objects to the other 4 Senses which are Colour Sound Odour and Savour but in asmuch as it is naturally moist and dry sometimes also hot or cold as it is diversly affected we feele it strongly by the touch Q. But wherefore is it that nature hath not given it neither colour nor sound nor savour nor odour A. Because that being the medium or meanes by the which we perceive the said qualities it should be impossible for us to marke or discerne in the world the admirable variety of colours sounds savours and odours if the Ayre were participant for as wee behold traversly a glasse red or yellow all things seeme red or yellow in like sort if the Ayre had certaine colour sound savour or odour all things would seeme to us of the same colour sound savour or odour that the Ayre had in as much that by the meanes of it we perceive these said qualities in all other things Bitternes Q. FRom whence comes it that bitter things have for the most part some medicinall vertue or purgative faculty A. It is in as much that they are of a difficult digestion and concoction so that they serving not for food and nourishment to the body they yet serve at least for purgation and medicine Love Q. HOw comes it to passe that many times we love those that we never saw A. This hapneth not often that we love so but those the which by reputation wee beleeve to have some perfection be it of Vertue of Science or Beauty that we are so taken and our soules doe imagine this selfe perfection more great then it is so that it is no marvell she is so taken and that she loves and honours much more then after she hath seene the subject for rare persons are like to Tapestries which seeme fairer a far off then neare hand Q. VVherefore is it as saith the Comicke that the falling out of lovers is the renewing of love A. Because that Love is like to a flame that increaseth by the blast and by the winde likewise Love augmenteth by some disfavour that one Lover receiveth from another so as they are sometimes unassociated and retired but after they desire a re-union of their love with more fervour and passion then before Q. VVherefore is it that the love of men augmenteth when there are many corrivals in the enquest of one selfe subiect A. It is because that the jealousie that the one hath against the other the which as a puffe of winde re-inflames the fire so doth the amorous passion this is therefore that the ancient Poets feigned very properly that Venus knew never how to put into credit her sonne Cupid or Love that the Greekes call Eros untill shee had brought forth an Anteros or Counter-love Q. From whence commeth that we are ashamed to discover our amorous appetites when they surmount us and discover frankely and without any shame our appetite of eating drinking sleeping and such like A. It is because the amorous appetite is not necessary to the life as the others are and the open practice thereof is shamefully censured amongst the most politicke Nations and being shamefull to be acted but in the night and in hidden corners it is not comely to speake lasciviously but amongst Nations which held it no shame nor made it no more difficult to publikely play with women in love-tricks then to eate and drinke And Diogenes the Cynick had no more shame in this action then to say he was planting a man as if he would say that it should bee as lawfull to plant publikely Men as Trees Q. From whence comes it that lovers are ordinarily pale and wan and that sometimes the extremities of their bodies are quickly hot and cold and all for love A. They are wanne when they are in defiance feare or despaire of their loves because that such passions cause the blood to retire to the interiour parts by reason whereof also the extremities of the body become cold for blood giveth the Vermillion blush and heate together but when they are in hope or assurance to enjoy their loves then they are red and have the extremities of their bodies hot the blood running and spreading over all the parts even to the extremities and with the blood the naturall heate Q. VVhich of the two is more constant in love man or woman A. Virgil and other Poets have accused Women of extreame lightnesse and inconstancy neverthelesse it seemeth to me that reason and experience should combate for them herein Reason in as much as they are more cold then Men and the nature of cold is to hold and shut constantly heate in the contrary the which aboundeth more in men then in women unties disunites and dissolves Experience confirmes the reason in that we ordinarily see more women deceived by men then men deceived by women Q. VVherefore is it that women love more ardently and constantly those which have had their maiden-head A. It is because a woman receives her perfection by coupling with the Male as the matter by union with the forme and so women love most those which have given beginning to this perfection or that those which have depucillated them hold the most faire and most rich gage of their love which is their Virginity Q. Wherefore is it that Mothers love their Infants more tenderly then their Fathers A. It is because they cost the Mothers more deere who have contributed to their generation with their Fathers And besides they have borne and nourished them within their flankes and after brought them forth with perill of their lives Also that the Mother is very certaine that they are her children but the Father doth but thinke it onely that they are his not being wholly certaine that they be begotten by his works this is the reason that the Poet Menander singeth in his Verse The Infant is beloved by his Mother More tenderly then by his Father Because she well doth know it is her owne And hee but thinkes it fruit himselfe hath sowne And the same reason makes Homer to feigne that Telemachus the Sonne of Vlysses being asked who was his Father answered in this sort My Mother hath mee told Ulysses was the man I do beleeve it so for who tell better can Q. Wherefore is it that fathers and mothers love much more dearely their children then they are beloved of them A. For three principall reasons the one is that the Fathers and Mothers love further their Children to wit from their birth by which cause their love is more fortified and the children love not but since they had the judgement to acknowledge them for Parents the other is that the fathers and mothers love their children as themselves seeing a continuance and a progeny of their being to posterity and the children love them not but as being sprung from their truncks without regarding of them as propagators of their being the third that nature that alwaies hath regard to the conservation and promotion of
well A. Because that naturall heat workes not so vigorously in them as in those which are â— good and perfect health Q. Wherefore is it that those â—hich are fasting accomplish the â—enerian act more nimble then â—hose which are fully glutted A. Because that those which are fasting have their conduits more open and moreover they have ended their concoction and digestion and that their naturall heate is more free and the matter of such sports is separated from that which serves to the refection of the members and distributed to the spermaticke vessels Swearing Q. WHerefore is it that common swearers blasphemers are so full of oatheâ— for all slight occasions and so ordinarily are lyers and periâ—rers altogether A. Lyers as the Philosophers say well beare alwayes the paine of their vice about them and although sometimes they tell true yet they are not beleeved their words being alwayes suspected for lyers then seeing that folkes will not give credit to their meere words fortifie their Tales with oathes and swearing and so very often they perjure themselves lying being to them a degree to passe to perjury as Cicero shews wisely the same in an Oration of his Milke Q. HOw is it that Milke is so white seeing that it is made of blood which is of a colour red Ans Because it is very well cocted and recocted and more it is purified from the more grosse parts as it is done within the spongious vessels of women so as this matter purified and subtillized as a scumme becomes white In like manner Wine after its decoction digestion becomes white as it is visible in the Urine of those which are in health and the victuals being well decocted become white within but for the outward part the adustion of the fire causeth them to bee of another colour the which the naturall heate doth not for it heates and decocts without burning Que. Wherefore is it that the milke of Women who indiscreetly and too often mixe with with men is hurtfull to little children A. Because that by the venerian conjunction the best and more subtile parts of the aliment goes to the matrix and to the genitall parts and that which is most corrupt remaines for the nourishment of the Infant Q. Wherefore is it that wine after milke is very hurtfull to the health A. Because that the wine makes it to crudde so as the milke within the stomack is as cheese so as it is after very hard to decoct and digest and most often corrupts within the stomack to the great prejudice of the health Letuce Q. VVHerfore is it that the Ancients eate letuce at the end of their repasts A. They used it so ordinarily after supper when they had eaten and drunke much in any banquet to the end that the letuce which is very cold should provoke them to sleepe and further resisting the excessive heate of the wine it might serve them as an Antidote against drunkennesse Q. Wherefore is it that now they eate it at the beginning of the meale A. Some doe it to sharpen the appetite especially when the letuce are dressed in a salâ—et with oyle and viniger for â—t serves also well to the viniger and the oyle is added to moderate the crudity of the one and the Acrimony of the other Others use it for a better consideration to the end that the substance of the letuce beeing brought before any other dish should serve to the cooling of the veines and that it might also refresh the blood and temperate the over great heate of the Liver Q. Wherefore is it that the Poets feigne that Venus buried her faire Adonis under a letucebed Answere To shew the extreame coldnesse of this herbe the which extincteth the luxurious appetite The Tongue Q. WHerefore is it commonly said that the tongue is the best and worst piece of the humane body A. This must be considered by its workes for the tongue is the deliverer of the reason and of the will and then it is the best piece of the humane body if it bee applied to the prayse of GOD and to the discourse of things honest and good and it is the worst also when it is imployed to evill speaking and to undecent and dishonest purposes Q. Wherefore is it that the tongue changeth very easily his colour A. Because it is covered with a skinâ—e very delicate and simple and for this cause it is the more susceptible of the impression of all colours especially of potions or drinks which extincts and paintes it diversly as also that being very spungeous it is imbibed more easily with all sorts of liquours Teares Q. VVHerefore is it that little children and women shed more abundance of teares then men of perfect age A. Because that little children and women are more humid and have the pores and subtill conduits by which issue the teares more open and loose Q. How comes it to passe that many times by great dolour sorrow and anguish as also for great ioy pleasure and contentment we shed teares A. Because that dolour and anguish shuts the pores by which followeth this humour and strayneth the drops which we call teares as one squezeth a sponge imbibed with some liquour and joy on the contrary loseth and makes overture of the same humour to issue out Q. From whence comes it that the teares of a Boare are hot and those of a Deere are cold A. It is because the Boare is couragious and of a nature hot and boyling and for this cause his blood is blacke hot and boyling the which mounting aloft when he is in his fury his teares are heated and the Deere on the contrary being fearefull loose and a flyer his feare and affright cooleth him more his blood retiring to his interiour so that his teares become so much more cold Washing the hands Q. FRom whence comes it that those which wash in winter their hands in warme water feele soone after them more cold then those which wash them in cold water A. It is because that warme water opens the pores and by that meanes gives entrance to the cold and cold water on the contrary shuts the pores for cold is restringent and hinders the cold from penetrating so easily I counsell not for all that to wash the hands in the morning with cold water but to mingle therewith a little Wine because the water cooleth the nerves and causeth shaking Laurell or Bayes Q. WHerefore is it that the Laurell-tree is so seldome touch'd with lightning A. It may bee often touch'd but the flash strikes not much nor leaveth much marke but in bodies which are more hard and which make resistance it doth but passe by the soft and souple without offending them for lightning is composed of a spirit or exhalation very subtill now the Laurell is very souple ayrie and as a sponge which is the cause that it resisteth not the lightning nor is by it offended neither more nor lesse then as wee see by experience that
beards on their chinnes Q. How comes it that Eunuches are so extreamly moyst A. In that their seed which they cannot thrust out or consume by naturall heat so well as perfect men spreads through all their bodies and are moyst excessively by which they have their cheeks blowne up and their Paps great even as women Q. But since the excessive humidity is the cause that they have no beard from whence comes it that they have hayre as well as entire men and besides become not too much bald A. Because that this excessive himidity which is in them falls by his weight below upon the other parts of the body hindreth not the haire from being thrust out besides the neighbourhood to the brayne which is temperate and besides the aboundance of the Spirits which are in the head moderateth it very much neverthelesse because that it remaines alwaies to nourish the haire more then in ful men that become seldome or rarely bald Q. Wherefore is it that their legges are feeble and crooked A. Because they are very moist and by consequence fleshy and weak and besides they make a great weight upon the body which is the much more heavy and more charged with humours then that of perfect men even as green wood is lesse proper to serve the bearing up and portage of a great burthen because it stoopes under the burthen by the same cause also great drinkers and bathers are lesse strong Q Wherefore is it that the Eunuches become more gray hayrd then those which have all their peeces A. Because they cannot discharge the moyst humours by the Venerian act or that they cannot consume it as well as others because they have the lesse heate and this white humidity blancheth also sooner their haires whereas others become white in their Age which aboundeth then in that humour if it be not by accident as we shall declare in its place Q. Wherefore is it that the Evnuches cannot swallow the splean of any Animal A. Because that the spleane is extreamly spungeous and swells alwaies more and more being chewed so that the gelded having the throat pipe narrow because of their greace of their moysture cannot swallow a morcell great or spongeous Q. Wherefore is it that they have the voyce whining and sharp A. Because as I intend to say the grease and the humidity stopping the conduit or pipe of the voice and narrowing it it must of necessity make the voice sharpe and small as the Oaten pipes the more smaller they are yeeld the most smallest sound together with having the respiration more weak then full man and mooving by that cause lesse ayre their voyces are more close and sharpe and so it is with sick folkes Q. But wherfore is it then that Oxen low more grosly then Bulls and Capons have their voyce more bascthen Cocks A. It is because that Bulls do bellw and Cockes do not sing but with great strength and contention of voyce the cause wherefore their voyce is more sharp and high as also more strong the which we may prove in our selves for when we would cry the most strongliest wee lift up our voyces as we doe in the most base song grave and low Q. From whence comes it that gelded men are not afflicted with the gout and Capons are extreamly subiect to it A. It is because that pullen is extreamly lascivious and aâ—oundant in sperm so that Capons being too much moyst by their retention of the same seed become gouty being that Capons also excessivly eat seeing that heat is little in them but gelded men according to the proportion of their bodies are not so moyst so as the Capons â—re not so subject to the gout in the contrary those which have all their peeces and that play too much with women and too often become gouty by the to much emission of their seed and so the perfect man is gouty too by the Evacuation of the genitall humour and the Capon by the retention of the same seed in the contrary the gelded man is not subject to the Goute because of the retention of the same humour and the Cocke because of the evacuation of the same and this in all is because that Pullen is of a nature much more moist then man Q. Wherefore is it that gelded Animals as the Wether Sheepe or gelded sheepe and the Capon are better and more tender then those that have all their pieces A. Because that the gelded lose not their better humours with females and are more delicate and more fat Q. Wherefore is it that the gelded Animals are sooner tamed and easily brought more gentle then those which have their genitall parts A. Because they are deprived of their heat and of the abundance of spirit that is ingendred in the spongious vessels the which heate and spirits amove and lift up the courage and embolden those which have all their parts Q. Wherefore is it that gelded Animals become more fat then others A. Because they lose not their better humours and doe not runafter the Females For the like reason the Hornes increase more in Animals that are horned Q. From whence comes it that the Hornes of gelded Deere fall not as of the others nor the feathers of Capons as those of Cocks A. Inasmuch as the Deere amongst all other horned Animals having onely their hornes solide and massive it is needfull they have a great quantity of humidity to entertaine their branches as also to fill moisten and nourish the feathers of the Pullen Now the gelded Deere and Capons being more moist then those which are perfect Animals because of the retention of their seed have by the same meanes wherewith better to moisten and entertaine the one their Hornes the other their Feathers and by the same cause gelded men seldome become bald as I have said before Q. From whence comes it that we are sometimes benumb'd and asleepe in our members but principally in our feete and our hands by gouts crampes or otherwise A. This proceeds of the cold which infinuateth into the body by the absence of the blood which is retired and forasmuch as the feete and the hands are parts of the body most farre from the heart where the source and siege and as it were the spring of the naturall heate is and that those exterior parts are least fleshy they are the most apt to be seized on by the cold to be benumb'd and asleepe Q. How is it possible that the fish called a Torpedo benumbeth so the armes of the Fisher without touching him so as he is not able to helpe himselfe but seemes as it were insensible A. It is because this Fish exhales a certaine humour and vapour the which hath this naturall vertue to benumbe but Pliny in a few words saith that it is by his odour and a certaine winde or vapour of his body which so affecteth the members of man Q. From whence comes it that we desiring to rest our selves and fall asleepe and
resting upon one of our armes it will be benumb'd and become as unsensible A. It is because that in pressing upon it the blood retires and runnes to the other parts of the body with the blood the natural heate its inseparable coÌ„panion and with them both the animal spirits causers of the feeling so that the member left of the blood of the naturall heate and of the animall spirits and seized with the cold remaines as insensible and immoveable Grafting Q. FRom whence comes it that trees grafted or inoculated be are better fruite then the wilde ones and yet more those which are againe inoculated beare yet better those which have bin twice I meane A. It is that Nature perceiving some want betakes her suddainely to repaire by a more ample and better nourishment so that the Tree being cut or slit to graffe in shee sendeth so much food as is necessary and of the best to that part slit and cut the which she fortifies in as much more as shee was sluggish before and produceth more faire and better fruite the same likewise hapneth to ruptures which being well joyned and set the Callus becomes more hard then the bone it selfe Q. Wherefore is it not good to graffe and inoculate in all times but onely in the Spring A. Because that in the Winter the over-much cold makes the Trees to dye by insinuating into the opening or incision of the graffe and in Summer the excessive heate withers the tree and kills it Likewise in Autumne it profiteth not neither in respect of the colds neerely comming which are enemies to Natures productions but in the Spring time because there is no very great frosts after the grafting is made but a temperate heate the friend of nature ayding to their increase and perfection Egges Q. WHerefore is it that Egges are such a good nourishment to the humane body A. Because that they are hot and give ayde by their owne decoction without much borrowing of naturall heate neverthelesse those which are roasted in the imbars and eaten without so me liquor as Verjuice Vineger or other the like are not good for aguish people because they are affected with a strange heat by the fever they doe adde yet more heat to the fever Sneezing Q. WHerefore is it that men sneeze more strongly and more often then any other Animals A. It is because they eate ordinarily more then need and of many sorts of meat too which is the cause that they cannot so well digest as other Animals so great quantity of vapours mounting to the braine which moveth and provoketh them to discharge it which they doe by the means of sneezing which proceedeth as saith the Philosopher by the force of the Spirits then when the humiditie forceth them to exhale and distill or by the strength or expulsion of some raw and undigested humour or as the Philosopher likewise saith man having the conduits of his nostrils more ample and open in respect to the proportion of his body he lodgeth more winde and spirits there which provoke him to sneeze I will adde hereunto that man having according to his temporall masse more brain then any other Animall so hath he more humiditie so as he growing cold great quantity of humours fill the conduits the which thrusting out by the effect of the spirits it makes that hee sneezeth strongly in and by this conflict and with great noise Q. Wherefore is it that old folkes sneeze with more pain then young A. Because they have the conduits of their nose more shut and more straight and as it were taken and clos'd together Q. But why have they the conduits of their nose more shut then the young A. Because they are cold and cold restraines and shuts Q. From whence comes it that sneezing wee shake shrug and tremble A. It is because the vaines voyd themselues of a certaine humour or heated spirit and fill them againe with fresh ayre for they cannot remaine empty it is that which maks us to shake the same happeneth to us in emptying the bladder Tickling Q. WHerefore is it that wee tickle not our selves A. Because that our touch is to us naturall and familiar and things familiar and ordinary mooves nor affects us much Q. Wherefore is it that we are very ticklish in the soles of our feet and under our arme-pits A. Because that the skinne in those parts is stretched and very delicate as also they are parts that we are seldome touched by which as I have formerly said give more cause of motion and effection Q. Wherefore is it that we are very ticklish about the place of the Spleen A. Because that the Spleene being a part spongeous and delicate it is also more easily affected so that men the which feeling the body shot through that part of the body have dyed laughing Heate Q. WHerefore is it that hot things are sooner cold in the Sun then in the shadow A. Because in the shadow the cold locks up the heat and hindreth it from dilating or exhaling which is the cause that it is more strong and vigorous And in the Sunne by the contrary the heat is extended or exhaled by the Ayre which is his neighbour which being heated by the reflection and stroke of his rayes so that it is much more weak and feeble for the same cause the fire is lesse hot in Summer where the Sunne shineth upon it then it is in Winter or in the shadow Q. From whence comes it that a peece of Iron red hot in the fire is much more hot and burnes much more then the fire it selfe seeing that the Philosophers hold that that wich is such by the meanes of another that which is the cause ought to be much more it selfe A. That the fire being a body simple and nothing solide cannot worke so powerfully as the Iron or some other body that is solide thick and grose unto which the fire hath imparted his quality Baldnesse Q. WHerefore is it that we become more bald in the fore part of the head then behinde it A. Because that the fore part of the head is more soft and more thinne and divided by many seames as we may see in the sculs of the dead and the hinder part is in the contrary very hard and close by reason whereof the humidity which is the nourishment of the hayre is exhaled more eaâ—â—ly from the parts before whereby it loseth the haire sooner then of that behinde Q. Wherefore is it that those which have curled locks become soonest bald and later gray then others A. They become sooner bald because that they are of complection hot and dry so that the hayre the which is also dry falls of for want of moysture which is its nourishment they are also later gray then others because their heat consumes the moist humour which is the cause of whitenesse of the hayres being it selfe of the same colour Q. But wherefore is it that Eunuches become seldome bald A.
and the discordaut on the contrary so offensive A. From this that the established order in every thing is very agreeable as the unestablished and disorder on the contrary is displeasing now the order and rules of harmony consisteth on the correspondency and Systeme of certaine tunes the which failing it follow with the irregular and disordered and by consequent such object is displeasing to the senee which it peirceth Hornes Q. WHerefore is it that those Animals which have hornes have no teeth in their gums above A. Because the matter and Aliment of the teeth is turned into hornes in such Animals Q. Wherefore is it that onely horned Animals chew the cud A. Nature foreseeing that these Animals have no teeth above in their superiour gums and that they could not well grind chew nor digest their pasture hath given them a vant stomack that the naturallists call Reticulum into the which they send their pasture ill chewed to parboyle it as wee say by our meat and to soften it and then drawing it up to their mouthes and there is rechewed more easily and that is called properly chewing of the cud Q. Wherefore is it that in the Regions Septerntrionall or Northerne the Sheepe have no hornes A. The cause is the extreame cold which shuts up the pores and conduits of the flesh and of the bones by the same means hindreth the hornes from budding and getting forth Q. Wherfore is it that the Goats which have no hornes have more milk then others A. It is because that the matter which should bee imployed to nourish the hornes turnes it selfe into good nourishment and into humour Q. Wherefore is it that amongst all horned beasts the females have no hornes excepting Cowes and Goats A. Because that the femalsare more cold then the males and their coldnesse shuts and closeth up the pores of the flesh and of the bones as it is sayd and so hindreth the hornes from going forth or else it is that the females being of a nature more weak flying and fearfull nature which makes nothing in vaine hath denyed them horns which would serve them to no purpose but to hinderancâ— and bee an unprofitable burthen in their flight neverthelesse having done all things for the use and commodity of man she hath given the particular Kine and Goats horns to the end that man might more easily take them stay them ty them and make them serve him as domesticke beasts Q. Wherefore is it that gelt horned beasts have their hornes longer then those which have their genitories A. Because that the humour genitall which they use not is imployed to the nouriture and increase of the body and particularly to the hornes because of their neighbourhood to the braine which contributeth most to carnall copulation Q. VVherefore is it that hornes fall onely from Deere of all other horned beasts although that they are not gelt A. Because that Deere onely have their hornes solid and massive and other Animals have them hollow by reason whereof Deere not having sufficient humidity to entertaine the heavy burden it falls out by necessity that they must fall off it hapneth not so to those others that are gelt because that they have more moisture to nourish their hornes Q. VVherefore is it that they plant imaginary hornes upon married mens heads if their wives play the wag-tayles A. Because even as horned Animals being gelt are strong great yet heavy slow and little worth in respect of the others they give the same title to them that are unable for the act of generation or that they be so sottish and stupid that they know not how to governe their wives Running Q. WHerefore is it that there is more paine in running then in going and walking softly A. The celerity or swiftnesse of motion is one cause but the most proper and nearest is that in running one is almost alwaies in the Ayre without easing and sustaining himselfe whereas in going softly we have alwayes alterably one foote fix't and stayed upon the Earth which sustaineth as by a counter poize all the body of which she is the true Center and place of rest not the Ayre as also that the celerity and swiftnesse of the motion hinders our respiration Q. Wherefore is it that running too soone after eating hurts our repast or feeding since that motion excites naturall heate A. Because that running is a motion too violent which making the meate to rise and leape within the stomacke troubling and hindering the digestion and and concoction thereof Manginesse French or English Q. FRom whence comes it that we have such pleasure in rubbing and scratching the part which is infected A. Because there is a certaine humour thick and grosse the which in rubbing and scratching issueth or dissipateth and in issuing or dissipating it pricketh sweetly the flesh or rather the skin for willingly this humour sticks ordinarily to the skin Q. Wherefore is it that the manginesse ceasing wee have no more pleasure to scratch that place but rather dolour A. Because that after the cause of the manginesse is taken away the place not being infected or affected as before it is offensive to the life if one rubbeth or scratcheth in like sort as when it was charged with the foresaid humour Q. From whence comes it that after a wound is closed or a little after healing it itcheth A. It is because the party which hath beene hurt being strengthened and neare well casts and thrusts out that which remaines of any evill humour within the which staying in the skinne makes it itch Q. From whence comes it that the scratchings and the itchings receive such pleasure and contentment in Baths Stoves and warme waters A. Because this itching and manginesse comes from a humidity grosse and cold and being mixed with a moderate heate such as is in baths and stoves gives the party contentment Q. VVherefore is it that old folkes are more scratching and itchie then the young A. Because that this waterish and cold humour is very abundant in some old folkes the like happens also to children and youth because of the abundance of the humidity which is in them and often also because of the boyling of their blood Teeth Q. WHerefore is it that the Teeth being of bones have feeling seeing that the other bones have none A. It is because of little veines that are fastened to them and from the roots also which enter within the flesh Q. Wherefore is it that the teeth although they are more hardy and solid then the flesh feele neverthelesse cold much more then the flesh A. Because as saith the Philosopher teeth are fastned and in-rooted with little and subtill conduits the which containing very little heate cannot make resistance to the cold as doth the flesh which is tempered participateth much more with the heate then doth the teeth Q. Wherefore is it that the first teeth fal from the little children A. Because of the over-much humidity that is
and digest their victuals better then those which are sluggish and given too much to their ease A. It comes that Exercise moves the naturall heate concocteth and digesteth better then if the victuals were asoped and crude like a drown'd toast so as the digestion and former repast not put over but laying load upon load against the Faulconers rule Extremities Q. WHerefore is it that the extreame parts of the body as the feete the hands the nose the eares are more chilly and cold then the others A. It is because they are more nervy lesse fleshy and by consequent more sencible and besides that they have the lesse of blood so they have lesse heate to resist the cold moreover that they are farther from the heart which is the fire and heater of the body Q. Wherefore is it that they esteeme it a signe of good health if there be no other sinister accident to be cold in the extremities of the members farthest from the heart after repast A. Because it shewes that the naturall heate is shot within the body Q. Wherefore is it to those extreame sicke they often apply extreame remedies A. Because it must bee that the remedy bee proportioned and answerable to the sicknesse being for a certaine that a sharpe and violent malady cannot bee healed by benigne and gentle remedies in as much that they cannot vanquish neither more nor lesse then as a Fort well amunitioned and defended by couragious men cannot bee wonne without great and strong forces Of the Face Q. WHerefore is it that Nature hath made Man with a Face upright and looking towards heaven A. To the end that he should ordinarily contemplate celestiall things the originall of his Soule and the eternall seate that he ought to ayme at after the passage from this life which the Pagan Poets themselves have knowne Vpreared lookes God onely granted man The other Animals he curbed downe But he to judge the earth heaven to scan Ha h only power besides to smile orfrown To laugh and weepe and all this in the face The high Creator plac't to mans high grace Q. Wherefore is it that wee sweate more in the face then in any other part of the body being that the face is uncovered A. Because that it is more humid as its hairinesse shews which is nourished by humidity and that the braine which is very moist being within the head dischargeth it selfe on all sides by divers conduits as also that the humidity is descending and mounteth not as in the parts below Q. Wherefore is it that the face is not cold although it is uncover'd and that other parts of the body although they are well cover'd are cold and chilly A. Because that the face being ordinarily bare the cold stopps the pores which is more the head being full of spirits which are hot and heateth therefore it is lesse cold but I beleeve that custome of keeping the face uncover'd doth more then all for we see in the like that those which goe commonly bare legged feele no cold and an ancient Hermite that went all naked was used to say that he was all face to shew that custome and the habitude of going naked was the cause that he fear'd no more cold unto the other parts of the body then to the face Q. Wherefore is it that little swellings and pimples come out more in the face then in any other part of the body A. In as much as there is more humidity in the Head then other where and that these little pimples and pushes are no other thing then an evacuation of a crude and undigested humour Females Q. WHerefore is it that amongst all the kinds of Animals the females are ordinarily the most subtil scape more cunningly and craftily from mens ambusbes then the males A. It is that being for the most part more weak then the males nature to repaire that defect hath given them more wily craft for the conservation of their lives Q. But wherefore then amongst the Serpents the fishes the be ares the Tigers the Panthers and such other kindes of Animals the females are commonly more great and furious then the males A. It is that nature so pleaseth her selfe with diversity for the ornament of the world as also that it was expedient for the good of humane kinde that the males of some of the foresaid kindes should bee something gentler for if they were ful as furious as the females they should be well neere all invincible Women Q. WHerefore is it that women have no beards and arâ— not so hairy or downy as men A. Because that they are of a nature cold and moist and the cold which restrains is the cause that the pores of the flesh being shut up the haire cannot peirce nor get out but onely in some parts of their bodies where there is a particular heat also their too great moystnesse likewise hinders that their haire cannot spring out as it is in the gelded and in children and no otherwise then a ground too moyst becomes infertile Q. Wherefore is it that women become sooner gray haird then men A. Because as I intend to say they are naturally cold and ordinarily more idle and lesse given to labour and violent exercises by which reason they gather together great quantities of evil humours the which whiten their haire Q. Wherefore is it that they beare more easily cold then men for ordinarily they are thinner cloathed in winter then men A. Because that they being cold they feele cold the lesse for every like is least affected to his like in example he which hath his hands cold feeles not so well the coldnesse of a nother by as if they were hot Q. But how blood being alwayes accompanied with heat and women having much more blood then men as their natural purgations make proofe doth it not follow then that they should have more blo od then men A. No for on the contrary leaving to speake further of that blood with my modesty in the rest they have lesse good blood then men for not the crude blood but the good is accompanied with heat Q. VVherefore is it that Women are sooner capable of conceiving then begetting because the lawes permit them marriage at twelve and men at foureteene and not before these ages A. It is certaine that women increase in all things sooner then men because that nature striveth to conduce sooner to perfection things of least lust recompencing in that course what shee tooke away in the other so then men being still capable of generation at threescore ten women ceasing at fifty it is no great marvaile though nature advanced women in the beginning since shee sooner failes them then men in the end Fire Q. FRom whence comes it that fyre doth yeeld lesse heat in Summer then in winter seeing that in Summer it seemes that its heate were ioyned to that which comes from the double reflection oâ— stroke of the Sunnes â—ayes it should
abateth this extraordinary boyling for so saith Aristotle in his Problems and the wisest Physitians approveit Frost Q. WHerefore is it that the Frost and Ice being ingendred of one selfe same matter that is Raine it freezeth not for all that as it raines in all seasons A. Because that the Snow and Raine comes from great clouds amassed from vapours which are drawne into the middle region of the Ayre and there hanging many dayes and the Hayle comes not but from vapours drawne from the bodies hanging one night the same vapours being not able to lift themselves high are congealed and taken together by the cold in cold seasons but in seasons temperate and warme they come to dissolve in small drops of water which wee call the dew Q. Wherefore is it that water and oyle congeales easily so doth not Wine nor Vinegar or saltish waters A. It is because that Wine or saltish waters having in them some heate resist easily the cold and cannot be brought to congeale but very seldome or by an extreame cold Vinegar also because it is very subtile and retaines some thing of the qualities of wine resisting also the cold but water beeing very cold and participating with the grosse vapours of the earth is easily taken congealed with the cold and oyle being temperate resisteth more the cold then the water but not so much as wine and liquors more hot Q. But wherefore is it that in frosty weather a little fall or an overturne maks us runne into the danger of breaking an arme or a legge sooner then in other seasons A. The cause is that the humidity being bound in by the cold the body and limbes are more stiffe more bended and by the same meanes more fraile brittle and more easie to break even as candles frozen be they of waxe of tallow or of rosin as also on the contrary the humidity being spread diffused through all the body the members are more loose flexible Q. Wherefore is it that Aqua vitae being mixt with any other liquour keepes it from freezing A. Because it is very hot and therefore it is called burning water and is very good in your inke in the winter-time Q. How comes it that the cakes of ice swimme upon the top of the water in Rivers A. Because they are made of the most light water that is to say of that which is uppermost for the bottome of Rivers congeale not because that all the heate retires thither flying the cold which seizeth upon the surface of the water of the earth Q. Wherefore is it that the bodies most grosse are sooner congcaled and frozen then the subtile and smooth as by example the mud sooner then the water A. Because that the more subtill being more active resists â—more then the passive neverthelesse if the more grosse bodies bee more hot and they resist yet more easily then the subtile cold so the wine resists the frost more then the water and the water of the Sea more then the water of the River Generation Q. FRom whence comes it that all the Animals of the world have appetite to ingender and beget their like A. Nature hath given them all this appetite to the end they should conserve their species and kinde Q. Wherefore is it that the naturalists hold that of all the motions and changings onely generation and corruption are done in an instant and without any consideration of times A. In asmuch that if generation and corruption should bee done with any space of time a thing should receive his being in part and part Q. From whence comes it that certaine Animals bring a great sort of little ones and others onely one A. Nature as I have said often above all things pleaseth her selfe with diversity but yet we must note herein the providence for commonly the Animals that live but a little while produce also often and that much more often then the others the multitude of their little ones where the frequent production repaireth the small lasting of their lives as in dogges in swine and also in all birds and fishes on the contrary those which live more long time produce seldome but one because that during their long lasting they may divers times beget many others as Men Elephants and Deere doe Q. Wherefore is it that during the blowing of the northern windes they beget more of males and when the winde blowes in the south they beget more femals A. Many learned and wise men say they have so observed it and the reason of this is that the North winde by his coldnesse makes to close and unite the naturall heat within the interiours so the males which are naturally more hot then the females are begot oftner in that time then on the contrary because that the south winde languisheth and letteth slack naturall heat the generation is lesse vigorous so that it must be then the Sex feminine which is more cold and more weak and begotten oftner then the masculine Q. From whence comes it that learned and prudent men often beget children unhealthfull weake and sots and the sots and ignorant on the contrary beget children unhealthfull well advised warie and strong A. It is because the sots and ignorants attend brutishly the carnall copulation and have not their spirits diverted other where so as they accomplish the act fully and from thence it comes that they beget children well complexioned and accomplished On the contrary men learned and wise have often such extravagancy of spirits that they least attend the carnall and brutish pleasure in this act of generation that they doe little and the children which are then begot are lesse accomplished Q. Wherefore is it that the Physitians hold that the corruption of one thing whatsoever it be is followed with the generation of another A. Because that there is no corruption but by the privation of the forme precedent and succession of another wholly new the matter alwayes remayning the which cannot bee naturally annihilated nor cannot change but in the formâ— Taste or tasting Q. HOw comes it that all bodies are not sappish that is to say savorous and perceptable by the taste A. For that the watry humidity is not decocted in all by the heate for savour and taste consisteth in the mixture of the dry in earth with the moist in water both concocted with heat Q. From whence comes it that fruits are of better taste in moderate and temperate Regions then in cold A. Because that in cold Regions the moisture is not sufficiently decocted by the heate and that the cold hinders them from full ripening Q. Wherefore is it that by the rigour of an extreame cold victualls become walowish and without taste A. Because that the taste I take the taste for the sauour according to the vulgar fashion consisting in a temperate heate so an extreame cold makes and takes away the taste from the victualls Q. Wherefore is it on the contrary that victualls too much decocted
the lightning breakes the bones within the body without any way touching or offending and produceth many other strange effects as I have shewed elsewhere Q. Wherfore is it that the leafe of a Laurel cracks in the fire A. It is for the reason aforesaid that it greatly holds of the ayre â—he which is extreamly humid and pressed by the fire cracks in goeing out because that it takes is way by force and ontrance as doth the humidity of the chesse-nut when it is put under the embers without being cut on the top Moone Q. WHerefore is it that Physitians the labourers the Mariners and others observe so strictly in the exercise of their Arts the constitution of the Moone A. Because she hath a particular vertue and predomination upon the things here below and which is more shee is more neerer to us then any other oâ— the Planets and having a lesse â—urne and circuit to make shee changes more often her constitution and this frequent change ought to bee more exactly considered and observed especially by those men which are to prove every day the events Q. Wherefore is it that victuals corrupt sooner in the shine of the Moone then of the Sunne A. Because that the Moone hath her heat weake and moysteneth more then shee dries and the Sunne on the contrary dryes much Now excessive humidity being cause of corruption it is no marvaile if the Moone which extends dilates and spreads humidity and likewise augments it and aydes corruption Q. Wherefore is it that wood cut in the full of the Moon is more subiect to be worme eaten and to rot sooner then if it were cut in any other time A Because the Moon then being in her most strong vigour dilates so much more the bodies as well sensible as insensible which yeeldeth them more subject to putrifaction Q. From whence comes it that those which sleepe in the rayes of the Moone comming to wake finde themselves all besorted bebenummed and as troubled in their understanding A. Because that as I intend to say the Moone dilates the humours of the body and especially and notedly those of the head the which mingling with the Animal spirits troubles the braine Sick folkes and Sicknesse Q. FRom whence comes it that people more often fall sick in â—ummer and that the sick dye â—ore often in Winter A. It is that in Summer there â— more causes of sicknesses then â— winter because that the natuâ—all heate is spread and diffused â—rough all the body by reaâ—on whereof the interiour being â—sse heated the stomack is â—lled with crudities and undiested humours and to the me also adde the great quanâ—y and diversity of fruites that â—eople are accustomed to eate â—ves ayd also as also that the â—res being open and the â—inne being loose by this diffuâ—n of the naturall heate they 〈◊〉 ordinarily subject to take cold from whence ensâ—eth many maladies to the contrary in Winter the naturall heate being inclosed within the interiouâ— parts by Antiperistice wee digest more easily our meate and therefore if we doe fall sicke iâ— must come from some great and violent cause Q. From whence comes it thaâ— the Spring-time and the Autumnâ— which are the most temperate seaâ— sons bring us neverthelesse morâ— maladies then either Winter â— Summer A. It is because that goinâ— out of an intemperate and weâ— risome season to enter into temperate and an agreeable thâ— evill humours gathered togâ—ther during the intemperaâ— season beginne to stirre aâ— move by this change and 〈◊〉 fect also the body and make â— sicke and therefore the Spring-time and the Autumne are two unhealthfull Seasons and yet more by accident and inconsequence then the Winter or Summer which brings them of themselves Q. But why is it yet that Autumne is more unhealthfull then the Spring-time A. Because that comming out of Winter and from the cold we enter into the Spring-time and into the heate which is a friend to Nature And on the contrary wee goe out of the Summer and heate and enter within the Autumne and approach to the cold which is an enemy to Nature Q. Wherefore is it that sicknesses are many times infectious to those which approach neere the sicke and health cannot be so communicated A. Because that health as saith well the Philosopher is as rest and sicknesse is a mooving or stirring which is many times comunicable according to the disposition of the subject and quality of the disease for all maladyes are not infectious but onely those which they call contagious and striking which proceeds from some corruption of the spirits or which corrupt the spirits and which comming to exhale outwardly infecting the neighbour aire communicates so their corruption Q. Wherefore is it that according to the doctrine of the Physitians it is not good for sick folkes to eate much A. Because they cannot well digest it by reason that their naturall heate is in them so weakned and hindred by the evill humours and the sâ—perfluous nourishment miâ—gâ—ed with their evill humours easily corrupt so that the sicknesse is aided and prolonged to the perill and danger of the subject Eating and Drinking Q. VVHerefore is it that as the proverb saies one shoulder of mutton will pluck on another and that the appetitâ— comes in eating A. It is that the pores and subtile eoâ—duits of the body being stuffed with some thick humour grosse or gluing are opened by the victualls especially if they have some little pointing or sharpnesse the which like a tickling excites the appetite or naturall heate as also dissolves or consumes the humours the repletion of whom hinders the appetite Q. From whence comes it that hunger passeth away in drinking and thirst augmenteth in eating A. It is because that the drinke temperateth all that it findes dry and unprofitable by its hardnesse and weight within the stomack the which digesteth better or more easily being so temperate and then after by the other concoctions the same is distributed to all the parts of the body and so hunger passeth in this sort but thirst which proceedeth for want of humidity augments the more in eating because that victualls if they be solid dry up the humidity which resteth within the stomack Q. Wherefore is it that in Summer one drinkes more and in Winter they eat more then in any other season of the yeare A. It is because that the Summers heate drying our bodyes we must moysten and liquour them more then is usuall and by Antiparisticis it comes that in Summer the externe or outward heate is the cause that wee have lesse of naturall heate within the stomack to digest and on the the contrary in Winter the cold predominating upon the exteriour the naturall heate enforceth himselfe and gathers all into the interiour by reason whereof we eate and digest our victualls better Q. Wherefore is it then that in Autumne wee eate many times yet better then in winter A. It is not that in Autumne we have interiourly more