his purpose frustrate and hopelesse he fell into a frantick humour one morning among the rest in the Church of Saint Marke casting himselfe through the Guard endeuoured to murther the Duke but this amourous foole as God would haue it was resisted and led into prison The matter was examined very straightly and at the last it was found that Loue had made him mad The wise Senate vpon graue deliberation dismissed him committing his cure to that famous Physitian Pracastorius who at that time dwelt in Venice This learned man vndertaking his charge and cure disguised a Courtizan like the Gallants mistresse to lye with him a whole night and to yeeld him his amorous contentment vntill he was weary Then hee caused him to be well couered with clothes till he fell into a sweat His phantasie and lust being thus partly pleasured hee proceeded to other remedies to purge him of his melancholicke humours so that at length he restored him to his former state I write not this to the intent it should serue for a precedent the same being diameter-wise repugnant to our Makers Commandement but because our Physitians should counsell the youthfull amorous to marry rather then to burne in vnlawfull desires and the amorous marryed to content himselfe with the wife of his youth giuing her due beneuolence and satisfying his burning lust vpon her body whom God had ioyned with him for that purpose for surely by this carnall copulation the vaporous fumes of the seede are taken away from the Patient which doe infect his braine and lead him into melancholy By how much the more and longer they continue in the body so much the more thoughts doe they engender which at last will turne to folly or madnesse What is Iealousie Iealousie is a doubtfull quandarie of the minde for that the soule suspects a corriuall or copartner in the thing beloued Our ignorance in discerning spirits and the discording tunes of our soules affections occasion this strange breach or suspicious scruple in our Consciences Wherefore yee husbands beginne betimes to admonish your Wiues of the soules saluation Let no day escape without prayers and thanksgiuing vnto the Lord. Ioyne together as true yoak-fellowes in Gods seruice daily prostrating your selues before his omniscient presence least Sathan creepe into your carelesse hearts and minister iust cause of Iealousie vnto you If the head gets in the whole body followes If the head be well the body can hardly be distempered so if Husbands doe their duties towards GOD their Wiues will imitate them in time and conforme their liues according to the square of vnitie O noble vnitie which shapest this indiuiduall vnion betwixt man and wife not onely in their bodies constitutions but in their soules coniunctions firme stable neuer to be remoued Bone of my bone flesh of my flesh Tu nostra de carne caro de sanguine sanguis sumptaque de nostris ossibus ossa geris As Adam spake to Euah Away therefore yee iealous Italists with your golden lockes with your artificiall chaines with your straight mewings If Pasipâ—ac cannot haue the company of a man she will yeeld her body to a wanton Bull. If Ariostoes Queene be restrayned one way shee will satisfie her appetite another way with a deformed dwarfe Qui era tanto dotto per mettre la Regina sotto There is no locke nor chaine comparable vnto the feare of the Lord whose wrath is a consuming fire The very thought of Hels torments terrifies the conscience more then all the worldly deuises of flesh and bloud What is Anger Anger is a vehement affection because it sees things fal out contrary crosselike to reason Why doe some looke red and others pale when they be angry Some when they are angry become red because their bloud ascendeth vp into the head and these are not so much to be doubted Others wax pale when they are angry because the bloud is retyred vnto the heart whereby they become full of heart very dangerous What is Choler Choler is a fiery passion of the minde because it seeth all things fall out contrary to reason or wit there are two sorts of Choler abounding in euery man the one open the other hidden wherof this latter is more dangerous From both of them being terrible ebullitions motions of the spirit all the body the bloud and humous become heated and chafed insomuch that they grow to be sulphureous kindeling of fiery feuers pleurisies gall in the stomacke yealow iaundises tumours Erisipelaes itch and innumerable other maladies as well externall as internall whose chiefest and specifique cure consisteth that Christian Vertue Patience as for other Phisicke to coole the violence thereof I leaue to greater Clerkes What is sorrow Sorrow is an affection of the mind whereby it is oppressed with some present euill and languisheth by little and little except it finde some hope or other to remedy the griefe thereof What is the effect of Sorrow Sorrow stifleth vp the purer faculties of the soule causeth a man to fall into a Consumption and to be weary of the world yea and of himselfe How many kindes of Sorrowes are there There be two kindes of sorrowes the one deepe and heauy the other short and temporarie The former is properly termed Sorrow the latter Mourning VVhat be the causes of both these kindes Their causes are outward and inward The outward are grieuances which happen vpon diuers occasions eyther for the losse which Husbands receiue by reason of their Wiues deaths or by reason of some deare friends death which in nature wee loue extreamely or else by reason of the shipwracke or discredit of our name fame and goods To these outward causes I adioyne the depraued dyet of the melancholicke which engender melancholicke humours as those euill weedes and seeds which our Farmers gather among their corne grinding the same with the rest into bread or malt Out of these corrupt seeds malignant vapours arise vp into the head which intoxicate the braine whirling about the imaginatiue facultie straying vp and downe along the memorie and eclipsing the light of the vnderstanding The inward causes spring from melancholick or burnt bloud contained within an inflamed braine and there-hence tainting the veines and whole body Of this blacke and enraged bloud which originally proceeded from the diuersities of vapours or exhalations there grow diuersities or diuers sorts of Sorrowes which diuersly work vpon the functions of the imagination For if it be true that the soule is in the bloud and dispersed through euery part of the same as God is wholy in the world and wholy in euery part of the same then surely must it follow that the variety of the bloud doth change and diuersifie the vnderstanding and also that the actes of the vnderstanding soule doth change the humours of the body so that out of these diuersities of tainted humours there are ingendred strange and wandring phantasies caused by reason of such blacke bloud smoake and sweat which
the heart and the spirits tempereth the humours ingendereth good bloud breaketh flegme conserueth nature and maketh it mery as the Princely Prophet speakes wine reioyceth the heart of man Being moderately drunk it forceth the soule to partake with the body so that both of them together being full of animall spirits might ioyne in one pleasing sound for the glorifying of their Soueraigne Benefactor VVhat is the vse of white wine White wine drunk in the moring fasting cleanseth the lungs Being taken with red Onions bruised it pearceth quickly into the bladder and breaketh the stone But if this kind of wine be drunk with a full stomack it doth more hurt then good and causeth the â—eat to descend before it be fully concocted VVhat is the vse of Rhenish wine Rhenish wine of all other is the most excellent for it scoureth the raines of the back clarifieth the spirits prouoketh vrine driueth away the headache specially if it doth proceede from the heat of the stomack VVhat is the vse of Mascadell Malmesie and browne Bastard These kinds of wines are only for married folkes because they strengthen the back yet I wish them to be very chary in the drinking thereof least their often vse fill the raines and seede vessels with vnnaturall accidentall windy puft or as the Logicians speak with aduenticious heat which in time will grow to a number of inconueniences VVhat is the vse of Sack Sack doth make men fatte and foggy and therefore not to be taken of young men Being drunke before meales it prouoketh appetite comforteth the spirits marueilously and concocteth raw humours How shall I know whether hony or water be mingled with wine Vintners I confesse in these daies are wont to iuggle and sophistically to abuse wine namely Alligant Muscadell and browne Bastard but you shall perceiue their deceit by this meanes take a few drops of the wine and powre them vpon a hot plate of yron and the wine being resolued the hony will remaine and thicken If you suspect your wine to be mingled with water you shall discerne the same by putting a Peare into it for if the Peare swim vpon the face of the wine and sink not to the bottome then it is perfect and vnmingled but if it sinke to the bottome water without doubt is added vnto it Shew me a way to keepe Claret wine or any other wine good nine or ten yeares At euery vintage draw almost the fourth part out of the hogshead and then rowle it vpon his lee and after fill it vp with the best new wine of the same kinde that you can get Your caske ought to be bound with yron hoopes and kept alwayes full How might I helpe wine that reboyleth Put a piece of cheese into the vessel presently a wonderfull effect will follow Or else put a bunch of Peniroyall Organy or Calamint about the hole at which the new wine coÌ„meth forth but if your wine be new you will haue it quickly purged you must put halfe a pint of vinegar in euery 15 quarts of new wine Shew me how to seperate water from wine Doctour Liebault a learned Phisitian of Fraunce saith that if it come to passe that wine haue water in it and that we finde it to be so to seperate then this water from this wine you must put into the vessell of wine melted Allom and after stopping the mouth of the said vessell with a spunge drenched in oyle to turne the mouth of the vessell so stopped downward and so the water onely will come forth or else cause a vessell of Iuy wood to be made and put therein such quantity of wine as it will be able to hold the water will come forth presently and the wine will abide pure neat Some do vse presently to change the wine so watered and to draw it out into another vessell and then to put a pint a halfe of salt to euery fifteene quarts of wine others doe boyle the wine vpon the fire so long vntill the third part be consumed and the rest they vse three or foure yeares after Shew me a way how a man may drinke much wine and yet not be drunke To drinke great store of wine and not to be drunke you must eate of the rosted lungs of a Goat or otherwise eate sixe or seauen bitter Almonds fasting or otherwise eate raw Coleworts before you drinke and you shall not become drunk How many sorts of Drunkards are there So many men so many mindes The soule being once depraued and depriued for want of grace of her vniforme and melodious harmony becommeth tainted with diuers and discording affections insomuch that in their very drinking they shew of what base alloy they are composed Some kind of Drunkards we see laughing out of all measure others we see weeping Some are dumbe some talkatiue Some hop and daunce some on the contrary lie still as if they were without feeling One more watchfull then the rest drinks more then twentie deseruing well the garland of Bacchus Another sleepes and wallowes like a filthy Hogge One flatters another fights In briefe one is Lion drunk another Sow drunk One apish drunk another Parrot drunk How to make them which are drunk sober You must make them eate Coleworts and some manner of confections made of brine or else drink great draughts of vinegar Shew me a way how to make Tossepots and drunkards to hate wine Cause a Drunkard to drinke with white wine the blossomes of Rie gathered at such time as the Rie blossometh or else take three or foure Eeles aliue and let them lie in wine till they die and afterward cause this wine to be drunken off by such as are giuen to be drunk or else take a greene Frog which is ordinarily found in fresh springs and let the same lie in wine till she die otherwise marke diligently where the Owle haunteth that so you may get some of her egs frie them and giue them the drunken gallant to eate But in vaine labours the Phisitian to cure the bodies intemperance while the soule sleepes in sinne while the reasonable faculties lie troaden and trampled vnder these worldly pleasures Awake then thou sensuall man and shoote inwardly into the lightsome cause of health which is no other then sobrietie fashioned after the spirituall image of the Trinitie But if thy nature be so sterne if thy soules aduantage be no solide reason in thy iudgement to conuert thy brutish liuing yet let examples of the bodies griefes terrifie thy lustfull thoughts from such vaine dregs Looke but on the countenance of a drunkard and is not he disfigured Doth not his nose seeme rotten withered or worme-eaten Doth not his breath stinck his tongue falter Is not his body crazed subiect to gouts and dropsies It is written of olde Father Ennius that by emptying of bottels he got the gout and many other dolours As Mounsieur du Chesne out of Celius Rhodiginus translated these verses into French Le bon
the temperature or mediocritie beginneth to impugne and fight with his contrarie which is more weake vntill it see the vtter dissolution of the same Of the wicked motions of the Minde CHAP. 2. What be passions of the minde THe passions motions or perturbations of the soule which otherwise may be called the accidents of the spirit are strange or sodaine insurrections and rebellious alterations of a tumultuous troubled soule which with draw it from the light of reason to cleaue and adhere vnto worldly vanities VVherein consists the cure of the spirituall maladies As the cure of the bodyes griefes consists chiefely in the knowledge of those causes which engender them so in like manner for the cure of spirituall maladies we must search out the causes from whence they do proceed And as the causes of the bodyes griefes are two outward and inward so the causes of spirituall diseases are likewise two outward and inward The outward are disgraces iniuries hatred miserie losse of honour and such like accidents which wee call outward because they arise out of our bodies able to stirre vp a world of troubles in our Spirits The inward causes of spirituall maladies are two fold the one corporall which presently at the first bickering doe torment the body the other meerely spirituall rightly termed the passions of the soule which torment the soule it selfe The Physitian therefore that will cure these spirituall sicknesses must inuent and deuise some spirituall pageant to fortifie and help the imaginatiue facultie which is corrupted and depraued yea hee must endeauour to deceiue and imprint another conceit whether it be wise or foolish in the Patients braine thereby to put out all former phantasies VVhich are the chiefest passions of the soule The chiefest spirituall passions are voluptuous Loue Iealousie Anger Choler Sorrow Feare and Enuy. VVhat is Loue Loue is an affection whereby the minde lusteth after that which is either good indeed or else that which seemes vnto it to be so Among other causes which besot men towards this affection of Loue I finde idlenesse to be one of the principall which being taken away the force of loue presently decayeth according to that of the Poet Otia si tollas periere Cupidinis arcus Next I finde that mortification of the flesh weakeneth nature and consequently subdueth lust Last of all time and age doe conquer this tyrannous motion but indeede the Grace of God which enlighteneth the eyes of our vnderstanding to regard and meditate on the holy Scripture is the most soueraigne and comfortable water of life which cooleth and alayeth the fierie stings of vnlawfull loue VVhat is the cause of loue The cause of loue among fooles is beauty but among good men the vertues of the minde are the principles of loue for they are euerlasting and when all other things as beauty and riches do decay yet they become more fresh more sweet and inestimable then before Hence it is that wee are counselled to chuse wiues not by our eyes but by our eares that is not by prying into their fairenesse of bodies but by inward contemplating of their honest deedes and good huswiueries Ordinarily the most beautifull and goodly sort of men and such as are decked with bodily gifts are most deformed and vicious in their soules There is alwayes a great combat betwixt chastitie and beautie so that wee seldome see faire women to be honest matrons the reason is because they prefer the phantasticall pleasures of their bodily senses before the true and right noble vertues of the minde such as the Spanyard saith are like an apple which is faire without and rotten within La muger hermosa es como la mancana de dentro podrida y de fuera galana Shew me some other meanes to remedie the stinges of vnlawfull loue Forasmuch as examples are the most familiar meanes to edifie and arme a diseased minde against the assaults of inuisible temptations I will lay downe some which our moderne Writers haue recorded for true The Passion of Loue hath beene so violent and vehement in some that the wisest as Salomon haue turned to be Idolaters and braue Martialists as Hercules and others haue become fooles or mad men Saint Augustine Libr. 11. Trinitat cap. 4. rehearseth a story of one in his time that had such a strong and strange apprehension of his mistresse body imprinted in his braine that he imagined himselfe really present with her and committing of carnall copulation with her so sensibly that his very seed did spend in the said imaginary act vt ei se quasi misceri sentiens etiam genitalibus flueret that I may vse his owne words For the cure of this beastlike and slouenly sinne I will content my selfe with three famous examples There dwelt in Alexandria a dame of great beautie and of greater learning called Hippatia which publikely read vnto Schollers It came to passe that one of her chiefest Schollers became so inamoured of her that the ardent desire of loue compelled him to discouer vnto her his passion entreating her to pittie his languishing state Hippatia a very wise woman and loath to cast away so worthy a Scholler by a cruell disdaine bethought her selfe of this subtill and sodaine remedie she out of hand prouided her of a filthy bloudy and mattry smock and after shee had inuited him to her chamber fayning her selfe willing to giue him contentment shee tooke vp her peticote and shewed him her flowry contagious smocke speaking vnto him after this manner My friend I pray thee see here how thy iudgement hath beene abused see what thing thou louest so precious examine more straightly what motiue induced thee to loue such filthy trompery ouer-cast and disguised with a glozing beautie At these words the young man began to be ashamed to repent himselfe and thenceforth to become more wise and sober It is reported of that great Scholler Raimundus Iullius that falling in loue with a faire Gentlewoman he pressed her very earnestly to respect him Shee to dispatch and to ease his passion concluded to lye with him but when shee came shee presently shewed him her left dugge most vgly to behold by reason of a canker which had almost rotted it At which hideous sight his courage sodainely quailed and cooled in such sort that his lustful loue was conuerted into a charitable loue to study for some extraordinary Physicke to help her A Lawyer of Tholouza for his further learning hauing trauailed into Italy was at length insnared with loue at Venice Whereupon he often passed by the doore of his mistresses house and made many tokens of his good will towards her Hee attempted by the assistance of Bawdes to corrupt her with gifts and in the end with much adoe found means himselfe to impart his loue vnto her The Gentlewoman with bitter threatning repulsed him All which could not cause him to desist from his idle exterprize so vnbrideled was his affection so violent his motion But at the last perceiuing
them both together Of Fire CHAP. 3. VVhat is fire FIre is an element hot and dry which dissolueth the malicious vapours of the aire stirreth vp naturall heat in mans body and expelleth cold What kinde of fire is best That fire is best which is made of dry and sweet wood For wet and greene wood is discommodious and so are all coales except chark-coales because they make the head heauie and dry vp naturall moysture Turfes likewise are very dangerous because they stop the windpipes and make the skinne yellow In Germany they vse Stoues which questionlesse cannot but dull the spirits and offend the purer faculties There may be a kinde of fewell made of the cinders of coales or olde burnt sea-coale or stone-coale incorporated with Sawiers dust and Cow-dung which being formed in balls and dried in the winde will burne very cleare Are not sweatings and hot-houses wholesome No because they exhaust the good humours together with the bad But in Spring time they may be vsed against the itch and small Pockes The second Section concerning foode Of bread and drinke CHAP. 1. VVhat is the vse of bread BRead made of pure wheat flowre well boulted from all branne and finely moulded and baked comforteth strengtheneth the heart maketh a man fat and preserueth health It must not be aboue two or three dayes olde at most for then it waxeth hard to be concocted Aboue all things it is fit that it be firmented with sower leauen for certainely this leauening though it puffe vp the paste yet notwithstanding it maketh the bread light and sauourie which otherwise would be heauie and very hard to be digested As for raw corne and vnprepared it is noisome vnto the strongest labourer euen vnto the stoutest mower Let men therefore take heed how they eate it eyther of wantonnesse or of appetite What is Rie Bread Rie bread well sifted not made of entire meale and new-baked is in Sommer time highly commended specially in the beginning of meate for it keepeth the belly loose and for this cause it is so vsed at the tables of Princes it must not be eaten but in small quantity rather for diet and health sake then to satisfie hunger VVhat is barley Bread The auncient Romanes vtterly forbad the vse thereof for it makes men cowardly and fearefull by reason that it doth not nourish but weaken the body yet notwithstanding some Phisitians were of opinion that it helps them that be diseased of the gout by force of a cleansing faculty which it hath How is wheaten bread and pastery to be vsed in Phisicke Bisket crust or tosted bread being eaten dry with a fasting stomack staieth stoppeth and drieth all distillations Rheumes and humours fallen or gathered in any part of the body some say that it causeth far people to be leane but certainly experience teacheth that it be taken after all other meat it drieth a moyst body and hindreth fatnesse and all diseases exceeding from moysture because it keepeth the meate from being too suddainly and quickly conueied into all the parts of the body Toasted bread steept in white wine with Cinamon Hony or Suger prouokes a good appetite and a liuely spirit vnto a man which is naturally sluggish drowsie or weake and for pastrie it is rather gluttonous than healthie not easie to digest fitter to be taken at the end of meales to preuent the Gout or the Dropsie VVhat is the vse of Beere Beere which is made of good Malt well brewed not too new nor too stale nourisheth the body causeth a good colour and quickly passeth out of the body In Sommer it auaileth a man much and is no lesse wholesome to our constitutions then wine Besides the nutritiue faculty which it hath by the malt it receiueth likewise a certaine property of medicine by the Hop What is the vse of Ale Ale made of barley malt and good water doth make a man strong but now a daies few Brewers doe brew it as they ought for they adde slimie and heauie baggage vnto it thinking thereby to please tosse-pots and to encrease the vigour of it How shall I discerne good Ale from bad Good Ale ought to be fresh and cleare of colour It must not be tilted for then the best quality is spent It must neither looke muddie nor yet carrie a taile with it Shew me a wholesome diet drinke The most precious and wholesome ordinarie drinke as well for them that be in health as for sicke and impotent persons is made after this manner Take halfe a pound of barley foure measures of water halfe an ounce of Licoras and two drachmes of the seede of Violets two drachmes of Parsley seed three ounces of red Roses an ounce and a halfe of Hysopand Sage three ounces of figges and raisins well pickt Seeth them all together in an earthen vessel so long till they decrease two fingers breadth by seething then put the potte in cold water straine the ingredients through a cloth Shew me a speedy drincke for trauellers when they want Beere or Ale at their Inne Let them take a quart of fayre water and put thereto fiue or sixe spoonfuls of good wine vinegar or of Aqua Composita a small quantitie of Sugar and some Borrage or a branch of Rosemary Let them be brued well out of one pot into another and then their drincke is ready What shall poore men drincke when Malt is extreame deere They must gather the toppes of Heath whereof the vsuall brushes are made and dry them and keepe them from moulding Then they may at all times brue a cheape drincke for themselues therewith Which kinde of drinke is very wholesome as well for the Liuer as the Spleene but much the more pleasant if they put a little Licoras vnto it There is another sort of drinke of Water and Vineger proportionably mingled together which in Summer they may vse How shall I helpe Beere or Ale which begin to be sowre or dead Put a handfull or two of Oatmeale or else of ground Malt into the barrell of Beere or Ale stirie the same well together and so make it reuiue a fresh Or else if you please bury your drinke vnder the ground in the earth for the space of foure and twenty houres Or else put into the vessell the rootes of Iroes Bay berries Organy or Isop Teach me a way to make beere or Ale to become stale within two or three dayes This is performed if you bury your Beere or Ale being filled into pots in a shady place somewhat deepe in the ground What is Meath Meath is made of honey and water boyled both together This kind of drinke is good for them which enioy their health but very hurtfull for them who are afflicted with the strangury or colick Braggot doth farre surpasse it in wholsomnesse What is Meatheglin Meatheglin is made of honey water and hearbs If it be staile it is passing good Of Wine CHAP. 2. What is the property of wine VVIne temperately taken refresheth
to vse honey within and oyle without being inwardly taken it looseth the belly it causeth one to vomit vp malignant humours yea poyson it selfe if a man hath drunken of it or taken it but a small time before one or two ounces of it taken with the iuyce of Lemonds cureth the wormes in childrens bodyes and the disease commonly called the Scuruie which kinde of oyle I holde best for I confesse that there be many kindes of oyle yet none like to the oyle Oliue which I here doe onely commend in respect that the Oliue doth yeeld more Oyle then any other seed or fruit it hath deserued the name of excellency aboue all the rest for the fat and vnctuous liquours of other seedes and fruits are not like to haue any other name bestowed vpon them then that which belongeth of right vnto the liquour which is pressed out of the Oliue for which reason when we speake of the Oyle of the Oliue we onely say Oyle but when wee speake of other oyles wee adde the name of the seed or fruit from which it was pressed as for example oyle of Vitriall oyle of Sage oyle of Wormewood oyle of Cloues and so of the rest Vineger prouokes appetite tempereth hot cholerick humours keepeth backe corruption and infection in the plague time but it hurteth them that be sorrowfull except they correct it with Suger Veriuyce is of the same nature as vineger is Shew me a way to make wholsome and good vinegar in a short time Take stale drinke and cast into it salt pepper and sowre leuen mingled together afterwards heate red hot some Tyle or gadd of Steele and put it hot into the drinke In like manner a Radish roote a Beete roote and a shiue of Barley bread new baked put into stale drinke and put forth in a glasse in the Sunne or in the chimney corner to the heat of the fire will make good vineger in a short time or if you will haue it better and to prouoke appetite infuse into your said vineger the leaues or iuyce of red Roses dryed the iuyce of Mints and Centorie Shew me a way to make vineger with corrupted and marred wine Take rotten and marred wine and boile it taking away all the scumme that riseth in the boyling thereof thus let it continue vpon the fire till it be boyled away one third part then put it vp into a vessell wherein hath beene vineger putting thereto some cheruile couer the vessell in such sort that there get no ayre into it and in short time it will proue good and strong vineger Of Hearbes CHAP. 8. What is the vse of our ordinary hearbs and roots BOrage is a cordiall Hearbe It purget bloud maketh the heart merry and strengtheneth the bowels Cabbages moderately eaten doe mollifie the belly and are very nutritiue Some say that they haue a speciall vertue against drunkennesse Radish rootes doe clear the voice prouoke vrine and comfort the liuer Cucumbers are of a colde temperature and fit to be eaten onely of cholericke persons Onions Leekes and Garlicke are onely fit to be eaten of flegmaticke folkes They clarifie the voyce extend the winde-pipes and prouoke vrine and menstruall issue But men subiect to the headach must not aduenture to eate such vaperous nutriments Shew me the best Sallet The best Sallet is made of Peniroyall Prasley Lettice and Endiue for it openeth the obstruction of the Liuer and keepeth the head in good plight Of Fruit. CHAP. 9. What is the vse of Fruit ALL Fruit for the most part are taken more for wantonnesse then for any nutritiue or necessary good which they bring vnto vs. To verifie this let vs but examine with the eye of reason what profit they cause when they are eaten after meales Surely we must needs confesse that such eating which the French call desert is vnnaturall being contrary to Physicke or Dyet for commonly fruits are of a moist facultie and therefore fitter to be taken afore meales but corrected with Suger or comfits then after meales and then also but very sparingly least their effects appeare to our bodily repentance which in women grow to be the greene sicknesse in men the morphew or els some flatuous windy humor White figs pared and then eaten with Orenges Pomegranats or seasoned in vinegar in spring time do nourish more then any fruit breake the stone in the rains quench thirst Raisins and curranes are very nutritiue yet notwithstanding they putrifie the raines and the bladder Sebastian Prunes doe loose the belly and quench choler Red garden Strawberries purified in wine and then eaten with good store of Suger doe asswage choler coole the liuer and prouoke appetite Almonds and Nuts are very nutritiue and doe encrease grosnesse they multitiply sperme and prouoke sleepe But I would not with any to eate them that are short winded or troubled with head-aches Olde and ripe Apples roasted baked stewed or powdered with Suger and Annise seed doe recreate the heart open the wind-pipes and appease the cough Ripe Peares eaten after meat and powdered with Suger cause appetite and fatten bodies And if you drinke a cup of olde wine after them they will doe thee much good Weighty Orenges are very good for them that be melancholick and keepe backe the rheume Cheries Plums and Damsons doe qualifie bloud and represse cholerick humours The third Section Of sleepe early rising and dreames CHAP. I. What be the commodities of sleepe MOderate sleepe strengtheneth all the spirits comforteth the body quieteth the humours and pulses qualifieth heat of the liuer taketh away sorrow and asswageth furie of the minde What be the discommodities of sleepe Immoderate sleepe maketh the braine giddie ingendereth rheume and impostumes causeth the pasie bringeth obliuion and troubleth the spirits How many houres may a man sleepe Seauen houres sleepe is sufficient for sanguine and cholerick men and nine houres for flegmatick and melancholick men Vpon which side must a man sleepe first Vpon his right side vntill the meat which he hath eaten be descended from the mouth of the stomack which is on the left side then let him sleepe vpon his left side and vpon his belly that the meate may be the more easily sodden and disgested in a more hot and fleshly place May a man conueniently lie vpright on his backe No for it heateth the raines hurteth the braine and memorie and oftentimes breedeth the disease which is called the riding Mare Shew me some remedies to procure sleepe Take a little Camphire and mingle it with some womans milke and anoint your temples therewith or else take an ounce of the oyle of Roses and three drams of vinegar stirre them both together and vse them What thinke you of noone sleepe Sleeping at noone is very dangerous But if you iudge it good by reason of custome then doe off your shooes while you sleepe for when the body and members be heauie with deepe sleepe the thicknesse of the leather at the soles doth returne the hurtfull
vapours of the feet that else should vanish away in the head and eyes Also you must if you can possibly sleepe in your chaire and let your head be meanely couered according to the time For as too much colde so too much heate doth astonish the minde and spirits Of early rising CHAP. 2. What are the commodities of early rising EArly rising is healthfull for the bloud and humours of the body and a thing good for them that be studious of waighty affaires for the animall spirit is then more readie to conceiue Yet notwithstanding it is not amisse to consider and serue the time and place because if the aire be corrupt as in plague time or enclined to moistnesse as in raynie and mistie weather or thundring it is better to abide either in bed with some light or to sit in the chamber by some sweet fire Of Dreames CHAP. 3. What are Dreames DReames are either tokens of things past or significants of things to come And surely if a mans minde be free from cares and he dreame in the morning there is no doubt but the affaires then dreamed of will truely come to passe How many sorts of dreames be there There be three sorts of Dreames To wit diuine supernaturall and naturall Diuine dreames are they which were sent by inspiration from God to his Prophets and faithfull seruants and as God is the Author of trueth so are they true and certaine Supernaturall dreames are placed in the middest betweene the diuine dreames and the naturall for they may happen without being precisely sent from God and their cause comes not onely by the sole deprauation of humours as naturall dreames doe but by the rauishment of the spirit which wakes while the body reposeth and which being oftentimes holpen by the inspiration of some good Angel or Genius doth represent by such Dreames things which commonly come to passe These kind of dreames chance in the morning when the braine is more free from the vapours of the meate which before had dulled it Among many examples which I haue read of this one seemes most strange vnto me Two friends trauailing together to a certaine Citie by the way at a little village parted the one to his friends house and the other to an Inne Hee which lodged at his friends house saw in his dreame his companion defiring him that he would come to help him or else he was to be killed by his hoast which when he saw he awaked rose out of his bed and was about to goe to the Inne but comming to himselfe and thinking how it might be a false dreame returned to his bed and slept then againe his friend appeared vnto him and seemed to request him more earnestly that he would succour him but he making no account likewise of this dreame slept againe to whom in like manner the third time his companion with a great complaint desiring him because hee had neglected to helpe him in his life time that now he would at last not denie to seeke reuenge on the murtherer saying that his murthered body was brought out of the gate of the Citie vpon a Cart couered ouer with dung to hide the offence By this meanes God disclosed the murther which well might be termed sera numinis vindicta Naturall dreames are they which represent the passions of the soule and body the imaginations of such dreames come to passe either by reason of outward causes or inward the outward are vaporous meates which ingender corrupt and burnt bloud For the vse of Coleworts Beanes Pease and Pottage causeth sorrowfull and troublesome dreames like as Garlick and Onions being eaten at supper doth make a man to dreame of terrible things The inward causes of which dreames are euill humours specially melancholicke which through the blacknesse thereof doth darken the light of the vnderstanding which is seated in the braine and there-hence as a candle imparts light vnto the whole body and there they imprint troublesome dreames To hinder a man from dreaming let him auoid bad and windie meates let him purge melancholy and at conuenient season if neede be let him bleed Likewise it is expedient to temper and correct the humours by sound antidotes and preparatiues to vse revulsions and deriuations to withdraw some of the fumes and vapours which ascend vp into the head filling the braine with many such troublesome conceits The fourth Section Of Euacuations CHAP. 1. How many kindes of Euacuations are there EVacuations are either naturall or artificiall the one vsuall as exercise vrine fasting and venerie the other compelled as by Bathes bloud-letting Purgations vomites glysters What be the commodities of Exercise Exercise is that which maketh the body light increaseth naturall heate and consumeth superfluous humours which otherwise would clotter and congeale within the body For in euery concoction some excrements are ingendred which being left alone may be the rootes of diuers sicknesses Now the thicker sort of excrements are auoyded by sensible euacuations But the thinner may be wasted and purged by exercise At what time is it best to exercise It is best to exercise when the body is fasting and emptie least after meats by violent and vehement motions digestion be hindered and putrifaction follow In Sommer exercise is to be vsed an houre after Sunne rising for feare of a double heate In Spring and Haruest time it is to be vsed about an houre and a halfe after Sunne rising that the morning colde may be auoided for as the heate at mid-day is hurtfull so the morning colde especially in Autumne is to be eschewed What kinde of Exercise is good Walking if it be not too slow is a commendable exercise and may be vsed in hot moneths specially of cholericke persons To hang by the hands on a thing aboue your reach so that your feet touch not the ground is good To climbe vp against a steepe hill till you pant and fetch your breath often with great difficultie is a fit exercise to be frequented in colde seasons Olde men must content themselues with softer Exercises least that the small heate which they haue should be spent They must onely euerie morning haue their ioynts gently rubbed with a linnen cloth To be briefe they must be combde and cherished vp with fine delights Vnto what complexion doth Exercise most appertaine Vnto the flegmaticke rather then the cholericke What exercise should short winded men vse They must vse loud reading and disputations that thereby their winde pipes may be extended and their pores opened Of Vrines CHAP. 2. What is Vrine VRine is the clearer and lighter part of bloud proceeding from the raines which if a man forceth to suppresse he is in danger of the collicke or stone What colour of vrine is most commendable That Vrine is most laudable which is of colour somewhat red and yealow like golde answering in proportion to the liquour which you drinke Teach me to prognosticate by Vrines White vrine signifieth rawnesse and indigestion in the
stomack Red vrine betokeneth heat Thicke vrine and like to puddle sheweth sicknesse or excessiue labour If white or red grauell appeare in the bottome of your vrinall it threatneth the stone in the raines In briefe blacke or greene coloured vrine declareth death most commonly to ensue Of Fasting CHAP. 3. Is moderate fasting good MOderate fasting as to omit a dinner or a supper once a weeke is wonderfull commodious for them that are not cholericke or melancholicke but full of raw humours This Anthony the Emperour knew very well when he accustomed to drinke nought saue one cup full of wine with a little pepper after he had surfetted Of the commodities of Fasting I haue written more largely in my second booke of the Golden Groue and now of late in my first Circle of The Spirit of Detraction coniured and conuicted Shew me a way to preserue my life if perhaps I be constrained to straggle in Deserts Take Licoras or Tobacco now and then chew it and you shall satisfie both thirst and hunger or else mixe some suet with one pound of Violets and you shall preserue your life thereby ten dayes Or to conclude take a peece of allome roule it in your mouth when you waxe hungry By this meanes you may liue as some write a whole fortnight without sustenance Of Venerie CHAP. 4. What is the vse of Venery MOderate Venerie is very expedient for preseruation of health It openeth the pores maketh the body light exhilerateth the heart and wit and mitigateth anger fury When is the best vse of carnall copulation It is best to vse carnal copulation in Winter and in Spring time when nature is desirous without the help of Arts dregs and at night when the stomacke is full and the body somewhat warme that sleepe immediately after it may lenifie the lassitude caused through the action therof In Sommer in Iune and Iuly when the spettle thickens on the ground it cannot be good VVhat be the inconueniences of immoderate Venerie Immoderate venerie weakeneth strength hurts the braine extinguisheth radicall moysture and hastneth on old age and death Sperme or seede of generation is the onely comforter of nature which wilfully shed or lost harmeth a man more then if hee should bleed forty times as much Teach me how wiuelesse batchelers and husbandlesse maides should driue away their vncleane dreaming of venery at nights First they must refraine from wine and venerous imaginations and not vse to lye in soft down beds Secondly they must addict themselues to read the Bible and morall Philosophy Thirdly they must exercise often their bodies Lastly if none of these preuaile let them vse the seed of Agnus castus in English Parke seed and they shall feele a strange effect to follow Of Bathes CHAP. 5. What is the vse of Bathes COld and naturall bathes are greatly expedient for men subiect to rheumes dropsies and gouts Neither can I easily expresse in words how much good cold bathes doe bring vnto them that vse them howbeit with this caueat I commend bathes to wit that no man distempered through Venery Gluttony watching fasting or through violent exercise presume to enter into them Is bathing of the head wholsome You shall finde it wonderfull expedient if you bath your head foure times in the yeare and that with hot lee made of ashes After which you must cause one presently to poure two or three gallons of cold fountaine water vpon your head Then let your head be dryed with cold towels Which sodaine pouring downe of cold water although it doth mightily terrifie you yet neuertheles it is very good for therby the naturall heate is stirred within the body baldnesse is kept backe and the memory is quickned In like manner washing of hands often doth much auaile the eye-sight How shall a man bathe himselfe in Winter time when waters be frozen In Winter time this kinde of artificiall bathing is very expedient and wholsome Take two pound of Turpentine foure ounces of the iuyce of Wormwood and wild mallowes one ounce of fresh butter one drachme of saffron mingle them and seeth them a pretty while and being hot wet foure linnen clothes in it and therewith bath your selfe Or els make a bath after this manner take of Fumitory and Enula Campana leaues Sage Fetherfue Rosemary Wormwood of each a handfull or two seeth them in a sufficient quantity of water till they be soft and put as much as a walnut of Allome and a little brimstone in powder and therewith bath the places of your body affected He that vseth these bathes in times conuenient shall liue healthfully for by them superfluous excrements are extracted in sweat Of Excrements and Bloud-letting CHAP. 6. VVhat be Excrements OF excrements some be necessary and some superfluous those be necessarie which spring of superfluous bloud and that notwithstanding can nourish when nourishment failes as seede sperme milke and fat Those be superfluous which doe not proceed from bloud nor can nourish but rather separated from the bloud as not able to nourish and these are either moist or earthy moist as black melancholy sweat vrine matter of the nose spettle c Earthy or dry excrements as nailes cornes and such like Aristotle reckoneth the marrow in the bodie the marrow among the excrements 2 Libr. de generat animal cap. 6. But I take it to be a nourishment because the bones are nourished by it euen as the body is nourished by bloud What thinke you of bloud-letting Bloud is the very essence of life which diminished the spirits must consequently be dissolued In consideration whereof I counsell them that vse any moderate exercise not in any case to be let bloud least that corrupt water succeede in the place of the pure bloud But if they abound with bloud or their bloud be putrified and burnt if other medicines auaile not this law of mine must needes be infringed Shew mee a way to discerne the effects of bloud-letting If the bloud which is let out appeare red of colour and white water flow with it then the body is sound if bubbling bloud issue the stomack is diseased if greene the heart is grieued Of Purgations CHAP. 7. What is the vse of Purgations PVrgations as sometime they be very necessarie so often taking of them is most dangerous He that vseth exquisite Purgations and especially electuaries soluble shall quickly waxe old and gray-headed All Purgations a few simples onely excepted haue poysoned effects Besides nature aboue measure is compelled by Purgations and the vitall powers are diminished In respect of which reasons let euery man take heede of those butchering Surgeons and bloud-sucking Empiricks who rogueing vp and downe Countries doe murther many Innocents vnder pretext of Phisick Hee that obserueth a good dyet and moderately exerciseth his body needeth no Phisick Moist and delicate viandes eaten in the beginning of meales doe sufficiently loose the belly Sweet wines performe the very same Also the leaues of Scene sodden in water with
is crept into the humour of melancholy Some of extreame sorrow haue turned mad famishing themselues to death some imagined themselues to be Vrinals of glasse expecting when they shold be broken through some accident some thought that they were become Owles and therefore feared to be seene abroad in the day time Among these sorrowfull sots I cannot but remember a Gentleman of Venice with whom I was familiarly acquainted at the Citie of Noua-palma in Italie about nine yeares past This Gentleman by reason of crosses hauing fallen into a sorrowfull discontentment began to scorne all of his rancke and grinding the world as it were into oatmeale would eyther be aut Caesar aut nihil eyther a Monarch or a Mole-catcher And to this end he studyed by what meanes hee might aspire to the Empire At the last hauing wearied his braine with the losse of many a nights sleepe to his bodyes annoyance hee imparted his mind vnto me whereupon to put him out of dumps by degrees I aduised him to leaue off his solitary walkes and to betake himselfe to reading or to some outward exercise thereby to banish away his inward thoughts or rather doating Dreames This counsell of mine hee accordingly followed for a time but at length he fell into his wonted phantasies and persisted so strongly therein that hee wrote very learned letters and pathetical vnto the Electours for his aduancement into the throne Emperiall very earnestly soliciting me to become his Agent in the businesse What is the reason that men imagine such impossible and vaine things When God with-drawes his Spirit from the sinfull Sonnes of Adam then the world the flesh and the Diuell glad of such aduantage and opportunitie doe mutually conspire against them diuersly seduce their brittle thoughts and wils Some they possesse with imaginations according to the course of the liues which they lead Others imagine of sorrow discontentment such strange matters that not onely the spirit is assayled as I haue written but also the body is assaulted that it becomes vnprofitable vnto al seemly actions And that so violently that it procures and prefers Death it selfe Now since you haue discoursed of naturall and Melancholicke Sorrowes tell mee what harme hapneth by the other sorrow which wee terme mourning This latter kinde of sorrow being accidentall chanceth to our conceit by Desteny which is no other then the will of God the Father limitting the end of all things by measure number and waight not blind-foldly as the Poets fained of Fortune but necessarily and prouidently Vpon the death of some deare neare friend our mindes are deeply touched that we manifest the effects therof in our very outward countenance and apparrel by reason of the weaknesse of flesh and bloud which can in no wise brooke a sodaine or violent alteration but commonly such mourning is short and momentarie according to that Maxime of the Philosophers nullum violentum est perpetuum No violent thing can last long which likewise may be confirmed by the obseruation of our outward habits Impletur lachrimis egrediturque dolor The more teares wee shed the lesse is our sorrow for teares cause wearinesse wearinesse procures sleepe and sleepe asswageth sorrow new obiects also comming in by processe of time to affect the Patient Neuerthelesse for all this neque mihi cornea fabra est my heart is not so rigorous and hard as to condemne vtterly our mourning vse when we haue lost our dearest friends nay I commend it highly so that it be accomplished with moderation and accompanied with Hymnes and Psalmes to GOD for the honour of his mercy with charitable Epitaphes for the memorial◠of the deceaseds honesty and with cheereful almes-giuing for a monument of Christian charitie But what is the reason that some were black and some white at the funerall of their friends The morall is this that the blacke betokeneth the corruption of the body The white signifieth the soules freedome out of the bodies prison Happy is that soule which can contemne the frailety of the flesh loathing to deface the handie-worke of God Happy I say and fraught with true magnanimitie is that spirit which can make profitable vse of his visitation not grudging not murmuring not mourning out of measure These restoratiues I ministred to my selfe at the death of my deare Wife who of late was sodainly stricken dead with lightning as I haue shewed at large in my worke called the Spirit of Detraction coniured and conuicted And because I am fallen at this present into a mourning veine I will reiterate my Christian farewell wishing that the same might become a precedent to an afflicted spirit in the like case Adieu thou Seruant of Christ thou Patterne of Pietie Adieu thou Map of Gods miracles Adieu my Ioy my Loue my Comfort Adieu and rest thee hence-forth among the Heauenly Roses rest in peace for euer free from the thornes of malice Adieu againe and againe Adieu deare wife for a while and welcome sweet Iesus my Sauiour for euer What is Feare Feare is a griefe which the minde conceiueth of some euill that may chance vnto it Why doe fearefull men looke pale The reason why fearefull men looke pale and wanne is because nature draweth away that heat which is in the face and outward parts to relieue and comfort the heart which is welnigh stifled and stopped vp How many sorts of fearefull persons are there There be two sorts of fearefull persons the one Naturally fearefull the other Accidentally fearefull Among those which are naturally fearefull I range children who are subiect to this passion by reason of the sodaine commotion of the humours and of the bloud descending into the sensitiue organs be-dazeling their sights with a false suffusion Likewise I place aged people in the number of the most naturally fearefull which by the meanes of their ouer-spent naturall moisture and wasted braines doe againe play the babies and as the Latinists say repuerascunt and as the Greekes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thirdly I account Women by nature fearefull whose sexe as the weaker vessels is much defectiue and impotent in courage euer doubtfull and distrustfull almost of their owne shadowes Fourthly superstitious persons as Papists who by reason of their naturall fragilitie doe forge a thousand phantasies in their braines To these I adde the melancholicke as a kinde of humourous darke spirits which because they shoot inwardly abhorring outward obiects doe feare the very noise of reeds and fall of leaues Now it is time that I discourse somewhat of that feare which is Accidentall no lesse penetrating into the mindes of men then that which is Naturall and chiefly when God doth manifestly cooperate and worke together with it whereof no mortall man can well declare the solide and true cause The first Accidentall feare is that which befalles to multitudes at once yea euen to a whole campe of hardic souldiours which kinde of feare is termed Panick etymologized of Pan because he being Bacchus his Lieutenant in the
and lustfull thoughts touching the fruit in Paradise but to tel how at what time that is a secresie neuer disclosed to any creature Such as the mans life is such is his death A Righteous man dieth righteously But a wicked man hath a wicked end dying without repentance Death is a so daine and a sullen guest neuer thought on before hee apprehendeth vs as his slaues When we think our selues safely mounted on the pinacle of worldly felicity he vnawares suppresseth vs rudely and smiteth vs deadly For which consideration O mortall men lead your liues vprightly hearken not vnto the counsels of the vngodly nor like greedie Cormoraunts snatch vp other mens rights Rather know your selues contentedly which done be vigilant well armed in Christ Iesus and alwaies meditating on your deaths VVhich be the most dangerous yeares in mans life The auncient Sages by curious notes haue found out that certaine yeares in mans life be very perillous These they name climactericall or stayrie yeares for then they saw great alterations Now a climactericall yeare is euery seauenth yeare The reason is because then the course of the planets returne to Saturne who most commonly is cruell and noysome vnto vs. And euen as the Moone which is the next planet vnto vs and swiftest of course passeth almost euery seauenth day into the contrary signe of the same qualitie from whence she came forth and there-hence bringeth the criticall daies so Saturne which is the planet furthest from vs and slowest of course for hee resteth in one signe so many yeares as the Moone doth dayes bringeth these climactericall yeares and causeth sundry mutations to follow Hence is it that in the seauenth yeare children doe cast and renew their teeth In the fourteenth yeare proceedeth their strippling age And betwixt that and the fifteenth yeare there falles out in the body a tumultuous whurly-burly or wambling commotion of humours which in some breakes out into scabs or hote watry issues in others into kindes of agues In the one and twentieth youth And when a man hath past seauen times seauen yeares to wit nine and forty yeares hee is a ripe and perfect man Also when he attaineth to tenne times seauen yeares that is to the age of threescore and ten his strength and chiefest vertue begins to fall away And againe euery seauenth yeare was by Gods owne institution pronounced hallowed And in it the Israelites were prohibited to manure their grounds or to plant vineyards Aulus Gellius mentioneth that the Emperour Octauian sent a Letter vnto his step-sonne to this effect Reioyce with mee my Sonne for I haue past ouer that deadly yeare and enemie to olde age threescore and three In which number the seauenths and ninths doe concurre The sixe and fiftieth yeare is very dangerous to men borne in the night season by reason of the doubled coldnesse of Saturne And the threescore and third yeare is very perillous to them that be borne in the day time by reason of the drinesse of Mercurie and Venus It is also obserued that the nine and fortieth yeare composed of seauen times seauen is very dangerous Others againe of our late Criticks collect by experience that in the seauenth yeare more vnnaturall ill humours are ingendred then the true and naturall constitution of the bodie can possibly digest because the liuer and heart being the radicall Fountaines of the bloud by little and little are so corrupted within the compasse of sixe or seauen yeares which cannot chuse but at the last breake out like the Paroxismes or fits of an ague tertian or quartane in some kinde of bodies at the seauenth yeare and in others of a stronger ability at the ninth yeare So when these steps are past the liuer heart do prepare humours for the yeares or steps following vntill it burst out into a remarkeable euent Finally whensoeuer any man entreth into these climactericall yeares if certaine tokens of imminent sicknesse doe appeare as wearisomnesse of the members griefe of the knees dimnesse of sight buzzing of the eares loathsomnesse of meate sweating in sleepe yawning or such like then let him incessantly pray and beseech God to protect and guide his heart let him be circumspect and curious to preserue his health and life by Art nature policy and experiments Or if no eminent cause appeare let him purge aforehand the better to preuent the encrease of humours Which be the criticall daies The critical daies are the first and seauenth of Ianuary The third and fourth of February The first and fourth of March The eigth and tenth of April The third and seauenth of May. The tenth and fifteenth of Iune The tenth and thirteenth of Iuly The first and second of August The third tenth of September The third and tenth of October The third fift of Nouember The seauenth and tenth of December VVhich humors are predominant in the night season and which in the day time Euery one humour raigneth sixe houres Bloud is predominant from nine a clocke in the night vntill three a clock in the morning Choler from three a clock in the morning till nine Melancholy ruleth from nine a clock in the morning till three in the euening Likewise flegme gouerneth from three in the euening vntill nine a clock at night So that flegme and melancholy doe raigne at night and bloud and choler in the day time Also bloud hath his dominion in the Spring time choler in the Sommer melancholy in Autumne and flegme in Winter For which respects I aduise you if perchance you fall into a disease to marke well in the beginning of your sicknesse the houre and humour then raigning that thereby you may the sooner finde out remedy In conclusion you must consider of the Critical daies in which great alterations either towards your recouerie or towards your further sicknesse willensue Most commonly the criticall day happeneth the seauenth the fourteenth the one and twentieth or the eight and twentieth day from the beginning of your sicknesse Notwithstanding according to the course of the Moone the fourth day the eleauenth the seauenteenth and the foure and twentieth day from the beginning of your sicknes will foretell you whether you shall amend or waxe worse Of the foure Humours CHAP. 4. What is an Humour AN humour is a moist and running body into which the meate in the Liuer is conuerted to the end that our bodyes might be nourished by them VVhat is the nature of the sanguine humour The sanguine humour is hot moist farty sweet and seated in the liuer because it watereth all the body and giueth nourishment vnto it out of which likewise issue the vitall spirits like vnto small and gentle windes that arise out of riuers and Wels. VVhat is the flegmaticke humour The flegmatick humour is of colour white brackish like vnto sweat and properly placed in the kidnyes which draw to themselues the water from the bloud thereby filling the veines in stead of good and pure bloud What is the Cholericke The
Cholericke humour is hot and fiery bitter and like vnto the flower of wine It serueth not onely to cleanse the guts of filth but also to make the Liuer hot and to hinder the bloud from putrifaction What is the Melancholicke humour The Melancholick humour is black earthly resembling the lees of bloud and hath the Spleene for a seat assigned vnto it Howbeit Physitians say that there be three kindes of melancholy the first proceedeth from the annoyed braine the second commeth when as the whole constituion of the body is melancholicke the third springeth from the bowels but chiefly from the Spleen and liuer Shew me a diet for melancholicke men First they must haue lightsome chambers and them often perfumed Secondly they must eate young and good meat and beware of Beefe Porke Hare wilde beasts Thirdly let them vse Borrage and Buglosse in their drinke Fourthly Musicke is meet for them Fiftly they must alwayes keepe their bellies loose and soluble Of the restauration of health The sixt Section Of the foure parts of the yeare CHAP. 1. What is the nature of Spring time THe Spring time beginneth when the Sunne entereth into the signe of Aries which is the tenth day of March. At this time the daies and nights are of equall length the cold weather is diminished the pores of the earth being closed and congealed with cold are opened the fields waxe greene hearbes and flowers doe bud beasts rut the birds chirp and to be briefe all liuing Creatures doe recouer their former vigour in the beginning of the spring Now a man must eate lesse and drink somwhat the more The best meates to be eaten are Veale Kid yong Mutton Chickens dry fowle potched egges figs raisins and other sweet meate and because the Spring is a temperate season it requires temperature in all things Vse competent Phlebotomy purgation or such like Venery will doe no great harme As the Sunne by steps and degrees makes his power manifest abroad so within our bodyes hee workes strange and meruailous effects after his cloudy absence Sweet meat must haue soure sauce after our gurmundise and gluttonous fare let vs now likewise imitate these degrees and by little and little weane our bodies from such luxurious cheer Wee see Nurses annoint their teates with Wormwood iuyce to terrifie and withdraw their froward Children from their auncient sustenance so in like manner let vs in this season beginne to sequester our wanton wils being the bodies rulers from persisting in their former lauishnesse for which purpose I aduise the temperate to abstaine from immoderate drinking of wine from immoderate spiced meate specially towards the midst of this season and if they be cholericke hot and dry of constitutions I aduise them to coole themselues now and then with waters of Endiue and Succory or with fountaine water together with a little Comfits to expell inflamation and windie pestilent humours In any case let them which regard their health take heede of salt Herrings and slimy Fish as a meate fitter for labourers then for tender natures Or if their longing wantonnesse be such that they must needs eate them let them exercise or omit their next meale whereby those ill humours may be spent or digested which were caused by reason of the vnwholsome nutriment For assuredly the bloud of idle people will be quickly tainted and corrupted so that the bad excrements will break out into itch tetters the small pockes or meazels or else they will descend from the head into the eyes teeth or lungs and there engender a fearefull cough In old persons these brackish viscous and salt humours will congeale and harden into the stone of the bladder or reines What is the nature of Summer Summer begins when the Sunne entereth the Signe of Cancer which is the twelfth day of Iune In this time Choler is predominant heat encreaseth the windes are silent the sea calme fruits doe ripen and Bees doe make honey Now a man must drinke largely eate little and that sodden for rost meate is dry It is dangerous taking of Physicke and specially in the Dog dayes To heale wounds is very difficult and perillous All these inconueniences happen because of the dog dayes to last for the space of those fortie dayes wherein that Constellation called the Dog meeting with the Sunne in our Meridian doubleth his heate by whose burning influence Frenzies the Pestilence Calenturaes and other hot cholericke sicknesses are bred in our bodies What is the nature of Autumne Autumne beginneth when the Sunne entreth the first degree of Libra which is the thirteenth day of September Then it is Equinoctiall Meteors are seene the times doe alter the Ayre waxeth cold the leaues doe fall corne is reaped the earth loseth her beautie and melancholy is engendered For which cause such things as breede Melancholy are to be auoyded as Feare Care Beanes olde Cheese salt Beefe broath of Coleworts and such like You may safely eate Mutton Lambe Pigges and young pullets Take heede of the morning and euening cold What is the nature of Winter Winter beginneth when the Sunne entereth the Signe of Capricorne which is commonly the twelfth day of December Now the dayes are shortned and the nights prolonged Windes are sharpe Snow and sodaine inundations of waters arise the Earth is congealed with frost and Ice and all liuing creatures doe quiuer with colde Therefore a man must vse warme and dry meates for the cheerefull vertues of the body are now weakened by the colde ayre and the naturall heate is driuen into the inward parts of the body to comfort and maintaine the vitall Spirits VVee must expell the colde ayre with warme drinkes wines braggot metheglin malmesie and such like and aboue all with warme clothes which I wish to be of wooll rather then of any other stuffes In this season wee may feede liberally on strong meates as Beefe barren Does gelt Goats and on spiced or baked meates for whose better digestion and to shut the orifice or mouth of the stomacke some vse to eate Comfits of Anise-seedes presently after meales some other hauing weake stomackes take digestiue pouders made of sweet Fenell seedes Coriander seed Corrall prepared a little masticke Sinnamon and Rose suger within the conserues of Roses Others againe content themselues with a pouder composed of Rose Suger Annise-seede Sage and a crust of fine bread whereof they take a spoonefull in a cup of drinke At nights be sure to keep your selfe warme and specially your head and feet In this case I cannot but commend the Dutchmens prouidence aboue our owne who continually in colde weather weare furres about their necks and couer their feete with wollen sockes Now Wardens Apples and Peares may be vsed with wine or with salt for swelling or with comfits for windinesse To vse carnall copulation is expedient if the weather be moist and not very cold Astronomers auerre that if the first day of December be foule and tempestuous it will not be calme thirty dayes after