situation thereof being the cause of these differences Many other strange effects of winds may in these Authors be seene which here I willingly passe by having dwelt somewhat the longer upon this point to acquaint such as shall travell into this new world with the condition of the aire and winds of those remote regions CHAP. VI. Of the foure Seasons of the yeere and how they affect the body GOD of his infinit goodnesse to man-kinde after that great and terrible deluge and inundation of the universall world made man a promise that from thenceforward should not faile the severall seasons of the yeere Sommer and Winter Seed-time and Harvest which hath hitherto accordingly come to passe Now these seasons according to severall climats and countries doe much vary and differ Vnder the Line and betwixt the Tropickes they continue more constant and lesse deviation from their ordinary course is to be observed Without the Tropicks there is a greater difference and irregularity therein to be observed Now these seasons therefore according to their unconstant course must needs diversly affect the body of this Microcosme man both in sicknesse and in health and therefore will not be impertinent to say something of this subject Wee will threfore begin with the naturall temperature of the seasons of the yeere as they are commonly seene and observed with us here in Europe The naturall temperature of the Spring then with us here in Europe ought to be hot and moist of the Sommer hot and drie of the Autumne or Harvest cold and moist of Winter cold and drie These among innumerable others are the chiefe alterations incident to our aire and by the which the seasons of the yeere are with us ordinarily divided and distinguished and these seasons are occasioned by meanes of the exaltation or declining of that glorious prince of Planets Now the further these seasons decline frō the afore-mentioned qualities the more intemperate and greater enemies to the health of mankind they prove Our Hipporcrates defines not these seasons after this manner but according to the rising and setting of certaine starres and the chiefe times by him observed are these following the two Solstices the one in Sommer about the eleventh of Iune the other in Winter about the eleventh of December then next the two Aequinoxes the one about the eleventh of March the other about the eleventh of September These times because of dangers about these seasons this old Father would have us to observe The Sōmer Solstice he accounteth most dangerous and the Harvest Aequinox The same Authour againe observeth the rising and setting of certaine starres as namely of the Pleiades Vergiliae rising the five and twentieth of April and setting about the first of November and againe the rising of Arcturus about the one and thirtieth of August and setting about the beginning of March. Besides this same Authour observeth also the rising of the Dog-starre the ninteenth of Iuly and setting againe the twenty seventh of August and with these also he observeth the blowing of the West-wind And this is all the Hippocraticall spheare comprehending such starres and seasons as he thought fit for Physitians to observe But now againe as concerning the temper of these seasons whereas I say the Spring is hot and moist it may be objected that in it selfe it is rather temperate To this I answer that howsoever it be so accounted yet in comparison of the other seasons it may be called temperate And againe it may be called temperate as some say effective by producing the best temper It may againe be demanded if heat and drouth be proper qualities befitting Sommer and cold drouth approptiated for Winter whether the hottest Sommer be not the healthfullest as likewise the coldest Winter To this I answer they are not so simply and absolutely considered Nam omne nimium vertitur in vitium The extreme hot Sommer inflames the humours of the body making it subject to hot and acute diseases and the extreme pinching cold accompanied especially with sharpe piercing Northerly winds disposeth the body to rheumes and rheumatecke diseases as likewise to Apoplexies and many other such like dangerous infirmities The humours in the body of man have pre-eminence and dominion according to these foure seasons for in the Spring blood most abounds in the Sommer choler in the Harvest melancholy and in Winter phlegme and the parts of our civill day answer likewise to these seasons the morning to the Spring the noonetide to Sommer the afternoone to autumne and the night to Winter Now these anniversarie or yeerely seasons doe much differ according to the climat For within the Tropicks the seasons are much warmer than without and under the Equinoctiall Line then Winter is when the Sorrow is perpendicular over their heads by reason that then it doth more powerfully attract and draw unto it selfe divers moist exhalations which descending againe in great abundance upon the face of the earth doth plentifully refresh water the same and this season they therefore call their Winter But againe when the Sun declineth a little the beames not darting downe so perpendicularly as before there not being now that forcible attraction of vapours and by consequent as fewer clouds and lesse raine so heat to the outward appearance being then intended and of greater force than before and this time they call their Sommer as being fairer and warmer than the former quite contrary to that which befalleth us here without the Tropickes as in particular may be observed in the country of Chili in the West Indies Now the situation of places as hath before beene mentioned often altereth the nature of this ambient aire and by consequent altereth the seasons in those particular places although the elevation of the Pole differ little or nothing the which is evidently seen in Peru whereas the whole breadth of the countrie not much exceeding forty leagues in the plaine it neither snowes raines nor thunders and in the meane time upon the Sierra or hils the seasons have their courses as in Europe where it raines from the moneth of September untill April and in the Andes it raines in a manner all Winter And even here in Europe no small difference may thus be observed that oftentimes the high hills are infested with terrible cold tempests when as the adjacent vallies goe many times scotfree as travellers can testifie And of this my selfe was once an eye-witnesse when as in the yeere 1610 travelling from Misnia towards Prague and passing over the high hills which encompasse Bohemia round about on Easter eve at night falling then about the midst of April as likewise all Easter day and the three next daies after it snew continually without any intermission accompanied with so nipping a frost and North-Easterly wind that I have seldome at any time observed a sharper season the next day after the snow fell no more and comming downe into the plaine of Bohemia about
which are themselves none of the best nourishment cannot be much worth And the moister the creature is the brains must needes be the worse being so much the more moist than others The braines of wilde fowle themselves of a good alimentall qualitie and somewhat dry as Partidges and the like are the best But of Pigeons they are starke naught as among foure-footed beasts Cats braines are esteemed poison Howsoever the braines are alwaies farre worse than the rest especially in water-fowle where themselves yeeld no good nourishment even those of the smaller kinde also must needes be of no esteeme at all The maw or Gufford of yong Hens Capons Pullets Turkies Geese or Ducks although they are hard of digestion yet if well concocted and meeting with a strong stomacke they yeeld indifferent good nouishment And some have opinion that the inward skinne thereof prepared is good to strengthen the stomacke and to be good against the stone whereof I am not as yet so well perswaded The wings of young fat fowle are easily concocted and yeeld the bodie indifferent good nourishment but as for those of old leane fowle I wish-weake and tender stomackes to beware and rather feed on better food The Livers of ordinarie fowle although they be somewhat harder of concoction than the Musculous flesh it selfe yet in young fat fowle as of the Capon Henne Pullet Turkie or Goose it selfe they yeeld indifferent good nourishment The Liver of the Goose among the Romans was in high esteeme above all others and for this purpose they fed their Geese in such a manner that the Liver would grow to an exceeding great bignesse And this the Iewes practise even now in our daies Their meate they eate mingled with milke is thought is a great meanes to bring this to passe The stones of Cockes or Cockerrells as also of Turkies Geese Drakes especially of Sparrowes are commended for good strengthning meat and to ingender sperme The Egge although it be not properly a part of the fowle yet doth it proceed from the same The Egge is a good wholesome and temperate food yet better or worse according to the Fowle that laid it Hens and Turkies Egges are most familiar to mans nature and best and wholesomest for ordinarie use The white of the Egge compared with the yolke is cold and moist and is somewhat harder of concoction than the yolke But concerning Egges more herereafter CHAP. XX. Of strange and uncoth Diet which some people have in ordinarie use as of Dogges Cats Horses Mules Asses Rats Locusts Frogges Snailes and man flesh BEfore we enter upon our Fish wee will say something of some strange and uncoth kinde of diet especially flesh as also some other things not usuall among us that by this meanes wee may the more be induced to laud and magnifie the great and extraordinarie bountie of our great and gracious God in affording us such plentie and varietie of good and wholesome food for susteining these fraile bodies that by this meanes in all moderation and sobriety and without excesse we might the better be enabled for his service And besides that travellers which shall by any occasioned necessity be cast upon any such places may be somewhat acquainted with the nature and faculty of such uncoth food It hath been already plainly proved how usefull necessary a food bread is and how agreable to the life of man and without the which all other food whatsoever giveth but small content and yet there is a people saith a late Writer that live upon flesh only and these be certaine Indians under the command of the great Mogere and bordering upon China which also hold all manner of corne to be food for beasts and not for man and yet those people live 100 yeeres I have seen with mine eies saith Caesar Frederick that the inhabitants of Pegu or Brama have eaten Serpents Scorpions and all manner of herbs and grasse This I meane saith he not of their extremity or famine but ordinarily Mr Fitch saith the same that they eat roots herbs leaves Dogs Cats Rats Snakes they refuse almost nothing and this is also the custom in Florida where they eat such vermin as also ants egs wood earth and dung of wilde beasts and keepe the bones of Serpents and fishes to grinde afterwards The Guineans diet is strange as raw flesh handfalls of graine large draughts of Aquavitae Dogs Cats Buffles Elephants though stinking like carrion and a thousand magots creeping in them and that Vipers flesh was in use to be eaten appeareth by Dioscorides And Pliny relateth that the Aethiopians and Indians called Seres and the inhabitants of the hill Athos called by Isigonus Macrobii or long lived lived on the like food and by reason thereof neither in their head nor whole bodie were bred any kinde of vermine whatsoever And that Rats were in request as an ordinary food among the antients as also that they had warrens for this same purpose is apparant and therefore Pliny mentioneth that Marcus Scaurus in his Censorian law abolished and banished from their tables both Rats Shel-fish and fowle fetcht from forraigne parts But it may perhaps be asked whether Horse Cats and Dogges may not be eaten I answer that indeed such creatures not being in ordinary use with us and being supplied with other variety of usefull creatures and exceeding any of them in bounty good and wholesome aliment I see no necessity of their use But because in some staits and extremitie as sieges of townes and other occasions there may be sometimes a necessitie of using such food howsoever not to be compared with our ordinary flesh yet doe they not partake of any evill or venomous quality Indeed such creatures as also Mules and Asses especially old and leane are hard of concoction yeelding a bad and melancholicke nourishment to the body The young ones that be fat are of farre better use nourish better and are easilier digested And as for Dogges and Cats especially being young and fat many have often fed upon them and found them good food In Italy it is no uncoth thing to eat Cats and even here among our selves Cats have beene sometimes eaten by some of purpose and by others unawares who never found any offence by this food And this same last hard pinching yeere 1630 some in this same towne ate the flesh of Cats and made good pottage thereof Beside even Hippocrates himselfe appointed whelps flesh to his sicke as may in divers places of his works appeare whereby it may plainly appeare that such creatures may in time of need be eaten But besides these in divers places Locusts which wee commonly call Caterpillers a creature whereby God often scourged the inhabitants of hot countries and wherewith hee also often threatned the rebellious and stif-necked people of the Iewes have beene and yet are at this day much used for ordinary food among many Nations especially the
Africans And this is both by Pliny and many other Authors witnessed How the Aethiopians catch them with smoake and salt them up may be seene in Authours this being their chiefe food whereon in these countries they most ordinarily feed They use either to boile them or else to dry them in the Sunne and beat them to powder and make meale of them And that they were used of the inhabitants of Arabia Foelix whereunto Iudea adjoined or was not at least farre distant from it is apparent by Iohn Baptist his diet Now by the way by occasion of mentioning Iohn Bapttist it is to be observed that Iohn did indeed feed upon such beasts and not upon the buds of certaine herbs as some would have him drawing the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to their owne interpretation which notwithstanding in any antient Author is not found in such a signification as they would have it And it is againe reported by Epâ—phanius that some Iewes desirous to be lye the truth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying thereby certaine junkets made of hony or oile whereof mention is made Exod. 16. and Num. 11. But these and many others which for brevity I passe by are but frivolous and farre fetcht and therefore let us rest upon this that Iohn Baptist did indeed feed upon such a food contenting himselfe with this austere kind of diet Locusts and wild hony Now this same late alleged author tells us that this need not seeme so strange untous since that even of late yeeres some Germane souldiors even in so great an abundance of all manner of provision yet used ordinarily to fry Silke-wormes and eate them with no small delight and that not without good reason for such things as are indued with no noisome smell or taste depend onely upon opinion which is a good rule to be observed in the use of uncouth food And the Italians eat another worme differing from the other but in colour to outward appearance it being black and the former of a reddish colour and yet are such with them esteemed as greatest dainties although ingendred of putrefaction and not of Egges as both the Locusts and Silke-wormes are Now that the Locust was a food and used to be eaten even among the Iewes themselves at least some sorts may by the 11. chap. of Levit. appeare where foure sorts of Locusts were allowed to be eaten and therefore called cleane and other three sorts forbidden and called uncleane Of these creatures I could make a long and large discourse relating their severall names and natures together with divers histories of their hurt done in severall Countries at several times with many other things to them belonging which I willingly passe by Whoso desireth to know more concerning these creatures Let him read Pliny and others even our late alleged Author But besides all the sorts of creatures usefull for mankind as though this were not yet sufficient and that our bountifull God had abridged us of necessary provision for the sustentation of this fraile life mans boldnesse hath yet extended it selfe to strange and prodigious dishes So that now we are not contented to feed on Sheep and Cattell Hens and Capons and other such creatures usefull for the maintaining of the life of man and fit them for our tables but prodigious gluttony hath now devised to feed upon the excrements of the earth the slime and scum of the water the superfluity of the woods and putrefaction of the sea to wit to feed on frogs snailes mushroms and oisters And that this custome hath beene very antient may by Pliny appeare who writeth that they used to feed snailes in warrens as they did other creatures And it seemeth that such creatures were at the first used either as Physicke or in the defect and want of better food And it seemeth that some antient Physitians used frogs in Consumptions and wasting away of the bodie as also in that oppilation of the pipes of the lungs called isthma But this was never their meaning that they should be either of them or any other as an ordinary food but rather Physicke or at least physicall food alimentum medicamentosum But to speake the very truth both frogs and snailes are now adaies rather used for wantonnesse and to please our curious palats than for any necessity or defect of other food And thus are they ordinarily used in France and some other countries although yet not in frequent use with us howbeit one of these daies these dishes may become as common as our new French fashions of apparell To enter upon a large discourse of the nature properties and preparation of frogs and the manner of using them is not here my purpose and therefore leave it to them that have more leisure and purpose to feed upon them If any have a purpose to use them let them beware of those that are venomous And my advice shall bee rather to abstaine from such things wherein there may be either danger or doubt and to make choice of that which is free from either where there is such choice and variety And this I would have also understood concerning mushroms whereof some thing hath been said already and the like As concerning Snailes they are used for food both in France and other neighbouring countries and for this purpose as the antient Romans fed them in their warrens so doe some even at this day feed them in their gardens Now some are of opinion that Snailes are of a very nourishing faculty and for this cause our women doe often ordinarily indifferently exhibit them in Consumptions of any kind whatsoever sometimes in milke and sometimes in broth even as their owne fancie leadeth them But by the way if Snailes be so nourishing I wonder why our Papists use them so ordinarily in the time of Lent when as they will not allow so much as a bit of Porke or powdered beefe They may well answer they may as well be allowed as wine and I thinke so too and farre better and nourish farre lesse and with lesse speed I am sure than wine and divers other things they use The reason why they are esteemed of so alimentall or nourishing a nature is by reason say som that in Winter they are able to sustaine themselves with their owne substance and that for this same cause Galen appointeth them in Hecticke Fevers and consumptions But the truth is that these creatures by reason of their viscidity and glutinous tough substance and the imbecillity and want of naturall hear loose little or nothing of this their tough and glutinous substance and by consequent need no reparation of the same And as for the exhibition of them in Hecticke Fevers it is rather by way of humectation and refrigeration than for any strong alimentall quality hee acknowledgeth in them And that they participate of such a slimie glutitinous substance may from hence also evidently appeare saith the late
vulgar practising the contrary Something also concerning the bed wherein the sicke lieth and whether the sicke ought to have his haire cut CHAP. IV. Of abstinence either from some or all sorts of food for a short or a longer time and of severall sorts of abstinence CHAP. V. Of aliment or diet of the diseased in generall Whether a thinne and spare diet or a full and liberall be better CHAP. VJ. Certaine rules and lawes from whence the Diet of the Diseased is desumed CHAP. VIJ. What things in prescribing Diet for the Diseased are to be observed CHAP. VIIJ Of fit Diet for the Diseased and that of severall sorts and first of that which vegetables afford as bread herbs and fruits CHAP. IX Of flesh and what sorts of flesh are fittest for the sicke and how to bee exhibited CHAP. X. Of Egges and their use and whether they may be allowed the sicke Of divers liquid substances made of flesh as broth Colice Gelee restorative distillations c. CHAP. XJ. Of Fish and whether they may be allowed the sicke CHAP. XIJ. Of the drinke of the diseased and first of water with the frequent use thereof in antient times Whether and how now to be exhibited and how before to be prepared and where it is not admitted how to supply the defect thereof CHAP. XIIJ. Of warme drinke and whether it be usefull or no CHAP. XIV Of wine and whether it may safely be administred to sicke folkes Of artificiall wines aqua vitae usquebagh and other strong waters CHAP. XV. Of divers drinkes made of honey mulsum mulsa or hydromel oxymel with the various wayes of their composition and of their excellent vertues CHAP. XVJ. Of divers drinkes made of Barly very usefull for the sicke and in frequent request as Ptisan Barly-water Creame of barly and wherein ours differ from those of antient times Something concerning Emulsions both almond-milke and others CHAP. XVIJ. Of milke of divers sorts and whether fit to be used of the diseased CHAP. XVIIJ Of exercise which terminateth in rest the necessity and utility thereof together with divers and various sorts of exercise aswell generall as particular with severall circumstances therein to be considered CHAP. XIX Of the exercise of the mind Whether at our meales wee may discourse and deliberate of serious and waighty affaires And what was the custome and practice among the antients Accommodation of Exercises to the sicke how safe it is for them to use Exercise and what fittest and in what diseases Questions discussed and handled in this second BOOKE 1. VVHether a Country-aire or that of townes or cities be better cap. 2. 2. Whether it be better to shift the sicke or to let them lye still in foule clothes according to the vulgar custome Cap. 3. 3. Whether the bed is to be warmed Cap. 3. 4. Whether it be good to cut the haire of the sicke Cap. 3. 5. Whether a thinne and spare or a full and liberall diet be better Cap. 5. 6. Whether Egges may safely be used of the sicke Cap. 10. 7. Whether fish may be allowed the sicke Cap. 11. 8. Whether warme drinke be usefull Cap. 13. 6. Whether wine may safely be exhibited to sicke folkes Cap. 14. 10. Whether milke may safely be used of the sicke Cap. 17. Contents of the Chapters of the Third BOOKE CHAP. I. OF Repletion and Inanition in generall what they are and the variety of particular circumstances therein to be considered CHAP. IJ. Of Phlebotomy what it is the severall sorts and sundry things therein to be considered CHAP. IIJ. Whether in contagious maligne and pestilentiall Fevers and in the small Pox and Measels as likewise in the Jaundize Phlebotomy may safely be administred CHAP. IV. Of the veines to be opened in the body of man and the manner CHAP. V. To what persons this remedy may safely be administred Whether a woman with child may safely be let blood where something concerning the age fit to be phlebotomized CHAP. VJ. Of the quantity how long the Patient is to bleed as also concerning reiteration of this remedy in the time of need with a confutation of some erroneous opinions concerning this point CHAP. VIJ. Of the fittest time for evacuation by Phlebotomy both generall and particular both of election and coaction as also whether we may let blood during the dog dayes CHAP. VIIJ. Whether in Phlebotomy we are to observe the signe and severall other things pointed out to us by our Ephemerides-masters CHAP. IX Preparation before Phlebotomy during bleeding what to bee done and how to be ordered after Of particular Phlebotomy by leaches Of scarification and cupping Of searing setum vesicatories c. CHAP. X. Of Purgation or evacuation of corrupted humors in generall CHAP. XJ. Whether we ought to purge or no what persons are fit to bee purged and able to indure purgations Whether women with child may safely bee purged CHAP. XIJ. Of humours to be purged of their preparation as also of the body to be purged Of the quantity or reiteration or often exhibition in time of need CHAP. XIIJ. Of vomits Glisters Suppositories and with which we are to beginne when divers are requried CHAP. XIV Of the opportune time of purgation both generall and particular with divers other things concerning this subiect CHAP. XV. Of the waies and passages by which we are to purge of the formes in which we exhibit Physicke together with the manner of governing the sicke during purgation and meanes to keepe Physicke in the stomacke that it cast it not up againe CHAP. XVJ. Of sweating and meanes to provoke the same divers sorts of hydrotickes or medicines provoking sweat both externall and internall CHAP. XVIJ. Of Bathing among the antients as also certaine ablutions of head hands and feet Of artificiall Bathes generall and particular the right use the time preparation and divers other considerable circumstances and how farre we observe the customes CHAP. XVIIJ Of naturall Bathes or minerall waters Whether Leap yeare called also Bissextile causeth any alteration in these minerall waters or infringeth the force thereof and of the originiall and first beginning of this time CHAP. XIX Of preparation before the use of minerall waters the right use and vertues of them their various kindes both in this Iland and other countries CHAP. XX. of the excretion by urine the retention of urine together with the nature of diureticke remedies the right use and abuse thereof CHAP. XXJ. Of ordure â—â—rfecall excrements and divers things in them considerable this excretion being sometimes too lavish and sometimes deficient CHAP. XXIJ. Of Spittle spitting or salivation Of Tobacco and the great abuse thereof in this Kingdome to the great prejudice of the health of the body CHAP. XXIIJ Of Snot or Snevell Of rheume falling downe upon the lungs and other pectorall parts Of expuition or expectoration the great abuse committed in the use of expectorating medicines and the right use thereof CHAP. XXIV Of carnall copulation the right use
and lastly of a more solid substance flesh and bone Now these three from the very first beginning to the end of our daies are continually decaying and therefore must daily be repaired if life be continued The losse then of the first is repaired by meanes of this aire of the two later by meanes of meate and drinke Now since the use of this element is so great that it not onely cooles and refreshes the excessive heat of the heart but also repaires our decaied spirits wee will say something thereof The proper quality then of the aire is reputed to be warme joined with moisture I meane in a temperate and not in any excessive degree howbeit according to the severall and manifold alterations it is subject unto it often altereth not the body onely but the minde of man also A good laudable and temperate aire is a great meanes to uphold the health on the contrary being corrupted it proveth often the cause of many diseases and that the aire doth not a little affect the mind may from hence be evinced that such aire as we most commonly breath in such spirits are there ingendred Of a thicke and cloudy aire thicke and grosse spirits are most commonly produced For this cause the Athenians were accounted wiser than the Thebans by reason they lived in a purer and more refined aire And all Scythia brought forth but one famous Philosopher Anacharsis and this they impute to the thicknesse of the aire of that countrey Plato made choice of a moist and moorish place in the suburbs of the City of Athens to teach in and that of set purpose to blunt the sharpe edge of his pregnant wit And Plato himselfe affirmeth that Minerva being to build the City of Athens did well before consider the nature and quality of that countrey as promising no lesse then such famous worthy wits as in antient histories are recorded Now the healthfulnesse and goodnesse of the aire according to Galen is determined by the purity and good temper thereof A pure aire is called a subtill aire infected with no corrupted vapours nor noisome smells A temperate aire is such a one wherein we neither quiver for cold nor yet sweat for heat Now if the aire of any countrey whatsoever of it selfe naturally unhealthfull no art of man ever can amend it and then the best remedy I know is with all possible speed to make choice of a better If the aire be but accidentally bad then there may be use of Art and so it may according to the excesse in any quality be corrected as wee read that Hippocrates corrected the malignity of a pestilentiall aire by making of great fires of sweete smelling wood as concerning that alteration of the aire occasioned by meanes of the times and seasons of the yeere we are alwaies carefully to preserve the laudable temperature thereof by contrary remedies as farre as in us lieth as the sharpnesse of winter is to be helpt by good fires and warme clothes In the parching heat of summer we are to coole and refresh our bodies by correcting the aire with contrarie coolers especially within doores as also by the use of thinner clothing Now that aire which any one hath suck'd in from his infancie suteth farre better with that constitution than another howsoever perhaps in it selfe of a more laudable quality It behooveth therefore every one as far as in them lieth to make choice of a good and laudable aire But because most men must be contented with that aire they first breathed in therefore this would chiefly be diligently carefully considered of our new colonies who transplant themselves into remote regions that they first make choice of a country whose naturall temper differeth not much from their owne but with this proviso that it be rather warmer than colder than their owne In the next place let the place of thy particular habitation be setled in a good place of the countrey and that both in regard of the aire and water as also all other necessarie commodities Our Virginian colonies therefore were at the first in this very farre over-seene not being so carefull to build their townes in a good and laudable aire and likewise my Lord of Baltomore was too confident in setling himselfe in so tempestuous and cold a place of New-found-land which forced him at length quite to relinquish that land And I wish all other undertakers may take warning by other mens harmes Now it is to be observed that the aire is much altered in quality according to the high or low situation of the place and hence commeth it to passe that there is a great difference betwixt the aire of the high hills and that of the vallies the aire being commonly exceeding cold on the top of those hills yea even when it is indifferent warme in the lower regions and this travellers that passe the Alps and Pyrenean hills doe often finde true where the snow covereth their high tops when there is none to be found in the lower regions A Spanish Iesuit to this purpose relateth a strange story of such a high mountaine in the West Indies There is saith he in Peru a high mountaine whereupon hee ascended as well provided as he could being fore-warned by men expert But in the ascent both he and all his company were surprized with so sudden pangs of straining and casting and some also of scowring that the sea-sicknesse is not comparable thereunto He cast up phlegme choler and blood and thought he should have cast vp his heart also Some thinking presently there to die demanded confession and some are said to have lost their life by this accident The best is it lasteth but for a time and leaveth no great harme behinde it and thus it fareth in all the ridge of that mountaine which runneth above 1530. miles although not in all places alike In some different passages thereof he found the like difference and distemper but not so grievous as at Pariacaca He ascribeth it to the subtilty of the aire in those hills which he thinketh are the highest in the world the Alps and Pyrenees being in respect thereof as ordinary houses compared to high towers In other places of Peru men sometimes are found dead by reason of this sharpe aire and yet their bodies putrifie not which argueth an extreme pure cold penetrating aire Now this maketh it to seeme the stranger Peru being of it selfe situate within the Tropickes Now in the aire this is likewise to be considered that some aire better befitteth some bodies than others a moist foggy body agreeth better with a good dry aire and a dry constitution with a moderate moist aire and so of other complexions simple or compounded We are yet further in considering the aire to take notice of it according to the severall times of the day and therefore although the aire admitteth of many alterations and changes upon divers occasions yet that aire is
commonly accounted in every country the best which we breathe in in the morning the next about noone the worst of all about night and especially after Sunne-setting which in many countries proves very pernitious which that noble and valorous Knight Sir Walter Raleigh found too true on the coast of Africke with the losse and hazard of the lives of many worthy generous Gentlemen And the French are very jealous of this night-aire which they call la serene Divers other things concerning the aire especially of the sicke and diseased together with the best and most commodious situation of houses I reserve to its proper place hereafter and now proceed to the winds for the affinity they have with the aire CHAP. V. Of the severall sorts of Winds and their various effects AS Elias his little cloud no bigger than a mans hand yet at length so over-spred the face of the whole heavens that it distilled downe abundance of sweet comfortable showres to the fructifying of the hard yronic earth which had been so long deprived of these sweet refreshing showres so these small dry exhalations of how little esteeme soever they may at first seeme to bee yet wee see what prodigious and stupendious effects they often produce having their warrant sealed by the great God of heaven and earth Now whether thou please to call these vapors or exhalations by the name of wind or whether this wind be an aire tossed to and fro it is not much materiall for our purpose in hand my desire being altogether averse from wrangling about words Now because the wind doth not a little alter the body of man as well in sicknesse as in health it shall not be out of purpose to say something concerning this subject and the opinion of Plato is that where the winds are very various and boisterous the people of that countrey for the most part prove crabbed and untoward and the winds have ever beene esteemed to carry a great pre-eminence both over the bodies and mindes of men Winds then in the generall are of two sorts common and sudden or such as blow suddendly or at unawares called repentini such as wee call common are such as blow out of certaine parts of the world or else at certaine times or seasons Such as we call sudden are winds which neither blow from any one determinate or certaine quarter of the earth nor yet at any one certaine and determinate time These common winds are of foure sorts answering to the foure corners of the world and againe betwixt each of these two extremes are other two inserted making up the number of twelve in all and are very well described by the Latin Poet. Aetius out of the antient Mariners reckoneth up the number of the winds and yet mentioneth onely 12 in all which he ascribeth to the 12 signes of the Zodiack Our moderne Mariners have by their compasse observed 32 severall winds in severall tracts of the sea Neither ought so great a number of winds seeme strange to any since that the antients observed 24 severall sorts of winds as witnesseth Vitruvius Whereunto Agricola doth also agree And it may be more winds may yet be observed so that the number of the winds may by this meanes be infinite by reason these exhalations when they are ingendred may arise out of any region whatsoever and so according to the nature and situation of the place thorow which they passe their effects are various and that wind which is propitious and benigne to one country or place may in another place produce a contrary effect The South wind saith Holler is very unhealthfull to all Italy as also to most Northerne countries and yet to Africa this wind is most comfortable insomuch that what refreshing other countries feele by the Etesian or Easterly winds the like benefit reape the Africans by the benefit of this South wind Zephyrus or the Western wind is generally with us reputed a milde and gentle wind and yet in Gasconie saith Scaliger it never blowes without the great terror or amazement of the inhabitants of that country Hippocrates therefore observing this variety and multiplicity of winds wisheth Physitians onely to observe foure and for the most part hee mentioneth but two as being the principall the South and the North. And so Hali abbas and Avicenne when they have mentioned 12 yet at length pitch upon these foure principall winds chiefly of a Physitian to be observed These foure chiefe principall winds then are divided into land-winds and sea-winds Land-winds I call such as blow from the land and sea-winds such as blow from the sea The land-winds againe are of two sorts either common or else proper and peculiar to some one country as the North-westwind to the Athenians and the South-wind to Provence in France Galen makes the South-wind of two sorts one hot and moist cloudy and rainy and another hot and dry clearing the cloudy and muddy aire The former of the two proves often the author of great mischiefe to these our Northerne cold countries as namely of that fearefull plague of pestilence and divers other dangerous and epidemicall diseases whereon in this place to insist were too tedious In generall it is the most unhealthfull wind that blowes in our climat as I hold the Northerly wind to be our best friend although some would have the Easterne wind which bloweth directly from the Equinoctiall line to be the healthfullest wind for our climat It may be because they blow in most countries in the heat of sommer about the canicular daies and so qualifie the extreme scorching heat of the time whereof frequent mention is made by Hippoccrates who doth often also prognosticate the approching of diseases by the bloâ—ing of these winds called Etesiae Now concerning maritime or winds blowing from the sea Celsus holdeth them to be very hurtfull to the health of man the which opinion many others have imbraced And the more they are confirmed in this opinion by Aristotle himselfe affirming all those creatures which have their being and living in this watry element to be of a shorter continuance than those that live upon the land but this opinion is againe contradicted by others his owne expositor being of another minde for the sea being warme in winter and cold in summer yet alwaies temperate yea even in the opinion of the Philosopher himselfe it must of necessity follow that the wind which bloweth that way and often also hath from thence its originall doth partake of the like qualities Now these qualities being temperately hot and moist of all other are the fittest to maintaine in perfect health the body of man And hence commeth it to passe that Galen affirmeth that the maritime parts of Thracia in it selfe a cold country are much warmer than the more inward parts of the land and on the other side againe the maritime
the head and causeth trouble some dreames but is good against the stone provoketh urine openeth obstrutions and cutteth tough and slimy humours especially the red which is a great deale keener than the other And this is to be understood of raw Onions and yet if they be a little steeped in water they lose some of this acrimony but they are best boiled and then they nourish somewhat and may either be used in pottage or otherwise in sallets And as by this meanes they lose much of their medicinall vertue so on the other side they lose as much of their noxious qualities whereby they hurt the body of man That which hath beene said of the nature and vertues of Onions may be accommodated also unto Scallions and Chibolls which are often eaten raw in sallets but let young and hot constitutions ever mingle store of cooling herbs with them Cives are somewhat of this temperature howbeit milder and may be used as a pot-herb as Onions and Leekes it being of an attenuating opening and cutting quality is good especially in phlegmaticke and cold constitutions The Leeke is inferiour to the Onion in goodnesse being hot even to the third degree it openeth the urinary passages and other obstructions but yet hurteth the head and eyes and causeth troublesome dreames Transplanted into a fat and fertile soile they become both greater and milder in force and operation and so boiled with other herbs they lose their noxious quality The root is most in request the which being of a very bigge size the French use ordinarily in their pottage boiled in slices and often with a fat Capon or other meate and so are of a very good sweete and pleasant relish Vnset Leekes are most physicall and of greatest vertue and efficacie As concerning Mushroms or Toad-stooles as they are commonly called although properly they be no roots yet are they commonly ranked among them It is a food if so it deserveth to be called in small request here amongst us howbeit in France Italy and adjacent countries it is in no small esteeme and therefore I shall neede to say lesse concerning this subject I advise therefore all our Centrie who travell into those forraigne countries if they be wise altogether to absteine from such excrements of the earth some of them yea the greater part being venomous as I could by true histories make appear all of them being of an evill qualitie and breeding no good nourishment at all Clusius writing the exact history of them reckoneth up three and twenty sorts of such as may be eaten and five and twentie sorts of venomous Mushroms Who then that is wise will venter on a doubtfull dish when God of his infinite goodnesse hath affoorded us such plentie of profitable and pleasant food Amongst these are also ranked those roots commonly called Puffes or Truffes Tubera terrae and in the Northermost parts of this Iland by some called Arnuts growing under the earth but in the spring of the yeere bursting forth They ingender tough clammy and melancholicke humours being apt to ingender the stone and all manner of obstruction they are also hurtfull for the stomacke further and procure the Apoplexie Strangurie and many other dangerous diseases and therefore heere I will leave them and proceede to speake of more profitable simples namely of such herbes as are in most ordinary use and request for the use of man CHAP. XIV Of herbs in most ordinary use for diet and first for such as coole most AFter roots wee come now to such herbs as are in most ordinary use for daily food either for sallets or the pot and wee will first beginne with such herbs as are of a cooling quality And among all our herbs none is of more use in our ordinary diet than the lettice taking its denomination from a milkie juice wherewith it aboundeth and is by Galen preferred before all other herbs who used it both in his younger yeeres to coole the great heat of his stomack and in old age to procure sleep The antients for religions sake absteined from lettices but Augustus Caesar having by the advice and counsell of Antonius Musa his Physitian by the use of this herbe recovered his health brought this herb in no small esteeme among the Romans It is cold and moist in the second degree and ingendreth no evill juice within the body and by this meanes carrieth a great pre-eminence above most other herbs In antient times it was wont to be eaten at the later end of the meale but now quite contrary at the begining and this moved the Poet to aske the reason of this alteration which probably is this that eaten after meales it represseth the hot vapours of wine by this meanes both resisting drunkennesse and withall procuring sleepe being especially used at night and as it would seeme being then most ordinarily used And this was the reason why the Emperour Tacitus in his feasts above all other dishes used this herb most liberally Custome notwistanding hath now so farre prevailed that to whet on the appetite it is with oile and vineger used at the beginning of our meales and unto it most commonly are added perslie and some other hot herbs which doe well allay the coldnesse and moisture thereof It hath beene received by tradition for an uncontrolled truth that lettice hurteth the eye-sight but since neither Galen nor our antient Physitians have left any such quality upon record to posterity I wonder from whence this slander should first proceed I know all the colour they have is that it too much thickneth the blood and by consequence breeds an incrassation in the opticke spirits conveied to the eyes To this I answer in the first place it is not indued with any transcendent incrassation beyond many other simples which neverthelesse were never so reputed this plant not exceeding the second degree in either quality Againe admit this were a truth that it were indued with such a specificall incrassating quality yet must it both be eaten in great abundance sole and of it selfe and withall must meet with some answerable cold and moist complexion for as for hot cholericke bodies especially hot stomackes it is for them a most soveraine alimentary medicine and that without addition of other things which correct such a quality if any there were And therefore being used as commonly it is with oile vineger and ordinarily some hot herbs as said is what hurt can there be in it As for the oile although it doe somewhat loosen and relax some weake and choice stomackes yet is this by meanes of the tartnesse and sharpnesse of the the vineger well corrected and the oile also being of a temperate heate doth in some sort correct the others cold quality and of this temper is the sugar also which is often added howbeit in my opinion a little salt as the French use would farre better correct any superfluous moisture
it correcting also any cold and crude quality Endive and Succory are moderatly cold and somewhat drying and are ordinarily used as other pot-herbes are good to open obstructions of the liver as also for the heat thereof and of the stomacke They are best for young hot-blooded people if they be used in sallets the younger they be the better used especially with addition of hotter herbes The French they keepe Succory buried a long time under the ground which maketh it both white and tender which they call Cichoree blanche and so use it in sallets with addition of other herbs There be divers sorts of these herbes which grow wilde participating of the same qualities yet I thinke scarce so cold but rather inclining to some temperate heat and prove more forcible against obstructions although not so pleasing to the palat as those which grow in gardens Among these kinds there is one most commonly taken notice of by the name of Dandelion corrupted from the French dent du Lion or Lions tooth and may well be used in all obstructions of the liver as the others and in such other cases Spinage is an ordinary pot-herb cold and withall moist yet this more than the other being cold in the first and moist in the second degree It best befitteth hot and dry bodies and such stomacks especially nourishing very little loosening the belly and ingendering wind In France this herbe shred and made up in balls fried with oile and vineger in the time of Lent filleth up the roome of an ordinary dish Beets are of three sorts which are commonly used for pot-herbs especially the white and green the red being more physicall They all are moderately cold not exceeding the first degree at most yet moister to wit about the second They open obstructions and loosen the belly as most of these cooling and moistning simples doe In some places they make sallets of the red-beet root boiled and sliced adding thereto oile and vineger For the insipidity of taste the antients as seemeth were wont to eate them with wine and pepper as may by the antient Poet appeare Somewhat like unto them in name is that herb commonly called Blite or Bleet and not much differing in vertue howbeit something inferiour And Orach is not unlike differing little in operation They loosen the belly and rather hurt than helpe the stomacke unlesse it be strong or cold and dry and the temper of body cholericke That herb commonly called Prick-madam is yet cooler than any of the former and withall very moist yet used both for a pot-herbe and in sallets It is best for hot stomacks and cholericke complexions as also for younger people Purslaine is a herbe with us in great request in the sommer season but especially in sallets It is accounted cold in the third degree but wanting one in moisture It is best for such complexions and stomacks as we have often mentioned It is good against all internall heats and inflammations It is good against all manner of fluxes The leaves and seedes are good against wormes against the immoderate menstruous fluxe spitting of blood and running of the reines If it be pickled up with salt and vineger it acquireth some heate strengthening the stomacke and whetting it on for food and cutting tough phlegme Among all our pot herbs none I know more usefull and profitable both for physicke and food than this so noble simple Sorrell I meane As for the qualities it is esteemed cooling and drying in the second degree The very vulgar can tell that it is very soveraine in all hot distempers and diseases of that nature In contagious maligne and pestilentiall fevers it is a soveraine good simple especially the wood-sorrell called therefore Sorrel du bois And by reason of the aciditie in taste it is not unwelcome to the palate in this particular farre exceeding other cold simples for the which cause it is not unfitly used in Sommer for greene-sauce Being young and tender it may be used in sallets with the addition of some hot herbs Borrage and Buglosse and that sort called commonly Lang de beuf for I take it to be nothing else although they doe partake of some heat yet are they by the vulgar accounted among cooling herbs their heat as likewise their moisture being so moderate that they exceed not the first degree It hath ever beene both by Galen and other Physitians since his time esteemed good against melancholy and may safely be used both in sicknesse and in health They be also ordinarily used for pot-herbes The flowers are sometimes used in sallets and sometimes steeped in wine and notwithstanding all this that hath beene said some have not so high a conceit of these simples So hard a thing is this to practise Omnibus placeto The Mallow is reckoned also among our ordinary pot-herbs which loosneth the belly as being of an abstersive quality and the heat so small that it is scarce discernable The curled called the French Mallow is most esteemed they are not to be used in sallets as other herbs being offensive to the stomacke But indeed the Mallow is fitter for Physicke than for food Our antients for the high esteeme they had of it called it omni-morbia that is good against all diseases It is thought to be good against melancholy to further the menstruous fluxe and good against all oppilations and inflammations of the kidnies and bladder and by reason of the temperate qualities good to be used in cataplasmes for outward paines There is an herb called Groundsell ordinarily used to loosen the belly being boiled in pottage and withall sometimes it will procure casting if taken in any competent quantity But boiled in broths it loosneth the belly as many others do being of somewhat a cooling quality and somewhat drying of a bitter taste and openeth obstructions especally in womens diseases It is not good for weake stomacks to use Amongst our loosening herbs there is one ordinarily used called by the name of Mercurie for the which here in the country is in common use an herb called by the the Latines Bonus Henricus having leaves like that herb commonly called Wake-Robin and is somewhat hot and drie howbeit not in any excesse and is of somewhat an abstersive faculty and is much used in pottage and broths to make the body soluble and is by Matthiolus accounted to participate of the nature of Lapathium acutum being a certaine kind of dock But there is another true Mercurie so called by the antiens Linozostis and by the Latins commonly Mercurialis mas foemina Mercury male and female And this is that right Mercury so much mentioned by Pliny and Hippocrates and ordinarily appointed and prescribed by our Physitians for glisters The leafe of it is not unlike to that of Pellitory of the wall and doth farre excell the other commonly called Mercury as may be seene both in that
all This herbe is not very hot and therefore ordinarily reckoned among cooling herbs as the vulgar account all herbs cooling which doe not evidently evince their senses of the contrary Although some would ascribe great vertues to the simple yet because I finde no certainty nor any such things recorded by antiquity I leave it as I found it Asparagus or as we call it Sperage is an opening herbe temperately hot and moist and for food the tops or tender sprouts first springing out are in most request and commonly boyled in faire water and afterwards with oile vineger and pepper eaten as a sallet by themselves or else as in some places set round about the dish wherein meat is conteined and so eaten with it and sometimes it is eaten last with banqueting stuffe That this was an ancient custome amongst the Romans to beset their dishes round with them may appeare by an ancient Poet. They are good for the stomacke yeelding no bad nourishment to the body loosen the belly gently provoke urine cleanse the kidnies open obstructions and helpe the eye-sight They must be but a little boiled and if thou wilt boile them againe they lose much of their bitternesse but withall some of their vertues The roots are much used by Physitians in opening Apozemes and syrups And after the same manner may the first yong and tender Hop-buds be used and produce the same effects with the former Avens is also used as an ordinary pot-herbe being somewhat hot yet not exceeding the first and dry yet not exceeding the second degree The leaves are most ordinarily used in brothes and yet the roots are most effectuall against obstructions of the liver or other parts and are of themselves abstersive and are very fit to bee used in Physical broths as being both opening and strengthening No herbe in more frequent use than persly both the leaves and the roots It is no wayes hurtfull agreeing well with the stomacke openeth obstructions discusseth wind and provoketh urine But I advise none to eate it raw being best dressed with meat or in pottage The severall wayes of using it are so well knowne that it were superfluous for me to speake of it The roots are very usefull in Physicall broths especially the inward pith taken out and thus we use fennell roots also It hath been an inveterate opinion among many that Persley was hurtfull for the eye-sight but let it be used as we have set downe and I warrant thee from any harme but if any will eate great store of it raw and often let him looke to himselfe It is both hot and dry yet not exceeding the second degree of either Some use in the Spring to make use of the herbe called Alexanders or Alysander in pottage and some againe use the young leaves and tender stems first bioled for a sallet with some other herbes as they please or else of it selfe with vineger This hearbe hath the same operation that persly hath but yet more forcibly as being of it selfe of a hotter quality The herbe Clary is in great use also especially among women which they esteeme soveraine good against their immoderate fluxes and strengthening of the backe howbeit I cannot find any such thing recorded by antiquity They use commonly here with us in the countrie to fry it with egges Penniroyall an hearbe well knowne both in towne and countrie is of very good use and very wholesome for the body of man and woman especially it is best for phlegmaticke constitutions and ancient people and is very good for women such especially as are any waies troubled with any manner of stoppage Some call it pudding grasse by reason it is often used in puddings being small shred and mingled with the blood which in my opinion is very good and would wish none made without it It is good for a weake waterish stomack against the wind colicke provoketh urine and cleanseth the urinarie passages it is good in obstructions of the pipes of the lungs and others also It is comfortable in all cold diseases of the head and nerves It is hot and dry about the third degree howbeit our ordinary garden penniroyall I thinke commeth somewhat short of this intense degree There is yet an other herbe in frequent use amongst other pot-herbes and called here in the countrie Pot-marjoram which is nothing else save a sort of Organy called Origanum The qualities and properties in Physicke because I thinke they differ not much from the former therefore I need not to insist upon them If I should passe by this so soveraine and noble a simple I should much wrong the publike it being of so excellent an eminency All sorts of Mints are good howbeit that wee commonly call the garden Speare-mints is of all others the best It is hot and dry howbeit I think our garden mints doth not exceed the second degree It is very good to comfort the stomake both greene and dry being good against vomiting and all manner of immoderate fluxes of the belly or other in women which both the red mints and this speare-mints effect Their smell comforteth both the animall and vitall spirits Besides it cleanseth the kidneyes killeth worms and stayeth the effusion of blood It hath beene an inveterate opinion among the antients that this plant procured barrenesse and therefore was not to bee sowne in time of warre as a late writer allegeth out of Aristotle But this opinion is most false and erroneous if we shall attribute any specificall quality to this plant whereby it should cause sterility I doe not denie but in hot and dry wombs especially excessively used it might bee some hinderance But the like may by other plants of a hot or hotter and drier quality as easily be effected But since that mints not onely strengthen those parts of generation but consume also and dry up all cold raw and uncocted crudities ordinarily proving the greatest hinderances of conception I see no reason why this plant should not rather be esteemed a great furtherer and friend to generation This herbe being yong may bee used also in sallets with other herbes And the uulgar doe well in using this herbe very frequently in their pease pottage both greene and dry It is of all other most proper for the use of the stomacke Rosemary is that not without good reason in high esteeme among all sorts of people It is hot and dry in operation at least in the second if not touching upon the third degree It is exceeding comfortable in all cold infirmities of the braine comforteth the senses and the spirits especially the animall as also all the noble parts and corroborateth all the nervous parts It is best to bee in most frequent use in the Winter and cold and aged constitutions of body Of the flowers of it is made a comfortable conserve for all these uses And of the same is made a very soveraine good water
is of a hard digestion and requireth a strong stomacke especially of elder beasts but yet yeeldeth indifferent good nourishmēt The Lungs are of a spongious substance nourish little that nourishmēt they yeeld is but phlegmatick and not of any laudable condition That Livers especially of beasts of full age are of hard digestion and ingender grosse humors and are apt to breed obstructions howbeit such food nourisheth much Livers of younger beasts especially when they suck are far better and of a moister substance and yet are not free from offending weake and tender stomacks and withal from ingendring obstructions And what account can we make of the Splene the cisterne and as it were the very magazin of meclancholick blood but that it will produce such a nourishment The Kidnies are of a very hard digestion yea harder than the Liver it selfe and ingendreth no good nourishment yet the kidnies of the youngest beasts are the best and that of a fat Calfe especially And the older the beast is the worse they are The Vdder of a young Cow if it be not too fat although somewhat hard of digestion yet to a strong stomacke it will not be offensive It is not indeed so good for weake stomackes and phlegmaticke constitutions And all Vdders are inferior to other flesh and the worst are those of elder beasts and therefore the best is to use them but sparingly The Stones ingender a thicke and grosse flatuous blood and nourish well yet of the younger beasts they are best Blood of beasts ministers but a grosse and course nourishment to the body yet some better and some worse Bulls blood was a poison among the antients The blood of an Oxe or Cow howbeit in some place they make use of yet in most places it is altogether rejected Hogges blood is now in greatest request in most countries as being the sweetest and pleasing the palat best And because Blood is of a grosse and course nourishment and withall somewhat dry it is therefore a good custome to mingle with those puddings some fat of the same beast some salt and pepper and penniroyall or other hot herbs which helpe well other defects There are some things that come from beasts yet being no part of the same as Milke whereof is made Butter and Cheese Milke is nothing else save a second concocting and refining of the Blood drawne up into the dugs and there by vertue of naturall heat refined and by a proper faculty of that part converted into a white milkie substance and therefore according to the quality of the Blood so is the milke also Milke seemeth to bee temperate in regard of heat or cold but withall very moist That milke is best which is of a sound beast and that both for whole and sicke persons and that feedeth in good pastures To nourish well milke must be new milkt white and of a good smell of a meane substance betwixt thicke and thinne sweet in tast and free from either sowrenesse bitternesse or saltnesse and the beast should bee of a middle age and feeding upon greene grasse and in the Spring or beginning of Sommer Such milke ingendreth a good and laudable Blood and very fit to nourish the body Now for what bodies it is best together with the manner of the right use shal hereafter appeare In milke there is a triple substance observed the first a thinne waterie substance called the ferositie or whey being of good use both in sickenesse and in health and is of a cooling faculty There is another which swimmeth on the top called the creame of the milke being the most airie part of the same which after it is separated from all the other parts is called Butter and serveth us for the same uses that oile doth in hotter countries being hot moist and moderately used it agreeth well with the stomacke looseneth the belly and is good against divers diseases of the breast The third part of milke is that which is most terrestrious the which beeing prest out and quite separated from the other two substances wee commonly call Cheese the which is somewhat cooler than Butter yet lesse or more according as it partaketh more or lesse of the substance thereof Cheese bindeth the belly is harder of digestion ingendreth obstructions and is a great enemie to the stone Cheese is distinguished according to the milke it is made of the age the art is used in the making Of all others that which is new somewhat salted and made of good Cowes milke ingendreth the best nourishment and moderately now and then used will doe no harme to any My meaning is of such as have not the creame much skimmed off for such as are made of milke much skimmed are farre drier unwholesomer and lesse worth than the others But of this and other things concerning this purpose more hereafter in the diet of the diseased CHAP. XIX Of Fowle both tame and wilde their severall sorts as also of parts of Fowles and of Egges THe flesh of Fowles is of easier digestion hath a speedier passage thorow the body but yeeldeth the lesse nourishment than the flesh of foure-footed beasts In all sorts of fowles they are best that exceed not a yeere in age To make them tender if need be they are to be hung by the heeles two or three daies providing alwaies they hang not till they smell Among all our tame fowle our Cocks Hens Capons and young Chickens are with us not without good reason in greatest request and ingender a good and laudable nourishment usefull and very wholesome for the body A young fat Capon of all others is the best and yeeldeth best nourishment and is easie of concoction Next unto them are Hens indifferently fat and young yeelding little unto Capons for good and wholesome nourishment Chickens are very good light wholesome and nourishing meate in sicknesse and in health They are good for weake stomacks and such as lead a sedentarie life and use but little exercise It is not good to use them too young as is the ordinary custome having hatched unto themselves this false and erronious opinion that the younger any thing is the btter it is in diet And because such things are not for the most part so common therefore partly for this same reason and partly out of an affected singularity many are contented to dwell still in this errour But when they come to be best to wit little pullets then doe our palate-pleasers esteeme them nothing worth Cocks are inferiour to any of the former yeeld worse and lesse nourishment but are hotter than any of the other and loosen the belly Turkies of a middle age and reasonable fat are a good wholesome nourishing food and little inferiour to the best Capon especially the brest and fore-parts and breedeth very good nourishment But their fat is somewhat fulsome And here it is to be observed as
make drinke of corne but hath beene in frequent practice in antient times may by the relation of our antient Physitians plainly appeare The Egypptians it would seeme were the first authours thereof But it may be objected that the antients doe likewise condemne this drinke as most unwholesome for the body of man Dioscoride ascribeth to this drinke which hee there calleth Zythum Curmi differing but little one from another a noxious quality against the reines nerves and nervous parts as the membranes of the head especially and affirmeth that it ingendereth wind filleth the body with corrupt humours and leaveth the body using it much the leprosy for a legacie Galen singeth also the same song and confimeth his assertion But whatsoever was the opinion of the antients concerning that drinke and that it was of that nature I will not deny yet I am sure the drinke wee make is both wholesome and very agreeable to our nature and besides is farre otherwise prepared than that of antient times Now of this drinke there are two sorts one brewed without hop commonly called Ale the other with hop and commonly called Beere In Beere then as in wine there are many differences to be considered where the first is taken from the corne it is made of it being sometimes made of one grane sometimes of another and sometimes of more granes mingled together but with us most commonly malt is made of barlie alone which doth also with us heere most abound Some doe also mingle some oats with this drinke and so make it more cooling for Sommer very quicke to the taste and wholesome for the bodie the oat being of it selfe a daintie wholesome and nourishing graine Some to adde strength to their Beere especially that called March-Beere then brewed to last all the yeere adde thereunto a few pease In some places beyond seas they make Beere of Wheaten malt as in some places of Saxony and in Bohemia which much needs be good and wholesome if no errour in the making be commited Another difference againe is taken from the age and duration of this drinke some being very new some very old and kept a long time Very new drinke is very hurtfull for the health ingendring both wind and crudities with obstructions and many diseases from thence proceeding as hath beene said of new wine That which is very long kept must needs be strong as our March Beere and some others and yet are not so good for ordinary use but rather now and then as physicke The best and wholesomest is that of a middle age A maine and principall difference is taken from the strength and is esteemed by the proportion of the malt to the liquor and this varieth much according to severall circumstances as the place where one liveth the persons who are to use it the season and time of the yeere c. This neverthelesse is to be observed that in Winter and cold weather strong drinke is more tolerable than in Sommer and warme weather and to old age there is a greater liberty allowed than for younger people Another difference is taken from the substance thick or thinne and perspicuous or cleare Thicke and muddy drinke is altogether unwholesome and the mother of many diseases and that which is cleare is best and wholesomest providing alwaies that water be not too much master Thicke beere ingendreth wind all manner of obstructions the stone strangury and many more dangerous diseases Againe that difference taken from the taste is not to be neglected some being bitter some sweet some sowre c. And this the age will often alter for very new drinke if much hopt must needes be bitter and very small drinke if long kept especially in Sommer will grow sowre A meane is best that it be not too bitter too hot and heady nor sowre at all and therefore another difference may be taken from the quantity of hoppe that a due proportion thereof be observed it being hot and dry in the second degree and sometimes weaker and sometimes stronger and too bitter drinke is more physicall than is for our ordinary use fitting The best course then is to let the hoppe rot in the drinke as the vulgar people before wee drinke it There is another difference taken from the colour some being of one and some of another colour some pale some of a reddish some of an amber colour c. The highest coloured drinke is not alwaies the strongest and wholesomest That which looketh of a pure transparent yellow amber colour like a pure sacke is reputed the best The best March beere if well brewed and no error committed is often of this colour and the goodnesse of the malt whereof it is made and the fewell wherewith it is dryed maketh yet another difference and often altereth both the colour and taste of the drinke Straw is thought better than wood for drying of malt In some places of this Iland in the Northerne especially they dry their malt with ling or heath called there hadder which maketh very good malt some also use furres or whins as some call them and some againe broome But straw and heath or ling are the best the solider the substance of the fewell is the worse it is there being the more danger of over-drying the malt which may make both the drinke taste worse and sooke with too high a colour The Barlie whereof the malt is made must be good and fresh not light lanke or worme-eaten fusty c. And besides it must not be made of Barly too new before it hath sweat in the mow as husbandmen use to speake and is also to be made in a convenient season I meane not in a hot season of the yeere and therefore commonly called in the countrie cuckow malt The last difference is taken from the water whereof the drinke is brewed and the best if it may be had is to be preferred before the other and in defect of the best the next best is to be chosen And what is the best we have already at large related and we find here that many times our well water maketh the drinke looke of a higher colour than is sutable to the strength thereof And to the water we may adde the fire wherewith it is boiled which I thinke is best to be wood and such as we allowed of in making of malt And yet I confesse good drinke is and may be brewed with sea-coale as wee see in all the city of London and the fewell is not so materiall here as in making of malt where the smoake toucheth it immediately Now all these differences except that taken from the hop are common both to ale and beere the which in our Ale here is but little and in the Northerne parts of this Iland is none at all And because the hop maketh some difference in these two drinkes therefore it will be usefull to say somthing thereof Of the temperature
barly ptisin creame of barly c. Of milk whey butter cheese and severall sorts of possets usefull for the sick and something also concerning the use of emulsions or almond mikes And lastly of the several sorts of exercise usefull in sicknes and in health CHAP. I. Of the diet of the diseased in generall something the utility and profit thereof Of the aire in particular and how to bee corrected in times of sickenesse and what fewell is the best WHat hath been hithero handled hath beene chiefly in regard of that which now hereafter ensueth to wit the Diet of the Diseased which is the principall end I at the first aimed at And I cannot sufficiently wonder this being a worke so profitable so necessary and usefull for all sorts of people that it hath beene hitherto so long neglected And so much the more am I hereat amazed in that so many both antient and late writers have so copiously handled the diet of healthfull people yea even here among our our selves some such tractats have beene published in our vulgar tongue Among the antients this part of Physicke hath scarce by any of set purpose been touched but scatteringly here and there some few things have been said concerning this subject Hippocrates is the first we read of that ever set upon this businesse and wrote some thing concerning the diet of acute diseases against the Guidian Physitians of his time above 2000. yeeres agoe and which differed not a little from the diet used in our daies And besides his witing is so short and succinct after his Laconicke manner that they are not obvious to every vulgar understanding Since his time I know not any that hath published any tractat concerning this subject excepting onely one Brudus a Portugall by nation who hath written but slenderly of the diet to bee used in fevers And yet we read the ancients were so carefull in the observation of diet that among the Locrians it was death without the Physitians prescription to drinke a draught of wine Alexander the great commanded to put to death his Physitian Glaucias for allowing his favorite Hephaestion to drinke too much or as some will have it that seeing him drinke wine abundantly he did not inhibite or hinder him Among the Aegyptians it was strictly commanded they should fast till the fourth day Since therefore this part of Physicke concerning the diet of the diseased is so much neglected what marveile if diseases prove so fierce and furious And there is no remedie so effectuall saith Galen which can produce the expected effect if either not furthered by a due and convenient diet or at least not hindered by disorder And therefore it is the opinion of the same Author in another place that people of inferior ranke and smaller meanes are often easilier and sooner cured than many of greater eminency and ability and that by reason of their willingnesse to be ordered by the Physitians presciption whereas the richer sort often oppose them desiring commonly to be cured with slight and triviall medicines not able to expell so strong an enemy And sometimes this is againe occasioned saith he by the assentation and indulgence of the Physitian who will give them drinke as much as they desire let them drinke wine when they demand it and suffer them to doe whatsoever they list and finally in every thing carry themselves in a slavish maner towards their patients quite contrary to that which becommeth such as are descended of Aesculapius who ought to command his patients as a Generall of an army commandeth his souldiers or a King his subjects It is moreover to be observed that among the antients the office of the Physitian was divided into three parts and by consequence there were three sorts of Physitians The first were such as assisted the sick observing all their actions and seeing them observe the diet and other things prescribed by the chiefe Physitians called Architectonici answerable to our rationall Physitians when they came at their accustomed houres to visit them The third sort were called Pepaedeumeni who taught this art in the schooles and brought up others in the same profession to which are answerable the Doctors of the chaire in our Vniversities Now such as assisted the sicke by reason they sate by their bedsides were called Clinici and from thence this part of physicke handling the diet of the diseased was also called Clinice The two later sorts of Physitians wee have here in our countries but with the first sort wee are not acquainted And in truth this is a great defect and the prejudice thereby redounding to the publike not small for as much as this charge is most commonly committed to ignorant women with us called nurses a people for the most part so wilfull and wise in their owne eyes and so selfe-conceited that in stead of furthering the Physitian in his course by keeping the patient strictly to his prescription they are often the readiest to overthrow whatsoever they ordaine unlesse it please them very well And many other women also the judicious discrete and better bred I alwaies except who take chiefely this charge upon them are much of the same stamp And this was the reason why that famous Celsus wished an able and understanding Physitian never to be farre from his patient Of this same diet of the diseased my purpose is with the aid of the almighty to discourse Now howsoever the matter of this diet be the same with that of healthfull people yet the manner of preparation use and other circumstances doe not a little differ as hereafter shall more plainly appeare And first I will begin with the aire As then the aire is that elemenr without the which in health the life man of cannot subsist and a sweet pure temperate aire a great meanes to preserve health so is the aire endued with the same laudable qualities a great means to further the recovery of health already lost In sicknesse therefore it is a matter of no small consequence how the aire is ordered Now as it will not of any be denied but that the best aire is to be made choice of so againe all are not able to change their owne naturall aire some for want of ability and some in regard of the nature of the disease In acute diseases Fevers I meane and such diseases as have Fevers for their continuall attendants as Pleuresies Squinancies c. it is not safe to transport the sicke In chronicall and diseases of longer continuance as dropsies consumptions c. thou maiest be bolder The aire then is in a double respect to be considered either as the common ambient or as it is included within some particular roomes The aire as the common ambient which is of a laudable qualitie neither too cold and piercing nor too hot and foggy if it be possible and thy disease will permit is to be made choice of Now the
properties of the best and most laudable aire together with nature properties of severall sorts of winds have beene heretofore at great length related True is it indeed that acute diseases seldome suffer the patient to remove his habitation after he is once ceized with the same for the which cause we must use art to alter and correct the quality of the aire contrary to the disease as wee shall shew anon In chronicall and long lingering and continuing diseases such as are dropsies consumptions quartanes and the like one may easily exchange the place of his abode for a better And that this was also the practice of the antient Physitians doth by that of Hippocrates plainly appeare who wisheth the sicke in long continuing diseases to retire themselves into another aire And Galen himselfe sent such as were sicke of consumptions by meanes of ulcerate lungs to a place not farre from Rome called Tabiae being a pretty high place where was a pure dry aire the which is even at this time also much frequented by such diseased people And for this same cause in Plinies time many upon the same occasion sailed into Egypt The like custome in these our countries wee likewise observe to send the sicke either into a better aire or else into his owne native soile Now the aire whither they are to retire ought to be a pure sweet and fresh aire not infected with any noisome and evill smells nor yet neer any fennes and standing pooles But before I proceed I must needs give an aduertisment to the reader concerning the place for burying of the dead on the which if I insist a little I must needes crave pardon the matter being of some consequence for the health of mankinde I say then that the inveterate custome of burying the dead in Church-yards but especially in Churches proveth often very pernitious and hurtfull to the health of the living And this inconvenience in populous cities and townes especially in the noble City of London may not seldome be observed and that in such places principally where the Church and Church-yard are so little that often times new graves are digged for new guests before the old inhabitants be quite metamorphosed into their mother mold the which how inconvenient it is especially where the corps must stand unburied untill the sermon be finished let the unpartiall reader judge Sure I am this great Church of All-saints in this towne was already this last Sommer so fraught ful of dead corps that it was a hard matter to finde a place to digge a new grave and yet since that time how many have there beene buried there are a many witnesses And so good Church men would many be after their death who in their life time cared but little for comming at the Church assemblies that if they be of any ranke or means they must needs lye in the chancell at the least and then after a Popish superstitious conceit many it may be thinke they shall be the wel-comer to heaven But they will finde I warrant them that they reckoned without their host And that this is not mine owne private opinion it may appeare that it was accounted a matter of policy not to bury within cities and townes as may by a learned late Writer who proves that the dead should be buried without cities and townes and not in Churches where are frequent assemblies and great concourse of people which he there proveth by divers arguments and reasons 1. This is proved saith he by the continuall custome of Gods owne people who buried their dead not within townes and temples but in the fields as by the Patriarchs may appeare And this is yet made more manifest by that place of S. Luk. 7. where mention is made of the son of the widow of Nahum who being dead was carried out of the towne to be buried upon which place all the learned interpreters doe observe that not among the Jewes onely but even among the Gentiles also it was the custome to bury their dead without their cities and townes 2 Reason is taken from charity towards our neighbour against which is this custome of burying the dead in townes and temples the health of the living by this meanes being hurt and that by meanes of vapors and exhalations arising from these dead carkasses and the which must needes exhale and rise up in greater abundance by how much more the place is close and warmed by the multitude of people And that such vapors and exhalations especially if they proceed from bodies dead of the Plague are venomous and contagious our Physitians doe witnesse And besides this earth being thus embrued with those venomous vapors when it is moved and cast up to bury new bodies must needs send out evill and venomous vapors to the living The 3. reason is taken from the originall of this custome which was evill and at first introduced by the Monks Franciscan Friers especially and that for their owne profit and gaine And whereas God himselfe affirmed to the people of the Jewes that the very touching of a dead corps made them uncleane and that the place where it was laid was thereby polluted yet those holy begging brothers hold that the sepulchers are the cleaner and purer the nearer they lye unto the high Altar howsoever their churches have before beene consecrated with their holy water 4. The civill law it selfe condemneth this custome and to this purpose are there cited the words of a learned writer that to prevent the stincking and noisome smell proceeding from dead bodies by our ancestors sepulchers were divised not for the dead but for the good of the living for by reason of this noisome smell where dead bodies are buried therefore the Emperour Adrian inflicted a mulct or fine of forty crownes to bee taken of such as should bury any dead body within a city or towne the place likewise to be confiscate and the body likewise to be from thence removed the magistrate permitting to be likewise punished And the law of the 12 tables commanded likewise dead bodies to bee buried without the cities and townes And some haue beene of that opinion that no buriall place was to bee compared with that of the open fields whereas grasse and flowers grow in great abundance And 5. This is the laudable custome of some common-wealths as of Strasbourg Nuremberge and Leipzig whereas either very seldome or never bury they any dead bodies in their Churches Besides this same point concerning the buriall of the dead among other things was thought a matter worth the reformation and therfore at this day they have ordinarily other convenient places deputed for the buriall of their dead And if we will yet more narrowly looke into this businesse considering this is Gods house the which wee ought at least to keepe as cleane and sweet as those of our owne ordinary abode I thinke we shall find it but a matter of equity And I
and therefore in such cities the aire must needs be grosser and thicker and not so sweet and wholesome as that of the countrie and therefore in such populous places it is good for the patient if it be possible especially in chronicall or diseases of long continuance to remove into a sweet country-aire Againe some townes are so well situated and so free from the aforenamed annoyances enjoying so free an aire that they often equall if not exceed sometimes a country-aire for as I have already said some country-aire may be too sharpe and piercing whereas a city or towne well situate in a temperate aire and freed from these former inconvenients may prove farre fitter for indisposed persons Of such divers may by found within this noble Iland amongst whom in this respect few exceed this antient towne and corporation of Northampton This towne hath for its soile whereon it is seated a ground gravelly for the most part and under this digging a little is to be found a good firme tough clay producing good store of good stone fit for buildings It is situate in a fruitfull country on the side of a hill looking towards the South Sunne the best situation as wee have already proved the streets faire and spatious and by the care and industrie of good governours kept sweet and cleane the buildings faire and beautifull and adorned with such a market place as few corporations in this kingdome exceed it yea very few that come neare or equall it It is not my purpose to discourse of that old strong castle together with the first founder and the famous Churches and religious houses have been in and about this towne And as the aire is good and wholesome so is that other element of water neither within nor without the walls wanting Within are divers wholesome wells and springs and without the walls besides many wholesome and pleasant springs that famous River of Nine so called from the nine springs from which it hath its first orignall which runneth all along the South side and the West directly under the Castle walls and with many serpentine windings and turnings thorow a pleasant medow ground above 30 miles in length and conveighing its silver streames by the antient city and sea of Peterborrow at length marrieth it selfe with the great Ocean being every where furnished with many good and wholesome fish such as be Perches great Jacks Pickrells Roches Genious little inferior to smelts Chubs silver-eeles and divers others And as for sweet and pleasant walkes of pastures and meadows it is almost everâ— where with them environed And all beyond the towne for many miâ—â— North-ward it is a dainty light gravelly ground yet very profitablâ— and commodious both for corne and cattell My purpose is not here to set downe a particular and exact geographicall description of this antient corporation but onely by the way and occasionally discoursing of the aire tooke occasion to acquaint the reader with a touch of the commodious and healthfull situation of the same But this famous corporation hath now for a long time lyen lingring under the burden of wasting and consuming sickenesse which hath eaten up and consumed the bowels not of this onely but of many other famous cities and corporations of this flourishing kingdome my meaning is decay of trading the which to supply as a feeling member of the publikes wants I wish it were as well in my power as to be moane and bewaile the same It is not unknowne to many of the inhabitants what great trading by meanes of clothing hath been here in former times as the ruines of some great buildings imploied to that purpose doe yet evidently witnesse And I know nothing to the contrary why this might not as well now bee followed as it was in former times This countrie is furnished with as good wooll as any other and affordeth this commodity to some of those countries where clothing is in greatest request The water is likewise very good for dying and no other conveniency that I know wanting except good will and an earnest desire to promote a publike businesse And in so high esteeme hath this towne been had in former times that besides Parliaments here kept and other solemne meetings it was once accounted one of the fittest places for founding an Vniversity and now for these many yeeres hath beene accounted the fittest and most convenient place for publike meetings as well of assise and sessions as of any other importance and that in regard of that entertainment and content which all things in even scales well weighed may be better had in it than in any other towne in the whole Countie And besides this corporation yeeldeth as much to his Majesties exchequer I thinke as any other of that bignesse and trading Neither yet hath this Towne come short of any in expression of dutifull and loyall affection to their Princes according to the possibility of their powers My wish therefore is that a mother in Israel may not decay but some regard may be had to the re-establishing of the former flourishing estate of this antient corporation And this by no meanes in my opinion might sooner be effected than by setting up this antient trade of clothing againe for this purpose it were a worthy worke and deserving great commendation if such as have had their first being in this place God having now made them his Stewards of a great substance would helpe to uphold their aged and weake decaying mother And this were a pious worke at least in a large acceptation and a part of that honour the childe oweth to an aged and decayed parent Remember that the very heathen held this tenent that men were not only borne for themselves but that their common countrie claimed some interest in them To incourage others in the prosecution of so laudable a worke one Alderman of this same corporation hath now of late broken the yce and againe like a good Patriot minding the publike good whereof now most are unmindfull hath at his owne cost and charges begunne to set a foot this laudable trade of clothing the which if well followed and seconded by others and neighbours in the country would further to set forward so laudable an enterprize it would in a short time prove no small benefit both to the towne and countrie and by this meanes many poore might well be set a worke who now are forced either to begge their bread or else labour hard at knitting stockings which will not furnish them with browne bread to fill their hungry bellies especially in these hard pinching times besides some other inconveniences on which I cannot spend time I adde onely this let us follow and imitate the laudable industry of the Dutch in providing for their poore and setting them a work They suffer no straggling beggers among them and why may wee not as well Another thing there is which would much
c. But that of barly for the sicke was alwaies in highest esteeme And this diversity ministred occasion to Aristotle to aske the question whether Ptisan made of wheat or barly were the best for the use of the sick And Ptisan made of wheat was for these reasons preferr'd before that made of barly first by reason that such as eat bread of wheat are cōmonly more vigorous and sound of body than those who use barlybread Againe say they barly is harder of concoction than wheat And thirdly barlybread was never in so high an esteem as that of wheat but alwaies esteemed of farre meaner account The answer is easy that the comparison here is not absolute but relative having relation to the sicke Indeed absolutely compared together wheat doth excell the other but in relation to the sicke barly is farre better especially in Fevers and pectorall diseases being more cooling and cleansing than the other which indeed is rather harder to be concocted and apter to ingender obstructions And for this cause Hippocrates useth this most commonly in restorative diet and that of barly in acute diseases The manner of preparation of this antient ptisan or creame of barly as we may call it was after this manner they tooke graines of barly full perfectly ripe neither too old nor too new this they steeped a little in water then beat it in a morter to cleanse away the chaffe and husks afterwards washed it and rubbed it with their hands and afterwards let it dry when they made use of it for this ptisan they tooke one part of barly thus prepared and twelve parts of faire water which they let boile at a soft fire while it swelled and was boiled to a thinne pap having lost all the windinesse and being so boiled they gave it their sicke Some added to this messe sweet new wine boiled which they called sapa and some a little hony wheat or flowre and sometimes a little oile vinegar or salt In many places of this kingdome there is commonly in use for this purpose a certaine kind of ready prepared barly to be sold in shops called French barly whereof both this cream of barly is commonly made and whereof wee make use in our broths also and barly-water This barly we use to boile and shift twice or thrice the waters untill it colour them no more and then boile it with a sufficient quantity of faire spring water the proportion of the antients may be observed and then straine it through a clean linnen cloth adding thereto a little sugar or sugar-candy and a little rose-water To correct the crudity especially in a weake stomacke and it bee often to bee used wee may boile with it some whole mace or else when it is strained we may adde thereunto a little small cinamon-water which will both correct the crudity and not overheat the body If some acid juice of lemmon or other shall be added thereunto if need so require thou mayest use thy discretion in acute and maligne Fevers especially but not in pectorall diseases In defect of cinamon-water a little powder of cinamon may be used In this decoction who listeth may also boile other cooling or pectorall herbs according to the nature of the disease and party diseased as violet leaves strawberry leaves succory endive agrimony or the like But beware the taste be not marred lest the patient reject all and boile no sorrell nor other acid or sharpe thing in it especially if it be to be kept for oftner than once or twice but the fresher it be the better it is This is very soveraine good in all Fevers and pectorall diseases especially for young people for hot and dry cholericke constitutions But I will advertise thee of one thing that whereas there is an opinion held among many that no barly but this they call French will serve the turne our owne barly may bee easily so prepared that it may very well serve our use And to this purpose it may either be beaten in a bagge as wheat is commonly ordered for frumenty or else which is the cheaper and lesse chargeable provide a deep stone or wodden trough wherein put a little quantity of rough barly with a little warme water and then with a beetle with a long head for the purpose beat it untill the husks come off afterwards winnow it still rubbing it with thy hands and then let it dry and when thou wilt use it wash it in warme water which thou maiest shift untill it looke cleane and white and colour the water no more And this may with a small labour and I am sure with lesse charges be made ready as often as need shall require And this may be used whensoever we need the use of barly either for this we have spoken already for broth barly water almond milke or any like use And thus they prepare it in the north parts of this kingdome in all the kingdome of Scotland and in Ireland also where they use much barly in their brothes and for other uses also and yet never make use of any but this And besides in Scotland of this graine there is made a dish which they there call orgemond and is made of barly thus prepared together with milke and hony and is answerable to our frumenty here but in my opinion farre wholesomer and this is a dish at most of the country merry meetings in no small esteeme there among them There was yet besides this they called a ptisan a barly-water in use among the antients wherof Hippocrates indeed maketh mention howbeit setteth not downe the manner of preparation no more then doth Galen explaining that place To the Arabians therefore for this barly-water are wee most beholden who used it much Oribasius maketh particular mention of the same where hee would not have the barly prepared as we have already set downe but onely a little bruised and twice washed in warme water and afterwards boiled in a gallon of water till it was burst ad crepaturam hordei This liquor being strained was reserved for the use of the sicke and was called barly-water Barly-water was in very great request among the Arabian Physitians both made of whole barly and of barly prepared and cleansed That of prepared barly was of two sorts as may bee collected out of Mesue first thus take of barly prepared and cleansed one pound boiling it in twenty times so much faire spring-water in an earthen glased pot untill the halfe or two parts of the water were wasted away this they called a physicall barly-water The other was thus made take of barly as before well prepared often washed in warme water one pound which they let boile a wame or two in twenty times as much faire spring-water and after this was cast away they added againe as much more water and let it boile untill the halfe of the water was wasted away and this they called
first with an addition of some such acid juice as wee have already named it may easily be effected That made with sorrell is in very great request especially of the wood-sorrell or sorrell dubois is the best and differreth in shape and forme from our ordinary sorrell We use often also to boile holy thistle in our posset-drinke in fevers especially Posset-drinke made after this manner is good in all pestilentiall and contagious diseases and are with us every where in great request Againe wee use another manner of making this posset-drinke when as wee mingle some cold beere ale or wine with our hot milke and so make a posset-drinke not altogether so cooling as the former yet safely used in many infirmities In diseases that are not of so hot a nature wee may make our possets with a little white wine as also in the declining of fevers which is good both to provoke urin and sweat And this I thinke be the fittest and safest way to use wine for the sicke unlesse in chronicall and long continuing diseases Wee use also sometimes plaine and ordinary posset-drinke made of ordinary drinke which is much used for the furthering of the operation of vomits and sometime used as a lavative after the taking of purges in which cases I wish the milke be not skimmed but even as it commeth from the Cow as for the curd I wish sicke folkes especially altogether to absteine from it And as for our eating possets although many country people are of opinion that a posset a cup of wine or strong water will cure any disease I advise the sicke altogether to absteine from them And to speake the truth in best health they are used rather for wantonnesse than need being altogether superfluous being used especially after a good meale as they are often used after supper In Scotland the better sort make their posset onely of milke and white wine with a little sugar and cinnamon which they drinke and give away the curd which is the best way of using it and least hurtfull to health Now in milke the next substance to be considered is that which swimmeth upon the top and is called the creame of the milke or flos lactis which we commonly call butter and use it for dressing of meat and many other uses as in other countries they use oyle It is a very wholesome dish for healthfull people moderatly and in due season used best in a morning at the beginning of dinner or at breakefast If immoderatly and unseasonably used it swimmeth on the top of other meats hindreth concoction fumeth up into the head dulleth the senses and hurteth the eye-sight In sicke folkes it is seldome to be used especially in a weake stomack as it is most commonly and their meat dressed with much butter oftentimes so cloggeth their stomackes that it maketh them altogether unfit for any other food and especially butter much boiled as it is not good in health so is it yet farre worse for weake and sicke people and therefore I advise all those who dresse the sickes meat to be very circumspect in the use of butter The third substance in milke is the terrestrious substance which we commonly call cheese and concerning this it may be demanded whether the sicke may safely eat cheese or no I answer that in acute diseases where solid food is not allowed farre lesse are we to give way to this solid and terrestrious substance But in the declining of the disease when the sick beginneth now to feed more on solid food if especially it be earnestly desired and in chronicall diseases if the sicke hath before bin accustomed to this food then a little sometimes to satisfie a longing appetite may be allowed provided it be good cheese made of unskimmed milke neither too old nor too new and in a small quantity Others I wish to be sparing in the use of this aliment In all manner of laskes and loosnesses the use of it is most safe if there be no other impediment Old hard cheese is neither good in sicknesse nor in health nor that which is made of too cleane skimmed milke whereof I have seene some in Saxony which might well have served in stead of chalke and to mend the matter was well seasoned with blacke poppy seeds And what good can any expect from the use of rotten putrified cheese crawling full of maggots so greedily notwithstanding of some gluttons gaped after Now whereas I say that too new cheese is not to be used I doe not exclude the use of new cheese after it is a little kept as is the custome in many places of this Kingdome and none better than in Northampton shire without any disparagment to other places And of such cheeses I thinke is hee to be understood who wrote these verses following Caseolos nisi lactantes ab ubere Pressos Ne crebro comedas consuluisse velim Inde putri mordax vesice pondus adhaesit Gutta nec inde boni sanguinis ulla venit To eat cheese oft I would not wish that thou should make a trade Vnlesse it be some new milke cheese new from the udderne made For from thence to the bladder doth a smarting paine proceed And not a drop of wholesome blood from thence will in thee breed Cheese is most ordinarily eaten after other meats to close up the stomacke which is indeed the best way And by this meanes it openeth the belly howsoever cheese in it selfe bindeth and yet taken at the beginning of the meale it produceth a contrary effect and best to be used in fluxes according to this vulgar verse Caseus ante cibum confert si defluat alvus Si constipetur terminet ille dapes If thy body be laxative cheese before meat is fit If costive then thou shalt doe well to end thy meale with it Howsoever cheese is to be used sparingly especially in weake stomacks and such as lead a sedentary life and use but little exercise for in such too frequently and too liberally eaten it wil breed the stone and all manner of obstructions the colicke and many other diseases And therfore it is a good caveat which was included in this verse following Caseus est sanus quem dat avare manus A sparing hand in the use of cheese I hold alwaies the best And in making of cheese this caution is to be observed that it taste not too much of the rennet which is nothing so pleasant to the palat and maketh the cheese hotter And therfore the Italian Parmesan cheese is for this cause in farre higher esteeme by reason they say it is made with thistles only without any rennet at all As for strong stomackes and laboring people with Ostritch stomacks which would overcome yron and whose best meales are often made with cheese these rules doe not so much concerne them And now in generall concerning the use of milke in healthfull
so that notwithstanding there may easily be seene such causes as increase blood together with some conspicuous tumor or arising in the veines there following in the body as it were some acrimony and sharpenesse to the sense To draw therefore this Chapter to a conclusion phlebotomy is a most soveraine and excellent remedy not onely in the aforenamed infirmities but also in many other as in all Fevers proceeding of blood as well without as with putrefaction and of any other humor putrified and that both in continuall and intermitting even of Quartanes and head-aches proceeding of blood in the Dropsie proceeding of suppression of blood in Strangury retention or difficulty of urine proceeding of a hot cause and in the Palpitation of heart in health comming without any manifest cause and in divers sorts of obstructions as the Jaundize c. Where these are wanting the strength weake and in the presence of any great evacuation as fluxe of the belly vomits much sweating in young children women with child unlesse in great extremity we are not to use this noble and generous remedy And withall let this rule alwayes be observed that it is alwaies better to use this remedy by way of prevention in the approaching rather than in the presence of the disease Let every one therefore beware how they trust ignorant Empirickes and desperate bold Barber-surgeons to rely I meane upon their judgements in so weighty a matter when there is question of losing this noble elixir of life CHAP. IIJ. Whether in contagious maligne and pestilentiall Fevers and in the small Pox and Measels as likewise in the Iaundize phlebotomy may safely be administred BY that which hath been said already concerning Phlebotomy it is apparent that Phlebotomie in Fevers is a soveraigne and approved good remedy which is confirmed by the common consent of all our judicious and learned Physitians And Galen himselfe is of the same opinion where hee alloweth of this remedy as well in continuall as in intermitting Fevers provided alwaies the strength hold out and the age be answerable But then here ariseth no small doubt whether in contagious maligne and pestilentiall diseases so noble and generous a remedy may be used And it would seeme that the negative is to be holden in that in such diseases commonly the heart the fountà ine of life is assaulted the spirits also infirme and for this cause it would seeme wee should rather use alexipharmaks and cordiall remedies in this case most proper to strengthen and corroborate the vitall spirits and to expell if it be possible this poison from the heart whereas any great evacuation especially of this so usefull for mainteining of life may by the evacuation of spirits rather hinder then helpe forward the cure of such diseases The answere to this question must be by distinction for we must consider that the Pestilence it selfe for I will beginne with the most dangerous setteth upon the body of man after divers manners as sometimes striking suddenly without any shew or at least it is scarce discernible in which case it were a desperate course to attempt any such evacuation but then the onely cure is with antidots to oppugne the disease and by all meanes possible to underprop and uphold the decaying spirits of the patient Againe often and many times and more frequently especially in these our Northerne and cold countries this infection is accompanied with a Fever and often meeteth with plethoricall bodies as living in ease and idlenesse and then I see no reason why phlebotomie should or ought be denied unto such bodies if especially administred in the beginning strength age and other circumstances then concurring And that this hath alwaies been the b practice of the learned both antient and latter Physitians I could make it easily appeare if I were not afraid to spend too much time which by reason of divers matters yet to handle I must husband Now if this hath place in the pestilentiall Fever of all others most dangerous then much more hath it place in other Fevers participating indeed of a certaine malignity howbeit not pestilentiall Of this nature is that Fever which hath now divers times especially of late yeeres swept away many lusty people out of this Iland This Fever is of the nature of putrid continuall Fevers and yet not tied to any one particular kind It is called by reason of the evill quality Febris maligna approaching neare the confines of the pestilentiall Fever howbeit commeth farre short of it in malignity this disease being indeed contagious per contactum onely when as such as are yet free are infected by touching the body that is sicke especially in their sweat and sometimes also by being too neare their breath and therefore wee see it often come to passe that a whole family is one after another infected with the same when as others who come to the sicke by way of visitation goe free provided they be not too busie about them But the pestilentiall fveer infecteth often by inspiration of the ambient aire although they have no commerce with the sicke of the same disease This fever is also called febris petechialis from the little blacke or blew spots like unto flea bits which notwithstanding differ from those of the pestilentiall fever It is also called morbus hungaricus or the hungarian disease by reason it hath been and is very frequent among the people of that nation It is now become a free denison in these our countries the smart whereof hath been of late yeeres experimentally felt here among us Now it may here be demanded whether Phlebotomy may be of any use in this maligne fever The reason why I take upon me to discusse this question is because of the ignorance and error of many people who have conceived so hard an opinion of this so noble and generous remedy in this disease that if the patient die after the use thereof they impute this successe to the use of this remedy and the vulgar often are affrighted at the very mentioning of it and as they are commonly jealous of the best actions of the Physitians and apt to interpret every thing in the worst sense so commeth it to passe in this particular It is true indeed that many after the use of the best meanes doe many times miscary the Almighty who first made man having set downe a period of time for every one which no man can passe and because the skillfull Physitian not being able to dive into the secret counsell of his Maker as being a man and no God useth the likeliest meanes which by reason and his owne and other mens experiences he thinketh fittest to grapple with this strong champion in the which combat the violence of the disease being so great that it will not yeeld to any meanes is it reason that the Physitian for all his care and diligence should be so sharply censured I doe not deny but that
so sure a way that we may alwaies trust to it these waters being often of so subtile a nature that they draw nothing but as it were the spirituous qualitie from these solid substances In generall it is to be observed that those which abound in brimstone and bitume are all of a loosening and mollifying nature and doe therewith affect both the stomacke and the liver But such as partake more of the nature of yron alum copper or plaster doe too much condensat and shut up the pores of the skinne by which meanes it commeth to passe that no excrement can thereby be excluded But such as participate of both these extremes are accounted the best and their use alwaies safest for they digest discusse yet alwaies reserving intirely the strength and naturall vigor of all the parts of the body But before I proceed to handle divers particulars concerning these minerall waters I must here discusse a question whether all these minerall waters be at all times of a like and equall force And that this question is not out of purpose nor needlessely propounded may from this appeare in that some have beene and some yet are of opinion that these waters every Bissextile or leap-yeere as wee call it lose a great deale of their efficacie and power and therefore not so efficacious and powerfull against ordinary infirmities In the first place then that the vertue and efficacie of these minerall waters is according to the severall seasons of the yeere and often according to abundance of drouth or moisture is often intended and remitted as wee cannot deny so is not the point in controversie but whether in any one certaine determinate time quatenus such a time howsoever the ambient aire in all the qualities be affected doth produce such an infallible alteration in all minerall waters that during that time they are of little or no efficacie against diseases and this is this leap-yeere now in question And although I am not ignorant that many of the wiser and more judicious have their judgements well enough setled herein yet because not onely some of the vulgar but some of more eminent parts and more sublimate understandings have beene involved in this vulgar errour I shall crave pardon to digresse a little upon this point which in my opinion may not seeme impertinent In the first place then let us take notice of the originall of this leap-yeere and what it is Before the time of Iulius Caesar it is thought that most nations used the computation of the yeere according to the course of the Moone the which because it was uncertaine the Moone in her motion being so unstable and uncertaine therefore Iulius Caesar 54 yeeres before the nativitie of our Lord and Saviour after he had finished his warres taking into his consideration this irregularity of the yeere resolved to rectifie the same And for this same purpose he sent into Egypt for the most expert Mathematicians of that Kingdome and among the rest one Sosigenes from whence as from this Iulius it is called the Iulian so from this same Sosigenes it is called the Sosigenian yeere and therefore whereas before the yeere was ordinarily measured by the motion of the Moone it was then reduced to the motion of the Sunne which finisheth his course in 365 daies and 6 houres These daies he divided into twelve equall parts called by the name of Mensis or measure And because there rested yet 6 odde houres for avoiding confusion which in processe of time might thereby be occasioned every fourth yeere there being just 24 houres remaining these making up a just naturall day were inserted into the moneth of February which before had but 28 daies And yet this computation is not so perfect but that it admitteth of some defects here being added unto this yeere more by the fifth part of an houre than ought and by consequence more added every leap-yeere unto February than ought by 48 minutes the which hath made an alteration in the Aequinoxes and Solstices since this Emperours time about 11 or 12 daies Besides that I say nothing of the motion of the Moone wherein was likewise some defect notwithstanding the course was taken to rectifie the same which made a great confusion in the time of the observation of Easter betwixt the Easterne and Westerne Churches untill the councell of Nice The emendation of this errour howsoever for the space of 200 yeeres by divers Popes attempted yet untill the time of Gregorie the 13 in the yeere of our Lord 1â—82 was never brought to any passe This Pope by the helpe especially of one Lilius a Doctor of physicke tooke such a course to reforme the Calender that the vernall Aequinoxe was from the 10 of March reduced to the 21 to the same day that it was at the Nicene councell Now this could not be unlesse in the Calender and computation of the daies of the yeere there were 10 daies quite cut off And for this cause this same Lilius chose the moneth of October wherein this Pope was borne and tooke quite away from it tenne daies so that when the 5 of October was to be numbred in stead thereof was substituted the 15. and October that yeere had but 21 daies And this is that wee call the Gregorian or beyond the seas account or yeere by reason it is received in those countries beyond the seas where the Pope is acknowledged The which account yet notwithstanding is not perfect nor without exception as I could make appeare if I were purposed to insist upon this point But to come now to our purpose and to answer this point I say it is a thing very ridiculous and an opinion very erronious that this orderly alteration in the computation of time should infuse any new influence into these celestiall bodies which should againe produce so strange and stupendious effects upon these sublunary creatures Now these celestiall bodies keepe constantly the same course they ever did since the first creation these humane constitutions neither adding to nor detracting from these celestiall bodies any new energie vertue or power And if there were any such matter why then did not some such effects follow upon the alteration of Num 1 Pompilius who added two moneths to wit Ianuary and February to the former yeere consisting onely of ten moneths and why followed not there some strange new effects upon the altering of the names of two months Quintilis Sextilis to Iuly August the names of two famous Emperors and finally why followed not there some strange effects upon the alteration of the old Roman Iulian calender where there is no lesse than the difference of ten whole daies betwixt us and the Romanists whch it would seeme should produce new and stranger effects and this would seeme a thing not unbeseeming a papall power who as Gods Vicar generall here upon earth yea and an earthly God too as they would make
of vitriol It correcteth hot distempers quencheth thirst and is good against all inveterate obstructions and therefore usefull in all inveterate Quartane Fevers or others and in all sorts of Iaundise in the Dropsie and to open the splene provoketh also urine and the menstruous fluxe and helpeth melancholy Hypochondriacke These waters are exceeding dry in operation and therefore exceeding good against all diseases proceeding of moisture But yet it is to be observed that they fume up into the head and therefore not so fit for such as are obnoxious to the Epilepsie Apoplexie Vertigo or giddinesse of the head Now to come to our owne Iland besides our ordinary baths in Sommerset shire so famous and so much frequented whereof I have promised silence therere are yet many more in this our Iland of no small vertue and efficacie against many infirmities of the body of man And first I cannot but mention that water of S. Vincents rocke neere that famous and antient City of Bristoll which commeth now in request against the stone and this I need but only mention the which is to me altogether unknowne howbeit the former Author hath likewise past his censure concerning this Spring and the right use thereof and therefore unto his discourse I referre the reader howsoever it seemeth by his relation that it participateth chiefly of the nature of Sulphure and Nitre and is taken now orderly being potable and used for all manner of internall heats and inflammations There is a Well in Yorkeshire thought to participate somewhat of the nature of the Well of Spa taking its vertue and operation from yron and therefore is good against obstructions of the liver splene and mesaraicke veines and to cleanse and corroborate the urinary passages c. whereon I will not now dwell there being a little tractat of late yeeres published concerning the vertues and use of this water There is within 7 miles of this towne of Northampton and hard by the market towne of Wellenborogh a Well much of the same nature and efficacy participating of the nature of yron as by proofes may easily appeare and all the ground through which it runneth coloureth red This water although it can scarce be discerned from others in taste colour yet is it powerfull in opening obstructions of the liver splene and mesaraick veins to cleanse the the kidnies bladder and urinary passages and so good against the stone c. It was but within these few yeers brought in request by that famous Physitian Sr Theoder Mayrne Dr in physicke and Phsitian to the King Queenes Majesties and first renowned by some good successe the right honourable Lord of Pembrok then Lord Chamberlaine found thereby and since by our gracious Queens Majesty now living and divers others approved to be of good use and efficacy But when I shal be my selfe better satisfied certified concerning this businesse I shall be ready if God prolong my life to give more particular satisfaction to the publike But in the use of this and other such minerall waters especially such as are deprived of any acidity in the taste there is an especiall regard to be had to the strength of the stomack and accordingly to the strength of it to accommodat the quantity of water and alwaies to have a diligent care to correct the acidities of the same and either before or together with the use of this water to be carefull in the corroboration of the stomack I heard a story of a worthy Lady who by advice of some Physitians for some infirmities did drink for certaine days of Tunbridge water in Kent after the use whereof by means of an irrecoverable debility her stomacke had by the use of this water contracted it cost her at last no lesse than her life as for the nature and vertues of this water because I am not acquainted with it I will not meddle Some other waters in this Kingdome have for a while beene in great credit and estimation for many infirmities and their fame againe as quickly falne to the ground Some few yeeres agoe there was in great esteem and credit a Well in Mauborn hils in Worcestershire which the vulgar ut est natura hominis novitatis avida a new broome sweepes cleane for a while esteemed as some noble Panacaea or aurum potabile supposed good against all infirmities but in short space there was againe altum silentium and proved according to the proverbe but a nine daies wonder I doe not for this condemne this water the nature and vertues whereof are to me unknowne but I advise people to be wise and to be circumspect and with good and mature deliberation to admit of these minerall waters and then should we not have often times such sudden flashes of the fame of some waters which as quickly againe vanish into smoake and their credit is as soone crackt There hath beene likewise no small account made of New name Wells in Warwick-shire which of late yeeres have come in request for the stone and infirmities of the urinary passages c. The which as many others I beleeve doe most participate of this same yron whereof mention hath beene made already and therefore are good to be used against the same infirmities I have heard likewise by relation of a famous Well neer Aberdene in the North parts of Scotland called by the name of Spa and as they say effectuall against the same infirmities which the Well of Spa is said to cure Of this water a learned Physitian of that same Kingdome composed a learned tractat as I am credibly informed the which as yet I never saw There is within two miles of the Citie of Edenburgh in the same Kingdome a bituminous Well or Spring called the oily Well yeelding great store of this bituminous stuffe being very good against all manner of itches scabs and many other outward defaedations of the skinne c. This well was in time of Popery called Saint Catherines Well and so this Saint carried away the credit of any cure that was thereby performed as the like use they made of minerall waters not onely here but in many other places as is the use even at this day I make no question but in that same countrie especially in the most mountainous parts thereof where there is such store of yron and all manner of other ore there might be found as efficacious waters against any infirmities as any in remote regions The like may be said of divers places of this Kingdome especially in Wales Cornewall Devonshire and many places of the North countrie as in Yorkeshire and other shires lying further to the North. But concerning minerall waters and all manner of baths as well naturall as artificiall together with their uses for the present this shall suffice CHAP. XX. Of the excretion by urine the retention of urine together with the nature of diureticke remedies the
smelleth well and some others say it hath a mixt smell I will not call in question S. Augustines credit nor argue the case whether he might be deceived and being no Physitian have some other fruit given him and called by this name but with us sure I am there is no such smell to be found in those that grow in the hottest of our European countries nor such as I smelt in the middest of France nor could learn it of others and it is proper to all our narcoticke medicines to bee of an evill and loathsome smell although growing in a hot climat as we finde it in Opium as also in Tabacco although it be verified in this drug which Divines say of sinne Consuetudo peccandi tollit sensum peccati The custome of sinning taketh away the sense thereof So may I say of this customary use maketh people complaine of no annoyance at all being so inured to this filthy smell This soporiferous and narcoticke quality say our Chymists proceedeth from a narcoticke sulphur whereof this loathsome smell is an individuall assistant Galen also himselfe judgeth of the quality of the simples not only by the taste but also by the smell and such as are of a sweet and pleasant smell not only he but all other Physitians after him account to comfort and corroborate the spirits and principall parts which no man yet ever affirmed of any narcoticke nay nor yet of Tabacco it selfe although growing betwixt the Tropicks in Trinidad Is it then likely that the holy Ghost and Salomon his Pen-man and so well skilled in the nature and vertue of simples would ranke a venomous plant among so pleasant fruits or flowers But put the case that this simple growing in those hot Easterne countries did smell well and lost that loathsome and unpleasant smell incident to such simples which notwithstanding is not likely these hot countries commonly intending their properties and smell as appeareth in Tabbaco c. yet then why may not I with as good reason affirme that many of our ordinary fruits or flowers transplanted into Salomons pleasant garden might much improve their former properties and smells insomuch that they might farre surpasse this plant and fruit and so should be in small request where there were so many better I thinke now I have made it to the indifferent and unpartiall reader plainly appeare that there is small probability that this Mandrake mentioned in the Scripture is our Mandrake And put yet the case it had beene so yet wee see it produced not that effect in her that obtained this plant and she that parted from it had children in a short space But let us yet search a little further into this love-property attributed to it this property is only confined to helpe womens sterility by those who stand stiffeliest upon the point And yet our antient Physitians neither Dioscoride who reckoneth up all the severall properties thereof yea even a violent purging quality equalling if not exceeding Hellebore it selfe Galen nor Pliny make any mention of this property And whereas they make mention of some names tending to that purpose they only relate other mens opinions they never ascribing any such property unto it I will not indeed deny but it might have bin used by witches and Sorcerers in their love-potions as I may call them and so were bones of Frogs haires of a Wolfes taile Hippomanes and such other trash which no understanding man ever thought to be indued with any such quality by wicked people notwithstanding imploied for such purposes And this same late alleaged Author when he alleageth the supposed love quality in this simple groundeth his reason on the cooling quality of this simple fit saith he to coole the hot wombs of those Eastern women as he thinketh it to be incident to most women dwelling in hot countries But what if this simple be hot in quality I think then his building wil soone fall to the ground Galen himselfe joyneth heat with the cold quality in this simple And I thinke let but a judicious Physitian well consider of the purging quality and many other operations in this simple incident at least many of them to other narcoticks also will acknowledge a hot quality predominating in it and then this cooling effect is quite vanished away in smoake And put the case this were yet true then were it onely good for women of very hot wombes and not proper for ever barren woman and withall were not good for women of our cold Northerne climat who are not for the most part so hot wombed as there Easterne women Besides if by reason of its narcoticke and soporiferous quality by reason it provoketh to sleepe and consequently the better to reteine the seed of generation why may not opium henbane or hemlocke doe the like Or why should that plead such privilege above other simples of the same nature and quality Moreover if this plant had beene indued with any such vertue is it likely that Leah who had now for a long time beene debarred from bearing of children insomuch that for this cause she had given her maid to her husband to helpe out her number would so easily have parted with so effectuall a meanes to her sister especially betwixt whom and her selfe there was such emulation and debate To conclude then this point there is no probability that this Mandrake hath any such power or vertue as to make barren women fruitfull and yet farre lesse to procure love or make any love better howsoever it may be that in antient times it hath perhaps beene used as other poisons for this same purpose as I have said already And Pliny himselfe mocketh the Magicians who attribute strange vertues to herbes and divers simples and such as is impossible for any reasonable man to beleeve as namely to open any locke without resistance to drie up rivers and lakes to supply all wants and make enemies to flee But the same Pliny wisely replyeth Where were such herbs when the Romans obteined such victories of their enemies And I could make a many questions to this same purpose although I confesse it were but to small purpose But concerning these things as also concerning love love potions and the appendixes or things thereunto belonging thus much shall suffice for the present on the which I have somewhat the longer insisted by reason I perceived some erroneous opinions concerning this subject to be so ruveted in the mindes of many that it is a hard matter to root them out wherefore if I have trespassed upon the readers patience let this apologie plead for mee that my intention was to profit the publike the which I wish may likewise plead for any former trespasse of the same nature CHAP. XXXII Of immoderate or passionate anger the hurt thereby procured to the body in sicknesse and in health and antidots against it in what diseases best and in what worst and whether any may die of anger THat the affections of
colour ibid. Ancients very lavish in this evacuation Reiteration of Phlebotomy and divers kindes thereof 248. Divers vulgar errors concerning phlebotomy Oportune time of Phlebotomy generall and particular of election and coaction in prevention and in sickenesse in chronicall and acute disease 250. 251. It may with us in any season of the yeere be administred ibid. Phlebotomy evacuateth Plethory 231. Things to be considered in the opening of the veine strength especially 241. Particular Phlebotomy by leaches and scarification 263. Physicke a more painfull laborious and troublesome profession than any other Intr. 18. Physitians practicall paines exceede the paines of other professions Paines of the three chiefe professions paralleled and compared together Intr. 19. Extent of the Physitians study exceedeth that of other professions Ibid. Physitians often much incombred to please their patients Their best actions and indeavours often misconstrued and they wrongfully traduced Their paines greatest and yet often worse requited than those of other professions They have many sharers with them which often rob them of their due Intr. 21. Pigeons 78. 175. Whether to be used of the sicke ibid. Pigge 72. Pilchards or sprats 90. Pills how and when to be taken 280. Pine-apple See Nut. Plethora See Repletion Plover 82. Plums and their properties 65. Pomgranat 68 Pope Iulius a Sodomite 329. Pope Sixtus 4 erected in Roome stewes for both kindes of uncleannesse and allowed the use of Sodomy ibid. Pope Clement the 8 See Clement the 8. Pope Iohn the 4 a whore-master an adulterer a Sodomite ibid. Pope Benedict See Benedict Pope Paul the 3 prostituted his owne daughter 330. Posset-drinke and severall waies of preparation 207. White-wine posset-Drinke ibid. Sorrell posset-drinke ibid. Posset-drinke in maligne and pestilentiall fevers ibid. Plaine ordinary posset-drinke ibid. Best Posset for healthfull people 208. Eating Possets and the abuse thereof ib. Potato roots 45. Pricke-madam 50. Prescilliâ—mists fast See Abstinence Ptisan See Creame of barley Puffe 47. Purgation what 267. In Purgation what to be considered ibid. 368. Purging medicines different 168. Compound medicines various and of divers sorts ibid. Of divers formes 269. Externall and internall ibid. Purgation perfect and imperfect ibid. Minorative purgation ibid. Pâ—r epierasin ibid. Method of Purgation and what therein to be considered 269 c. Error of the vulgar concerning Purgation 270. Indication of purging three-fold 271. When to purge and severall circumstances in purging to be considered 283 Humours to be purged 276. Preparation before purgation ibid. Preparation of the body and humors requisite 277. Difference thereof ibid. Quantity of purging medicines 278. Time of our purgation generall and particular 283. 284. When to be deferred 284. In the beginning when to purge ibid. In the fit when usefull 285. Best time of the yeere fittest day and time of the day ibid. Strong purgations 268. Gentle purgations ibid. Defective purgation and the cause thereof 289. 290. After Purgation how the patient is to be ordered ibid. Divers formes of purging medicinces 280. Liquid and solid formes c. 287. Passages by which we are to purge and what therein to be considered ibid. Perfect purgation and the signes thereof 289. Purselane 50. Pythagorean abstinence See abstinence Pyke and Pycarell 29. Q. Quaile 80. Quince 67. R. Rabbet or Conie See Conie Raile 81. Raisin Raisin of the Sunne 65. Raspes 60. Rats-flesh See uncouth flesh Reddish Horse-Reddish 44. Repasts and meales and their number for one day 37. Times fittest for Repast 38. Repasts and their times differ in severall countries ibid. Repletion and how ingendered 225. Repletion indicates evacuation ibid. Revulsion See Phlebotomy Rheumes distilling downe upon the breast and how to expell this excrement 323. Rheumes troublesome to the body ibid. Rheume differeth both in colour and in taste ibid. Rheume or that which is spit vp must be observed in pleurisies Error of the vulgar in the use of expectorating medicines against the Rheume ibid. Rhintax See Bird of Paradice Ribes See Currants Rice-bread See Bread Rice-pottage See white meats Riot and excesse abound much in this our age See gluttony Rochet Roch 92. 93. Roses of severall sorts 44 c. Roses their severall kinds vertues 51. Rue eaten against fascination See fascination S. Saffron 102 Sage 56. It is far more soveraigne for the corroboration of the bram and animall parts than Tabacco See Tabacco Sailing and the differences thereof See Exercise Sal gemmae See Salt Sal ammoniacus ibid. Salivation and the use the thereof 316. Abuse thereof ibid. 321. Salmon Salmon-trout 92. Salt a sauce of sauces 94. Salt of severall sorts 95. Salt what best ibid. Salt of salt-wells ibid Salt made by the heat of the fire ibid. Salt of plant ibid. Salt what complexions it best befitteth and to whom an enemy 94. Cautions in the use thereof ibid. Immoderately used hurtfull Properties and vertues of Salt ibid. Salicatella vena 240. Sampierre kept for sallets 92. Saphena veine 240. Sardanapâ—lus his Epicure-like Epitaph 105. Savory 56. Scarification 264. Often used with cupping In what cases to be used ibid. Scald 90. Scurvie-grasse ale See diet-drinke Searing or burning of some part What it is 265. The benefit and utility thereof The place of the issue with some cautions and the instrument wherewith it is made ibid. Seasons of the yeare considerable in sicknesse and in health 20. How ordinarily defined and limited 21 Otherwise distinguished by Hippocrates ibid. Seasons differ according to Climats and Countries within and without the Tropickes ibid. They differ according to the situation of places 22. Section or opening of the veine See veine Seed of generation what and for what use 315. Service 67. Setaceum and Setum See searing Shifting of the sicke See cleane linnen Shooting with a bow See exercise Shrimps See pranes Signe whether to be considered in Phlebotomy 256. Erroneous and superstitious custome of the vulgar in so punctually observing the signe ibid. Confutation of this opinion 257. The Sunne ought to have a greater share in the signe than the Moone and the reasons 259. Signes ruminant a meere fancy and Chimara 258. Signes not to be observed in purging ibi Signes neglected of our best Physitians howsoever some of them expert Mathematicians 260. Silke-wormes eaten See uncouth diet Situation of the sicke house See aire Skallions See Onions Sleepe moderate and the benefits thereof 332. Immoderate sleepe with the harmes thereon insuing ibid. What sleepe is ibid. It is not properly a function of any sense ibid. Fittest time for sleepe 333. Sleepe in the day time whether allowable ibid. For whom most hurtfull ibid. Best situation of the body for Sleepe Morning-sleepe ibid. Sleepe of the sicke 335. Time fittest for sicke folkes to sleepe in ibid. In acute diseases fittest time ibid. In what diseases it may bee of longest continuance ibid. Sleepe in intermitting Fevers ibid. In 〈◊〉 diseasâ—s ibid. In sopâ—â—â—â—rous diseases it must bee sâ—â—â—ted ibid. Whether the sick may sleepe after physicke 288. Sleep not
septenos postquam compleveris annos Producti dentermurus oris erunt Post si septem alios deus huic coÌ„â—essâ—rit annos â— it pubes nato semine nomen habens Est invenis cum septem altos compleverit annos Et lanugo genas barbaque prima tegie His addas septe virtutis nomine clarus Est vir haec aetas optima robur habet A diâ—cias alios septem voâ—eâ— esse maritus Er memor utique posteritatu erit His alias â—ugas septe prudeÌ„tia pectuâ— Ornabit studium non levitatis erit Annumeres septem gravitas erit inclyta â—â—ngua Septem alios linguae â—oÌ„gruit ingenium Additur his nonus cum septenarius ipse est Perfectus vires sed nimis interimit Scitices his aÌ„nis multi periere duobus quoruÌ„ laus celebruÌ„ mar te togaque suit Hi quoque nunc variis fortuna casibus anni Subiiciunt multos exitiumque parant Accedunt aâ—â—i septem mors dura vocabit aâ—d tamulum fessos decrepitosque senes n Qua autem rat one per illus annorum circuitus morbi plerâ—mque incrudescant a neminc hactenus explicatuÌ„ est Ego ideo evenire conjicio quod certis anâ—orum periodis coâ—tuâ— humanum magnam bumorum collectionem ac redundantiam congesserit quorum motu atque excitatione morbi excitantur Cum enim natura ad immodicam repletionem devenerit conceptacula humorum plenitudinem perserre nequeant in morbum erumperere necesse est QuaÌ„obrem omne fludiuÌ„ omnemque operam conserre expetit ne materia exuperantâ—a evacuaâ—ionem quam semper vere autumno vel incisione venae vel purgante medicamento molunduÌ„ est Idem Lev. Lâ—mnâ— loco prius citat De bis annis climactscripserunt etiam Antonius Guevarra Petrus Messias Ioseph Roscius Franciscus Iunius Franciscus Petâ—archa Marsilius Ficinus Ferdinandus Mena Iohannes Lalamanizus Federicus Bonaventura Baptist Godroachus c. Res 7 naturales sunt Elementa temperamentum humores membra vel partes virtutes seu facultates operationes vel actiones spiritus Res 6 non naturales aer cibus potus repletio vacuation exercitiun seu motus quies somnus vigilia accidentia seu animi pathemata Quality of the aire The aire doth not a little affect both the body and the minde a Iu Academo unde academici Ficinus in vitae Platonis What is meant by a pure aire A temperate aire Aire naturally unhealthfull cannot be corrected Alteration of the aire by meanes of the seasons of the yeere Advertisement for undertakers of new plantations Errour committed in the fitst plantation of Virginia b Acosta hist Ind. l. 3 cap. 6. Election of aire according to the severall constitutions of bodies Best aire according to the time of the day Night aire pernitious on most parts of the coast of Africa a 1 Kings 18.44 Winds are of great force b 5 De legibus c Asper ab axe ruit Boreas fugit Eurus ab ortu Auster amat medium Solem Zephyrusque cadentem Hos inter binae mediis e partibus aurae Expirant similes mutato nomine flatus Manilius lib. 4. d Tetrub 2. sermone 3. cap. 100 sect 3. e Lib. 1. cap. 6. f Agricola rei metall lib 3. Properties of winds according to severall countries g Lib. de Pest South-wind best of al others to Africa The West-wind most terrible to Gasconie Division of winds Division of Land-winds h Comment 3. in 3 Epidem The South-wind for the most part our greatest adversary The Northerly wind our best friend Etesian Easterly or anniversary winds i Jn libris Epidem k Lib. 2. cap. 1. Maritime or winds blowing from the sea l Lib. de longitud brevit vitae cap. 3. m Hicronym Rubeus in Comment in praedict Celsi locum n Galen 1. de semine Commendation of winds blowing from the sea o Gal. in aph 14. l. 3. p Lib. de tuenda valetud q Lib. 2. cap. 106. r Idem Rubeus loco nuper citat Why the sea aire in Italy is so bad s 10 Probl. 54. t Lib de longitud brevit vitae Venetians are vigorous and long lived u Idem Rubeus ibid. Confirmation of this opinion by experience Of winds blowing in America lib. 3. cap. 10. South and Southwest winds blow constantly in Peru. Northern winds noisome to some parts of Peru. Various qualities of the Eastern wind according to severall countries x Lib. 2. cap. 49. y Idem Acosta ibidâ— z Idem ibid. cap. 9. a See Purchas his pilgrimage lib 4 cap. 12. ex Linchâ—t l. 2. a Genes 8.22 The naturall seasons of the yeere b Pracipue vero maxime anni temporum mutationes observandae sunt ut neque medicamentum purgans lubenter exbibeauâ—us neque partes circa ventrem uramus aut secemus antedies decem aut etiam plures Maxime tamen sufficient decem ac maximi periculi plena sunt ambo aequinoctia maxime vero autumnale Periculosissima etiam sunt ambo Solstitia praecipâ—eque aestivum Syderum quoque ortus observandi praecipueque caniculae deinde arcturi vergiliarum occasus His enim potissimuÌ„ diebus morbi indicationem subeunt alii quidem perimunt alii vero desinunt aliique omnes in aliam formam statum transeunt Lib de acre aquis locis Question coÌ„cerning the temperature of the seasons with the answer The humours in the body of man answer the foure seasons of the yeere and the parts of our civil day Seasons of the yeere differ acording to climats and countries Situation of places altereth the seasons See Acost in places alleged in the former chapter Historie of the difference of the season in the hills and vallies c See Purchas his pilgrimage lib. 4. cap. 16. d Idem lib. 6. cap. 14. Observations for undertakers of plantations The high esteeme the Antients had of water Antiquity Vtility a Quoniam aqua alterum est ex duobus elementis quibus constat bominum vita altera vitae parte Aegyptios spolians optimo compendio usus est ad humiliandam eorum ferociam nisi prorsus fuissent intractabiles Calvin comment cap. 7. Exo. vers 19. b Gen. 26.15 16 17. c c 1 King 17.1 d In one place Westward from Florida Virginia it had not rained for the space of three yeeres and therefore was there great scant of food there Purchas lib. 8. cap. 7. In Mexico in former times had bin a drought of 4. yeeres continuance which forc'd the inhabitants to forsake the country Idem ibid. cap. 13. e Lib. de Aqua Division of water Temperature of water Properties of the best waters f Jmprimis itaque illa aqua ad potandum optima censetur quae clara pellucida tenuis pura frusti lorum saporum omnium expers levisque reperitur necnon quae igni admota citò califit remota vero ocyssime frigescit gustu iucundo quae denque celeriter praecordia pertransit fine ulla ventriculi
frequentem coetum hominum eo nempe loco quo vivis non possint nocere Expostio Nempeid vult canon loâ—â—a sepulturarum debere esse extra urbes in o extra templa in quibus homines frequenteâ— conve nunt id quod probatur ex perpetua consuetudine popuâ—i Dei qui mortuos suos sepelâ—t non in urbibus templis sed in campis sicut videre est in historia Patriarcharum qui omnes in campis sepeliri voluerunt imprimis manifeste testatur Evangelista Lucas cap. 7. Vbi narrat filium vidua habitantus in uâ—be Naum cum mortuus esset deportatum fuisse extra urbâ—m adse ulturam â—d quâ—m loâ—um vide quae anâ—otet â—octi interpretes qui id omnes uno ore profitentur non tantum Iudaeorum sed etiam gentâ—â—m 〈◊〉 remfuisse ut mortuos suos esserrent extra urbes Vide etiam â—â—martyr loco commuclall 2. loco de sâ— puâ—t 2 Ratio aucitur ex charitate proximi cuâ— plane aduersatur iste mos sepeliendorum mortuorum in urbibus templis dum nempe valetuâ—â—ni vitae vivorum nocetur per haelitus qui excâ—daveribus mortuorum in urbibus tempâ—s tanto copiosiores exhilant quanto locus est conclasiâ—r ob hominum frequentiam tepidior quos quidem balitus praesertim ex eorum cadaveâ—â—bus qui peste eâ—â—â—â—cts sunt evaporantes venenatos ac contagiosos medici testantur inter quos Leâ—in Lemn 2. De mirac Nat cap â— Vt non dicam hoc loco de 〈…〉 terrâ—â— in qui 〈…〉 plura 〈…〉 quam 〈…〉 ea â—o a 〈…〉 nata quasi quam materiam 〈…〉 mâ—numentâ—◠〈…〉 istud mov aâ— effoâ—â—tur 3 Ratio eâ— a caus◠〈◊〉 orâ—gine estius consuâ—tudâ—nu sepeliendorum maâ—tuâ—rum in templâ—â— quam originem 〈…〉 vel id testimoniam est quod nempe Monâ—â—m praeâ—itim â—â—aâ— câ—â—cani ac praeserâ—m 〈◊〉 aâ—â—untes ex ist◠〈◊〉 ra morâ—uâ—rum quae in temp in temp iâ— fiant non nisi lucrainâ— quâ—lium quaesiverint turâ—â—â—mum quidem ita suae siâ— erint ut nâ—â—â—xpeâ—â—â—rint templa 〈◊〉 quae aqua 〈…〉 câ—â—at 〈◊〉 ac conâ—aminâ—ri cum Deut ipse diâ—â—rte in 〈…〉 â—andum ea 〈…〉 pu◠〈…〉 ai 〈…〉 summo altare viciniora Acce 〈◊〉 aliud argumentum ex testimoâ—io â—uris ciâ—ilu de quoâ— ure plâ—â—â—t annotare verba Francisci Ripae extracta de peste cap. 4 ante citato ubi iuquit ad removencum â—oeâ—orâ—â—m ex cadaveribus provenientem a maioribus nostris inventa sunt sepulchra non defunctorum causa sed viventium gratia instituta Nam quia sepulchra ut plurimum foetent staruit D. Adrianus poenam â—0 aureorum in eos qui in civitate sepulchrum â—ociunt locumq publicati iussit corpus inde transferri eadem Magistratibus patientibus imminente 3. § Divus Adriaâ—us F. de sepulchrorum violatoribus Huc accidit lex 12. tabularum quae jussit humari corpora extra urbem â—â—verbis Moâ—tuâ—m hominem in urbe ne sepelito Quam legem citans Franciscus Patricius ipse homo Pontificius lib. 5. de institutione reipubl tit 10. inâ—â—r alia haec etiam addit verba Nullum genus sepulturae megis laudandum puto quam humâ—â—ones sub di◠〈◊〉 flores herbae naâ—cuntur tam id in sepulchris vetustissimis inscriptum sit Sparge rosas lector vel canâ—id a lilia pone stem Manibus date lilia plenis Item purpureos spargam flores Et addit Patricius Pulchrius est optabilius Germinatiti teriae â—â—â—di hoc corpus cum ex tali terra factum sit ut aequum est ut fâ—lius in gremium matris revertatur Denique etiam a edit hodierna consuetudo laudatissimarum rerum publicarum Argentinensis Noribâ—â—ensis Lipsensis in quibus vel rara vâ—l nulla etiam mortaliorum cadavera in templis urbanis humantur De Spartanis mâ—ror quod permiforint mortuos in urbe sepelâ—i de quo â—m consuetudine vide Eraâ—um libr. 3. pag. 110. Interim tamen vetuerunt ne monumenta in templis fierent sed â—uxta Vide iâ—id Ante annos cirâ—iter 400. haec execrabilis consuetudo coepit cum ante haec tempora etiam Martyrum cadavera extra urbes sepulta 〈…〉 Franciscani enim Dominicani cum viderent numerum fraterculorum angeri nec tantos sumplus ipses su pâ—â—ere 〈◊〉 emâ—ugendae pecuuia artem invenerunt ut homines in cucullis Monacborum prope altare sepeliri deber 〈…〉 duent ita ut recte quis dicat Nullam artem acquitendae pecuniae esse probatiorem quam mortuorum Vide ibedem pluâ—â— Caâ— 10. â—â—â—â—ectioÌ„ o◠〈…〉 〈◊〉 to coole the aire in Sommer Warming of the cold aire in Winter The fewell whereof the fire is made Sea coale and pit-coale â—re naught 〈…〉 â—â—ndled in a close â—â—ome dangeâ—ouâ— History 〈…〉 Sweet wood iâ— thâ— best Good fewell 〈…〉 Worse fewell n De conservanda valetud cap. 7. Heath or ling wholsome fewell 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 waâ—eâ— Hot and 〈◊〉 woods 〈…〉 whom 〈…〉 Consideration of the particular aire about the sicke 〈◊〉 situation of the 〈…〉 station The next best situation The worst Low â—oomes in what diseases best Great and spatious roomes Narrow and close rooms in contagious and pestilentiall diseases are not good Close roomes when best Stones and hot-houses not wholesome o Locoprius citato Of Light and how it maybe used about the sicke § Alium enim lux alium tenebrae magis turbant reperiunturque nullum discrimen deprehendi vel hoc vel illo modo possit Optimum itaque est utrumque experiri habere eum qui tenebras horret in luce eum qui lucem ut tenebris At ubi nullum tale discrimen est aeger si vires habet loco lucido si non habet obscuro continendus est Cels lib. 3. cap. 18. Hippoc lib. de medico The Colour of the walles Hangings of the roome * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aph. 1. lib. 1. p Liv. ut anima 〈…〉 q 〈…〉 cap 3. r In quaestion Romanis Å¿ 〈◊〉 29 cap. 1. Country aire in generally an◠〈◊〉 the most part to bee preferâ—â—d Great diversitie in countri◠〈◊〉 Diversitie in the aire of seveâ—all townes and cities Good and wholesom aire of the towne of Northampton Situation of this Towne 〈…〉 River of â—â—ne and good 〈…〉 breeding â—â—erin â—â—stures and 〈◊〉 about 〈…〉 Decay of 〈…〉 this com◠〈◊〉 many other conâ—â—â—â—â—tions of this kingdom 〈◊〉 wood of Norâ—hampâ—oâ— shire Good water for dying This towne commodious for entertaâ—nment for great meetings Clothing wold make this corporation flourish Master Iohn Denbigh one of the Aldermen of Northampton hath begun to set up clothing The river of Nine made navigable wold prove beneficial both for towne and countrie a Lib. de intern affeâ—â— b Lib. 25. cap. 3. c Cornel Gemmâ— lib. 2. cosmoâ—â—â—t When to cover the sicke More clothes to be used in the night than in the day d Galen comment in eam
parts of Libya and Egypt in Sommer are farre cooler than places more remote from thence Plutarch seemeth likewise to favour this opinion who affirmeth that it is not necessary to prescribe any remedies for the preservation of the teeth of such as dwell neere the sea and that in regard of the dry quality of that aire and wind strengthening and corroborating their heads Againe that the sea-aire is hot appeareth in that Pliny writeth that no snow falleth in the maine Ocean but what may then be the reason that in may places of Italy the sea aire is so bad The reason many be in the first place because perhaps this wind bloweth sometimes too violently and so in too great abundance drawne in by the inhabitants or else by reason that by the sea aire divers marshes or stincking standing pooles and ponds or yet salt water mingled with fresh or any the like occasion which causing the water to putrifie sendeth forth such ill vapours and exhalations as are altogether hurtfull to the health of man And by reason this is ordinarie in most places of Italy hence have we this evill report and slander raised upon the sea aire and wind which notwithstanding is onely accidentall being in it selfe most healthfull and without any hurt at all Hence is it also that the Philosopher affirmeth that the sea creatures are farre more vigorous and of a greater stature and Averroes affirmeth that they are longer lived As concerning that which was before alleged out of Aristotle seeming to maintaine the contrary opinion was spoken of creatures living in the water the word Water taken in a generall sense but is not meant of the sea in particular Hence also commeth it to passe that the Venetians hemm'd in on every side with the sea breathing in no aire which doth not partake of the qualities of their so neere bordering neighbour are so lively and vigorous that many of that republique attaine very nigh the hundred yeere of their age and this was verified in that noble and renowned Champion and sea Captaine Andrew Dore Admirall of the fleet of Charles the fift Emperor and who spent in a manner his whole life upon the Sea as the aforesaid Author averreth And this opinion seemeth yet more probable in that both the snow which falleth neere the sea-coasts yea even in the most Northerne parts of this Iland both falleth often in a small quantitie and lieth a shorter while than in the places further remote from the same and the corne is also sooner ripe caeteris paribus and no other let or rub come in the way and yet further to confirme this truth we see most commonly that sea-faring men seldome need any sauce to provoke their languishing appetites I have a little the longer insisted of set purpose upon these winds blowing from the sea by reason of our new colonies now planted and planting in these remote regions that they may neither be afraid to settle themselves neere the sea coast if all other things be answerable nor yet any such as are there already seated be by any needlesse future fears discouraged by reason of this aire And now being arrived into these remote regions ere we return a word or two of the nature and property of som of these winds blowing in those far distant contries Acosta the Iesuit relateth that upon all the coast of Peru it bloweth continually with one only wind which is South and South west contrary to that which doth usually blow under the burning Zone being by nature the most violent tempestuous unhealthfullest of all other yet in this region it is marvellous pleasing healthfull agreeable insomuch that we may truly attribute the habitation of that place thereunto Now the Northerne wind is not usually cold and cleare in Peru and beyond the line as here In some parts of Peru at Lima and on the plaines they find the Northern winds troublesome and unwholesome and all along the coast which runnes above 300 leagues they hold the Southerne winds for healthfull and coole and which is yet more most cleare and pleasant yea with it it never raines contrary to that we see in Europe on this side the line The Solanus or Easterly wind is commonly hot and troublesome in Spaine and in Murtia it is the healthfullest and coolest that is for that it passeth thorow that large champian and sweet pleasant orchards In Carthagena which is not farre from thence the same wind is troublesome and unwholesome The Meridionall is commonly rainie and boisterous and yet in the same Citie whereof I speake it is wholesome and pleasant In a region containing fiftie leagues in circuit I put it thus for example the wind which bloweth on the one part is hot and moist and that which bloweth on the other is cold and drie And Pliny reports that in Africke it raines with a Northerly wind and that the Southerne wind is cleare And Acosta tells us yet more that there is a certaine wind of such a quality that when it bloweth in some countrie it causeth it to raine fleas and that in so great abundance that they trouble and darken the aire and cover all the sea-shore and in other places it raineth frogs There are winds which naturally trouble the sea and make the water thereof looke greene and blacke others make it looke as cleare as chrystall some comfort and make glad others trouble and breed heavinesse Such as nourish silke-wormes have great care to shut their windowes when as the South-westwinds doe blow and to open them to that opposite to it having found by certaine experience that their wormes die and languish with the one fatten and become better-like by the other The same Authour reporteth that in some parts of the Indies he hath seene grates of yron rusted and consumed that passing it betwixt your fingers it dissolved into powder as if it had beene hay or parched straw the which onely proceeded from the wind corrupting it and it having no power to withstand the same But before we conclude this chapter we must take notice that without the Tropicks from the twentie seventh to the thirtie seventh degrees the winds are said to be for the most part Easterly as some thinke by a repercussion of the aire even as we see waters being incountred with more force returne with an eddie in a manner backe This which is said of the Easterly wind is to be understood of the sea for at the land though winds be as hath beene said certaine and set yet that which is the generall wind of one countrie is not generall to all yea in the same countrie they have a set wind for the day and another quite contrary bloweth for the night also neere the coast they are more subiect to calmes in this burning Zone than further off in the sea the grosse vapours which arise out of the earth and the divers