Young Boyes and women formerly were wont to retreat into these places of retiring and every one unfit for the war In war these arms of the Sea are places for the Hollanders retreat when the Romans invaded the Low-countries for it was a very safe Asylum for them these places being hard to come to For these are the places where are folds for sheep and stalls for cattel we call them Stellen or rather Stallen Creeks in Zeland and in our dayes they are so stopt with creeks and winding ditches through which the Ocean-flouds come in that an armed horse-man if he chance to fall in may be swallowed up in them therefore it is dangerous for any man to go there that is not acquainted with the way But there are many places of Zeland that are grassy plains and green fields without any ramparts about them the use whereof will never fail in those countries for what is broken off on one side will fall to the other side by the washing of the water that there can never want matter in this country to make Islands of Some of these from the green grasse and pleasant fodder are called by the Inhabitants Garsen but those that are not so green nor full of grasse and yeild no such plenty to feed their cattel from feeding and pinching they call Scorren when some thousands of Acres are heaped up by these our men attempt to make Islands of them and both old and new Islands were made up of those rudiments by mans labour Many formerly invited by the richnesse of the soil and goodnesse of the ground driving out the old inhabitants have invaded this land and gain'd the possession of it by force of Arms. There were in the memory of our Great Great Grandfathers some that were enemies to Hollanders and Zelanders who attempted to bring these Islands under their subjection Holland and Zeland confederate but these two Nations alwaies confederate together resisted their enemies manfully whence it is that to this very day both nations use but one name and live by the same laws and equity and are of one mind against the common enemy We may collect from C. Caesar besides other things from these words The Mase runs forth of the mountain Vosevus Com. belli gall 4. the original of the Mase and being in one part received by the Rhein it makes the Island of the Hollanders and not far from it within a mile it falls into the Ocean that the place called Zeland is joyning and next to Holland and is an Appendix The original and course of the Rhein and part of that Country But the Rhein runs forth from that part of the Alps where the Lepontii dwell and is carried swiftly a long way and when it comes near to the Sea it breaks into many parts and making many great Islands it runs into the Sea the greatest part whereof is inhabited by wild and barbarous people who are supposed to live on fish and Birds Eggs from which the Rhein with many heads falls into the Sea In which words he seems to me to describe exactly the Hollanders that are nearest to the North-Sea as also the Mates or Zelanders that are joyned near unto them the Islands of them and of those in West Holland who are in the same nature and the same condition with them he describes a little after in these words Com. L. 6. Part ran into the woods some into the Lakes hard by they that were next the Sea they hid themselves in Islands which are usually made by the inundation of the Sea and these really are no other but the Islands of Zeland for all the Islands round as many as are in the Belgick Sea are made thus and heaped together so that they are first by Nature and then they are fenced by art and by degrees by cultivation and by mans industry they are made fruitful fields for grasse and for arable also But there is such a change of things amongst us that in few years this country is much enlarged and in few years it may be as much diminished and run to losse nor doth any thing better shew the vicissitudes and inconstancy of humane affairs than the Islands of Zeland whose prosperity and good successe by the Inundations of the Sea Zeland subject to alteration are tossed here and there There is no corn in any Nation or more plentifull harvest even of the choisest Wheat than in Zeland so that two Acres in Zeland shall yeild the husbandman more profit than four Acres in Brabant onely our possession is not so fast and firm since every moment especially in Winter when a Northwest or vehement South wind blows we stand in danger of the Seas inundation Whence came the Proverb from those that would wish the best to their own affairs The Hollanders Proverb of Brabant and Zeland and would fain enjoy them safely that they will commend the good calm Ayre of Brabant and firm land but they would have the good fruitfull land of Zeland which they speak commonly thus Brabant sche Lucht Zeeusche renten For in our and our Grandfathers memory above a 100000. Acres that were an Island and were fenced in with mounds all these mighty fences bing broken down and scattered by the inundation of the Sea are swallowed up in it not without a great destruction of the Inhabitants Again the Inhabitants making new Islands as they often do when grassy fields present themselves and they diligently employ themselves in husbandry and manuring and sowing the ground so that in a few years they abound with all things so much that one would hardly believe it Yet those in Zeland that are alwaies exposed to the violence of the Sea have nothing firm and constant and on which they may safely relye for the havens where ships rode formerly in safety are now become shallow fords and are so full of Sand or mud that the least ships cannot come into them Again Great alteration in Zeland those shores where no havens were are by the waters washing in become harbours for ships to ride in and are very convenient for great vessels to Sail out and in and to be frequented by merchants whence it falls out that the negotiation and concourse of people is not alwaies tied to one place But sometimes for conveniency of the haven and scituation of it it is carried and changed to another place So Zirizea in our memory had a very great number of ships not onely for burden and Merchandise but great ships which Homer calls Holcades a word used frequently by the Dutch for Hulcks A Hulk is a great ship wherewith they sailed into the borders of Spain and Mauritania and frequented countries lying far North as Norway Denmark Rivalia Holmia Riga Gedan commonly Danic Stockholm now famous by the illustrious King Ericus King of Sweden which navigation as the vicissitudes of humane affairs are is now translated to Amsterdam Yet
do not wholly lose their natural force and former Being though they depart something from their first original nature and vigour As we see in Spondylium Angelica and herbs of kin to it which the vulgar call Angelica in Masterwort or Silphium of Lombardy which though by reason of the malignity of the earth and the coldnesse of the climate they something differ from the descriptions of Theophrastus and Dioscorides yet we find them to be the same plants and to work the like effects though by the distemper of the Ayr their forces are something weaker All herbs delight in their own Climates For since every Country hath certain kinds of herbs proper for the climate and every one prospers in their proper soil it cannot be that being transplanted they can retain their vigour For some delight in shady valleys and close places some in open places where the Sun may shine upon them some delight in marshy and wet grounds some in sandy dry and gravelly earth which if you transplant and make them grow in contrary places What Herbs delight in the Sea-Coasts you take away great part of their vertues So Orris grows in Illyricum Hellebore in Anticyra Wormwood in Pontus and amongst the Santones so Sea Purslane Sampire Sea coal called Soldanella delight in creeks of the Sea and Sea coasts and salt waters So some others grow better in some places and more happily in their native soils So Virgil writes from the nature of things and confirms it to us L. 2. Geor. All grounds do not all herbs yield Some grow in Gardens some in field Willowes by Rivers Alders in Marshes grow Elms that are barren stony Mountains know Myrtills do love Sea-Coasts but the vine Delights to grow on hills the Sun-shine Is best for that the Yew loves the North Each Climate doth some Trees bring forth Black Ebony in India onely found And Frankincense loves the Sabaean ground No Land affords all sorts Many of these if you transplant them into another Countrey they will decay faint or dye or grow very hardly and can scarse hold their Names and Vertues Wherefore he that will plant any thing let him observe Virgil's Rule L. 1. Geor. Learn for to know the climate and the winds And for to know the Plants all in their kinds What every Land will bear for in one ground Corn prospers in another grapes are found Elsewhere grow Apples and the grasse full green Pastures and pleasant Meadowes to be seen Tmolus yields Saffron and India doth Afford us plenty of Elephants Tooth The soft Sabaeans Frankincense present The naked Chalybs Iron for strong sent Pontus Castoreum yields Duynen are to the Low-Countries sandy Mountains Hence it is that the Low-Countrey Mountains that run along the Sea side to keep the Sea from entring and by a long crooked passage from Britany in France run Northward bring forth all sorts of Plants which naturally come forth in those sandy places for those hills are white with sand and not with Snow and there needs no Industry of man to make them grow This is effected partly by the Nature of the ground and partly by the Influence of the Stars that incline toward that Coast of the Earth and exercise their forces there And hence it is that every Countrey hath its Mines Whence Mines come out of which according to the nature of the ground and operation of the Planets brasse silver gold Ore are dug forth and pieces of metal gravel stone marble chalk ocre cinnaber marking stone c. The like nature have the morish grounds in Zealand out of which they dig Turf that are of a bituminous quality and when they burn they smell like Naphtha with a filthy ill savour Hence the fields and lakes are called Mores And formerly the Britains that are next the Sea in France were called Mordui and their County Turwane Terravana because it is exhausted by digging forth black Turf So that there are many great empty pits where they cannot sow corn Also in Brabant that matter is dug forth but because the Country is not so salt Turf and Darry are fuel in Zealand as bituminous clods and is farther from the Sea it smells not so strong They call these clods Thurs but those by the Sea Coasts Darry which have such force that they being burnt often in their houses they consume their iron copper Tin silver and brasse vessels and make all things that are in their houses worse except Gold For that is not smoked or soiled by the fume but shines the more and swells out Gold is made bright by the smoke there of especially that is pure and not mixt or sophisticated This comes from the rarity and softnesse of the gold whence it drinks in the smoky vapour and swells and shines thereby Gold drinks liquor For though gold be heavy and ponderous yet is it soft ductil and porous which may be proved by a cup fill'd with water than will receive some crowns of gold and not run over For besides the spirits that go forth of it it drinks in some part of the water and so swells with it Wherefore a smoke of Turf made often where this mettal is will give it a gallant lustre For since that smoke defiles all things near it with foot and makes them look yellow a simile from yellow 〈◊〉 or like the yelk of an egg as yellow choler doth such as have the Jaundies gold grows yellow by it which is its natural and proper colour For no other colour can be put upon gold but yellow or like the yelk of an Egg or like our Marigold flowers or Saffron There are some learned Professours in the Low-Countries What is Voer in Dutch who think that this matter underground that is dug out of the bowels of the Earth as a child taken from its Mothers womb is made of the stocks and roots of Trees when Woods were overthrown by the Seas inundation and the earth by degrees driven over them but their argument is weak because sticks and twigs and reeds and Morish canes are found in the turf But I see they have not well observed the mines and bowels of the earth in all places since in Brasse Gold Silver and other mettals we may see a kind of boughs and veins run along in them which they get in the bottom of the Earth by a vegetable force and influence of the Stars For nature is never negligent or idle but doth attempt many and great things and it doth form and beautify not onely the superficies of the earth but all the secret and hidden parts of it Hence it is that the Jasper â—â—â—â—s Artifice Pophyr-stone and Marble are naturally wrought with divers lines and are chequer'd with divers colours So the Nutmeg is chamfered wit lines running betwixt Which also we may observe in citron Tables and in our Oaks and other kinds of wood cut into shingles that with
provide for him a clean sty and wholesome food if you would have the meat of him to be wholesome for you to eat for if you feed this creature with husks and fat him with beastly food he will grow Measly and full of kernels and hard swellings so that his flesh will be unwholesome and naught and infectious to the whole body And this was the principal cause the Jews were forbidden to eat Hogs flesh Levit. 11. Deut. 14. and it was a great wickednesse for them to taste thereof But these hard swellings and kernells come chiefly about their necks because they are greedy and devouring and eat all things upon Dung-hills without making any difference By the name of Measils is meant that disease that pollutes the whole body with a foul matter What is the Measils iâ— Hogs because the flesh and inward parts are tainted with little white knots like hailstones For some kind of whitish swellings are in all parts scattered here and there and the certain tokens thereof are seen under the tongue when Hogheards put Irons into their mouths that they may try whether they be sound to be killed and cut forth for meat Those that have the Leprosy do shew forth some such matter in their faces and all their bodies for the pushes that break forth in the ourward skin grow white from melancholique burnt to ashes The flesh indeed of this creature when it is Measly is sweet and well relished to the taste but it is very unwholesome and next kind to the Leprosy Flesh that partakes of melancholly juice is savoury by reason of the mixture of melancholly juice So flesh next the bones is not unsavoury or of ill taste to the Palate because it partakes of Melancholly juice for bones are made of such juice and grow together of it But what the Leprosy and the French-Pox doth to a man the same doth the Measils and scrophulous tumours to a hog for these diseases are of kin and very near allyed one to the other their names onely are different but the matter is the same What Aetius saith of diseased Hogs as also Aetius the Physitian observed in his chapter de Elephantiasi Wherefore that men might suffer no hurt by the use of eating this unclean creature with us there is a wholesome Law provided by the Senate that no Sow nor Hog shall be killed unlesse his Tongue be first pulled forth and searched whether he be sick of this disease for if warty pushes shew themselves in his Tongue and Jaws and the veins are of a wan colour and blackish these are signs that the internalls are of an ill constitution and therefore it is thought fit not to kill them or if they be killed ignorantly that they must be buried under ground And if no such thing appear they that are appointed Judges of this businesse do pronounce that the Hog is sound and fit for to be eaten But because oft-times this creature may be faulty though he be sound in that respect Wherefore our Countrey people when they kill a Hog The brisly skin of the Hog is to be burnt cover him with straw and burn the hide rather than scald it with water For if there be any defect or ill matter under the skin the fire will draw forth the contagion and consume it which hot water cannot do so well and to purge away all filth This way are polluted Sows cured if the styes wherein they lye be daily made clean and that they may walk up and down in them For those that wander up and down in woods and Copses Hogs wandring in Woods are the most wholesome and feed on Acorns for the most part are more wholesome than those that use no exercise but are shut up in their styes for they are lesse exposed to diseases Moreover they must have abundance of water given them to wash themselves withall and some Salt mingled therewith and when they eat Barly or any solid meat Bay-berries bruised must be put thereto And that kind of shell-fish the Dutch call Mosselen whereof there are abundance on our shores and Sea-coasts Hogs are wonderfully refreshed with if you give them the decoction of them in great quantity Also the Lees and dregs of Wine and the feculent swillings that are left when the juice is pressed forth of the Grapes are a present remedy to expell this disease especially if Bran and the lump fermented commonly called Mout be mingled therewith But our country people neither take care of these creatures nor for the health of those that must eat them for they give their hogs the sowre corrupt Lees of Beer and Ale and stinking wash that is at the bottome of their Tubs and all filthy things as rotten and mouldy Apples and Pears whereby those kernels and Measils and inward contagion is not dissolved but rather increaseth and gathers force For all very sowr things Vineger naught for melancholly people sowr things good for Cholerick people by reason of their cooling and thickning force and because they compact and thicken the humours more and for cholerick people they are as much commended So Vineger will augment a quartan Ague but it appeaseth and corrects a Tertian because it tempers the heat of choler and as water allays Wine The low Dutch fat their Hoggs with fish In the Low-Countries some live where there is abundance of fish and water-Creatures and they feed their Hoggs with fish and as they will grow wonderfull fat with them so is their fat and flesh more flashy and not so firme yet with this food The eating 〈◊〉 Frogs for whâ—â—â— good Hoggs will grow great and tall yet the meat of these Hoggs is unwholsome and the tast very strange and loathsome I know that for men that are sick of the Leprosie that the eating often of Frogs that are in fens hath cured them for this water-Creature mitigates the heat of their blood and tempers the adust melancholly But those that creep on the ground and nest amongst shrubs and bushes and do not leap but goe slowly are venemous our men call these Padden but the Froggs that have green backs and white bellies Toads venemous are called Puyen oft Vorschen they use to cry in the Spring but Toads that creep make very little noyse They therefore that are active and leap frequently are proper for these diseases Things that have shels are healthfull for consumptions and to use them with Capon-broth is principally approved for lean decaid consumed hectick people as also the broth of Turtles which from the form of their shells are called Schelt Padden and crevis Lobsters Shrimps Sea Crabs Mussels Oysters Shell-fish Cockles and all those that have an outward crust do cool and asswage hot adust humours but River-Muscles and Crevish are more effectuall than Sea Shell-fish are River Crabs who good for because these are saltish whereby they cause appetite and please the palate but they dry more
some think they know them not So Calathiana in Autumn Erauthemum blew-Bâ—ttles that grow in corn appear not onely of a blew colour but also white red purple divers colour'd so that yellow Marigold Virgil describes on the several Calends of each moneth with a double row of flowers growing thick together delights our eyes growing in a roundle So Jove's flower and Rose Campion is with a sparkling scarlet colour and died with a thin purple sometimes Oculuâ— Christi and sometimes it recreates our sight with a colour white as snow growing round with a various heap of leaves after the same manner do stock Gelliflowers Daisies Hesperis and all the Winter Gelliflowers bring forth their flowers Virgil shews that in former Ages Gardners did take pains in them Some I have seen their seeds to sowe prepare With Nitre and oyl lees Georg. l. 1. for they by care Will grow far greater and be sooner ripe And though the Industry of the Gardner cease and the art how to sowe them the herbs themselves do naturally change their fashion if you consider their colours form stature forces And that is partly done by the secret force of the Stars partly by length of time that such things as appeared as though they would last alwayes De ration Concionand are turned to another habit as if as Erasmus saith Natures curiosity would not have the fashion of herbs truly known that might passe currant to posterity but would have a continual search to be made for them that we see are changed or renewed daily So Nature sharpens man's Industry and shakes off drowsinesse For the first cause and spring of Husbandry Would not that this Art without Industry Should ere be learnt Virg. l. 2. Georg. thus sharpning mortal hearts And with great pains teaching to find out arts And within furrowes for Plants to enquire And hid in flints for to discover fire To this we may adde the state of the climate and nature of the Ayr Places changeth Plants and Country that will change even the hairs colours and habits of mens bodies For Plants according to the nature and quality of the place and for variety of the ambient ayr grow sometimes more tall sometimes lesse some have many branches others come forth without any stalks at all some as the earth is are watry or milky white 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 â—â—aâ—h of A Simil the stom Children others are very green tending to black For as children that the Nurses keep the breasts from or seldome feed them do grow lean and starved and look pale or not very lively so plants that grow in lean hungry barren ground are ill-favoured and not so pleasant to behold Whence you may see plants that grow on walls and stony grounds scarse a hands breadth in heighth and if the same be set in a fruitful ground they will grow a cubit a half high and will send forth their branches long and broad So Bugloss and great Comfrey are oft-times seen with white flowers so Clove-gelliflowers either by art or fruitfulnesse of the ground will yield a white red various colour'd flower upon the same stem and stalk So the purple violet colour decayes sometimes and turns blew The flowers of herbs are changed into divers colours By the same reason some leafs of Plants are not so jagged and nicked and prickly plants grow more gentle and smooth according as the ground is higher or lower they grow on To this refer what daily experience teacheth that herbs and fruits of Trees do not onely change their shapes if they grow in a place and climate fit for them but will also grow better and be more wholesome when as before they were deadly and not edible 2. de Aliment et 3. de Sympto caus Which Pliny and Galen speak of the Persian plant transplanted into an Egypt and Columella hath writ the Experiment thereof in these words With Damask Prunes their Cups are compass'd round And such as in Armenia are found And Apples which in rude Persia grow Full of their imbred poyson but we know That now they yield a wholesome nourishment And all their venome is consum'd and spent And of their Countrey they the name retain Peaches that on small Trees do grow amain For this kind of Apple unlesse it be exposed to the Sun beams over against the South and is of a cold and moyst juice and therefore corrupts quickly and offends the stomach Galâ—de Alimen facult unlesse it be eaten before meat Wherefore Nature attempts many things which the art of Man perfects and directs For grapes will grow without stones if you cleave the stalk and take out the pith yet so that in taking it forth you hurt not the bud For the sides will quickly grow together again if they be accurately joyn'd How some grow without kernels So Medlars Peaches Dates Cherries Prunes and Cornelion berries that are full of stones grow without stones by the care and Industry of Man if you cut off the young Tree two foot above the ground and then cleave it to the root and take out with a rasp the pith of both parts then straightwayes bind both the parts fast together with a band and cover the top and the partitions of both sides with loam clay or wax and put a wet paper about it when the year is over you shall find that a scar is come upon it and that all is grown fast together graft this Tree with grafts that never bore fruit and they will bring fruit without stones which by Theophrastus's direction I tryed upon a vine and it proved true Also Inoculation Insition Emplastrisation do shew the cunning of Nature and the Industry of Men. For by these means Plants will put off their own nature and get another form and fashion and one will easily change into another Three kinds of Insition A Simile from the Nature of Man and education For as we see men for the variety of their wits and care of their education not onely to grow different in their knowledge and to follow other manners and studies and to obtain other inclinations of mind and one body is more slender than another or taller or more pale and bloodlesse or more rough or hairy yet all of them have the shapes of men though some look more rudely so it useth to fall out in herbs which for the same causes are not of the same shape and vigour alwayes though they be not so changed that their whole kind and species perisheth For they alwayes are like the thing they are called by in some part and they have the effects peculiar to the earth they grow in and fit for the nature of the people of that Countrey For many plants are brought forth of the fortunate Islands which Men call the Canaries which being used in our climate do not hold the same forces in all things nor do they grow of the same form and magnitude yet they
marrow hath taken from them all sense thereof But at first when any strange quality seizeth on the body whereby it corrupts and is changed what parts soever receive sharp biting humours they feel pain But when the disease growes old and is grown up with Nature they feel not much pain because they agree together and the humours wax faint by commerce with the body and keeping company with it and by the mixture of other humours they are weakned as strong Wine is with Water Yet the footsteps of the old disease and reliques of it alwaies remain which if they fall down upon the Lungs they make the sick hoarse and short winded if it fall on the joynts it makes them subject to the Gowt in the feet hands hucklebone and it returns at certain times So all that have pocky sores are gowty But all that have the Gowt in their feet or hips All that have pocky sores have the Gowt but not contrarily have not the symptoms of the Pox. And if the flux of humours is sent to the outward skin their skin is made rugged and crusty their face is deformed with tetters scabs foul sores and scurf and their hair falls For it falls out with them as it doth with Trees and Twigs on which pisse A Simile from Trees that are corrupted or some salt water or filth is cast For when the root is hurt the leafs fall off and the branches wither yet the Tree dyeth not at the root but it decayes and is hardly restored CHAP. XV. How it is that Men dying though they have their mind and understanding firm yet they make a hoarse noise and a sound that returns back which the Low Dutch vulgarly call Den rotel IN the Low-Countries and in all the Countries toward the North those that are dying shew certain arguments of their departure by making a murmuring noise and none of them die but have this mark before How those that dye make a murmuring noise For as death is at hand they make a noise as the water doth when it falls through rough winding crooked places they will sound and murmur like to the noise that Pipes make in Conduits For when the vocal artery happens to be stoped the breath that would fain break forth at once finding a narrow passage and the pipe sunk down comes forth by a certain gargling and makes a hoarse sound in smooth places and springing forth forsakes the dry limbs Wherefore the breath being heaped together and mingled with swelling froth causeth a noise like the ebbing of the Sea which also comes so to passe in some by reason of their pannicles and membranes drawn into wrinkles so that the breath comes forth by a crooked and winding revolution But they that have a strong and great bodies and die of violent deaths sound more and strive longer with death by reason of plenty of humour and grosse and thick spirits But in those that are wasted in their bodies Who dye gently and who with great trouble and that die easily by degrees the breath runs not so violently nor with so great a noise so that they dye by little and little very gently and do even as it were fall asleep CHAP. XVI The death of man and destruction of things that are is against Nature and is very improperly called natural Yet the mind must be resolved not to fear death though not without cause all men are afraid of it THough it be so ordained by nature since that mans rebellion hath drawn this upon him deservedly that we must all tend to destruction and dye Yet I see that by reason this may be proved that death is not natural but contrary to nature In the beginning this was given by nature to all kinds of Creatures to defend themselves their life and body Cic. l. 1. offâ—â— and to decline that may seem to be hurtfull unto them and to be very carefull to look to their own preservation and safety For who doth not observe what great care and diligence men use by the light of reason and brute beasts by the light of nature to defend and keep themselves from danger All men fear death every one strives to keep himself from it for when death comes Nature is extinguished No man but trembles at the fear of death and ceaseth to be any longer So Christ who would shew the imbred weaknesse of mans nature who except sin and diseases was like to us in all things feared death and prayed against it John 21. Also in Peter is expressed the affect of nature and infirmity of the flesh when Christ thrice asked him if he loved him and that he should take great care to feed his flock showing unto him what should befall him and what death he should die When thou wer 't young saith he thou wandredst whither thou wouldest and didst gird thy self but when thou growest old another shall gird thee about and lead the whether thou wouldest not Whereby he shews the desire and weaknesse of man's nature that is stricken with the terrour of death and is very unwilling to come to it yet the mind is willing and ready John 22. Since therefore death is the deprivation and abolition of Nature how can it be said that it is natural and agreeing unto nature that is violent and wholly extinguisheth Nature I know that man by his fall deserved so much and in that he degenerated from the dignity he was created with being disobedient to his creatour to be punished with all pains and vexations diseases hunger and thirst and unquietnesse of mind and at last to undergo the punishment of death Sin brought in diseases and death But it was not the fault of nature that brought in these miseries but sin For since the fall of the first man all things are changed and become contrary so the stars diseases Elements Wild-beasts and Devils are become enemies to man And as Paul saith the whole creation is made subject to vanity and corruption for mans cause Rom. 8. and the whole series of Creatures the Angels not excepted desire an end of their labours But the certain hopes of a better life doth recreate our minds in so great miseries and our confidence in Christ who restores the decayed Nature of man to his former dignity takes away from us all terrour and fear of death also out of our souls Faith in Christ takes from man the fear of death For the remembrance of his death and resurrection doth wholly confirm and strengthen us for we believe that man shall not be annihilated but changed to a better condition and that death is not our ruine but the door and entrance to a more happy life 2 Cor. 5. A simise from the structure of houses For we know as Paul saith that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolved as houses use to be taken down disjoynted that we have a building from God a house not
ariseth from the weaknesse of the spermatick vessels so there is also another vice contracted by venery and contagious copulation when men lye with whores For a corrupt filthy matter distill's from the secrets sometimes of a wan colour and sometimes green as Copras or Leeks that smell most filthily Whence it comes that the vessels are sometimes corroded The Dutch call this the fowl dropping and the secrets are hurt But that moisture and dropping of a moyst fowl humour is more virulent in women and when it is corrupted it is like the whites of Eggs whereby the guts are vexed with an intollerable pricking as if they were wet with Allum or salt They that have the French Pox are alwaies leacherous and by this means all that are diseased with the Pox are extream letcherous by reason of the acrimony of the corrupt humour and they think to abate it and hinder it by copulation and to ease themselves of the greatest part of the disease Wherefore when they desire to rub rheir scabby matter upon all yet the bawdy Letchers chiefly seek and hunt after such as they know to be of a wholesome and sound constitution For they powre forth their filthy matter upon these and corrupt them with their polluted seed for they can contract to themselves no contagion by such copulation For since they are troubled with the flux of seed contracted by whoring Sharpnesse of urine is proper to this disease and filthy copulation with Harlots It is not a seminal and fruitfull excreement that runs from them but a contagious filthy matter flows from their groins that stinks ill favouredly not of a white but green wan colour that causeth ulcers in the secrets and in the fore-part of the yard so that their urine can hardly come forth and is now and then stopt by the purulent matter Who have their urine stopt And if at any time they begin to lust and tickle and their yard to have erection they suffer intollerable pains For this part seems to be stretched as it were with a cord by reason of the nerves that are wet with a biting acrimonious humour whence it comes that they have now and than a dropping of their urine that comes not forth upon heaps and freely but by little and little with intollerable pain This disease is taken from pocky sick people and by lying with whores whose privities are infected with bubo's other contagions Which disease being it consists about the privities and secret parts Swellings of the groins not to be repressed and from putrid humours causeth filthy tumours it is call'd the gowt of the secrets or a Winchester-Goose But if the contagion doth spread it self as it useth to do when the body is not presently purged after the disease contracted and where outwardly discussive cataplasms that may represse the matter and not such as may ripen it are applied to draw it forth the whole masse of the body together with the blood and spirits is infected and the whole collection of humours is carried to the nerves panicles membranes muscles Whence pains of the Nerves and causeth intollerable pains The Dutch call this disease in their language Pocken met de Lempten because all the parts are rent and pierced with cruell pains and the symptoms that accompany the disease and come from the fiercenesse of it cause as great anguish as the disease it self For they are not racked with one kind of pain onely but with many kinds of torments that rend and tear and prick the nervous parts that are of most exquisite sense and motion placce = marg Those that have the Pox feel all sorts of pains as if they were wounded with bodkins pincers and other Instruments And since they wander all over the body and possesse all parts none excepted from the continual pain without any Intermission our Country-men call this disease de Mieren a name that signifies an Ant that is an active and unquiet Creature that runs continually to new places and from that the Physitians call one kind of pulse the Ant pulse The Ant-pulse for the slender motion of it when the forces are spent and cast down so that a man hath but a little of life left when such a pulse is felt like to this is the worm-creeping pulse because it moves as a worm doth A Worm-creeping-pulse and this promiseth but little hopes of recovery And as there is a disease where men seem to be rent as it were What disease is Verminatio and what formicatio and eaten with worms so is there a disease wherein men seem to be stung with Ants for the body is deformed outwardly with filthy bloches and pushes and inwardly they feel as it were Ants that bite them and vex them so that they are still forced to scratch and rub to find some ease So those that have the French Pox can be no where at rest but must alwaies scrub themselves Fornication comming upon the French-Pox Wherefore our Country-men do fitly apply Formication to this diseased body not that this disease should be so called but because it affects the body as that disease doth Hence Plautus because many in that time were polluted with most foul diseases as filthy running sores on the face scabs leprosie and many more that shew themselves in the most comely part of the body calls such Ant-bitten Ant-bitten men mouldy lither putrid ulcerated men and these as our Country men say if you do but shake them they will come in pieces and their flesh will part from their bones and they commonly deride them with this jeer Vanden grate Schudden The comparison is taken from stinking fish The common proverb comes from stinking Fish and rotten salt fish that with the least shaking will fall off from the back bone Wherefore they that have contracted pocky swellings about their secrets and groins either from venerous copulation or by keeping company with one that hath the Pox and lay in bed with him for of former times this contagion was easily taken from others either from their breath The incredible contagion of diseases or eating or drinking in the same cup with them though now it grows feeble by degrees I advise such first to wash their privities with sharp Wine or Vineger and all parts near putting a little salt thereto then if it be requisite bring the swelling or apostume to maturity and when the corrupt matter is come forth The cure of swellings in the groins to wash the hollow ulcer with abstergent remedies before they close it up And as for the biting of a mad dog that is sometimes more gentle than to be bit with a whore men keep the wound along time open least the virulent matter kept within the disease should increase again and grow worse yet before you open the Impostume you must purge the body well and for this use Epithym Fumitory Polypod Sena A short
cure of the Pox. and Confectio Hamech are good or because their urin must be qualified Benedicta Laxativa is good with the decoction of Guaicum which I hold to be a sort of Ebony And unlesse care be had to help the body with such remedies the humours will scatter over all and the Pox will infect the whole body For these two diseases are of kin and near one to the other as a Cancer and the Leprosie For what a Cancer is in one part of the body that is the Leprosy over all So that contagious affection when it is in all the body and spread into all parts causeth that fowl disease which men call the French Pox some the Pox of Naples or that those disgraceful names may be laid aside in favour of such famous countries let it be called the fowl or contagious Pox. But that which is in the groin and secrets may be called pudendagra But since it is the nature of man to be shamelesse and reproachfull in respect of other mens miseries and will insolently insult over those that are oppressed with such calamities the common people when this disease is spread all over the body call it the Mothers Pox A proverb upon those that are sick of the Pox. but if it be but in one part they call it the daughters Pox. And because one grows from the other they speak in a common jeer that The common jeer against those that have sores in their Groin that comely Husband or rather fowl and filthy hath married the mother and her two daughters when as besides the swellings of the groins the body is full of ulcers and boyls CHAP. XXIV When men are sick they grow tall though they eaâ— lesse but they lose in breadth What hinders tallnesse YOung people that eat much do not grow up so comely and so tall and handsome as they should as we find by daily experience For the natural heat is choked and overwhelmed with too much moysture that the bodies cannot grow decently tall But such as feed moderately and sparingly and keep a set time and form of diet do not grow exceeding fat nor doth their fat or flesh increase but the bones grow long and augment So we see that young people and children in long and chronical diseases do grow more slender and lean Why some grow long and others broâ—ll but they shoot forth in length and talnesse Which I should think comes to passe by reason of drinesse For the bones are dry and are nourished by such like nutriment For since the humours and aliments sick people take in grow drie by the heat and drinesse of the body the bones wax long and by reason of dry nutriment they shoot forth in length especially when a man is in that age when his body is moyst and ductil like clay and may be drawn forth in length A Simile from clay that is ductill Yet every one hath a certain bounds of his growth and the limits are set for our just stature and the means and ways whereby by degrees we secretly grow to be handsomely tall or ill favour'd and that force of growing in length is seldome extended beyond twenty five years of age How long time men grow in tallnesse and commonly ceaseth under nineteen years old Whence it is that teeth struck out will not come again after that date of years nor will bones broken and cartilages consolidate because they are made of the seed of the Parents But to grow fat and grosse is not limited to certain times but as we eat or drink in abundance Which may be done when a man is in his standing or declining age For though a man eat abundantly he will not grow tall One force causeth tallnesse another breadth but square and grosse For there is one faculty that nourisheth the body and another that augments it For that consists in the plenty of of nutriment but that about the solid part of the body namely the bones nerves cartilages c. Which if they increase and grow long the body increaseth also though it consume and wast away Wherefore nature in producing of bones whence length comes useth the force of heat whereby she dries the humours a little and fits the aliments to feed the bones For augmentation cannot be made without plenty of nutriment For when a Creature is generated it requires to be augmented till it comes to its full growth and to spread in length and breadth Then to make it continue and last the rest of its life to come nutrition doth its office that what decayes may be restored and what the qualities of the ambient Ayre consume may be repaired yet the body growing nothing bigger thereby or longer Wherefore the augmenting faculty is that that draws forth the bones of men in Feavers like Wax by the heat and vertue of the seminal excrement which in the vigour of years is very forcible and effectuall to do this But if children and young men use to eat milk from their Cradles and to use exercise they grow longer What things make the body increase and more personable For by using to drink Milk the bones are fed because it is very like to seed and good blood well concocted by the use of fruits the Nerves of water the flesh as we may see in Oxen that grow fat where much water is and in moist grounds they augment and grow greater And again in the Low-Countries especially those of Holland who become so fat by their natural beer that their chins will lye upon their breasts Their bellies fat Pers Sat. 2. a foot and half stick out CHAP. XXV Whether it is best to open a Vein when one is fasting or after meat and whether it be lawfull to sleep presently after blood-letting IT is needlesse to relate here what profit it is to man to have a vein opened and what good men find by it in health or sicknesse and who must be let bloud and when For every one may learn this from a faithful and honest Physitian not from that common and triviall custome that some trifling fellows have invented who too rigidly observe the Stars more than the humours But since there use to be infinite questions moved concerning this matter I shall determine all in a few words whether it is expedient to open a vein When men are fasting or full For since I see many tremble and fear when a vein must be opened lest they should swound or faint I think it fit to give them some meat and a little strong wine For I have often observed some frequently to fall down in a swound and not to move and could hardly with smels and pulling them be recovered Meat and drink feed the spirits Add to this that blood runs not together and plentifully when people are fasting but faintly and by degrees and sometimes it will not come forth Because nature greedily keeps back the treasure of
would have all salted meats fish called Saperdae Cod-fish Sea-calves What Salt preserves salted meats Tunies Herrings that are a kind of Thryssae to last long that is to be kept for the next year or till the Summer be very hot and would carry into farther Countries things that should not stink What kind of fish is Trissae let them remember that old Salt is best to season them with A new way to make Salt Our Ancestors formerly made salt to their great profit not of Sea-water congealed and hardned into Salt by the heat of the Sun such as is brought from Spain and France to us but of the clods of the Sea burnt to ashes which by powring in water by degrees they made Salt of that was very clear and bright the people and Inhabitants called it Zel or Zilzout From Salt comes Silt and Sold. from the clods that were full of Salt from whence it is taken and all the Low-Countries unto our daies used no other kind of Salt Whence in the German tongue comes Soldaten But when that kind of making Salt grew out of use by another way brought in from other parts a new way was invented that is no lesse gainfull then the former For coorse black dirty salt being brought in from Spain and Aquitan our Country men take forth the mud and filth and make it exceeding white How the Zelanders make Salt white and fit for use to preserve meats Also our Salt-makers use another way of boyling Salt that differs not much from the former For every third or fourth year they break up their hearths and floors The making Salt of clods they call it Den heert with a fork and a large vessel being set upon it and made hot with fire put under it they cast the clots and pieces that are wet with a briny salt liquor that drops from them abundantly into the vessel and these they break small and soke in Sea-water and boyl them after a few hours the muddy dregs will sink down to the bottom and most white Salt is drawn forth What is Cleynzout in Zeland They call this kind Cleyn zout or Cliync zout for that the clots of it struck one against the other like flints for hardnesse will make a clanging noise This kind of Salt is fit to bring to the Table to adorn it with and is usefull for many things yet is it not so good to preserve things Wherefore they rub Cow-hides and skins with this salt and cover them with it as they do also with coorse Sea-salt Wherefore the Senate made a Law that no man should sell such salt The Senates Law not to sophisticate Salt unlesse he would testify upon oath that he sold it not for sincere and natural Salt that is made of Sea Salt and the brine of it but for fossil Salt that is dug up and made by Art lest there should be any fraud and imposture used For being it is as white as Snow and hath all the marks of the best Salt ignorant people cannot easily discern it or observe the difference unlesse they prove it by such things that use to be seasoned with it For salt meats and other things seasoned and salted with this salt will sooner stink and smell rank when you think to keep them till Summer be far spent Burnt Salt the Dutch call Braedtzout That Salt which our Country men call Braedtzout hath the same effect and virtue because they powre in but a little Sea-water and burn and torrefie it a long time This Salt is clear bright shining sightly crumbly crusty with large broad kales and pieces that blink like Starrs that is wonderfully desired by those of Flanders and Brabant both daily and chiefly for their domestick use whensoever they make great Feasts and Banquets to furnish their Tables with For being that it shines and is so pleasant to the eye and so hand some and pleasing to behold The sorce of Salt against the biting of a mad Dogge at a great distance it doth wonderfully adorn great and rich mens Tables It is used effectually with honey against the biting of a mad Dogg it cures Scabs it breaks humours applyed with leaven Honey Butter Hoggs-Crease even those swellings that when the Plague spreads do shew themselves under the Armpits and in the Groin But pickle or brine made with Salt and Sea-water doth presently take away the burning beat from any part that is burnt and asswageth the most violent pains whether they come from Gunpowder Oyl Pitch Scalding-water or coles of Fire Brine good against burnings especially if a thin linnen rag wet in the brine bee tapped upon and wrapt about the burnt parts For by this moystning of it is the fiery force washt away and the bitter pains are allaid Parts burnt need no cool things But they do ill that apply cold and repercussive means to those that are so affected for so they strike back but do not draw forth the fiery heat and by that means it takes faster hold on the parts wherefore at first nothing is better than pickle either new made or that which lies upon Butter if it be applyed Sope good for burns Lime with rape water takes out fire Sope is as good as this whereby we wash dirt from our cloths if we make a liniment therewith with Honey and Butter Also water where-Rape-roots are sod is safely applyed and it will be the more effectuall if you dissolve a little quicklime in it for so applied as a Lixivium it will abate the heat and dry without biting But since I mentioned some kinds of Salt a little before I shall debate concerning that artificiall Salt that for want of naturall Salt may supply the place of it The Arabians call this kind Salt of Kaly Salt of Kaly a kind of Salt from a certain plant by the Sea wherewith out shores are plentifully stored There grow in many places about us some herbs that have a Salt juyce out of which Salt if otherwise we cannot procure it may easily be drawn and used in our Houses such is Sea Purslane next kind to Halimus as Mathiolus tells us Mathiolus his industry who was ingenious and painfull in discovering of Plants our people at the end of Summer gather this and pickle it and keep it or covering it with common Salt they keep it for to use in Winter as the Spaniards do Olives Capers Sampire For it raiseth appetite and dispells loathing and vomiting if at any time the stomack oppressed with flegmatick or cholerick humours do loath meat All the Herb even to the seed that is small and hangs in clusters till it grow ripe is like to out great garden Purslane which great men use to pickle up with grosse and Bay Salt toget them a stomach to their meat The pickling of Sea Purslane The description of the true Halimus Yet whether this Purslane of the Sea should be called
Halimus I am not yet certain for that causeth hunger this drives it away But in our sandy Mountains a little shrub grows forth and a twig about two or three Cubits in length with leaves like an Olive and hath long twigs Willows that are flexible and easie the boughs being like Olive boughs but the lease is lesse and some what round green above but beneath in the part next the earth it is white and grey the fruit is in baggs not unlike to a whirl that women use For whirls are used at the lower part of the distaff the better to turn all about What a Whirl is Halymus drives away hunger This shrub comes neere to Pliny and Dicscorides plant called Halimus being of great force to represse and drive away hunger for it drives away the vitious and unruly appetite of women that they are commonly molested with about the third month after their conception and some also that are well because their stomach is full of noxious humours and sowre flegme Longing called Picatio or Citta hence are they troubled with a doggs-appetite and greedinesse to eat called Bulimia as though they could eat an Oxe as that disease in Women called Picatio wherewith like the Mag-pye they are given to eat Coles Shells Pomegranate-Pills and other things unfit to be eaten For these defaults the shrub Halimus is good to be used that hath its name from the effects the leaves being boyled like Pot-herbs with fat broth and no Salt mingled therewith for so it correcteth those sowre humours that they will lesse provoke natural appetite and it is thought to do the same being chewed in the mouth as some things onely put to the Nostrills Sea Orach discusse the faintings of the heart and recreat the Spirits But Sea-Orach that looks wan and unpleasant is found on all the Banks of Zealand Sea Coleworts called Soldanella yet it riseth to no height but lyes upon the ground and is very low Sea-Cabbage which is the German Soldanella which our Country people do miscall by the name of Sea-Purslane is rightly called Zoult Nelle from its Salt savour it grows abundantly on the Mountaines of Zealand being neighbout to Halymus Sampire Anthillis and Eringos It delights in the Sea Ayre yet it is not watered with it as the Sea weeds are of which I shall speak afterwards This herb creeps on the ground The herb Kali is another from that of Tragas with long branches that are tough and like twigs and the stalks are moyst with Milk the leaves are red somewhat round the seed is black in reddish knobs shut up in covers they use this to purge the belly boyld in fat broth that it may lesse offend the stomach by its acrimony and salt bitter juyce But that Herb the Arabians call Kali is exceeding common in Zealand for with that our Ancestors formerly and with salt Turfe and Clots that have a kind of Bitumen in them did make most whitest Salt the same way as formerly shewed you The description of Kali or Sea Sengreen It is an herb that grows at the lowest part of our Seas which the Ocean wets and it is most plentifull all Zealand over I use to call it Stoneçrop Worm-grasse Housleek or winter Sengreene the stalk is a hand long standing firmly upright round and knotted with joynts in their orders to distinguish it with many round stalks growing to it on both sides which are very smooth and compacted together and seem as though they would be pulled out one of the other as Horse-tayls are with leaves proceeding from a single stalke and they are garded about with it they are barwny thick full of juyce and as thick as reeds we call it Riet they hang about Passengers feet to stop them and hinder their going and they make a noise and crackling when we walk upon them the root is small thin and with slender hairs The whole herb from its bottom unto the top of it The herb Kali stops Crabs is very cleaf and of a bright shining green colour and it doth not decay or dye in Winter so that hanged upon the roofs of Houses it will grow green a long time without any other moysture as Aloes for it is very full of juyce and wet with its naturall moysture abundantly Our people because it hurts and hinders Crabs call it Crabbequel For being it grows very thick it stops their courses that they can hardly passe Kali is an herb sheep love exceedingly and with great trouble do they wind themselves out of it when men hunt after them and desire them for food This herb is the most pleasant and wholesome fodder for sheep For since these Cattel in moyst weather Salt herbs cure sheeps diseases are subject to the dropsie and strumous tumours we in our land call it den Bot by eating this herb they are recreated and cured For it is a most Salt Plant because allwaies when the Sea comes in it is watered by it Hence it is that being thus moystned it grows thick and abundantly But those that would keep this for sawce my Counsell is that they boyl it moderately and pickle it with Vineger not too sharp rather than with Salt pickle or to cover it with Bay-Salt as they do Purslane The use of it is more wholesome for flegmatique and fat people than for such as are lean and spare There lyes under the earth where this herb grows and almost under all Sea costs first a clay that is clammy and glutinous and being handled will stick to ones hands and it will not easily be shaken off Georg. 1. But like a fish that cleaves unto your hands if that you handle it And if it spot your cloths it can hardly be washt off We call it Cley because it Cleves the Brabanders call it Leem Cley called of Cleven because it sticks The Bitumen in Zeeland called Darri next to this follows a ceartain bituminous matter and concretion under the earth which as I said elsewhere is called Darri out of which as out of Mines they digg Turffe that are very fat which being kindled as dry turve make a vehement heat and being turnd to ashes and wet with Salt water did formerly afford matter to our Country men to make Salt with But that way is now left by reason of the abundance that is brought to us from France and Spain yet might it easily by recalled again if there should be any hostility that should keep forrain Salt from us or plenty thereof should be wanting to us from any other cause whatsoever Wherefore I think I shall not wholly lose my labour by shewing this decay'd and almost forgotten way of making Salt that if ever need be it might be restored again Rembertus Dodonaeus But since I am fully upon the mention of Sea plants I shall speak something of Sea-weeds For Rembertus Dodonaeus a Physitian of Mechlin a man that for illustrating of Plants and in
hands and rule within such a Colony or territory or Jurisdiction The name Zeland is but new and was not known to the Antients it is derived from Sea and land as if you would say Land by the Sea for it is compassed round with the Sea and parted into many Islands Zeland hath many Islands in all 15. yet the Sea but few years since did do a world of hurt to these Lands by force and inundation whereof great part of Zeland was overflowed all the banks and Ramparts being broken down yet some famous Islands remain whereof three in special are alwaies arming themselves against the Oceans violence and with huge expence which we can hardly perswade the Prince and his Deputy to believe scarce defend themselves with great labour against this unruly element Amongst these Whence Wallachria is so caled the first haven men come from Sea Harbour at is Wallachria either called so from the Inhabitants or as I conjecture from the French that frequented this coast which in the Belgick tongue are now called Walen and their young men Waelkens or from that part of Britanny The Scituation of Wallachria wherein toward the West the Welch reside which are the chiefest Antient Nobility amongst the English and they came from the Gaules as their speech yet declares This Island Eastward is over-against Brabant Southward to Flanders Northward to Holland and from the Western equinoctial to Britanny into which is the shortest cut and from which part is the first entrance into the Sea what part soever of the world we please to sail unto Armude At Armude by the free Town of Middlebourgh there is the safest Harbour for ships to ride in and here chiefly is the Fleet made ready be it never so great what part soever they are bound for This Island besides some parcels of ground lately laid to it which our men call Polders is eight miles in compasse as also Scheld from which in a hundred years are three hundred Acres torn off is distinguished and adorned with some beautifull villages and Towns and there is one principal City in it Middleburgh the chief Town or Mart Town where Merchants frequent and whereby it is made famous called Middleburgh that is Metellus his Burgh who was a great Noble man and a Consul amongst the Romans and from him many suppose it borrowed that name but I think it had this denomination from its strong fort and Castle or unaccessible rock and Tower What is Burgh in the German congue such as was the Tarpeian Rock amongst the Romans which stands in the very middle and Center of this Island Which places Commanders and Governours of Countries use to possesse and fortifie from whence as from a high place and watch-Tower where they keep their guards they can see round about them and resist the Incursions of their enemies Hence amongst the Hollanders came the dignity of Burghomaster and Burgrave because in them is the supream power and government of that place Yet I deny not but it may be referred to the builder of it by whom in such a place this fort was raysed against hostile Invasions There stands from Middlebourgh toward the South-West or West 16. furlongs which make two miles a City not great in compasse about the walls but well fenced by nature and Art toward the Sea which we call Flushing Flushing City a place well furnished with industrious Fishermen and experienced Sea-men and Pilots as we call them Not Ulissea from Ulisses as some trifling say that it was built by him But rather from a Pitcher or Flagon A Flagon what kind of cup. which earthen kind of Pot is narrow mouthed on the top that the Liquor may not flash over but be powred forth handsomely but the belly or middle part is wide and capacious and toward the bottom it grows slender and lesse by degrees the Hollanders call it een Flessche the picture whereof is born upon the Flags and banners of the city The name Flushing came from een Flessche and upon the top masts of ships But because the Inhabitants of this place drink sweetly and the women will do the like and are sometimes stronger than men at this sport from the embracing of a flagon that they so much delight in and take such pleasure to drink it off they got this name or they took the name themselves from their custome of drinking and it is old with them to do so not to make themselves drunk but to drive away all clouds of their minds and to make themselves merry For there are in this country many touchy sad hawty melancholique people who are different from the affects of Brabanders and Flemings who are not guided by the sad Planets of Saturn or Mars Why the Zelanders love their Cups but by the jovial and merry Planets of Jove and Mercury hence it is that the Zelanders desiring to drive away those pensive thoughts study to be jovial and with drink in abundance to drownd these cares and tortures of their-minds Toward the East it is opposite to Scheld There is almost as far from Middlebourgh The City Vere a City called Campver very little within the walls not many years since it was famous for the Scots being so frequent there whence is the City Vere so called It borrows its name from the word Fretum the narrow Sea because from that coast unto the farther shore of Campa which is a narrow turning whereby it joyns to Northveland men are used to be transported For the first haven or harbour for ships to ride in from whence we take ship to passe over Scheld Island so called from the River is called by the Hollanders Veer or Vaert that is faring or passing over in Latine Traiectus or Transvectio Against this Northwards or Eastwards lyes Scheld so called from the Scheld a River that runs by it which hath many populous villages and coloneys belonging to it wherein are many country farms many comely mannors and Palaces of the Antient nobility as Haemstede Moermonde near to Renissa and Broversaria besides no ignoble Town The City Zirizea When Zirizea was first built having its name from the founder of it is the chief ornament of this Island which in the year of the worlds Redemption 849. when Lotharius was Emperour first began to be built in the form of a City and to be fenced round with walls and from small beginnings was augmented to that splendour that it is inferiour to none of these famous cities of which I dare testifie thus much without ambition or any immoderate love to my country that it is stored with many learned men and fruitfull for excellent wits and full of wise and provident Merchants Zirizea men much given to learning who by trading in corn the choisest Wheat and Salt as white as Snow in Madder Salt-fish and plenty of other fish and abundance of heards of Cattle make huge profit As for
their houshold and ordinary affairs they are neat and cleanly their table is moderate and frugal never prodigall and luxurious In Merchandize there is not one Citizen but is cunning at it and industrious and greedy of gain and looks close to it yet they are all liberal and beneficial to the Inhabitants that are pressed with poverty or are in want and toward the rest hospitable gentle mild affable easy and without any dissembling or complemental delusions they are open and clear to all For Godlinesse and pious worship Zelanders are cunning they are rather religious than superstitious But as for the people and dwellers in this country there is no place of the world are so cunning and crafty in smelling out and discovering impostors captious deceivers dissemlers flatterers spies underminers and dangerous men though they do flatter cunningly and use all skill to tickle their ears for they cannot withall their arts and Coggings and counterfeit behaviours and false glosses deceive these men but they will soon find them out They are so wise to tell What 's sound and faigned words they know full well Pers Sat. 5. If Brasse with Gold be mingled for to sell As some use to do who speak one thing and mean another From this skill of judging of counterfeits some common quibs and taunting proverbs have risen amongst the Hollanders Some inclinations of the lower Hollanders the fool in the Comedy that they publickly acted speaking to them that no man must take offence at it The Brabander is merry jocant ridiculous immoderate in stage-playes and Comedies the Fleming is lascivious intemperate lustfull wanton the Hollander simple improvident carelesse dull sluggish sleepy foolish nothing Politick the Zelander is crafty cunning deceitfull flye false Which affections also grow stronger as they grow old and shew themselves more for cibly unlesse the inclination of nature be conquered and men better taught that they may bear better fruit For those are the vices of the baser people and manners of the Nation Manners of the Nation are peculiar to the people Every Nation hath its vioes and not of the Noblemen Gentlemen and such as have liberall education But since every Nation hath its faults and vices manners inclinations and studies that is customes they all apply themselves unto so this Nation that hath the common nature of men hath its imbred and natural affections that nature carries them to partly proceeding from the ambient Ayre which manifestly affects our bodies partly to say nothing of mens dier from the nature of their Parents and manners of their Ancestors and ordinary custome of life which with time is so grown up with them and fastned in their minds that it can hardly be ever taken out Noblemens manners differ from the fashions of the commons whence it comes to passe that if you take away the Nobility or Senatours that are all Schollers and adorned with learning the common people and promiscuous multitude are inhumane rude barbarous fierce cruel unruly and far from civility if you go over any Nations whatsoever But that inveterate errour and depraved manners may be removed which begin from our cradles and infancy to wax in our minds and which we seem to suck in with our Mothers milk Children to be instructed by their Ancestors it is the office and duty of Parents which our men now begin to take great care about to see their children taught well and to use so much care for the manuring of their minds that laying aside all naturall fiercenesse they may be inclined to all humanity and curtesie A simile from wild beasts and Trees For as wild trees by transplanting and by the industry of man become mild and grow in Orchards and cruel wild beasts by mans Art and managing grow tame so mans mind which is not altogether so hard as Iron or Adamant may be bent and instructed in more humane Arts to learn honesty honour vertue godlinesse and religion This is that amongst us that makes our Fishermen a people rude and used to the Sea Zirizea full of Fishermen whereof in Zirizea there are above 500. besides young boyes not yet of age that learn the same vocation that afterwards are to be taken for Marriners and experienced Pilots are of so great integrity of life and manners that never any quarrels contentions discords or jars arise amongst them and they never go to law one with another so that the Magistrate never interposeth to decide any controversies between them but upon most urgent occasions for they use to hold a counsel themselves The condition of life of the Marriners in Zeland and so to put an end to them all They suffer none of their vocation to beg and they hold it a disgrace for any of their company to ask an Alms at the dore or any thing by intreaty But the company of Fishermen and he that is the chief amongst them whom they call their Deacon appoints an allowance out of the common stock for every one that stands in want and hath not sufficient to keep his family so that they need nothing whereby they may frugally and liberally sustain their hunger The Zelanders Fishermens moderation of their affections But when such a great multitude go to Sea to fish very far off and it happens that they speed not well none of them is vexed or troubled at it nor wishes any ill luck to any man but they all take it quietly and thankfully in hopes that they shall have a better voiage for the future But that moderation of their mind in such rude men What the source of nature can do is not engrafted by any laws prescribed unto them or teaching from wise men but by the instinct and guiding of Nature and apprehended by reason whereby they find what is honest and decent and what is not But to look back to the Scheld The original and course of the River Scheld This River at Vermandose is yet well known by its antient name it comes forth of two Fountains by the Nervii now called Tornaci and through Gaunt a most famous City Gaunt a nursery for Students where I first went to School to learn my Letters and so through the rest of the Countries of Flanders it comes to Antwerp and runs under the wals of it and make a famous harbour The Scheld an Ornament to Antwerp Why the Scheld running by Flanders is called the Houte and place for Ships to ride safely in Then running a little farther it parts into two and divides Brabant and Flanders from Zealand for winding on the left hand toward the South it runs on the coasts of Flanders and is called by another name de Honte from its barking and noise it makes where the passage lyeth open by South Vealand and Wallachria into the Western Sea and again a passage into these parts but on the right hand leaving the Coasts of Brabant by a continued course and
the title of an Earldome and the Princes of the same Province are called Earls So in Brabant and many other places those that have Kingly power Whence Dukes are called are called Dukes from leading an Army unto the Enemys Country vulgarly Hertoghen as if you would say Leaders of Armies But when Guido Dampetra was Earl of Flanders Guido Dampetra Earl of Flanders he being greedy to Extend his Dominions he was minded to take possession of some Islands in Zealand wherefore first he thought to conquer Walachria and to make it tributary and bringing an Army into this Country for the passage over is very easie he wasted it all with Fire and Sword and Plunder then he beseiged Middleburgh Middleburgh wone and sent a Herald to bid them yeeld themselves up when he found the Citizens minds not very ready to do it he brought up the Rams and with one or two assaults he wan it William Earl of Holland and Zealand the third of that name when he came to relieve the City garded by the men of Zirizea that he put most trust to being conquer'd in two Battels in one day Why the Flags of Zirezea are red his Ensignes being wet with blood whence it came to passe that the Banners of Zirizea are blood colour he makes hast to Zirizea than which there was none more fortified or faithfull to their Prince Guido puffed up with his Victories hastned thither leaving a Garrison in Middleburg he turns all the force of the Warr upon Zirizea and when he had beseiged it 6 weeks he was very much damnified for the Towns-men sallying out continually did kill abundance of the Flemings and took many of them Captives Lastly both of them made a Truce and a cessation of Arms was granted for 6 weeks Guido makes his way against the Hollanders When the time of Truce was over they of Zerizea raised forces and provided a Fleet and sayle presently to Walachria The men of Zirizea restore Middleburg to the Earl and killing and forcing away the Flemings they take the City again and having received little hurt they return home again The Prince of Holland and Zealand William the third of that name finding so great a victory honour'd the City of Zirizea with great honours The Zirizeans gaind priviledges by valour guifts and large priviledges But Guido Earl of Flanders having ill successe in Holland and having received a wound departs from Zealand and being a little refreshed he aims at the Zirizeans by whom he disdains that Middleburgh was retaken Wherefore gathering a huge Army though he was repulsed by them above 6 weeks and forced to depart having done nothing yet he comes fresh upon them again and besieging them most closely he never left to assail them continually But when the Townsmen were put to great extremity and were at the lowest ebb wanting all things yet they could be brought to yeeld by no threats nor fair promises though now 7 months besides fire and flames cast into their City they were beleaguerd by Sea and Land with all sorts of Engins Rams Slings Darts Target fences and other warlike instruments which that age frequently used The French King releives the Zirizeans When wherefore they were in narrow straights and the City had no help Philip the Fair the French King came seasonably to their assistance and making no stop nor delay he sends John Payderosos his Admiral and chief Commander and Reginer Grimaldus of Genoa with a well provided Fleet and some long Ships which because they rowe with Oares more than they sail Galleys are called Galleys and he wisheth them to make speed to releive the beseiged in time They made no stay to fullfill the Kings command and do what they had in charge suddenly whom so soon as the Watch and Senteries perceived from a high Watch-Tower from whence they could look farr into the Sea and gave warning of it saying they were not farr off presently William Prince of Holland and Zealand kin to the King by his Sister first seeing the Admiralls Ships and then a great Fleet sailing at length he presently joyns the Ships he had ready for that use with this Fleet and uniting their forces they had collected they resolve to set upon the Flemings and to destroy them the Towns-men also that were past all hopes are raised up with hopes of Victory and they recollected their forces that were broken with a long Siege and take new courage against the Enemy But when the Army was ready and the Fleet so excellent well provided with all things was to fall on and began to sail from the place they rid at The Flemings as they want no military policies and stratagems send out a Ship having the wind and tide with them against the whole Fleet and it was halfe full of dry wood Faggots Laths Straw Stubble and other dry matter that will soon take fire all wet with Oyle Pitch Brimstone Tallow Fat But when this fire-Ship stuck here and there and then being stopt by the Waves went on slowly till the Ocean began to come to the full height and began to ebb again behold suddenly which we must needs think was a singular providence of God the wind turned and was driven to the North A Sea-fight so the Sea coming back again the Fire-Ship was forced back and falls amongst the Flemings Ships and sets them on fire in every place many of them that they might not be burnt leaped into the Sea changing one danger with another The courage of the Flemings and saved their lives by swimming The Flemings being turmoild by this losse our men fall on with Ores and Sails upon them but they being nothing discouraged putting out the fire as they cold they stoutly oppose the rest of their forces and Ships the fire had not hurt against their Enemy The battle was first doubtfull from noon till the Morning rise of the Sun so that the night it selfe which at that time of the year is somewhat clear namely about the Ides of August could not end the contest Our men being equall with them for place and the wind being against them and the Sea ebbing frighted them with Fire Sword Fâ—re-brands and Poles lighted and we cast in many Fire balls and brands to burn their Ships In the mean while the Towns-men opening their gates and sallying forth did them great spoil and so beat back and kept down the violence of the Flemings against our men the women also flying forth so violently against the Enemy that they did as valiantly and stoutly oppose them as the men did There were such crackings cryes howlings noyses and exclamations in that conflict as many testifie that for above three miles they might be heard And let no man think this to be incredible In the night all may be heard farr At Sea a noyse is heard very farr for that a noyse at Sea cries of an Army may be heard very wide especially
in a silent night For since nothing hinders nor Woods nor Groves nor Mountaines nor Rocks as high as Heaven the noyse passeth on the plain of the Sea as in a wide Champion Land farr and broad and is scattered through the Ayre But when all night this miserable slaughter and destruction continued in the morning the Flemings past all hopes became subject to their enemies being killed and scattered by them In that battel were lost above 8000 Flemings and there were taken besides private Souldiers whose number is not easie to be had Guido Earl of Flanders Captivated Guido Dampetra Prince of Flanders and with him innumerable Lords of the Court their Ensignes were taken from them Skins Tents spoils and many rich booties and gallant things were recovered from them and with the Prince and Captives were brought into the City Warr is not rashly to be entred on and the great Fleet they had with all things so well appointed was either shattered to peices or burnt and what they had came all into the Enemies hands Wherefore the Flemings being afflicted with this memorable losse take Counsel to compose the businesse and to redeem their Captives Other mens Countries not to be invaded These things should teach Princes that are covetous of other mens Countries and long after their neighbours Lands that they should not raise Armes against such as live neere unto them where they have no just cause to make a Warr not sufficient reason to induce them to it And if there be a cause they were better first try all means and admitt of any conditions almost for peace than to take up the Sword But now the siege being raised at Zirizea and the Warr ended which fell out Anno Domini 1303 about the Ides of August which was St. Laurence day least so fierce a victory obtain'd after so bloody Warr after some yeares should be forgotten or slip out of the minds of the Citizens they decreed that solemn yearly thanksgiving should be rendred unto the immortal God and the Senate would have this continued year by year for perpetuall memory to shew how these things were done and how the City was delivered and this hath never been neglected by their posterity but also the young boys that frequent publick Schools What things fall amisse are somtime to be remembred and are traind up in learning keep this day holy-day and rest having leave allowed them for to play so is the remembrance of this deed delivered as it were by hand from one generation to another that each Citizen may know and hold fast in mind in what streights and danger of their lives their Ancestors were when they fought with all their might for religion and liberty for their Wives and dear Children and endeavour'd to serve their Prince to their utmost power In the mean while it affords especially this doctrine to posterity and they are warned of it by the yearly commemoration of it that when they are afflicted and in great danger they should lift up their Hearts unto the great and good God and seek for safety from him that their Countrey besieged may be releived that all things may prosper and that they may obtain the victory without shedding of blood which thing alone we read that Abraham Moses David Ezechias Judith and many more did and by these helps they wonn the victory But since the Scheld and Zirizea situate therein hath been often set upon by strangers and shaken with Warr Whence is the Island Suythvelandia so call'd and none of the Islands more than Suythvelandia which is so called onely because it is opposite to the South and stretcheth spatiously being a very pleasant Country toward the Coasts of Flanders and Brabant though some few years it sufferd damage Romersvalla a City and is become narrower than formerly by halfe From this a City of no small note call'd Romersvalla was broken off which having no Land about it The City Gows nor ground about the walls the Sea runs round it that it subsists alone by making of Salt In the Western part of the Island is the City Gows scituate the walls are but a very small compasse but it is pleasantly and handsomely built and the Citizens are very civil and of laudable manners There is besides this another Island joyns to Brabant only a small narrow Sea runs between Tole a City of Zeland Martin â—s City wherein stands Tole so called from the tribute and custome It is an antient little Town from whence the fortresse of Martin is not farr distant it is the free Town that belongs to the Prince of Orange a delightfull place set about with Trees wherein there builds a multitude of birds especially Herons There are besides these some small Islands of no great note as Duveland so called from the frequency of Pigions there Goerede from the good harbour for Ships Platessa and many more not long since won out of the Sea I think it needlesse to stay to describe them since a description of Zealand newly set forth doth exactly represent them all which the curious may look upon at their leasure The originall of the Zelanders As for the original of the Zealanders the report is constant and derived to the Inhabitants by succession that they are derived from the Goths and Vandals especially from that Island of Norway Zeland in Denmark Hafnia Coopmans Haven which the Danes call Zealand wherein there stands that famous place for Merchandice called Hafnia commonly Coopmans-Haven from a Haven much frequented by Merchants who first found this Land void of Inhabitants and reduced it into Islands and first setting up Cottages and small places made it fit for pasture and arable Land Zeland belongs to Holland For in Caesar's time there was a great part of this land which is no other but an Appendix to Holland that is untill'd nor ever was it ploughed to sow upon or dug but full of Lakes and arms of the Sea that hinders it as even to this day Holland hath many Lakes so that the way by land is cut off every where by them and men must passe in boats Aestuaria what which is also used in Zeland in the places overflowed which are nothing else but places without and within the shores that are exposed to the Sea's flouds For when the Mediterranean Sea runs into them they are full of water so that in the Winter there is no foot passage and there is no going to those places but by boats But the ground beyond the ramparts that for many acres far and wide goes as far as the creeks and Sea-coasts is heaped up by the washing of the water and is beaten upon with continual floud and sometimes when the Ocean swels as it doth at the full or new of the Moon it is all overflowed and when the Sea falls back again it comes forth that the places which are somewhat high bear very good pasture to feed cattel
that come near him by a contagious vapour Whether a Basilisk proceed from a Cocks Egg. The common people through all Europe are that opinion that from this Egg comes a basilisk if a Toad chance to sit upon it to foster it whether this be false and a meer fiction I dare not say for certain yet thus much I have had experience of that the Cock sits upon it and brings it to perfection So in my memory in the City Zirizea and within this Island two old Cocks could hardly be driven off with sticks A History of a Cocks Egg. but they would sit still upon their Eggs therefore because the Citizens were so perswaded that a Basilisk would breed from a Cocks Egg they thought fit to break the Egg and kill the Cock But it is worth enquiry whether a Cock conceives an Egg Whence a Cocks Egg is made and in the full time that is about the nineteenth day the shell break and the young one come forth I imagine that from some putrefaction clotted together within and the shell fostered by the heat of the Cock some such thing may breed especially when he ceaseth to tread for then the excrement restrained within is clottered and becomes hard as an Egg which if it be fostered by the Cock himself or any other living creature a venemous worm or some other venemous beast which men call a Basilisk is bred of it which kind of Serpent is proper to Africa and other hot thirsty Countries But as worms breed in mans body A simile from the nature of worms by the putrefaction of humours and are animated by the benefit of heat and as wasps beetles caterpillars flyes breed from dung of Oxen and other corrupt humours Weevils in Wheat Worms called Teredines in Oak Small Nuts Cheese by the warmth and help of the Ambient Ayre so from this Egg breeds a venemous worm or some other kind of hurtfull and monstrous creature not unlike to a Basilisk that by touch or breath or vapour and hissing is dangerous most hurtful So it is said that from the Marrow of a mans back-bone corrupted is bred a Snake A Snake from a mans back-bone Many famous writers describe the nature of the Basilisk and its condition which receives a great power to do mischief from venemous nutriment and they have done this the more a curately because he is so dangerous by his sight breath hissing and so kills men whereas other Serpents cannot kill but they must be near to sting or bite and so is their poyson dispersed into the body L. 9. Lucan describing many kinds of Serpents sets down also the nature of the Basilisk thus The Basilisk doth reign alone By his hissing he is known Besides himself will suffer none Admits no venome but his own Hurts at a distance Whereby he shews that he doth mischief by seeing any man and kills by his venom'd breath before the poyson comes to touch the body Yet I believe it is an old wives tale which the vulgar thinks to be real truth that in our country so pernicious and hurtfull a creature can be bred by the hatching of a Toad and that sometimes in Caves and dens under the ground Basilisks lye that kill men if they chance to come into those places whereas iâ—â—â— the venemous vapours that stink and arise from foul nasty pâ—â—ces that stop mens breath and kill them and no man need to doubt but that sometimes poysonous creatures that lurk in those places do destroy men A cruel Basilisk Some learned writers testify that in Saxony there is a cruel kind of Basilisk seen that hath a sharp pointed head and is of a yellow colour nine inches long that is three hands breadth wonderfull thick with a spotted belly and marked with many white points the back of it is blew the tail is like a turban and crooked his jaws are wide and vast according to the proportion of his body I know not certainly to say whether he should be reckoned amongst Basilisks or Serpents for the husbandmen could not meet them and fight with them without danger who never fear to set upon them with prongs or clubs or forks and find no hurt thereby nor are they infected by their breath Yet there are some kinds of Serpents that pollute sheep coats and stalls and poyson cattle as the Hydra Aspe Viper Snake Adder that are next kin to the Basilisk for malice and fiercenesse Which Virgil elegantly expressed thus Under old Hedges Georg. 3. the Viper dothly And fears for to come forth to see the Sky Or else the wood-Snake who doth love the shade A plague to Oxen is his venome made Also that Snake that 's in Calabrian Groves That twist's it's Scaly back under its brest and roves With spotted belly into banks and lakes And fills its gut with all the fish it takes And croking frogs yet when the lakes are dry And earth is parched he doth suddenly Come forth on dry land and doth look most fierce With flaming eyes that very deep can pierce Thirst makes him cruel and the Sun that burns Affrights him unto which himself be turns He shines and out of 's mouth his tongue appears That is three forked all as sharp as Spears I think that Germany hath this and many more kinds of Serpents and some kind of Basilisks Basilisks in Germany but they are not endued with such strong and violent poyson as those are that breed in Africa and the torrid Countries From the cruelty of these creatures the holy Prophets formerly drew many apt similitudes Chap. 59. For Esaias seems to relate to the Vipers bringing forth of its young ones when he saith They conceived wickednesse and brought forth iniquity they have hatched the Cockatrice Eggs and spun the spiders web he that eats of their Eggs shall dye and that which is fostered shall break forth into a Basilisk The place of Esaias explained Whereby he intimates that they shall labour hard in a matter that is nothing worth and whatsoever they go about is hurtfull and mischievous and that their doctrine is full of virulence and by its stinking savour it destroyes the hearers of it Moreover whatsoever proceeds or comes from them is venemous and deadly as that is which comes from a Basilisk and venemous beasts Also Solomon compares intemperance in wine Prov. 23. that makes mens minds mad and is poyson to them to deadly and dangerous Serpents Look not saith he on the Wine when it looks red and when the colour of it shines in the Glasse it goes down pleasantly but in the end it will bite like an Adder and as a Basilisk will it send its Poyson forth And as a Woolf takes away the voice of those he meets A simile from a Woolf that takes away the voice or else makes them hoarse by the filthy venemous vapours that proceed from him so the Basilisk by his breath and hissing doth
mouth which they call Rock Jackdaws What Crows couceive by the mouth because they build in clifts of Rocks and hollow stones and not in Trees The Dutch call them commonly Steen Cawwe and these do not tread one the other as other birds do as we usually see in Cocks and other foule that get upon the backs of the Females and so copulate with them but these look stedfastly with their eyes one upon another never winking so that the Female draws forth dewy drops from the eyes of the Male by constant looking upon him which she drinks up and from thence as some think she conceives I dare not certainly determine whether they do bring forth by the mouth as with us the Cuttle Shrimps Calamaries Lobsters the Polypus and the fish Galeus commonly call'd the Hay do with a rough skin that even in the fish-Markets will cast forth her young by her mouth The fish Galens brings forth by her mouth and what others Of the Hay there is nothing more certain and commonly known that she doth cast forth her young at her mouth for lately when a Country man had bought some Hayes very cheap and carried them at his back the Citizens and people that looked on saw some of her young ones creeping forth at her mouth so that the Country fellow being laughed at by the common people and disdayning those kind of fish threw them all away upon the dunghill There is also another Hay that is smooth and soft skin'd not rugged that brings forth her young about her Navell her belly opening there and breaking so that the young one sticks fast to the bowells of the Female by a long string I have heard some fishermen of credit relate that they had seen some Hayes newly taken forth of the Male his mouth gaping and that he cast out six or seven small fish by his mouth that were wonderfull lively that being immediately cast into the Sea would swim at first as we see Chikens taken forth of their shells to pick at any thing and to scratch But this is admirable that since the Hay brings forth at the mouth being open that young fry should run again often into the dams belly and the secret parts there and hide themselves amongst her bowels and then they will come forth again to sport Of the industry of living Creatures which Plutarch wondered at The Hayes saith he for their fatherly indulgence give place to no living Creatures First they have egs then fish very many which they do not put forth as other Creatures do but hatch them within themselvs and these they breed up and carry in their bellys as if it were a second birth when they grow great they let them wander at pleasure and again receive them in at their mouths and let them inhabite in their bodies and there they allow them a place of refuge and house to dwell in and meat till they can provide for themselves and can swim well and that they may learn this perfectly they teach them to sport and to swim also to tumble themselves and to use nimblenesse that they may the safer escape the danger of Sea-Monsters In our Seas there are many kinds of Hays whereof some are cunning in other arts diversly Amongst these the Hay that is gray colour'd which the Dutch call Sprink-Hay because with incredible agility he will spring four Cubits high above the water and will swiftly run from danger that he may not become a prey to others Also there is a Hay with a spotted skin all full of black marks we call this den Ghespickled Hay as we see dogs and horses marked with spots Our Gesner describes this by the name of the Rock dog also there is brought into the fish market the Hay called Centrina or Speerhaye as if you would call them speered or sharp Hays for they have two sharp prickles on their backs wherewith they wound men dangerously our Country men keep these pricks in silver cases to pick their teeth with Thus much of fish that conceive and bring forth at the mouth as is well known to our men But as for the conception of Chows that is performed by the mouth as it is reported I dare say nothing for certain yet they seem to me to represent the Nature of Pigeons that beck one the other and do as it were kisse as lovers do their Sweet-hearts Wherefore that proverb of Pigeons is used concerning them who sport and play and kisse and cal one the other and embrace often The Dutch call this Duvebecken It is a Proverb like to Pigeons from the manner is observed in Pigeons so that about the spring time these are the preludiums and forerunners of Venery There are some as Plutarch testifies that maintain Mice to breed without the male if they but oftentimes lick of salt Virgil also mentions something like this concerning the conception of Mares For above all the lust of Mares is known Georg. 3. When burning heat is in their marrow grown Most in the Spring-time when as hot as fire They stand on tops of Rockâ— with strong desire Gaping for the West wind which they draw in And by the Ayre conceive that 's very thin Nor horses need to back them ther 's the wonder They breed alone and do conceive a sunder There hapneth to Mares the same almost that hapneth to hungry people that are filled with the steam of the Kitchin and for want of nutriment are fed with smells or as it fell out with a noble maid who when she could not enjoy her sweet heart A simile from hungry people she kept him close in her brest and thought of him when he was from here so that by frequent imagination she formed an ill fashiond lumpe What imaginary venery can do in the womb such humours being heaped together in those parts as serve for conception which mishapen lump was made by imagination without any help or copulation with man CHAP. XX. The hand or other parts of the body that are frozen and grown stiff with cold and frost how they may be thaw'd and recover their former heat IT hapneth sometimes when the Ayre is sharpe and cruel as when the North wind blows in Winter Bodys will frez with cold or some other extream cold wind whereby all things are frozen and congealed mens hands also and other parts of their bodies will grow stiff and benummed with cold so that they will be dead and fall off or else they must be cut off and lopt as withered boughs that the sound parts be not infected by them when any such thing hapneth as it doth to those that travel through cold Countries and great Snows or when a ship is broken to those that sit on the planks and are tossed to and frow by the waves they who are thus affected must not be presently brought to the fire but must be placed at a good distance from it least the pain should increase
14th year of their age or somewhat later shew some signes of maturity their courses then running so that they are fit to conceive which force continues with them till 44 yeares of their age and some that are lusty and lively will be fruitfull till 55 as I have observed amongst our Country women When a womans courses stop I know that the flowing of the terms is extended farther in some women of good tempers but that is rare nor doth allwaies that excrementitious humour flow from a naturall cause Wherefore their opinion must be examined who say that as there is no certain time of womens termes to end so neither of their conception nor cannot any set bounds be prefixed for these things For though some have their courses at 60 yeares old yet that proceeds not from a naturall cause but from some affect that is contrary to Nature which also hinders all conception For anger indignation wrath and sudden fear may cause the vessels and passages to open and cleave asunder so by a violent concourse of humours such a thing may run out many by falls and accidents having the fibres of the veins pulled asunder But since women for the most part about the yeare 45 or at the most 50 have their termes stopt and no hopes are to be had of Children by lying with them Old wives should not marry young men they do contrary to the law of Nature that marry young men or men that for greedinesse of mony woe and marry such old women For the labour is lost on both sides just as if a man should cast good seed into dry hungry lean ground It is more tolerable for a full bodied lively old man that he should marry a very young Mayd in her green and tender years For from that society they may hope for some benefit for posterity because a man is never thought to be so old and barren and exhausted but that he may get a Child But what is the Nature of man and how long the force lasts in him to get Children must be shewed by the way For since young men as Hippocrates saith are full of imbred heat about the age of 16. or somewhat more they have much vitall strength and their secrets begin to be hairy How long a man is fruitful and their chins begin to shoot forth with fine decent down which force and heat of procreating Children increaseth daily more and more untill 45 yeares or till 50 and ends at 65. For then for the most part the manhood begins to flag and the seed becomes unfruitfull the naturall spirits being extinguished and the humours drying up out of which by the benefit of heat the seed is wont to be made There are indeed some strong lusty old men who have spent their younger dayes continently and moderately who are fruitfull untill 70 yeares and subsist very manly in performing nuptiall duties examples whereof there are sufficient in Brabant and amongst the Goths and Sweeds A History done so I heard a trusty Pilate relate that when he traficked at Stockholme when Gustavus the Father of the most invincible Ericus who now reigns ruled the Land he was called by the King to be at the marriage of a man that was a hundred years old who married a Bride of 30 years old and he professed sincerely that the old man had many Children by her For he was a man as there are many in that Country who was very green and fresh in his old age that one would hardly think him to be 50 yeares old The Brabanders live very â—old Also amongst the Tungri and Campania in Brabant where the Ayre is wonderfull calme and the Nation is very temperate and frugall it is no new thing but allmost common that men of 80 yeares marry young Mayds and have Children by them wherefore Age doth nothing hinder a man forgetting of Children unlesse he be wholy exhausted by incontinence in his youngest dayes and his genitall parts be withered and barren wherefore the Dutch have a scoffing Proverb against such that are worn out A Proverb against such as are spent A simile from horses exhausted and quite broken by venery Vroech hengst Vroech ghuyle the comparison being taken from horses who if they back Mares often or too soon they will quickly grow old and will never be fit for any warlick service But what difference there is between men and women or what cause or reason there is in it that a woman is sooner barren than a man and ceaseth to eject her seed if any perhaps should require to know I say it is the natural hear wherein a man excells For since a woman is more moyst than a man A man is hotter than a woman as her courses declare and the softnesse of her body a man doth exceed her in native heat Now heat is the chief thing that concocts the humours and changes them into the substance of seed A man is longer fruitfull than a Woman which aliment the woman wanting she grows fat indeed with age but she grows barren sooner than a man doth whose fat melts by his heat and his humours are dissolved but by the benefit thereof they are elaborated into seed Also I ascribe it to this that a woman is not so strong as a man nor so wise and prudent nor hath so much reason nor is so ingenious in contriving her affairs as a man is CHAP. XXV Who chiefly take diseases from others And how it comes about that children grow well when Physick is given to the Nurse SInce contagious diseases infect all that come in the way of them yet they infect no men sooner than such whose Natures are of much affinity one with another as are Parents and Children Sisters Brothers Cousins who are in danger almost on all hand and the disease spreads amongst them And the nearer any man is of bloud and kindred the sooner he catcheth this mischief from others by reason of Sympathy that is consanguinity and agreement in humours and spirits Kindred soonest infected Wherefore when the Plague is hot and contagious diseases rage I use to speak to people of one blood to stay one from another and live something farther from them least the pestilent Ayre should infect them that will sooner lay hold of acquaintance and kindred than strangers and such as are not allyed Nurses infect children though none be free from danger The same reason serves for Nurses and children sucking at their brests for when the Nurse is sick all the force of the disease comes to the child and the Nurse is helped by it and escapes the danger For the force of the disease being diffused through the veins that are the receptacles of bloud and milk useth to be made exactly from bloud the child draws forth the worst and impure aliment whence it falls out that the whole force of the disease rests upon the child because the bloud which is the substance