doth not take awaye sleepe lyke as otherwyse of matters to come The reason is for if the same shoulde bee true and bothe laborious yet of that to come by reason of the feare annexed is the same wythe carefulnes soo that thys letteth him to slepe whereas of the knowen it troubleth hym litle or nothing at all Why do some sometymes declare to see or to haue seene in their slepe Deuils and somtimes saints or Angels The reason is for that althoughe deuils of their propper nature haue no coloure at all yet because by this especialye as bye the black they are manifested to the people therefore whan it so happeneth that the adust humoure or fume doth occupye the spirites and and passages then the cogitatyue ruled by theÌ„ doth cause the dreamers to belene y y similitudes or black kyndes to be very diuils in that they are then caused corruptlye to decerne And al though there can not bee caused one only dreame of all the kyndes whiche are reserued in the remembrauÌ„ce yet are there ymagined many diuills in that they are comprehended vnder a certayne vnicye of blackenes imagined And euen lyke when the foresayd similitudes and ways are affected wythe the redde couloure of bloudde mixed wythe flewme whiche for that the same is white and the other redd therfore through the worthines of the colours they think theÌ„ those to be ether Angels or saints in that both these wer woÌ„t to bee so painted And that y bloud also doth dispose the sicke to gladnes appeareth in the swan whiche drawinge nere to death singeth because her subtil bloude is then dispersed in the ventricles of the harte Yet sometymes those bee trewe deuilles whiche shewe themselues sodeinlye beefore the soule departethe out of the mans bodye vnto a greater payne or rather parhappes that God will that suche call to remembraunce their wicked dedes and that the sick in conscience may therof repente and amend before death Of the opinions of phisitions iu dreames THe phisicions also dooe obserue that dreames in a maner doo declare y disposicion of our bodies as eyther to helth or sicknes whiche parhappes oughte rather to bee searched out and learned by Arte. Yet say they that when sleapynge men see blacke visiones lyke as the drye earthe obscure or deade men these they and such like do forshewe customed sickenesses to be caused of the melancholy humoure and they also warne vs then to consider whether that visione towched the whole body in that the sickenes foloweth vniuersall lyke as of the agewe or leaprye for if in any part alone the partyculer shal bee that it hath nothinge touched that it signifyeth vppon the indisposition of the spyrites throughe whiche some sadnes is wonte to happen in the spirite and the selfe same they declare of the bloud For when it doth offende in the lyke or in asmuche then doth he thinke to see redde and ayeryal matters and what soeuer is pleasaunte to beholde so that a hote and moist qualitye is prognosticated vppon the motion or indisposition of the same and then doth it in lyke sorte either touche the whole body or but parte And the lyke is to be sayde of choller when as it semeth to hym to see cytrene or fyerye matters or contentions And the flewme in lyke sorte when as it seemeth to him to see the whyte watrye glasse or clammye and other lyke proportioned matters to that humoure wyth the foresayde consideration And allthoughe these maye perhappes yelde to the place of the signes yet by them may not the bodely or inwarde nor premitiue causes bee founde oute of these as by the same appeareth in that they do depend of the gouermente of the sixe naturall thinges by which they be knowne without the dreames and of the first also in that seldome when wee doo dreame wee dooe then see those touched excepte that when they do foreshew the harde expressions or properly the nightmare by whiche are wonte to bee prognosticated the sicknes named Apoplexiae And many also of these which as they say do coÌ„monly happen to health full parsons withoute sicknes folowing Neither do the sayings declare the cause for somuche as it is manifest that the subtill vapour of bloude or flewme euer heated by laboure or sicknes may cause dreames to shew of choller with in dede beareth not sway in the body or els is sone resolued or fumeth away But if you demaund why they do foreshewe choller when as a man in sleepe feareth to fall or thinketh to haue falleÌ„ The reason is for that when the same is subtill and of a swift motion doth then in dispose the spirites and letteth the motiue spirites to proporcionate the space betwene the bounde from whiche and vnto whiche But the falling either is a discoÌ„tinuation or not without these for that wakinge a man dothe not onelye fal but throwe himselfe headlong downe which regardeth not to discende by the ordinarye steppes Also other phisicions do reduce mens dreames vnto the inward or bodily cause but these rather do happen of the effectes or cares of the spirite begon in the daye tyme and they are besydes diuers in diuers persones because not al personnes occupyed aboute the same lyke as y occupyer idle person the smith or husâ—andman whereof the selfe same forme dothe shewe one thinge to one person as to the couetouse man an other thinge to the lyberal person or Musician another thing to the healthfull an other thinge to the sick Wherfore if it should be so grauÌ„ted that the phisition by the argument of the humour rulyng may argu the temperatnes or disteÌ„peratenes of nature and vnto the more whiche eyther trouble or helpe but these contrary of beastes in y by time do diuers desires aryse of which caÌ„ no firme or certayne rule bee giueÌ„ but are woÌ„t as it is said to be aplied vnto those which eyther we are by nature or custome or by immoderat desire inclined but if those shoulde haue an outewarde cause then might they signifye many matters vpon the yssue of the busines of the hap to come but the signe of this is as wheÌ„ dreaming he remayneth after wandringe amased because the significations theÌ„ do not lack which also may be applied to the hauing inward cause of humours But the cause of the admiration is either proceedinge through the newe accesse of the outwarde kynde because they happen not customably or els when the humour ouer muche ruleth or excedeth in the bodye Of the cause of Dreames THe causes of all dreames bee on this wyse firste those whiche are caused of meates and drinckes as in surfeytes are wont to be is the cause of the mocion whiche properlye is caused of the vapoures breathing out of the foâ—e But the sleepe is the reste of the spyrites and the wakinge the vehemente motione of theym â–ª and the vayne dreame is a certayne tremblinge and vnperfit motion of theym Therfore al are vayne dreames caused through
recyue formes of the Memoratiue when â—s the dreame is of insensible matters coÌ„â—eiued And of both the like when as the Dreame is mixâ—â—â— and of the outewarde â—oinge also lyke as of the hearinge or of â—â—e vnderstaÌ„ding And he further wryteth that when they happen trewe the same then dothe somwhat declare of that which was in the hower of knowledge and yet this for the more part not present beyng for if this woulde happen in the presente and instaunte doynge that then the same shoulde not forshewe thynges to come but rather matters presente In that alâ— thinges to come moue and woorke accordinge to their causes But how so euer the same bee yet Aristotle affirmeth that dreames may be caused by the sheadinge of formes whiche proceade frome those thinges workinge in the acte Yet hee perhappes meaneth that the same signification of the dreame is not caused in the mouing of it Wherefore howe soeuer be doubted that the vnderstandinge abstracted maye minister Imaginatiuelye theâ— knowledge of the perticuler indiuiduate wheÌ„ as the same is of the generall things by the whiche it doth manifestlye appear that certaine are indiuiduates of the simple substances and certaine of the mixte So that either they be â—uinge and as thâ— mineralles or haue lyfe woorking as thâ— plantes or otherwyse sensitiue as thâ— Beastes or of vnderstandinge as men And of the accidentes also certaine are in the Symples certayne in the Myxte and certayne in Beastes and of these besides certaine are of nature and certayne by Arte and of it selfe also or of happe So that these not otherwyse mente but onelye by accidente Wherefore al the indiuiduates of the simple and compâ—â—be by substaunces and of all other Accidenâ—es by theymselues haue terminate causes whiche althoughe they maye bee vnderstanded by our conceiuinge of theym yet â—â—n they not be vnderstanden of theymsâ—lues in that these happen not vnder the seÌ„â—es nor as thinges to come But to be briefe lyke as the Phisition by twooe propositions of whiche the one generall intelligible conceiued by arte and that other particuler and sensible inuented of some what maye prognosticâ—â—e vppon sicknesses and health euen so the knowledge or dreames may proceade of two causes the one of the vniuersail that is by the vndersâ—â—â—dinge whiche doth illuminat the Imaginatiue and the other of the particuler vnder that In that dreames for the more parte are caused of those matters whiche bee knowen to the dreamer And of this he concludeth that y knowledge of the imaginatiue is rather ended at the similitude or kynde of the indiuiduate then at the indiuiduate it selfe Because that if the same bee illuminated by the vnderstandinge then is that continually procured to bee caused like it with the kynde whithe is more spirituall then the indiuiduat And a man also doth more comprehend in his dreame then wakinge in the daye tyme because in a dreame iâ— more resolued theÌ„ that in the daye whichâ— is troubled throughe the doinges of the outwarde senses And hee concludeth also that a dreame is none other then a fantastical appearaunce whiche the persone sleapynge conceiueth For if they are of those affections which bee in vs theâ— is the same either of the part of the spiritâ— and in suche sort are they rather causes oâ— the parte of the bodye and are signes buâ— those whiche are causes of theim beynge without vs seeing by no maner they maâ— be in our power therefore are they name â— accidentes And a like example may herâ— â—e applyed of the Eclipse of the Sunne whose cause is the Moone which runneth â—etwene But the signe is a starre appeaâ—inge in the day tyme running vnder the â—ight of the Sunne or as the roughnes of â—he tongue which declareth the signe of a â—euer So that a dream is the onely cause â—n that whiche imagineth the venerall act â—n so much as fantasy doth moue the dreaâ—er to that act which afterward he exerâ—iseth wakinge Also the signe may onely â—e as when we be moued and led vnto the â—nowledge of any matter as the like exaÌ„â—â—le is written of a certain person whiche â—reamed that himself was throwen into a â—ost boate fat of pitche in the whiche he â—hought himselfe to be scalded wakinge â—pon the feare thereof did after vomit vp much a dust or brent choller So that this â—ream was theÌ„ a signe of the matter preâ—ent and not the accideÌ„t or cause why this â—ente before And euen the like example â—s he which dreameth these matters that â—re not in our power like as those which â—re caused in the East grauÌ„ting that they may happen yet was not the dreame the cause nor the signe like as he whiche speaketh of anye matter wakinge and in the day tyme although that maye after happen in the dreame the same ensued not altogether of the talke in that not allwayes nor oftentymes happeneth the diuisions but those whiche are caused of the others And for a further knowledge to be vnderstanded that althoughe dreames forshewe rather matters to com-Yet be many of them paste whiche helpe to the remembringe of those wroughte in the day and to the vnderstanding of the others and perhappes to giue warninge of harmes that maye happen And yet these after the mynde of Aristotle doe not of necessitye happen because if anye hathe dreamed to bee sicke and hathe in hym selfe the cause of a sicknesse yet may the sicknesse bee stayed by an other stronger motion of nature For that in the ayre dooe often times appeare signes of rayne whiche after enseweth not and muche lyke to this dooe certen conclude that there are such whiche before the execution doo chaâ—nge their determination Also dreames are muche varied whiche do happen through the doynges wrought before in the day tyme in that not al are sollicited nor delighted in those nor the vapoures doo moue in the same sexe nor the wayes of the common sence to the Imaginatiue and memorie are caried the lyke in one as in another nor there is not the selfe same maner disposed in one time as in an other Also to sicke personnes do some fearfull dreames happen when as the spirits cariynge the vertues of life be aflicted by some euill vapour And the lyke when anye fearing is moued to crye out then is sicknesses prognosticated to ensewe But of the interpreter of dreames bee ought to be suche a one whâ—che hathe perfict knowledge to distinguish the simitude of al matters and to be skilfull in the manners and condicions of the moste people Besides it isirequisite that he bee a personne whiche leadethe an honeste lyfe For although he may happelye touche euerye kynde of cause yette is the same difficill to make apparaunte howe so euer the same maye be reduced to the Acte Whiche is the chiefe principal purpose And further headde the of the interpreter that hee ought to bee a moste arteficiall iudger which well knoweth similitudes in that all dreams fall not out right for in
formes doth signifie that the bodies not to bee altered this also is vntrue because this maye happen when the melancholie humoure lyke to the sande doth purge cause cleare visible spirites and then althoughe the clearenes of the formes doth declare the goodnes of these sences yet is the cause euill in it selfe beecause it declareth the dominion of that humour Nor it is to be doubted when similytudes appeare darklye or shadowed with cloudes but that they maye declare a troublinge of the visible spirites and when those tende vnto a witnes then do they signifye mattery humors and when the shadow appeareth smal then doth the harme soone ceasse and when it sheweth to the syght as water or earthe then the harme shal bee the greuousser and the flower apte to bee resoined But wher some affirme when the sleeaper dreameth to see starres shadowed with fyer or by a thynne cloude that the same doth argue the dominion of choller whiche rather maye declare an indisposition of the eyes eyther present or to come And wher they also afirme that when the starres appeare to the dreamer that they are so busted that they can not bee decerned of him that the same is a note of death especially if the personne then dreamynge the lyke should be sicke as though the stars coulde not then helpe hym But this trulye is rather a matter to bee laughed at that to prognosticate death of the impedimente of fight Yet certaine doo allowe when the starres seame to the dreamer to moue swiftlye that theÌ„ they prognosticate great Ire or madnes to ensew and that the inordinate motions also of theym to declare sadnes and heauines to ensue For the selfe same doothe the inordinat motion of any matter argewe And graunte that the order shoulde declare the goodnes of the organe yet rather dothe it expresse the disposition of the powers of the sensitiue spirit or of naturall heat Wherefore in the like matters are the other qualityes and proporcâ—ions of thinges referred to the dreamer considered Certain demaundes and their answers both of sleepe and of those matters through which some time we dreame ANd firste why olde men do not so well sleepe and dreame the lyke as yonge men do seeinge they take more rest Unto which Auerrois thus answearethe that for so much as olde men are of coulde complexion althoughe they maye feede sufficiently yet haue they naturall heat ouer weake in theim so that they can not well digeste the same and of this the fumes of the meat in the stomacke are not sente vpwarde But the yong men haue naturall heat intensed through which they diggest their meate wel and of this send vp much fume out of the stomacke vnto the braine whiche cause theym so to dreame Why is it when in the dreame appeareth some fearefull matter that then the personne sweateth and waketh vpoÌ„ the same Unto which the philospher thus answereth that to the man appeareth then that terrible matter to be present aud wyth enemies And nature also beyng careful of y health of man doth both send forth heate and spirites from the harte vnto the outward members So that nature iudgeth it suche a ferefull matter disagreeing to the man that throughe the concourse of the spirites about the harte the harte of this is wrong together and the maÌ„ therby weakened of the same Why men commonly are not wont to dreame in the beginning of the night To which the Philosopher thus answereth that the firste digestion is then occupyed in whiche the sumes of the meate muche ingrossed are sent vp that mightely stop and so cause the persoÌ„ that he cannot theÌ„ dreame And those also stop the passages not onely to the outward sences but vnto â—he organe the keper of tymes Whye affirmeth Aristole thar a wicked person often foreseethe euil dreames To whiche is thus answered that as the condicion of the wickednes dooth incline and dispose the persone vnto the often coÌ„siderynge of the same euen so is bee moued to dreame those thinges whiche were a good whyles together thought vpon in the day tyme in that they soner come to mynde Soo that the luxuriouse person is often mâ—oued to dreame of women the drunkarde of sundrye wyues and y theefe of sundry thefts Why dreames which are caused in the morning be parfiterâ— and to more reason then the others in the night tyme To which the philosopher answeereth that in the morning the midle deuision betweene y common seÌ„ce and the Organe reseruatiue is sufficient quiet throughe whiche the fumes of the meat eleuated then are sufficiente weake and of thiâ—s cause trewer and parfytter dreames Whye it is th t at to a manne beeynge a sleepe appeare he that hee flyeth or falleth from an highe place To whiche the philosopher thus answeare the that the same proceadethe of the indisposition of the humors of certeine spyrites and vapoures Whereof in the body sometimes â—â—che fumes are very lighte and of this â—use the man to thinke that he flyeth But somtimes the fumes are ouer grosse â—nd cooled by the brayne and do then disend to the harte and through this it seeâ—eth then to the maÌ„ that he falleth from highe verye deepe Why is it that a man sometimes dreameth of those thinges whiche in all his â—yfe he neuer possessed nor saw To which â—he philosopher thus aunswereth that in â—he slepe is a certayne compositioÌ„ of fanâ—asies through whiche composition such â—ppearance is called Lyke as when any â—haunge the kynd of golde on a hyll then â—o him appeareth in his slepe to haue sene â— golden hill Whye is it that the similitudes of â—hinges sometymes in the sleepe dooe appeare broken and sometymes defouremed The reasone of this is in that the â—otte vapour is hindered to be shed forth â—hat seeketh the Uentricle or Organe in which the similitudes are wherefore of y troubled they are then not perceiued â—nder a proper forme for that they may â—omtymes be caused of those which were neuer perceiued or decerned and that heauelye sleapyng they dreame nothing 〈◊〉 that the powers of the spyrite or the imaginatiue is hindred to passe vnto the actâ— And by the same reasone in a manner some dreame nothynge al their lyfe tym becaue the plenty or aboundance of moiâ—stures causeth the grosser spirites and 〈◊〉 confoundeth the similitudes But Aâ—â—stotle doth attribute this to a drines anâ— coldnes of complexion for these as thâ— philosopher affirmeth do hinder the ascâ—â—ding of vapours whiche like happeneâ—â— to olde persones by reason of age Whye is it that some persones neuâ—â— dreame nor dreamed all their lyfe tyme The philosopher thus aunsweareth thâ—â— suche personnes are either ouer moiste 〈◊〉 quality and the braine to much running so that the kyndes cannot abyde or such are ouer dry that the kyndes in them caâ— not be imprinted So that in both sortes the Organe is ouer muche vnquieted Why doth it sometme appeare to vs that the sighte maye bee chaunged froâ— the one
perfitelye sleepe Whye is sleepe caused moore and longer by lyinge on the righte syde then on the lefte The reasone is for that as Aristotle wrytethe wee doo more wake lyinge on the righte syde yet sleepe is caused of the contrarye causes Or for that the ryghte syde is more wearied in 〈◊〉 daye tyme whiche of these neede the the more reste nor vppon this syde also doth the harte labour Why is it that onely man whyles hee sleapeth boweth downe in his sleapyng The reason is for that the powers and spirites gyuing sense and motion drawen inwarde doo not then suffer the bodye to be stayed vpright or for that the vprightnes of the fourm in man may cause of the same that the foresayde powers and heat by their owne nature may bee caried vpwarde or determined by the proper kynde yet by drawinge downe those from the members it behoueth that they fal as to the heades of beastes of their owne nature goo not vpright And for that the ascending of those in the beasts is not so easely caused therfore the members in theÌ„ seeyng they remayn not altogether destitute of helpes they staye vp themselues the surer and better Why doo beastes sleape a lesser time then they do wake The reason is for that the superfluityes multiplyed by perfect digestion can not aptlye bee sente of nature without the body by one onely expulsion And seeing we may often ryse to put away those therfore is sleape oftentymes broken Or rather for that the greater part of the woorkings necessary to life in whiche mans perfection consisteth is perfourmed in the daye tyme and not in sleape in whiche man differethe not from plantes or beastes and whom nature findeth vnto the ende of waking for that we sleape quieter wake with more delight Why do meÌ„ affirme that sleape much helpeth to digestion The reason is for that the same happenethe not to euerye thinge but rather in that whiche is caused for the comfort of the whole body as of the stomack and liuer vpon which the powers and heate more vnited dooe conuerte themselues and be shorter lynes for they bee in a manner in the midle of the creature But to the other particuler members is the foode digested sence and if that lacketh anye thinge then the heate ingendred suffiseth them which may as wel be caused in the day time as in sleepe Why do some wryte that the marishe or watery places cause sleape The reasoÌ„ is for that from these are vapours ingrossinge and coelynge the ayre caused which breathed in or drawen in wyth the breath that spirites refuse as contrarye to Nature it selfe whiche is cleare and pure so that throughe the drawinge in of these sleepe enseweth Or rather for that the grosse ayre brethed or entered in by the pores of the body dooth by his grossenes greeue at the firste the brayne and after carried vnto the common sence dooth of the same compell sometimes to sleepe Whye doo the tellinge or hearinge of tales sometymes cause and sometymes put away sleepe The reason is as yt is sayde that in some parsones the grosse moisture aboundeth which if it so happeneth that through laboure in the hearing it is resolued into a vapour then are they taken with slepe or rather moued to slepe but the humour subtile in leane or chollericke persons do moore sharpen and of this in the prickinge compell the person rather to wake Why affyrmeth the phylosopher that sleeping he thinketh some tymes or through a small noyse to heare thunder or through a litle fleume sweet stillinge to the tongue doothe then thinke to taste or eat milke and so lyke in many others The reason of these ys that as they saye by nighte the outwarde sences bounde in the respecte of the motions froÌ„ without do perceyue the inwarde far bigger whereof the common sence or other vertue dreamynge is deceyued in that he iudgeth those to be of other sensible matters then in dede they be And Aristotle wryteth that the small motiones in sleepe do appere bigger theÌ„ in the day tyme because the sences in this occupyed about many matters eyther perceyue not those or els discern theÌ„ far lesser And for that hee thinketh those sometymes to be rather as honnye then mylke happeneth eyther throughe the indisposition of the spyrites or lyfe of the dreamer or of an other cause so that of particuler matters no firme rule can bee geuen Or when the same should happen that Nature expelled from anye principall member anye moysture lyke as â—â—ewme in purpose as vnto taste or wyndye Humour as vnto hearyng and if now by reason of the firste that which sheddeth forth vnto the Organe of taste is smalle in respect yet the sences whiche perceiued and dooe retayne the cause of the former motion to haue bene bigge in his beginning or parhappes with a bigge and strong enforcement of nature expelled therfore the imaginatiue couetynge to expresse y troublesomnes which it perceyueth as bigge doth so moue other customed formes to represente inwarde tastes as of Mylke And the selfe same iudgmente is of the small noyse in respecte of hearyng which throughe the foresayd causes thinkethe the same bygge and so mouethe the kynde of thunder otherwyse ment or thought before And why do some wryte that such deuisinge or vnknowen matters doo often falla sleape The reason is for that the dayly beholdinge of matters doth hinder the disgestion of nourishment but vndygested the humours then do easely euaporate vp to the head cause the dreame to appeare otherwyse Then as they vnderstande and be delighted Because the diligente marking and considerynge of the matter doothe then cause the parson to wake And of this when any readeth not vnderstandinge the matter hee therevppon dothe often tymes fall a sleepe Because the spirites power through the indeuoure and agitation weakened doo retourne inwarde that they maye reste after whiche ensewethe sleepe rather through y laboure whiche also doth often conuerte the humour into a vapour Why do the sicke and dronken parsons geue somtymes in their sleape angry and frowarde woordes and sometyms gentle honest wordes The reason of this is for that the spyrites vexed by an euill or obscure humoure do then cause feare after whiche then ensuethe hatred that so forceth the persoÌ„ to speake frowardlye especiallye beynge a babler by nature But when the spirites be cleared then do they dispose that person vnto a hope and so to talke quietlye and gentlye Why is it that certaine beastes sleepe wythe the eyes oppen lyke as the Hare and fyshes The reason is for that the fyshes do lacke eye liddes whiche verye nature hath denyed theym in that they lightlye waked maye sone succor and defend them selues And the hare when she is pursued or hunted after doothe at no tyme hyde her selfe â–ª in the wood amonge bushes leaste her eyes alwayes open and vncouered myghte so bee harmed wythe bryers and thornes Why is it that the remembraunce of the euil past
the spirites lightlye moued Wherof whyles we soundly sleepe we then dreame nothinge at all So that all kyndes of vayne dreames in this point do agree wyth the light motioÌ„ of the spirites all do agree in the matter for y the matter of ach is the remembrauÌ„ce of y sene or heard for no vain dreames are caused but through them As y lyke for example when a man in his slepe thinketh to se a monster with thre heads which hee either hearde of by the discription of some or sawe paynted in the lyke sorte whiche heades he remembred to be on this wyse as the one lyke a Lyon the other a serpente or Dragon the other a Goat That if anye other straunge matter also a man shall see in his sleepe or some vnknowen thinge or deformed Plant then are those none other then vnparfite thinges or transposed For an vnknowen man is none other then when a man is vnparfitlye founde And the knowledge of this is that all men yea the moste knowen beeyng seene far of are vnknowen Therfore through the vnperfite knowledge and traÌ„sposing and mixinge of sightes are all dreames caused So that it appeareth that al dreames to agre booth in the efficiente cause and in the matter for the efficyente cause is the moderate motion of the spirites but the matter is the memorye of things seene eyther whole or vnparfit For as it is manifest that there be diuers kyndes of dreames euen so it behoueth y the causes bee diuers for that throughe them those are alwais caused This moderate motion oughte not alwayes to be thoughte so perfit that this moderation is exquisitely an indiuiduat But if the mocion be vehementer and troublesomer althoughe it maye bee moderated in the kynde yet are they called vayne dreames troubled vnperfite and confused And in this maner doo twoo kyndes of them aryse the one whiche is of meate and is the more confused and vnperfyte yet more fayntly For that from the meate and drinke the vapours are not soo parfytelye caried as from the humours whiche so cause dreames more vnperfite lame yea and more obscure in that the vapour is fatter if the parson drinketh wyne then of humours Yet are the kyndes not so stable doe moue wyth suche a force as those whiche are caused by the humors Wherfore the dreames caused of meate are lesse parfyte lesse agreeynge and in order so that they appeare more troubled confused and diuers then those whiche are caused of the humors as are contrary those which are caused of the humors be more stable in order agreeing yet lesser troubled and diuers with lesse force then those which are caused of meate And those which are caused wyth a lesser troublinge and bee clearer but caused as they were compounde throughe many remembraunces conioyned do affecte more by the sleepe through that whiche agreeth that by wakyng in the day time litle Also they agre for the more parte to those thinges eyther seen or harde or imagined the day before or but a fewe dayes before or els a longe tyme before And theÌ„ do they shew y order as it were of the whole matter But those whiche are in an order and bee wythe the leaste motyon of the spyrites caused gentle and that without anye agitacion of the vpper causes procured doe yet more affecte the soule that wakynge bee maye then bee holden wythe a certayne admiration And seeynge a man may throughe the effectes proceede vnto ech causes therfore oughte a trauÌ„ce to be ineche kyndes For if dreames by a greate mocion maye appeare troubled dyuers obscure and vnperfite and that they seeme a litle to agree then shall wee sâ—ye that eyther meate or drincke or suche lyke matter was the causer of these Of the deuision of Dreames and order of interpretyng of theÌ„ IT muste needes ensue that some causes of effecte to bee true of all dreames of the others whiche are caused therfore those causes are eyther bodilye or not bodilye and hoth also eyther newe or before wrought So that it must uedes ensew that ther be foure kyndes of dreames Now the new and bodelye causes are meate and drincke lyke as the heades of Garlike the Coleworts the Onyones the Beanes and what soeuer ascend to the head and especiallye those whiche engender melancholye Further yealowe choller doothe cause to appeare in sleepe bothe fyers fightynge and Melancholye causethe to appeare in sleepe claye myer or dirte Burialles graues imprisonmente and feare and bloude causethe to appeare sporâ—es fayre places bloude and purple coloure and the flewme causethe to appeare waters showers of rayne and snowe for that the same is a moyste colde qualitye But the vncorporate causes precedent are cares cogitations matter as committed to memorye feare hope gladnes heauines or sadnes of mynde hatred and loue But the new are those whiche frame the superior cause come vnto the soule For of all the other members al the causes of the diuisions doo so agree that many endeuour to place this laste vnder some of the three foresayd And it behoueth first â—o seke out whiche may be of euery kynde therfore whiche true and which false for that none do shewe matters to come but those whiche are sente frome the superioure cause and those also whiche are caused of humours And hereof why those maye bee true it behouethe to shewe and what truth also may be found in al the kindes And after that which bee formes that maye bee interpreted And to coâ—clude the whole tretise as it euidentelye appeareth doothe eyther consiste of the difference of thinges seene or of the maner of seeynge or difference of the dreaminges For that by nature men see true dreames whiche dreame but seldome and false dreames whiche dayelye dreame Also suche as be occupyed in greate actions and businesses and greately abstayne from meate and drinke nor are troubled wyth feare nor sadnes doo see and haue true dreames but suche affected in the contrary manner doo see false dreames And for that cause the dreames of Princes are commonlie true And suche of honeste manners trewe faythfull and godlye haue for the more parte trewe dreames And suche whiche are not so godlye but cruell yet no deceiuers see commonlye trewe dreames and the supersticious parsons do see very fewe true dreames Also he whiche is accustomed to see true dreames to his dreames is more credyte to bee giuen then to those whiche are of a contrary manner And men haue truer dreames in the Sommer and the Wynter then in the Springe and the Harueste for that in those tymes they often alter Also quiet seasons dooe cause true dreames but the wynde and boystrouse weather dooe worke contrarye and the more boysterouse the rather falser Besydes shorte dreames and in order are truer and moore euydente and of a cause more constante are caused And dreames moued or cansed in the rysinge of the Sonne and before or after vnto the thirde hower bee for the more
this case euerye one maye easelye indge those dreames as the same happneth of the notes For that lyke as one beholding a farre of twoo sundrye thynges of like distaunce and the one of theym hee well knoweth then throughe this be commeth the better and easelyer vnto the vnderstandinge and knowledge of the other Also he ought to know how to discusse from like to like For like as the poetes which also are named naturall prophetes do further passe by a small similitude of any matter vnto another lyke as in speakyng of the nature of Venus do thereby proceade to discusse the caulmnes of the ayre so like in many others Yet that personne is apter to interprete dreames whiche otherwyse is not occupyed about other matters And that men sumtimes do dreame in the one they apply with the other so that the one for the other they sometyme declare And it is also written of Hercules that hee dreamed such dreames at the first whiche no persone coulde expounde but dreaminge afterwarde the like was then declared to him as it after succeded Also it behouethe the expounder not to be ignorant howe that the doinges busines of meÌ„ doe daylye alter through the one and throughe the other by the disposition of the bloude and spirits For these when they bee many and cleare doo dispose the persone vnto mirth And the same is named a signe because men beecome sad beyng in the darke vnto whiche the humor verye subtill and distemperate doth theÌ„ dispose them For otherwyse beynge cleare they dispose the personne to beholde and see hydde matters But the subtile bumors ouer heated doe dispose the person vnto Ire in that these bee engendred of the burning and great heate of the bloud easely and apte to bee inâ—amed But the grosse and cleare vnto sports and the bodilye actes of myrth And often those personnes in whome theese are mulâ—iplyed seeme to laughe withoute cause â—nd yett as the common prouerbe is that â—othinge vnder heauen but reioyseth alâ—hough the same somtime may be couered 〈◊〉 vs And the same also they declare by the motion of theym For when they bee moued vehemently from the hart toward the outwarde parte of the breaste then doo they cause Ire and towarde the part downewarde shamefastnes but when the mocion succedeth outwarde then dothe it cause ioye and myrthe And throughe the lacke also of them eyther in the quantitye or qualitye are the sensitiue powers forced to woorke eyther corruptly or dimynishedlye euen in the dreame especialye when the wayes and passages betwene the Imaginatiue and Cogitatiue by whiche they passe bee hiunred or trowbled for then the powers are often deceyued Also the disposition of bloude throughe whoos 's subtiller parte the spyrites are engendred dooth alter the workings both wakyng and a slepe For wheÌ„ the bloude is cleare not grosse nor subtyle then doth it ingendre y lyke spirites whyche dispose vnto ioye and myrthe eueÌ„ lyke as the distempered bloude woorketh vn to that kynd of Ice whiche longe lasteth contrary wyse the thin hot doth worke vnto that which is sone kindled sone qualifyed the waterye in contrarye maner doth woorke vnto feare But the grosse bloude distempered in heat doth worke vnto the sturdimâ—sse of wil sadnes wherfore it behoueth the expounder of dreams to inquite orderlye whether the dreame appeared pleasaunt or otherwyse vnpleasante for the knowledge of those dothe geue greate vnderstandinge to hym And it shal be necessarye for the interpretoure to consider and knowe what the persone tradeth or occupyeth of what birth hee is what possessioÌ„s he hath what state he is in for the healthe of bodye of what age he is also which seeth y dream Also a dreaâ—e ought exactly to be told as eyther withoute anye addinge to of matter or takynge fro For that these doo cause great error vnto the vnderstanding of a truth Also if any shal doubt or be deceiued in that tellinge of his dream then must the interpreter nedes be deceyued in the declaring of the true meanynge thereof And in all dreames also which haue not a manifeste cause it behoueth diligenty to mark whether they be sene ether in the night or day time so that we may not think to mak differeÌ„t of the night afore froÌ„ the daye or the night euening from the morning spring if so be hee hath moderatly eaten before sleape For that immoderate feedinge dothe not permit matters to be trulye decerned vnto the morninge Of them which interprete dreames by the colours of the Stars by other accidentes ANd nowe some affirminge the arte of deuining by dreams do teach that things whiche appeare in the proper nature dooe forshe we good like as dreaming to see the earthe whiche of her nature is colde and drye and of this sheweth the dominion of the Melancolie humor in that person And the lyke whereas they wryte that to see drye trees or cleft doth after signify perill of lyfe which if that should be true theÌ„ many husbandmeÌ„ and fellers of trees shoulde die because they often dreame of suche businesses which they earnestlye go about and busy them selues in And in the like sort this is not true that to see in the sleepe deformed thynges that the same foresheweth a sicknesse to come neyther is this also true if that a thinge deformed of nature doth then appeare farre to the dreamer that the farrenes doth forshewe an euill for that some do thinke to see artificial garments should signifie a deceit in that vnder these is the truethe often couered Nor it disagreeth not that to se filthye thynges in the sleepe that the same doth declare corrupt humors because the stincke maye proceeade of the outwarde meanes or bee represented by the kyndes reserued and then shoulde it rather argue the goodnes of smelling And althoughe the body greeued maye be sayde to argue many humors yet maye it declare that the expulsiue matter is shed forth to the caryringe downe of the groundes or that the sinewes or mouinge powers of the spirite are hindered stopped throughe some vapour or humor greuing wherof it faileth not vnder the propre working that it may be attributed to one cause with dependeth of many But well consideringe that the â—ayre is the outward cause of dreames because in the first it receiueth the impressioÌ„ of the starres and after touchethe the bodies of men and beastes whiche are altâ—red of it yea in the daye tyme like as appearethe in the nighte Rauen and Owle whiche as moste men affirme by his synginge ouer the chamber of the sicke is prognosticated shortlye after deathe because as men say these lyke as many other beastes are more easelye chaunged in the respecâ—e of men for that those are not occupyed with earnest cares but that the ayre in this case doth not onely touch outwardlye but by the passages or poores the sence enterethe And where that others say that to see in the sleepe cleare and brighte
ensue takynge paraduenture theyr knowledge or perseueraÌ„ce by this forasmuche as flyes be in continuall motion and moue or stirre too and fro and be also of a deceytfull and importunate nature like as to meÌ„ of warre Also they pronounced rayne to ensue of the eger bytynge of them for that through the eleâ—ation of the vapoure one high they lacked the fode wyth the which before they were nourished whereof they recurre to hard matters which when they sucke by a greater inforcemente and myght they thenne byte But those beastes which cannot sucke or byte lyke as be frogges and such lyke the which do sing or chirpe that they maye the better drawe the ayre to them for asmuche as they maye not otherwyse bee nourished and liue And others besydes seeyng wormes very whyâ— to come oute of the earthe pronosticated plentye of corne to ensue for asmuche as the whitenesse of them proceded not but of the fatnesse of the earth And others also markinge litle spyders to go oute of certayne fruetes did pronouÌ„ce pestilence to ensue paraduenture the reason was because the spider is an animal of the nature of Saturne whiche oftentymes is y cause of the death of beasts or els because shee spinnethe or weauethe her webbes which be in a manner like to that matter in whiche the dead bodyes to bee buried is inuolued And further by y similitude of a Serpent they pronounced a secretâ— enemye and by that similitude also of a wolfe they pronounced a tyrant And albeit nowe that this place is not the selfe same wyth that afore by effecte because that eyther is of the latter and for that cause in procedyng of the better knowen to vs it swarued not muche from the matter to prosecute this waye the whiche althoughe that in manye it may be attayned by knowledge yet hee maye haue or come to it by the instinct or inwarde mouing of nature for according to this trulye the lambe â—yethe the wolfe and the byrde also the hauke follow their dammes For in the ende life and the continuance be not reserued wythoute the prosecuâ—ion of the conferences and esâ—hewing also of them which may hurte and harme Of those Dreamess whiche were reported to haue bene proued COnsideringe there is no other credite to be geuen to dreames farther than theyr nature requireth yet being requested or rather enforced by my freÌ„des I will therefor recyte certayne of those which we haue taken knowen as true For although that many of them for the most part especially those whiche be caused by an outwarde maner the reason or cause of them cannot be assigned or geuen yet had we rather satisâ—ye the requestes of our frendes then by wrytinge nothinge to avoide the slaunders of malicious persons And first to dream that he seeth â–ª water altered in colour and substaunce albeit it maye declare the euil disposition of the eyes either presente or to come yet if the coulour chauÌ„gethe to rednes or darknes argueth very whot humours And when the coloure is diuers and variable argueth the diuersity of the humours and that spyrites troubled disquieted much and outwarde sorrowes also For these geue or imprinte sometyme into oure myndes some similitude or sadnes but yet in a secrete maner when as we be not intentiue or stable when wee receiue the same for then we be not veâ—ed by it eyther because wee thinke not thereon or be occupyed afore hand wyth other matters But wheÌ„ these impedimentes cease althoughe the man thinketh not on them yet the former similitude commethe agayne and representeth it selfe coÌ„fusedly because it made not an impression before Wherefore when it is feareful he sorroweth and the cause knoweth not but the same maye happen of some inwarde humour which before rested and after vexeth by it selfe or by a vapoure or fume But to come to the matter whenne wee dreame that we see the water troubled muche in quantity and permanent declareth the aboundance of many humoures If it appeareth that it runneth sygnifyeth the caterre to come or presente He whiche dreameth that he seeth missing light rayne and the firmament cleare argeweth a good disposition of the spirites with a litle humiditye of the eyes but the firmament to bee cloudye and bent to rayne signifyeth the abouÌ„dance of these and the indisposition of them And when to the sicke person in a feuer appeareth y he swimmeth in the water is then anotyce that nature contendeth againste the matter of the sicknesse and that the paciente shal escape because the resistence and fight argueth the strength of him And when one dreameth that be feeleth himselfe much greeued as he wer pressed or wronge together in the bodye is a notyce of benummynge or the nyghte mare as wee name it For it demonstrateth or declareth the quality wherewyth the sleaper is vexed rather then anye outward thinge To dreame that he seeth himselfe caryed as though he flyed declareth the subtilnes of humours like as to dreame that he seeth or toucheth snowe or hayle declareth crude and raw flewme And dreames signifye euill when the spirites and heate renewed in the sleepe transpose them vpon those euill humors whiche before rested for asmuch as then through these the lyke vapours be eleuated and stirred vppe and these by their ill nature cause men to feare And vniuersallye all thinges seene or appearynge in the sleape otherwyse tâ—en their proper nature do argue an indisposition or dystemperaunce of the powers or spirites of the organes or humours or of naturall heat Lyke as dreaminge to walke by narrow places declarethe a sicknesse to come of the lunges or lightes because he is prohibited and letted to breathe or drawe necessarye or congruente ayre and the reason wherfore is because their passages and wayes be stopped And â—ccordinge to this sence it is sayde that Physitions commonly helpe by dreames To dreame that he seeth menye Citizenes aud Townes men gathered in the Churche well apparelled wyth mearye countenaunce and smylinge cheare it is founde by experience that hee 〈◊〉 happye mariage to bee with good sucke in the ende if he myndeth the taking of a wyfe And otherwyse when they appeare sadde of countenaunce yrefull or yll faâ—oured then if that hee that so 〈◊〉 be sicke it declareth as hath bene experienced the deathe of the dreamer neare at hande especiallye when they that are of his affinitye seeme to associate or companye from others for it disagreeth not y one similitude wyth diuers cyrcuÌ„stances and respectes maye signyfie manye thinges lyke as somtime for the lacke of wordes and signifieth many thinges yet the worde or name is for y more part at pleasure of the namer but the thing it selfe is of nature And in all dremes the more good cyrcuÌ„stances there are like as wheÌ„ they seeme to be in a pleasaÌ„t fayre good lye greene and fruitâ—fuâ—â—place or in a Churche or before â— frende and so of the others so muche the certainer shal be the interpretation
shewe hee coulde scarcelye hee deliuered from sufferynge Who after feared no suche matter for that hee onelye applyed hymselfe to the studye of Philosophy yet the next day followinge when he came to reasoninge wyth another philosopher verye hotlye he was theere stricken on the head wyth a staffe and hardlye escaped death And the wyfe of Diognosta dreamed to haue halfe a bearde who after lyued seperate from her husbande so that if she had thought to haue a whole bearde then after to be a wydowe A certayne Lumbarde so often as he should wyn dreamed in the night before that he did eate whyte grapes For the whyte grapes do protende a plentifull easy encrease of labour But the blacke grapes do signify a small gayne and that wyth tedions trauayle Nowe such a custome of his endured for twelue years and after decayed A certayne learned Phisition there was who so often as he dreamed that hee saw his mother beyng deade very sadde the nexte daye followinge hee fell sicke and that by good reason for that sonne is most deare to the mother that her sadnes also signifyeth the calamityes to the child and not the lyke to the father For fathers are not like moued to mourne for the sicknesses of their sonnes except those sicknesses are deadly in that meÌ„ are stouter of mynde and stomacke then women And he was also sickly by nature so that he dreamed the lyke many yeares A certayne gentleman as Mattheus Ferrarius wrytethe that howe often hee thought that he did eate in his sleape and so often in the day following he was payned with the stone And if so be he thought that hee didd eate harde thinges of digestion then the payne continued manye dayes after So that by good reason we saye that wee so well taste of sorrowes as meates And to Valentinianus Emperour the day before he dyed beynge yet not sicke for that he dyed sodenlye appeared hys wyfe clothed in mourning apparell and standinge a farre of wythe her heare shed abroade Which well declared the former fortune that then had lefte hym in so lamentable cause And one Policrates Samius a tyraunte whyles he was in prosperitye his daughter on a tyme thought in her sleepe that she sawe her father hanginge on highe whome Iupâ—ter washed the Sunne annoynted After which followed that he beynge oueecome of Oròtes and hanged on a gibbite happened the lyke so that he was after washed with the raine fallinge and annointed of the Sunne by meltyng of his fatte whiche so seemed to anoynte him And one thought in his steape that he sawe his house on fyer whoe after receyued letters that his brother lay greuouslye sicke whyles he prepared hymselfe to iourney a messenger came declaring hym to be dead Who after counted the tyme from that hower which he saw the dreame conceiued that his brother then dyed But coÌ„monly this dreame doth threaten death eyther to the dreamer or some principaller of the house hymselfe to be with child if so be he hath bene poore hee shall after possesse muche substaunce and shal gather and keepe and heape together aboundaunce of money but if he be rych it signifieth that he shal be in torments cares or troubles of the mynde And he whiche shall haue a wyfe that he shall loose her for it signifyeth y she shal not after beare him more childreÌ„ but he whiche shal haue no wyfe that he shal after marrye suche a kynde and gentle wyfe that he may fynde in his hart to wysh to beare and suffer that payne that his wife susteneth in the traueile of child And to others this dreame doth signifye sickenesse To be wyth chyld and after to be deliuered thereof is euill for it declareth that the personne beynge sicke shall shortlye after dye For euery bodye â—earyng sendeth forth a spyrite and like as the infante by ioyninge hymselfe with the bodye is deliuered and departeth froÌ„ it euen so the soule dothe from the bodye and to a poore man hyred seruaunt or to anye whiche is in calamitye or misery it signifyethe a deliuerye of the presente euilles or mysery and that cause is manifest or apparaunte but to riche men vsurers and other occuppers and to such also as be in authoritye and power it harmeth For they whiche had before shall after lacke and loose much And to marchauntes pylottes maisters and owners of shippes it signifyeth good lucke after but to many it happeÌ„eth that also should lose by thys dreame as kinsfolke because the infant in his byrth is reiected and seperated from the bloud If any in the maner of babes dreameth that he thinketh hymselfe to bee swadled lyke a chylde and to suck of a womaÌ„ that he knoweth dothe portend after a longe sicknesse except he hath a wyfe with chyld For theÌ„ shal be borne a sonne lyke to himselfe whiche in thesame manner shall bee fedde and brought vppe But if a woman shall see this dreame it doth signyfy that she shal bee deliuered of a daughter lyke to her selfe and if anye woman thinketh in her dreame to haue milke in her breastes to a yonge woman it promiseth conception and perfecte fruite and byrth also but to an olde woman beinge poore it signifyeth riches and to a riche woman it signifyeth expenses and charges And to a mayde mariageable this dreame promisethe to her mariage for notwythout the venerall act of coactyng milke in the breastes cannot at any tyme be had but if the mayden be young that shee cannot be maried of a longe tyme for her age and making theÌ„ this dreame portendeth to her death Also to a poore and needye man this dreamepromiseth plentye bothe of monye and possessions that he may also be able to feede others And further to hym whiche is vnmaryed this dreame promiseth a wyfe and to hym hauinge a wyfe whiche lacketh or hath no children this dreame promiseth also children as hath bene found true in both For th one had after such a kynd and gentle wyfe that he did wishe to suffer al her trauailes and paines And the other had children after which he fed and brought vppe And to wrastlers warriars and suche as exercise the strength of the body it thretneth sicknesse For that effeminat bodyes haue milke and any also hauinge a wyfe and children in his dreame is depryued of his wyfe for he after bryngeth vp his children and ministrynge to them the equall vse both of the father and mother To dreame that he thinketh hymselfe to haue a greate or bigg heade signifyeth good to a ryche man whiche as yet is no Magistrate or high officer And to a pore man warriour vsurer and that kepeth a bancke of monye to them it signifyeth both good luck and the gatheryng together of much money but to a ryche man whiche is in authority And to a Rhetoritian Judge or Legate yt denounceth bothe slaunders of the people and losse of dignitye and honour And to a sicke person this dreame signifyeth beuynes and