to his admonitions or shryncke asyde and refuse the lore of his prescriptions and commaundmeÌ„ts For many being hoodwinked and bewitched wyth the tryfling doctrine and friuolous traditions of mans inuention reiecte and forsake the pure and cleare founteyne that perpetually yeldeth most abouÌ„dant store of the euerlasting water of lyfe and seeke after ryuers that are dryed vp and as Hieremie termeth it digge to themselues Cesternes and broken pitts that can holde no licour or drop of holesome dotryne That worthy constante and throughlye tryed Souldiour Iob bemoaneth his owne case offirming that in the nighte season hee was sore disquieted with troublesom dreames and dreadfull vysions For the nature office of Sleepe being nothinge else then a mitigation of labours a quiet surceassing for the time froÌ„ toyle and a refreshinge of the bodye with the busy cares and dealings of the day before wearied from these cares troubles did not his Sleepe in the nighte disburden and ease him but rather encreased and doubled the same that his minde still remayning terryfied with dreadful dreames and apparitioÌ„s For thus doth he reason with himself and these complaints doth he vtter in that his worthy dialogue or rather Tragicomicall discourse If I thincke to my selfe that my bed dâ— shall comfort mee and mitigate my griefe and that I shal haue some ease and refreshing vppon my Couch then troublest thou me vvith dreames and makest me afrayed throughe visions insomuch that I vvishe for death to come and make an end of al my sorovves As touching the inwarde notes of this complexioned body and his inclination of mynde for a man ought in ech point and respect throughlye to be viewed and considered a hoate and moyste quality incident to bloude produceth in men diuerse natures and accordinge to the more or lesse mixture of other humours frameth in them sondry maners and diuers dispositions They that be meere Sanguine and haue none or very litle Melancholy or Choler mixed therwyth as most neerelye approchinge to the nature and Sense of brute beasts are commonly doltes and fooles or at least not greatly cumbred wyth much witte For sytheÌ„s as Galene sayth sharpnes finenes of wit coÌ„meth of Choler ConstaÌ„cy and stedfastnes of Melancholie Phlegme to the framynge and disposinge of the maners helpeth nothing neyther standeth in anye steede it remayneth then that simplicity and foolishnes proceedeth of Bloud Thus are yong Cattell which in comparyson of the elder ones haue greate stoare of Bloude for the most part as wee see foolishe sotlike and bettleheaded as Kyddes Calues yonge Sheepe Lambes young wyeld Kidds or Roebuckes yong Kyttons and the yonge of all other dumme Creatures besyde and amonge Men the neerer that any one approcheth to the nature of brute Beasts the more lyke vnto them in maners and conditions is hee Which thing any that is but meanely skilled in Natures works may easely iudge and discerne euen by certayne significations of theyr eyes and countenaunce eche of which is as a glasse wherin to behold and whereby to discouer the inward affections of the mynde In many men there is a greate resemblance affynitie in nature wyth other Beastes and the further that these digresse from the puritie of teÌ„perament the lesse sway in them beareth Reason Iudgment Vnderstanding willingnes to doe good Wysedome and discretion to be short they are partakers of all those things that are commoÌ„ to Beasts And thus there bee many which eyther for lack of good educatioÌ„ or through this deprauatioÌ„ of Nature degenerate into Beastes and in all their actioÌ„s in one poynt or other resemble them in conditions Many like Wolues are bloud-suckers extortioners raueners Many like â—â—erce cruell outragious and terrible lyinge in wayte to sheede bloud and hunting theyr brother to death As the PriÌ„ce vvil so sayth the Iudge Lykewyse sayth Ezechiel Iehoakim is become a LyoÌ„ vvhich hath learned to spoyle deuour folk to make vvidovves destroy their houses make their Cities desert Some be as foyinge gesturous and counterfeâ—cting of any thing by ymitacion as Apes Some Forlyke are suttle wylie deceiptfull and crafty to entrappe and catche the innocent at aduauntage And in lyke sorte there be others which resemblyng the nature and conditions of other beastes and degeneratinge from theyr integrity and excellencie humaine eyther degenerate quite into Beasts or at least become much lyke vnto them As for ChildreÌ„ yonge Stryplinges aboute 14. or 15. yeares of age or vnder by reason that theyr bloude is pure and ful of swelling spyrit are still styrring quick nymble actiue wanton vnmodest malapert saucie proude wythoute wit and much giuen to toying and playinge for wee see them as wanton as Calues that is to say in mowyng with theyr mouthes in voyce gesture becks clapping of hands light songes vayne ioyfulnes where there is no cause immoderate myrth disordered fysking Vp downe and vncertayne motion gate all which do signify a shuttle waueryng nature a mynde subiect to great mutability and vncoÌ„stancy procedyng and caused of the boyling of theyr bloude wythin them which boyleth vp as it were seetheth in theyr Vâ—ynes euen as new Wyne Ale or Beere spurgeth and worketh in the Tunne Hereuppon the Netherlanders and Lowe Duchmen haue deuysed certayne prouerbial termes wherewyth they are wonte commonlye to quippe those yonge princockes and lustye gallantes whom they see ouerioyed or toofarre gone in wanton iolity makynge themselues as ridiculous and iestyng stockes to the whole companye Neyther are they incited to these immoderate pleasures through reason or auy well stayed discretion but by impotencie of mynde and wylfull affection digressing and swaruyng from modestye temperaunce and moderacion y lack wherof googleth theyr vnstayed heades and caryeth them into many inordinate pranckes of childishe insolencie They also bewraye theyr owne vnconstancie and vnstayed mynds by much shaking of their heads and continual playing and toying wyth theyr handes and feete insomuch that some accompt them no better then starke mad or persons distract of their right wittes Neyther do they sind themselues occupyed in any earnest matter that is to any good purpose neyther shew they forth eyther in woordes or deedes any piece of wysedome but vndeceÌ„tly for theyr age lasciuiouslye retourne vnto their boyishnes agayne whereas meeter it were in respect of theyr time passed nowe to fall to some thryft and to frame theyr lyfe after the prescription of some good order Hereuppon doe wee vse a Prouerbiall similitude taken of the nature and conditions of yonge Calues which in the Sprynge tyme of the yeare in the greene pastures when theyr bellyes be ful skippe and leape vp and downe wantonlye and toyingly fysking and iumpynge now this waye nowe that waye nowe rounde about one whyle raysing themselues vppon the forefeete an otherwhyle vpon the hynder Leggs whose maners fashyoÌ„s such yoÌ„g youthes as in their daily order of lyfe do imitate
theyr lustyest time which haue no care no orderly respect nor choise in preseruation and maintenaunce of theyr bodely health To this very ende and effecte is that holesome admonition of the wyseman Take heede to thy selfe least thou die before thy time By which sayinge hee warneth euery one so to order and dispose his lyfe that throughe riot and vntemperate dealing he hasten not his death before his time and before he haue in a maner ruÌ„ne halfe his race Now let euery man coÌ„sider with himself how myserable and how wearysome also it is to haue a bodye neuer in health but altogether martyred with sicknes and soares reason beinge mastered banished and oppressed to haue the mind defiled and vtterly wyth inward vices polluted Howe can lyfe I say be vnto such a man pleasaunte or sweete or howe can the minde bee quiet and well stayed Forsomuch therefore as nothing is better then health let euery man diligently looke to the same and marke how much he hath swarued and strayed from moderate order and temperature This consideration wyth himselfe shall worke in him much good effecte and stand him in greate steede that in case his bodye be lustie and healthfull hee maye in the same state stil continue and cheerish it wyth helpes and preseruations thereto conuenient But if it be falleÌ„ into worse plight and not in so good case of soundnes as before it was then to seeke wayes and meanes how to recure bring it againe to his former state of healthines For as humours are easely chaunged one into another and suffer mutuall transmutacion throughe moderate exercise and such conuenient meats and nourishmeÌ„ts as to natural heat are cherishable So agayne the ill distempered state of bodye throughe holesome diet and order is made lustier and refourmed into better And euen as wee see members fractured burste wrenched and dislocated to be brought into theyr right places agayne so may health beinge empayred bee restored and reduced into his former integritie For the mindes and bodyes of men be in a maner as it were yong Sproutes trees which being artificially handled and cunninglye dealt wythall yea although afore wield and vnfruitfull yet as Virgill sayth If they be graft a nevve and put in other chaunged soyle From nature vvilde vvhich earst they had They quight and cleane recoyle And yeld such fruite as best you lyke by force of handy toyle Contrarywyse if the husbande be negligent carelesse his grounde becommeth barrayne rugged ouergrowen wyth wredes and disabled froÌ„ bearinge any grayne that is good or profitable The like reason is to be yelded of the mindes of men For there be many excellent witts and very towardly natures which by vnthrifty company and lewd education do degenerate from their good inclination of nature and become altogether rebellious wilfull lewde and barbarous Some againe whose nature is proue and inclinable to euill yet by helpe of learninge and good education are reclaymed and wonne from theyr froward disposition become worthy members stayes ornamentes in theyr Country And therefore no man is to thincke or perswade himselfe that an ill nature may not be altered sitheÌ„ce rude wittes not yet trayned to any discipline and learning may like soft waxe or as tractable and moyst claye be fashioned framed and made applyable to learne any knowledge and vertue any ciuilitye and by artificiall instruction bee trayned to conceyue Artes and behauiour both comely and commendable Thus likewyse in graffinge and planting which is as wittie a deuise as proper a feate as any we see wild trees to chaunge their olde nature and to beare fruite both holsome and toothsome Amonge wyeld Beastes also we see how the dilligence forecast wit and pollicie of man maketh them tame seruiceable An example hereof maye wee see in Mago a worthy Duke amonge the CarthaginiaÌ„s who as Plinie sayth was the first among them that durste wyth his hande stroake and handle a tamed Lion for which Acte his Countreyfolks attaynted him as one whom they thought not amisse to restrayne from liberty and debarre from authority for that his wysedom and wyse dealings seemed so excellent that they iudged him a man able to perswade any thing that him listed who had thus straungely trayned and tamed a wylde Lion. But that persons of Melancholique nature or of any other constitution whatsoeuer so that the distemperature haue not beene of to long coÌ„tinuaunce and the party to farre striken in age may be altered and brought to a better state there is no maÌ„ that needeth to doubt For who doth not plainly see that strong and very hoate wyne wyth cold water or other milder licour is may be alayed Semblably againe wyne that is smal myngled and of watry relice yet beinge put to other licour that is stronger and of a better grape is quickened and made both better and sharper And so humours in a man being eyther of themselues euil or meeting wyth others of other quality are through theyr coÌ„mixtion therewith qualifyed and waxe milder and leauinge theyr owne naturall qualitie are altered into an other of straunger nature effect and operation Thus is the heate of Choler by accesse and myxture of bloude phlegme mitigated Thus is phlegme by admixtion of yelow Choler heated and much â—bated from his owne colde and moyste quality becomming therby lesse hurtful to the body And in like sort may we conclude of all the rest Such nourishments and meates as engender good bloude iuyce are hereunto very auayleable out of which the humours spyrits which be the incensours and stirrers forwarde of the minde obtayne and receyue theyr nature Now there is nothinge more effectuall to make good perfecte digestion and to stirre vp the Spirites then sleepe exercise and wyne so the same be pure good and moderatelye vsed as the other also must bee For so doth it stirre vp make syncere liuely and cleare Spirites from whence proceedeth cheerefulnes ioy quicknes and myrth of the minde For the meates nourishments which by nature are laboured into humours being eaten and washed downe wyth good and holsome wyne haue freer passage into all the parts of the body and distribute theyr nourishment into them more effectually There is nothing therefore that so much banisheth phaÌ„syes sorrow out of a mans minde as pleasaunt merye companye and moderate vse of wyne And of this did that precise and sterne natured Zeno giue a notable example whose minde was so muche estraunged from all pleasaunte conceites ordinarye curtesies of coÌ„mon humanitye that hee was neuer at all moued wyth any affections no not such as be naturallye incidente and engraffed in euery man And yet when he was a litle whittled wyth wyne he began to chaunge his copye and to be as mery and as bone a companion as who was best And beinge on a time asked by one of his merye mates how it happened that he
being otherwyse so wōderfully seuere and crabbed yet at the wyne was so pleasaunt and conceiptuous hee merelye aunswered that he was like to a kinde of Pulse called Lupines Which kinde of Pulse although they be naturally bitter and by their bitternes of force to kill wormes yet the same being steeped soaked in water renounce and leaue all bitternes and become both sweete pleasaunt And this is naturally giuen to all men that when the body is refreshed wyth meate and drinck al bitternes sorrow and heauines is expelled and banished For the Spirites by moderate drinking of wyne are styrred vppe and the mind of man which in them that be fasting and hungry is faynt weake and like vnto fier raked ouer wyth ashes almost quenched is reuyued And this is the cause why a dead body is heauier thē a lyuing because all his Spirites are vanished and departed out of him and so likewyse is a fasting persō heauier then one that hath filled his belly and one that slepeth waightier then one that watcheth And therfore my fashion is to aduise and counsell Melācholique folkes and sullen natured personnes to vse banquetting and good cheere amonge honest and mery cōpany For thus after Plato wryteth the Poet. Euen olde Dan Catoes stomacke oft By vvyne vvas made to come aloft Which man although churlish sterne frowning yet did wyne so much driue away his naturall seueritye and grimme countenaunce that amonge the other guestes he became a pleasaunte companion and of manners very gentle and familiar For this worthy Gentleman although otherwise he was a very precise comptroller and of Stoicall grauity perceyued wel ynough that mās nature required som relaxatiōs delights and that it may not lōg cōtinue wythout som myrth pleasaunt recreation Let therefore euery man take surueigh of himself and serch out what his nature most desitreth in what state his body stādeth what thinge it is that he feeleth himselfe to be holpen and what to be offended wythall And if he finde the plighte and state of his bodye to be in equability and perfect temperatenes it shal be good to cheerishe and preserue it wyth his like but if it shrinck from his sayd temperate habite and decline to an intēperatenes then had it neede to be holpen and recured wyth his contraryes Thus if a man throughe aboundance of humours and stoare of bloude and Spirites feele himselfe prone to carnalitie and fleshlye luste let him by altering his order diet enioyne to himselfe a more strict ordinary frame his dealings to a more stayed moderation But if hee feele himselfe to bee of nature somewhat sulleyne and sterne giuē somwhat to be wayward whyning testye churlishe and intractable then reason wylleth suche a one to bee reclaymed to an order and trade of life gentler and pleasaunter insomuch it shall not be ill for such a one to frequent daūcing singing womens flatteryes alluremēts and embracings prouided alwayes that all the same be not otherwyse done nor ment but in honestye and comelines wythin a reasonable measure also within the bounds of lawfull wedlock For the state of Matrimony as Columella aduoucheth out of Xenophōs booke of Household is in such sorte appoynted by nature that in it is conteyned not onely the pleasaūtest but also the profitablest societye of life And least mankinde in processe of tyme should come to an vtter ruine and decay it pleased God by this lawfull meanes to ioyne man and woman together that of theyr inseperable combinacion the state of man should might by mutual helpe one of an other be eased and cōforted and that beside the loue and desire that they haue to bring furth children they mighte be tyed and bound together equally and indifferentlye to participate all fortune whatsoeuer shoulde betyde But for so much as approued and skilfull mē that haue written bookes for the mayntenaunce of mens health generally doe specially set downe these three principall thinges To eate moderately and leaue somevvhat vvith an appetite To vse conuenient exercise And to liue continently vvithout vvastinge seede of generation I take it to be the best waye to reduce the whole substaunce of the matter mayntenaūce of health to this prescribed rule and direction For seing that measurable repaste and feeding all surphet and glotony being banished maketh a sound body seing I say exercise by shaking of all drow tsinesse and slouth maketh the bodye stronge and liuely then no more but harkē what a short lessō Virgill giueth for the other No better vvaye the strength of minde And povvers thereof still to maintaine Then Venus play and Loue so blinde To shunne and vvarely to refrayne ¶ Of the nature and differences of Spirits what they worke in mans body and what affections they cause The second Chapter FOrasmuche as the Spirite is the originall maintener and conueigher of naturall heate whereunto moysture necessarilye adhereth that the Soule by the mynisterye and ayde thereof perfourmeth her powers and faculties and atchieueth all her actions it is requisite here next to discourse vpon it and vppon all the differences thereof For seinge there be three especiall thinges in whose temperature and moderation the health of mans body doth prīcipally cōsist vz. vitall moysture naturall heate Spirite which combineth all thinges and imparteth his force vertue nature vnto them our present purpose being considered we cannot by order choose but of necessity must presētly somwhat speake therof Vitall moysture is the nourishmente and matter of naturall heate whereupon it woorketh and by the benefite therof is maintayned and preserued With this Humour or vitall moysture is naturall heate fed and cheerished and from the same receyueth continuall mayntenaunce and from it participateth vitall power whereby all Creatures do liue are nourished encreased preserued procreated Spirite is the seate and caryer of Heate by whose helpe and mynisterye it is conueyed and sente by the conduites and passages of the Arteryes to euery seuerall part of the bodye Wherefore worthyly is this Spirite thought to be the chiefe and principal Instrument that procureth and executeth euery action These three do vnseperably cleaue together mutuallye helpe one an other and cannot be sundered wythout present death of the party and for this cause do wee thus in one definition expresse conclude and comprehend theyr force and nature wythin one definition Naturall heat is nothīg els but an originall humour wyth vitall spirite and heate totally moystened But forasmuch as Spirite conteyneth vitall heate and is of all the faculties ruler and directer spredeth it self most swiftly throughoute the whole body caryeth and extendeth his powers into euery part thereof vniuersally besyde this doth manifestly chaūge and alter the state both of body and minde therefore as the rest require great labour and diligēce vpon them to be bestowed so specially vpon this is the chiefest care to be takē to restore mayntein
For who is hee that being throughly whittled in drinck doth not beastly rushe into venerous luste and filthy desires For when the body is bumbasted wyth drincke and bellycheere the priuities and secrete partes do swel and haue a marueylous desire to carnal coiture Hereof it commeth that suche persons are delighted wyth vnchaste Rhythmes and songes of rybaldry odious to honest eares and pernicious to the mind vndecent hopping and dauncing vnseemely clipping and kissing and much other filthy behauiour By this meanes that mynsing mynion throughe her fyne and lasciuious daunfynge caused the heade of holy Iohn Baptiste the forerunner of Christe to be chopped of for the kingee mynde was so enchaunted wyth her filthy and pernicious loue that cleane abādoning all reason and right iudgemente he graunted to her the head of him whose holsome admonitions and counsell hee was wonte before pacientlye to heare and well to like of Which Euangelical example is a warning to all Noble men and as many as haue the gouernmente of common weales that they cruelly rage not agaynste the innocente neyther tormente and put to death such as painefully and syncerely preach the truth but rather by all meanes to wythstande and roote oute such as be fauourers of factions enter into any practises contrary to righte and conscience onely to disturbe the publique tranquillity and to preiudice theyr Country The workemanship and frame of mans body consisteth of manye partes and therein as in the state of a Common wealth be conteyned many orders and sondry offices In the Common wealth there be the poore Comminaltie lowest in degree in which nōber are reckned drudges Porters Saylers Coblers Tinkers Carters Tipplers handy Artyficers filthy Bauds Butchers Cookes Botchers and such lyke next in degree to them are Marchants and Trafiquers amonge whom some by crafte and subtiltie enueigle and deceyue others of meaner calling and ability albeit there be also of them which practise theyr trade honestly and commendablye not by collusion and fraudulēt dealing but by godly and necessary meanes After them are the high Magistrates and Peeres of the Realme who by due admynistration of the Lawes and politicall ordinaunces keepe the rude multitude in due order of obedience and see publique peace and trāquillity maynteyned Last of all are they whose office beinge of higher authority do instructe and trayne vp the residue in the true knowledge of Christian religion and to plant in them an vndoubted fayth of theyr saluation at God the Fathers hande throughe his sonne Christe The like order comelynesse and agreemente is in the body of man wherein euery part doth properly orderly execute his peculiar office And hereuppon S. Paule by example of the harmonye and agreement of mans body and all the parts therof taketh occasion to perswade and exhort euery man to do his office and duty and carefullye to labour in his vocation For all the members of the body be so lyncked and knitte together and such participacion and cōsent is betweene them that if one of the smallest toyntes or the little toe be hurt or payned the whole body is distempered and oute of quiet And thus as Chrysostome sayth if the foote or one of the fingers endes bee pricked wyth a thorne or other sharpe thing al the other mēbers are ioyntly greeued aswel as they in so much that the head which is the honourablest parte of all other stoupeth to beholde it the eyes looke downe the hands offer theyr diligent seruice to pull out the pricke and to binde vp the wounde So lykewyse there is no part of the body which in such case desyreth not to help his afflicted fellow member Aptly therefore and very properly as Liuius witnesseth did Menenius the Oratour for example vse this persuasion at what time the commō people in a ciuill broyle rebelliously disobeyed stubbernelye maligned the Senatours and Nobility likening this theyr iarring and discorde to the sedicious contencion and falling out of the members of mans body amonge themselues By which witty deuysed fable he perswaded thē to forsake theyr mad enterpryses and to returne euery man in peace home to his owne house For as in the bodye so lykewyse in a common wealth mutuall sedition and ciuill variaunce tendeth to the spoyle and ouerthrowe of the whole but contrarywyse Concorde keepeth and vpholdeth all things preserueth aswel the Common wealth as the body of man in perfecte staye and order Howe frendlye they all do agree together and how of so many partes euery member doth perfourme his office and duty euery man in himself by experience seeth For there is no part nor mēber thereof be it neuer so small but it caryeth with it not onely a comly shape and proporcion but also otherwyse serueth for some necessary vse and purpose of the whole body and euery part thereof And first to begin from the lowest to the highest The Foundement Entrailes Stomacke procure the sustenaunce and healthe to the chiefe members by whose helpe mynisterie the meate being throughly digested is proportionably distributed by the veynes vnto euery seuerall part of the whole body But if the Entrayles appointed for the concoction of nourishmente bee weake and feeble or if any other impedimente or fault be in them whereby the meate concocted cānot haue due recourse and passage to nourish the body thē doth al go to wrack and turne into corruption mynistringe matter and occasion to Agues and all other kinde of diseases Which by certayne tokens maye partly bee knowen and felt aforehand that a man in such case commonly loatheth his meate hath a puling stomacke and is enclyned to gaping vomite stretching stiffenes in his body And because the Spirits exhaled by humours do participate with other qualityes therby distēper the brayne it commonly happeneth that such persons become thereby wayward testye and verye easely caryed into sondrye other affections of the mynde For natural Spirite being caused in the Lyuer cannot be made pure neyther attenuated into ayrie substaūce vnlesse that viscousnesse be clearely purged free from all affection But vitall spirite hath his originall procreation and beginninge of the naturall which is spread and diffused from the hearte by Arteryes into all the bodye frameth in mā diuers maners accordinge to that grossenes or subtilitie which it receyueth partly of the nourishmente and partly of the condition of the Ayre and state of the Regiō So they that dwell Northward and in cold regions by reason of grosse bloud and thicke Spyrites are seene to be bolde and full of venturous courage rude vnmanerlye terrible cruell fierce and such as wyth very threatening countenaunce and manacinge wordes make others to stande in feare of them As concerning any daungerous exploite they are not a whitte afrayde to hazarde theyr bodyes in the aduenture of anye perillous extremitie Which courage and disposition of nature is not to be founde amonge the people of Asia for
they be but mere meycockes and persōs very effeminate shrynkinge at the least mishappe that happeneth and wyth the smallest griefe and feare that can bee theyr hartes fayle theim they as white as a kerchiefe Which difference of minde stomacke Lucane in the hurlyburlies of the ciuill warres in these Verses expressed and vttered Such as in th' East and scorching Clymes are bredde by course of kind And Countryes influence meycockes soft By daily proofe vve finde The North that colde and frostie it Such vveaklings none both breede The folkes there borne novvarres can daunt of death they haue no dread In this their errour happie they vvhom greatest feare of all Of death I meane cannot affray nor courage once appall They recke not they vvhat brunts they beare they feare not enmyes blade These laddes dare venture life and lymme in manly Martiall trade For whatsoeuer they be that haue thick grosse bloude haue consequently corpulent and stronge spirites and herevppon it groweth that they wil beare a grudge in memorye a longe time and not easelye forgette those motions and heddines that they once take hereuppon also it happeneth that many of them being woūded or hurt in fight vppon the sight of their owne bloude do runne vpō their enemy more fiercely and egrely and bestow theyr blowes more vehemently then afore But they that haue thinne bloude haue also slender spirits and suche as soone passe awaye Such are soone angry at the first very raging but by and by theyr anger is asswaged and cooled and assone as they haue a wound or see theyr owne bloude they are readye to faynte and fall downe But to know how to qualifye brydle and subdue those greate affections and motions of the minde that are engendred by greate heate of the spirites I iudge it not amisse for euery man to search oute by what kinde of Spirit he is most ledde to what motions in dealinges hee findeth himselfe most endaungexed how feruente or how remisse the agitacions of his minde be For by this meanes may those thinges that consist without mediocritie be reduced and brought to temperatenes and moderation Nowe this diuersitie of Spyrites oute of whiche springeth such and so great diuersities of natures and maners conceyue and take sondry alterations at the humours Thus the Soule although it be singuler as Cicero tearmeth it vnigena yet bringeth forth sondry and manifolde actions according to the nature of the Spirites and differences of the instrumentes Hence commeth such and so great variety diuersity in the thoughts desyers affections actions and perturbatiōs in mens minds insomuch that reason and discretition wythoute a speciall assistaunce of heauenlye grace can scarcely tame and represse the same For when the naturall and vitall facultie together wyth the naturall and inwarde Spirites waxe somewhat stronge and partlye by aboundaunce partly by the qualitye of meate and nourishment haue attayned strength and power they reiect and cast away the brydle of reason draw the spirit animal also for they be al deryued out of one fountayne into their faction disordered rebellion Wherby it happeneth that when any lewde deuyse or wilfull thoughte aryseth in the minde of man he is prone ynoughe to runne into dissolute riot libidinous lust filthy and shameful pleasures if he fortune to espy any pretie wēch or beautifull damsell that liketh his phantasie his minde is strayght wayes enflamed and set on fire wyth vnlawfull desyre of her person for the satisfying of his vnbridled concupiscence and by reason of the stoare of humours and cōcourse of Spyrites resorting thither frō euery part of his body his priuities vndecētly swel his mēber of generatiō becometh stiffe so that many times it happeneth mans mind to be ouercome drowned in fleshly concupiscence vnlesse by the speciall grace of Almighty God and by meditating vppon the holsome preceptes expressed in his sacred Word hee stoutlye wythstande the Sommons of suche naughtye desyres This promptnes and inclination to euill is naturally ingraffed in man The imaginations and thoughtes of mans heart sayth Moses are onelye euill and prone to vvickednes euen from their youth and first beginninges But the blessed and most comfortable comming of CHRISTE toke away this blemish who by his precious death and glorious resurrection abolished the calamitie and cancelled the bondes of that myserye whereto Adams transgression had brought vs. The consideration wherof ought in y mindes of all men to worke thus much that because their spirites are prouokers and prickers forwarde both to vices vertues euerye one shoulde wyth more carefull consideracion and heede attende loke to conserue and gouerne them orderly And althoughe the Animall Spirite be more excellent thē the other and before the rest in dignity yet in order is it the later For out of the naturall which resembleth vapour and proceedeth by vertue of the Lyuer from bloud it produceth the vitall whiche is of Aerye nature and mynistreth vnto it nourishment And the vitall doth procreate the Animall which by reason of his thinnesse and subtility is ayrie For it being laboured prepared and made in the contexed net celles and cornerie ventricles of the brayne is greatly wyth sweete smelles nourished and with fragrant things refreshed and cherished From it is fetched and deryued al the power and facultye which the soule hath and from it do al actiōs issue and proceede making the same appliable to all functions Well worthy therefore is this animall spirite deemed the proper instrument of the soule to all the sences for mayntenaunce of mouinge and nimblenes and for preseruation of the strength and firmitie of the Muscles Synewes for it transporteth and diffuseth his vertues and powers as the workemaisters of actions into the Synewes that haue the power of feeling and mouing All the instruments therfore of the Senses indued wyth this power and vertue of the Spirite Animall attayne thereby stablenes for the atchieuement of their functions and charges as for example If the wayes and passages whereby this spirite oughte to goe and haue passage bee stopped affected the power of mouing and feeling is taken away as we euidently note and see to happen in the Apoplexie Palsey Tetanus and many diseases moe And this spirite Animall is conueighed into the Synewes euen like the beames of the Sunne through a cleare shyninge glasse And euen as a fiery heate pearceth and entreth into a glowyng hoate yron that is very hard insomuche that the some therewyth becommeth softe and tractable so dothe the Spirite that is finest and thuinest slylte slyde into the Synewes All thinges therefore that neede feelinge mouing and agilitie requyre the force ayde and power of the spyrite Animall As those that by nourishment are to be maynteyned continued and kepte requyre the naturall and vitall faculties and spirites Hee therefore that woulde preserue his spirites vndemnifyed and them make moste syncere and perfecte must endeuour at any hande
thinges estraunged from oure bodyes not naturallye in vs engraffed but externally happening and yet nathelesse such as are as apt and ready to disquiet and annoy oure bodyes as those that be naturally planted in vs And these bee Meate and Dryncke wherewyth wee restore all such ouerdrye or ouer moyste substaunce as to the body is requysite And these twayne if they bee eyther immoderately taken or bee corrupte and vnholesome they do engender great stoare of excrements and sondry diseases Next vnto these is the Ayre that compasseth and on eche syde enuyroneth vs which beinge eyther extreemelye hoate or drye or ouermuch moyste or colde causeth enforceth a manifest alteration in the state of the whole body But to come somewhat neere and more aptlye to declare this matter it is to be vnderstanded that the verye beginninges of mans nature and principles of his generation is feminine Bloud Seede generatiue The one as it were of certayne apt conuenient and tractable matter like moyst claye or soft waxe is ready to fashion oute and proportion anye thing that the workemaÌ„ employeth it vnto And the Seede is as it were the workeman himselfe Both these thinges consist and are made of the same generall Elements and conteyne within them the qualityes aboue specifyed but the difference amonge themselues is in the order and measure of their temperameÌ„t For in the seede there is more of fierye and ayrie substance that is to say it is pertaker of aethereal Spirite In the Bloud there is more of watry and earthy albeit in this last the heate is aboue colde and moyst aboue dry For wee maye not say and affirme that Bloud is dry like boanes but to be moist Now is Seede dryer theÌ„ Bloud and yet it is also moyste fluible liquide Thus on both sydes the oryginall of mans generation proceedeth of moyst substaunce yet so that thence is laboured and made other partes of the bodye that be drye as Synewes Veynes Arteryes Bones and Grystles Now that which in the woÌ„be is conceyued and together of those principles fourmed waxing dryer taketh as it were the first lineamentes and proportion of euerye member afterward comming to perfect shape taketh further encrease so groweth to his iuste bignesse and decente quantitye And when it hath raught to his ful growth and bignesse as when the boanes for want of nourishmente are no longer plyable then doth a man ceasse from further growiÌ„g waxeth neither taller nor broader For comely talnesse and length of personage commeth and is caused of the aboundaunce of heate and moysture where the Spyrite is throughlye and fully perfused And if it happen that any eyther old or yong throughe sicknes or some other affect to fal into a cold and dry habite or disposition their bodies become and are leane wrynckled slender illfauoured thinne and lancke and their lymmes weake and crooked It fareth by them muche like as it doth by Horses Oxen or such like beastes that are skanted nipped of their fodder feeding or as it doth by Trees and other greene Herbes that lacke the iuyce of the ground not conueniently watered Therefore a fashioÌ„ that some Scholemasters others that take the charge vpon them to teach and boorde yonge boyes is mee thinckes both lewde vnconscionable who beinge at a playne bargaine and certaine stint of money reasonably agreed vppon betweene theym and the childrens frendes pinche theyr poore pupills and borders by the belly and allowe them meate neyther sufficient nor yet holesome yea not onely beastly sluttishlye nippinglye vse they the seely childreÌ„ but threatninglye enforce them to beare oute the labour of theyr studyes wyth a slender allowance and small pittaunce of vnsauery resty fleshe stinking fish and hoary vinewed bread which thing causeth them to be ill complexioned coloured the shape comlynes and beauty of theyr bodies to degenerate growe out of fashion the quicknes courage lyuelynes and sharpenes of their wit to decay theyr spirits to be dulled al the liuely vertues towardnes of the mynd which before was in them eyther by the benefite of Nature or by the industry of the parentes or finally by the onely special gift of Almighty God to be extinct vtterly quenched insomuch that neyther theyr mynd is enflamed with desire to attein atchieue any worthy atteÌ„pt nether frame they theÌ„selues vnto those thiÌ„gs wheruÌ„to they were inclinable by nature apt towardly As touching the outward case of their body they coÌ„moÌ„ly breake out haue their bodyes pinked ful of scabs by reasoÌ„ of ill humours ouerwhealed engrayled with lothsome blisters blaines byles botches Wherby it commeth to passe that in growth they seldom come to any personable stature to the vse of their ful powers to perfect streÌ„gth firmity of theyr members or to any haÌ„dsom scature or proper coÌ„poâ—â—ioÌ„ of bodily proportion the cause is for that in their tender growyng age being kept vnder by famine and skanted of conuenient meate and drincke theyr natiue moysture which requyreth coÌ„tinual cheerishing mainteynauÌ„ce was skaÌ„ted debarred of his due nourishment coÌ„petent allowance Whereupon the vital iuyce being exhausted speÌ„t they arriue to old age sooner theÌ„ otherwise they should doe are snatched vp by death long before their time Now that affect plight which bringeth the body into a cold dry disposition is called Olde age because it is the cause of corruption decay destruction of all aswell Creatures lyuinge as Plants herbes For death is nothing els but the extinction of nature that is to saye of the naturall Heate naturall Humour In which two things life consisteth to which extinction ende many are brought sooner then they should be either through want and defect of nourishment or throughe vntemperate life as toomuche carnall company with women vnseasonable watchinge heauines of mynde thoughte and manye other causes which hasten old age bring death vnloked for before his time contrarye to the order of age and course of Nature Do we not see many old meÌ„ lusty mery and wel complexioned strong of limmes good footemeÌ„ in their old dayes as fresh actiue as many yong meÌ„ be all which coÌ„meth vpoÌ„ no other cause but that in their youthfull dayes they liued orderly wel and spent not their adolescencie in vnruly riot lechery Againe there be of youngmeÌ„ a great nuÌ„ber weake worne to the bare stumps feeble lame fainte and impoteÌ„t dry as a kixe pale as ashes waÌ„ne colored for that they spent exhausted all the pithe and strength of theyr youth and adolescencye in wanton sensuality disordered riot and immoderate vse of Venerous daliauÌ„ce coÌ„suming therin the very floure and prime of their lusty age For euen as pleasauÌ„t gay March floures in the Springe of the yeare with nipping weather and sharpe Northernelye wynds do fade and
can greatly hurte them Which persons althoughe with dainty fare idle life and much Sleepe they bring themselues many times to this porzynes corpulencie yet they be not so daungerously sicke whē any discrasie happeneth as they that be of the same constitution and state from their firste begīning For although some which in their youth were slender leane happen afterward to be fat grosse and fleshie yet their veynes Arteryes and other passages and cunduites of their bodyes remaine still large and wyde which thing plainlye appeareth whensoeuer they feeling themselues not wel at ease haue any occasion to be let bloud For in this accidentall habite of body althoughe the party be fat and forgrowen yet the veynes lye not hid vnappearing as in them that naturally be grosse but swel out and plainlye appeare to the eye offering thēselues to the Laūce by incisiō hāsomly to be cut Therfore although this moyst Cōplexion being cherished by heat be laudable good for that it prolongeth life differreth and keepeth away Oldage suffereth not the body to grow into drynesse yet if it exceede toofarre or stand in the point of extremity it is daungerous For when by reason of the veynes beinge ful the body ceasseth to be nourished and the faculties of nature which distribute nourishmente intermit their office and cannot worke in this case needes must the body go to wracke and incurre inconuenience so that eyther sodaine death therupon ensueth or els al least some rupture of y Vessels and veynes happeneth These things being considered it shal be good speedely and in time to forsee breake this habite and disposition and by y meanes of moderate euacuation abstynence and watchinge to preuente further daunger vsing such a prescripte diet and ordinary as best serueth to reduce the bodye into a safer and lesse daungerous Constitution For this is genera lye to be noted that a bodye is not to be accompted reckened moyst in respecte of abundaunce of excrements and humours but of a temperate moystnes of all the parts and of the whole proportionably together wyth which tēperate moysture naturall heate is fedde and nouryshed and life therby many yeares prolonged Finis Libri Primi THE SECONDE BOOKE WHER IN AS IN A GLASSE is plainly and liuelye described the perfecte state and expresse Image of euery particuler Nature By the vvhich euery man may most readily finde out the very right Constitution plight condition affect and disposition of his ovvne Body ¶ Of a Compounde Complexion The first Chapter COmpounde Complexions consistinge of two qualities a piece are in nūber foure like as y symple be vz hoat and Moyst Hoat and Dry Cold and Moyst Colde Drye vnto whom there belong and are appendant so many Humours diffused into euery parte of the whole body Bloud Phlegme Choler Melācholie These according to the nature of nourishmēt receyued are encreased or diminished suffring chaūg alteration are easelye one into an other transmuted And albeit these humours being of great force diuers wayes and sondryly affecting the bodye yea the wyth fulsome and vnpleasaunte exhalations and sentes is oftentimes greatly annoyed and encūbred euen as ill naughtye wyne bringeth to the brayne affects both hurtful and daūgerous may not be accompted Elementes neyther are able to constitute any Complexion yet are they endued wyth Elementall qualitye and vertue and helpe much to the conseruation keeping of the whole body in good plight and order For as wee see the fyer to be fedde wyth matter combustible and Torches Lynkes Candles and such like nouryshed wyth Oyle or some other rosennye and fattie substaunce so lykewise the elementall qualities and all the powers and faculties of nature derpued into the vital spermaticke seede of our Parents do stande in continuall neede of nourishment For if the body should not be susteyned wyth nourishment or if the humours which moystē euery particuler member should lack the preseruatyues and fomentations wherewyth they be maynteyned the whole frame of mans body must of necessity decaye and be vtterly dissolued and euery part thereof vanishe away into his lyke whereof it was generated or into that whose nature it conteyneth wythin it selfe whether it do participate with Fyer Apre Earth Water or drawe neere in nature and be famylier to any of them They depend mutually one of an other and are stedfastly maynteyned by the helpe and stay one of an other Neyther is there any parte in mans body so small so vyle or so abiect that hath not respect to the comelynesse and conseruation of the whole bodye doth orderly discharge his due office and proper function whereunto it was created And this I would not haue to be onely spoken and ment of y vse and vtility of euery of the members partes seuerally but also of the humours which by the helpe of nourishment do meynteine supporte and vnderproppe the temperamente and complexion of eche body and by the helpe of naturall heate do geeue increase and growth to al the members generally For which cause Hippocrates and Galene not wythout good reason apoint the foure naturall humours being perfect and pure the Elements of Creatures endued wyth bloud for out of theym commeth a secundarie oryginall of oure procreation For they mynister matter plentifully and helpe highly in the breedinge and shaping of the Infante or yonglinge specially if the body be well ballassed wyth good holesome meates and now and then heated wyth a draught of good wyne for without these Venus games are perfourmed but faintly sorilie which thing seemeth to be ment by the yong Strypling Chremes in Terence who being sober beganne to abhorre and loath his harlot and Concubine but beynge wel whittled in wyne to take therin gret delight and pleasure and not scarse able to qualefie himselfe from committinge further follie wyth her as in this Prouerbiall sentence he flatly professed Take meate and drincke and vvyne avvay Small is the lust to Venus play For the Testicles Genitories and members of generation draw vnto them frō the principall mēbers and conuert into Seede the best most exquistielye concocted humours Which seede hauing 〈◊〉 great store of effectuous profitable Spyrit is the worker of heate of all the other faculties and in the begetting and procreation of Children is the chiefe parent and causer Into it is a wonderful vertue and diuine power by Gods good will and appoyntmente infused for the shaping and fashioning of the yong Creature wythin the mothers wombe for it produceth a fruict of seemely most beautifull workemanship rightly shapen and in ech poynt perfectly proporcioned if the Seede wherof it was begotten do issue from a sound and holesome body for otherwyse if the seede be of a diseased corrupt and infected bodye the issue and ofspringe cannot choose but be monstruous and deformed Somewhat therfore to recreate the Reader to make this argument more
so shakâ— of and forgotteÌ„ appoint onely foure to wit them that be coÌ„pound vnto whoÌ„ they haue geeuen names not of their qualities but somwhat vnaptly of those coÌ„monly termed knoweÌ„ humours y is to say SaÌ„guine Cholerique Phlegmatique MelaÌ„cholique by y squyer leauel of whoÌ„ they wold haue these 4. differeÌ„ces of coÌ„plexioÌ„ or teÌ„perature to be reduced tryed Which dealiÌ„g reasoniÌ„g of theirs as it sauoreth of populer iudgmeÌ„t learning to the common sort very plaussble so standeth it not with the precise opynion and censure of them that would haue eche thing skanned and measured in his righte nature and kinde In the meane season I as one desirous to recoÌ„cyle Physitions thus factiously iarrynge in opynion and woulde God this vniformitye and attonement were also broughte to passe in matters of ReligioÌ„ for the better quieting of many mens Consciences both parties shall suffer the chiefe place to be assigned and geeuen to the hoate and moyst Complexion excepting alwayes as I said before the temperatest of all whereunto as at a marcke we must direct our mynd and leauel our whole matter that by it euery man may trye his owne nature which so loÌ„g as it is in his perfect strength vigour quality produceth bringeth foorth a Sanguine man. And thus there is in a maner no differeÌ„ce neither preiudiciall to anye partye eyther to call it by the name of a hoate and moyst Complexion or els by the terme of a Sanguine man who by the benefite of this holesome humour conteyneth hath within him these qualities albeit Bloud it selfe for wee will keepe all thinges wythin their prescripte limittes doth not engender and cause heate and moystnes but rather heate and moysture produceth Bloud Now Bloud of all iuyces and humours is the best and to mans life an alimente and maintener chiefly appropriat famylier and domesticall for throughe the force furtheraunce of vitall Spirite which is the preseruer and seÌ„der of natural heate into euery part of the bodye Bloud is conueighed by the cunduytes and Vesselles of the Arteryes and Veynes so both nourisheth mainteyneth and preserueth the whole body And for that this pure cleare defecate loouely and amyable Iuyce is the special thing that conserueth euery lyuinge Creature in his beynge wherein also consisteth the lyfe and vigour of euerye nature that lyueth by breath therefore the Hebrew Lawmaker Moses by the direction and appointmente of God himselfe forbadde all maner of bloud to be eateÌ„ because the lyfe of al Creatures coÌ„sisteth in bloud is therwyth nourished and mainteyned euen as the flame of a Candle is with the Oylie weeke as it plainly appeareth by a man that bleedeth verye much whose bodye is then in euery part cold wanne for want thereof fayntinge and in a maner readye to geeue vp the Ghost I haue knowen many whose vitall spyrite bleedinge out and yssuinge together wyth their bloud haue been thereby brought into great daunger of their liues And therefore this treasure of Lyfe must moste carefullye be conserued because it is of all Humours the most excellent wholesome Nowe as the Arteries which abounde more wyth vitall spyrite then wyth bloud spring from the heart so the Veynes which conteyne more bloud then ayrie spyrite proceede and spryng froÌ„ the Lyeuer and are dispersed abroad in brauches and fibres into euerye yea the verye furtheste places of the body For the Lyuer is the shoppe and chiefe workemaster of grosse thicke bloude althoughe the first oryginall thereof be ascribed to the Heart by whose power faculty the bloud is made and throughly wrought being endued wyth vitall spyrite conueigheth naturall heat to eche part of the body Bloud and vital Spyrite are in their chiefest Pryme and most abound in lusty and flourishing yeares albeit there is no age that lacketh the same although in old worne age bloud begynneth to draw to a coldnes the vital spyrit then neyther so hoate neither so stronge and effectuous which thinge as it is in them well to bee obserued and perceyued by their frequente gestures and often moouing of the body and the partes thereof yet specially maye it be seene noted by their colour which in a yonge lusty Stryplyng and youthfull body of good constitution is ruddy and fresh but in them that be further stryken in yeares or further of from this temperamente is not so pure so beautifull nor so pleasaunt to behold for that all their comelynesse beauty is eyther faded awaye or throughe some euill humours and hidden imperfection or blemishe appeareth in them worse then in the yonger sort So many being affected or disteÌ„pered in their Splene wombe Lyuer ventricle and Lunges are commonly either pale yelow tawnie dunne duskie or of some other ill fauoured colour There is no surer way sayth Galene certainly to knowe the humours and iuyce in a Creature then by the colour and outward complexion If the body loke very whyte it is a token that phlegme in that body chiefely reigneth most aboundeth If it be pale or yelow it argueth the humour to bee greatly Melancholique and Cholerique and the bloude to be freshe and reddye if it be blackish it betokeneth blacke adust Choler specially if no outwarde accidentall occasion happen as great heate or chafing labour or wearynesse or if the mynde bee not intoxicate and perplexed wyth affectes and passions as Angre Ioye Sorow Care pensyuenes for these make the humours sometyme to resort vnto the skynne vtter parts and sometime to hyde and conueyghe themselues farre inwardly and for this cause wee see men y are fumish and testy to be in a marueylous heat proceeding not of any sticknesse or discrasse but of â–ª the motion and stirring of the humours againe them that be affrighted and in mynde amazed to be pale Some to loke as wanne as Lead some whyte and swartie sometyme blewyshe sometime of sondrye colours all which betoken crude humours and raw iuyce to beare rule and swaye in the bodye eyther of phlegme glasselyke toughe or of some other sort or els many rotteÌ„ humours clamped vp in y bodye which by outward tokeÌ„s and signes bewray shew themselues what they be and what they signifie They therefore that be of a hoate and moyst constitution and haue greate store of bloude wythin theim are of a purple and reddie coloure softe warme and smooth skinned comely of stature of reasonable feacture fleshye bodyed and a little roughe aburne heyred redde or yealow bearded and comely bushed of which feacâ—ure plight and bodely shape the Scripture witnesseth that Dauid was who beyng after that Saule was cast of and reiected appointed King and onnoyâ—ted by Samuel was of a brownish Complexâ—oÌ„ excellent beauty well fauoured in sight and 〈◊〉 â—â—tenauÌ„ce very cheerefull and amyable Such a comety grace and Princelye shape was to be scene in the moste victorious Prince Philip Kinge