feedeth himselfe onely with arrogancie and blinde presumption of himselfe but in the time to come holding him more short I shall be more wary I shall make him euen P. Excuse me Sir I am afraid that conferring too much in dinner while we prolong our table too farre and that the first meate will be digested before the last and so the parts of our meate will be made vnlike in their digestion whereupon proceeds corruption and putrefaction little lesse in a manner then as if eating betwixt meales wee should adde one meale to another A. But see here is better meates rosted Capons Connies Fowle other such like meates euen created for the sonnes of God be not afraid of the dead be of good courage P. I would I had as good an appetite as I haue a courage A. Note how that with one onely clap I take away a thigh with a cleauing blow I cut off a whole wing and with a false redoubled blow and one right downe together I split this capon Take and enioy this for my sake and in the meane while behold a souldier of our age P. I take it not onely for yours but also for mine owne sake too A. Ah ah you tast it and yet it gets vpon you ah P. The gelt Cocke is temperate in all qualities but this is one of the best because it is young well fed and brought vp in the open fields A. Sure I like it well P. Not without good cause by reason it yeelds better nourishment then any other meate it encreaseth venerie it exceedes all other flesh in goodnesse generating perfect bloud making equall all the humours causing a good braine exciting appetite agreeing with all complexions helping the sight fortifying naturall heate so it be not too far for then it is good in all times in all ages and to all complexions wherevpon by many it is called Quapone notwithstanding it is hurtfull to all idle persons to eate much for generating great abundance of bloud it causeth the gout to which infirmitie it is somewhat subiect A. Then wee le taste of some little bird what say you to this P. Vndique angustiae the difference of the nature of birds may be discerned by their season age meate place of residence aire being gelt for when they seeke their Makes whether they be domesticall or wilde they are not fit to feede our bodies Hens being fatted in the Winter and then made tender are best as also the Owsell wilde-Geese Cranes and all kinde of watrish fowle other fowle are better in time of haruest and fruits A. But from whence comes it that their flesh hath diuers tastes P. From the diuersitie of their meates and they are best that continue vpon the hils and that are gelt if it may be done as wee see in Capons and the young are better then the old A. Behold here a wilde Ducke I will make a Chirurgicall Anatomie of it P. The Cooke by cutting off her head hath taken away her motion and by taking out her heart taken away her life and the fire hath consumed all the radicall humour of her body and of her little parts and members so that sir you are come vpon her somewhat too late A. We will eate a little of the breast and for the rest we will follow Martials counsell Caetera redde Coquo P. The Poet entering into the Kitching hath incensed Poetrie with wit The wilde-Ducke is hot and moist in the second degree and is more hot then any other domesticall Bird her wings and lyuer are very commendable they yeelding ready and good nourishment if it be fat it fattens and nourisheth much it makes a good colour with the heate of it it cleareth the voyce augmenteth sperme enflameth lust driues away ventosities and fortifieth the body the lyuer thereof is most delicate and heathfull and cures the hepaticke fluxe her breast and necke is very commendable meate but yet it is hard to digest of grosse nourishment and nourisheth excrements A. But which are least hurtfull P. The wilde and young ones and such as are nipt with faire frosts and if they be eaten in Winter and roasted full of odoriferous hearbes and spices the old ones are as bad but those that roue vp and downe the fields are somewhat the better A. Take away this dish and reach me those same Gold-finches and peck-figges P. Blessed be the winde that brings in such merchandise with a blacke head they are moist and hot in the first degree and they are alwayes welcome to the tables of great men because they are delicate in taste easily digest and nourish preualently they burden not the stomacke but rather comfort restore and fortifie it they rouze vp appetite especially in them that are recouering of any sicknesse they are cordiall they beget vitall spirits and make vs merry but yet they hurt febricitants for by reason of their subtile substance they easily conuert into those putrified humours that are in the stomacke A. Here be fiue two for me and three for you P. But why three for me and two for you A. Because by the praise ascribed to them out of iustice destributiue and merit of superarrogation you ought to haue one more then I. P. Oh oh as you giue them with a good heart so doe I accept them at your hands A. You good man Oxe head reach me that dish of Doues or Pigeons whether you will haue it sir while you may you must needes eate for when death layes hold of vs we shall be eaten P. The more we deuoure with so much the more hast we procure it and doe but fat our selues for the wormes A. Let vs leaue the meditation of these things to melancholick men taste of this Doue for beleeue me it is sauourie P. They are hot and moist in the second degree your wild ones are lesse moist but those of the Doue-house are more hot that beginne to seeke abroad for their meate these are fatter but both these and house ones nourish well make good bloud are excellent for old men and flegmatickes they corroborate the legges cure paraletickes augment heate in the weake help Venus purge the reynes and easily digest Being vsed in time of the plague without eating any other flesh they preserue from contagion assists the spirits of the sight aide the trembling of the body and encrease force but yet enflaming the bloud they offend those that are hot of complexion Your vvilde ones and those of the house tame are hardest of digestion and inclining to agues A. We will then leaue them to paraliticks old men and flegmatickes to the end they may not affect our heads with griefe vvhere is the Pheasant vvhich I appointed should be made ready P. It is at the fire A. This is but your tricke sir to steale it for your selfe vvhat mouth of a Pheasant ah set it vpon the table that it may be swept vp P. Oh well met I am afraid this good companion comming as
we must be good courtiers and so with outward mirth couer inward griefe as also on the contrary F. Caesar when Aegipts traitour did The head so honoured in gift present Concealing then his manifest content His eyes shed teares as we it written read And Hanniball when to his Empire fallen He saw Dame Fortune so contrarious Laughed amongst a people grieu'd and sad To couer thus his inward discontent And thus the minde does seeke for to conceale Each passion vnder contrary aspect Sometimes with countenance cleare somewhiles browne And therefore if sometimes I laugh or smile I do 't because this the onely way is left To counterfet my inward feares and griefe B. In my opinion this is a common art so as wee can neuer sound the depth of a profound minde F. But looke on heauen and how the Sunne is faire VVhich seemes to inuite and consolate Other cares other thoughts and it Sheweth that other cares other complaints Then Vpon some greater cause time doth require For now I thinke not on my former faults Let 's now forget all bad newes past and gone And leaue all former matters in obliuion I neuer hope to see this heauen againe In tract of time or changing of mine haire Though often to confesse no more but truth I feare and so my hart is often stung VVith shame disdaine with loue with conscience B. But by your leaue I clearely now doe know that great things Sir and a long course and rase O admirable trauailer you haue past God send vs good fortune what people are these that come towards vs F. Or good or bad wee must not stirre our foote For what so euer we encounter with Or good or ill It commeth from aboue as doth the riuer From his fountaine or from his roote the plant And what doth here seeme ill Where euery good is mixed with much ill It 's there aboue where all that 's good remaynes But what doest thou Demaund the way of them in ciuilitie B. Gentlemen I pray you shew me the right way to Naples F. What answere made hee that wee should follow the most beaten But how many miles haue we thither B. I forgot to aske him F. Obserue the Sunne it is about dinner time B. I looke on him or hee one me too much doth looke F. Out of doubt hee is in loue with thee hee le make thee red sweat to broile and to bloate euen to burne for his loue B. A common euill breedes least annoyance if I be red my neighbours also will not looke pale F. If Affricke mourn'd so laught not Italy but there 's another matter I must tell you of I haue great hunger and you know if on the way a passenger want meat he must of force his steps retire stay when vigour failes that made him nimbly goe B. I doe see that an emptie sacke cannot stand vpright I asked of him with the bald head how farre it was to the next Cittie but dumbe or a foole as he was he answered me not at all but we must not sigh before our time behold I see there a very fine Village F. Goe thou before and without delay warily obserue where we may light to refresh our selues B. I thinke any Inne will serue for one meale F. Nay it is much the worse and a bad lodging costs most doe without reply what I command you for before I speake to you I thinke thereon and communicate my thought to reason and wisedome although good prouidence hath not alwaies good successe B. I will goe and presently returne F. And why come you againe so quickly what newes bring you B. The Village is poore and full of Rakehels F. The necessitie obserues no law we must serue the time accomodate our selues to the place and to the persons B. It is true and yet out of stones you can draw no milke and from thornes nothing is to be got but prickes F. Honest friend how call you this Village Mal Porto F. Didst thou not marke him I doubt the Diuell did compound him B. And let him take him to himselfe also Behold the Inne the onely Phoenix of this Towne F. Oh you of the house there doth no body answere I beleeue it be a lodging for Bats or Owles and that there is no hot ashes within it B. Me thinkes rather our hauing no answere is a silent diuine admonishment that quickly we depart F. Oh see here is one in an euill yeere which God send him and all his company What demaund you sir F. Haue you nothing to eate Light if you please and I will aske of my Mistresse F. Goe and returne quickly friend what thinke you of him that Pylot hath but a poore braine that lets a woman stirre his Ship B. But what if the common vse be so F. Be it in what Country so euer man being by the law of nature and also of God the womans head if she doe any thing she doth it not as his Mistresse but as his seruant and though sometimes it may so fall out that a man will submit himselfe to faeminine iudgement yet in this case he clearely manifesteth that either he hath but a blinde discernance or that in wisedome he is inferiour to a woman the which amongst wise men hath euer and euer will be no little scorne to our sexe Sir there is now nothing ready but raw flesh we haue in aboundance F. Cause the horses to be walkt a little then set them into a safe and sure Stable locke the dore with the key and then come to vs God saue you all With your leaue my good friend I will sit a little and take my rest B. Behold I am here againe sir F. I see well that hunger and neede putteth winges on thy feete but where are our beasts and the Cloakebagge B. In a Stable walled with brickes with a dore shut and lockt and see where it is Behold a sober and poore dinner F. Where is the wine B. The seruant brings it F. Doe not fill the Cup reach me that same that Violl with the narrow mouth for I will quench my thirst goe you and eate in the other chamber B. I am here sir pleaseth it you to be gone F. Bring in a reckoning for our selues and our horse B. Sir our host is appeared and brought mee this note in writing F. What man is hee B. Euill newes certainely for he hath little countenance of a man and in all his manner he is iust a beast and of body by Nature euill composed lame squint eyed crooke-backed and that which is worst he is of the nation of Calabria F. In a little time he can but put vs to a little trouble let mee see the bill but how can it be that for so slender a meale he should bring in so large a reckoning B. Sir you know all better then I. F. Oh what a Wolfes conscience haue we here what an
well they excite Venus being beaten with honey and salt they cure the biting of a mad dog the like doth the flesh of a Tunnie fish broiled vpon hot imbers they stay vomit but are hard of digestion they bring stitches to the body generate ventosities but most of all when they are raw but they are lesse hurtfull when they are roasted vnder the ashes in cold seasons and then eaten with pepper sugar salt A. Chest-nuts euen as Akornes seeme to be meate for animals P. Why I pray you is not man a creature if hee be passionate hee is the worst Creature Nature could haue created after the premeditation of a thousand yeeres A. Out of question an honest man represents the Image of God but a wicked man is worse then an hundred Wolues or ten thousand vnchained Diuels P. But concerning our purpose though all maste is meate for beasts yet hath it many vertues for in time of dearth it makes bread for the poore being grownd and drunke with wine it cures the bitings of venemous beasts and those that haue taken any kinde of poyson or drunke cantharides so as they pisse blood and fall into many bad accidents The pouder of them drunke with the decoction of camok or of dogs tooth helps the disease of the stone and being drunke with Cowes milke it is good against poyson Their oyle is good for wollen cloathes and so is sope A. Shall I taste of a greene Limon P. If it be ripe and haue the odour of a well coloured cytron and hauing some dayes since beene pluckt from the Tree they haue but more defectly the faculties and vertues of a Pome-citron their iuyce procures appetite stayes vomit cuts through grosse humours resists malignant feauers kils wormes and the sharpe iuyce of them being taken to the quantitie of an ounce and mingled with Malmasie expels stones out of the reynes and the greene ones operate the same more effectually Moreouer if they be cut very greene and sugar and rose-water put vpon them and so be eaten with flsh or slesh which is salt they are excellent to prouoke appetite they giue a good taste to our drinke and preualently expell grauell from out the reynes and bladder for the same effect they are eaten in sallets cut small with water hony and vinegar but yet they hurt the stomacke all collicall griefes and generate melancholy they are corrected with sugar and synamon A. I thinke Pomegranets are not without their speciall vertue P. The sweet ones helpes the stomacke breast all coughes and Venus and sharpe ones ease the liuer all burning feuers they quench thirst slake the heate of the stomacke and their iuyce doth the like and their syrrupe for they effectually abate choller they suffer no superfluities to mount vp into the head and both of them prouoke vrine Their rindes preserue clothes from moths and so doth the rinde of the cytron or limon the which likewise preserue rose leaues that they breede no wormes The vices both of the one and the other Pomegranate is corrected by vsing of them both together A. I pray you sir take these foure Wall-nuts for my sake P. I thank you very heartily and for your loue will take them those domestical are the best and especially those red great and thinly couered ones that are full of humour and haue not beene touched with the wormes the long ones are most pleasing to the taste they nourish most of all other nuts and augment the braine A. From hence it may be it comes that they please women so much because they supply in this point their debilitie P. Three or foure eaten continually in the beginning of dinner doe absolutely free vs from the griefe of the reynes and grauell Being eaten with Rue and dry figges fasting they preserue from the plague let the raw ones be couered with Sugar like Corianders and they are very acceptable to the stomacke but they are hard of digestion and yet acceptable to the Liuer they generate some ventositie and much choler and eating many of them they cause head-ach A. Here be small nuts shall we eate of them P. Nuts hurt the throate tongue and palate they excite coughs and head-ach procure crudities thirst and dizzinesse but they loose aking teeth and being infused into wine they doe no hurt or seasoned with sugar and honey but in Winter they heale the stomacke and sometimes helpe flegmatickes and melancholicks if they suffer no restruction of the breast A nut put into the pot makes the flesh to boile presently and so being put into a pullet When Nut-trees bring forth aboundance of fruit they signifie abundance of corne Two dry nuts two figs twentie Rue leaues and a graine of salt pestled and eaten fasting doe not onely preserue from poyson but also from the plague Being eaten fasting they cure bitings of madde dogs and being chewed and laid vpon the biting it is very good the greene huskes of nuts supply the want of pepper in meates A. By no meanes will I forbeare to taste of these Pine-apples P. They are hot and moist and if they be not mouldie they are good they nourish much being sodden with honey and sugar they purge the breast prouoke vrine restore a weake nature cleanse the reynes and bladder ease the griefes of the nerues and of the Seatica and good for Paralitickes for benummed persons and tremulant they mundifie the Lights are profitable for the breast and therefore are very good for Tisickes and to excite lust but they must be vsed soberly because they are somewhat hard For their correction they must first be infused into luke-warme water and then they may be eaten by flegmatickes with honey and by those cholerickes with sugar and in Winter they are very good for old men with honey A. Your Pistaccioes please me beyond measure P. If they be greene within they are wonderfully effectuall in stirring vp venerious appetites they remoue opilations of the Lyuer with other effects formerly mentioned but yet they hurt hot complexions and yet not if they be eaten in the beginning or end of meales taking after them sugar and conserues of Roses They hurt cholericall complexions and help old men and flegmatickes A. We will eate three or foure sower Cherries P. How like you them they binde the belly cut flegme refresh dry vp and corroborate the great ones and those very ripe are best they slake the heate of choler cut the ventositie of flegme excite appetite and are preserued with Sugar but yet exasperating the stomack they hurt old men and those that are weake of stomacke they are very good in the heate of Summer and are best with sugar being much auaileable for pestilentiall Feauers A. These Apricockes by their smell and colour like me well will you haue any they are here at your seruice sir P. They are cold and moist they were brought out of Armenia the best coloured and greatest ones are best with a sweete kirnell called Alberges
they being slipt from the stone cause vrine their kernels kill wormes If they be dryed with the Sunne or in an ouen not ouer-hot being first clouen in the middest and taken as oft as is possible and then sprinckled ouer with powdred sugar they are of the same effect as Past of Genoa so as being made into paste they be prepared after this manner But yet they moue fluxe of the belly they swell the bloud are conuerted into choler they are of euill nourishment generate pestilentiall Feauers putrifying the bloud they are hurtfull for flegme the Liuer and milt they are corrected by eating annise-seeds or salt meats with them or seasoned with spices and afterwards also drinking good wine thereupon A. I hope you will not forbid me to eate a few of these cherries seeing others eate of them euen while their bellies cracke againe P. Follow not others but rather reason it selfe I would not finde by experience how hurtfull they are to me A. He is a foole that knowing how will not seeke to auoid euill Which are the best P. Those of hard substance well ripened by the Sunne and not by Art and those which are not ouer wet by the raine such as are of hard substance for the watrish ones such as are in England are to be auoided of those called Marastie the best are the Palumbine the good sweet ones open the dry ones especially the Visciole doe bind slake choler and cut flegme if they be boild with sugar A. Doe they not hurt then P. The sweete ones are enemies to the stomacke they generate wormes in the belly and putrifying humours they sodainely corrupt and putrifie By reason of their ventositie they puffe vp the stomacke if they be eaten plentifully their vice is corrected by eating few or if none at all it is the better especially for faire women for they breeding putrefaction in their stomackes and contaminating their bloud they make them sallow pale wanne and vnpleasant to behold Another way to correct them is after the eating of them without any intermission of time to take meates of excellent substance salted and sharp and let them not be eaten for meate but to quench thirst and the heate of choller but they are wonderfull bad for old men and flegmatickes and so consequently for women the most part of whom and in a manner all are flegmaticke and therefore we see that corporall coniunction is so pleasing to them as with a thousand chaines they cannot be detained from it hereupon a lawyer sayes Mulier est de illis bonis adeo corruptibilibus quae conseruando conseruari non potest A. There is no minde can thinke nor heart imagine nor eye discerne nor locke can locke in nor dore shut vp nor bar stop nor chaine that can binde a womans deceit let vs leaue them that with their liberty the dishonest may whip themselues and the honest may more clearely shine Well for their sakes I will taste of one of these dates P. You doe well to say for their sakes their loues being euen as the kernell in the dates they generate a blood which is sodainly changed into choler they cause the morene to come forth they opilate the liuer milt bowels and veynes wherevpon long feauers are ingendred being sodden with sugar they are lesse hurtfull or eating them after eager meates and with vinegar If they be not prepared with sugar they hurt at all times to all ages and to all complexions but yet they make fat make the belly slippery helps coughes A. Now let vs come to Oliues P. They are able to make one laugh they yeeld little nourishment digest slowly and sallets of them enflame the liuer and hinder sleep Those steept in vinegar are best they help in cold seasons to all ages and complexions and they must be eaten at the end of meales to corroborate the stomacke and to aide digestion and he that doth otherwiâ—e proceeds without reason or order A. Will you haue any peaches they are heere ready at your pleasure P. I could wish to haue them pluckt and taken off the tree they are cold and moist and their kernels hot and dry the hard ones that are not pluckt participate more of the nature of the Quince and therefore they are called Quince-peaches They must be eaten in the beginning of dinner because they loose and they must be infused into wine whose spirit they drawing in by their poares they remaine intepide but in conclusion they are hurtfull in that they generate the dropsie and some seeke as was formerly said to correct them with wine but they are the worse for so their hurtfull iuyce is the quicklier carried to the veynes The kernels of Peaches being eaten preuent the hurt of the fruites they are excellent for collickes and the wormes for ventosities and to mundifie the stomacke as also for opilations of the lyuer they dissolue the stone of the reynes and bladder they free them from flegmatical excrements that take euery morning eight or ten and if one haue too hot a Lyuer two preserue a man healthfull A. Behold here are Prunes which are visited and shall not wee visit them see here are seauen to restore and comfort you P. Oh they are cold and moist the Damascens are much commended if they be sweete and ripe and they are called Damascens of the Citie of Damascus of Soria they purge choler coole heate quench thirst refresh and moisten the body their iuyce being boyled excites appetite quencheth the thirst of Febricitants and with Scammonie and Manna there is made an hard Electuarie which is much vsed in Rome adding thereunto the infusion of Sene Polipodie Annises and Synamon but the aboue named fruits hurt weake stomackes but not if they be eaten in the beginning with Sugar and that afterwards wee drinke excellent wine after it A. If you please to haue a Cucumber or of that which is a kind of Pompilion see they are here ready at your seruice P. If I were assailde by a violent Feauer which God forbid to diminish the heat and fury therof I would make vse of them or else of their seedes for the reynes and bladder to prouoke vrine or yet if I had an hot and dry stomacke and that it did abound with superfluous heate I would vse their solid substance or if I were affected with the drynesse of my tongue but thankes be to God I being free from all these accidents they can generate nothing but bad nourishment for corrupting sodainely they conuert into an humour like to mortall poison but that which is worst it diminisheth seede extinguisheth Dame Venus and breedes in the stomacke slimie flegme which procureth long Agues by reason of their diffusion into the veynes And to those that haue flegme in the stomacke they bring vomite and they doe generate collicall griefes and Hypocondriacall passions In the beginning of meates they ascend vp like a hot Raddish roote they are lesse hurtfull in the end and are easily