that almooste in .vi. yeres space there scaped not one daye whan the phisitions cryed out vppon me sayinge that was the cause of all my diseases and yet I coulde not refrayne my selfe from it But nowe is that gone so far from me that I trowe if I shuld enforce my selfe to slepe in the daye tyme I coulde not With all these and so great euyls all though I was so maystred that all men dispeyred my helth yet my good angell I beleue wylled me to tary and loke for somwhat And lo through the helpe of Guaiacum I am bolde nowe to â—yne and to drawe brethe agayne Whiche mynde god gyue to all good men that they neuer ceasse to hope and truste As for me I repent my selfe in nothyng and if by any meanes longe lyfe myght be graunted vnto me I haue greatte hope that I shulde lyue hoole sounde and lusty And of this disese and of the remedy of Guaiacum I haue wrytteÌ„ these thynges that cam to my minde very faythfully truely and as my lernyng wolde suffre me and here wolde I make an ende if I thought it not necessary to admonysshe them that shall rede these thynges howe after this cure the sicke muste be ordered as touchynge the order and maner of theyr lyuynge which thyng I wyll performe and that breuely ¶ As touchyng the ordre of lyuyng after this cure is paste what is to be obserued Ca. xxvj I Gaue warnyng before that after this cure is paste and the pacient is departed owte of the cloyster of this medicine wherin he was close kept he must vse consequently in his lyuing a certayn dyet and order by the space of .iii. or at the left .ij. hole monthes And nowe that we be come to the very propre place to entreate of the same thynge I say that it is so necessary to be done that who so euer hath recouered his helthe except he afterwardes take good hede diligently obseruynge many thynges and lyue for a space vnder a certayne rule as though he were yet shut vp I say playnly that his helth shall not longe endure And therfore thre monethes are appoynted vnto suche as were eyther greattely consumed and lowe brought in theyr syckenes and hadde many issues and auoyded moch or els were sore hurt in there synowes and lymmes or be so weakened in their body that a lyttell tyme can nat be sufficient to gether vp perfitely their croÌ„mes agayne And on the other side they that be stronge and not so farre gone nor broken vnto suche ii monethes after their settyng out ar ynough as it is thought But by cause I wolde prouyde surely for them that wyll folowe me I wyll aduyse them to obserue and kepe this prescripte very longe and to begynne with they shall absteyne them selfes longe tyme frome the flesshely acte Bycause they that be recouered through Guaiacum haue theyr bodies very tender and vtterly weake as yet as thoughe they had bene lately newe borne And therfore if they shulde haue the company of woman wherby the newe gotten strength is weke and grene and not yet ryped it wolde by and by dissolue and destroy the strengthe and myghtis of all the membres for euer And for as moche as the vse of carnall copulation bryngeth into peryll not one membre by hym selfe but al the hole bodye at one choppe What other