dayes 5 The Fox seemes to bee well disposed in many Things for long life He is well skinned feeds on Flesh lives in Dens And yet hee is noted not to have that propertie Certainly hee is a kinde of Dog And that kinde is but short liv'd 6 The Camell is a long Liver A lean Creature and Sinewy So that he doth ordinarily attaine to Fifty And some times to an hundred yeares 7 The Horse lives but to a moderate Age searce to fortie yeares His ordinarie Period is Twentie yeares But perhaps he is beholding for this shortnesse of his Life to Man For we have now no Horses of the Sunne That live freely and at pleasure in good pastures Notwithstanding the Horse growes till hee bee six yeares old And is able for Generation in his Old Age. Besides the Mare goeth longer with her young one than a Woman And brings forth two at a Burthen more rarely The Asse lives commonly to the Horses Age But the Mule out-lives them both 8 The Hart is famous amongst Men for long Life yet not upon any Relation that is undoubted They tell of a certaine Hart that was found with a Coller about his Neck and that Coller hidden with Fat The long Life of the Hart is the lesse credible because hee comes to his perfection at the Fifth yeare And not long after his Hornes which hee sheds and renewes yearely grow more Narrow at the Root and lesse Branched 9 The Dag is but a short Liver He exceeds not the Age of Twentie yeares And for the most part lives not to fourteen yeares A Creature of the hottest Temper and living in extremes for he is commonly either in vehement Motion or Sleeping Besides the Bitch bringeth forth many at a Burthen and goeth nine weekes 10 The Oxe likewise for the Greatnesse of his Body and Strength is but a short Liver About some sixteen yeares And the Males live longer than the Females Notwithstanding they beare usually but one at a Burthen and goe nine Moneths A Creature dull and fleshy and soone fatted and living onely upon Herby substances without Graine 11 The Sheep seldome lives to ten yeares Though hee bee a Creature of a moderate size and excellently clad And that which may seeme a wonder being a Creature with so little Gall yet hee hath the most curled coat of any other For the Haire of no Creature is so much curled as Wooll is The Rams generate not before the third yeare And continue able for Generation untill the eighth The Ewes beare young as long as they live The Sheep is a diseased Creature And rarely lives to his full Age. 12 The Goat lives to the same Age with the Sheepe And is not much unlike in other Things Though hee bee a Creature more Nimble and of somewhat a firmer Flesh And so should bee longer liv'd But then hee is much more lascivious And that shortens his Life 13 The Sow lives to fifteen yeares sometimes to twentie And though it be a Creature of the Moistest Flesh yet that seemes to make nothing to Length of Life Of the Wilde Boare or Sow we have nothing certaine 14 The Cats Age is betwixt six and ten yeares A Creature nimble and full of spirit whose seed As Aelian repotteth burneth the Female Whereupon it is said That the Cat conceives with paine and brings forth with ease A creature ravenous in eating Rather swallowing downe his Meat whole than Feeding 15 Hares and Conies attaine scarce to seven yeares Being both Creatures Generative and with young ones of severall conceptions in their bellies In this they are unlike that the Coney lives under Ground and the Hare above Ground And againe that the Hare is of a more duskish Flesh. 16 Birds for the size of their Bodies are much lesser than Beasts for an Eagle or Swan is but a small Thing in comparison of an Oxe or Horse And so is an Estrich to an Elephant 17 Birds are excellently well clad For Feathers for warmth and close sitting to the Body exceed wooll and Haires 18 Birds though they hatch many young ones together yet they beare them not all in their Bodies at once Butlay their Egges by turnes whereby their Fruit hath the more plentifull nourishment 〈◊〉 it is in their bodies 19 Birds chew little or nothing but their Meat is found whole in their crops Notwithstanding they will breake the shels of Fruits and pick out the Kernels They are thought to bee of a very hot and strong concoction 20 The Motion of Birds in their Flying is a mixt Motion Consisting of a moving of the Lims and of a kinde of Carriage which is a most wholesome kinde of Exercise 21 Aristotle noted well touching the Generation of Birds But hee transferred it ill to other living Creatures That the seed of the Male confers lesse to Generation than the Female But that it rather affords Activity than Matter so that Fruitfull Egges and unfruitfull Egges are hardly distinguished 22 Birds almost all of them come to their full Growth the first yeare or a little after It is true that their Feathers in some kindes and their Bils in others shew their yeares But for the Growth of their Bodies it is not so 23 The Eagle is accounted a long Liver yet his yeares are not set downe And it is alledged as a signe of his long life That he casts his Bill whereby hee growes young againe From whence comes that Proverb The Old Age of an Eagle Notwithstanding perchance the matter may be thus That the Renewing of the Eagle doth not cast his Bill But the casting of his Bill is the Renewing of the Eagle For after that his Bill is growne to a great crookednesse the Eagle feeds with much difficultie 24 Vultures also are affirmed to bee long Livers Insomuch that they extend their Life well-neare to an hundred yeares Kites likewise and so all Birds that feed upon Flesh and Birds of prey live long As for Hawkes because they lead a degenerate and servile life for the Delight of Men The Terme of their Naturall Life is not certainly knowne Notwithstanding amongst Mewed Hawkes some have beene found so have lived thirty yeares And amongst wilde Hawkes forty yeares 25 The Raven likewise is reported to live long Sometimes to an hundred yeares Hee feeds on Carrion And flies not often but rather is a se dentarie and Melancholy Bird And hath very black flesh But the Crow like unto him in most Things Except in Greatnesse and voice lives not altogether so long And yet is reckoned amongst the long Livers 26 The Swan is certainly found to bee a long Liver And exceeds not unfrequently an hundred yeares He is a Bird excellently plumed A Feeder upon Fish And is alwayes carried And that in Running Waters 27 The Goose also may passe amongst the Long-livers Though his food bee commonly Grasse and such kinde of Nourishment Especially the Wilde-Goose whereupon this Proverb grew amongst the Germans Magis senex quam Anser Nivalis Older
with her Husband by a dissembled Obedience And with her Sonne by power and authoritie A woman Affable and yet of a Matronall Carriage Pragmaticall and upholding her power But Iunia the wife of Caius Cassius and sister of Marcus Brutus was also ninetie yeares old For shee survived the Philippick Battaile sixty foure yeares A Magnanimous woman In her great wealth Happy In the Calamity of her Husband and neare Kinsfolkes and in long widowhood unhappy Notwithstanding much Honoured of all 15 The yeare of our Lord seventie six falling into the Time of Vespasian is Memorable In which wee shall finde as it were a Calender of long liv'd Men For that yeare there was a Taxing Now a Taxing is the most Authenticall and truest Informer touching the ages of men And in that part of Italie which lieth betwixt the Apennine Mountaines and the River Po there were found an hundred and foure and twenty persons that either equalled or exceeded an hundred yeares of Age Namely of an hundred yeares just fiftie foure persons Of an hundred and ten fiftie seven persons Of an hundred and five and twenty Two onely Of an hundred and thirty foure men Of an hundred and five and thirtie or seven and thirtie foure more Of an hundred and fortie three men Besides these Parma in particular afforded five whereof three fulfilled an hundred twentie yeares and two an hundred and thirty Bruxels afforded one of an hundred and twentie five yeares old Placentia one aged an hundred thirty and one Faventia one Woman aged one hundred thirtie and two A certaine Towne then called Velleiacium scituate in the Hils about Placentia afforded ten whereof Six fulfilled an hundred and ten yeares of age Foure an hundred and twentie Lastly Rimino one of an hundred and fiftie yeares whose Name was Marcus Aponius That our Catalogue might not be extended too much in length wee have thought fit as well in those whom we have rehearsed as in those whom we shall rehearse to offer none under eighty yeares of Age. Now wee have affixed to every one a true and short Character or Elogie But of that sort whereunto in our Iudgement Length of Life which is not a little subject to the Manners and Fortunes of Men hath some Relation And that in a twofold Respect Either that such Kinde of Men are for the most part long liv'd Or that such Men may sometimes bee of long Life though otherwise not well disposed for it 16 Amongst the Roman and Grecian Emperours Also the French and Almaine To these our Dayes which make up the Number of well-neare two hundred Princes There are only foure found that lived to eightie yeares of Age unto whom we may adde the two first Emperours Augustus and Tiberius whereof the latter fulfilled the seventie and eighth yeare the former the seventie and sixth yeare of his Age And might both perhaps have lived to fourescore if Livia and Caius had been pleased Augustus as was said lived seventie and six yeares A Man of a Moderate Disposition In accomplishing his Designes vehement but otherwise Calme and Serene In Meat and Drink sober In Venerie Intemperate Through all his Life time Happy And who about the thirtieth year of his Life had a great and dangerous sicknesse Insomuch that they despaired of Life in him whom Antonius Musa the Physician when other Physicians had applied Hot Medicines as most agreeable to his Disease on the contrarie cured with cold Medicines which perchance might bee some Help to the prolonging of his Life Tiberius lived to bee two yeares older A Man with Leane chaps As Augustus was wont to say For his speech stuck within his Jawes but was weightie Hee was Bloudy a Drinker and one that tooke lust into a Part of his Diet Notwithstanding a great Observer of his Health Insomuch that hee used to say That hee was a Foole that after thirtie yeares of Age tooke advice of a Physician Gordian the Elder lived eightie yeares And yet died a violent Death when he was scarce warme in his Empire A Man of an High Spirit and Renowmed Learned and a Poet And constantly happy throughout the whole course of his Life save only that he ended his dayes by a violent Death Valerian the Emperour was seventie six yeares of Age before hee was taken Prisoner by Sapor King of Persia After his Captivitie hee lived seven yeares in Reproches And then died a violent Death also A Man of a poore Minde and not valiant Notwithstanding lifted up in his owne and the opinion of Men but falling short in the performance Anastasius surnamed Dicorus lived eightie eight yeares He was of a setled Minde but too abject and superstitious and fearefull Anicius Iustinianus lived to eightie three yeares A Man Greedy of Glorie Performing Nothing in his owne Person but in the valour of his Captaines Happie and Renowmed Uxorious And not his owne Man but suffering others to lead him Helena of Britaine Mother of Constantine the Great was four-score yeares old A Woman that intermedled not in Matters of State neither in her Husbands nor Sonnes 〈◊〉 But Devoted her 〈◊〉 wholly to Religion Magnanimous and 〈◊〉 Flourishing Theodora the 〈◊〉 who was Sister to 〈◊〉 wife of Monomachus And reigned alone after her Decease lived above eightie yeares A Pragmaticall Woman and one that tooke 〈◊〉 in Governing Fortunate in the Highest degree and through her good 〈◊〉 Credulous 17 We will proceed now from these Secular Princes to the Princes in the Church S. Iohn 〈◊〉 Apostle of our Saviour and the Beloved Disciple lived ninetie three yeares He was rightly denoted under the 〈◊〉 of the Eagle for his piercing fight into the Divinitie And was as a 〈◊〉 amongst the Apostles in 〈◊〉 spect of his Burning Love Saint Luke the Evangelist fulfilled fourescore and fouryeares An Eloquent Man And a Traveller Saint Paul inseparable Companion And a Physitian Simeon the Sonne of Cleophas called the Brother of our Lord and Bishop of His rusalem lived an hundred and twenty yeares Though he was cut short by 〈◊〉 dome A Stout Man and Constant and full of Good works Polycarpus Disciple 〈◊〉 to the Apostles and Bishop Smyrna seemeth to have 〈◊〉 his Age to an hundred yeares and more Though hee were also cut 〈◊〉 by Martyrdome A Man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 High Minde of an 〈◊〉 patience and unwearied 〈◊〉 Labours Dionysius 〈◊〉 Contemporany to the Apostle S. Paul lived ninetie cares Hee was called The 〈◊〉 of Heaven for his High lying Divinitie And was famous as well for his Holy Life as for his Meditations Aquila and Priscilla first Saint Paul the Apostles Hosts Afterward his Fellow-Hel-bers lived together in an happy and famous wedlock at least to an hundred yeares of Age a peece For they were both alive under Pope 〈◊〉 the First A Noble paire and prone to all kinde of Charitie who amongst other their Comforts which no doubt were great unto the first Founders of the Church Had this added To enjoy each other so long
in an 〈◊〉 marriage Saint Paul the Hermite lived an hundred and thirteen yeares Now hee 〈◊〉 in a Cave His Diet was so slender and strict that was thought almost Impossble to support Humane Nature therewithall He 〈◊〉 his yeares onely in Meditations and Soliloquies yet he was not Illiterate or an 〈◊〉 but Learned Saint 〈◊〉 the first Founder of Monks or as some will have it the Restorer onely 〈◊〉 to an hundred and five yeares of Age A Man Devout and Contemplative Though not unfit for Civil Affaires His Life was Austere and Mortifying Notwithstanding hee lived in kinde of glorious solitude and exercised a Command or he had his Monks under 〈◊〉 And besides many 〈◊〉 and Philosophers 〈◊〉 to visit him as a living mage from which they 〈◊〉 not without some 〈◊〉 Saint Athanasius exceded the Terme of eightie 〈◊〉 A Man of an 〈◊〉 Constancie Commaning Fame and not yeelding 〈◊〉 Fourtune Hee was free towards the Great Ones With he people Gracious and 〈◊〉 Beaten and 〈◊〉 to Oppositions And in 〈◊〉 himself from them out and wise S. Hierome 〈◊〉 the consent of most 〈◊〉 exceeded ninety yeares of Age A man powerfull in is Pen and of a Manly Elequence quence variously learne both in the Tongues and 〈◊〉 Also a Traveller 〈◊〉 that lived strictly towards 〈◊〉 old Age In an estate 〈◊〉 and not dignified hee 〈◊〉 high Spirits And shined 〈◊〉 out of Obscuritie 18 The Popes of Rome are 〈◊〉 Number to this Day 〈◊〉 hundred fortie and one 〈◊〉 so great a Number five one have attained to the Age 〈◊〉 fourscore yeares or upward But in many of the first 〈◊〉 their ful Age was intercepte by the prerogative and 〈◊〉 of Martyrdome Iohn the 〈◊〉 ty three Pope of Rome 〈◊〉 the ninetieth yeare of 〈◊〉 Age A Man of an 〈◊〉 Disposition and one that 〈◊〉 died Noveltie Hee 〈◊〉 many Things some to the Better others onely to the New A great 〈◊〉 of Riches and Treasure Gregorie called the twelfth created in schisme and not fully acknowledged Pope Died at ninetie yeares Of him in respect of his short Papacie wee 〈◊〉 Nothing to make a judgement upon Paul the third lived eightie yeares and one A temperate Man and of a profound wisdome He was Learned an Astrologer and one that tended his Health carefully But after the Example of old Eli the Priest over-Indulgent to his Family Paul the fourth attained to the Age of eightie three yeares A Man of an Harsh Nature and severe Of an Haughtie Minde and Imperious prone to Anger his speech was Eloquent and Ready Gregorie the thirteenth fulfilled the like Age of eightie three yeares An absolute good Man Sound in Minde and Body Politick Temperate full of good workes and an Almes-giver 19 Those that follow are to be more Promiscuous in their order More doubtfull in their faith And more barren of Observation King Arganthonius who reigned at Cadiz in Spaine lived an hundred and thirtie Or as some would have it an hundred and forty yeares Of which he reigned eightie Concerning his Manners Institution of his Life and the Time wherein hee reigned there is a generall Silence Cyniras King of Cyprus Living in the Island then termed the Happie and Pleasant island is affirmed to have attained to an hundred and fifty or sixty yeares Two Latine Kings in Italy the Father and the Son are reported to have lived the one eight hundred the other six hundred yeares But this is delivered unto us by certain Philologists Who though otherwise Credulous enough yet themselves have suspected the Truth of this Matter or rather condemned it Others record some Arcadian Kings to have lived three hundred years The Country no doubt is a place apt for long life But the Relation I suspect to be Fabulous They tell of one Dando in Illyrium That lived without the Inconveniences of old Age to five hundred yeares They tell also 〈◊〉 the Epians a Part of AEtolia That the whole Nation 〈◊〉 them were exceeding long liv'd In so much that many of them were two hundred yeares old And that one principal Man amongst them named Litorius a Man of 〈◊〉 Giant-like Stature could have told three hundred yeares It is recorded that in the Top of the Mountaine 〈◊〉 anciently called Tempsis many of the Inhabitants lived to 〈◊〉 hundred and fiftie yeares We reade that the Sect of the Esseans amongst the Iewes did usually extend their Life to an hundred yeares Now that Sect used a single or Abstemious Diet After the Rule of Pythagoras Apollonius 〈◊〉 exceeded an hundred yeares His Face bewraying no such Age Hee was an Admirable Man Of the Heathens reputed to have something Divine in him Of the Christians held for a Sorcerer In his Diet Pythagoricall A great Traveller Much Renowmed And by some adored as a God Notwithstanding towards the end of his life he was subject to many Complaints against him and Reproaches All which he made shift to escape But lest his Long Life should be imputed to his Pythagoricall Diet and not rather that it was Hereditary his Grandfather before him lived an hundred and thirty yeares It is undoubted that Quintus Metellus lived above an hundred yeares And that after severall Consalships happily administred In his old Age he was made Pontifex Maximus And exercised those Holy Duties full two and twentie yeares In the performance of which Rites his Voice never failed nor his Hand trembled It is most certaine that 〈◊〉 Caesus was very old but his yeares are not extant The most part whereof he passed after he was Blinde Yet this Misfortune no whit softened him but that hee was able to governe a numerous Family a great Retinue and Dependance yea even the Common-wealth it selfe with great Stoutnesse In his extreme old Age he was brought in a Litter into the Senate-House And vehemently disswaded the Peace with Pyrrhus The Beginning of his Oration was very Memorable shewing an Invincible Spirit and strength of Minde I have with great Griefe of Minde Fathers Consript these many yeares borne my Blindnesse But now I could wish that I were Deafe also when I heare you speake to such Dishonourable Treaties Marcus Perpenna lived ninety eight yeares Surviving all those whose Suffrages he had gathered in the Senate House being Consul I meane all the Senators at that time As also all those whom a little after being Censour hee chose into the Senate Seven only being excepted Hiero King of Sicely in the time of the second Punick Warre Lived almost an hundred yeares A Man Moderate both in his Government and in his Life A Worshipper of the Gods and a Religions Conserver 〈◊〉 Friendship Liberall and constantly Fortunate Statilia descended of a Noble Family in the Dayes of 〈◊〉 Lived ninety nine yeares 〈◊〉 the Daughter of Ofilius an hundred and Fifteene Xenophilus an Ancient Philosopher of the Sect of Pythagoras attained to an hundred and six yeares Remaining Healthfull and vigorous in his old Age And Famous amongst the Vulgar for his Learning
rightly bee referred to the Condensation of the Spirits For it is a kinde of Henbane And manifestly troubles the Head as Opiates doe 28 There are sometimes Humours engendred in the Bodie which are as it were Opiate themselves As it is in some kinde of Melancholies With which if a Man be affected it is a signe of very Long Life 29 The Simple Opiates which are also called Stupefactives are these Opium it self which is the Juyce of Poppy Both the Poppies as well in the Herb as in the Seed Henbane Mandrake Hemlock Tobacco Night-shade 30 The Compound 〈◊〉 are Treacle Mitbridate Trifera Ladanum Paracelsi Diacodium Diascordium Philonium Pills of Hounds-Tongue 31 From this which hath been said certaine Designations or Councels may be deduced for the Prolongation of Life according to the present Intention Namely of 〈◊〉 the Spirits by Opiates 32 Let there be therfore every yeare from Adult yeares of Youth an Opiate Diet Let it bee taken about the end of May Because the Spirits in Summer are more Loose and Attenuated And there is lesse Danger from Cold Humours Let it bee some Magistrall Opiate weaker than those that are commonly in use both in rtspect of a smaller Quantity of Opium and of a more sparing mixture of extreme Hot Things Let it be taken in the Morning betwixt sleeps The Fare for that time would bee more simple and sparing than or linary without Wine or Spices or Vaporous Things This Medicine to be taken onely each Other Day And to bee continued for a Fortnight This Designation in our Judgement comes home to the Intention 33 Opiates also may bee taken not onely by the Mouth but also by Fumes But the Fumes must bee such as may not move the Expulsive Facultie too strongly nor force downe Humours But only taken in a Weft may worke upon the Spirits within the Braine And therefore a Suffumigation of Tobacco Lignum Alce Rose-Mary Leaves dr ed and a little Myrrhe snuffed up in the Morning at the Mouth and Nosthrils would bee very good 34 In Grand Opiaces Such as are Treacle Mithridate and the rest It would not bee amisse especially in Youth to take rather the Distilled Waters of Them than themselves in their Bodies For the Vapour in Distilling doth rise But the Heat of the Medicine commonly 〈◊〉 Now Distilled Waters are good in those vertues which are conveyed by Vapours In other Things but weake 35 There are Medicines which have a certaine weak and hidden Degree And therefore safe Toan Opiate Vertue These send froth a Slow 〈◊〉 Copious Vapour but not 〈◊〉 as Opiates doe Therefore they put not the Spirits to 〈◊〉 Notwithstanding they congregate them and somewhat thicken them 36 Medicines in Order to Opiates ate Principally Saffron Next Folium Indum Amber-Grise Coriander-Seed prepared Amomum and 〈◊〉 Lignum-Rhodium Orenge-Flower Water And much more the infusion of the same Flowers new gathered in Oyle of Almonds Nutmegs pricked full of Holes and macerated in Rose water 37 As Opiates are to be taken very sparingly and at certaine times as was said So these Secundaries may be taken familiarly and in our daily Diet And they will be very effectuall to prolongation of life Certainly an Apothecarie of Calecute by the use of Amber is said to have lived 〈◊〉 hundred and sixtie yeares And the Noble Men of Barbarie through the use thereof are certified to be very long liv'd whereas the meane people are but of short life And our Ancestours who were longer liv'd than wee did use Saffron much In their Cakes Broathes and the like And touching the first way of Condensing the Spirits by Opiates and the Subordinates thereto thus much 38 Now we will inquire of the second way of Condensing the Spirits by Cold. For the proper worke of Cold is Condensation And it is done without my Malignitie or adverse Qualitie And therefore it is a fafer Operation than by Opiates Though somewhat lesse powerfull if it bee done by Turnes only as Opiates are But then againe because it may bee used familiarly and in our daily Diet with Moderation It is much more powerfull for the Prolongation of Life than by Opiates 39 The Refrigeration of the Spirits is effected three wayes Either by Respiration or by 〈◊〉 or by Aliment The first is the best but in a sort out of our power The second is potent but yet ready and at hand The third is weake and somewhat about 40 Aire cleare and pure And which hath no Fogginesse in it before it bee received into the Lungs And which is least exposed to the Sun-beames Condenseth the Spirits best Such is found either on 〈◊〉 Tops of Drie Mountaines or in 〈◊〉 open to the windes and yet not without some shade 41 As 〈◊〉 Refrigeration and 〈◊〉 of the Spirits by Vapours The Root of this Operation wee place in Nitre As a Creature purposely made and chosen for this end Being thereunto lead and perswaded by these Arguments 42 Nitre is a kinde of Coole Spice This is apparent to the sense it selfe For it bites the Tongue and Palate with Cold as Spices doe with Heat And it is the onely Thing as 〈◊〉 as wee know that hath this propertie 43 Almost all cold Things which are cold properly and not by Accident as Opium is are poore and jejune of Spirit Contrarily Things full of Spirit are almost all Hot Only Nitre is found amongst Vegetables which 〈◊〉 with Spirit and yet is Cold. As for Camphire which is full of Spirit and yet performeth the Actions of Cold it cooleth by Accident onely As namely for that by the Thinnesse thereof without Acrimonie it helpeth Perspiration in In flammations 44 In Congealing and Freezing of Liquours which is latel growne into use By Laying Snow and Ice on the Outside of the Vessell Nitre is also added And no doubt it exciteth and 〈◊〉 the Congelation It is 〈◊〉 that they use also for this worke ordnarie Bay-salt which doth rather give Activitie to the Coldnesse of the Snow than coo'e by it selfe But as I have 〈◊〉 in the Hotter Regions where snow fals not the Congealing is wrought by Nitre alone But this I can not certainly affirme 45 It is affirmed that 〈◊〉 which consisteth principally of Nitre being taken in drink doth conduce to Valour And that it is used oftentimes by Mariners and Souldiers before they begin their Battels as the Turks doe Opium 46 Nitre is given with good successe in Burning Agues and Pestilentiall Fevers to mitigate and Bridle their per. nicious Heats 47 It is most manifest that 〈◊〉 in Gunpowder doth mightily abhorre Flame From whence is caused that Horrible Crack and Puffing 48 Nitre is found to bee as it were the Spirit of the Earth For this is most certaine That any Earth though pure and unmixt with Nitrous Matter if it bee so laid up and covered that it be free from the Sun-beames and putteth forth no Vegetable will gather Nitre even in good Abundance By which it is clear That the
But if the Diet shall not bee 〈◊〉 so Rigorous and 〈◊〉 yet notwithstaning shall bee alwayes equall 〈◊〉 constant to it selfe it 〈◊〉 the same effect We see in Flames That a Flame somewhat bigger so it bee alwayes alike and quiet 〈◊〉 lesse of the Fewell 〈◊〉 a lesser Flame blowne with Bellowes And by Gusts 〈◊〉 or weaker That which the Regiment and Diet 〈◊〉 Cornarus the Venetian 〈◊〉 plainly who did eat and 〈◊〉 so many yeares 〈◊〉 by a just weight 〈◊〉 hee exceeded an hundred yeares of Age strong in Lims and entire in his senses 72 Care also must bee taken that a Body plentifully Nourished and not emaciated by any of these aforesaid Diet omitteth not a seasonable use of Venus lest the Spirits increase too fast and soften and destroy the body So then touching a Moderate 〈◊〉 of Spirits and as we may say Frugall thus much 73 The Inquisition touching Brideling the Motion of the Spirits followeth next 〈◊〉 Motion doth manifestly 〈◊〉 and Inflame them 〈◊〉 Brideling is done by 〈◊〉 Meanes By Sleepe By Avoiding of vchement 〈◊〉 Immoderate Exercise and a word all Lassitude And by Refraining Irksome 〈◊〉 And first touching Sleep 74 The Fable tels us that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 many yeares together in a Cave And all that 〈◊〉 needed no Meat 〈◊〉 the Spirits waste not much in sleep 75 Experience teacheth us 〈◊〉 certaine Creatures as 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Sleepe in 〈◊〉 close places an whole Winter together Such is the Force of Sleepe to restraine all 〈◊〉 Consumption That which Bees and Drones are also thought to doe Though sometimes destitute of 〈◊〉 And likewise Butterflies and other Flies 76 Sleepe after Dinner The Stomack sending up no unpleasing Vapours to the Head as being the first Dewes of our Meat is good for the Spirits but derogatorie and hurtfull to all other points of Health Notwithstanding it extreme Old Age there is the same Reason of Meat and Sleepe For both our Meales and our Sleeps should be then frequent but short and little Nay and towards the last Period of Old Age a meere Rest and as it were a perpetuall Repasing doth best Especially in Winter time 77 But as Moderate Sleepe conferreth to Long Life So much more if it be Quiet and not Disturbed 78 These procure Quiet Sleep Violets Lettuce especially boiled Syrupe of Dried Roses Saffron Balme Apples at out going to Bed A Sop of 〈◊〉 in Malmesey especially wherein Musk Roses have beene first 〈◊〉 Therefore it would 〈◊〉 be amisse to make some 〈◊〉 or a small Draught of 〈◊〉 things and to use it 〈◊〉 Also those Things 〈◊〉 shut the Mouth of the 〈◊〉 close As Coriander 〈◊〉 prepared Quinces and 〈◊〉 roasted doe induce 〈◊〉 Sleepe But above all things in youth and for those that have sufficient strong Stomacks it will bee best to take a good Draught of Cleare Cold Water when they goe to Bed Touching voluntarie and procured Traunces As also Fixed and Profound Thoughts so as they be without Irksomenesse I have nothing certaine No doubt they make to this Intention And condense the Spirits And that more potently than Sleepe Seeing they lay asleepe and 〈◊〉 the senses as much or more Touching them let further Inquiry be made So farre touching Sleepe 79 As for Motion and Exercises Lasfitude hurteth And so doth all Motion and Exercise which is too Nimble and Swife As Running Tennis Fencing And the like And againe when our strength is extended and strained to the uttermost As Dancing Wrestling and such like For it is certaine that the Spirits being driven into streights either by the swiftnesse of the Motion or by the straining of the Forces Doe afterward become more Eager and Predatorie On the other side Exercises which stirre up a good strong Motion But not over swift or to our utmost strength such is are Leaping Shooting Riding Bowling and the like doe not hurt but rather benefit We must come now to the Affections and Passions of the Minde And see which of them are Hurtfull to long Life which profitable 80 Great joyes attenuate and diffuse the Spirits and shorten Life Familiar Cheerfulnesse strengthens the Spirits by calling them forth and yet not resolving them 81 Impressions of joy in the sense are naught Ruminations of joy in the Memory Or Apprehensions of them in Hope or Fancie are good 82 Ioy suppressed or communicated sparingly doth more comfort the Spirits than Joy powred forth and published 83 Griefe and Sadnesse if it be void of Feare and 〈◊〉 not too much doth rather prolong Life For it contracteth the Spirits and is a kind of Condensation 84 Great Feares shorten the Life For though Griefe and Feare doe both streighten the Spirit yet in Griefe there is a simple Contraction But in Feare by Reason of the Cares taken for the Remedy and Hope intermixed there is a Turmoile and Vexing of the Spirits 85 Anger soporessed is also a kinde of Vexation and causeth the Spirit to feed upon the Juyces of the Body But let loose and breaking forth it helpeth As those 〈◊〉 doe which induce a Robust Heat 86 Envie is the worst of all 〈◊〉 And feedeth upon the Spirits And they againe upon the Body And so much the more because it is perpetuall And as is said Keepeth no Holy-dayes 87 Pity of another Mans Misfortune which is not likely to befall our selves is good But Pity which may reflect with some similitude upon the Party pitying is naught because it exciteth Feare 88 Light Shame hurteth not seeing it contracteth the Spirits a little and then straight diffuseth them In so much that Shamefast Persons commonly live long But 〈◊〉 for some great Ignominie and which afflicteth the Minde long contracteth the 〈◊〉 even to suffocation And is Pernicious 89 Love if it be not unfortunate and too deeply wounding is a kinde of Ioy And 〈◊〉 subject to the same Lawes which wee have set downe touching Ioy. 90 Hope is the most Beneficial of all the Affections And doth much to the Prolongation of Life if it bee not too often Frustrated But entertaineth the Fancie with an Expectation of Good Therefore they which fix and propound to themselves some End a the Marke and Scope of their Life And continually and by Degrees goe forward 〈◊〉 the same Are for the most 〈◊〉 long Liv'd In so much that when they are come to the Top of their Hope And 〈◊〉 goe no Higher therein They commonly droope and Live not long after So that Hope is as a Leafe-Ioy Which may be beaten out to a great Extension like Gold 91 Admiration and Light Contemplation are very powerfull to the prolonging of Life for they hold the Spirits in 〈◊〉 Things as Delight them And suffer them not to tumultuate or to carry themselves unquietly and waywardly And therefore all the Contemplatours of Naturall Things which had so many and so eminent Objects to admire As Democritus Plato Parmenides Apollonius were long Liv'd Also 〈◊〉 which tasted but lightly of Things And studied rather Exornation of
Maturation doe then in the end engender Oleosity in the Iuyces 17 Neither again let any Man thinke that Oyle or Fat by it selfe and Simple is Hard of Dissipation But in Mixture it doth not retaine the same Nature For as Oyle by it s lfe is much longer in Consuming than Water So in 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 it sticketh longer and is later dried As we noted before 18 To the Irroration of the Body Roasted Meats or Baked Meats are more effectuall than Boiled Meats And all Preparation of Meat with Water is Inconvenient Besides Oyle is more plentifully extracted out of Dry Bodies than out of Moist bodies 19 Generally to the Irroration of the Body much use of Sweet Things is prositable As of Sugar Honey sweet Almonds Pine-Apples Pistaccio's Dates Raisins of the Sunne Corrans Figs and the like Contrarily all Soure and very Salt and very Biting Things are opposite to the Generation of Roscide Iuyce 20 Neither would wee bee thought to favour the Manichees or their Diet Though wee commend the frequent use of all kindes of Seeds and 〈◊〉 and Roots in Meats 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Considering all Bread and Bread is that which maketh the Meat Firme is made either of Seeds or of Roots 21 But there is Nothing makes so much to the Irroration of the Body as the Quality of the Drinke Which is the Convoy of the Meat Therefore let there be in use such Drinks as without all Acrimony or Sourenesse are notwithstanding subtill Such are those Wines which are as the old Woman said in Plautus Vetustate Edentula Toothlesse with Age And Ale of the same kinde 22 Mead as wee suppose would not bee ill if it were strong and old But because all Hony hath in it some sharp Parts as appeares by that sharp water which the Chymists extract out of it which will dissolve Metals It were better to make the same Potion of Sugar Not lightly infused in it but so incorporated as Honey useth to be in Mead And to keepe it to the Age of a yeare or at least six Moneths whereby the Water may lose the Crudity and the Sugar acquire subtiltie 23 Now Ancientnesse in Wine or Beere hath this in it That it engenders subtilty in the Parts of the Liquour and Acrimony in the Spirits Whereof the First is Profitable and the second Hurtfull Now to rectifie this Evill Commixture Let there be put into the Vessell before the Wine be separated from the 〈◊〉 Swines-flesh or 〈◊〉 well boyled That the 〈◊〉 of the Wine may have whereupon to ruminate and seed And so lay aside their Mordacity 24 In like manner if Ale should be made not onely with the Graines of wheat Barly Oats Pease and the like But also should admit a part suppose a third part to these Graines of some Fat Roots such as are Potado Roots Pith of 〈◊〉 Burre-Roots or some other sweet and Esculent Roots we suppose it would be a more usefull Drinke for long Life than Ale made of Graines only 25 Also such Things as have very thin Parts Yet not withstanding are without all Acrimony or Mordacity Are very good in Sallets Which vertue we finde to be in some Few of the Flowers Namely Flowers of Ivy which infused in Vineger are pleasant even to the Taste Marigold leaves which are used in Broaths And Flowers of Betony And touching the Operation upon the Iuyces of the Body thus much The Operation upon the Bowels for their Extrusion of Aliment 5. The Historie 1 WHAT those Things are which comfort the Principall Bowels Which are the Fountaines of 〈◊〉 Namely the 〈◊〉 Liver Heart and Brain To performe their Functions well whereby Aliment is distributed in to the Parts 〈◊〉 are dispersed and the 〈◊〉 of the whole Body is accomplished May be derived from Physisians And from their Prescripts and Advices 2 Touching the Spleene 〈◊〉 Kidneyes Mesentery Guts and Lungs we speake not For these are Members Ministring to the Principall And where as speech is made touching Health they require sometimes a most especiall Consideration Because Each of these have their Diseases which unlesse they be cured will have Influence upon the Principall Members But as touching the Prolongation of Life And Reparation by Aliments And Retardation of the Inconcoction of Old 3 And as for those Things which according to the different State of every Mans Body may bee transferred into his Diet and the Regiment of his Life He may collect them out of the Bookes of 〈◊〉 which have written of the Comforting and Preserving the Foure Principall 〈◊〉 For Conservation of Health hath commonly need of no more than some Short Courses of Physicke But Length of life cannot be hoped without an orderly Diet and a Constant Race of 〈◊〉 Medicines But we will propound some few And the House And whose Strength and Goodnesse 〈◊〉 fundamentall to the other Concoctions ought so to be guarded and confirmed That it may be without 〈◊〉 Hot Next Astricted or Bound not Loose Furthermore Cleane not surcharged with Foule Humours And yet in regard it is nourished from it selfe not from the Veines not altogether Emptie or Hungry Lastly it is to be kept ever in 〈◊〉 Because Appetite sharpens Disgestion 5 I wonder much how that same 〈◊〉 bibere To drink 〈◊〉 Drinke which was in use amongst the Ancients is laid downe againe I knew a Physician that was very Famous who in the Beginning 〈◊〉 Dinner and Supper would 〈◊〉 eat a few spoonfuls of very Warm Broath with much 〈◊〉 And then would presently wish that it were out againe saying He had no 〈◊〉 of the Broath but onely of the Warmth 6 We doe verily conceive it good that the First Draught 〈◊〉 of Wine or Ale or any other Drink to which a Man 〈◊〉 most accustomed be taken at Supper Warme 7 Wine in which Gold hath been quenched we conceive would be very good once in a Meale 〈◊〉 that we 〈◊〉 the Gold conferreth an Vertue thereunto But that we know that the 〈◊〉 of all Mettals in any kinde of Liquour doth leave a most potent Astriction Now we chuse gold because besides that Astriction which we desire it leaveth nothing else behinde it of a Metalline Impression 8 Wee are of opinion that Sops of Bread dipped in Wine taken at the Midst of the Meale are Better than Wine it selfe Especially if there were infused into the Wine in which the Sops were dipped Rose-Mary and Citron-Pill And that with Sugar that it may not Slip too fast 9 It is certaine that the use of Quinces is good to strengthen the Stomach But we take them to be better if they be used in that which they call Quiddeny of Quinces than in the Bodies of the Quinces themselves Because they lie heavie in the Stomach But those Quiddenies are best taken after Meales alone 〈◊〉 Meales dipped in 〈◊〉 10 Such things as are good for the Stomach above other Simples are these Rose-Mary 〈◊〉 Maslicke 〈◊〉 Sage Mint 11 Wee allow Pills of Aloes Mastick and Saffron in
are not so long liv'd as the Cypresse-tree Maple Pine Box Iuniper The Cedar being borne out by the vastnesse of his body lives well-neare 〈◊〉 long as the former 18 The Ash fertile and forward in Bearing reacheth to an hundred yeares and somewhat better which also the Birch Maple and Service-tree sometimes doe But the Poplar Lime-tree Willow and that which they call the Cycomore and Wall-nut-tree live not so long 19 The Apple-tree Peare-tree Plum-tree Pomegranate-tree Citron-tree Medlar-tree BlackCherrie-tree Cherrie-tree may attaine to fiftie or sixtie yeares Especially if they be cleansed from the Mosse where with some of them are cloathed 20 Generally Greainesse of Body in Trees if other things be equall hath some congruitie with Length of Life So hath Hardnesse of Substance And Trees bearing Mast or Nuts are commonly longer livers than Trees bearing Fruit or Berries Likewise Trees putting forth their Leaves late and shedding them late againe live longer than those that are early either in Leaves or Fruit The like is of Wilde trees in comparison of Orchard Trees And lastly in the same kinde Trees that beare a Sowre Fruit out-live those that beare a sweet Fruit. An Observation 3 ARistotle noted well 〈◊〉 difference between Plants and living Creatures in 〈◊〉 of their Nourishment and Reparation Namely that the Bodies of living Creatures an confined within certain Bounds and that after they bee come to their full Growth they are continued and preserved by Nourishment but they put forth nothing New except Haire and Nailes which are counted for no better than Excrements so as the juyce of living Creatures must of necessitie sonner wax old But in Trees which put forth yearly new Boughes new Shoots new Leaves and new Fruits It comes to passe that all these parts in Trees are once a yeare young and renewed Now it being so that whatsoever is fresh and young drawes the Nourishment more lively and cheerfully to it than that which is Decayed and Old It happens withall that the Stock and Body of the Tree through which the Sap posseth to the Branches is refreshed and 〈◊〉 with a more bountifull and vigorous Nourishment in the Passage than otherwise it would have beene And this appeares notably though Aristotle noted it not Neither hath bee expressed these things so clearly and perspicuously In Hedges Copses and Pollards when the plashing shedding or lopping comforteth the old Stemme or Stock and maketh it more flourishing and longer liv'd Desiccation prohibiting 〈◊〉 Desiccation And Inteneration of that which is desiccated and dried The Historie 1 FIre and strong Heats dry some things and mels others Limus ut hic durescit 〈◊〉 Cera liquescit Vno eodemque Igne How this Clay is hardned and how this wax is melted with one and the same thing Fire It dryeth Earth Stones Wood Cloth and Skins and whatsoever is not liquefiable and it melteth Metals Wax Gums Butter Tallow and the like 2 Notwithstanding even in those things which the Fire melteth if it bee very vehement and continueth it doth at last dry them For Metall in a strong Fire Gold onely excepted the volatile part being gone forth will become lesse ponderous and more brittle and those Oyly and fat Substances in the like Fire will burne up and bee dried and parched 3 Aire especially open Aire doth manifestly dry but not melt as High wayes and the upper part of the Earth moistned with showers are dryed 〈◊〉 Clothes washed if they bee hanged out in the Aire are likewise dried Herbs and Leaves and Flowers laid forth in the shade are dryed But much more suddenly doth the Aire this If it bee either inlightned with the Sun-beames so that they cause not putrefaction Or if the Aire bee stirred as when the Winde bloweth Or in Roomes open on all sides 4 Age most of all but yet slowest of all dryeth as in all bodies which if they be not prevented by putrefaction are dryed with Age. But Age is nothing of it selfe being onely the measure of time That which causeth the Effect is the native Spirit of bodies which sucketh up the moisture of the body and then together with it flyeth forth and the Aire ambient which multiplieth it selfe upon the native Spirits and jayees of the body and preyeth upon them 5 Cold of all things most properly dryeth for Drying is not caused but by Contraction Now Contraction is the proper work of Cold. But because we Men have Heat in a high Degree namely that of Fire but Cold in a very low Degree none other than that of Winter Or perhaps of Ice or of Snow or of Nitre therefore the Drying caused by Cold is but weak and easily resolved Notwithstanding wee see the Surface of the Earth to bee more dryed by Frost or by March windes than by the Sunne seeing the same winde both licketh up the moisture and affecteth with Coldnesse 6 Smoak is a Dryer as in Bacon and Neats Tongues which are hanged up in chimneys and perfumes of Olibanum or Lignum Aloes and the like dry the Braine and cure Catarrhs 7 Salt after some reasonable continuance dryeth not only on the outside but in the inside also as in Flesh and Fish salted which if they have continued any long time have a manifest hardnesse within 8 Hot Gummes applied to the skin dry and wrinkle it and some Astringent waters also doe the same 9 Spirit of strong wines imitateth the Fire in Drying For it will both potch an Egge put into it and toast Bread 10 Powders dry like Sponges by Drinking up the Moisture as it is in Sand throwneupon Lines new written Also Smoothnesse and Politenesse of Bodies which suffer not the Vapour of Moisture to goe in by the Pores Drie by accident because it exposeth it to the Aire As it is seene in Precious Stones Looking-Glasses and Blades of Swords Upon which if you breathe you shall see at first a little Mist But soone after it vanisheth like a Cloud And thus much for Desiceation or Drying 11 They use at this day in the East parts of Germany Garners in Vaults under Ground wherin they keepe wheat and other Graines Laying a good Quantity of Straw both under the Graines and about them to save them from the Danknesse of the Vault By which Device they keepe their Graiaes twenty or thirtie yeares And this doth not only preserve them from Eustinesse but that which pertaines more to the present Inquisition preserves them also in that Greennesse that they are fit and serviceable to make Bread The same is reported to have beene in use in Cappadocia and Thracia and some parts of Spaine 12 The placing of Garners on the Tops of Houses with Windowes towards the East and North is very commodious Some also make two Sollars An Upper and a Lower And the upper Sollar hath an Hole in it thorow which the Graine continually descendeth like Sand in an Houre-glasse And after a few dayes they throw it up againe with Shovels That so it may
the Processe thereof is finished by three Actions And all these as was said before have their Originall from the Native Spirit of bodies 3 The First Action is the Attenuation of the Moisture into Spirit The Second is the Issuing forth or Flight of the Spirit The third is the Contraction of the Grosser Parts of the Body immediately after the Spirit issued forth And this last is that Desiccation and Induration which we chiefly handle The Former Two consume only 4 Touching Attenuation the matter is manifest For the Spirit which is enclosed in every Tangible Body forgets not his Nature But whatsoever it meets withall in the Body in which it is enclosed that it can disgest and master and turne into it selfe That it plainly alters and subdues and multiplies it selfe upon it and begets new Spirit And this is evicted by one Proofe in stead of many For that those Things which are 〈◊〉 Dryed are Lessened in their Weight And become Hollow Porous and Resounding from within Now it is most certaine that the Inward Spirit of any Thing confers Nothing to the Weight But rather Lightens it And therefore it must needs be that the same Spirit hath turned into it the Moisture and Juyce of the Body which weighed before By which Meanes the Weight is lessened And this is the first Action The Attenuation of the Moisture and Converting it into Spirit 5 The second Action which is the Issuing forth or Flight of the Spirit is as manifest also For that Issuing forth when it is in throngs is apparent even to the Sense In Vapours to the Sight In Odours to the Smelling But if it issueth forth slowly As when a Thing is decayed by Age then it is not apparent to the Sense But the Matter is the same Againe where the Composure of the Body is either so Strait or so Tenacious That the Spirit can finde no Pores or Passages by which to depart Then in the striving to get out it drives before it the grosser Parts of the Body And protrudes them beyond the Superficies or Surface of the Bodit As it is in the Rust of Metals And Mould of all Fat Things And this is the second Action The Issuing forth or Flight of the Spirit 6 The third Action is somewhat more obscure but full as certaine That is The Contraction of the Grosser Parts after the Spirit issued forth And this appeares first in that Bodies after the Spirit issued forth doe manifestly Shrinke and 〈◊〉 a lesse Roome As it is in the Kernels of Nuts which after they are dryed are too little for the Shells And in Beames and Planchers of Houses which at first lay closo together but after they are dryed gape And likewise in Bowles which through Drought grow full of Cranies The Parts of the Bowle contracting themselves together and after Contraction must needs be emptie Spaces Secondly it appeares by the Wrinkles of Bodies Dryed For the Endevour of Contracting it selfe is such That by the Contraction it brings the Parts nearer together and so lifts them up For whatsoever is Contracted on the sides is lifted up in the Midst And this is to be seene in Papers and old Parchments And in the Skins of Living Creatures And in the Coats of Soft Cheeses All which with Age gather wrinkles Thirdly this Contraction shewes 〈◊〉 selfe Most in those Things which by Heat are not only wrinkled but ruffled and plighted and 〈◊〉 it were rowled together As it is in Papers and Parchments and Leaves brought neare the Fire For Contraction by Age which is more Slow commonly causeth wrinkles But Contraction by the Fire which is 〈◊〉 speedie causeth Plighting Now in most Things where it 〈◊〉 not to Wrinkling or Plighting there is simple Contraction and Angustiation 〈◊〉 Straitning and Induration 〈◊〉 Hardning and Desiccation As was shewed in the first place But if the Issuing forth of the Spirit and Absumption or waste of the Moisture bee so great That there is not left Bodie sufficient to unite and contract it selfe Then of Necessitie Contraction must cease And the Bodie 〈◊〉 Putride And nothing else but a little Dust cleaving together which with a light touch is dispersed and falleth asunder As it is in Bodies that are Rotten and in Paper burnt And Linnen made into Tinder And Carkaises Embalmed after many Ages And this is the Third Action The Contraction of the Grosser Parts after the Spirit issued forth 7 It is to be noted That Fire and Heat dry only by Accident For their proper Worke is to attenuate and dilate the Spirit and Moisture And then it followes by Accident that the other Parts should contract themselves Either for the Flying of Vacuum alone Or for some other Motion withall Whereof we now speake not 8 It is certaine that Putrefaction takes his Originall from the Native Spirit no lesse than Arefaction But it goeth on a far different way For in Putrefaction the Spirit is not simply vapoured forth But being detained in Part workes strange Garboises And the Grosser Parts are not so much locally contracted as they congregate themselves to Parts of the same Nature Length and Shortnesse of Life in living Creatures The Historie TOuching the Length and Shortnes of Life in Living Creatures the Information which may bee had is but Slender Observation is Negligent And Tradition Fabulous In Tame Creatures their 〈◊〉 Life corrupteth them In wilde Creatures their Exposing to all weathers often intercepteth them Neither doe those Things which may seeme Concomitants give any Furtherance to this Information The Greatnesse of their Bodies Their Time of Bearing in the Womb The Number of their Young ones The Time of their Growth And the Rest In regard that these Things are Intermixed And sometimes they concur sometimes they sever 1 Mans Age as farre as can be gathered by any certaine Narration doth exceed the Age of all other Living Creatures Except it be of a very few only And the Concomitants in him are very equally disposed His Stature and Proportion large His Bearing in the Wombe nine Moneths His Fruit commonly one at a Birth His Pubertie at the Age of Fourteen yeares His Time of Growing till Twenty 2 The Elephant by undoubted Relation exceeds the Ordinary Race of Mans life But his Bearing in the Wombe the space of ten yeares is fabulous Of two yeares or at least above one is certaine Now his Bulke is great His Time of Growth untill the thirtieth yeare His Teeth exceeding hard Neither hath it beene unobserved That his Bloud is the coldest of all Creatures His Age hath sometimes reached to two hundred yeares 3 Lions are accounted long Livers because many of them have been found Toothlesse A signe not so certaine For that may bee caused by their strong Breath 4 The Beare is a great Sleeper A Dull Beast and given to ease And yet not noted for long Life Nay hee hath this signe of short Life That his Bearing in the Wombe is but short scarce full forty
the Body and humbleth the spirits no marvel if an extraordinary length of life doe follow Such as was that of Paul the 〈◊〉 Simeon Stilita the 〈◊〉 Anchorite And of many other Hermites and Ancherites 48 Next unto this is the Life led in good letters Such as was that of Philosophers Rhetoricians Grammarians This life is led also in feisure And in those Thoughts which seeing they are severed from the Affaires of the world bite not But rather delight through their Varietie and Impertinencie They live also at their pleasure Spending their Time in such Things as like them best And for the most part in the company of young Men which is ever the most cheerefull But in Philosophies there is great Difference betwixt the Sects as touching long Life For those Philosophies which have in them a Touch of Superstition and are conversant in High Contemplations are the best As the Pythagoricall and Platonick Also those which did institute a perambulation of the world And considered the Varietit of Naturall Things And had Retchlesse and High and Magnanimous Thoughts As of Infinitum of the Stars of the Heroicall Vertues and such like were good for lengthening of Life Such were those of 〈◊〉 Philolaus Xenophanes the Astrologians and Stoicks Also those which had no profound speculation in them But discoursed calmly on both sides out of common sense and the Received Opinions without any shapr Inquisition were likewise Good Such were those of Carneades and the Academicks Also of the Rhetoricians and Grammarians But contrarily Philosophies conversant in perplexing subtilties And which pronounced peremptorily And which examined and 〈◊〉 all Things to the Scale of Principles Lastly which were Thornie and Narrow were Evill Such were those commonly of the Peripateticks and of the Schoolemen 49 The Countrie Life also is well fitted for long Life It is much abroad and in the open Aire It is not slothfull but ever in Employment It Feedeth upon Fresh Cates and unbought It is without Cares and Envie 50 For the Militar Life wee have a good opinion of that whilest a Man is young Certainly many excellent 〈◊〉 riers have beene long liv'd Corvinus Camillus 〈◊〉 Agesilaus with others 〈◊〉 Ancient and Moderne No doubt it furthereth long life to have all Things from our youth to our Elder Age Mend and Grow to the Better That a youth full of Crosses may minister sweetnesse to our Old Age. Wee conceive also that 〈◊〉 Affections inflamed with a Desire of Fighting and Hope of Victorie doe infuse such a Heat into the Spirits as may be profitable for long Life Medicines for long Life THe Art of Physick which we now have lookes no further commonly than to Conservation of Health and Cure of Diseases As for these Things which tend properly to long Life there is but slight mention and by the way onely notwithstanding we will propound those Medicines which are Notable in this Kinde I 〈◊〉 those which are called Cordials For it is consonant to Reason that those Things which being taken in Cures doe defend and fortifie the Heart or more truly the Spirits against Poysons and Diseases Being transferred with judgement and choice 〈◊〉 Diet should have a good effect in some sort towards the prolonging of Life This wee will doe not heaping them promiscuously together as the manner is but selecting the best 1 Gold is given in three Formes Either in that which they call Aurum potabile Or in Wine wherein Cold hath beene quenched Or in Gold in the Substance such as are Leafe Gold and the Filings 〈◊〉 Gold As for Aurum 〈◊〉 it is used to bee given in desperate or dangerous Diseases And that not without good successe But wee suppose that the Spirits of the Salt by which the Gold is dissolved doe rather minister that vertue which is found in it than the Gold it selfe Though this Secret be wholly suppressed Now if the Body of Gold could be opened without these Corrosive waters Or by these Corrosive Waters so the venemous Qualitie were wanting well washed wee conceive it would bee no unprofitable Medicine 2 Pearles are taken either in a fine powder or in a certaine Masse or Dissolution by the Juyce of sowre and new Limons And they are given sometimes in Aromaticall Confections sometimes in Liquour The Pearle no doubt hath some affinitie with the Shell in which it groweth And may be of the same qualitie with the Shels of Crey-Fishes 3 Amongst the Transparent precious Stones two onely are accounted Cordiall The Emeraud and the 〈◊〉 which are given under the same Formes that the Pearles are Save only that the Dissolutions of them as farre as wee know are not in use But wee suspect these Glassy Iewels left they should be cutting Of these which we have mentioned how farre and in what manner they are helpfull shall be spoken 〈◊〉 4 Bezear Stone is of approved Vertue For refreshing the Spirits and procuring a gentle sweat As for 〈◊〉 Horne it hath lost the Credit with us yet so as it may keep Rank with Harts Horne And the Bone in the Heart of a Hart And Ivorie And such like 5 Amber Grise is one of the best to appease and Comfort the Spirits Hereafter follow the Names onely of the Simple Cordials seeing their Vertues are sufficiently knowne Hot. Cold. Saffron Nitre Folium Indum Roses  Violets Lignum Aloes Straw-berrie leaves Citron-Pill or Rinde Straw-berries Balme Iuyce of sweet Limons Basill  Clove Gilly-Flowers Iuyce of sweet Orenges Orenge Flowers Iuyce of Permaines Rosemarie Borrage Mint Buglosse Betony Burnet Carduus Benedictus Sanders  Camphire Seeing our Speech now is of those Things which may be transferred into Diet All Hot Waters And Chymicall Oyles which 〈◊〉 a certaine Trifler saith are under the Planet Mars And have a Furious and Destructive Force As also all Hot and Biting Spices Are to be rejected And a Consideration to bee had how Waters and Liquours may bee made of the Former Simples Not those Phlegmatick Distilled Waters Nor againe those Burning Waters of Spirit of Wine But such as may be more temperate and yet lively and sending forth a Benigne Vapour 6 Wee make some Question touching the Frequent Letting of Bloud whether it conduceth to long Life or no And wee are rather in the Opinion that it doth if it be turned into an Habit and other Things be well disposed For it letteth out the old Juyce of the Body and bringeth in new 7 We suppose also that some Emaciating Diseases well cured doe profit to long Life For they yeeld New Juyce the old being consumed And as he saith To recover a sicknesse is to renew youth Therefore it were good to make some Artificiall Diseases which is done by strict and Emaciating Diets Of which wee shall speak hereafter The Intentions HAving finished the Inqusition according to the Subjects As Namely of Inanimate Bodies Vegetables Living Creatures Man Wee will now come nearer to the Matter and order our Inquisition by certaine
The Seventh Operation upon the Aliment it selfe 〈◊〉 the Insinuation thereof 8 The Eighth Operation is 〈◊〉 on the last Act of Assimilatioc 9 The Ninth Operation is up on the Inteneration of the Part after they begin to be Dried 10 The Tenth Operation is on the Purging away of 〈◊〉 Juyce and Supplying of 〈◊〉 Juyce Of these Operations the 〈◊〉 first belong to the First Intention The foure next to the 〈◊〉 Intention And the two last the Third Intention But because this Part touching the Intentions doth tend to Practice under the Name of Historie we will not onely comprise Experiments and Observations But also Councels Remedies Explications of Causes Assumptions and whatsoever hath Reference hereunto The Operation upon the Spirits that they may remaine youthfull and renue their Vigour The Historie 1 THe Spirits are the Master-workmen of all Effects in the Bodie This is manifest by Consent And by Infinite Instances 2 If any Man could procure that a young Mans Spirit could be conveyed into 〈◊〉 Mans Body It is not unlikely but this great Wheele of the Spirits might turne 〈◊〉 the lesser wheele of the 〈◊〉 And so the Course of 〈◊〉 become Retrograde 3 In every Consumption whether it be by Fire or by Age the more the Spirit of the Body or the Heat preyeth upon the Moisture 〈◊〉 lesser is the Duration of the Thing This occurres every where and is manifest 4 The Spirits are to be 〈◊〉 such a Temperament and Degree of Activitie 〈◊〉 they should not as He 〈◊〉 Drinke or Guzzle the 〈◊〉 of the Body But Sippe them onely 5 There are two Kinds of Flames The one Eager and weak which consumes slight Substances but hath little power over the Harder As the Flame of Straw or small Sticks The other strong and constant which converts Hard and obstinate substances As the Flame of Hard wood and such like 6 The eager Flames and yet lesse Robust doe drie Bodies and render them exhaust and Baplesse But the stronger Flames doe 〈◊〉 and melt them 7 Also in 〈◊〉 Mediines some vapour forth the 〈◊〉 part of the Tumours or Swellings and these 〈◊〉 the Tumour Others potently discusse and these Soften it 8 Also in Purging and Absterging Medicines some carry away the Fluide Humours violently others draw the more Obstinate and viscous 9 The Spirits ought to be invested and armed with such a Heat That they may choose rather to stirre and 〈◊〉 Hard and obstinate Matters Than to discharge and carry away the thin and prepared For by that meanes the Body becomes Greene and Solide 10 The Spirits are so to be wrought and tempered That they may be In Substance Dense 〈◊〉 Rare In Heat Strong 〈◊〉 Eager In Quantity Sufficient for the Offices of Life 〈◊〉 Redundant or TurgideIn Motion Appeased 〈◊〉 Dancing or Unequall 11 That Vapours worke powerfully upon the Spirits it is manifest By Sleepe by Drunkennesse by Melancholy Passions By Laetificant Medicines By Odours calling the Spirits back againe in Swounings and Faintings 12 The Spirits are condensed foure wayes Either by Putting them to Flight Or by Refrigerating and Cooling them Or by Stroaking them Or by Quieting them And first of their Condensation by putting them to Flight 13 Whatsoever putteth to Flight on all parts driveth the Body into his Center And so condenseth 14 To the Condenfution of the Spirits by Flight the most Powerfull and Effectuall is Opium And next Opiates And generally all 〈◊〉 Things 15 The force of Opium to the Condensation of the Spirits 〈◊〉 exceeding strong When as perhaps three graines thereof will in a short time so Coagulate the Spirits that they returne no more but are extinguished and become Im moveable 16 Opium and the like put not the Spirits to Flight by their Coldnesse For they have Parts manifestly Hot But 〈◊〉 the contrary coole by their putting the Spirits to Flight 17 The Flight of the Spirits by Opium and Opiate Medicines 〈◊〉 best seene by applying 〈◊〉 same outwardly For the 〈◊〉 straight withdraw themselves And will returne 〈◊〉 more But the Part is Mortified And turnes to a Gangrene 18 Opiates in Grievous Pains as in the Stone or the Cutting off of a Lunme mitigate paines Most of all by putting the Spirits to Flight 19 Opiates obtaine a good Effect from a bad Cause For the Flight of the Spirits is Evill But the Condensation of them through their Flight is Good 20 The Grecians attributed much both for Health and for Prolongation of Life to Opiates But the Arabians much more In so much that their Grand Medicines which they called the Gods Hands Had Opium for their Basis principall Ingredient other Things being mixed to abate and correct the Noxious Qualities thereof Such were Treacle Mithridate and the rest 21 Whatsoever is given with good successe in the curing of pestilentiall and Malignant Diseases To stop and Bridle the Spirits lest they grow Turbulent and Tumultuate May very happily be transferred to Prolongation of Life For one Thing is effectuall unto both Namely the Condensation of the Spirits Now there is nothing better for that than Opiates 22 The Turkes finde Opium even in a reasonable good quantitie Harmelesse and Comfortable In so much that they take it before their Battell to excite Courage But to us unlesse it be in a very small Quantity and with good Correctives it is Mortall 23 Opium and Opiates are maaifestly found to excite Venus Which shewes them to have force to corroborate the Spirits 24 Distilled mater of wilde Poppie is given with good successe in Sursets Agues and divers Diseases Which no doubt is a Temperate kinde of Opiate Neither let any man wonder at the various use of it For that is Familiar to Opiates In regard that the Spirits corroborated and Condensed will rise up against any Disease 25 The Turkes use a kinde of Herb which they call Caphe which they dry and powder And then drinke it in warme water Which they say doth not a little sharpen them both in their Courage and in their Wits Notwithstanding if it be taken in a large Quantity it affects and disturbs the Minde Whereby it is manifost that it is of the same Nature with Opiates 26 There is a Root much renowmed in al the Easternparts which they call Betel Which the Indians and others use to carry in their Mouths and to champ it And by that champing they are wonderfully enabled both to endure Labours and to overcome Sicknesses and to the Act of carnall Copulation It seemes to be a kinde of Stupefactive because it exceedingly blacks the Teeth 27 Tobacco in our Age is immoderately growne into use And it affects Men with a secret kinde of Delight In so much that they who have once inured themselves to it can hardly afterwards leave it And no doubt it hath power to lighten the Body and to shake off wearinesse Now the vertue of it is commonly thought to be because it opens the Passages and void Humours But it may more
Speech than profundity of Matters were also long Liv'd As Gorgias Protagoras I socraetes Seneca And certainly as old Men are for the most part Talkative So Talkative Men doe often grow very old For it shewes a Light Contemplation And such as doth not much straine the Spirits 〈◊〉 them But Subtill and Acute and Eager Inquisition shortens Life For it tireth the Spirit and wasteth it And as touching the Motion of the Spirits by the Affections of the Minde thus much Now we will adde certaine other Generall Observations touching the Spirits beside the former Which fall not 〈◊〉 the Precedent Distribution 92 Especiall Care must be taken that the Spirits bee not too often Resolved For 〈◊〉 goeth before Resolution And the Spirit once 〈◊〉 doth not very easily retire or is Condensed Now Resolution is caused by Over-great Labours Over-vehement Affections of the Mind Over-great Sweats Over-great Evacuations Hot Baths And an untemperate and unseasonable use of Venus Also by Over-great Cares and Carpings and Anxious Expectations Lastly by Malignane Diseases and Intolerable Paines and Torments of the Body All which as much as may bee which our Vulga Phyficians also advise must be avoided 93 The Spirits are delighted both with Wonted Things and with New Now it makert wonderfully to the Conservation of the Spirits in 〈◊〉 That wee neither use 〈◊〉 Things to a Satiety and 〈◊〉 Nor New Things before a quick and strong Appetite And therefore both Customes are to be broken off with Judgement and Care before they breed a Fulnesse And the Appetite aster New Things to be restrained for a Time untill it grow more Sharp and jocund And moreover the Life as much as may be so to be ordered That it may have many Renovations And the Spirits by perpetuall Conversing in the same Actions may not wax Dull For though it were no ill 〈◊〉 of Seneca's The Fools doth 〈◊〉 begin to Live Yet this Folly and many more such are good for long Life 94 It is to bee observed 〈◊〉 the Spirits though the Contrary useth to be done That when Men perceive their Spirits to be in a good 〈◊〉 and Healthfull State That which will be seene by the Tranquillitie of their 〈◊〉 and cheerefull 〈◊〉 That they cherish them and not change them But when in a Turbulent and untoward State Which will also appeare by their Sadnesse Lumpishnesse and other Indisposition of their Minde That then they straight overwhelme them and alter them Now the Spirits are contained in the same state By a Restraining of the Affections Temperatenes of Diet Abstinence from 〈◊〉 Moderation in Labour Indifferent Rest and Repose And the Contrary to these do alter and over-whelme the Spirits As Namely Vehe ment Affections Profuse Feastings Immoderate Venus Difficult labours Earnest Studies and prosecutions of Businesse Yet Men are wont when they are Merriest and best disposed then to apply themselves to Feastings 〈◊〉 Labours Endevours Businesses whereas if they have a regard to long Life which may seeme strange they should rather Practise the Contrary For wee ought to 〈◊〉 and preserve good Spirits And for the evill disposed Spirits to discharge and alter them 95 〈◊〉 saith not unwisely That Old Men for the Comforting of their Spirits ought often to remember and 〈◊〉 upon the Acts of their Childhood and Youth Certainly such a Remembrance is a 〈◊〉 of Peculiar 〈◊〉 to every Old Man And therefore it is a Delight to Men to enjoy the Societie of them which have beene brought up together with them And to visit the places of their Education Vespasian did attribute so much to this Matter That when hee was 〈◊〉 hee would by no meanes bee perswaded to leave his Fathers House though but meane Lest bee should lose the wonted Object of his Eyes and the Memory of his child-hood 〈◊〉 besides he would drinke 〈◊〉 Woodden Cup tipped with 〈◊〉 which was his Grandmothers upon Festivall Dayes 96 One Thing above all gratefull to the Spirits 〈◊〉 there be a Continuall Progresse to the more Benigne Therefore wee should lead such Youth and Manhood the our Old Age should find 〈◊〉 Solaces Whereof the 〈◊〉 is Moderate Ease And there fore Old Men in Honourable Places lay violent Hands up on themselves who retire 〈◊〉 to their Ease whereof 〈◊〉 be found an Eminent Example in Cassiodorus who was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Reputation amongst the 〈◊〉 Kings of Italy that he 〈◊〉 as the Soule of their 〈◊〉 Afterwards being neare 〈◊〉 yeares of Age he 〈◊〉 himselfe to a 〈◊〉 Where he ended not his 〈◊〉 before he was an 〈◊〉 years old But this Thing 〈◊〉 require two Cautions 〈◊〉 that they drive not off 〈◊〉 their Bodies bee utterly 〈◊〉 out and Diseased For 〈◊〉 such Bodie all Mutation 〈◊〉 to the more Benigne 〈◊〉 Death The other 〈◊〉 they surrender not themselves to a Sluggish Ease But 〈◊〉 they Embrace something which may entertaine their Thoughts and Minde with Contentation In which 〈◊〉 the chiefe Delights are Reading and Contemplation And then the Desires of 〈◊〉 ding and Planting 97 Lastly The same 〈◊〉 Endevour and Labour under taken Cheerefully and with good will doth Refresh 〈◊〉 Spirits But with an 〈◊〉 tion and Vnwillingnesse 〈◊〉 Fret and Deject them 〈◊〉 therefore it conferreth 〈◊〉 long Life Either that a 〈◊〉 hath the Art to institute 〈◊〉 Life so as it may be Free 〈◊〉 Sutable to his owne 〈◊〉 Or else to lay such a Command upon his minde that whatsoever is imposed by Fortune it may rather lead him than drag him 98 Neither is that to be 〈◊〉 ted towards the Government of the Affections That espe ciall care bee taken of 〈◊〉 Mouth of the Stomach Espe cially that it be not too much 〈◊〉 For that part hath a greater Dominion over the Affections Especially the Daily Affections Than either the Heart or Braine Only those Things excepted which are wrought by potent Vapours As in Drunkennesse and Melancholy 99 Touching the Operation upon the Spirits that they may remaine Youthfull and Renew their Vigour thus much Which wee have done the more accurately for that there 〈◊〉 for the most part amongst Physicians and other Authors 〈◊〉 these Operations a deepe silence But especially because the Operation upon the Spirits and their Waxing 〈◊〉 againe is the most Realy and Compendious way to long Life And that for a two-fold Compendiousnesse One because the Spirits work compendiously upon the Body The other because Vpours and the Affections 〈◊〉 compendiously upon the Spirits So as these attaine the end as it were in a right line Other Things rather in lines Circular The Operation upon the Exclusion of the Aire 2. The Historie 1 THe Exclusion of the Aire Ambient tendeth to Length of Life two wayes First for 〈◊〉 the Externall Aire next 〈◊〉 the Native Spirit 〈◊〉 the Aire may be said to 〈◊〉 the Spirit of Man 〈◊〉 conferreth not a little to 〈◊〉 Doth most of all 〈◊〉 upon the Juyces of the 〈◊〉 And hasten the Desiction thereof And 〈◊〉 the Exclusion
Oyle Left the Attrition of the Outward Parts make them by Perspiration Dry and Juycelesse 5 The next is Exercise by which the Parts confricate and chafe themselves so it bee Moderate And which as was noted before be not Swift nor to the utmost Strength nor unto wearinesse But in Exercise and in Frication there is the same Reason and Caution That the Body may not perspire or 〈◊〉 too much Therefore Exercise is better in the oper Aire than in the House And better in Winter than in Summer And againe Exercise is not onely to be concluded with Vnction as Frication is But in vehement Exercises Vnction is to bee used both in the Beginning and in the End As it was anciently to Champions 6 That Exercise may resolve either the Spirits or the Juyces as little as may be it is necessarie that it be used when the Stomach is not altogether Emptie And therefore that it may not bee used upon full Stomach which doth much concerne Health Nor yet upon an Emptie Stomach which doth no lesse concerne Long Life It is best to take a Breakfast in the Morning Not of any Physicall Drugs or of any Liquours or of Raisins or of Figs or the like But of plaine Meat and Drink yet that very light and in moderate Quantitie 7 Exercise used for the Irrigation of the Members ought to be Equall to all the Members Not as Socrates said that the Legs should move and the Armes should rest Or on the contrarie But that all the Parts may participate of the Motion And it is altogether requisite to long Life that the Body should never abide long in one posture But that every halfe houre at least it change the posture Saving only in Sleepe 8 Those Things which are used to Mortification may bee transferred to Vivification For both Haire Shirts aud 〈◊〉 and all vexations of the outward parts doe fortifie the Attractive Force of them 9 Cardan commends Netling Even to let out 〈◊〉 But of this we have no Experience And besides we have no good opinion of it lest through the venemous Qualitie of the Nettle it may with often use breed Itches and other Diseases of the Skin And touching the Operation upon the Outward Parts for their Attraction of Aliment thus much The Operation upon the Aliment it selfe for the Insinuation thereof 7. The Historie 1 THe vulgar Reproofe touching many Dishes doth rather become a severe Reformer than a Physician Or howsoever it may be good for preservation of Health yet it is Hurtfull to length of Life By reason that a various Mixture of Aliments and somewhat Heterogeneous findes a passage into the veines and juyces of the Body more lively and cheerfully than a Simple and Homogeneous Diet doth Besides it is more Forcible to stirre up Appetite which is the Spur of Disgestion Therefore we allow both a Full Table and a continuall changing of Dishes according to the Seasons of the yeare or upon other occasions 2 Also that Opinion of the Simplicitie of Meats without Sawces is but a Simplicity of Judgement For good and well chosen Sawces are the most wholesome preparations of Meats And conduce both to Health and to Long Life 3 It must bee ordered that with Meats hard of Disgestion be conjoyned strong Liquours And Sawces that may penetrate and make way But with Meats more easie of Disgestion smaller Liquours and Fat Sawces 4 Whereas wee advised before that the first Draught at Supper should bee taken warne Now wee adde that for the preparation of the Stomach a good Draught of that Liquour to which every Man is most accustomed be taken warme halfe an Houre before Meat also But a little spiced to please the Taste 5 The Preparation of Meats and Bread and Drinks That they bee rightly handled and in order to this Intention Is of exceeding great Moment Howsoever it may seeme a Mechanicall Thing and savouring of the Kitchin and Buttrie yet it is of more consequence than those Fables of Gold and Precious Stones and the like 6 The Moistning of the Iuyces of the Body by a Moist preparation of the Aliments is a childish Thing It may be somewhat availeable against the Fervours of Diseases But it is altogether adverse to a Roscide Alimentation Therefore Boyling of Meats as concerning our Intention is farre inferiour to Roasting and Baking and the like 7 Roasting ought to bee with a quick fire and soone dispatched Not with a dull Fire and in long time 8 All Solide Fleshes ought to be served in not altogether Fresh but somewhat powdered or Corned The lesse Salt may bee spent at the Table with them or none at all For Salt incorporated with the Meat before is better distributed in the Body than eaten with it at the Table 9 There would bee brought into use severall and good 〈◊〉 and Infusions of Meats in convenient Liquours before the Roasting of them The like whereof are sometimes in use before they bake them And in the Pickles of some Fishes 10 But Beatings and as it were Scourgings of Flesh Meats before they bee boiled would work no small Matter Wee see it is confessed that Pertridges and Pheasants killed with an Hawke Also Bucks and Stags killed in Hunting If they stand not out too long eat better even to the Tast. And some Fishes Scourged and Beaten become more tender and wholesome Also Hard and Sowre Peares and some other Fruits grow sweet with Rowling them It were good to practise some such Beating and Bruising of the Harder kindes of Fleshes before they bee brought to the Fire And this would bee one of the best preparations of all 11 Bread a little leavened and very little salted is best And which is baked in an oven thorowly heated and not with a faint Heat 12 The Preparation of Drinks in order to long Life shall not exceed one precept And as touching Water Drinkers wee have Nothing to say Such a Diet as wee said before may prolong life to an Indifferent Terme but to no Eminent length But in other Drinks that are full of Spirit Such as are wine Ale Mead and the like This one Thing is to bee observed and pursued as the summe of all That the parts of the Liquour may bee exceeding Thin and Subtile And the Spirit exceeding Mild This is Hard to be done by Age alone For that makes the Parts a little more subtile But the Spirits much more sharp and eager Therefore of the Infusion in the vessels of some Fat Substance which may restraine the Acrimonie of the Spirits counsell hath beene given before There is also another way without Infusion or Mixture This is That the Liquour might bee continually agitated Either by Carriage upon the water Or by Carriage by Land Or by Hanging the Vessels upon Lines and daily stirring them Or some such other way For it is certaine That this 〈◊〉 Motion doth both subtilize the parts And doth so Incorporate and Compact the Spirits with the parts That they have no
leisure to turne to sowrenesse which is a kind of Putrefaction 13 But in extreme old Age such a preparation of Meats is to be made as may be almost in the Middle-way to Chylus And touching the Distillations of Meats they are meere Toyes For the Nutritive part at least the best of it doth not ascend in Vapours 14 The Incorporating of 〈◊〉 and Drink before they meet in the Stomach is a Degree to Chylus Therefore let Chickens or Pertridges or 〈◊〉 or the like bee taken And boiled in Water with a little Salt Then let them be cleansed and dried Afterward let them be infused in Must or Ale before it hath done working with a little Sugar 15 Also Gravies of Meat and Mincings of them small well seasoned Are good for old Persons And the rather for that they are destituted of the Office of their Teeth in chewing which is a principall kinde of preparation 16 And as for the Helps of that Defect Namely of the Strength of Teeth to grinde the Meat There are three Things which may conduce thereunto First that New Teeth may put forth That which seemes al together Difficult and cannot bee accomplished without an Inward and powerfull Restauration of the Body Secondly that the Iawes be so confirmed by due Astringents that they may in some sort supply the office of the Teeth which may possibly bee effected Thirdly that the Meat bee so prepared that there shall be no need of chewing which Remedy 〈◊〉 ready and at Hand 17 We have some Thought also touching the Quantitie of the Meat and Drinke That the same taken in larger Quantitie at some times is good for the Irrigation of the Body Therefore both Greas Feastings and Free Drinkings are not altogether to be inhibited And touching the Operation upon the Aliments and the Preparation of them thus much The Operation upon the Last Act of Assimilation 8. TOuching the last Act of Assimilation unto which the three Operations immediately preceding chiefly tend our Advice shall be briefe and single And the Thing it selfe rather needs Explication than any various Rules 1 IT is certaine that all Bodies are endued with some Desire of Assimilating those things which are next them Tuis the Rare and Pneumaticall Bodies As Flame Spirit Airt performe generously and with Alacritie On the contrary those that carrie a Grosse and Tangible Bulke about them Doe but weakly In regard that the Desire of Assimilating other Thing is bound in by a stronger Desire of Rest and Containing themselves from Motion 2 Againe it is certaine That that Desire of Assimilating being bound as wee said in a Grosse Body and made 〈◊〉 Is somewhat freed and stirred up by the Heat and Neighbouring Spirit So that it is then Actuated which is the onely cause why Inanimates Assimilate not and Animates 〈◊〉 3 This also is certaine That the Harder the Consistence of the Body is the more doth that Body stand in need of a Greater Heat to prick forward the Assimilation Which fals out ill for old Men because in them the Parts are more Obstinate and the Heat weaker And therefore either the Obstinacie of their Parts is to be softned or their Heat increased And as touching the Malacissation or Mollifying of the Members we shall speak afterward Having also formerly propounded many Things which pertaine to the prohibiting and preventing of this kinde of Hardnesse For the other touching the Increasing of the Heat wee will now deliver a single precept After wee have first assumed this Axiome 4 The Act of Assimilation which as we said is excited by the Heat circumfused in a Motion exceeding Accurate Subtile and in Little Now all such Motions doe then come to their Vigour when the Locall Motion wholly ceaseth which disturbeth it For the Motion of Separation into Homogeneall parts which is in Milke That the Creame should swim above and the Whey sink to the bottome will never work if the Milk bee never so little agitated Neither will any Puterfaction proceed in Water or Mixt Bodies if the same be in Continuall Local Motion So then from this Assumption we will conclude this for the present Inquisition 5 The Act it selfe of Assimilation is chiefly accomplished in Sleepe and Rest Especially towards the Morning the Distribution being finished Therefore we have nothing else to advise but that Men keep Themselves Hot in their Sleepe And further that towards the Morning there be used some Annointing or Shirt 〈◊〉 with Oyle such as may gently stir up Heat And after that to fall asleep again And touching the Last Act of Assimilation thus much The Operation upon the Inteneration of that which begins to be Arified Or the Malacissation of the Body 9. WEe have inquired formerly touching the Inteneration from within 〈◊〉 is done by many Windings 〈◊〉 Circuits as well of 〈◊〉 as of Detaining the Spirit from Issuing forth 〈◊〉 therefore is accomplished Slowly Now we are to inquire touching that Inteneration which is 〈◊〉 without And is effected as 〈◊〉 were Suddenly Or touching the Malacissation and 〈◊〉 of the Body The Historie 1 IN the Fable of Restoring Pelias to Youth againe Medea when the Faigned to doe it 〈◊〉 this way of 〈◊〉 the same That the 〈◊〉 Mans Body should be cut into severall Peeces And 〈◊〉 Boyled in a Cauldron with certaine Medicaments There may perhaps some 〈◊〉 bee required to this Matter But the Cutting into 〈◊〉 is not needfull 2 Notwithstanding this Cuting into Peeces seemes in some sort to be usefull Not 〈◊〉 a Knife but with Judgement For whereas the Consistence of the Bowels and 〈◊〉 is very divers It is needfull that the Inteneration of them both be not effected the same way But that there be a Cure designed of each in particular Besides those Things which pertaine to the Inteneration of the whole Masse of the Bodie Of which notwithstanding in the first place 3 This Operation if perhaps it bee within our power is most likely to bee done by Baths Vnctions and the like Concerning which these Things that follow are to be observed 4 We must not be too forward in Hoping to Accomplish this matter from the Examples of those Things which we see done in the Imbibitions and Macerations of Inanimates By which they are intenerated whereof we introduced some Instances before For this kinde of Operation is more Easie upon Inanimates Because they attract and suck in the Liquour But upon the Bodies of Living Creatures it is Harder Because in them the Motion rather tendeth outward and to the Circumference 5 Therefore the Emollient Baths which are in use doe little good but on the contrary hurt Because they rather draw forth than make entrance And resolve the Structure of the Body rather than consolidate it 6 The Baths and Vnctions which may serve to the present Operation Namely of Intenerating the Body truly and really ought to have three properties 7 The First and Principall is That they consist of those Things which in their Whole Substance are
into the Lungs and to take in new Scarce the third part of a Minute 16 Againe the Beating of the Pulse And the Motion of the Systole and Diastole of the Heart are three times quicker than that of Breathing Insomuch that if it were possible that that Motion of the Heart could be stopped without stopping the Breath Death would follow more speedily thereupon than by Strangling 17 Notwithstanding Vse and Custome prevaile much in this Naturall Action of Breathing As it is in the Delian Divers and Fishers for Pearle who by long use can hold their Breaths at least ten times longer than other Men can doe 18 Amongst Living Creatures even of those that have Lungs there are some that are able to hold their Breaths a long time and others that cannot hold them so long According as they need more or lesse Refrigeration 19 Fishes need lesse Refrigeration than Terrestriall Creatures yet some they need and take it by their Gils And as Terrestriall Creatures cannot beare the Aire that is too Hot or too Close So Fishes are suffocated in waters if they be totally and long Frozen 20 If the Spirit be assaulted by another Heat greater than it selfe it is dissipated and destroyed For if it cannot beare the proper Heat without Refrigeration much lesse can it beare another Heat which is farre stronger This is to bee seene in Burning Fevers where the Heat of the Putrified Humours doth exceed the Native Heat Even to Extinction or Dissipation 21 The Want also and Use of Sleepe is referred to Refrigeration For Motion doth attenuate and 〈◊〉 the Spirit And doth sharpen and increase the Heat thereof Contrarily Sleepe settleth and restraineth the Motion and Gadding of the same 〈◊〉 though Sleepe doth strengthen and advance the Actions 〈◊〉 the Parts and of the livelesse Spirits and all that Motion which is to the Circumference of the Body yet it doth in great part quiet and still the proper Motion of the Living Spirit Now Sleepe regularly is due unto Humane Nature once within Foure and Twentie Houres And that for Six or Five Houres at the least Though there are even in this kinde sometimes Miracles of Nature As it is recorded of Mecaenas that he slept not for a long time before his Death And as touching the Want of Refrigeration for Conserving of the Spirit thus much 22 As concerning the third Indigence Namely of Aliment It seemes to pertaine rather to the Parts than to the Living Spirit For a Man may easily beleeve that the Living Spirit 〈◊〉 in Identitie Not by succestion or Renovation And as for the 〈◊〉 Soule in Man it is above all question That it is no engendred of the Soule of the Parents Nor is repaired Nor can dye They speake of the Naturall Spirit of living Creatutes And also of Vegetables which differs from that other Soule essentially and formally For out of the Confusion of these that same Transmigration of Soules and Innumerable other Devices of Heathens and Hereticks have proceeded 23 The Body of Man doth regularly require Renovation by Aliment every day And Body in Health can scarce endure Fasting three dayes together Notwithstanding Use and Custome will doe much even in this Case But in Sicknesse Fasting is lesse grievous to the Body Also Sleepe doth supply somewhat to Nourishment And on the other side Exercise doth require it more abundantly Likewise there have some beene found who have susteined themselves almost to a Miracle in Nature a very long time without Meat or Drink 24 Dead Bodies if they bee not intercepted by Putrefaction will subsist a long time without any Notable Absumption But Living Bodies not above three dayes as wee said unlesse they be repaired by Nourishment rishment which sheweth that quick Absumption to bee the work of the Living Spirit which either repaires it selfe or puts the Parts into a Necessitie of being repaired Or both This is testified by that also which was noted a little before Namely that Living Creatures may subsist somewhat the longer without Aliment if they Sleepe Now Sleepe is Nothing else but a Reception and Retirement of the Living Spirit into it selfe 25 An abundant and continuall Effluxion of Bloud which sometimes happeneth in the Hemorrhoides sometimes in Vomiting of Bloud the Inward Veines being unlocked broken sometimes by Wounds Causeth sudden Death In regard that the Bloud of the Veines ministreth to the Arteries And the Bloud of the Arteries to the Spirit 26 The Quantitie of Meat and Drink which a Man eating two Meales a day receiveth into his Body is not small Much more than he voideth againe either by Stoole or by Urine or by Sweating You will say No marvell Seeing the Remainder goeth into the Juyces and Substance of the Body It is true But consider then that this Addition is made twice a day and yet the Body aboundeth not much In like manner though the Spirit be repaired yet it growes not Excessively in the Quantitie 27 It doth no good to have the Aliment ready in a Degree removed But to have it of that Kinde And so prepared and supplied that the Spirit may work upon it For the Staff of a Torch alone will not maintaine the Flame unlesse it be fed with wax Neither can Men live upon Herbs alone And from thence comes the Inconcoction of old Age That though there bee Flesh and Bloud yet the Spirit is become so Penurious and Thin And the Juyces and Bloud so Heartlesse and Obstinate that they hold no proportion to Alimentation 28 Let us now cast up the Accounts of the Needs and Indigences according to the Ordinarie and Usuall Course of Nature The Spirit hath need of Opening and Moving it selfe in the Ventricles of the Braine and Nerves even continually Of the Motion of the Heart every Third part of a Moment Of Breathing every Moment Of Sleepe and Nourishment once within three Dayes Of the Power of Nourishing commonly till Eighty yeares bee past And if any of these Indigences bee neglected Death ensueth So there are plainly three Porches of Death Destitution of the Spirit In the Motion In the Refrigeration In the Aliment It is an Errour to think that the Living Spirit is perpetually generated and extinguished as Flame is And abideth not any notable time For even Flame it selfe is not thus out of his owne proper Nature But because it liveth amongst Enemies For Flame within Flame endureth Now the Living Spirit liveth amongst Friends and all due Obsequiousnesse So then as Flame is a Momentany Substance Aire a Fixed Substance The Living Spirit is betwixt both Touching the Extinguishing of the Spirit by the Destruction of the Organs which is caused by Diseases and Violence 〈◊〉 inquire not now As wee foretold in the Beginning Although that also endeth in the same three Porches And touching the Forme of Death it selfe thus much 29 There are two great Forerunners of Death The one sent from the Head the other from the Heart 〈◊〉 and the Extreme Labour of the Pulse
the Bodie as that newly made flye away together by Degrees This is best seene by the Dimination of the Weight in Bodies dryed through Perspiration For neither all that which is issued forth was Spirit when the Body was Ponderous Neither was it Not Spirit when it issued forth Canon III. THe Spirit Issuing forth Dryeth Detained and working within either Melteth or Putrifieth or Vivifieth The Explication THere are Foure Processes of the Spirit To Arefaction To Colliquation To Putrefaction To Generation of Bodies Arefaction is not the proper Worke of the Spirit but of the Grosser Parts after the Spirit issued forth For then they contract themselves partly by their Flight of Vacuum partly by the Vnion of Homogeneals As appeares in all Things which are Arified by Age And in the Drier Sort of Bodies which have passed the Fire As 〈◊〉 Charocoales Bread Colliquation is the meere Work of the Spirits Neither is it done but when they are excited by Heat For then the Spirits dilating themselves yet not getting forth Do insinuate and disperse themselves amongst the Grosser Parts And so make them Soft and apt to Run As it is in Metals and Wax For Metals and all Tenacious Things are apt to inhibite the Spirit that being excited it iffueth not forth 〈◊〉 is a Mixed work of the Spirits and of the Grosser Parts For the Spirit which before restrained and bridled the Parts of the Thing being partly issued forth and partly Enfeebled All things in the Body doe Dissolve andreturne to their Homogeneities Or if you will to their Elements That which was Spirit in it is congregated to it selfe whereby things Patrified begin to have an ill Savour The Oyly Parts to Themselves Whereby Things Putrified have that Slipperinesse and Vnctuositie The Wairyparts also to themselves The Dregs to Themselves Whence followeth that Confusion in Bodies putrified But Generation or Vivification is a Worke also mixed of the Spirit and Grosser parts but in a far different Manner For the Spirit is totally detained but it swelleth and moveth locally And the Grosser Parts are not dissolved But follow the Motion of the Spirit and are as it were blowne out by it and extruded into divers figures From whence commeth that Generation and Organization And therefore Vivification is alwayes done in a Matter Tenacious and Clammie And againe Yeelding and Soft That there may bee both a Detention of the Spirit And also a gentle Cession of the Parts according as the Spirit formes them And this is seene in the Matter as well of all Vegetables as of Living Creatures whether they be engendred of Putrefaction or of Sperme For in all these Things there is manifestly seene a Matter hard to breake thorow easie to yeeld Canon IV. IN all Living Creatures there are two Kindes of Spirits Livelesse Spirits such as are in Bodies Inanimate And a Vitall Spirit superadded The Explication IT was said before That to procure long Life the Body of Man must be considered First as Inanimate and not Repaired by Nourishment Secondly as Animate and Repaired by Nourishment For the Former Consideration gives Lawes touching Consumption The latter touching Reparation Therefore we must know That there are in Humane Flesh Bones Membranes Organs Finally in all the parts such Spirits diffused in the substance of them while they are alive As there are in the same Things Flesh Bones Membranes and the Rest Separated and Dead Such as also remaine in a Carkase But the Vitall Spirit although it tuleth them and hath some Consent with them yet it is farre differing from them Being integrall and subsisting by it selfe Now there are two especiall Differences betwixt the Livelesse Spirits and the Vitall Spirits The one that the Livelesse Spirits are not continued to Themselves But are as it were cut off And encompassed with a Grosse Body which intercepts them As Aire is mixt in Snow or Froth But the Vitall Spirit is all continued to it selfe by certaine Conduit Pipes through which it passeth and is not totally intercepted And this Spirit is twofold also The one Branched onely passing through small Pipes and as it were Strings The other hath a Cell also So as it is not onely continued to it selfe but also Congregared in an Hollow Space in reasonable good Quantity according to the Analogie of the Body And in that Cell is the Fountaine of the Rivulers which branch from thence That Cell is chiefly in the Ventricles of the Braine Which in the Ignobler sort of Creatures are but Narrow Insomuch that the Spirits in them seeme scattered over their whole Body rather than Celled As may be seene in Serpents Eels and Flies whereof every of their parts move long after they are cut asunder Birds also leape a good while after their Heads are pulled off Because they have little Heads and little Cels But the Nobler sort of Creatures have those Ventricles larger And Man the largest of all The other Difference betwixt the Spirits is That the Vitall Spirit hath a Kinde of Enkindling And is like a Winde or Breath compouuded of Flame and Aire As the Juyces of Living Creatures have both Oyle and Water And this Enkindling ministreth peculiar Motions and Faculties For the Smoke which is inflammable even before the Flame conceived is Hot Thin and Moveable And yet it is quite another Thing after it is become Flame But the Enkindling of the Vitall Spirits is by many Degrees gentler than the softest Flame As of Spirit of Wine or otherwise And besides it is in great part mixed with an Aeriall Substance That it should be a Mystery or Miracle both of a Flammcous and Aereous Nature Canon V. THe Naturall Actions are proper to the Severall Parts But it is the Vitall Spirit that excites and sharpens them The Explication THe Actions or Functions which are in the severall Members follow the Nature of the Members Themselves Attraction Retention Disgestion Assimilation Separation Excretion Perspiration Even Sense it selfe According to the Proprietie of the severall Organs The Stomach Liver Heart Spleene Gall Braine Eye Eare and the rest Yet none of these Actions would ever have beene actuated but by the Vigour and Presence of the Vitall Spirit and 〈◊〉 thereof As one Iron would not have drawne another Iron unlesse it had beene excited by the Load-stone Nor an Egge would ever have brought forth a Bird unlesse the Substance of the Hen had beene actuated by the Treading of the Cock. Canon VI. THe Livelesse Spirits are next Consubstantiall to Aire The Vitall Spirits approach more to the Subsiance of Flame The Explication THe Explication of the precedent Fourth Canon is also a Declaration of this present Canon But yet further from hence it is That all Fat and Oyly Things continue long in their Being For neither doth the 〈◊〉 much pluck them Neither doe they much desire to 〈◊〉 Themselves with Aire As for that Conceit it is altogether vaine That Flame should bee Aire set on Fire Seeing Flame and Aire are no lesse Heterogeneall