the Spanish Author in his Triall of Wits was of opinion that for many Generations after it did reduce their Bodies to a more Temperate Constitution then my other Nations in so much that their Seede did multiply and their Minds were more purified and prepared capable of Gods miraculous blessings to inherite the land of Canaan which their Fathers whose longing thoughts were altogether set on the Onions Garlike and flesh-pots of Egypt wherewith from their Infancy they had accustomed to feed on were debarred off for their hardned hearts I prescribe not this Dyet though solide and substantiall to Labourers and Hindes for their stomackes are like Ostridges which can digest Iron and by their Violent motion can better away with Bull-Beefe Ram Mutton Beanes and Bacon then with the daintiest meate in the World As I hard that a Clownish Boore told my Vncle Sir Iohn Perrot who on a time comming to visite him being his Tenant and sicke aduised him to eate some der meate as Chicken or sucking Rabbet he answered him Alas Maister what shall I doe with such kinde of Meate when I cannot eate the Bacon which is as yellow as the Golden Noble I limit no such persons no more then Galen did when he Dedicated his Worke for the preseruation of Health De sanitate tuenda not vnto the strong Complexioned and the Barbarous as the Germanes who were so accounted in those dayes but vnto the ciuill and nice-bâ—ed Italians I present the discouery of this Secret and the Practise of it to them that make a conscience of their Calling not to wallow like swinish Epicures in sensuall beastly pleasures but as men resolued to liue soberly like Christians who must acknowledge that the Holy Ghost cannot long reside in fat foggy Bodies that make a God of their Bellies and who for that cause doe still pamper themselues with delicacies and continue more houres at their gluttonous meales swilling of sugred Sacke and many cups of strong drinke then they doe at their Prayers or in the seruice of God St. Paul as likewise the first Christians did often vse to mortifie their Bodies for feare of Temptations I tame my Body sayth hee to bring it into subiection least while I Preach to others my selfe become a Cast â—way But wee are so faâ—ie from such mortifications that wee cannot spare one meaâ—e in the Weeke though it were to faâ—â—â— a Neighbours life or to conuert the expence of that meaâ—e to defend the Publâ—cke State from ruine or from Antichristian Tyraâ—â—y And yet we must passe for reformed Christians None must say Blacke is our Eye or that wee haue the least skarre aboâ—t vs. O that men would looke within them and see whether that place bee fit to receiue the holy Comforter If then they finde that my words be true and that their Gurmandize and Intempetance â—aâ—e obscured their Iudgements whereby they were not able by reason of stupidity and dulnesse to fall to the Practise of a Sober Liuing let them out of hand beginne to make some experience of this Dyet if not continually yet on those Fasting dayes which our Church hath ordayned of Christian Policy to purifie a loathsome Carkases and not as meritorious for satisfaction of Gods Iustice Thus the Israelites of old time were aduised to fast and commaunded to Purifie their Bodies in another manner The which the very Turkes and Iewes doe put in Practise at this day And wherefore stands this Purification but to prepare â—oome for the spirituall Bridegroome yea and perhaps this Abstâ—â—ence may serâ—e for some qualification of his Iustice although not for any satisfaction Yet helpe to couer a Multâ—â—ude of sinnes As Saint Peter and Saint Iames wrot speciaâ—ly if the estimate of what is spared be conferred on pious vses The third SECTION The Commodâ—â—ies which this New-found Dyet brings to the Body IT remayneth now that I propose what Commodities this set Dyet produceth First it preserues a man free from all sicknesses for it keepes backe all the Humours and watrish spirits which arise from the Stomacke to the Head It cures the Goâ—t the Dropsie the Astmaticke Passions the Cough and Catarrhes it hindereth Crudities and raw fâ—â—gmaticke humours which indeede are the ingendring causes of all diseases It bridles and keeps all the Humours in such an equall temper that none shall offend eyther in Quantity or in Quality for indeede all our sicknesses proceed from Repletion sauing some few which proceede of Famine in taking more sustenance then Nature requires or the Stomacke can well digest For manifestation whereof we see that all Diseases are cured by Euacuations Blood letting is vsed to â—ase Nature And so are Purgatious taken to free the Body of that insupportable load of filthy matter which by Gluttony was ingendred Nor will one Purge sustice But before an ordinary sicknesse be remooued the Apothecary must minister many Nauseatiue and bitter Potions able to weary the strongest Nature For at the first the first Region as Physitians call it must be purged that is the Guts and entrailes Secondly the Liuer And lastly the Veines must bee emptied of their watrish Humors and excrements And it is holden for certaine that in euery two yeares there is such store of ill humors and excrements ingendred in the Body that a Vessell of one hundred Ounces wil scarce contayne them These humours being let alone will corrupt in processe of time and wil cause a man to fall into some deadly sicknesse And commonly most people which dye in their Beds before they arriue to extreamity of old age doe perish by these ouer-abounding Humors which they heaped within them through their excessiue Feasts and Belly-cheere The second Commodity that comes by this orderly Dyet is that it doth not onely defend a man from those superfluous Humors within the Body but likewise it fortifieth him agaynst outward Causes for hee which hath his Body pure with temperate humors shall easier endure the iniâ—ries and discommodities of cold or hot weather and of â—oylesome labour then he that liues licentiously Yea and if he be wounded in his body he will speedily recouer The reason is because very little fluxe of any offending humor can fall into the wounded part which in other bodies is wont to inflame yea and sometime it will cause a griping Convulsion or a violent Feaâ—er An which our temperate habit of bodily Mould shall neuer once bee affected with for there is as much difference betwixt them as theâ—e is betwixt a perfeâ—t Châ—â—ensian Procellane and our roughest earthen Vessels Lastly it preserues a man from the Plogue for there is nothing heere to spaâ—â— no matter to worke vpon which was verified insober Socrates who notwithstanding that the Plagâ—e had oftentimes wasted Athens yet hee was neuer sicke eyther of that or any other disease The third Commodity is that it causeth not onely Health dut aâ—so Long Life in so much that when hee dyeth hee feeles no such pangs and torments as other men
vse to haue for hee falls like an Apple fully ripe euen by meere resolution mildly and gently away The bond of a Temperate mans Body and Soule is dissolued onely when the Radicall moysture is spent like vnto a Lampe which is extinguished when the Oyâ—e is quite consumed For euen as a Lampe may bee put out three manner of wayes First by outward violence as by vâ—hement wind Secondly by powring too much water vpon it wherewith the pure Liquor of the Oyle is oppressed Thirdly by the vtâ—er consumption of the Oyle So Mans Life which is compared to a burning Lampe may bee extinguished three wayes First by the Sword Drowning or such like violent death Secondly by the superfluity or depraued quality of the Humours wherewith the naturall moysture is corrupted Thirdly when this moysture is spent by the length of time If a man dyes by reason of eyther of the two former wayes there must ensue a great commotion in Nature and therefore he feeles extraordinary grieâ—ances when the bond of Nature is thus â—â—oâ—ently before the day and ripe time compelled to bee dissolued But by the third manner of dissolution a man feeles no paine at all because the Temperature is all by leasure dissolued from within him and because the gentle moysture which feedes the Body becomes wasted together with the naturall heate at the same instant when the Soule departes And thus shall our Dyeted persons dye except they beeâ— forced by some outward Accident The fourth Commodity is that it makes the Body Actiue Light Liuely and ready to all motions and exercise For heauinesse lazinesse and the oppression of Nature proceede from the aboundance of Humours which destroy the passages of the Spirits and besiedging the â—ovnts they ouer moysture them at last Therefore when this aboundance of Humors is diminished or taken away by a Regular Dyet the very cause of dulnesse and heauinesse is also taken away and then the pores and passages of the Spirits are made broad and more open The fourth SECTION The Commodities which our Dyet brings to to the sences and Minde and how it may helpe to build there a more conuenient Temple for the Holy Ghost AS the Body feeles seuerall benefits by this admirable Dyet so the Minde partakes of no lesse commodities First it brings Health and Vigour to the outward sences for the sence of Seeing becomes darkned in aged Persons by reason that the Optick nerues are ouer-charged with superfiuous humours or vapors whereby the animall spirit which serues for the vse of the Sight eyther is obseured or else is not able to minister asmuch matter as is sufficient to make the Sight perfect This impediment is remooued or at least much diminished by Sobriety and Abstinence from those things which fill the Head with fumes of which kinde are all fat things and Buâ—ter excessiuely taken raw Onions Garlike strong Wine omuddy Beere or Aâ—e Or if at the worst their sights bee somewhat dimme or reddish the Oynâ—ment of Tuâ—â—â— with a i. t. e. Aloes wiâ—â—auayle them Or if the feare a greater griefe the Iuice of Stonecrop will 〈◊〉 the pin and the Web. The sence of Hearing is hindred by the defluxion of raw Humors from the Bâ—aine into the Organ of Hearing or into the sinewes which serues it By which meanes a man becomes thicke of Hearing or deafe on that side where the Defluxion hapneth A temperate Dyet will preuent this Defluxion and with a few locall medicines vnlesse the deafenesse be inueterate it will quite expell it As for the Sence of Tasting it is certayne that the Taste of a Temperate man is farre more quicke sharpe and pleasing then it is in the Glutton and Drunkard who by reason of Chollericke or brackish Humors whether they bee ingendâ—ed in the Head or in the stomacke takes all Meates otherwise then they are in deede Another Commodity which a Temperate Dyet brings to the Soule is that it mâ—tigateth Affectors or Pâ—ssions chuâ—flâ— melancholly and Anger Wee see by experience that they in whom Choâ—â—r and Melanchoily beaâ—e Dominion if they bee not in conuenient time pâ—â—ged of those Humors they fall into strange and violent sicknesses as Lunacy and Freâ—zy especially if they bee suffered to get footing in the Braine and there to ensâ—ame If it bee sharpe and falls into the tunicles of the Stomacke it causeth a man to become very Raâ—enous If there be aboundance of blood it makes a man Leacherous chiefy if there bee some windy matter crept into it The Reason is because the Affections of the Minde do follow the apprehension of the Fantasy and the apprehension of the Fantasy is conformable to the disposition of the Body and to the Humours which beaâ—e rule in the Body Hence it is that the Chollericke doe dreame of Fires Flames Warres and Slaughters The Melancholick dreame of Darknes burialls Sepulchers Sprights of deepe pits fearefull flights and of the like troublesome things The Flegmatickâ— dreame of Rame Riâ—ers Lakes Shipwracke drowning c The Saâ—guine dreame of Banquets Loue Ioyes c. All these with their Causes are auoyded by a sober Dyet for insteed of bad there are ingendred nothing but true and good Blood Choller Flegme and Melancholly so that their inward conditions are wel composed gentle Milde Demure and quiet neuer ministring any cause of Debate but with Sobriety and Patience taking all things in good part The third Commodity which a sober Dyeâ— brings with it is the safety of memory which is wont to be impayred and huâ—t by reason of cold Humours which haue seized on the Braine and is very ominous to the intemperate or aged person This inconuenience is speedily cured by an orderly Dyet with abstayning from hoâ— liqâ—â—urs and fuming drinkes vnlesse it be in sinâ—â—l quantity For although Wine and strong drinke bee hote yet it causeth colde sicknesses beeing often taken as Coughes Distillations the Pose the Apoplexie or Palsie The fourth Commodity is the liuely Vigour of the Minde in Reasoning Iudging in Inuention and in an apter Disposition to conceiue or receiue Diuine Mysteries Heere hence it comes to passe that they which obserue a sparing Dyet are watchfull circumspect prouident and sound of Iudgement Whatsoeuer spirituall or mentall exercise they take in hand they commonly excell in that kinde of knowledge which they undertake The reason is because their thoughts are abstracted and seuered from this base earthly mould to Heauenly Contemplation and to those high Angelical raptures of which fâ—esh and blood can hardly enter into the Consideration I beleeue very few in these dayes may be sayd to be thus Diuinely disposed for I will stand vnto it that except they haue some power of Abstinence together with that vnspotted Faith which the Protestant Church holds they shall neuer passe for men truely Religious nor shine with that bright Light of Vnderstanding to contâ—mne the Vanities of this seducing World nor receiue that solace in their spirits to conceiue themselues as it were in Paradise
darken the Mind which is the great Eye or Light of the Body And this is the cause that when the one is grieued th' other is grieued and when th' one is merry th' other is so too Therefore it is a thing to bee wished that they were kept both in an equall proportion and symmetry with conuenient nourishments recreations exercise and aboue all with spirituall food Yea and other whiles if need require the Mistresse must correct her rebellions Seruant that the Image of our great Creator bee not quite defaced But to returne to the Subiect wee haue in hand the Body of Man is the most temperate of all other mortall Creatures and therefore it may bee rightly termed the Golden Rule measure and square whereby the Excesse of all other things may be obserued and their different Faculties discerned And for this cause in respect of our humane Bodies the fours Elements are noted to be Hot Cold Moist and Dry Here hence we gather that the Flesh of Fowle is hot and dry and that the Food of Fish is cold moist fit to engender flegme Betwixt these as the Meane are Earthly Creatures placed and among these Mans Body hath the preheminence as the best tempered vnder the Cope of Heauen The which also varies according to the Climate Sunt Homines alij variant vt Climata munds For our Northerne Nations are of a Colder constitution then theirs that liue within the Tropickes or neere vnto them And therefore the Ancient Phylosophers would not allow a temperate Body but with in a temperate Country Neyther is this temper so constant in our temperate countries but the inequaltity of the Soyle and Sâ—ituation controules this temper For we haue Spring and Summer weather in places at the same instant within a mile or two distant As for Example in Dales and at the foote of Hils we feeâ—e it warme whereas wee cannot endure long to stay on the Neighbouring Mountaynes by reason of Snow or furious Winds which likewise other-throw or hinder the growth of Plantes and Corne sixe or seauen weekes later then such as we finde in the bottom or lowest descent The same alteration I haue seene in the Alpes and Pyrenaeâ—n Mountaynes where I could be hold ripe Grapes and a fourishing Haruest in the Vallies and Trauailing but a League higher vp towards the top of the Mountaynes I might see nothing but horrid Rockes Hayle Snow and Windes in that impetuous manner that there a man would take September to be Ianuary Moreouer this change crosseth our Temper iâ— respect of Age for Youth is more hot and moyst then more setled yeares And that Dyet which might be properly accommodated to olde men perhaps would weaken or statue the younger sort How then shall we be able to finde out this Golden meane and Temper in mans Body when we are subiect to so many mutations Do not we perceiue the very Beasts and vnreasonable creatures to go beyond vs in some of our noblest Organs Do they not excell vs in the fiue sences viz. The Boare in hearing the Ounce in seeing the Ape in tasting the Vultur in smelling and the Spider in touching as these ancient Verses imply Nos Aper auditu Lynx visu Simia gustu Un tur â—doratu pâ—aecellit Aranea tactu This cannot bee denied in those Creatures but because I am an ill Huntes-man I will continue my conuersation with men amongst which there is much diuersity for their seueral parts Here stands a man with a most temperate Braine there another with a sound Liuer some are long breathed some excell in the Temper of their Hearts and in many of these wee might behold Actions which tend vnto Vnity as to their Center But in generall of late yeares wee degenerate from that which by our Baptisme we vowed to be as in like manner wee haue crackt our Braines shortned our breathing faculties corrupted our Liuer inframed our Blood and all with excesse of varieties of meates and drinkes We pâ—ate of the Holy Ghost of the Temple of God but let euery man examine his owne conscience whether it bee possible that such a sanctified Guest could remaine in such an impure Body which hath receiued into it so great store of Victualls and the choysest which the Ayre Earth and Sea could yeelde and of the strongest Wines euen vnto vomiting If after this inquisition wee finde that the Spirit of God requires an vndefiled and purer seate to lodge in then let vs sweep cleane and do our best to purifie and prepare our Bodies to be tolerably meete to entertayne this sacred Messenger for if hee knockes at the doore of our hearts and we slight his Call it is to bee feared hee will returne no more to such a nasty Roome where the Master of the house neglects his dearest Land-Lord To reduce the World vnto a better Temper the Body as well as the Minde I had recourse to many Cures I read Marsilius Ficinus his Worke concerning a Heauenly Body here on Earth but there meeting with nothing but distractions at the last I lighted on two Treatises the one Published by Lodouico Cornario an Italian and th' other by Lessius of Bruxels a learned Iesuite out of whose Precepts I collected this admirable Dyet which whosoeuer hath the power to practise hee shall quickly apprehend the difference betwixt a Table furnished with variety of meates whose nature in digestion are contrary the one to th' other and betwixt that simple Cheere which conrented our Sauiour here on Earth with his Disciples By the former spring all our sicknesses By this latter of Sobriety we stint Concupiscence and after one quarter of a yeare our Bodies being accustomed to a set measure of meat and drinke wee shall confesse that saying of the Heath'nish Phylosopher to iumpe aright with a reformed Christian Turpe est homini non nosse mensuram ventres sui It is a shamefull thing for an vnderstanding man not to know the measure of his owne Belly To wind vp this my Preparatiue in a word when I had compared Lessius his obseruations with Daniels and his three Companions Dyet and how by reason of their slender fare being but Pulse they were in better state then those that fed on dainties I concluded this new found dyet to be acceptable to Gods spirit and if it awaites on Faith it will serue for a Christians Purification before Glorification The second SECTION The Description of a New found and cheape Diet to preserue the Body and Minde from all sâ—cknesses and Passions and how a man shall find out the true Proportion what will content a reasonable Creature BY the former Discourse it is apparant that the Well-being and Health of Mans Body consists in obseruing the Golden Meane which is Temperance in our Dyet that is cating and drinking no more then the Stomacke can well digest and that thereby the functions of the Minde bee not hindered nor made obscure by the excessiue Quantity For this reason and because
familiar with God For doubtlesse they that are thus Regularly dyeted if they haue but a graine of Faith as it is Written they may worke wonders and perhaps performe miâ—acles They shall see strange Visions and be rapt vp as St. Paule was into the Heauâ—ns for some small time to receiue spirituall consolations the which if these Reuelations and Consolations concâ—rne onely themselues they must not blabbe them abroad vnlesse their publication be more for the glory of God then for their owne Hypocriticall prayse For it pleaseth God oftentimes to send or infuse messages to confirme his seruants in their constant courses As I remember in the Booke of Martyres a Holy man beeing in Queene Maries dayes to be brought to the Stake for the Faiths sake the night before complayned to one Austin his Friend that since his Imprisonment hee had no secret encoâ—ragement of the Holy Ghost to continue stedfast but on the contrary hee found himselfe very heauy and somewhat loath to dye But the next day as hee was lead towards the Stake to be burned hee met the sayd Austin by the way to whom this Good man cryed out with great ioy laying his hand on his heart O Austin Austin he is come he is come meaning the Holy Ghost of whose absence hee had bewayled the night before I deny not but there may bee many Saints here in our dayes but surely they take not the right course to make their Election sure if they mortifie not their Bodies sometimes when rebellious Passions are like to breake out into combustion or else that they be endowed with this powerfull vertue of Abstinence as I doe heere prescribe Nor are they to bee counted perfect Diuines which can only discourse of Diuinity Preach eloquent Sermons or dispute of profound Mysteries but Hee is the true Messenger of God who liues according to our Saâ—iours life and his Apostles or at the least doth his endeauour to imitate them as neere as hee can And in what outward seruice can a man draw neerer vnto them then in Sobriety and Abstinence For as Faith is the inward ground of the Spirituall building of GODS Church So Abstinence I hold to bee after a sort the secondary and outward foundation of this great structure aswell because it remooues those lets which might preiudice our vnderstanding as also because by it wee meete with many singular good helpes to prepare the Faculties of the Minde to bee more cleare and ready to embrace that course of Life which best pleaseth our Creaetor Therefore as Lessius writes Seeing that our proceeding or Progresse in Spirituall maetters doe depend vpon the vse of Understanding or that intellect which is infused in the Soule and vppon Faith which resides in this Understanding wee cannot loue that which is good or prosite in that Loue nor hate that which is euill or grow in hatred of that euill except it bee first propounded and discussed in the Vnderstanding to stirre vp and mooue our Affections for that Vertuous purpose Wheâ—e hence it comes to passe that they who haue lodged Diuine matters in their Vnderstanding as the Apostles did and such as followed their steppes they shall easily contâ—mne all Earthly Goods and climbe vp to the high degree of Sanctity and Holinesse and for that cause at the last they shall obtayne for their reward a glorious Crowne in Heauen For the Will of man doth easily conforme it selfe to the Iudgement of the Vnderstanding when a matter is not there rashly and suddainly propounded but with deliberation deepely and with length of time discussed and debated Whereby it appeares that those things which doe hinder darken or make difficult the Functions of the Minde for the most part are the Causes why in knowledge or in the Oâ—â—ices of Pâ—ety or in Hoâ—inesse of life wee arriue not to the wished and illustrious dâ—gâ—ee of Perfection By the Premisses it is apparant that Temperance or Sobriety is of great eâ—â—â—cacy and power both to exâ—â—nguish those impediments which eâ—lipseour iudgments from meditating on the bright beames of Vnderstanding and the true course of our Saluation and therefore it may not vnfitly bee called The secondary Foundation of wisdome and of our spiritual progresse For what bee the lets that make vs so vnapt to spirituall knowledge are they not the superfluous limidities of the Braine the obstructions of the Braines pores and passages the aboundance of Blood the heate of the Spirits which spring from Blood and Choller or the Humors of Melancholly which assault the Head and Braine All which may be preuented by a well ordred Dyet The fifth Commodity which this Dyet brings with it against the inwâ—rd motions is that it asswageth or rooteth out the flames of lustfull desires which annoy both Body and Soule And surely next to the Grace of God nothing auailes more for a Sober Dyet takes away first the Matter which is the aboundance of Windy sperme Secondly the impulsiue Cause which is the needlesse store of the animall Spirits whereby that Sperme is expelled And thirdly the prouoking Cause which is the imagination of venereous doings This Imagination stirres vp chiefly the Passion of Concupiscence which presently mooues the Spirits to expulsion and these spirits being so mooued to expulsion doe vehemently vrge yea and doe performe the Deede vnlesse the Will chance to restrayne the same All these abhominations are chased away or at the least corrected by a Temperate Dyet The which whosoeuer practizeth shall finde himselfe free from such perturbations so that our Papists need not afflict their Bodies as many of them do with languishing Fasts Bodily labours Whip-cords Wyres of Steele going barefoote or with lying on the cold ground so benumming or making Brawne of their Carkasses that might by this manner of Dyet be sustayned with vigorous and liuely heate to sympathize and correspond with the Functions of the Minde where as in a Glasse the whole Man though outwardly made but of Dust and Ashes may behold from within him the very Image of the incomprehensible God both in Vnity and Trinity except his iudgement bee eclipsed with â—rronious motions The fift SECTION Examples of such as by Abstinence and a sparing Dyet haue prolonged their Liues to very old Age. THere was a Sect among the Iewes called the Essenâ— who when as they could not in their consciences brook to liue in Ierusalem betwixt the Pharisees and the Saducees by reason of the Hypocrisie and Dissimulation of the one and the lycentious liuing of the other retired themselues to a Desert neere the Lake of Asphaltes not farre from Ievicho and there gaue themselues to a Temperate Dyet with extraordinary Fastes whereby most of them liued aboue 100. yeares Paulus Thebâ—us about the age of 15. yeares oâ—d during the Persecution vnder Decius the Romane Emperour beeing discontented for the losse of his Father and liketo be betrayed for a Christian by a couâ—tous Hypocrite that was married to his Sister because hee might enioy his Patrimony
that she might gayne freedome for that Towne which for their common and future good shee afterwards most zealously performed Now to aduance forwards and thereupon to conclude our worke of Purification to be brought to passe by abstinence and our newfound Dyet it is lookt for that I should first cuâ—e some of those infirmities which are already growne through Repletion and disorders Among which I behold the Lunges which waxe old sooner then the rest of the members as Aristotle affirmed And the reason is because they are subiect to all kind of excrements For they receiue catarrhes coughs and other fiâ—thy matter from the Braine besides excrementicious blood which is ingendred there and turnes to purulent matter which render them foule filthy as our late Aâ—atomists haue found asâ—ve â—as that which comes from the head and what ber is made so impure must needes grow soonest old For which cause those Persons whose breath doth stinke by reason of the impurities of the Lunges shall waxe old sooner then others As on the contrary those whose breath smells well or doth not stinke whilest they are Fasting may liue much longer For the abating or correcting of this viscous clammy and mattry stuffe which is there ingendred or fallen from the Braine nothing anayles more then this our Dyet after that the same hath bene practised and vsed two or three Moneths such impurities will cease of their owne accord But for feare the Diseased party may in the meane time suffocate and perish like the Horse that starued while the Grasse grew let him that is troubled with a violent Cough which is accounted but a Symptome mingle some Manna well sifted and a little Saffron with his Panade Broth or Grâ—ell and that being vsed for fiue or sixe dayes together will by gentle Purges by little and little consume away the cause yea and will supply the place of an Expecterall aswell as any of those Medicaments which they call Becchica or else they may use three or foure drops of the Syrupe of Tobacco in two spoonefuls of Hysop water or in default thereof a peece of Tobacco it selfe rowled and chewed in the Mouth before meate for foure or fiue dayes together will performe the Câ—re or in case of necessity let him drinke but once an Oâ—nce of the Iuyce of the Blew-Flower-de Luce root called Irâ—s newly gathered beaten and strayned with sugâ—ed Water and some Saffron and though the Party were at the very poynt ready to bee choaked with these sâ—â—my and grosse hâ—mours and could not rest but sit vp wheezing and without sleepe yet within two or three houres as it were by Miracle hee shall auoyde by Vomit and Stooles the causes of his deadly distemper Or else let him take twenty or twenty fiue graines of Pantomagogon in Pils with the Powder of Lycoras once euery second day for a weeke and these will gently purge aâ—l the Humours And these Piâ—s I hold to bee singular good to preuent many other diseases and not so loathsome as most Medicines be Next the Braine presents it selfe to my View the indisposition whereof may be discouered by the Heate or Coldnesse If it be ouer hot it causeth distillations into the Lunges Lunacies c. For the Cure whereof some Lettice may bee boyled with our Dyet or the greene leaues of Poppy and in defaulte thereof their seedes or their Syrupes In that case Diacodion which is composed of white Poppy with sugred Water alone or mixt with our Diet is of admirable operation both to coole and to procure sleepe To which as a Cauâ—at I wish such distempered persons to beware how they keepe their Heads too warme with Night-Caps for thereby I haue obserued that many haue vnaduisedly miscarried For the cold distemper of the Braine accompaned with Moysture the smoake of Tobacco with a drop or two of the Oyle of Anny-seed is expedient if the Party be not too narrow breasted or else troubled with the fits of Asthma But oftentimes the Braine may suffer by reason of outward Causes as Frost or Cold windes in the same manner as the Lunges are for both alike are impayred by Cold that they might the sooner become weakned and old and that by reason of respiration For both these Members doe breath and respire the Braine for the perception of smells and the Lunges more aboundantly for the recreation of the heart Therefore both these Members doe secretly through their Pores and passages draw in the Ayre and do receiue their impressions which happen not to any of th' other Members For this discommodity whereto our Northerne Nations are much subiect thet haue lately armed themselues with Hoodes agaynst Raine Snow and Tempests and if before their iournies they annoynt the soles of their feete with that excellent Oyle of Euphorbium or of Pepper and stop their â—ares with Cotton or bumbase dipt in Oyle of Anâ—â—seed or with Cyuet They neede not feare distempers through Cold as long a so as Englands Golden Fleece is able to furnish them with Outward Defences But wee haue cause to doubt a greater inconuâ—nience then a momentary cold which commonly with the weather for sake the hold for if it prooue an extreame Frost or blustring Windes specially after â—ainy Weather which occasion the cuils aforenamed that treacherous guest the Scâ—ruy the store-house of al diseases Farrago omnium morborum which some haue mistaken for a spice of the Catholick Disease may get possession within the Body And this happens both by the Sunnes absence and for that the skinne and all the outward Pores are stopt thickned and congealed with Cold so that there is no place left for the venting of Euaporations and Exhalations out of the Body And therefore they are driuen backe coagulated where those Vapours are forced for want of vent to assault the inward parts and at length they domineere and cause Oppilations and stoppages so that the liuely Spirits cannot performe their Offices Heere hence it fals out that some of these tainted exhalations are carried vpwards to the Eyes Eares Nose and to the Teeth and Gummes and other-whiles to the Breast or else they descend downe to the Legges A spoonefull of the Iuyce of Lemons at a time or the luyce of Scuruy-grafâ—e or the salt of it as I shewed in the former Section mixt with our Panade will remooue this Suruy-baggage And for the putrified Gummes a drop or two of the Oyle of Vitrioll or some Vnguentum Aegyptiacum applyed vnto them will speedily cure them I neede not correct the Stomacke but with the owne simple Dyet yet if at first by reason of the suddaine alteration which I haue notwithstanding here expresly forbidden and on the contrary aduised them to proceede by degrees from twenty ounces to foureteene or twelue and by so many or a little more of drinke to bee diminished within a moneth Then if the Stomacke should become somewhat fainting a cup of Wine and Sugar added to the Dyet or in extremity Cinamon water Anniseed
Worme-wood water or Manus Christi or Ginger-bread will quickely restore the cowardly Stomacke But if the Midriffe rise or any winde which our Dyet will speedily chase away Vineger Scilliticke or Sea Onion will keepe it downe Afterwards if they chance to breake this Dyet if it be but for a meale or two I wish them to fast the next meale after although it were more commendable Esuâ—ire inter epulas to rise vp with an Appetite For the Stone if Walter Caries Quintessence of Goates Blood which in his Farewell to Physicke he cals the Hammer for the Stone may not be gotten let the Party take Goates Blood and vse it after the Arabian manner That is dried in the Oâ—en and drunke in some Liquour More Medicines I could lay downe for this and other sicknesses but that I doubt our Practitioners of Physicke would indite me for intiusion into their Profession albeit I thinke they will bee more offended with me for the Publishing of this Dietary Cure then for any other Quarrell For I make no question but the same will both preuent and heale more Diseases then all their Recipes grounded but vpon coniecturall Prognostickes for the most part like vnto our Almanackes Me thinkes if it were nothing else but for the auoyding of Physitians Fees and Apâ—thâ—caries Bils that were a motiue sufficient to enduce vs to liue soberly Whereto might bee added the shortning of our dayes which their Drugges doe cause besides the poysoned relicks which they leaue behind them in the Body For we must vnderstand that all Purgations specially Electuaries soluble haue some venemous quality in them and likewise that the good humours aswell as the bad are exhausted by them to the future decay of health and the treacherous wasting of the Oyle of Life The like fatall inconuenience comes by Blood letting The eight SECTION Speciall Remedies against Sea sicknesses the Scuruy and against the annoyances of snow Frosts and cold Winds Wherein the cause of my Lord Baltimores Disasters in New-found Land this last Winter is debated THe Disasters which hapned to my Lord Baltimore and his Colony the last Winter at Feriland in our New-land Plantation by reason of the Scuruy haue mooued mee to inserte some more specifique Remedies against that Disease which not onely in those Climates beares dominion but likewise heere in England although hooded with other Titles yet commonly sprung of the same causes For sometimes the Scuruy is ingendred of outward Causes and sometimes from within the Body or from both And therefore they that dwell neere the Sea-side where the North-east Windes rage are most subiect to this infirmity Before the sayd Lord euer beganne his Plantation he cannot deny but I aduised him to erect his Habitation in the bottome of the Bay at Aquafort two leagues distant from that Place which for ought I heare is not much to be discommended and more into the Land where my people had wintred two yeares before and found no such inconuenience Nay his Lordship himselfe suspected the place sorâ—â— his Letters hee complayned that vnlesse hee might be beholding to me for the assignment of both those places out of my Grant he was in a manner disheartned to plante on that Coast by reason of the Easterly Windes which with the Mountaynes of Ice floating from Estotiland and other Northerne Countries towards New-found land rendred that Easterly shore exceeding cold Yet notwithstanding his Lordship beeing perswaded by some which had more experience in the gainefull Trade of Fishing then in the Scituation of a commodious Seate for the Wintring of his new Inhabitants bestowed all his charge of building at Fertland the coldest harbour of the Land where those furious Windes and Icy Mountaynes doe play and beate the greatest part of the Yeare Whereas if hee had built eyther at Aquafort or in the Westerly part in the Bay of Placentia which hath aboue 50. miles ouer-land betwixt it and that Easterne shore his enterprize had suceeeded most luckily And so this of Fertland might haue serued well for his profit in the Fishing and also for a pleasant Summer dwelling Sir Francis Tanfield vnder the right honourable the Lord Vicount Faulkland continued two yeares but three leagues more Southward at Renooz and did well enough in which place likewise my Colony remayned one Winter without any such mortall accidents But all Winters I confesse are not alike in that Country no more then they are here with vs in Europe Yea and here too in the same paralell the season differs Who will imagine that wee in Wales haue lesse Snow and Frosts then London and Essex And yet by experience wee finde it so whereof the very cause proceeds from the Easterne windes whose rigorous force before they arriue ouer land into our Westerne parts cannot but be much broken and abated Besides these Winds snows and Frâ—sts the Scuruy is ingendred by earing of those meates which are of corrupted iuice raw cold salted or of ill nourishment which breede grosse blood and melancholly Among which I reckon Bacon Fish Beanes Pease c. And among Drinkes I ranke all strong liquors whatsoeuer specially if they be taken in Frosty weather when the Stomacke ouer abounds with heate and consequently at that time most subiect to infiamations which when the Thâ—â—â— comes will certainely breake out into some dangerous disease Do but obserue how the Sap of Plants and Hearbes in Frosty seasons descends downe to the Roote as to the last refuge and helpe in Nature The which Plants if we should refresh with Chalke or Lime well may they flourish for a little while but their Fruite and themselues are of no continuance The like I may say of such as by strong liquors doe conceiue that they fortisie and comfort their stomackes in cold weather when as indeed they get but a sparkling heate like a blast that will quickly extinguish From hence arise the Scuruy Catarrhes Rhumes Coughs Feuers c. But leauing these Causes I will proceed to the Cure of this fatall sicknesse which now a dayes prooues a stumbling stone to the wisest Physitians by reason of the manifold symptomes and infirmities which accompany it able to deceiue Aesculapius himselfe First let the party that feares or suspects himselfe tainted change or ayre his apparrell putting on cleane shifts and linnen Secondly let him sleepe in boorded Roomes and if hee bee able to haue his Chamber Wainscotted or well dryed of those dampish sauours which stone or earthen walls are wont to euaporate and breath out Thirdly let him beate and burne one Acre of Land round about his dwelling Fourthly let him eate those meats which are tender light of digestioÌ„ that will not be soone corrupted chiefly fresh meats with dited sauce but moderately and without excesse Fiftly let him often vse the expressions of Currans Prunes or Reasins or Diaprunis or some of these in broath made with Manna Cassia Tamaâ—ind or Seene For these will loosen the Belly by their moysture and slippery faculty whose
the next Spring proceede to doe somewhat in that Country which with open armes awaites for their comming And also there be others out of England to whom I haue freely as I haue receiued assigned Grants which haue faithfully promised to Plant in their seuerall Diuisions The which if they performe my costly Cares for Sacrifice would be the lesse But because my Experience teacheth me that we oftneâ— meete with backe-sliding and inconstant men like Worldly Demas then with bountifull Conuerts like that Terentiam Demea I cannot build my Foundation on such slippery mould but must resolue with my owne poore Estate to continue what I haue long since fruitlessely begunne After this sort those renowned Monsieurs De Monts and Poutrincourt were deluded aboue two yeares by some Courtiers at Paris and therefore they concluded atlast no more to trust any but themselues for the Erecting of their Plantation in Canada two hundred Leagues beyond our New found Land Hap what hap may I haue broake the Ice I haue past the Rubicon In the meane time let me intreate you to conceiue charitably of our New-Land Plantation which by one hard Winter among many more tolerable is like to suffer and to regard this Little God-child of hers And it you or any other of our Friends when wilde or iâ— regular Passions breake out beyond the bounds of Reason shall meete with some Leâ—â—tiue by meditating on the towardly disposition thereof as the discased Israelites found ease with beholding the Brazen Serpent Do but say Well-fare the New-landers Cure and that 's as much as I expect for my paines The Lord enrich you with Heauenly happinesse as hee hath bountifully dealt with you in this World And if hereafter it fortune according to Your Hopes that you shall liue in Court as heretofore you haue to your singular Praise and your Friends Comfort for many yearestogither Let not transitory Pompe nor vaine glory seduce Your Noblest Part to forget the poore New-Landers Cure nor Him whom you are tyed in Nature to Respect and Cheeâ—â—sâ— who reciprocally shall cuer during Life continue in all Christian Offices Your Lordships Brother at Commaund William Vaughan Authoris Praecautio ad Lectorem Morbis Vulgaribus laborantem Siquid habent Aloes vel fellis Opuscula nostra Me Medicum vatem Publica Cura sacit Depercunt querâ—us silices et Marmore structa Dona sed Ingenu posthuma Fama canet Curtiâ—eis rodenda sinam Monumenta laborum Musarum sâ—elus est Dona perire pati Non â—ic Romulidum sannas nec curo lituras Vos flocci facio Gens odiosa Deo Gorgonicas nec pendo minas nam munior extra Aegide squamosa Numinis intus Ope. Sanum Consilium tantum iaculatur odoris Vt Vincat violas Lilia Thura Rosas Hoc sine sunt Arabum catapotia vana necipsa Porrigit Aegroto pharmacopola tibi Imbibe Corde Nouae Terrae quod Musa propâ—nat Corpus erit sanum Mens quoque sana Vale. THE Newlanders Cure The first SECTION The Preparatiue of the Bodies Cure shewing how the Mindes Affections and the Bodies do follow one anothers Dispositions WHen I had resolued on the Cure of the Mindes infirmitus it seemed vnto me that the same could not be compleate except the Body were also made harmoniously correspondent to harbour that Heauenly Light with his pretious Gifts which our Sauiour promised before his Ascention to send vnto vs. Therefore that both of them like euen yoake-fellowes might walke safely in this vale of Misery I haue here inserted a New-found Cure for the Bodies health Ut sit mens sana in corpore sano But before the discouery of this diuine Medicine in comparison whereof the Elixir so much commended by our Paracelsians is but vanity of Vannies for our Phisicke conduceth to the health of the Minde as of the Body I wiâ— as a Preparatiue minister and shew how the Qualities of the Mind do follow the disposition of the Body It is most certayne when the Body is free from supersiuous Excrements and noysome Huinours that then the Functions and Operations of the Mind appeare more liuely fresh and most capable to receiue in Wisdome and Knowledge which caused a certaine Philosopher to purge himselfe with Hellebore before hee aduentured to write of deepe Mysteries Euen so when the Minde is troubled the Face bewâ—ayes it although a man would faine conceale it with all his cunning Yea sometimes the very Eyes will manifest the ioy that one conceaues in his heart Nor is the Minde mooued onely with those motions and instruments of the Body but likewise feeles great Alterations by such nourishments and ingâ—edients as we take into our Bodies The which we see verified in our debauched Gallants and common Drunkards who seldome enter into quarrels in cold blood but amongst their Pots of Wine and strong liquor they passe Polyphemus and all his Cyclops Others haue drunke away sorrow and care The like mutation Saffron workes for if a man commonly vse it in sance with his meate it makes his heart light and iocound And being taken in Musâ—adine or some heady wine it workes so violently that the Taker becomes rauing madde with excessiue Mirth The often vse of Hares flesh causeth men to be fâ—arefull As on th' other side Beefe 〈…〉 English couragious and vndaunâ—â—â— in perills And surely I beleeue one of the chiefest causes of the Sauages inhumane cruelty proceedes through their 〈◊〉 of Wâ—lues and Bcares flesh In my time I know aâ— Oxford a Poet who after good 〈◊〉 of Sâ—â—ke would write his best Verses according to that olde saying When I haue drunke sweete Wine My Tongue speakes Latâ—â—e sine It is reported that Thomas Nash a scurrilous Pamphâ—eter in Q. Elizabeths dayes vsed to drinke Aqua vitae with Gun-powder to inspire his malicious spirit with â—ayling matter to shame Doctor Haruey and other Aduersaries of his Which infleming Poâ—ion wrought so eagerly vppon his Brame that hee would often beate himselfe about the noddle and scratch the Walls round about him vntill hee met with some extrauagant furious Termes which as he imagined would blurre and lay sufficient aspersions vpon them The like fiery prouocations the Turkes haue accustomed to take when they went about some desperate seruice wherby they forced a new Bellona out of their mischienous hands Other some like our fighting Cockes haue vsed Garlike for that bloody purpose Thus the Body is oftentimes turned Nolens volens to serue and obey the mind as the Minde likewise to follow the inclination of the Body For what other fruit can a Body stuffed with corrupt humours Choller and Gall produce but beastlike Passions Whereas on the contrary the Abstemious and Continent by their sparing Dyet do restrayne in time such ouerflowings and thereby prepare themselues to be the purer vessels to contayne the Water of Life distilled from the Heauenly Comforter Euen as a thicke Cloud obscures the Sunne beames from our sight So the vicious qualities of the Body