it first it most be harrowed then it grows warm and by the vapours and fostering of the ground it grows up into a green blade which being fed by the fibres of the roots grows up by degrees and lifting up a knotted stalk begins to be shut up in the cods as growing nearer to be ripe and when it comes forth of them it sends forth corn in full ears which is defended from small birds with a fence of ears I passe over the force of all things that grow out of the earth for from a little kernel of a Fig Plants renewing shew a resurrection from a Grapestone and from the smallest seeds of other plants we see huge Trees and boughs and roots to grow Do not sprigs plants roots branches sciences buds do that which will make the Resurrection of mans body seem to be no absurdity Chrysostome after Tully doth wonderfully enlarge upon this admirable force of Nature and highly commends the Earth 1 Thes 4. Hom. 7. that is the Mother of all things The earth next after God the Parent of things For the life of all things is from the moysture of the Earth Herbs Trees all sorts of flowers admirable in their kinds for smell and sight proceed onely and are nourished by the fruitfulnesse of the ground Thick Ayre turns to water which falling upon the Earth from above waters the earth the Suns hear again rarifies it and turns it to Ayre and there are many mutations of that kind that will make a man admire as much as the resurrâ—ction doth For example Natures work the Vine out of the moysture of the Earth brings forth not onely branches and tendrels that are of sowre tast but also sweet juice and pleasant Grapes The Date tree is a rugged barky tree and produces sweet dates full of juyce and liquor like Wine An example from the structure of Man Also the seed from whence a man is made how comes it to produce and frame ears arms hands heart lungs nervs arteries flesh bones grisles membranes what man can understand this there are so many differences and varieties in mans body or qualities humours forces vertues functions all proceeding from the seed onely Do you not think it strange how a soft and moist humour should congeal to be a hard cold bone how meats should be changed into fresh red bloud and the food should turn into veins arteries nerves muscles ligaments tendons Since therefore nature daily doth so many things that the mind of man cannot comprehend who can deny but that the God of nature can do as much in raising dead bodies Nature Gods Instrument as nature that is but Gods instrument doth daily in fostering and preparing of the seed that is corruptible You may see the corn when it is moistned grow up again into a seemly plant and to bring forth thick leaves Examples of the Reâ—urrection out of Ciprian and will you not believe that a man buried in the earth may rise again and return to his former lustre Therefore Cyprian who is said to have made the Creed by Pauls example illustrates our Creed by the nature of seed For saith he if any man mingle divers kinds of seeds together and sows them unparted or casts them every where into the earth will not every seed after its kind spring up again in its proper season and have a stalk proper to its own form and kind So the substance of flesh though it be diversly scattered here and there when God pleaseth shall revive again in the same shape it was when it died and so it comes to passe that not any confused or strange body shall be restored to the several souls but to every soul the same body it had before that by consequent according as they lead their lives here a good body may be crowned or an ill body be tormented with its own soul Wherefore I think that Paul could not better set forth the type of the resurrection than by the similitude of seed sown in furrows of the earth A Simile from Seed sown For what it is in nature to hide seed in the earth the same it is in the resurrection to bury a dead body and what it is for seed to grow again and become a plant is same with mans rising again A body subject to corruption is committed to the ground but that shall revive all feeblenesse of nature being taken from it That is buried in the earth which was subject to many Infirmities calamities diseases it shall rise again lively An Example from a body wasted quick free from all infirmities and weaknesses An example will make it clearer A sick man that is spent with a strong disease grows pale and looks wan sad swart ill favour'd earthly and his whole body grows so lean and consumed that his lively juice being spent you cannot know him But this man by good Physick and wholesome diet recovers and grows fat and well liking and his skin grows so fine that you would think he were painted So in the resurrection the same body comes up again but more glorious and there will appear in it no marks of the old corruption An example of this was first begun in Christ who by nothing did more effectually declare his Divinity than by his triumphant Resurrection That example of his must be shew'd forth in all by his vertue who as Paul saith shall change our vile bodies and make them like his glorious body according to his power whereby he can subject all things unto himself Phil. 2. 1 Thess 4. Wherefore the Apostle would not have us to be tormented with fear of death or to grieve over-much for it For they that sleep in Christ shall be raised by the Word of God and shall live everlastingly with him Which our Saviour foretold that it should so come to passe John 5. The hour shall come that all that are in their graves shall hear his voyce and they that have done well shall come forth to the Resurrection of Life and they that have done evil to the resurrection of condemnation By which words he comforts dejected minds Distrust and confidence what they can do that they should not faint under dangers but to wicked and unpenitent men they strike terrour and amazement who would never make an end of sinning unlesse they consider'd that after this life the rewards of sin and godlinesse shall be paid unto men Chap. 14. 19. Wherefore Job in his worst condition when nothing was wanting to make him miserable comforts himself with this certain hope I know that my Redeemer liveth and I shall rise out of the Earth in the last day and I shall see God my Saviour in my flesh whom I shall behold my self and not another for me This hope is laid up in my brest that is no man shall take from me this confidence and assurance Since therefore all hopes of obtaining salvation The
his practice of Physick is very knowing and industrious Every where neere the Sea there are Forts and Bull warks raised to resist the Sea-waves at their very entrance and first coming into the Haven made of beams and long poles drove in straight and crosse wayes An artificiall description of a Promontory which besides huge mighty stones that are cast in to fasten the work are propped with bands of Faggots and crosse beames of wood This Engine is like a Promontory that sticks forth and is a safe shelter for Ships to ride under Not onely our men but the Italians and Spaniards call this structure the Cape whether it be artificiall or naturall and in cosmographicall descriptions it goes under that name Sea-weed grows abundantly sticking fast to this which though it be vile and base which besides that it is a Proverb Virgil also observed Baser than Sea weed Eclog. Ruder than Kneeholme than Sea-weed more baser Yet it hath some use in Physick for it abateth pains of the Gowt and Joynts the body being first purged it discusseth inflammations it cools and dryes farr more effectually than Ducks meat upon ponds What is water-Ducks meat Description of Sea-weed which is as it were a mossy excrement of standing waters that Geese and Ducks feed on willingly But since there are many kinds of Sea-weeds that which is common amongst us is with branches glib substantiall knotty with swoln Bladders and Appendixes and full of branches which being pressed with the tops of your fingers will crackle and make a noyse like Sena-leaves This Sea-weed is with a membranous leafe and swelling little Bladders stretched out by wind that shine and are smooth as if they were polished it flotes for the most part and swims above the waters and when the waters are gon it sinks down and flags and lies upon the twigs and poles that prop it up as if were good for nothing the colour of it is red dark tawny What is the colour called Ravus that consists of a mixture of brown and black between a grey and a yellow and next to a full dark green It sticks fast to the rods and stakes that are driven into the shore to fence the rampants like glew or birdlime having no root to help it to fold about that it can hardly be pulled away The second kind of Sea-weed Another kind of Sea-weed that is under the Sea-water as grasse weed grows in Lakes and standing waters it is very thick together and so defends it selfe the leafe of it is like Fennell leafe and small as hairs the colour is unpleasant with a mossy and hairy concression our Country people call it Woer and some Weert which is drawn out of the Sea with nets together with Crabs and other small fish and rubbish But Phycos or Sea Fucus is next kin to Sea-weed and is like it in forme and effect as Aristotle thinks and Pliny after him But Mosse must be held to be a thing different from these L. 6. c. 13. Host aâ—imal one kind whereof grows not onely on the shores but upon the stems of ships when they come home from long Voyages to which not onely Mosse Sea-weeds but shell-fish a little fish called Echineis stick so fast that they will stop Snips and hinder their course therefore our men use to rub them off with sharp brushes and scrape them away with Irons that are crooked for the purpose that the ship being tallowed and carined well and smoothly may sail the faster This common kind of mosse grows abundantly in the Belgick Ocean of a grasse-green colour which yet will degenerate into a yellow or yellowish colour as at the end of Summer Vine-leaves and leaves of Trees do it hath no root to grow upon to support it yet it cleaves with a tenacious holding fast to the ground it lieth upon or else being spread over the utmost coasts of the Sea and the brinks thereof it is lifted up by the Sea-rising and sinks down when it goes out again But Sea-mosse that Dioscorides describes is wholly different from this Sea Mosse is a stalky concretion for that must be judged to be an hearb of stalky concretion and a hairy growing together with slender hairs and small stalks that are wooddy below with leaves as small as hairs curled and nicked white and Ash-colourd and by age waxing red smelling like Soothernwood or Sea-wormwood pleasant yet weighty a good remedy for those that have Worms and soon helps the hearb being beaten to powder and a penny or a drachm weight of it given with Wine for it hath the same operation with Sea-wormwood and is near a kin to it and like it if you look upon it when it first comes forth and shews it self if you regard the numerous leaves of it or the growing stalks or the crisped and jagged skirts it hath Corallina is an hearb that takes hold on Corral Mountebanks call it Corallina because it is taken hanging fast to and folded about Coral in the Ligurian Sea and drawn forth with nets But there are in Zeland who are the utmost people of the Belgick nation whom Tacitus calls Mattiacos The Mattiaci in Zealand so called from their sociable agreeing from their sociable agreement as I shall say more at large a little after Plains that are very long and broad and from the descent of the Bulwarks there are most plentifull pasture-grounds to fat Cattle wherein do grow various kinds of hearbs as Sampire Kaly or Sea-houfleek Orache Purslain Sea-cole Halimus Rest harrow with a purple flower and little branches full of prickles fit to break the stone Sea-weed Corallina a little shrub but Buckthorn grows some three Cubits high and is proper for sandy and brambly grounds in some places it grows like a Tree as Christs thorn that is lesse fruitfull with boughs that are stubborn and hard to break Description of Buckthorn with leaves like the Olive but narrower green a top and white under next the earth the berries are round and as great as a Roman Pease and they grow together in clusters and the boughs fold close one within the other and the fruit hangs by a very small stalk and is of a yellow colour and when it is ripe like Saffron sowre and bitter in taste and it draws forth spittle abundantly and quencheth the thirst in Feavers having one kernel within yet not hard as stone as your Corneil-berries or white Thorn-berries are that is that sharp Thorn that in the Month of May when all things flourish is very gracefull and smells sweet or like to Barberries but it is easily broken with the Teeth But that which is peculiar for bushy and downy places is called by the Zelanders Down Berries when Autumn begins they use to dresse up their chambers and houses with this sprowt when the berries begin to grow yellow and they will last till winter be far spent and refresh the eyes to see them and by
themselves again and sink down and so it is when other pleasing winds do blow hence it is that mens minds are very cheerfull Clear Ayre rejoyceth the mind and ready when the Sun shines fair but there is a great contraction sadnesse and dejection of the mind when the Ayre is clowdy and the winds boysterous For the same reason when it begins to be rainy weather and when the South or South-west wind blows Sinks Lakes Ponds When the South wind blows the Lakes stink Jakes Privies Common-shores and other places appointed to cleanse away filth do send forth stinking vapours and make our meats naught that they will not keep so long Collateral and middle winds which decline somewhat from the South and bend somewhat toward the West in winter have the same force that the South and South-West winds have South South-West winds nature to which is referred South South-West For from that part of heaven there rusheth forth a turbulent clowdy wind not lesse hurtfull to the body than to the mind For violent blasts have such force that they move the humours within the body like to the Pump in ships and the mind being stirred with the vapours and fumes thereof is distempered falls into passions grows angry tumultuous unquiet and rageth and overflows like to the Ocean and evill spirits and Devills do sometimes joyn with the tempests and administer fuell Evill spirits are ready to do mischief Weak minds soon offended by the Ayre secretly thrusting themselves into the mind of man and do vex and tear and torment it It is common in the Low-Countries for many whose minds are troubled and their senses diminished or their animal spirits tainted with any vitious quality three daies before any tempests or winds appear to grow tumultuous and to run up and down all villages publick places common streets and corners and by-wayes sometimes very silent and sometimes with great noise and howlings that the common people will say there is a tempest in the Ayre not far off and as it usually falls out some great commotions and tossings of the Ayre and Tempests are hard by But again when the Ayre is calm and clear and free from violent winds these people will be courteous to all pleasing gentle astable merry jesting yet so as they will not leave off to expresse some ridiculous customes whereby you may easily guesse what habit of body they are of and what is the constitution of their minds The nature of the South-West wind But for winds that belong to the South-point and blow from the West in winter no wind is more vehement that the South-West wind or more causing rain for in summer it produceth Thunder and Lightning and raiseth cruel tempests that it will throw down Towrs beat down corn and drive ships upon rocks and fords that they suffer Ship-wrack but in Summer it lasts not so long as it doth in Winter for as it riseth suddenly and is furious so it presently ends and grows quiet but the force of this wind is augmented by that Wind Horace calls Iapiga West South-West wind West South-West and it makes all more sharp and bitter and this holds its station constantly for a great part of the year and driving out other winds when Winter comes on it blows constantly to the great discommodity of Sea-men But in the midst of Summer it is more and not so boisterous But the wind that proceeds from the equinoctial setting namely the West wind West winds nature which the Italians call Ponente when the spring comes on and the first Swallow appears is very gentle and calm pleasant and delightsome that fosters and recreates all things for being made warm by the Suns moderate heat it draws forth plants and flowers and makes all things revive and renews them so that it brings forth bloud and humours that lay close in the winter and discussing sorrow and all clouds of the mind it cheers it with joy and alacrity But when Autumn ends and the course of the year inclines to Winter Western winds do rage fiercely and shake the Earch and the Sea with great tempests and they are no lesse hurtfull and pernicious in causing cold flegmatique diseases than the Southern winds are North-West winds and others near to it what is their nature But winds near the West and North are reckned to be three West North-West North-West that blows from the Western solstice North North-West and all these are violent winds that fiercely shake the Sea-waves and breaking down rocks and shores drive the Seas far into the Land Two parts of the year especially do these winds domineer at the end of Autumn and the beginning of the Spring chiefly in March in which times they cast down Hail Clouds Storms Thunder and Lightnings from above so that at one moment of time or very little difference between those three winds will joyn together in one and rushing forth will do great mischiefs to man and beast and corn There come forth of these and many more sudden hasty winds that in so great distemper of the Ayre cast forth site-balls and burning Torches aâ— Prester Ecnephias Acts 27. and that whirlwind that was so dangerous to Saint Paul the Apostle In former Ages these were taken notice of by others but chiefly by Virgil who set them down in verse all which at several times of the year happen to us with great mischief and detriment to Corn. What should I speak of Autumns storms and lights Georg. L. 2. And when the dayes grow short and heat abates Or men should mark when rainy spring delights In harvest I have seen the deadly hates Of Winds that fought and made stormy weather Whil'st the Reaper bound his sheaves together Rending the Corn by th' roots out of the ground Whâ—rlwinds and rain mens works and Corn confound Also they cause many diseases to mens bodies and shake them no lesse than they do stubble For in Spring and Autumn especially in the Month of March they heap upon the joynts nerves muscles membranes tendons prickings colds contractions palpitations ulcerated wearinesse so that they who are so affected do shew signs of some tempests at hand and can undoubtedly foresay and certify what weather we shall have we call them weatherwise that is Weak people obnoxious to the injuries of the Ayre such as can know before-hand what weather we shall have and such people are commonly those that are sickly and troubled with the Pox or some such diseases And as these winds cause diseases and Feavers and many inconveniencies to mans health so also they are hurtfull to fruitfull land and tilled grounds hindring the seed time and a plentifull crop For the Earth when it is blowed upon by chill winds A chill Ayre ill enough will no lesse bring forth unwholesome hearbs then it doth when it is over-wet with cold unpleasing rain also it sends up Darnel Cockle wild-Tares Briers Bushes Thorns Docks all which
that may raise distempers quarrels or troubles between them The affections passe to the Child Which are those the people call naturall Children for all these things fall upon the Child that is then begot and inform it with the like manners and the parents conditions are imprinted upon it I referr that to the like causes that Children which they call naturall that is such that are illegitimate and born without lawfull matrimony are of different nature condition and manners from the other Children whereof such as were begot by noble parents and gentlemen are oft of an high and lofty behaviour and are adorned with many great and rich endowments with rare wits singular prudence exact judgements especially if the parents are a help to their liberal education so that somtimes they become the pillar of the family and are an Ornament and glory to all that are of their kin and blood Why illegitimate Children are more witty than others The reason seems to me to be because they have received all things abundantly from their fathers loynes and bowells and in that secret copulation obtaind by stealth they received not sparingly and slenderly but abundantly the guifts of Nature From when both greedily desire to satisfie their Lusts and are prodigall in their embracements and use all the might they have to propagate and beget a Child it comes to passe that all things necessary for conception are afforded plentifully and there is no want in this businesse and so it falls out Whence comes it Parents love their Children and contrarily that since Children represent their parents manners and have obtain'd much from them there is an incredible love and prosension on both parts and they love one the other exceedingly From which force also there ariseth cheerfullnesse and readinesse of mind in the Child and a generous inclination whereby they disdain that they were born illegitimate and out of the laudable bands of Matrimony and that they should want any thing that others do not to make them uncapable of honours and dignities and publick employments A sublime mind strives for the highest things This makes them use all means to bring themselves out of contempt and by their good life and sound manners to blot out that mark of infamy which some very unwisely impute unto them who some times were begotten more beastly than those that were begotten in adultery But such Children that are born after this adulterous way from mean and base parents and so want the benefit of education for want of means can hardly ever attain to any great matter or raise themselves from the Earth for as the Poet saith Juvenal Satyr 3. They hardly can proceed Who are at home in need Poverty that is wise For though a poor man be wise as the Proverb saith and be the inventor of many rare Arts yet it is a very great hindrance to famous wits that they cannot rise to any high things CHAP. IV. How comes it that the Bay-Tree which some say will not grow in Zeland grows no where more beautifully than in this place and what you must do to make it endure the Winter frost and cold MAny wonder that in the Sea-coasts and that part of Zeland which is denominated from the River Scheld that runs by it that such stately and large Bay-Trees grow being the Country is cold and this Tree abhors cold and frosty climates The Bay-Tree what ground it loves And they wonder the more at this miracle of nature because they are not onely in every mans Garden and allwaies green and very tall with leaves still upon them but they bear long fashioned Berries very black and smooth no lesse effectuall and good in discussing winds and dissipating collections of humours than those that are brought from hot Countries Sometimes the Bay-Tree feels the injury of the Ayre Cold an Enemy to the Bay-Tree especially to the voot and in Winter when it is very cold is in danger by it so that the leaves boughs stalks sometimes wither and dye but the root takes no harm wherefore the Bay-Tree dead upwards must not be dug up by the roots but cut off by the body for when the spring comes or somewhat sooner it will grow green again But that it riseth so high in this Country is caused by the fruitfullnesse of the earth which is wonderfull and the thick compacted nature of the ground that consists of a fat tenacious earth so that by reason of the Earth's solidity The Bay-Tree requires a thick ground Snow melted hurtfull to Plants the cold cannot in frosty weather penetrate to the root of it Now nothing is more hurtfull to plants or more destructive than Snow or Ice melted if when they are melted the drops come to wet the roots especially if after this it chance to freiz again and to stick first about the roots in icecles For so the earth loosned drinks-in the cold chilly moysture and the root drenched with it withers and dyes But that plants may not be subject to this inconvenience nor be obnoxious to the injuries of cold the superficies of the ground wherein they are set must be fenced with straw and ashes Ashes keep herbs from frost A comparison of Vineger and Lees with ashes Why the Bay-Tree grows not in Brabant for ashes by their imbred heat foster the ground and will not let the strong cold enter For as Vinegar and Wine-lees so coles and ashes are of a fiery quality But that the Bay-Tree grows not in Brabant and other parts of the Low Countries or else grows more sparingly amongst them it is not to be ascribed to the Ayre which is very calm and wholsome but to the nature of the ground which is dry sandy light empty that the cold can easily enter nor is there any solid substance to make the Tree fat and thence it is that in those Countries the Bay-Tree is low and shrubby and wanting berries whereas in the City of Zirizea by the benefit of the Earth it grows so tall that it is above 20 foot high and full of boughs about the root with many shoots coming forth whereby it defends it self from the cold Water shoots Wherefore that numerous company of suckers about the root must not be taken away or cut up for it is defended thereby that it cannot easily take cold for if it lose the leaves yet next Spring it grows again so the root be kept untouched by the cold and frost CHAP. V. Of a neutrall body that is one that can be said neither sound nor sick but is of a tottering and doubtfull condition floting between both IT is confessed that the art of Physick was formerly divided into three parts The first is that preserves the present health and carefully keeps off all inconveniences of sicknesse The second that which containes the reason whereby the body may be fenced and defended that it shall not easily fall into sicknesse The last that
men that are far from the knowledg of God into a very great admiration of his divinity Contemplation of Nature raiseth mens minds to God if they have any spark of sound understanding For the nature of things which is vast and diffused all over far and near when it doth every where present it self to our eye and mind it doth wonderfully affect a man and directs him into an exceeding great love and adoration of the maker of it For if a man would mind and consider seriously what beauty and comelinesse there is of things created proceeding one from the other and how artificially and skillfully all things are made and builded and shall see that all things were created for the necessary uses All was created for mans use and pleasure and commodity of man who would not be affected with them or not honour and adore their maker who would have all things be onely for mans sake and to continue in a perpetuall order and series not without admirable succession in their propagation The excellency of nature made these things As besides others that Antony he that by reason of those fierce laws of proscription against Christians and rage of persecution which in all ages increaseth and grows new in fiercenesse He went into the wildernesse and dwelt in solitary vast inaccessible desarts where Tyrants could not pursue him who delighted himself onely in the contemplation of Nature and natural things That when one asked him for he was courteous to all and would refuse to answer none as some testy people do wherefore he had so few and almost no books He is said to have answered that the spectacles of this world did so much satisfie his mind and refresh him that they afforded him such documents and precepts how to lead his life that they were in the place of many books and he did not much stand in need of them sometimes the most pleasant reading of Books will glut a man that the mind grows weary with tediousnesse of reading Proverb c. ult but the contemplation of nature brings such â—riety of delights and pleasures that there ariseth from thence no loathing or tediousnesse Curious Writers will adorn their books and Commentaries with the Colours and paintings of Rhetoriques and gallant words But Nature the Instrument and Minister of the greatest Work-master which is effectual and opposite to work any thing doth feed and refresh our minds and eyes not with any borrowed but with natural variety For who is able to expresse or unsold the cunning of Nature her work and industry and the species of Plants Flowers Animals Creeping things Fishes Birds and all their conditions forces and effects What Artificer or Work-master though he be excellent can by imitating attain to those forms and shapes which are every where evident and men behold every moment Art imitates Nature and the industry of man can draw and carve to the life So Conrade Gesner a man of hidden learning and unwearied pains took so much care in writing the History of all living Creatures The praise of Conrade Gesner and things that breathe to whom I give the Garland before all others So many more in their descriptions of Plants and expressing their forms have deserved very well But as all this is plausible and popular and to imitate Nature is praise worthy so it doth represent all living creatures in dumb shews without life taft savour or smell and void of all vertue For the inanimate nature of things is not silent or without a tongue but lively cheerfull upright that will set forth it self and sweetly allure the senses so that it will much move him that contemplates of it it will teach him many things and will draw him on with her invitations so that the beholder will never be idle or rest in that alone but will from hence elevate his mind to him by whose force all these things stand and consist So that in the things we plainly see we must not onely look upon the Excellent workmanship of Nature that is to be imitated The Nature of things brings us to God but we must behold the Majesty Amplitude Glory Splendor Magnificence of God and the good will of a most bountifull Father unto Mankind The Elements Heavens rising and setting of the Stars changes of day and night What we are taught by the viciscitude of things the four parts of the years that comprehend the two Equinoxes in Spring and Autumn and the two Solstices in Summer and Winter by the revolution whereof plants fade and fail and at their times come forth and revive again as they shew and point at many things so they shew the resurrection from death to life whereby bodies in their appointed time shall be perfectly restored to life again David that most admired the works of God did wonderfully extoll this admirable face of Nature and ascribes it as we ought to the Work-master and he doth with exceeding praises adorn his works that are seen both in Heaven above and in the Earth beneath and followes them with just commendations so that by his intent and fixed contemplation of them he was compelled to cry out Psal 103. How wonderfull are thy Works O Lord thou hast made all things in wisdome the Earth is filled with the plenty thereof This consideration of Nature seemed profitable to the very Heathens and pleasant to their minds who had a very small knowledge of Divine things L. 4. so Tully in Academicis I think not fit that natural questions are ever to be banished for it is the very food of our Souls and Mind to contemplate the works of Nature for we are made more attentive and we despise transitory fading things fastning our minds on heavenly things The very searching out of things begets delight and the mind is fill'd and affected with great delight Tuscul 5. But whatsoever Nature hath produced not onely of living creatures but of plants that grow on the Earth is the most perfect in its own kind Whereof some are very low and grow not high above ground some rise very high others are alwayes green others again in winter are spoyled of their beautiful leafs Diversity of Plants but with the Spring 's heat they bud forth again and grow into branches Nor is there any thing that hath not such an imbred property of reviving but that from the seed swelling forth it will produce flowers or fruit or berries and will bring them to perfect maturity by the Suns heat and endow them with some healthful effect Also in Animals who want reason yet have sense Living creatures led by Instinct of Nature the force and Inclination of Nature may be perceived for some are water Creatures that can swim some are Birds to flye in the open Ayr some creep others go some wander alone others fly in flocks as the Stares do Linnets Chafinches Sparrows Pigeons some are by nature fierce savge others are gentle and
them a barren womb and dry breasts their root shall wither and they shall bring forth no fruit and if they do bring forth I will destroy the most dear of their Children Which must teach us all that if God be offended all means are vain and the successe will be unprofitable Ch. 8. Idolatry and super stition causes of barrenness God threatens the like in Ezekiel to superstitious women because they wept for Adonis Venus's Lover who was rent by a Boar about the privities and his Statue was set up and they adored him But if God be not angry with men and lets Nature have her ordinary course we may use outward means and help Natures weaknesse if from any secret cause one be hindred from Children What perfects genetion Wherefore there are two things especially that perfect copulation and that help to beget Children First the genital humour which proceeds partly from the brain and the whole body and partly from the Liver the fountain of blood Then the spirit that comes by the Arteries from the Heart by force whereof the yard is erected and growes stiff and by the force whereof the seed is ejected To this may be added the appetite and desire of copulation which is excited either by Imagination or by sight and feeling of handsome women Whosoever wants these helps or hath them feeble must so soon as may be use means to restore nature and to correct this errour and repair the forces as when there is a luxation or disjoynting in any part A Similitude from Husbandry For as we see barren fields grow fruitfull by tilling and mans industry and unfruitfull Trees and Plants by pruning and dunging grow very plentifull in fruit So in dressing this ground the Physical art is much to be observed that with great skill cures the defects of Nature and restores this barren field to bring forth fruit again as it were by dunging it when the heart of it was almost quite worn out So it restores the faint heat and the weak spirits coldnesse and drinesse of the genital parts and reduceth the weaknesse of the nerves to their temperament and it doth farther do all things that may serve to remove all impediments of procreation of Children But since that dyet may change the Elementary qualities and may alter the unhappy state of the body to a better it is necessary that such people should eat onely such meat as will make them fruitful for propagation What meats cause seed and stir up venery Amongst such things as stir up venery and breed seed for generation are all meats of good juice that nourish well and make the body lively and full of sap of which faculty are all hot and moist meats For the substance of seed as Galen saith is made of the pure concocted and windy superfluity of blood Matter of heaping up seed There is in many things a power to heap up seed and augment it other things are of force to cause erection and drive forth the humour Meats that afford matter are Hen-eggs Pheasants Thrushes Blackbirds Gnat-sappers Wood-cocks young Pigeons Sparrows Partridges Capons Pullets Almonds Pine-Nuts Raisins Currans all strong Wines that are sweet and pleasant especially made of grapes of Italy which they call Muscadel But the genitals are erected and provoked by Satyrium Eryngo's Cresses Erysimum Parsnips Hartichokes Onions Turneps Rapes Asparagus candid Ginger Galanga Acorns Scallions Sea shel-fish And Rocket that is next Priapus set Colum. l. 10. That makes the man his Wife with Child beget A sit Similitude from Guns These as many more will make men lusty For as we see Guns first charged with powder and then with bullets and lastly some fine powder is put in the pan and fire is given with a Linstock and the bullet is forced out with a violent noise so in this work two things must needs concur that our labour be not lost namely that there be plenty of seed and a force of a flatulent spirit whereby the seed may be driven forth into the Matrix But if these Engines be broken or nothing worth or the Gun-powder be adulterated and naught they can have no force to break down walls and Trenches and Ramparts not do they roar horribly but make a small hissing and empty noise as bladders of boys at play do when they are blown up Hence some of our lascivious women will say that such men that trouble their wives to no purpose do thunder The Womans Proverb but there follows no rain they do not water the inward ground of the matrix They have their veins puffed up with wind but there wants seed Wherefore if husbands will win their wives love by especiall service they must be well prepared to enter this conflict for if they fall short How Wives are pleased they shall find their wives so crabbed and touchy that there will be no quiet But when they are well provided they must take the opportunity of doing their businesse well And that is when the monethly terms are over For that sink hinders their seed from coagulating and fermenting and makes the womb unfit to conceive When therefore the Terms are over and the womb is well cleansed they must use no unlawful copulation or violent concussions in begetting children and when the work is over the woman must gently and softly lye down on her right side with her head lying low her body sinking down and so fall to sleep When a Boy is begot For by this means the seed will fall to the right side and a boy will be made Yet the time of the year the Climate the age of both parties the heating dyet are of great concernment here For the Summer if it be not too hot is fittest for the conceiving of boys because the seed and menstruall blood receive more heat from the Ayr about them Also a hot Countrey ripe years and lusty and hairy bodies are fittest to beget boys Also there are many things that by a speciall and hidden quality are fit for this purpose So Mercury What herb Mercury can do that is divided into male and female is held to be most effectuall in producing Children of the same kind with it so that the decoction of juice of the Male drank four dayes from the first day of purgation will give force to the womb to procreate a male Child but the juice of the Female drank for so many dayes and in the same manner will cause a female to be born especially if the man lye with his wife when the Terms are newly over I think it is because the one purgeth the right side of the matrix and the other the left and fosters it with heat So it comes to passe that the cold humour being taken away the woman is made fit for conception A Similitude from the Earth For as in boggy and watry grounds the seeds of Plants are drown'd nor do they easily grow
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
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
many veins running up and down in them and with many strikes and turnings are very beautifully chamfered as garments made of Goat-skins and Noblemens Robes that are wrought Camelot damast variously woven And many such things that are dug forth of the bowels of the earth wrought so curiously as if some Graver or Carver had wrought them into that form Coral is a shrub So Coral in the bottom of the Ligurian Sea bears leaves and fruit and being drawn forth with nets it presently hardneth like a stone and becomes black or red or if the moisture be lesse digested white So in that part of Gallia Belgica where the Eburones Menapii and Sicambri lived there are stone-cole dug forth Stone-cole that are of the Nature of hardned bitumen with which the inhabitants not onely melt Iron but make good fires in their houses and if they be quenched once and again they will revive if they be put near the fire And whereas all other fires are inflamed with oyle Pit-cole is quenched with Oyle but burnt with water these cole burn more if you cast water on but are quenched with oyle Other Countries have also their mines and minerals under ground some afford Brimstone Lime Gyose Ocre Alum pieces and clods of Gold and Silver through which fountains tun in the secret passages of the Earth and they impart their qualities to the waters and so are made fit to cure diseases So Mines near the Sea are of a bituminous nature For the clods dug forth thence smell so much of brimstone that those that fit by faint and swound away and pit coles and such as are made breed the same inconvenience unlesse you sprinkle salt upon the fire Salt strewed on Fiâ—â— coles abates the stench For by this means the venome that offends the brain is discussed The venome and offensive humour boyleth forth Li. Georg. Some ascribe this generative force of the Earth to the Stars which doubtlesse do effectually operate upon inferiour bodies because we see many things decay The effects of the Stars upon inferiour bodies and new things come in their places never seen before that are far better But as I deny not this so I believe especially concerning plants that many of them fail and degenerate chiefly by reason of the negligence or ignorance of Gardners So Wheat as Theophrastus saith Of the causes plants is changed into Darnel Basil into wild Marjorum water-Mints into Mints in smell but in form into Calamint and many kinds of herbs if care be not taken do commonly not onely change their form but lose also their imbred vertues Which as in many herbs All things better by dressing So I have observed in the Violet called Altilis a most beautifull flower which unlesse it be yearly transplanted it degenerates into a mean low flower that is not so sweet Virgill confirms this I see the best plants will degenerate If not transplanted L. 1. Georg. for all things by fate Decline and fall unto a lower rate On the contrary if you dresse wild Plants they will grow like those of the Gardens and lay aside their wild natures as Virgill also observed All Plants by Nature rise up strong and fair Though barren from the ground L. 2. Georg. yet these by care Transplanted and manured will grow mild And better for our use than they are wild Wherefore Nature brings forth continually new plants unheard of before A simile from base animals and their proceedings and the influence of the Stars produceth many also but the Art of Gardning produceth most of all And as Rats Dormice Eels Lampreys Shell-fish Snails Earth-worms do not alwaies breed from seed but oft-times from slime of the earth and from filth and corruption So in sandy grounds such as are the sandy Mountains in Zealand Theod. de caus plant L.c. 1. which the people call the Dunen many shrubs come forth naturally by the confluence of nutriment and because that place lieth open to the Sun and is fit to breed plants which once bred from the moysture of the Earth do afterwards grow up from their own seed and increase abundantly Wherefore let no man admire that plants are subject to be changed and to lose their forces and figure when as that unlesse it chance that they be confounded by affinity one with another may proceed from the scituation of the place the quality of the ambient Ayre and the Art of the Gardner So Pepper Cardamon large Cummin Rhapontick sowed in our climate are changed something and are not so hot yet let no man say they are other plants Herbs change both their force and form For it is the faint heat of the Sun and the distemper of the climate that makes them weaker and that they grow not so great and come not to so much maturity Wherefore it is clear that plants have a double change For sometimes they change their native forces and keep the same form sometimes their form is changed and their native qualities remain That comes to passe partly by the influence of the Stars and partly by the nature of the ground and the ambient Ayre For since the earth is of divers qualities it happens by reason of the Ayre and the nutriment of the earth that plants are changed and receive other qualities So Hasel-Nut-Trees Cherry Trees Wild-Cherry Trees if they grow near banks that stinking Waters run by or Salt waters wet their fruit will tast salt So men as their food is and the Ayre they live in obtain another temperament of their body other manners and qualities So Danes by long constance and comerce change into Spaniards Germans into French-Men or Italians so you shall see a pleasant and delightsome tree set on salt ground to degenerate by reason of the nutriment it sucks in For Salt and bitter ground is ill for Trees Virgil. Georg. Fruit will grow worse on them and by degrees Decay though drest for Vines and Apples change Their former goodnesse cause the ground is strange If you add to this that there is a fatall change and vicissitude of things you shall find that plants though you do manure them will grow old and feeble Old age makes all things worse or barren and will onely live unlesse you graft and inoculate them or pull of their slips and branches and set them again Which variety of Plants and vicissitude makes many think that this part of Physick is unfruitfull and that Diâ—scorides and many more Herbarists have lost their labour who have studied to write the descriptions of Plants Truly I think that no man hath adorned this art yet as it ought to be and the largenesse of it deserves who hath not known the Plants themselves Iresh as they grow and seen with his eyes their native delineations For there are some men amongst us that having scarce seen the hearbs will pronounce at randome strange things of them De simp Medic. l.
time to consult L. 1. offic What therefore Cicere requires in Military matters a Physitian must do to have all his businesse ready by praemeditation that he may maturely perform his work and never depart from Reason Also he must consider and know what will follow In Physick it is folly to say I did not think and so determine of the event both wayes and he must not say afterwards I did not think Sometimes a Physitian in a doubtful disease that soon hastneth to the state as a Fencer on the Stage takes advice as the present occasion will suffer him Which I remember I formerly did sometime For when I considered the disease and the symptoms of it and was well informed by the series of words and by the order of the Medicaments yet the matter as I said before being changed I was forced to alter the whole scene So Terence speaks learnedly and wisely No man ever knew so well Adelph act 5. Scen. 9. But Age and Time will more tell And use makes perfect you know Not all what you think you do And what you now respect A second thought will reject The Comedian could never speak truer for the whole course of a man's life and chiefly in curing diseases In Physick all must be done seriously For though a man long premeditate before he enters upon a businesse and hath examined all things by rule how to go to work what to give first what last at that very moment he goes about the businesse he is forced to reject his former thoughts and take a new course as the matter directs him Wherefore by use and practice and long experience Men gain prudence and to do their work as they should and so come to their desired end with good successe For Patients that are sick easily oft-times recover their longed for health and quickly if they make use of a skilfull Physitian and are obedient to his prescriptions For I hold fit that all Mountebanks and Quacksal vers should be banished from this Art who are not afraid to venture on mens lives and bodies and as the Proverb is to try the Porters Art by breaking of Pots as Pliny saith to learn by others dangers and by false experiments and conjectures to kill their Patients By whose rashnesse and errour it comes to passe that the Art of healing 1 Cor. 12. which St. Paul reckoneth amongst the gifts of the Spirit and which next the sacred Oracles is the most excellent thing amongst men and most needfull together with the Artists is despised and neglected Not to joyn to these the Impudence of old wives that dare turn Physitians whom not onely the universal consent of Nations and Authority of the Antients hath rejected from practising Physick or to speak more lowly from giving Physick but also from all practise of the Law and whom St. Paul hath excluded from preaching and from bearing office in the Church For as Persius faith Nature and Lawes of Men forbid us then To practice 1 Tim. 2. Sat. 5. which we know not how nor when Reason is clear against it lest we spill What we should save and not cure but kill One steeps Hellebore who doth not know Whether it will do good or no. To which agrees that of Horace L. 1 â—ist 1. He that 's no Sea-man a Ship dares not steer And Hellebore to give all Quacks must fear Let none but Learned Doctors Physick give Let Smiths and Carpenters by their Trades live The Proverb speaks this in brief Let every man practise what he knowes Wherefore Pliny saith Arts would be happy if onely Artists might judge of them and practise them A Simile from Architecture and other Trades For since we choose a cunning Artist and one that is careful to build our houses and the most expert Pilate to govern a Ship the best Generals and Souldiers to manage a War the best Rhetoricians to teach us oratory and the best Moderator to instruct and direct our Minds wherefore in curing diseases and preserving our healths do we admit of trivial Mountebanks and doting old Wives To whom we give our bodies over to be killed and the House or Soul to be pulled down for now every one practiseth Physick A History of this businesse and brags of skill they have So at Ferrara as Pontanus relates there was a contestation amongst the Lords of the Court of what Profession most men were and when one said one thing and another another thing as there are in that Common-wealth many Bakers Butchers Cooks Weavers Carpenters Carters Fullers Bankers Usurers Taylors Marriners Bawds that make the greatest gain there was one replyed that there was no greater number than of those that professe Physick and boast of that Art and he said he would soon make it appear wherefore the next day he brought one to act this part very cunningly who was wrapt up with napkins all about his face and counterfeited himself sick of the Tooth-ache and then complaining he stood in the way and asked alms of all that past by or some remedy for his pain Every one that passed by as there were great companies prescribed him a remedy and said confidently that such a thing would presently cure him wherefore they all yielded upon this That of all Trades Physitians were most numerous And he was not mistaken For all people almost never so illiterate and unskilful professe their knowledge in Physick confidently and practise it as boldly when they understand nothing of it at all CHAP. XVIII How manifold difference and variety there is in the nature of grounds TO adde something that is next to the former Argument I think Physitians ought to consider the nature and qualities of all grounds For from hence arise divers kinds of Plants and of divers faculties and vertues In Epist Hence Hippocrates prescribes to Cratera to gather herbs that grow on hills and high Mountains In what places Plants are best For they are stronger and firmer and more effectual than those that grow near waters by reason of the density of the Earth and the thinnesse of the Ayr but to gather the flowers of them that grow near Rivers and watry places which are weaker and not very forcible and of a sweeter juice Since therefore we know the force and temperament of Plants by duly considering the nature of the ground and some plants delight in one ground some in another and all require such Land as is proper to their natures I will set down the differences of them by the way as in a Table which Virgil exactly describes 2. Georg. that so all plants may be fitted to their own soyl and not fail in their forces by reason of the malignity of nutriment For hence it is that they do not answer our expectation but deceive us with vain hopes All ground is either or Slender Tough Barren Glutinous Lean Gravelly Spare Sandy Fat Pibly Oyly Stony Bituminous Shelly Plaistry Full
of little stones Clayie Rare Full of great stones Thick Full of Rubbish Strong Chalky Porous or hard from Ash-colour'd Porous stone Bitter Crumbly Sweet Thin Sowr Hungry Meadowie Barren Good for Corn Dry Bearing yearly Forced New dug a little Starved Dug deep Ill-favoured New broken Fertile Turn'd in the Spring in Fruitfull Dutch Bracklandt Salt Rotten Brackish Weak Wheat Land Some places are Rugged Clifty Steip Watry Impassible Moist Desarts Morish Untilled Wet Tilled Full of streams Dry Moystned Withered Inclosed Course Open Empty Sunny Thirsty Daak Copsie Thick Grovy Shadowie Woody Open to the winds Plain Free from winds Champion Open to the Ayr Garden Land Open to the Sun Shrubby Under ground Near the Sea Burnt Far from the Sea Juicelesse High Juicy Clifty upwards Hot Downwards Cold I hil Full of dew Freesing Wholesome Hot Unhealthfull Warm Fenny Thamed Laky Frozen Unseemly Mountainous Wet Clowdy Easterly Dark Southerly Hot Westerly Dewy Northerly CHAP. XIX Clusters of Grapes augment but grow not ripe by the Moon beams The Moons operation in producing Plants THe Moon gives augmentation but the Sun ripeneth For she moves moysture and makes things swell but is too weak to ripen them so we see plants in the day to draw nutriment moved by the Suns heat and in the night they powr it forth again and by the moysture they draw they grow up and increase A Simile from natural faculties For as watching and moderate exercise digest meat and sends it into the body but the concoction is perfected in the night when we sleep As we see in drunkards that their drunkennesse is discussed by sleep so when the Sun enlightens the day all things grow ripe but they grow great when the Moon doth her office in the night and they swell forth with juice So we see that Roses Lillies and all flowers do not open and spread in the day-time but in the night and before Sun-rising Virg. l. 1. Georg. When the Sun sets and evening cold doth calm The Ayr and dewy Moon doth Woods Embalm CHAP. XX. Why Hesiod dislikes soyling Dunging is unwholesome HEsiod that writ diligently of Husbandry is opposed by many because he neglected foiling of the ground For he was not ignorant what he said but rather gives counsel for health than for fruitfulnesse For he thought the Earth should be soiled with other soil than with dung-hills and judged that fields would be made abundantly fruitful if men would seasonably turn up with the plough-share the stalks of Lupins Ciches Peason Beans For all things that grow on grounds that are dunged Whence grain becomes subject to corruption yield more-unhealthful juice so Wheat and other corn are sooner spoil'd with Weezels and all sorts of pulse growing in those fields can neither last long nor be preserved well but they wil either be mouldy or worm-eaten Also Ale Beer in the Low-Countries boyl'd from such Corn will not last a whit but growes sowr Wherefore I think Hesiod said well That those fields are fit for tillage that calm winds ventilate and the sweet Sun beams cherish where are no standing waters and the fields are not fatted with dung but onely come to maturity by their clean native moysture and heat For what growes from thence will last long uncorrupted and yield more healthful nourishment And it cannot be that men should live long healthful in these Countries where the Ayr or their food are naught and subject to corruption Ayr and food hurt or help our health The one comes to passe where Lakes and bogs send forth ill sents the other where the ground growes not fat by its native goodnesse but by dung and soil CHAP. XXI How Weezels and other Creatures that hurt Corn may be driven away or kill'd Nothing is blessed in every respect THere is nothing in this mortal life but hath its inconveniences and is not subject to many mischances For as men are subject to infinite mischiefs and many things are as snares to their lives round about them so corn have their enemies that destroy them as Smut Gnats Pismires Snails shell-snails Locusts Moths Caterpillars Worms Teredines and the Weezel that destroyes whole granaries for this kind of Worm with a sharp pointed proboscis and snout Calanders Weezels eats into the Wheat on one side and so devours all flowr leaving nothing but the bran and empty shell Many of these Teredines breed forth in the Spring where corn are new mowed Whence Corn corrupts when the Moon is in the full and they are mowed and laid up wet before they grow hard and where windowes of granaries stand against the South winds and not toward the North. For drinesse makes all things lesse subject to corruption Some are perswaded and I think they are in the right that the good and great God doth sometimes send this calamity to them that are greedy and covetous of gain who hide their corn or keep it up too long to the great damage of poor people who cannot live without it For Gods good providence hath plentifully given us this food that if all other food fail men can live with bread onely Engrossers of Corn hatefull Wherefore Corn-Engrossers are highly to be blamed who hurt the poor by raising the price of Corn and in the greatest famins will not open their granaries Corenbyters that they make the more profit These are injurious to the Common-wealth and false to the poor whose curse are poured out against them continually For as Solomon saith He that hides his Corn shall have the peoples curse Pro. 11. buc he that brings it forth shall be blessed by them But God oft-times suffers us to be thus afflicted when we are ingratefull to him for the great abundance we have received For by Ezekiel he threateneth to send four Calamities to those that forsake him Ch. 37. Famine Pestilence War and wild Beasts that being afflicted with these God sends four Calamities on men they might come to a better mind and repent But if Natural causes and nor Gods wrath do send this mischief we must consider how little creatures that destroy the Corn may be driven away or else killed How Weazels are driven away There is nothing better to kill Weezels than brine in which Garlick is boyl'd if the pavements and walls be moystned with it for they presently creep out of those granaries and dye with the very vapour of it Also Sagapenum Oyl lees Castorium Savin Brimstone Harts-horn Ivy Galbanum and all things that smell strong for neither will Serpents Snakes nor Bats endure the smell of them Which Virgil the Father of all Learning affirms Burn in your Stalls the smelling Cedar L. 3. Geor. and The smoke of Galbanum doth Snakes withstand So they flee from the strong smelling flowers of Hops which also are offensive to mens brains and cause heavinesse and drunkennesse in the head Also the flowers of Elders the smell where
covered with blood which affect when it passeth to the child that membrane becomes of divers colours and fashions Whence comes beauty or foulnesse This also makes children to have chins and cheeks red as a rose Which then useth to happen when the great bellied women blush or are angry their blood being raised by natural heat and carried aloft For such as are frighted or suddenly put into fear they are the cause of a pale colour and frame the child with an austere and sad countenance CHAP. IX Why in Holland they say that such as have unconstant and weak brains have been conversant amongst beans IF at any time the Low-Countrey people will set forth a man of an unconstant brain The Proverb to wander amongst beans and unsetled mind who in his manners gestures words and deeds and all his actions is like a mad-man they will say he hath been amongst the beans and it is their common Proverb the beans flourish he wandreth amongst beans and this is applied to weak brain'd men that want judgment and reason For we see in the spring-months when bean-stalks begin to flowre that some men will grow mad and speak many ridiculous and absurd things and sometimes they grow so mad that they must be bound in chains For at the begining of the spring the humours begin to overflow and to choke the brain with grosse fumes and vapours which when bean flowrs do exasperate if they smell to them the mind begins to rave and to be troubled with furies For though bean flowrs smell sweet and pleasant Why bean flowers hurt the brain yet they offend the head and will at great distance send forth an offensive smell especially to those that have weak brains and are filled with a cholerick and melancholiqve humour Whereupon some of these are disquieted and wander then they grow clamorous and full of words and others again are pensive and alwaies musing Their head stands stiff Pers sat 3. their eyes sixt on the ground They mumble silently and eat the sound Their lips thrust forth their words they do confound And as some things dissipate fumes and discusse what is hurtfull to the brain and raise the fainting soul and spirits that are sleepy as Vinegar Rose-water wherein Cloves are steeped new bread wet in well sented wine for these breath forth a thin and pleasant ayre so other things cause pain and make the head heavy as Garlick Onions Leeks Elder Worm-wood Rue Southern wood What things cause the headacâ—â—e and many spices that send forth strong heavy fumes and offend the brain violently affecting the Nostrils Which Hippocrates shewd in this Aphorism The smell of spices draws the secrets of women L. 5. Aph. 28. and it is good for many other things but that it offends the head and makes it heavy For all things very odoriferous hurt the head and draw the heat and moysture to the upper parts even the very smels that evaporate from cold plants especially in those that are lean and decayed in their flesh For they cannot endure the smells of their meats and of boil'd flesh and when they faint and swound they will suffer nothing to be put to their nostrils that is of a sharp and piercing nature so that they seem to be suffocated by a grosse thick vapour as those that sit down in a dinining room that is filled with smoak whose breath is stopped and intercepted An example from smoaky houses unlesse the dores be set open and fresh Aire be let in the windows that the house may be Ayr'd and the wind may passe in and our Those that dwell near lakes are of another temper than these tender bodies and such as are made to empty Jakes and make clean sinks For these men reject all sweet smels as offensive unto them So Strabo writes that amongst the Sabaeans L. 6. those that are offended with sweet odours are refreshed with bitumen and the smell of Goats hair on their beards when it is burnt Aridiculous thing of a Countryman A certain Country-man at Antwerp was an example of this who when he came into a shop of sweet smells be began to faint but one presently clapt some fresh smoking warm hors-dung to his nose and fetched him again CHAP. X. Every strong filthy smell is not hurtfull to man For some of these will discusse contagions and resist corrupt diseases By the way whence came the Proverb that horns are burnt there MAny things are of a most filthy smell which yet do no ways hurt the body nor cause any corruption in it and they will resist some diseases and discusse the faulty troublesome Ayre and vapours as Castoreum Galbanum Sagapenum the dregs of Masterwort called Asafaetida Bean Trifoly Brimstone Gunpowder the fumes of burnt horns and skins Ill smells sometimes usefull For these are of a strong filthy sent but they cause no contagion but they represse and strike back the filthy sents and pestilent vapours which lakes and standing waters and the hearb Camarina and stinking earth send forth Also by the smell of these they raise young maids that are in a swound when they are troubled with the strangling of the mother when being fit for marriage they are forced to stay for Husbands But filthy smels that rise from dead carcases and muddy waters cause corrupt diseases and infect the Ayre by reason of heat and moisture but not the vapours of those that tend to drinesse Hence our Country people cast snips of leather horns and wet bones into the fire Ill smells sometime resist the Plague and with those sents they Ayre their houses to dispell the contagion of diseases and keep themselves and their cottages free from pestilent Ayres Hence came the Proverb that Horns are burnt there A Proverb that horns are burnt Whereby they signifie that places infected with contagious diseases must be avoided Such a kind of remedy in former times was used about Tourney when the Plague cruelly raged all the Town over A history that is true done about Tournay For the Souldiers of the Garrison in the Fort fill'd their Guns with Gunpowder without bullets and shot against the Town and they shot them off with a lighted match about the evening and morning whence it hapned that by the great noise and strong smell the contagion of the Ayre was removed Fire dispells contagions of the Ayre and the City delivered from the Plague For this is as powerfull to dispell contagions of the Ayre as Hippocrates remedy by making bon-fires and burning many fagots in the streets could be CHAP. XI The excellency of the finger of the Left hand that is next the little finger which is last of all troubled with the Gout and when that comes to be affected with it death is not far off By the way wherefore it deserves to wear a Gold Ring better than the rest PHysitians grant that all parts of the body that are affected
with any disease that comes primarily or by consent and law of company since a disease doth not consist in a disease but the disease is impacted by another to it As the Proverb is some hurt comes by reason of the hurt that is near But provident nature alwaies defends the principal parts Nature fences the princpal parts from the disease and sends the mischief to the more ignoble parts which is done critically and by the force of nature when the collections of humours and diseases are driven to the remotest parts But if the disease and its symptoms that is the affect that succeeds it be strong and violent and nature be weak and cannot resist it and bridle the force of it as she would the humours fall upon the principal parts as we see in the Inflammation of the Lungs the Pleurisie Quinsey Lethargy and many more acute diseases but in the joynt and Hip gowt that is prevalent in the Spring and Autumn the force and natural facultie drives the humours heaped up in the body from the stronger parts to the weaker So I observed in Gallia Belgica that very many were subject to the gowt of their hands and feet all whose joynts were swoln and in bitter pains The ring finger onely the ring finger of the left hand that is next the little finger was free from it for that by the nearnesse and consent of the heart felt no harm And no man need fear death from this disease for they are free from other diseases if so be they be not troubled with the pox and sores that arise from that unlesse a confluence of humours fall upon the left side of the breast under which part lyes the round point of the heart and the ring finger begin to be knotty and swell For so soon as this comes the vital force is weakned and the vigour fails and all power of the mind and body sinks down Hence the Antients had a custome to wear a ring of gold on that finger and to adorn it so above the rest Because a small branch of the Arterie and not of the Nerves as Gellius thought L. 10. c. 10. is stretched forth from the heart unto this finger the motion whereof you shall perceive evidently in women with child and wearied in travel and all affects of the heart by the touch of your for finger And this may seem absurd to no man for I use to raise such as are fallen in a swoond by pinching this joynt and by rubbing the ring of gold with a little Saffron for by this a restoring force that is in it passeth to the heart and refresheth the fountain of life The Physick finger unto which this finger is joyn'd wherefore it deserved that honour above the rest and Antiquity thought fit to compasse it about with gold Also the worth of this finger that it receives from the heart procured thus much that the old Physitians from whence also it hath the name of Medicus would mingle their medicaments and potions with this finger for no venom can stick upon the very outmost part of it but it will offend a man and communicate it self to his heart Jerem. 12. And besides others Jeremias testifies that they were wont of old to wear gold rings on their fore finger For so you read in him that God expostulates with the King Also if Jeconias were a ring on my right hand I would pull him off from thence Jeremias explain'd in that place Whereby he intimates that though he had been very gratious a little before with him and well beloved and of great repute that he delighted in him as in a gold ring with a pretious stone set in it yet now he was fallen from that favour and grace and was become hateful and odious unto him because he was fallen from his integrity of Life to wickednesse by which Argument he would have all men know that the goodnesse of our former actions will do us no good if we fall away from them and follow wicked wayes And again our former wickednesse shall never hurt us Ch. 18. as Ezekiel testifies where men repent and forsake their ungodly practises CHAP. XII Some things will not burn but are invincible in the midst of flames and how that comes to passe I Have seen napkins made and woven of a certain kind of flax that will not burn nor ever be consumed by fire when therefore they are foul and should be made clean men use no Soap or Lye or Wash-balls to take out the spots but they cast them into the fire and they will flame as earthen pots that are very greasie and become very clean and extream white This kind growes in the desarts of India and dry grounds burnt with the Sun from whence some plants by reason of the nature of the ground and the qualities of the outward ayr become to be of that temper that they may be wrought and woven into sheeâ—s For if in the Sea and Rivers Crabs can grow up with hard shells also Crafish Loosters Scallops and other shell-fish in which as Pliny saith L. 9. c. 33. Corall is taken in the Ligurian Sea Nature hath varied and sported her self making them of different colours and shapes and if the Coral shrub in the bottom of the Ligurian Sea can grow with boughs and when it is taken out of the Sea it hardneth to a stone no man can think it improbable that some shrubs from the heat of the ground by the Sun become to be of such a nature that being bruised with clubs Ropes made of herbs and softned with the Workman's hammer may become ductile and so drawn into threads that fire will not burn Also who will not wonder that from Hemp Nettles Broom and Flax rinds Ropes and Cables are made and also Sails and Sheets for their rinds being tough and tenacious they may be drawn into small threads as also the pieces and plates of silver and gold are So from these twigs and not from the hair of the Salamander as some foolishly imagine are napkins and linnen cloaths made as from the Silk-worm and woollen-trees Silks are made but with greater labour for the matter is stiff and is not so ductil That kind of Linnen is called Asbestinum from the likenesse and nature of Lime that is purged by fire and is not consumed nor suffers any losse Like unto this is the stone called Amiantus and it resembleth Scissil Allum commonly called feathery Allum of which as Dioscorides saith the Indians make sheets L. 5. c. 99. Volater l. 22. which cast into the fire will flame but taken out they shine and lose nothing nor become they ere the worse Allum resists fire So wood and planks besmeared with Allum will not burn nor posts dores beams that are wet with a green colour so it be laid on thick Things anointed with a green colour will hardly burn and allum and the ashes of white lead
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
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
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
silent So in some peoples eyes and countenance there shines meeknesse modesty placability clemency probity and many more tokens there are to be seen of a pleasing and sedate mind And in others by looking on their eyes you may discover pride arrogancy hautinesse cruelty craft fraud anger envy hatred indignation fear elation joy sorrow despair Also Physitians in diseases do carefully observe the constitutions of the eyes For if they be sprinkled with rednesse or streaked with bloody streaks Arguments of the mind from the eyes The divers disposition of the eyes they shew a frensy or madnesse from the inflammation of the brain but if they be wan and dark lead-colour they shew the extinction of natural heat and losse of life But instable winking moving unquiet eyes and unconstant signifie alienation of the mind and doting but faint moist flagging full of tears dark trembling stiff shaking swoln hollow hid dull twinkling eyes besides the diversity of affections of the mind in sound people they shew in sick people also not without danger of life distemper of the brain from plenty or want of humours from heat or cold Pore-blind what condition of mind they are of But pore-blind goggle ey'd squint-ey'd and such as look obliquely and a-skew besides their muscles drawn awry and pulled divers ways they have this errour in their Natures also which vice because it principally consists about the Brain which is the habitation or rather the Court of the mind as it doth outwardly much deform the eyes so it enclines the mind to some vitious affections for most of these that want good education are false crafty deceitfull quarrelsome inconstant subtile to circumvent and have wonderful tricks to gull men with Wherefore the Hollanders when they describe a man that is so marked call him A Proverb from sight of the eyes against wicked people a slim gast een loos ende listich schalck Een boos wicht that is an overthwart crooked crafty knave that you cannot safely trust for that he doth all his actions with fraud deceit fallacy catching deceits impostures and dissembling tricks to do other men mischief and himself profit All those men partake of this nature and condition who in the principal and chief part of their bodies have any remarkable sign namely on their head Heart Liver whereof I spake more largely in my Physiognomie the second book Chap. 36. CHAP. VII The Reason why some are born without some parts and want some Limbs others have some parts double and superfluous and serving for no use Redundance of matter brings things double DAily examples shew that some are born with double limbs and such as grow to the rest as with appendixes to their Feet Armes Head and sometimes they are distinguished by joynts And as deformed Whence are depraved Births and monstrous shapes proceed from faulty and corrupt seed and the ill constitution of the Womb the Stars also joyning their forces in the production of them so by redundance of humours and plenty of seminall excrement the parts of the body come forth double the imagination of the parents being busied about some such thing in the formation of it For if at any time that sex which is shaken with the smallest affections and prints them upon the Child conceives any thing in the mind or thinks that things are double before their eyes by the concourse and Flux of humours that fall down on those parts about which the thoughts are employed do serve to frame double parts that are superfluous or parts of some other kind For such absurd imaginations are observed in living Creatures So lately a Lamb was yeaned with a Head of a Sea-Calfe at the sight of that Sea-Monster So the yeare before there was seen a Sheep and a Calfe with double Heads and I saw and handled a Hen When double things are represented that had four feet and four Wings But since Women in conception and all the time they go with Child have divers species and things in their imaginations and sometimes it falls out that double representations of things are made to them from grosse vapours rising from beneath or with distracted and broken Spirit that should be directed to the point of the Apple of the Eye whereby their sight is divided and cut into two all this affection is carried to the Child that 's breeding What imagination in a woman can do and some parts being handsomely formed imagination fastneth to them other needlesse parts For the force of imagination is so strong that if a woman once fasten her eyes and thoughts upon any object all the faculties of nature and that force that serves to form the Child the humours running from all parts which are at her command fall down thither and imagination is wholly intent to do the businesse hence it is that somtimes she frames divers and unusuall shapes double parts and superfluous appendixes and fastneth strange limbs to the body But from defect of humours and penury of nutriment Whence come parts to be wanting or where the naturall faculties in making the parts are too weak and not forceable enough it falls out that men want some parts or have them disproportioned and too small and though Nature sometimes have matter enough to make the Child of and hath force and strength enough to do it yet she is now and then hindred that she cannot bring all things to perfection and frame a comely and well proportioned body How hands and feet come to be wanting or maimed so that the Infant is born sometimes with some parts cut short or maimed and not made up for sometime a woman may have a narrow Matrix a hard and callous Spleen Hips sticking forth and turned inward back again and other Obstacles that will not suffer the Infant to grow and to be perfect in all parts for the tender parts of the body by reason of so great impediments cannot be dilated nor diffuse themselves nor enjoy the nourishment comes to it but is stopt and stay'd that the parts cannot grow beautifully and well formed For I think it falls out here A simile from Trees planted in stony ground as it is with Trees that are set in stony grounds so that the roots cannot spread every way but being hindred turn back again and grow crooked and being repulsed they return So in the body of a Woman when the Child is framed either it is hindred by the narrownesse of the passage or for want of nutriment or by reason of some hard thing that comes against it so that the limbs cannot be framed with joynts and distinctly as they should be So I saw a noble mans Daughter with a maimed and spongy hand A History related which when the Parents ordered mee to handle her I found by touching of her fingers that the joynts which by nature should come forth were turned inwards and retorted so that they represented no shape of fingers for all the
XVIII To what we ought to ascribe amongst such multitudes of men the great dissimilitude of forme and the manifold difference that is between man and man in their faces countenances eyes and other parts so that sometimes Brothers and Sisters are not one like the other AS there is in Nature a wonderful gracious variety so there is the same in the form and shapes of men in their colours contenance eyes lineaments and in their faces there is found an admitable and numberlesse disparity and dissimilitude To What must be ascribed dissimilitude in men Some refer this to the influence of the Starrs but I think to referr it more properly and rationally to the nature of the Seed and the Mothers Imagination For being that the woman in the very conception and all the time she goes with Child The Womans imagination doth many things even for nine months hath divers thoughts in her mind and every moment is drawn this way and that way by thinking on divers things and her eyes being still fixed upon such objects she lights upon it falls out that those things she sees and are fastest rivered in her imagination are communicated to her Child For when the Nature of the woman is carefully intent in framing the Infant and thinks on nothing but a fair and well proportioned Child and all her forces are bent thereunto if any shape or Image be represented to the sight this soon reflects upon the of-spring who participates of it Moreover Mothers so soon as the Child is born do the best they can that the Child may have a decent comely well proportioned body fitly distinguished in all the parts of it The faults of Nature may be amended For Childrens bodies are ductile and pliable as Clay or Wax and may be bended any way Wherefore if the mouth stand awry and is uncomely they forge frame and order it into a decent posture and if the face be frowning and lowring they will make it pleasant and amiable and beautifull they make the eyes very handsome and lovely and of gray eyes or blunket which Infants commonly have by reason of moysture they make them black by abundantly feeding them with milk and chiefly if the Nurse be of a hot temper and the Child be kept in a dark place For a light Chamber where the Sun shines in much or a great fire hurts the render eyes But squint rolling gogle eyes and such as turn the wrong way That the balls of the eyes may grow black are reduced to their right posture by bending the sight the contrary way for the Muscles will be brought to their naturall places by wresting them to the otherside and being turned about will come right they raise and set eaven the nostrills that are crooked and fall down by a gentle way of handling them but they reduce Eagle noses and such as are with beck by pressing them down to a decent figure that the perpendicular of the nose may be stretched forth from the forehead and eybrows unto the hollow part in the upper-lip like a gnomon or right line or style that stands upon Sun Dialls What forme of Nose is comely neither set on bending outward or inward Likewise if the lips be swoln or fat which is usuall with the Aethiopians as also if the nose that is crooked be pressed down they handle these artificially and they often presse them that they may grow lesse and sink down lower by the same way they frame into a comely fashion a chin that sticks out or is drawn in the forehead head cheeks or eybrows that are deformed and decently order by art what is not seemly So if nature limp on any part and is gon off from the best forme and proportion Whence comes deformity of the body as some have wry necks crooked gowty ill favourd legs or bunch backs that makes them ugly all these errours are easily mended in those that are Children and such members as are wrested or disjoynted or out of their places are for right by the care and industry of man So the diligent care of Nurses makes Children grow up handsomely and so are obnoxious to no deformities of their limbs But the negligence of many Mothers and great idlenesse makes Children not onely to grow up unhandsomely and ill favour'dly but they become bunch-backr lame squint eye'd bull-headed and not comely to look on for they are departed from the dignity and excellency that is in man's body Some Nurses are over diligent and too officious who bestow some labour also on the Childrens privy parts that serve them them to make water with and in time shall be usefull for propagation of Children that they may be ripe betimes and not fail of hopes of getting Children and when they come to be marryed they may not be a shamed for ill performing the matrimoniall duty when they observe bitter contentions and quarrels to arise amongst kindred for this very cause that they will threaten to divorce their Sons in Law unlesse they can shew their manhood and please their wives the better yet I use to dislike and discommend this effeminate and lascivious office used by Nurses for young youths by reason of pulling them thus by their yards before their time or that they come to be of age or have mans strength they are prone to venery and so consume those helps and vent out those humours and vitall spirits wherewith afterwards they might be able to procreate lusty and lively Children whereas by unseasonable venery The discommodities of untimly venery they either get no Children or if they beget any they are lither and not so long lived Therefore I think it is good not to let young people marry too soon untill their forces bestrong and confirmed and that they can endure any hardnesse in matrimoniall society which tender years cannot do for they will presently wax faint and effeminate It is then better that the secret parts should swell out of their own accord naturally than that they should be drawn forth by any allurements CHAP. XIX Many kinds of Animals Fishes Birds Insects are bred without Seed as also Pants and many Animals and small Birds by an unusall way without the copulation of Male and Female do conceive DAily examples shew that many things come forth and are propagated by nature of their own accord and withovt any embracings of others or generation onely from filth corruption as Dormice Rats Snails Shell-fish Carterpillers Grass-Worms Wasps Hornets Weevils Froggs Moths Toads Eels Many things breed from corruption In mens bodies Worms though these have seed within them whereby afterwards they propagate abundantly Also many plants grow forth from the muddy moysture of the earth and fatnesse of it no seed being sowed or plants set in the ground before as are Darnel Cockle Nettles wild Olives Weeds and grasse that spring up of themselves Also there are some Crows in the Low-Countries that conceive by their