to vse honey within and oyle without being inwardly taken it looseth the belly it causeth one to vomit vp malignant humours yea poyson it selfe if a man hath drunken of it or taken it but a small time before one or two ounces of it taken with the iuyce of Lemonds cureth the wormes in childrens bodyes and the disease commonly called the Scuruie which kinde of oyle I holde best for I confesse that there be many kindes of oyle yet none like to the oyle Oliue which I here doe onely commend in respect that the Oliue doth yeeld more Oyle then any other seed or fruit it hath deserued the name of excellency aboue all the rest for the fat and vnctuous liquours of other seedes and fruits are not like to haue any other name bestowed vpon them then that which belongeth of right vnto the liquour which is pressed out of the Oliue for which reason when we speake of the Oyle of the Oliue we onely say Oyle but when wee speake of other oyles wee adde the name of the seed or fruit from which it was pressed as for example oyle of Vitriall oyle of Sage oyle of Wormewood oyle of Cloues and so of the rest Vineger prouokes appetite tempereth hot cholerick humours keepeth backe corruption and infection in the plague time but it hurteth them that be sorrowfull except they correct it with Suger Veriuyce is of the same nature as vineger is Shew me a way to make wholsome and good vinegar in a short time Take stale drinke and cast into it salt pepper and sowre leuen mingled together afterwards heate red hot some Tyle or gadd of Steele and put it hot into the drinke In like manner a Radish roote a Beete roote and a shiue of Barley bread new baked put into stale drinke and put forth in a glasse in the Sunne or in the chimney corner to the heat of the fire will make good vineger in a short time or if you will haue it better and to prouoke appetite infuse into your said vineger the leaues or iuyce of red Roses dryed the iuyce of Mints and Centorie Shew me a way to make vineger with corrupted and marred wine Take rotten and marred wine and boile it taking away all the scumme that riseth in the boyling thereof thus let it continue vpon the fire till it be boyled away one third part then put it vp into a vessell wherein hath beene vineger putting thereto some cheruile couer the vessell in such sort that there get no ayre into it and in short time it will proue good and strong vineger Of Hearbes CHAP. 8. What is the vse of our ordinary hearbs and roots BOrage is a cordiall Hearbe It purget bloud maketh the heart merry and strengtheneth the bowels Cabbages moderately eaten doe mollifie the belly and are very nutritiue Some say that they haue a speciall vertue against drunkennesse Radish rootes doe clear the voice prouoke vrine and comfort the liuer Cucumbers are of a colde temperature and fit to be eaten onely of cholericke persons Onions Leekes and Garlicke are onely fit to be eaten of flegmaticke folkes They clarifie the voyce extend the winde-pipes and prouoke vrine and menstruall issue But men subiect to the headach must not aduenture to eate such vaperous nutriments Shew me the best Sallet The best Sallet is made of Peniroyall Prasley Lettice and Endiue for it openeth the obstruction of the Liuer and keepeth the head in good plight Of Fruit. CHAP. 9. What is the vse of Fruit ALL Fruit for the most part are taken more for wantonnesse then for any nutritiue or necessary good which they bring vnto vs. To verifie this let vs but examine with the eye of reason what profit they cause when they are eaten after meales Surely we must needs confesse that such eating which the French call desert is vnnaturall being contrary to Physicke or Dyet for commonly fruits are of a moist facultie and therefore fitter to be taken afore meales but corrected with Suger or comfits then after meales and then also but very sparingly least their effects appeare to our bodily repentance which in women grow to be the greene sicknesse in men the morphew or els some flatuous windy humor White figs pared and then eaten with Orenges Pomegranats or seasoned in vinegar in spring time do nourish more then any fruit breake the stone in the rains quench thirst Raisins and curranes are very nutritiue yet notwithstanding they putrifie the raines and the bladder Sebastian Prunes doe loose the belly and quench choler Red garden Strawberries purified in wine and then eaten with good store of Suger doe asswage choler coole the liuer and prouoke appetite Almonds and Nuts are very nutritiue and doe encrease grosnesse they multitiply sperme and prouoke sleepe But I would not with any to eate them that are short winded or troubled with head-aches Olde and ripe Apples roasted baked stewed or powdered with Suger and Annise seed doe recreate the heart open the wind-pipes and appease the cough Ripe Peares eaten after meat and powdered with Suger cause appetite and fatten bodies And if you drinke a cup of olde wine after them they will doe thee much good Weighty Orenges are very good for them that be melancholick and keepe backe the rheume Cheries Plums and Damsons doe qualifie bloud and represse cholerick humours The third Section Of sleepe early rising and dreames CHAP. I. What be the commodities of sleepe MOderate sleepe strengtheneth all the spirits comforteth the body quieteth the humours and pulses qualifieth heat of the liuer taketh away sorrow and asswageth furie of the minde What be the discommodities of sleepe Immoderate sleepe maketh the braine giddie ingendereth rheume and impostumes causeth the pasie bringeth obliuion and troubleth the spirits How many houres may a man sleepe Seauen houres sleepe is sufficient for sanguine and cholerick men and nine houres for flegmatick and melancholick men Vpon which side must a man sleepe first Vpon his right side vntill the meat which he hath eaten be descended from the mouth of the stomack which is on the left side then let him sleepe vpon his left side and vpon his belly that the meate may be the more easily sodden and disgested in a more hot and fleshly place May a man conueniently lie vpright on his backe No for it heateth the raines hurteth the braine and memorie and oftentimes breedeth the disease which is called the riding Mare Shew me some remedies to procure sleepe Take a little Camphire and mingle it with some womans milke and anoint your temples therewith or else take an ounce of the oyle of Roses and three drams of vinegar stirre them both together and vse them What thinke you of noone sleepe Sleeping at noone is very dangerous But if you iudge it good by reason of custome then doe off your shooes while you sleepe for when the body and members be heauie with deepe sleepe the thicknesse of the leather at the soles doth returne the hurtfull
APPROVED Directions for Health both Naturall and Artificiall Deriued from the best Physitians as well moderne as auncient Teaching how euery Man should keepe his body and mind in health and sicke how hee may safely restore it himselfe Diuided into 6. Sections 1. Ayre Fire and Water 2. Meate drinke with nourishment 3. Sleepe Earely rising and Dreames 4. Auoidance of excrements by purga 5. The Soules qualities and affections 6. Quarterly monethly and daily Diet. Newly corrected and augmented by the Authour The fourth Edition LONDON Printed by T. S. for Roger Iackson and are to be solde at his Shop neere the Conduit in Fleetestreete 1612. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE MY GRATIOVS MOTHER in Law the Lady Lettice VVife to the valerous and Heroicall Knight Sir Arthur Chichester Lord Duputie of his Maiesties Kingdomâ— of Ireland MADAME it hath euer beene a customary fashion among Students to chuse out some noble Personage eminent for vertue vnder the glory of whose name their Bookes might walke vp and downe on the worlds Theater secured from that spitefull Spirit of Detraction whose blustering blasts of Blasphemie I lately endeuoured to coniure and conuict After the like manner to be somwhat in the fashion loe here I submit before your eyes of Grace this saplesse Worke of mine that the starry influence of your auncient loue may reflect vpon the darkest parts therof where perhaps the distance of Climate with-holds your directest beames I know your Ladyship is stored with far more precious presents onely Dutie herein seemes to free me from Presumption in dedicating the blossomes of my youthfull Studies to One who is as wise as I am mindfull as fauourable as I am faithfull and euer will continue At your Ladiships command WILLIAM VAVGHAN A Table declaring the Contents of the Sections and Chapters of this Booke The first Section Chiefe causes and Rules for preseruation of man health Chapter 1. OF Ayres for pleasure health and profit Fol. 1 Chapter 2. Of Waters with their kindes 9 Chapter 3. Of Fire and what kinde is best 12 The second Section Food and nourishment what 's good and bad Chapter 1. OF Bread and Drinke of all kindes Fol. 13 Chapter 2. Of Wines of all kindes and how to choose the best 19 Chapter 3. Of Dyet drinkes for the sicke and healthy 28 Chapter 4. Of Cyder and Perry with the vse thereof 31 Chapter 5. Of Flesh and which is best and how to preserue it sweet 33 Chapter 6. Of Fish of all sorts and which is best 40 Chapter 7. Of Milke Butter Cheese and Egges 44 Chapter 8. Of Sauces best and most sauory 49 Chapter 9. Of Hearbes with their vses 54 Chapter 10. Of common Fruits with their vses 56 The third Section Sleepe Earely rising and Dreames Chapter 1. OF Sleepe with the commodities and discommodities thereof Fol. 58 Chapter 2. Of Early rising 60 Chapter 3. Of Dreames 61 The fourth Section Euacuations Chapter 1. OF Exercise and which is best Fol. 64 Chapter 2. Of Vrines 67 Chapter 3. Of Fasting 68 Chapter 4. Of Venery 69 Chapter 5. Of Bathes 70 Chapter 6. Of Excrements and Bloud letting 72 Chapter 7. Of Purgations with the vse of Tobacco 74 Chapter 8. Of Vomits 82 Chapter 9. Of common sicknesses 84 The fift Section Infirmities and death Chapter 1. OF the causes of hot infirmities and of cold Fol. 87 Chapter 2. Of the wicked motions of the minde 89 Chapter 3. Of the age of man and how his life is deuided 112 Chapter 4. Of the foure Humours 121 The sixt Section Restauration of Health Chapter 1. OF the foure parts of the Yeare Fol. 123 Chapter 2. Of Monethly Dyet 129 Chapter 3. Of medicines and meanes to prolong life 138 Chapter 4. Of Mirth and the effects thereof 141 Chapter 5. Of daily Dyet 143 FINIS NATVRALL AND ARTIFICIAL DIRECTIONS FOR HEALTH The first Section What be the causes of the preseruation of Mans health CHAP. I. THE causes of the preseruation of mans health be foure The first Aire Fire and Water The second meate and drinke and such as we vse for nourishment The third mirth exercise and tranquillity of the body The fourth auoydance of excrements vnder which Phlebotomie purgations vomits vrine sweat bathes carnall copulation and such like are contained temperately What is Ayre Aire naturally by it selfe is an element hot and moist whereupon the whole constitution of our liues dependeth The attraction of this naturall body is so necessarie vnto vs that if any one of the instruments of our bodies be stopt we cannot choose but forthwith be strangled In respect whereof the choosing of a good ayre must for the preseruation of health obtaine the chiefest place Which is the best ayre That which is a mans natiue soyle and Countries ayre is best This by the Philosophers is approued in this principle Euery mans naturall place preserueth him which is placed in it And by the Poet confirmed Sweet is the smell of Countries soile Also a good Aire may be knowne both by his substance as when it is open pure and cleane free from all filthy dunghils noysome channels Nut trees Figge trees Coleworts Hemlocks Mines and Forges for these haue a contrary quality vnto the animall spirit and make men to fall into consumptions and by his qualities as extremity of colde heat and moysture What is the cause that the Aire changeth so oft The Aire receiues sundry alterations not onely according to the sundry aspects of the starres and of the heauenly planets but also by reason of the diuersities of Countries and of the particular situations of some places as well vpon the water as vpon the land Doe but marke how feauers rheumes plagues are ingendred by reason of troubled aire and of low marshie grounds And on the contrarie how our health is continued refreshed and recouered in drie or sandie Countries What shall a man doe if the Aire be either too hot too cold or too corrupt He must vse cold things to keepe away the heat and hot things to expell the cold He must adde dry things to moyst and moyst to dry To depart thence into another place were not amisse For oftentimes it is seene that sicke folkes doe recoure their former health onely by change of aire But if the aire be corrupt and that a man cannot remoue thence very quickly hee must artificially rectifie it by perfuming his Chamber with Iuniper Rosemary Bay tree or vvith wood of Aloes and then by sprinkling vineger here and there in his chamber In briefe a man in such cases must get him a Nosegay composed of Roses Violets Maioram Marigold and such like And when hee goeth abroad he must hold in his mouth eyther the pill of an Orenge or a peece of the root of Angelica Likewise he must haue an especiall regard that his Chamber be at least once a day neatly swept Our Mariners lately returned from their East Indian voyage confesse that their onely remedy against the Callentura the Scuruie and other
them that be in health Pigeons plump and fat boiled in sweet flesh-broth with coriander vineger or with sower cheries and plums do purge the raines heale the palsie proceeding of a colde cause and are very good in colde weather for olde persons and stomackes full of flegme A young fat Goose farsed with sweet hearbs and spices doth competently nourish Notwithstanding tender folkes must not eate thereof for it filleth the body with superfluous humours and causeth the feauer to follow Young Ducks stifled with Borage smoke and being eaten in cold weather strengthen the voice and encrease naturall seed Young hen Partridges eaten with vineger doe heale all manner of fluxes and dry vp bad humours in the belly Quailes eaten with coriander seed and vineger doe helpe melancholick men Woodcocks and Snites are somewhat lightly digested Yet hurtfull for collerick and melancholick men Swans Turkies Peacocks Hearnes and Cranes if they be hanged by the necks fiue daies with waights at their feet afterwards eaten with good sauce do greatly nourish and profit them which haue hote bellies Larkes and Sparrowes are meruailous good for them that be diseased of the collick Shew mee a way to fatten great Fowle in most short time You must follow Master Plats aduise namely to take the bloud of beasts whereof the Butchers make no great reckoning and boyle it with some store of branne amongst it perhaps graines will suffice but branne is best vntill it come to the shape of a bloud-pudding and therewith feede your fowle so fat as you please You may feede Turkies with bruised Acornes and they will prosper exceedingly Of Fish CHAP. 6. Shew me how to feed fishes in Ponds IN the fourth booke of the maison rustique lately translated out of French into English by Master Surphlet I finde these meanes for the preseruing of Fish-ponds layd downe It will be good sometimes to cast in some sorts of small fishes the bowels and entrailes of great fish crackt walnuts fresh cheese lumps of white bread certaine fruits chopt small all sorts of salt fish and such other like victuall and sometimes it will be good to cast vpon the pooles and ponds the fresh leaues of Parsley for those leaues doe reioyce and refresh the fishes that are sicke Sith it is most certaine that the fishes abiding in the sea or streames and running riuers haue greater store of victuall than those which are shut vp in pooles and ponds for such as haue their full scope of liberty in the sea and streames doe alwayes meet with one reliefe or other brought vnto them by the course of the water besides the small fishes which are the food and sustenance of the greater but the other shut vp and inclosed in safegard cannot goe forth a hunting after any pray What is the best fish A fresh Carpe salted for the space of sixe houres and then fried in oyle and besprinkled with vinegar in which spices haue boyled in all mens censure is thought to be the wholesomest kind of fish It may not be kept long except it be well couered with bay mirtle or Cedar leaues Salmon and Trouts well sodden in water and vinegar and eaten with sowre sauce doe helpe hot liuers and burning agâ—es Barbles rosted vpon a gridiron or broyled in vineger are very wholesome If any man drinke the wine wherein one of them hath beene strangled to death he shall euer after despise all manner of wines Which conclusion were fit to be put in tryall by some of our notorious swil-boules Riuer sturgeons sodden in water and vineger and eaten with fennell doe coole the bloud and prouoke lecherie Cuttles seasoned with oyle and pepper do prouoke appetite and nourish much Riuer Lampreyes choked with Nutmegs and Cloues and fryed with bread oyle and spices is a Princely dish and doth very much good Female Tenches baked with Garlick or boyled with Onions oyle and Raisins may be eaten of vouth and collerick men Pikes boyled with water oyle and sweet hearbs will firmely nourish Eeles taken in Spring time and rosted in a leafe of paper with oyle Coriander seed and Parsley doe breake flegme in the stomacke Riuer Perches will prouoke appetite to them that be sicke of the hot ague Oysters rosted on the imbers and then taken with oyle pepper and the iuyce of Orenges prouoke appetite and lechery They must not be eaten in those moneth which in pronouncing want the letter R. Cra fish rosted in the imbers and eaten with vineger and pepper purge the reines and helpe them that be sicke of the consumption or Ptisick Shew me a way to keepe Oysters Lobsters and such like sweet and good for some few daies Oysters as maister Plat saith may be preserued good a long time if they be barrelled vp and some of the brackishwater where they are taken powred amongst them Or else you may pile them vp in small roundlets with the hollow parts of the shels vpward casting salt amongst them at euery lay which they make You may keepe Lobsters Shrimps and such like fish If you wrap them seuerally in sweet and course rags first moistned in strong brine and then you must bury these cloathes and couer them in some coole and moyst place with sand Of Milke Butter Cheese and Egges CHAP. 7. What is the vse of milke THere be many kindes of milke according to the diuersities of the nature of liuing things The milke of kine and sheepe is the most butterish and nourishing next vnto it goates milke is chiefe sauing womans milke with which there is no comparison as being the most agreeable to the Sympathy of our natures and proper to dry and melancholick persons yea and a remedy against the consumption There be three sundry substances which lie hidden within the nature of milke euen as they doe within all other naturall things whatsoeuer they be namely a sulphureous substance which is the butter conceiuing a flame much differing from that whayish or mercuriall part which is the thin milke next it conceiues cheese which represents the salt and lastly the thinne milke being the remainder of both being made into pottage with Rice and Suger it encreaseth the generatiue seede and strengtheneth the body Buttermilke in which Fumitorie haue beene steeped and drunke in the Sommer time or rather in the Spring time is an excellent remedy against all diseases exceeding of coller and melancholy yet notwithstanding with this caueat that after the taking of it you doe neither eate any other thing nor sleepe within three houres after To conclude it must not in any case be taken of them which are subiect to feauers head-aches or fluxes according to that vulgar saying Dare lac aut vinum febricitantibus capite dolentibus est dare venenum What is the vse of butter Butter whether it be fresh or salt purgeth mildely and helpeth the roughnesse of the throat fresh butter being taken fasting with a little Suger hindreth the ingendring of the stone and cureth the shortnesse of breath
that butter is best which is made in May. What is the vse of Cheese Cheese being the thickest part of the milk is most nourishing but it makes the body bound and stipticke Olde cheese all mouldy brayed and mixed with the decoction of a salt gamon of bacon and applied in forme of a Cataplasme doth soften all the hard swellings of the knees What is the vse of Egges There are three things worthy of consideration to be marked in egges the first is their proper substance and qualitie for egges of some fowles are better than of some others Hen egges are the best and of better nourishment then the egges of Duckes Geese or other fowle the second thing remarkeable in egges is the time to wit whether they be fresh or stale whether they be layed of a young Hen or of an olde Hen for experience teacheth vs that these last doe quickly corrupt within the stomacke and be nothing so good to nourish Likewise it hath beene noted that egges layed after the new of the Moone in the moneth of August or in the wane of the Moone in the moneth of Nouember as those likewise which are laved on Christmasse day or on Whitsonday are lasting and durable and not easily corrupted Whereof there cannot be deuised any other reason than that in some of them the shel is made hard and not to be pierced through of the aire by the coldnesse of the time and in the other there is a most quicke exhaling and expending of that which might be corrupted within the egge by the heat of the time season then being The third and last obseruation is the dressing and making ready of egges some are sodden or rosted hard which the French men cal Dursis and the Greekes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Egges boiled till they be very hard some are boyled to a meane to wit neither soft nor hard which the Latins call Iremula Others be but warme onely or soft and supping Egs which the Latines call Oua sorbilia Aboue all Egges poached with Parsly are the most wholesome Shew me a way to make Hens to lay good and great Egges Though this receit be homely yet because it makes for our bodies nourishment and contentment I will not conceale it from good Huswiues Hens will lay great egges if you pound bricks mixe them with bran and wine bray them all very wel and giue them to the Hens to eat or els make a fine powder of brick mixe it with barley bran and giue it them to eate some for the very same purpose doe mollifie the Fullers earth that is red and mixe it among the Hens meat The Hen will sit all Winter as well as in Sommer if shee haue meat made of bran mixt with the leaues and seed of dry Nettles Shew me how Egges are to be prepared for Physicke The yolk of an egge swallowed alone stayeth the cough and such other distillations as fall downe vpon the lungs and other parts of the breast The white of an egge beaten and with the powder of Frankincense Mastick and Galles applied to the browes doth stay the bleeding at the nose A Cataplasme made of the yolke and white of an egge well beaten the iuyce or water of Plantaine and Nightshade applyed vnto burnings doth quench and extinguish them A hard rosted egge eaten with vinegar stayeth the fluxe of the belly if you mixe with it the powder of Harts-horne Of Sauces CHAP. 8. What be the best and sauory sauces for our meates FOr the seasoning of such meats both flesh and fish as we haue spoken of before and to make them agreeable as wel for our health as for our nourishment and appetites we must vse now and then sauces with our meats And these in perticular are salt Sugar Pepper Cynamon Ginger Cloues Nutmegs Saffron Honey Oyle Vinegar and Veriuice Salt is of a hot and dry quality endued with a purging cleansing and a seasoning facultie most fit to preserue meate from putrifaction and to consume their moyst excrements and superfluities And for this cause wee are aduised of the ancient Physitians not to eate Beefe Venison or any other meate strong of digestion before the same be seasoned with salt two or three dayes at the least Sugar is of a hot qualitie and is quickly conuerted into choler for which cause I cannot approue the vse therof in ordinary meats specially to young men or to them which are of hot complexions for it is most certain that they which accustome themselues vnto it are commonly thirsty and dry with their bloud burnt and their teeth blackned and corrupted In medicine wise it may be taken eyther in water for hot feauers or in syrops for some kinde of diseases Pepper is the best and wholsomest of all spices as being of least heate in operation though in tast it seeme ouer hot being taken I meane three or foure graines of it swallowed downe with a fasting stomack it preserueth a man from the palsie and from griefes in the stomack the oyle of it extracted and taken with some conuenient liquor is a most ready and soueraigne remedie against the tertian and quartaine agues by reason that the said oyle dissolueth and rooteth out the seminary causes of such feuers and doth cause the same to be euacuated by sweates vrine or owise Cynnamon is of a very thinne substance yet notwithstanding very cordiall comfortable and corroboratiue there is a water distilled from it knowne by the name of Cynnamon water which is exceeding good for women in childbed for weake stomackes for the falling sicknesse Apoplexies and all windie collickes Ginger approacheth somewhat nigh to the nature of Pepper but it is of a thicker substance and doth not penetrate so soone as the Pepper which hath a sustance more thin it auaileth against obstructions and Feuer quartains Cloues are seldome vsed alone but with other spices they serue for the interlarding of Turkycocks and Salmon alone without any other spice Nutmegs and Mace are spices of a most temperate nature and may be vsed in winter time with moist meates Saffron reioyceth the heart comforteth the stomacke and procureth sleepe but you must looke that you take not too much of it for according to the vulgar French Prouerb La qualitè ne nuit pas ains la quantitè Exceeding one or two drachmes his narcotique smell doth offend the braine in such wise that it maketh it dull and stupied Oyle is more wholsome and necessary then butter as well for a mans health as for the preparing of sundry meates and sallades and better resisteth corruptions then butter wee see another difference in this that oyle is of it selfe reserued for a long time without change whereas butter is nothing worth if it be not fresh eaten or salted being applyed outwardly it hath a singular vertue as appeares by the answere of an auncient Philosopher who being asked of the meanes to continue a man in perfect health and to liue long said that it was
vapours of the feet that else should vanish away in the head and eyes Also you must if you can possibly sleepe in your chaire and let your head be meanely couered according to the time For as too much colde so too much heate doth astonish the minde and spirits Of early rising CHAP. 2. What are the commodities of early rising EArly rising is healthfull for the bloud and humours of the body and a thing good for them that be studious of waighty affaires for the animall spirit is then more readie to conceiue Yet notwithstanding it is not amisse to consider and serue the time and place because if the aire be corrupt as in plague time or enclined to moistnesse as in raynie and mistie weather or thundring it is better to abide either in bed with some light or to sit in the chamber by some sweet fire Of Dreames CHAP. 3. What are Dreames DReames are either tokens of things past or significants of things to come And surely if a mans minde be free from cares and he dreame in the morning there is no doubt but the affaires then dreamed of will truely come to passe How many sorts of dreames be there There be three sorts of Dreames To wit diuine supernaturall and naturall Diuine dreames are they which were sent by inspiration from God to his Prophets and faithfull seruants and as God is the Author of trueth so are they true and certaine Supernaturall dreames are placed in the middest betweene the diuine dreames and the naturall for they may happen without being precisely sent from God and their cause comes not onely by the sole deprauation of humours as naturall dreames doe but by the rauishment of the spirit which wakes while the body reposeth and which being oftentimes holpen by the inspiration of some good Angel or Genius doth represent by such Dreames things which commonly come to passe These kind of dreames chance in the morning when the braine is more free from the vapours of the meate which before had dulled it Among many examples which I haue read of this one seemes most strange vnto me Two friends trauailing together to a certaine Citie by the way at a little village parted the one to his friends house and the other to an Inne Hee which lodged at his friends house saw in his dreame his companion defiring him that he would come to help him or else he was to be killed by his hoast which when he saw he awaked rose out of his bed and was about to goe to the Inne but comming to himselfe and thinking how it might be a false dreame returned to his bed and slept then againe his friend appeared vnto him and seemed to request him more earnestly that he would succour him but he making no account likewise of this dreame slept againe to whom in like manner the third time his companion with a great complaint desiring him because hee had neglected to helpe him in his life time that now he would at last not denie to seeke reuenge on the murtherer saying that his murthered body was brought out of the gate of the Citie vpon a Cart couered ouer with dung to hide the offence By this meanes God disclosed the murther which well might be termed sera numinis vindicta Naturall dreames are they which represent the passions of the soule and body the imaginations of such dreames come to passe either by reason of outward causes or inward the outward are vaporous meates which ingender corrupt and burnt bloud For the vse of Coleworts Beanes Pease and Pottage causeth sorrowfull and troublesome dreames like as Garlick and Onions being eaten at supper doth make a man to dreame of terrible things The inward causes of which dreames are euill humours specially melancholicke which through the blacknesse thereof doth darken the light of the vnderstanding which is seated in the braine and there-hence as a candle imparts light vnto the whole body and there they imprint troublesome dreames To hinder a man from dreaming let him auoid bad and windie meates let him purge melancholy and at conuenient season if neede be let him bleed Likewise it is expedient to temper and correct the humours by sound antidotes and preparatiues to vse revulsions and deriuations to withdraw some of the fumes and vapours which ascend vp into the head filling the braine with many such troublesome conceits The fourth Section Of Euacuations CHAP. 1. How many kindes of Euacuations are there EVacuations are either naturall or artificiall the one vsuall as exercise vrine fasting and venerie the other compelled as by Bathes bloud-letting Purgations vomites glysters What be the commodities of Exercise Exercise is that which maketh the body light increaseth naturall heate and consumeth superfluous humours which otherwise would clotter and congeale within the body For in euery concoction some excrements are ingendred which being left alone may be the rootes of diuers sicknesses Now the thicker sort of excrements are auoyded by sensible euacuations But the thinner may be wasted and purged by exercise At what time is it best to exercise It is best to exercise when the body is fasting and emptie least after meats by violent and vehement motions digestion be hindered and putrifaction follow In Sommer exercise is to be vsed an houre after Sunne rising for feare of a double heate In Spring and Haruest time it is to be vsed about an houre and a halfe after Sunne rising that the morning colde may be auoided for as the heate at mid-day is hurtfull so the morning colde especially in Autumne is to be eschewed What kinde of Exercise is good Walking if it be not too slow is a commendable exercise and may be vsed in hot moneths specially of cholericke persons To hang by the hands on a thing aboue your reach so that your feet touch not the ground is good To climbe vp against a steepe hill till you pant and fetch your breath often with great difficultie is a fit exercise to be frequented in colde seasons Olde men must content themselues with softer Exercises least that the small heate which they haue should be spent They must onely euerie morning haue their ioynts gently rubbed with a linnen cloth To be briefe they must be combde and cherished vp with fine delights Vnto what complexion doth Exercise most appertaine Vnto the flegmaticke rather then the cholericke What exercise should short winded men vse They must vse loud reading and disputations that thereby their winde pipes may be extended and their pores opened Of Vrines CHAP. 2. What is Vrine VRine is the clearer and lighter part of bloud proceeding from the raines which if a man forceth to suppresse he is in danger of the collicke or stone What colour of vrine is most commendable That Vrine is most laudable which is of colour somewhat red and yealow like golde answering in proportion to the liquour which you drinke Teach me to prognosticate by Vrines White vrine signifieth rawnesse and indigestion in the
It dulls the spright it dimmes the sight It robs a woman of her right Of Vomites CHAP. 8. What is a vomite A Vomite is the expulsion of bad humours contayned in the stomack vpwards It is accounted the wholesomest kinde of Phisick for that which a purgation leaueth behind it a vomite doth root out VVhich are the best vomites Take of the seeds of Dill Attripplex and Radish three drachmes of Fountaine water one pound and a halfe seeth them all together till there remaine one pound straine it and vse it hot Or else make you a vomite after this manner take three drachmes of the rind of a Walnut slice them and steepe them one whole night in a draught of white wine and drinke the wine in the morning a little before dinner VVhat if the vomites worke not If they work not within an houre after you haue taken any of them sup a little of the sirupe of Oximel and put your left middle finger in your mouth and you shall be holpen VVhat shall I doe if I vomite too much If you vomite too much rub wash your feet with hot and sweet water and if it cease not for all this apply a gourd to the mouth of the stomack Sometimes without any Phisick at all one shall fall to a customarie vomiting And then it proceedes eyther of the colde complexion of the stomacke or of hot complexion If of colde complexion you may helpe it by making a bagge of Wormewood dry Mints and Maioram of each a like one handfull of Nutmegs Cloues and Galingall halfe a drachme of each one Let all of them be dried and powdred and put betwixt two linnen cloathes with Cotton interposed and basted And then let them be applied vpon the stomack Or else you may apply the said hearbes alone dried on a hote Tilestone and put betwixt two linnen cloathes vpon the stomacke Let them fortifie their stomackes with the sirupe of Mints or of Wormewood or eate Lozenges called Diagalanga If vomiting proceedes of hote complexion you may cure it by a playster applied to the stomacke of oyle of Roses Wormewood Mints and Barly flower with the white of an Egge Some in such a case take the water of Purselane in their drinke to quench their thirst Of Common sicknesses CHAP. 9. Shew me how to cure such common sicknesses as daily annoy our bodies ALL sicknesses whatsoeuer spring out of the head distempered and there-hence they arise in one of the foure humours which by the distemperature of the head become likewise distempered so that all sicknesses abound eyther of the bloud depraued or of choler infected or of flegme coagulated or of melancholy empoysoned Or perhaps they spring by the mixt corruption of two or more of these humours Wherefore it behoueth vs to be wise in the very beginning of our sicknesses and to preuent their theeuish intrusion Aboue all vomites or purgations I see none comparable to Stibium or Antimonie prepared which I dare boldly commend as a most soueraine and cheape remedy for agues dropsies fluxes and distillations vnto the poorer sort The taking whereof I wish to be onely three graines infused for a whole night in a glasse of Sack with a little Suger or cleare Ale and to be drunke vp the next morning As for rich men let them fee the Physitian least that noble trade decay for want of maintenance according to that olde saying Stipends doe nourish Artes. The Seminaries of diseases after this manner rooted out by Antimonie Let euery particular griefe be suited thereafter for agues let them coole the liuer with Ptisans Endiue or Succorie waters For the stone let them take Goates bloud dried into powder in a hote Ouen or otherwise as they please within their pottage or liquour seeing that the hardest Adamant is dissolued with this kinde of bloud why may not the stone in mans bodie be likewise bruised therewith For the Gout let them exercise if they can or else â—e let bloud very often in the place affected or let them reserue Horse-leaches for that purpose I might here commend diuers locall medicines as oyles of Roses of Mirtilles of Cammomill or wilde Mallowes of Turpentine or such like I might aduise them to lay emplaisters on the goutie ioynts made of Mellilote of vnguentum Populeum of the flowers of Cammomill of red Roses with Beane flowre I might wish them to apply the Colewort leafe and then to stop the fluxe with that precious and admired salue commonly called Paracelsus his stiptick playster which I haue found by experience to heale any wound whether it be olde or greene sooner in one weeke then any other in a moneth by reason of the binding drying and strengthening vertue which it hath being likewise able to stop the concourse or falling of humours into the sore This salue I praise aboue all others as that which breeds none but good flesh and as Apothecaries say it wilâ— keepe forty yeares without putrifying But indeed because all sicknesses proceed from the braine it were fit to purge the superfluous moisture thereof once a moneth either with a drachme of Pilles Imperiall or of Pillulae sine quibus or of Pillulae Cochiae From the braine they flow into the musckles of the backe and from thence they descend into the feet which is termed Podagra or to the hucklebone which is called Sciatica or else from the backe into the hands and then it is called Chiragra For a preseruatiue against the plague let them now and then take Pillulae communes or the aboue said Antimony which is also good against poison drunke whereby they may note that whatsoeuer helpes the one helpes the other The fift Section Of infirmities and Death CHAP. 1. What be the causes of hot infirmities THE causes of hot infirmities be sixe The first are the motions of the minde as loue anger feare and such like The second the motions of the body as immoderate carnall copulation vehement labours strayning hard riding The third long standing or sitting in the sunne or by the fire The fourth cause of infirmities is the vse of hote things as meates drinkes and medicines vntimely vsed The fift closing or stopping of the pores which happeneth by immoderate annointing bathing or otherwise thickning the skinne so that the holes whereby the sweat and fumes doe passe out be stopped The sixt putrifaction of humours by distemperature of meats and long watchings What be the causes of colde infirmities The causes of cold infirmities be eight the first is the cold aire the second is too much repletion the third is want of good meate the fourth is the vse of cold things the fift is too much quietnesse the sixt is opening of the pores the seauenth is oppilation in the veines or arteries the eight is vnseasonable exercise VVhat is the chiefest cause of death The chiefest and vnauoidable cause of our deathes is the contrarietie of the Elements whereof our bodies be compounded For the qualitie which is predominant ouer
the temperature or mediocritie beginneth to impugne and fight with his contrarie which is more weake vntill it see the vtter dissolution of the same Of the wicked motions of the Minde CHAP. 2. What be passions of the minde THe passions motions or perturbations of the soule which otherwise may be called the accidents of the spirit are strange or sodaine insurrections and rebellious alterations of a tumultuous troubled soule which with draw it from the light of reason to cleaue and adhere vnto worldly vanities VVherein consists the cure of the spirituall maladies As the cure of the bodyes griefes consists chiefely in the knowledge of those causes which engender them so in like manner for the cure of spirituall maladies we must search out the causes from whence they do proceed And as the causes of the bodyes griefes are two outward and inward so the causes of spirituall diseases are likewise two outward and inward The outward are disgraces iniuries hatred miserie losse of honour and such like accidents which wee call outward because they arise out of our bodies able to stirre vp a world of troubles in our Spirits The inward causes of spirituall maladies are two fold the one corporall which presently at the first bickering doe torment the body the other meerely spirituall rightly termed the passions of the soule which torment the soule it selfe The Physitian therefore that will cure these spirituall sicknesses must inuent and deuise some spirituall pageant to fortifie and help the imaginatiue facultie which is corrupted and depraued yea hee must endeauour to deceiue and imprint another conceit whether it be wise or foolish in the Patients braine thereby to put out all former phantasies VVhich are the chiefest passions of the soule The chiefest spirituall passions are voluptuous Loue Iealousie Anger Choler Sorrow Feare and Enuy. VVhat is Loue Loue is an affection whereby the minde lusteth after that which is either good indeed or else that which seemes vnto it to be so Among other causes which besot men towards this affection of Loue I finde idlenesse to be one of the principall which being taken away the force of loue presently decayeth according to that of the Poet Otia si tollas periere Cupidinis arcus Next I finde that mortification of the flesh weakeneth nature and consequently subdueth lust Last of all time and age doe conquer this tyrannous motion but indeede the Grace of God which enlighteneth the eyes of our vnderstanding to regard and meditate on the holy Scripture is the most soueraigne and comfortable water of life which cooleth and alayeth the fierie stings of vnlawfull loue VVhat is the cause of loue The cause of loue among fooles is beauty but among good men the vertues of the minde are the principles of loue for they are euerlasting and when all other things as beauty and riches do decay yet they become more fresh more sweet and inestimable then before Hence it is that wee are counselled to chuse wiues not by our eyes but by our eares that is not by prying into their fairenesse of bodies but by inward contemplating of their honest deedes and good huswiueries Ordinarily the most beautifull and goodly sort of men and such as are decked with bodily gifts are most deformed and vicious in their soules There is alwayes a great combat betwixt chastitie and beautie so that wee seldome see faire women to be honest matrons the reason is because they prefer the phantasticall pleasures of their bodily senses before the true and right noble vertues of the minde such as the Spanyard saith are like an apple which is faire without and rotten within La muger hermosa es como la mancana de dentro podrida y de fuera galana Shew me some other meanes to remedie the stinges of vnlawfull loue Forasmuch as examples are the most familiar meanes to edifie and arme a diseased minde against the assaults of inuisible temptations I will lay downe some which our moderne Writers haue recorded for true The Passion of Loue hath beene so violent and vehement in some that the wisest as Salomon haue turned to be Idolaters and braue Martialists as Hercules and others haue become fooles or mad men Saint Augustine Libr. 11. Trinitat cap. 4. rehearseth a story of one in his time that had such a strong and strange apprehension of his mistresse body imprinted in his braine that he imagined himselfe really present with her and committing of carnall copulation with her so sensibly that his very seed did spend in the said imaginary act vt ei se quasi misceri sentiens etiam genitalibus flueret that I may vse his owne words For the cure of this beastlike and slouenly sinne I will content my selfe with three famous examples There dwelt in Alexandria a dame of great beautie and of greater learning called Hippatia which publikely read vnto Schollers It came to passe that one of her chiefest Schollers became so inamoured of her that the ardent desire of loue compelled him to discouer vnto her his passion entreating her to pittie his languishing state Hippatia a very wise woman and loath to cast away so worthy a Scholler by a cruell disdaine bethought her selfe of this subtill and sodaine remedie she out of hand prouided her of a filthy bloudy and mattry smock and after shee had inuited him to her chamber fayning her selfe willing to giue him contentment shee tooke vp her peticote and shewed him her flowry contagious smocke speaking vnto him after this manner My friend I pray thee see here how thy iudgement hath beene abused see what thing thou louest so precious examine more straightly what motiue induced thee to loue such filthy trompery ouer-cast and disguised with a glozing beautie At these words the young man began to be ashamed to repent himselfe and thenceforth to become more wise and sober It is reported of that great Scholler Raimundus Iullius that falling in loue with a faire Gentlewoman he pressed her very earnestly to respect him Shee to dispatch and to ease his passion concluded to lye with him but when shee came shee presently shewed him her left dugge most vgly to behold by reason of a canker which had almost rotted it At which hideous sight his courage sodainely quailed and cooled in such sort that his lustful loue was conuerted into a charitable loue to study for some extraordinary Physicke to help her A Lawyer of Tholouza for his further learning hauing trauailed into Italy was at length insnared with loue at Venice Whereupon he often passed by the doore of his mistresses house and made many tokens of his good will towards her Hee attempted by the assistance of Bawdes to corrupt her with gifts and in the end with much adoe found means himselfe to impart his loue vnto her The Gentlewoman with bitter threatning repulsed him All which could not cause him to desist from his idle exterprize so vnbrideled was his affection so violent his motion But at the last perceiuing
and so on the contrary Of monethly Dyet CHAP. 2. Shew me how to order my body in euery particular Moneth In Ianuary IN this Moneth mans inward parts become replenished with more heate then at any other time The reason is because our bodies being in health receiue into them more aboundance of food whereby they are strengthened and comforted in their constitutions and principall powers So that wee may aduenture to eate grosser meats as baked Venison of barren Does gelt Buckes gelt Goats Brawne Beefe and such like in this moneth then in any other Moneth for that our naturall heare in warmer weather is dispersed and so digestion hindered now fasting is very hurtfull But spiced drinkes and wines are highly commended Beware of Physicke and chiefly of bloudletting In February Because this season is very raw and watrish keepe your neck and feet warme and imitate the Dutch who vse to weare furred collers as a soueraigne remedie against the colde Ayre Towards the latter end of this moneth it will not be amisse to eate now and then I meane in the beginning of meales those meates which are of a laxatiue substance as a pared pippin or a few stewed prunes and raisins It is good now and then to drinke a a cup of good Meath or white wine some vse to breake their fast with the pith of white bread bespread with honey for the purifying of their breast and bladder All kinde of Physicke is dangerous in this Moneth excepting pilles to purge the head which now seemes more heauy then at other seasons In March In this moneth it is good to eate cleansing things for our bodyes hauing beene glutted with diuersities of meats in the winter cannot but breake out into some outward part by itch biles pockes issues plagues morphew iaundise greene sicknesse or such like or else inwardly by impostumes feuers catarres c. Wherefore let vs vse pottage made of leekes Alisander Peniroyall and Betony and aboue all things let vs beware of salt fish And for our Physicke let vs content our selues with bathes eyther naturall or artificiall or with sweat naturall or artificiall The naturall sweat if it be not excessiue or violent in the opening of the pores will cleanse the bloud make light the spirits dissolue thicke and raw humours and asswage the dropsie the Scuruy and all such sicknesses as proceed of lazinesse The artificiall sweat will cure the itch and mundifie the skinne In a word now is the best time to remoue the rootes of diseases and to preuent their further stealth In Aprill Now with the warme weather our bloud beginnes to heat and waxe rancke And therfore it is expedient to eate meat of a light digestion and sallets to coole our bloud Salt meates are very hurtfull specially for them which doe not trauell by reason that the bloud becomes tainted with them and will quickly engender the itch If there be vrgent need a man may in this Moneth purge or be let bloud But for bloud letting I could wish these rules to be first practised first that the body be made soluble secondly that it be done in the morning before any exercise or commotion of the humours thirdly that the certainty of the veine be regarded fourthly that the quantity be considered according to the Patients complexion and age not vnder fourteene nor aboue fiue and fiftie fiftly that he obserue a very sparing vary dyet for three dayes after whereby pure and good bloud may succeed in the corrupteds place In May. As this Moneth is the most moderate season of the yeare free from extremities hot or cold so that we seeme to liue in terâ floridâ so ought we chiefly now to obserue measure and moderation in our dyet for our bloud being luke-warme may easily be ouertaken with any excesse through that sodaine alteration which Philosophers terme 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Before meat Exercise is most expedient To drinke Wormewood wine is accounted very healthfull and so to drinke soure whay clarified with Sage and Parsley is an excellent dyet drinke for hot Cholericke stomackes Some vse in this Moneth to breake their fast with old Cheese or Parmizan grated with Suger and Sage as a restoratiue for weake spirits Now Horse-leaches may be applyed to our feet or to such parts of the body where we suspect the concourse of moist humors In Iune Early rising profiteth much in this warme time for which cause good husbands doe fetch a long vagari through the pleasant fields to prouoke appetite which otherwise with lazinesse would be corrupted with satietie and sultry loathsomnesse A little meat will serue but we may drinke the more freely so that it be not strong and recompence nature this way for the easier digestion of our meates For euen as the heate of the Sunne breedes chaps clefts and dust in the ground so likewise would it ingender burnt choler as dry soot in a chimney in our sparing bodies Cheries by reason of their piercing vertue are thought commodious to appease thirst Sallets performe the very same To bath in cold water is esteemed a soueraine remedy against all outward griefes or tumours proceeding from heat In Iuly Now arriues the Sommers Solstice which with the fiery Dogge turnes the moisture of our bodies into parched exhalations which we commonly call cholerick symptomes And therefore shunne roast or broyled meates Shunne salt meates Bacon and strong Beefe Spare not to drinke Ptizans Endiue or Succory waters which coole the liuer Now you may boldly sleepe in the after noone so that it be not presently after dinner and not aboue an houre Beware of bloud-letting Physick and venerous acts When you are emptie bath your selfe in colde water for that recreates the animall powers In August In this moneth begin to withdraw your custome from drinking by little and little conuerting the same to a temperate least the vnseasonable Accidents which awayte vpon this moneth doe seaze on thy moist body and so bestow a gift which will not easily be clawed off a tyrannous ague tertian or quartane Beware of fruit specially Apples or Peares which now are wont to tempt want on bodies Beware of them yee nice Maydes whose God is your longing will least yee meet with the greene sicknesse by eating such greene fruit Beware of Eeles and of all fish that are taken in Ponds or in muddy places Some vse to annoint their bodies with this precious oyle to preuent the theeuish intrusion of diseases in this threatning season Take oyle Oliue and incorporate it with the iuyce of Sage Smallage Angelica Rose-water and Rue In September Some accustome themselues to drinke a draught of Goates milke luke-warme in the morning to encrease radicall moisture while this moneth continueth But in any case take heed of excesse least the fruit and drinke which thou tookest so liberally in the Sommer doe worke some treason against thy carelesse body in the Autumne In any case beware of the nights colde Walke as little as thou canst after Sunne