THE HISTORIE of Life and Death With Observations Naturall and Experimentall for the Prolonging of LIFE Written by the Right Honorable Francis Lord Verulam Viscount S. Alban LONDON Printed by I. Okes for Humphrey Mosley at the Princes Armes in Pauls Church-Yard 1638. Academiae Cantabrigiensis Liber TO THE Right Worshipfull Sr. EDWARD MOSLEY Knight his Majesties Atturny General of the Dutchey of Lancaster c. SIR THe Honourable Author of this History was such a miracle of Learning that Fancy striving to comprehend his Worth would be lost in Wonder and Amazement this Work of his retaining an affection to Grayes-Inne where the Author is and shall bee remembred by the Living and Posterity hath an originall ambition before it walk abroad into the World to visit Your Worship being a worthy Ornament of that Society that so Your respective entertainment may instruct the Envious and Ignorant Tribe to reverence rather than udge Honorable Personages and their Labours It will become mee onely to waite on the Imaginations of so great a Genius and while they converse with You in a nearer distance to acknowledge that Your Worships Name dignified with deserved Titles the Seales of vertue agreeing with mine only in Denomination made mee presume of Your Favour in accepting them and my Intention full of Service viceable respects hoping that verbum sat c. a word will bee sufficient to present this Oblation and the humble service Of Your Worships Honourer HUMPHREY MOSLEY TO THE Living and Posterity THE History of Life and Death being the last of sixe Monethly designations seemed worthy to bee preferred to bee the second in Publication because the least losse of time in a matter of so great utility should bee pretious for wee hope and desire that it may redound to the good of many and that noble Physitians raising their minds may not be wholly imployd in uncleane cures nor honoured only for necessity but become also the Stewards of Divine Omnipotency and Clemency in prolonging and renewing the life of Man especially since it may be done by safe convenient civill but untryed new waies and meanes For while 〈◊〉 Christians aspire and labour to come to the Land of Promise it will be a signe of Divine favour if our shoos and the garments of our frail bodies be here little worne in our iourney in the worlds wildernesse THE History of Life and Death The Accesse ANcient is the saying and complaint that Life is short and Art long Therefore our labours intending to perfect Arts should by the assistance of the Author of Truth and Life consider by what meanes the Life of man may be prolonged For long Life being an increasing heape of sinnes and sorrowes lightly esteemed of Christians aspiring to Heaven should not be dispised because it affoords longer opportunity of doing good Workes Moreover Amatus survived the other Disciples and many Fathers especially many holy Monkes and Hermites lived very long whereby it seemes that this blessing of long Life so often repeated in the Law was after our Saviours time lesse diminished then other earthly benedictions But the happinesse of long life is naturally desired although the meanes to attaine it through false opinions and vaine reports be hard to find the generall opinion of Physitians concerning Radicall mosture and Natural heat being deceiveable and the immoderate praise of Chymicall Medicines possessing others with failing hopes That which admits reparation remayning whole and sound in Essence may be eternally preserved as the Vestall Fire whereupon Physitians and Phylosophers perceiving that the bodies of living creatures being nourished repaired and refreshed grew old afterward and speedily perished they sought Death in an irreparable subject supposing Radicall moysture incapable of solid reparation from Infancy there being no just reparation but an unlike Addition sensibly by Age decayed and at last corrupted and dissolved This conceit of theirs was ignorant and vaine for young living creatures being all over and wholly repaired do by their increasing in quantity and growing better in quality shew that if the measure and manner of repairing decayed not the matter of repairing might be eternall But the 〈◊〉 in repairing proceeds from the unequall repairing of some parts sufficiently others hardly and badly in Age the bodies of men beginning thereby to undergoe Mezentius torment living in the embraces of the dead untill they dye and being easily repairable yet through some particular difficulty in restoring doe decay For spirits blood flesh and fatnesse are in the declining estate of Age easily repaired but there is much difficulty and danger in repairing the dry parts and fuller of pores as membranes tunicles nerves arteries veines gristles most of the bowels and all the organicall and instrumentall parts For when those parts that should performe their office to other actually reparable parts cannot being decayed in strength execute their office a generall ruine follows and parts naturally restoreable through defective Organs of Reparation doe decrease and decay For the spirit like a light flame continually feeds on bodies and the Ayre without conspiring therewith doth suck and dry the fabrick and instruments of the body which are thereby decayed and made unfit to performe the office of repairing And these are the true wayes whereby natur all Death approacheth deserving due consideration For how can Natures course if unknowne bee helped or prevented Therefore the meanes whereby the consumption or decay of mans body may be prevented and the repairing and restoring thereof furthered are most precious and worth knowing The spirits and ayre without are the chiefe causes of consumption and the generall progresse of Nourishment is the cause of restoration For the spirit within and the ayre without doe worke on dead bodies striving also to produce in living bodies the same effects though weakened and restrayned by the vitall spirits and partly by them increased For bodies without life doe a long while subsist and endure without Reparation but the life of creatures without due nourishment and reparation suddenly decayes and is extinguished like fire Therefore a two-fold search is required considering mans body as livelesse and unnourished and as living and nourished So much for the Preface proceeding now to the Topicks or common-places of the search Particular Places OR Poynts of Inquiry concerning Life and Death 1. OF Nature durable and lesse durable in liveles bodies and in Vegetables no copious or Legall but a summary briefe inquiry is made 2. Of the Drinesse Withering and Consumption of livelesse bodiesand Vegetables of their manner and progresse in working and also of hindring and staying of Drying Withering and Consumption and the preservation of the state of Bodies and also of Mollifying Softning and Reviving beginning to be affected with Drinesse make diligent inquiry 3. Yet no perfect exact inquiry is needfull concerning these poynts included under their proper Title of Duration and Continuance beeing not principall matters in this Inquiry but such as doe onely affoord light to prolonging and restoring of Life in
being a Bird that eateth any kind of meate chews his food changes his Bill and is of a churlish angry disposition and hath black flesh 31. The Peacocke hath a slow pace and white flesh living twenty yeers and being three yeeres old his tayle is with Argus eies speckled and adorned 32. The Cocke is leacherous a couragious fighter and short-liv'd having white flesh 33. The Turky-cocke or Indian Cocke somewhat longer liv'd than the Cocke is a testy angry bird and hath very white flesh 34. The Ring-Dove being an ayery Bird loving to build and sit high is long-liv'd fifty yeeres being her age But Pidgeons and Turtles are short-liv'd their Age being eight yeeres 35. Pheasants and Partridges live sixteene yeeres being great breeders but blacker flesh'd than chickens or Pullets 36. The lascivious loud whistling Black-bird is of all small birds longest liv'd 37. The Sparrow is short-liv'd the Cocke-sparrow shortning his life by wanton lasciviousnesse The Linnet and Finch though no bigger than the sparrow doe live twenty yeeres 38. The Estredges age is uncertaine life not long as by tame Estreges it is observ'd The age of the Bird 〈◊〉 being long-liv'd is unknowne 39. The age of Fishes lesse observ'd because living under the water is more uncertaine than the age of Beasts Some of them breath not their vitall spirits being kept close and cooled by their gills but not so constantly as by breathing 40. The ayre dries not nor decayes their bodies because the water wherein they live encompassing them pierceth into their pores having a greater power than encompassing ayre to shorten their lives 41. They are ravenous devourers of their owne kind having cold blood and soft flesh not so firme as Beasts flesh but fatter an infinite quantity of oyle being made of the fat of 42. Dolphins live thirty yeeres for some whose tayles were cut off thirty yeeres afterward being taken were knowne they grow tenne yeeres 43. It is observable and very strange that Fishes bodies doe grow slender with age their tayle and head retaining their former bignesse 44. In Fish-ponds belonging to the Roman Emperour Lampreys living threescore yeers by long keeping were made tame one of their deaths being therefore by the Orator Crassus lamented 45. The Pike of all fresh-water fish is longest liv'd forty yeeres being his age hee is a ravenous devourer and his flesh in eating is dry and firme 46. The Carpe Breame Tench and Eele live not above tenne yeares 47. Salmons are of a suddaine growth but short liv'd and also Trouts but the Perch groeth slowly and lives longer 48. The age of the Whale Sea-Calfe Sea-hog and other Fishes is unknowne 49. The long-liv'd Crocodile alwayes growing is a devouring cruel creature that layeth Egges and the Water pierces not his skinne beeing scaly and hard The age of other shel-fishes is unknowne Greater Observations COncerning the length and shortnesse of the life of living Creaturer hitherto negligently observed and proceeding from divers causes insteed of certayne Rules hard to find these notes following may be added 1. Birds are longer-liv'd then Beasts as th' Eagle Vulter Pellican Kite Raven Crow Swan Goose Storke Crane Ib is Parret Ringdove c. though they are lesser and in one yeare at their ful growth For Birds are long-liv'd because they are wel clothed with warme Feathers to keepe out cold and doe live in the free open Aire as Mountayners doe or because when they flye they are carryed by the Ayre their Wings this mixt motiō makes thē helthful or because Birds are not pin'd for want of nourishment or thrust in the belly of their old Bird by turnes laying her eggs but especially because Birds partaking more of the Hennes substance than of the Cocks have not such sharpe and hot spirits 2. It is a Position that living creatures begotten by a greater quantity of the Dammes seed as Birds are than of the Sires and lying longer in their Dammes belly partaking more of the Dammes seed than the Sires are therefore longer liv'd And it is observeable that men being in visage and countenance liker their mother than their father doe live longest as those children doe which sound and healthfull men beget on young Wives 3. Living creatures may receive much hurt or good in their first breeding for such as lye not too close together in the belly of the Damme but have sufficient nourishment are long-liv'd as the egges of Birds laid by turnes and the young of Beasts bringing but one at a yeaning have roome enough and nourishment 4. Long bearing in the mothers wombe and the Dammes belly is forthree respects a cause of long life First the of-spring hath more of the mothers or Dammes substance Secondly it becomes a stronger birth Thirdly it better endures the Ayres power Lastly it denotes that Nature intended such a Birth for the Center of a large circumference of many yeeres The short life of Oxen and Sheepe Calves and Lambs lying sixe moneths in their Dams belly before they are calved yeaned proceeds from other causes 5. Grazing Cattle are short-liv'd but Beasts feeding on flesh live longer and Birds which do eate seeds and fruits For halfe the long-lived Harts foode growes as they say above his head and the Goose feeding not onely on Grasse finde some foode in the Water 6. Another cause of long life is warme cloathing and keeping out immoderate heat and cold whereby the Body is much weakned and decay'd as Birds cloathed with warm Feathers are therefore longer liv'd But Sheepe having thicke Fleeces are not longliv'd being subject to many Diseases and feeding onely on grasse 7. The Head is the principall seate of all the Spirits beeing great wasters and consumers of the Body so that the great abundance or sharp inflamatiō of the Spirits shortens Life Therefore Birds having little heads inrespect of their bodies are long liv'd and men having very great heads live not long 8. The best kind of motion for prolonging of Life is to be born and carried as the Swan and other swiming water Fowle are and all Birds flying more painfully with their wings and fish whose Age and long life is unknowne 9. Slow comming to perfection both for Growth and ripenes signifies long life in al creatures for teeth private haire and a Beard are degrees of maturity or ripenesse preceding Manhood 10. Milde meeke ereatures as Sheepe and Doves are not long-liv'd the gall being like a whetstone whereon natures faculties are sharpened and fitted to performe their offices 11. Creatures having white flesh live not so long as those whose blacker flesh shewes that their Bodies moisture is finner and more compact 12. As a great fire is lasting and not soone extinguished and a little water soone evaporates so quantity and bignesse preserve corruptible bodies a twigge withering sooner than the body of a Tree and all great Beasts living longer than lesser Beasts Nourishment and the waies of Nourishing The History 1. NOurishment should bee of an inferiour nature
in Age doe signifie long life 45. Astrologicall Observations drawne from the Horoseope or Nativity are not allowable Children comming at eight Moneths are commonly still-borne but Children borne in Winter are long-liv'd 46. A strict Pythagoricall Dyet or Cornarus Dyet of equall proportion are good to make Schollers and Fryars live long But by free eating and drinking and a plentifull Dyet common people live longest A moderate temperate dyet though healthfull is no cause of long life for the strict Dyet doth breed few spirits consuming lesse moysture and the full Dyet yeelds more repairing nourishment but the moderate Dyet affords neither fewer spirits nor more nourishment the meane of good extreames being not so good as of bad extreames With a strict dyet watching must bee used to keepe sleepe from oppressing the spirits being few and also moderate exercise abstinence from Venery But a plentifull Dyet requires much sleepe frequent exercise and seasonable venery Baths and Oyntments formerly used for delight not to prolong life shall bee hereafter in the following Propositions exactly handled But the learned and wise Physitian Celsus held that variety and change of good plentifull dyet was best also watching but longer and oftner sleepe fasting also but more frequent Feasting and businesse sometimes but more often pleasure and recreation were good and healthfull In keeping a good dyet being the greatest lengthner of Life there are different observations I remember 〈◊〉 an old man of above an hundred yeeres of Age produced for a witnesse in a Plea of Prescription having given in evidence and being askt by the Iudges by what meanes hee had lived so long answered By eating before I was hungry and drinking before I was thirsty but this matter shall bee heereafter handled 47. A religious holy Life may cause a long life for retyrednesse rest divine Contemplation spirituall joy noble hope wholesome feare sweet sorrow newnesse of life strict Observations Repentance and Satisfaction doe lengthen the naturall life of a mortified Christian and the austere dyet of such a life hardens the Body and humbles the Spirit so that Paul the Hermite and Simeon the Anchorite and many other Monkes lived thus in the Wildernesse untill they were old 48. Next unto this is the learned life of Philosophers Rhetoricians and Grammarians living in ease and thoughts not appertaining to businesse without griefe delighting in variety impertinences and in a free voluntary expence of time in the pleasant conversation of young men But Philosophies in respect of long life are different for superstitious high contemplative Philosophies as the Pythagoricall and Platonicke and naturall Philosophy Metaphysicks and Morall Philosophy of Heroicall vertues were good studies to prolong life such were the Philosophies of Democritus Philolaus Xenophon Astrologians and Stoicks also sensible Philosophies not profound and speculative but agreeable to common opinion were good studies profest by Carneades and the Accademicks Rhetoricians and Grammarians But difficult subtile Philosophies weighing matters in the Scale of Principles and full of thorney questions were bad studies whereunto the Peripateticks and Scholasticks were devoted 49. The Countrey life busied in imployments abroad being active and keeping a fresh homely dyet without care and envy doth therefore prolong life 50. The Military life is good in youth many excellent Warriers having beene long-liv'd as Corvinus Camillus xenophon Agefilaus and other both ancient and moderne Also the improvement of Vertue by increasing dayly in goodnesse and labouring in youth doth prolong life the remembrance thereof being sweet in age Besides military affections raised with the desire and hope of Victory infuse into the Spirits heate agreeable to long life Medicines for long life MEdicines there are many for preserving Health and and curing Diseases but few to prolong life Therefore those notables Medicines called Cordials shall be here propounded For Cordials taken to fortifie and strengthen the Heart and Spirits against poyson and diseases being with Iudgement used may by all likely hood be as powerfull to prolong life These heere selected and orderly set downe are best 1. Gold is exhibited and used three wayes in potable Gold Gold quenched in Wine or substantiall Gold as Leafe-Gold and powder Gold Potable Gold was given first in dangerous desperate Diseases for an excellent powerful Cordiall receiving the virtuall effect from the spirit of Salt wherein it is dissolved for Gold would bee more soveraigne could it bee without corrosive waters or by Corrosives cleared of their venemous quality dissolved 2. Pearles are taken in loose powder or dissolved in the sharpe juyce of greene Lemmons or in spiced Comfits and drinkes The Pearle and the shell whereunto it cleaves are of one nature and in quality like the shells of River-Crabs 3. Two Christalline precious Stones are chiefe Cordials the Emerald and Iacinth given in the same manner as Pearles but not usually dissolved yet these glasse greene stones are of a sharp operation The benefit and helpe received from these medicinall Species shall be hereafter declared 4. Bezars Stone is of approoved vertue recreating the spirits and provoking gentle sweat Unicornes Horne is of like esteeme with the Harts Horne and the Bone of the Harts heart Ivory and the like 5. Amber-Grise is very good to comfort and refresh the spirits These Drugges following are of approved vertue Hot. Saffron The Indian Leafe Wood of Aloes Citron Barke Baulme-Mint Graines Avens or Sanamund Orange Flowers Rosemary Mint Betony Blessed Thistle Cold. Nitre Roses Violets Strawberry bush Strawberries Syrrop of Lemmons Syrrop of Oranges Juice of Apples Borrage Buglosse Burnet Sanders Camphire Prescriptions for Dyet being here onely delivered hot waters and Chymicall Oyles by Chymists sayd to be under the Planet of Mars having a destructive furious operation and also hot biting Spices are to bee rejected and waters must bee made more temperate lively and fragrant than Phlegmatick Distillations or hot Extractions of the spirit of Wine 6. Often letting blood having beene formerly much used and all Observations falling out fit and convenient is good to prolong life the old moysture of the body being thereby evacuated and emptied and new introduced and bred 7. Consumptious also and sicknesses procuring leanenesse being well cured doe lengthen life the Body being thereby supply'd with new moysture after the consumption of the old Therefore it is sayd that to grow healthfull after such a Sicknesse is to grow youthfull therefore the procuring of sicknesse by Artificiall Dayets shall be hereafter declared Intentions INquiry having beene made concerning livelesse bodies Vegetables living creatures and Man a new search by true and proper Intentions resembling the paths of mortall life shall be made and more effectuall than all former contemplations of comforting naturall heate and Radicall moysture or of meates breeding good Blood neither hot nor Phlegmaticke and of refreshing and recreating the spirits or of Medicines of Gold being of all mettals least subject to corruption and of precious Stones recreating the spirits by their hidden qualities
and cleerenesse and of the Balsomes and Quintessences of living Creatures which being contayn'd and received in Vessels would give a proud hope of immortality And of the flesh of Serpents and Harts being powerfull to renew Life the one changing his skinne the other his Hornes and the flesh of Eagles because the Eagle changeth his Bill and of one that by annointing himselle all over except the soules of his feete lived 300 yeeres and never felt any other sicknesse but onely a swelling of his feete and of Artesius who perceiving that his spirits grew old attracted the spirit of a lusty young man killing him for that purpose and receiving it into his mouth with the young mans last Breath living many yeeres by his Spirit and of fortunate Houres according to Astronomie wherein medicines to prolong Life should bee gathered and compounded and of the Planets influence powerfull to prolong life and the like superstitious fables and strange delusions by which Reason being besieged hath miserably yeelded up the Fort of beleefe But to these materiall Intentions touching the quicke of the matter though not largely handled much cannot be added some few Admonitions onely concerning them are to be delivered First the Offces and Duties of Life being better than Life the Prescriptions of our Intententions hinder not the Offices and Duties of Life such being rejected or lightly mentioned and not insisted on For no serious Discourse of living in a Denne or hole of a Rocke like Epimenides Cave never befriended with any cheerefull Sun-beame or Day-light or of continuall Baths of prepared Liquors nor of Seare-cloaths keeping the body in a bagge nor of thicke pargetting and painting used by Salvages or of accurate dyets to prolong life formerly kept by 〈◊〉 and in our Age more moderately by Cornarus Venetus nor the like unprofitable idle projects are heere mentioned But our Remedies and Precepts may be used without interrupting and hindering common duties and businesses Secondly it is a vaine conceit to imagine that any Potion or Medicine can stay or renew the course of Nature which great Worke must bee brought about and effected by Application of divers Remedies and being a new project must bee wrought by unusuall meanes Thirdly some following Propositions are not grounded on approoved experiments but on Reason and our former Principles and suppositions are all cut and digged out of the Rock and Myne of Nature And because mans body is in Scripture said to be the Soules upper garment therfore no dangerous but wholesome and profitable Remedies are here propounded Besides it is observable that the same drugs are not good to preserve Health and to lengthen life for some being good to cheere the spirits and make them vigorously and strongly performe their duties doe shorten life others being powerfull to prolong life unlesse prevention bee used doe endanger health therefore some Cautions and Advertisements shall bee inserted leaving the choise of Remedies belonging to the severall Intentions to the Readers discretion For their agreeablenesse to different constitutions of bodies to divers kinds of Life and severall ages and the Order observable in their Application would bee too tedious to declare and unfit to bee published The 3. Intentions propounded in the Topicks of staying consumption perfecting reparation and renewing Age are enlarged into these ten Operations 1. The first Operation is of reviving and renewing the Spirits 2. The second Operation is of excluding or keeping out the Ayre 3. The third of Blood and heate breeding Blood 4. The fourth of the juyce and moysture of the Body 5. The fifth of the Bowels and digestion of nourishment 6. The sixth is of the outward parts attracting nourishment 7. The seaventh is of making Dyet more nourishing 8. The eight is of the last act of Assimilation or converting into the substance of the body 9. The ninth is of making the parts of the body tender after they begin to wither and waxe dry 10. The tenth is of purging out old-moysture and filling the body with fresh new moysture Of these Operations the first foure belong to the first Intention the second foure to the second Intention and the two last to the third Intention And because these Intentions may bee dayly practised therefore under the name of an History Experiments Observations Counsells Remedies Explications of Causes and Reasons are together blended and mingled The Operation on the Spirits to make them continue youthfull and to revive and renew them being decayed The History 1. THat the Spirits worke all effects in the Body is most cleere and evident by divers Experiments 2. And youthfull Spirits convey'd into an old Body would like a great wheele turning about the lesser make Nature move backward and old folks become young 3. In all Consumption by Fire or age the more moisture that the spirit or heate doth devoure the lesse durable is the substance 4. The spirits working temperately should not drinke or devoure but sip the moysture of the body 5. Flames are of two kinds one suddaine and weake working and vanquishing thinne substances as the blazing flame of straw and shavings of wood the other strong and constant invading hard stubborne substances as the flame of great wood 6. Flames suddainly blazing and weake doe dry consume and parch the Body but strong flames dissolve and melt the body making it moist and solt 7. Also some plasters and medicines for swellings drawing out thinne humours doe harden the flesh others by drawing strongly doe soften 8. And some Purgations doe sweepe and fetch away waterish thinne humours others draw downe watery stubborne flymy matter 9. Such spirits as are more powerfull to abate and subject hard stubborne humours than to avoyd thinne and prepared humours will keepe the body lusty and strong 10. The Spirits should bee composed thicke in substance hot and lively not sharpe and burning of sufficient quantity not abounding or swelling and quiet in motion not hoyting or leaping in an unequall unruly manner 11. Vapours worke powerfully on the Spirits as those doe arising from sleepe drunkennesse melancholy and merry passions and from odours and sweet smells recreating the fainting spirits 12. The Spirits are by foure sorts of meanes thickned by flight cooling delight and restraint and first of the thickning by flight 13. Bodies by generall driving and putting to flight are forced into their Center and so thickned 14. The juyce of blacke Poppy and all medicines procuring sleepe doe thicken the spirits by flight 15. Three Graines of Poppy-juyce will make the spirits curdle together and quite extinguish their working 16. The spirits are not put to flight by the coldnesse of Poppy-juyce and the like Drugs being hot but the flight of the spirits doth make them hot and cooling 17. The flight of the spirits from Poppy-juyce is best discerned by the outward application making the spirits withdraw and retire and keepe within untill the mortified part turne to a Gangrine 18. In painefull incisions or cutting for the Stone or cutting
condensate and thicken the spirits by flight so Drugs of an inferiour nature and operation to Nitre doe also coole and thicken the spirits 54. All Drugges inferiour to Niter smell earthly like good pure earth newly turn'd up and digg'd the chiefe whereof are Burrage Buglosse Burnet Strawberry-leaves and strawberries Cowcumbers and fragrant Apples Vine-leaves and Buds and Violets 55. Next to these are Drugges of a hot smell but cooling as Balme Citrons and Lemmons greene Oranges Rose-water roasted Peares Damask and Red Roses and Muske-Roses 56. These Fruits inferiour to Nitre for thickning the spirits should bee used raw not roasted their cooling spirits being by fire dispersed therefore to infuse or squeeze them into Drink or to eate or smell to them raw is best 57. The spirits are thickned also by the odour and smell of other Drugges inferiour to Poppey and Nitre For the smell of pure fresh earth comming from following a Plough or digging or weeding and the smel of leaves fallen from trees in Woods or Hedge-rowes at the beginning of Autumne is good to coole the spirits and especially wither'd Strawberry leaves also the smel of Violets of the flowers of Pellitory of the Wall of Blackberries and Madre-selve is cooling 58. A Noble man of my acquaintance who lived to bee very old did usually after sleepe smell to a clod of fresh earth 59. Also Endive Succory Liverwort Purflaine c. doe by cooling the blood coole also the spirits though not so soone as vapours and smells So much of thickning the spirits by Flight The third kind of thickning is by Delight the fourth by the restraint of their cheorefulnesse joyfulnesse and too violent motions 60. The spirits are mitigated and thickned by such acceptable pleasing Objects as doe not draw them forth but afford them inward delight whereby being collected into their Center they enjoy themselves and therein finde a sweete content 61. The former Positions of drugges inferior to Opium and Nitre being here remembred further inquiry of thickning the spirits by cooling will bee needelesse 62. The restraint of the violent affections and motions of the spirits shall bee hereafter declared now the thickning of the spirits having beene shewed the qualification and temper of their heate follows 63. The spirits should not bee hot and sharpe but strong and lusty to conquer and subdue resisting matter not to attenuate expell thin humors Spices Wine and strong drinke must be temperately used and after Abstinence hath refreshed the appetite and also Savory Margerum Penny-royall and all heaters that bite on the tongue must bee seldome used The heate by them infused into the Spirits being not operative but a devouring heate 65. These Hearbs strengthen the heate of the Spirits Endive Garlicke Blessed-Thistle young Cresses Germander Angelico Wormseed Vervin Set-well Myrthe Pepperwort Elder-budds and Parsley and being used in Sawces and Medicines are hot in operation 66. Also of cooling Drugges compounded with Euphorbium Bastard Pellitory Stavesacres Dragon-wort Anacardium Oyle of Beaversstone Hart-wort Opoponax Gumme of Agasillis and Galbanum and the like to allay the drowsie stupefying power of Poppey a very good Medicine to strengthen the spirits and make them hot and lusty may bee made like Treacle and Mithridate being not sharpe nor biting on the tongue but bitter and of a strong sent yet hot in the stomacke and in working or in their Operations 67. The desire of Venery often stirred up and excited but seldome satisfied in Act doth strengthen the heate of the spirits and so doe some of the affections So much of the heare of the spirits being a cause of long life 68. The spirits should not abound but be few and moderate for a small flame devoures not so much as a greater 69. A sparing Pythagoricall dyet such as Monks and Hermits under the Order of St. Necessity and St. Poverty used is good to prolong life 70. Also drinking of water hard lodging cold spare Dyet of Sallets Fruits and powderd flesh and sale Fish without any fresh warme meate a haire-shirt fasting watching abstinence from sensuall pleasures doe abate and diminish the spirits which being reduc'd to a quantity sufficient to maintaine life doe make lesser wast on the body 71. But a higher Dyet somewhat above those rigorous moderate Dyets being kept man equall constant manner hath the same operation For a great constant quiet flame consumes not so much as a lesser which blazeth and is somtimes bigger sometimes lesser and Cornarus Venetus keeping such a constant Dyet and drinking and eating so many yeeres by just proportion and weight lived in perfect health untill hee was an hundred yeeres of age 72. Also to avoyd inflammation of the spirits a full-sed body not mortified by strict dyets must use seasonable Venery lest the spirits swelling too much doe soften and destroy the body so much of the moderate plenty of spirits 73. The restraynt of the spirits motion is next considerable for motion doth make the spirits hot There be three Restrayners of the spirits Sleepe avoyding of violent labour exercise and wearinesse and the governing and moderating of troublesome affections And first of Sleepe 74. Epimenides slept many yeeres in a Cave without any food because the spirits in sleepe devoure not much radicall moysture 75. Also Dormice and Bats doe sleepe in holes all the Winter sleep restrayning the consrming power of their vitall spirits so Bees wanting Honey and Butter-flies and Flesh-flyes do live by sleep 76. Sleepe after Dinner the first Vapours of meate like a Dew ascending then into the head is good for the Spirits but unwholesome for the body And sleepe is as nourishing as meate for old folkes who should often take light Refections and short naps and beeing growne extreame olde should live in continuall ease and Rest especially in Winter 77. Thus moderate sleepe being sound and quiet doth prolong Life 78. To make one sleepe soundly and quietly Violets are good sod Lettuce Syrrup of Roses Saffron Balme Apples eaten before going to Bed a sop dipt in Malmsey wherein a Muske-Rose hath beene steeped or a Pill or Potion made of these Ingredients Also all binding Drugges as Coriander-seed prepared and roasted Quinces and Peares doe cause sound and quiet sleepe But a good draught of cleere cold Water is best to make young folkes having strong stomacks sleepe soundly Voluntary Extasies and fixed profound Meditations joyned with a quiet minde doe thicken the spirits more than sleepe making them rest from outward operations as sleepe doth So much of sleep 79. Violent wearisome exercises and motions as Running Tennis Fencing are not good nor strayning of strength to the uttermost as Leaping and wrestling for the spirits by such violent nimble motions and straining of the strength being droven into a narrow roome doe become more sharpe and praedatory or devouring but Dancing Shooting Riding Bowling and such moderate Exercises are very healthfull Some of the affections and passions of the minde doe shorten the life of man and some
doe cause long life 80. By exceeding great joy the spirits are made thinne loose and weake but by familiar common Recreations they are not loosened but strengthened 81. Joy arising from sensuall pleasure is bad but the remembrance of former ioy or the apprehension of ioy to come conceived onely in the imagination is good 82. An inward conceived ioy sparingly vented doth comfort the heart more than a vulgar immoderate expression of ioy 83. Sorrow and Griefe beeing without Feare and not too heavy and Grievous doe prolong Life by Contracting the Spirits which is a kinde of Condensation or Thickning 84. Great Feares doe shorten Life for though Sorrow and Feare doe both contract the Spirits yet Sorrow doeth onely contract but Feare mingled with Care and Hope doth heate and Vexe the Spirits 85. Anger being close and suppressed is a kinde of vexation making the spirits devoure the moisture of the body but being vented and getting forth doth strengthen the heate of the spirits 86. By Envy the worst passion the Spirits and by them the Body are hurt and weakned beeing alwayes in Action and Working for Envy is sayde to keepe no Holy-dayes 87. Pitty and Compassion of anothers misery whereinto wee cannot possibly fall is good but Pitty reflecting backe and exciting Feare of beeing in as bad a case is bad 88. Shame lightly at the first drawing in the spirits and afterwards sending them forth againe doth make blushing bashfull Folkes commonly long-liv'd But shame arising from Reproach and continuing long doth contract and choake the spirits 89. Love not unfortunate nor wounding too deepe being a kind of joy is governed by the rules prescribed for joy 90. Hope being the best of all the Affections and Passions is very powerfull to prolong Life if like a nodding Nurse it doe not often fall asleepe and languish but doe continually feed the fancy with beholding good Obiects And therefore such as propound certaine ends and purposes to be compassed thriving and prospering therein according to their desire are commonly long-liv'd but having attayned to their highest hopes all their Expectitions and desires being satisfied doe not live long afterward 91. Admiration and light contemplation are very good to prolong Life keeping the spirits busied in 〈◊〉 matters and in a peaceable quiet gentle temper So that all Philosophers and observers of the Wonders of Nature as Democritus Plato Parmenide Apollonius were long liv'd Also Rhetoricians tasting onely matters following the light of speech not obscure dark Philosophy were also long-liv'd as Gorgias Protagoras I socrates Seneca Andas old men are Talkative so Talkative men doe often live to bee old men For Talkativenesse is a signe of a light Apprehension not binding or vexing the spirits but subtile acute studies wearying and weakening the spirits doe shorten life So much of the motion of the spirits by the pafsions of the minde some generall Observations not included in the former Division doe follow 92. The spirits must not bee often loosed nor made thinne being thereby loosed for the spirits being once extenuated loosened and made thinne are not easily collected and thickned The spirits are loosed by excessive Labour exceeding violent passions of the minde much sweating much Evacuation warme Baths and intemperate or unseasonable Venery also Care Griefe doubtfull expectation sicknesse sorrow and payne doe dissolve and loosen the spirits and should therefore bee avoyded and shunned 93. The spirits delight in Customes and Novelties for customes not used untill they grow wearisome and Nove'ties much desired and then enjoy'd doe wonderfully preserve the vigour of the spirits Therefore Judgment and Care should bee shewed in leaving off Customes before they become loathsome and contemptible and in making the desire of Novelties stronger by restraint and in altering and changing the course of our life lest the spirits imploy'd in one setsed kind of Life should grow heavy and dull For though Seneca sayd well A foole doth alwayes beginne to live yet this Folly and many other doe lengthen life 94. It is observable contrary to common custome that the spirits being in a good quiet sound temper discerned by the quietnesse and inward joy of the minde should bee cherrished not changed 95. Ficinus saith that Old men should comfort their spirits with the actions of their childhood and youth being a Recreation proper to Age. Therefore the remembrance of former Education together is pleasant in conversation and the place of Education is beheld with delight So that the Emperour Vespasian would not alter his Fathers house being but a meane building because the old House did put him in remembrance of his Childhood and besides on festivall Dayes hee would drinke in a Silver-tip'd wooden Cup which was his Grand-mothers 96. Also an alteration of life for the better is acceptable and delightfull to the Spirits Therefore Youth and Manhood having beene spent in pleasures proper and peculiar to those Ages Old age should enjoy new delights especially moderate ease Therefore Noble-men in their Age should live a retired kind of life as Cassiodorus having beene in great favour with the Gothish Kings of Italy and accounted the soule and life of their Affaires at fourescore yeeres of age retired to a Monastery living there to 110. yeeres of Age and there dyed But such Retyrement should be before the body bee decayed and diseased for then all changes though for the better doe hasten death and a retyred life being undertaken their minds and thoughts should not be addicted to idlenesse but imploy'd in pleasant delightfull studies or in building and planting 97. Lastly the spirits are recreated by labour willingly undertaken but consumed by action or labour performed with unwillingnesse Therefore a free kind of life by Art contrived to bee at our owne disposing and an obedient minde not resisting but yeelding to the power of fortune doe prolong life 98. And for the better governing of the Affections the body must not bee soluble or loose for on all the affections except those arising from melancholy as Drunkennesse and Melancholy such laxativenesse and loosenesse hath more power than on the heart or braine 99. This operation of making the spirits continue youthfull and lusty not mentioned by Physitians hath beene more diligently handled because the readiest and most compendious way to prolong Life is by renewing the Spirits working suddainly on the body as vapours and passions doe worke on the spirits in a direct not indirect manner The Operation on the exclusion or keeping out of the Ayre 2. The History 1. THe Exclusion or keeping out of the Ayre doth in two respects lengthen life First because the outward Ayre animating the spirits and being healthfull doth next unto the inward spirits devoure the moysture of the body growing thereby dry and withered 2. Secondly by the Exclusion and keeping out of Ayre the body being shut and closed and not breathing forth at the pores the detayned spirits by their working doe soften the hardnesse of the body 3. The reason
violent but naturall by defect of Nature doth enter at certaine common doores The History 1. THE living spirit subsists by due motion temperate cooling and fit nourishment A flame needs onely motion and Nourishment being a simple substance the Spirit a compounded substance destroyed by approaching neerer to the nature of flame 2. A flame as Aristotle well no ted is by a greater stronger flame extinguished much more the spirit 3. The flame of a Candle being put into a Glasse and kept very close is extinguished by the Ayre enlarged by heate and thrusting the flame together And fewell lying too close in a Chimney burnes not with a bright flame 4. Fire also by thrusting pressing together is extinguished and a coale of fire being trodden Or crush'd with the Tongs 5. But concerning the spirits blood or fleame getting into the Ventricles of the Braine doe cause suddaine Death the spirit having no place of residence or motion Also violent Fractures and beating of the head doe cause suddain Death by straightning the spirits in the ventricles of the Braine 7. Opium and other strong Drugs procuring unsensiblenesse doe by thickning the spirits deprive them of motion 8. Venemous vapours beeing hateful to the spirits are deadly poysons by whose malignant quality the spirits are opprest deprived of their motion and made unable to resist so strong an enemy 9. Extreame Drunkennesse and Gluttony have caused sudaine Death the spirits not with thicke or malignant vapours proceeding from Opium or poyson but with aboundance of Vapors being opprest 10. With the suddain apprehension of Griefe and Feare conceived at the relation of unexpected bad tidings some have suddainly Dyed 11. The Excessive compression and inlarging of the Spirits are both deadly 12. Great and suddaine ioyes have deprived many of their life 13. Greater Evacuations of water by Dissections for the Dropsie or violent and suddaine Fluxes of Blood are Deadly the Blood and spirits doe avoyde vacuity or emptinesse and fill up the emptie places repaying hither slower Fluxes of Blood procuring want of nourishment but no powring backe of the spirits So much of the compression and effusion of the spirits causing Death 14. Stopping the breath is through defect of cooling deadly by choaking and strangling the motions of the spirits being not hindred but cooling defective for excessive hot Ayre drawne in for breath doth choake as soone as stopping of the Breath As by burning charcoale or by the smell of new whited walles in a close chamber Iustinian and others have beene choaked Fausta the wife of Constantine the great was strangled by the steame of an exceeding hot Bath 15. For breath is drawne in by the Lungs and breathed forth againe every third part of a minute 16. The beating of the Pulse and of the Heart both by the systole or backward motion or Dyastole or forward motion is thrice as swift as breathing for the beating of the Heart could it be without stopping being stayd would cause Death sooner than strangling 17. Delian Dyvers and PearleFishers through continuall use will hold their Breath tenne times longer than another 18. Living Creatures having Lungs hold their breath a shorter or longer time as they neede more or lesse cooling 19. Fishes neede lesse cooling than other creatures cooling and breathing themselves at their Gills And as other creatures cannot endure a hot close ayre so Fish in water quite frozen over and long covered with Ice are choaked and strangled 20. The naturall heate of the Spirits is by another more violent heate oppressed being unable to endure them both without cooling as may bee seene in burning-feavers naturall heate being extinguished and Dissipared by hot putrified Humors 21. Want of Sleepe is a want of cooling For motion doth rarifie make thinne sharpen and encrease the heat of the Spirits But by sleep their motion is allayd and their wandring restrayn'd For sleepe doth strengthen and excite the working of the inward parts and Spirits and all outward motion but maketh the living spirit rest from motion Every 24. houres nature requires 5. or 6. houres sleepe Thogh some have miraculously refrained from sleepe for Mecaenas slept not a great while before hee dyed 22. Nourishment is a third want of Nature suffered by the parts of the Body not the living spirit subsisting in Idenity and Beeing without succession or renewing And the reasonable Soule proceeding not from Generation needs no reparation beeing not subject to Death as the Animall and Vegative soule differing both in Essence and Forme from the reasonable Soule For their confusion without distinction was the Originall of transmigration and many heathen hereticall opinions 23. A healthfull body doth every day require food enduring not to fast three dayes together unlesse enabled by custome but sicke folkes can easily fast and sleepe doth nourish as Exercise makes the body require nourishment And some miracles of Nature have lived a long time without meate or drinke 24. Dead bodies being kept from putrefaction will not a long time decay But living bodies cannot above three dayes subsist this speedy consumption being the worke of the living spirit repairing it selfe or making the parts neede repairing and therefore living creatures by sleeping endure longer without food sleepe being the reception and collection of the living Spirit 25. A continuall Flux or voyding of blood by the Piles or by vomiting of Blood some veyne within being opened or broken or by wounds doth cause speedy Death For the Blood of the veines doth supply and feed the blood of the Arteries and the blood of the Arteries doth feed the spirits 26. Meate and Drinke received twice daily is not all voyded by Extrements vrine or sweating the rest being converted into the moysture substance of the body the body growing not bigger as the repaired spirits are not in quantity increased 27. Nourishment must be so prepared and Dressed that the spirits may worke thereon For the flame of a Torch is not maintayned and kept burning by the staffe unlesse it bee covered with waxe lights and hearbs alone are no nourishing flood This doth cause the decay in Age the Spirits cloathed with Flesh and Blood being few and thinne and the moysture and blood old and hard are unable to nourish 28. The ordinary necessities of Nature are these continuall motion of the Spirits in the ventrieles of the Braine beating of the heart every third part of a moment Breathing every moment Sleepe and Food within three Dayes the decaying after fourscore years of age of the faculties of Digestion these Defects beeing not seasonably supply'd Death will ensue So that Death hath three Doores the spirits fayling in motion cooling and nourishing The living spirit is not like a flame continually lighted and extinguished without certaine duration and continuance A flame doth live in a flame being by contrary qualities only extinguished But all parts of the Body beeing to the living Spirit friends and servants are also comfortable and serviceable Therfore the living Spirit
my youth I was familiarly acquainted at Poicters in France with an ingenious young Gentleman afterward an eminent man who inveighing against the conditions of Age would usually say that old mens minds being visible would appeare as 〈◊〉 as their Bodies 〈◊〉 afterward comparing the mindes vices in Age to the 〈◊〉 defects saying They 〈◊〉 skinn'd and impudent 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and envious 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Earth not Heaven being their constant Object 〈◊〉 Limbs wavering and unconstant wooked finger'd greedy and covetous knees 〈◊〉 and fearefull 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 But to make a more serious Comparison Youth is shamefac'd and modest Age is hardened Youth is liberall and mercifull Age is hard youth emulates age envies youth is religious and fervently zealous being unexperienced in the miseries of this World age cold in piety and charity through much experience and incredulity youth is forward in defire age 〈◊〉 youth light and inconstant age grave and constant youth is liberall bountifull and loving age covetous and wisely provident youth confident and 〈◊〉 age distrustfull and 〈◊〉 youth gentle and 〈◊〉 age froward and disdainfull youth sincere and simple age cautelous and close youth haughty in desires age carefull for necessaries youth a Time-pleaser Age a Time-rememberer youth an Adorer of Superiors age a Censurer And by many other Characters impertinent to the present matter the different conditions of youth and age may bee described But the body growing fat in age so the Iudgement not the Fancy growes stronger preferring safe sure courses before shows appearances And lastly Age loves to 〈◊〉 and brag and being defirous to doe least is desirous to talke most Poets therefore feigned that old 〈◊〉 was changed into a chirping Grashopper Canons of the Continuation and Forme of Death CANON 1. DIssolution or Corruption 〈◊〉 by transmigration into another Body The Explication THere is no utter destruction Corruption being a dissolution into Ayre or 〈◊〉 into some other body As the Spider Flye and Ant 〈◊〉 tender 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 falling into Amber 〈◊〉 therein buryed finding therein both a Death and 〈◊〉 preserving them 〈◊〉 from Corruption than a Royall Monument For no Ayre being within there can be no corruption and the 〈◊〉 nature of Amber 〈◊〉 of no Reception from their substance Wood or Roots being put into 〈◊〉 would also remaine 〈◊〉 Waxe Honey and Gumme doe also preserve 〈◊〉 corruption CAN. 2. EVery tangible body hath Spirit covered and encompassed with a thicke body being the cause of consumption and dissolution The Explication NO knowne body on the upper part of the Earth doth want a spirit either by 〈◊〉 and concoction of coelestiall heate or by other meanes for the concavity and hollownesse of bodies admitting no vacuity or emptinesse is fill'd with Ayre or a spirit But this spirit here mentioned is no power efficacy or perfection but onely a 〈◊〉 invisible body yet locall dimensive and reall neither is this spirit Ayre as the juyce 〈◊〉 Grape is not water but a 〈◊〉 body like Ayre yet 〈◊〉 but the thicke parts 〈◊〉 substance being 〈◊〉 slow and almost 〈◊〉 would endure longer 〈◊〉 the working piercing spirit 〈◊〉 not devoure the moysture 〈◊〉 body and all that is 〈◊〉 vertible into a new spirit 〈◊〉 former new made spirits 〈◊〉 by degrees 〈◊〉 together This is evident the decrease of waight in 〈◊〉 bodies by venting of 〈◊〉 not increasing the 〈◊〉 of a body but yet by 〈◊〉 making it grow dry CAN. 3. THE 〈◊〉 of the spiriti is the cause of Drynesse but by inward detaining and warking they doe soften 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quicken The Explication THere are foure workings of the Spirit Drynesse Softning Putrefaction and generation of bodies Drynesse is no proper worke of the Spirit but of the thicker parts after the venting of the Spirits shrinking and uniting together to avoide vacuity or emptinesse as burned Bricks doe Sea-coale cakes stale Bread and Toasts Softnesse is 〈◊〉 worke of the Spirits 〈◊〉 by heate whereby the Spirits enlarging not venting 〈◊〉 pierce into and moysten 〈◊〉 thicker parts making 〈◊〉 soft and limber as Fire 〈◊〉 Mettalls and Waxe for 〈◊〉 and other stiffe 〈◊〉 are of a matter fit to 〈◊〉 the Spirits and keep 〈◊〉 from venting 〈◊〉 is a mixt work of the 〈◊〉 thicker parts for after 〈◊〉 spirit contayning and 〈◊〉 the parts of the 〈◊〉 is vented all the parts 〈◊〉 and returne into their 〈◊〉 Elements because by the spirits of substances gathering 〈◊〉 putrefied bodies stink 〈◊〉 the assembling together of 〈◊〉 becōming light 〈◊〉 the withdrawing of water and earth are dissolved and fall asunder But generation or quickning being a mixt worke of the spirit and thicker parts is performed in another manner the spirit being totally detayn'd swelling and moving locally but the thicker parts being not dissolved but following the motion of the spirit blowing and fashioning them into divers Formes are generated and become bodies therefore the matter quickned is alwayes clammy limber plyant and soft be thereby fit to detayne the spirit and to yeeld to the spirits fashioning of parts such being also the clammy yeelding matter of all Vegetables and living Creatures generated of 〈◊〉 or seed CAN. 4. ALL living Creatures have two Spirits dead Spirits 〈◊〉 those in livelesse Creatures 〈◊〉 the living Spirits The Explication NEcessary is the consideration of Mans body as 〈◊〉 and unnourished or 〈◊〉 and nourished the 〈◊〉 shewing the wayes of 〈◊〉 the latter of 〈◊〉 For there are in the 〈◊〉 Bones Skinnes Organs 〈◊〉 the severall limbes of the 〈◊〉 body such spirits as are 〈◊〉 the Flesh Bone and Skinne 〈◊〉 separated and Dead 〈◊〉 in a Dead 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the vitall spirits governing and agreeing with them is of a different nature integrall and constant They differ in two respects mortuall dead spirits are not continued but disjoyned and inclosed in a thicker body as Ayrein Snow or Froath But the spirit being continuate passing through certaine Channels and totally inclosed is either pervious passing through small pores or continuate and resident in a proportionable quantity to the Body in a hollow seate or Fountaine whence lesser Rivalets are derived This seate is the Ventricles of the Braine being straite and narrow in the baser sort of living creatures whose spirits being spred through the whole body have no particular 〈◊〉 residence as in 〈◊〉 Eeles and Flyes whose 〈◊〉 being cut asunder will 〈◊〉 afterward And Birds their Heads being pluckt off will leape and flutter because their Heads being small their spirits have therein no 〈◊〉 residence But 〈◊〉 have large Ventricles especially Man And besides the vitall spirit is inflameable being compounded of Flame and Ayre as the moysture of Living creatures is of Oyle and Water the 〈◊〉 giving it motion and 〈◊〉 as inflameable smoak before it blaze into a flame 〈◊〉 hot thinne and moveble being when it is a flame 〈◊〉 substance but the 〈◊〉 of the vitall spirits is more gentle than the flame of the spirit of wine beeing compounded of an aiery substance
and a mysterious Vnion of a flaming and aiery nature CANON 5. THe particular parts have naturall proper Actions excited and quickned by the vitall Spirit The Explication THe several parts have severall Actions and Functions as Attraction Retention Digestion Assimulation Sepration Ejection and Sensibility suteable to the proper Organs in the Stomack Liver Heart Spleene Gal Braine Eyes 〈◊〉 and the rest and their 〈◊〉 are actuated by the vigour and presence of the vitall spirits and by the heate thereof as Iron drawes Iron beeing touched by a Loadstone and an Egge brings a Chickin beeing actuated by the Cocks treading the Hen. CAN. 6. MOrtuall dead spirits are consubstantiall or like in substance to Ayre but the vital spirits are more like a flame The Explication THe explication of the former fourth Canon declares the meaning of this present Canon which sheweth also that fat oyly substances do long retaine their essence being neither consumed much by the 〈◊〉 nor very desirous to 〈◊〉 into Ayre Therefore Flame is not enflamed Ayre for Flame and Ayre 〈◊〉 as Oyle and Water 〈◊〉 and by the Canon that 〈◊〉 the vitall spirits are like 〈◊〉 substance is to be understood that they are more enflaming than the mortuall dead spirits not more flame-like or ayrie CAN. 7. THE Spirits desire to multiply or depart and congregate with their connaturalls or like in substance The Explication BY this Canon the mortual dead spirits are understood for the vitall spirits abhorre 〈◊〉 parting out of the body because they find in a neere 〈◊〉 no connaturalls or like 〈◊〉 sometimes happily flying forth to the 〈◊〉 parts of the Body to 〈◊〉 some desired object 〈◊〉 shunning departure But the mortuall dead spirits desire both for the spirit finding no happy residence in thicke 〈◊〉 nor its like being alone doth create and make another by endeavouring to multiply and increase in quantity And it desireth also to depart and resolve into Ayre for slender thinne substances being alwayes moveable are willingly carryed to their like being neare as a bubble of water is carried to a bubble flame to flame and much more willingly doth the spirit depart into the Ayre beeing not carried to a peece like it selfe but to a whole Globe of connaturall and like substance But the departing and venting of the spirit into Ayre is a two-fold action proceeding from the desire of the spirit and the desire of the Ayre being an indigent needy substance greedily gathering and receiving spirits smells substances sounds and the like CAN. 8. THe detayned spirit having not sufficient matter to beget another spirit doth soften the thicker parts The Explication A New Spirit is generated of a matter somwhat neere 〈◊〉 nature of a Spirit as of 〈◊〉 Therefore if the 〈◊〉 residing in the thicker 〈◊〉 farre different from their Nature cannot convert them 〈◊〉 a spirit yet it softens and enlarges them that it may being not increased in 〈◊〉 have a larger dwelling and live with more friendly companions in Nature Also by this Aphorisme the Bodies hardnesse may bee softned by detayning the spirits CAN. 9. THe softning of the parts of the Body is best wrought when the spirit doth neither depart nor generate The Explication THis Canon dissolves a knotty doubt in softning by detayning the spirits for if the spirit not vented doe devoure inward moysture the softning of the parts doth not advantage their continuing in their essence but rather their dissolution and corruption Therefore the detayned spirits must bee cooled and restrayned lest they bee too active CAN. 10. THE heate of the Spirit to renew and make the Body young must bee strong not vioent The Explication THis Canon also dissolving the aforesaid doubt shews the temper of heate fit to prolong life for howsoever the spirits be detayn'd or not yet their heate should rather soften hard substances than devoure soft softning rather than drying For such heat causeth good Digestion and Assimilasion but this 〈◊〉 must have these properties first slowly not suddainly enflaming secondly not violent but moderate thirdly equall not disordered being sometimes greater sometimes lesser fourthly not languishing nor soone extinguished This Operation is very subtile and profitable being partly explained in the Remedies prescribed for infusing into the Spirits a strong working heate not pradatory or devouring CAN. 11. THE thickning of the Spirits substance doth lengthen life The Explication THis Canon is subordinate to the former for the thicke Spirit is capable of all those foure properties of heate formerly mentioned the manner of thickning is shewed in the first Operation CAN. 12. A Boundance of spirits are more hasty to depart and get forth and more consuming than a small quantity of Spirit The Explication THis Canon is cleare and evident for the bigger the stronger As great flames breaking forth with greater violence consume more suddainly therefore exceeding plenty or excessive swelling of the Spirits doe hinder long Life For Spirits maintaining Life and the Body in good plight are sufficient CAN. 13. THe Spirits equally diffused through the Body is not so hasty to depart nor so devouring as being unequally placed The Explication A Subundance of spirits generally diffused is an enemy to durablenesse so is store of spirits not dispersed Therefore the spirit being more diffused consumes lesse for Dissolution begins in that part where the spirit is loose Therefore Exercise and rubbings doe lengthen life because motion doth very finely blend and mingle CAN. 14. THE disordered motion of spirits makes them hastier to depart and more consuming than a constant equall motion The Explication THis Canon holds in livelesse creatures for inequality is the mother of Dissolution but in living 〈◊〉 whose Consumption and Reparation is considerable Reparation proceeding from Appetite and Appetite being sharpened by variety it is not absolutely but respectively true this variety being rather an alteration than confusion and a constant inconstancy CAN. 15. THE Spirit in the solid frame of the Body is unwillingly detayned The explication DIssolution is generally abhorr'd but more or lesse according to the thicknesse and thinnesse of subtances The thinner bodies being driven into straighter narrower passages For Water will runne through where Dust will not passe and Ayre is more penetrative and piercing than Water and yet their penetration is bounded For the spirit will not passe through exceeding narrow pores thereby to get foorth and depart for the spirit being encompassed with a hard or oyly and clammy body not easily divisible is bound and imprisoned and not desirous to depart Therefore the spirit of Mettalls and Stones will not in an Age depart unlesse they be melred or dissolved with strong Corrosive waters In clammy substances also the spirits are not desirous to depart as in Gummes though with lesse heate dissolved Therfore the hard juyce of the body and the closenesse of the skinne and the like caused by dry nourishment exercise and cold ayre do lengthen life because they keepe the enclosed spirits from departing CAN. 16.
one hundred and and forty yeeres old There were also at Parma 3 men of an hundred and twenty yeeres of age and 2 one hundred and thirty yeeres old At Bruxels there was an old man aged one hundred twenty five yeeres and another at Placentia an hundred twenty one yeeres old and an old woman aged an hundred thirty two yeeres was living at Fluentia and in the ancient towne Velleiacium seated on the hills neare Placentia were sixe men aged an hundred and ten and foure an hundred and twenty Lastly at Rimino one M. Aponius was an hundred and fifty yeeres old The fortune disposition and qualities of the former persons being signes of long life to such as be endued with the like are in a true and briefe character described and no examples of long life under fourescore yeeres of age have beene or shall be mentioned 16. Of the Roman Grecian French and German Emperors being almost two hundred some onely attained to fourescore yeeres of Age. The Emperours Augustus and Tiberius living seventy eight and seventy sixe yeeres might have reached fourscore yeers had they not beene poyson'd by Livia and Caius Augustus lived seventy six yeeres being a moderate Prince somewhat hasty in action but of a faire and pleasing carriage temperate in dyet lascivious and very fortunate and about 30. yeeres of age falling into a dangerous sicknes was restored to health by Antonius Musa and cured by cold medicines instead of hot applications used by other Physitians as agreeable to his disease Tiberius was by two yeeres longer-liv'd than Augustus His Words as Augustus sayd stucke in his jawes being a Prince of a flow speech but sterne and bloody a drinker and 〈◊〉 in dyet yet very carefull of his health being wont to say that every one after 30. yeeres of age was a foole or a Physitian Gordian the elder lived sixty yeeres then being made Emperor he fell into a violent sicknesse and dyed He was a brave famous man learned and a Poet constant in the whole course of his life and a little before his Death fortunate The Emperour Valerian lived seaventy sixe yeeres before hee was taken prisoner by Sapor King of the Persians seaven yeeres afterward suddainely fell sicke and dyed He was or an ordinary temper and not very valiant and though weake in desert was by generall opinion conceived worthy to be 〈◊〉 Emperor Anastasius sirnamed Dicorus was fourescore yeeres of age being a quiet mild superstitious 〈◊〉 man Amicius iustinianus lived fourescore and foure yeeres affecting glory famous by his Captaines successe not his owne valour uxcrious and by others governed Helena of Britaine the mother of Constantine the great lived fourescore yeeres being no States-woman but wholly devoted to Religion yet of an high spirit and alwayes happy Theodora the Empresse sister to Zoes the wife of Monomachus who after her decease reigned lived above fourescore yeeres a 〈◊〉 woman stately fortunate 〈◊〉 credulous 17. After these Examples of long-liv'd Heathen men the Ages of principall Ecclesiasticall persons shall bee related St. Iohn our Saviours beloved Apostle and Disciple lived ninety three yeeres whose divine 〈◊〉 and burning charity were shadowed forth by the Embleme of an Eagle drawne neare his Picture Luke the Evangelist was fourescore and foure yeeres of age an eloquent man and a traveller St. Pauls constant companion and a Physitian Simoon Cleophas called Christs brother was Bishop of Ierusalem and lived an hundred and twenty yeeres before hee was martyred being a couragious constant charitable man Polycarp the Apostles Disciple and Bishop of Smyrna attained to an hundred yeeres of Age and was then martyred A high minded man of heroicall patience and laborious Dionysius Areopagita in the Apostle Pauls time living ninety yeeres was called the Bird of Heaven being an excellent Divine and famous for Life and Doctrine Aquila and Priscilla the Apostle Pauls Hosts and afterward fellow-helpers lived to an hundred yeeres of age being in Pope Xistus time an ancient married couple wholly given to good workes the Churches first Founders being commonly to their great comfort fortunate in Marriage St. Paul the Hermite lived in a Cave an hundred and thirty yeeres with intollerable poore hard dyet spending his life in meditation being not illiterate but learned St. Anthony the first founder or restorer of the Order of Monkes attained to an hundred and five yeeres of age and being a devout contemplative man of an austere and severe life governed his Monkes in such a glorious solitude that hee was visited by Christians and Philosophers and adored as a living Image of Sanctity and Holinesse Athanasius a man of invincible constancy commanding Fame and yeelding not to fortune bold with great personages popular a stout Champion in controversies dyed above 80. yeeres old St. Ierome above 90. yeers old being an eloquent writer learned in Languages and Sciences a Traveller and toward his old age of an austere life his high minde shining in a private life like a Starre in obscurity 18. But of two hundred and one and forty Popes five onely attayned to fourescore yeeres of age and upwards The age of many of the first Popes being shortened by Martyrdome Pope Iohn the 23 th lived ninety yeeres compleate A man of an unquiet disposition and an Innovator bringing in many alterations and changes some for the better but a great hoarder of Wealth and Treasure Gregory the twelfth by a factious Election created Pope dyed at ninety yeeres of age his short Papacy affording nothing worthy of observation Paul the third lived eighty one yeeres being of a quiet disposition and profound judgement a learned Astrologer carefull of his health and like the old Priest Ely a father of his family Paul the fourth being fourescore and three yeeres of age was of a severe disposition high-minded and imperious of a working fancy and an eloquent ready speech Gregory the 13 th living also fourescore and three yeeres was a good man politicke temperate and charitable 19. The Examples following are promiscuously set downe together Arganthonius King of Cadez in Spaine lived 130. or 40 yeeres reigning 80. yeeres his manners kind of life and the time wherein he lived are unknowne Cyniras King of Cyprus accounted then a happy pleasant Island lived one hundred and fifty or sixty yeeres Two Kings of the Latines 800. and 600. yeeres Some Kings of Arcadia 300. yeeres but the inhabitants long life in this healthfull Countrey is but an invented fable It is reported that in Illyricum one Dardanus lived five hundred yeeres without any infirmity of age The Epians a people of AEtolia were generally all long-liv'd 200 yeeres being a common age and amongst the rest the Gyant Litorius was 300. yeeres old On the top of the mountaine Tmolus anciently called Tempsus many men attain'd to 100 and 50. yeeres of age The Sect of the Esseans in Iudea liv'd above 100. yeeres keeping a very poore Pythagorean dyet Apollonius Tyaneus being above an hundred yeeres old had a fresh
faire complexion and was accounted by the Heathens a very divine man but by the Christians esteemed a Magitian being a Pythagorian in dyet a great Traveller famous and renowned but in his age hee was disgraced and suffered many contumelies and reproaches which redounded afterward to his honour But his Pythagoricall dyet caused not his long life being rather hereditary from his Grandfather who lived an hundred yeeres the age also of Q. Metellus who being twenty yeeres after his Consulship High-Priest his hand did not shake nor his voyce failed not in offering sacrifice Appius Caecus being very old and blind governed a great family and the Common-wealth and in his extreame old age being brought on a bed into the Senate house disswaded from making peace with Pyrrhus in the beginning of his Oration shewing a memorable and invincible courage and strength of minde saying My blindnesse Reverend Fathers I have very patiently endured but now hearing your dishonest counsell and purpose to conclude a peace with Pyrrhus I could wish my selfe deafe M. Perpenna lived ninety eight yeeres surviving all the Senators of his Consulship and all elected in his Censorship except seven Hiero King of Sicily reigning at the time of the second Punick Warre lived almost an hundred yeeres being a moderate Prince both in government and manners religious faithfull in friendship bountifull and continually fortunate Statilia of a noble Family lived ninety nine yeeres in Claudius Reigne Claudia the daughter of Otilius one hundred and fifteene yeeres Xanophilus an ancient Philosopher of the Pythagorean Sect one hundred and six yeeres being very healthfull and lusty in his old age and very popular for his learning Islanders were formerly accounted very long-liv'd now equall to others in age Hippocrates of Cous a famous Physitian lived one hundred and foure yeeres approving his Art by lengthning his life Hee was a wise learned man of great experience and observation who affecting not methodicall words found out the nerves and sinewes of Science Demonax a Philosopher by profession and manners livingan hundred yeeres in Adrians Reigne was an high-minded man a Conquerour of his minde and without affectation a contemner of the World yet civill and courteous when hee dyed being asked touching his Buriall hee answered Never take care for burying me for stinch will burie me Hee that askt him sayd againe Would you have your Body left for Dogges and Ravens to feede upon Demonax answered What great hurt is it if having sought while I lived to doe good unto Men my Body doe some good to Beasts when I am dead The Indians called Pandorae are very long-liv'd reaching two Hundred yeeres of Age and their Childrens haire which is strange being White when they grow elder turnes blacke and afterwards gray whereas white haire doth ordinarily grow blacker The Seres another sort of Indians with their plantine drinke live to an hundred yeeres of age Euphranor the Grammarian being above an hundred yeeres old kept a Schoole and taught Schollers Ovid Senior Ovid the Poets Father lived 90. yeeres who differing from his Sonnes disposition and contemning the Muses disswaded 9. his sonne from studying Poetry Asinius Pollio Favorite to Augustus and favored also by the gods granting him a long life of an hundred yeeres was luxurious eloquent learned hasty proud cruell and made private benefit his actions onely Center Seneca managing States matters and being banished for Adultery in Claudius Reigne was not an hundred yeeres old when hee was Neroes Schoole-master Iohn of Times being a French man and Charles the greats Souldier was accounted in those latter times the longest liver being three hundred yeeres old Gartius Aretine Grand-father to Aretine living to 104. yeeres of age was healthfull even to the last feeling no sicknesse but when strength of Nature decay'd dyed with Age. Many Venetians lived exceeding long as Captaine Francis Donatus Thomas Contarenus Proctor of Saint Markes Francis Molin Proctor also of St. Marks and others But Comerus Venetus having a sickly crazy body for the recovery of Health tooke all his meate and Drinke by weight keeping afterward according unto that proportion a constant Dyet and thereby lived above an hundred yeares in perfect health William Postell a French-man beeing an hundred and twenty years old had on his upper lip blacke haire not turned white being a man of a stirring braine and light fancy a great Travailer and a well experienced Mathematician and somewhat enclined unto Heresie 20. In England there is in every populous village a man or woman of threescore yeares of age And at a Wake in Herefordshire a Dance was performed by eight men whose age added together amounted to eight hundred yeeres some being as much above 100 yeeres old as others were under that age 21. Many mad folks in Bethleem Hospitall in the Suburbs of London live very long 22. The Ages of Nymphs Fawnes and Satyres formerly superstitiously adored are but dreames and fables contrary to Philosophy and Religion So much forthe History of the long life of particular persons generall observations follow 23. In succeeding ages and generations Length of Life is not shortned fourscore yeeres having beene from Moses time the constant age of man which declines not as it is supposed nor decreases But in particular Countries mens lives were longer when plain homely Dyet and bodily labour were much used and shorter when more civiliz'd times delighted in idlenesse and wanton Luxury But Succeession of Ages shortning not the length of Life must be from the corruptions thereof distinguished The Ages also of Beasts as Oxen Horses Sheepe Goates and such like Creatures being not shortned in this Age. Therefore the Deluge or generall Flood and perhaps particular accidentall Floods long Drouths Earthquakes and the like doe shorten age not succession of ages and generations Neyther doth the bignesse and stature of bodies now Decrease and Grow lesse though Virgil following common opinion prophesied of a lesser stature of men in succeeding ages of the ploughing the Emathian and Emonensian fields saying thus Grandiaque effossis mirabitur Ossa sepulohris He shall admire those great and mighty bones Which are digg'd up from under their Grave stones Though is Sicily and other places three thousand yeares since Gyants lived in Caves yet the generall stature of men since then is not Declined or Decreased which is observable confutes the common opinion that men are not so long liv'd bigge nor strong as formerly 24. In colde Northerne Countries men commonly live longer than in hotter their skin beeing more compact and close whereby their moysture is not so easily diffufed scattered abroad and consumed by the Sharpenesse of their repaireable Spirits nor by the ayre moderately warmed with the Sunne beames exhausted and Devoured But under the Equinoctial line over which the Sunne passing makes two Winters and Summers and equall Dayes and Nights the inhabitants live very long as in Peru and Taprobana 25. The Mediterranian Islanders are commonly long liv'd for the Russians live not
so long as the Orcades nor the Affricans as the inhabitants of the Carnaries and Terceras though under the same paralell and the 〈◊〉 though earnestly desiring and affecting Long Life are not so long liv'd as the Chinois the Sea Ayre yeelding a cheerishing warmth in colde Countryes and a refreshing coole Breez in hot Countries 26. High Grounds except the tops of Mountaines doeproduce longer liv'd people than low flat Levells and in high Countries as in Arcadia and Greece and part of AEtolia the inhabitants live to a great age as the inhabitants of Mountaines would doe if their pure cleere ayre were not accidentally corrupted with Vapours which rising from the Vallies do settle and rest on the Hils Therefore on snowy Mountaynes on the 〈◊〉 the Pyrenean Mountaines and the Appenine the inhabitants live not so long as those Dwelling on midling Hills or Vallies but on the ridges of Mountaines towards Ethiop and the Abyssines covered with Snow but with no hovering Vapors the people live and arrive to an hundred and fifty yeare of age 27. The ayre of Marches and Fens lying flat and low agrees wel enough with the Natives but to strangers is unhealthful shortning their lives And Marshes or other Fenneyplaces that are over-flowed with Salt tides are unwholsomer than those overflowed with fresh land water 28. The particular Countryes wherein the people live unto agreat Age are these Arcadia AEtolia Indye on this side Ganges Brasil Taprobana Brittaine Ireland and the Ilands of Orcades and Hebrides but not Ethiopia as some of the Auncients supposed 29. The ayres perfect wholesomnesse is a secret quality rather found out by experience than reason For if a peece of Wooll laid some certaine dayes in the open ayre doe not Grow heavier in Weight it is an experiment that the Ayre is Good also if a peece of flesh layd in the same manner remaine unputrified or if a Perspective Glasse doe present the object in neere distance the ayre is thereby approoved wholesome 30. A wholesome and healthfull ayre must bee Good Pure and Equall Hils and Vallies with a kinde of changeable variety make a pleasant prospect but are not so healthfull as the moderately dry plaine notbarren or sandy but woodded with shady Trees 31. It is bad Dwelling in a different changeable ayre but change of ayre in Travayle by use and custome becomes healthfull making Travailers long-liv'd And Cottagers dwelling continually in one place live to a great Age the Spirits beeing consumed lesse by an accustomed ayre but nourished and repayred more by change of ayre 32. The Life of man as was sayd is not lengthned or shortned by succession of ages but the immediate condition of the Parents both the Father and Mother is to bee Regarded As whether the Father were an old man young or middle aged healthfull and sound or sickly and diseased a Glutton or a Drunkard or whether Children were begotten after sleepe in the morning after long forbearance of Venery in the heate of Love as Bastards or in colder blood as in continuance of Marriage The same circumstances are also on the Mothers side considerable and also the conditions of the mother being with child as whether shee were healthfull and what dyet she kept Certaine rules for judging of Childrens long life by their begetting and Birth are hard to bee given matters falling out contrary to likelyhood for Children begotten with a lively courage prove strong but through their spirits sharpe inflammation are not long-liv'd Also children conceaved of a greater or equall quantity of the Mothers seed and begotten in lawfull Wedlock not in Fornication and in the morning their Parents being not too lusty and wanton doe live long For it is observable that stout strong Parents especially Mothers have not strong children Therefore Plato ignorantly imagined that because Women used not exercise as men did therefore children were not strong whereas unequall strength is most powerfull in the act of generation a strong man and a weake woman having strongest children so young Women are the best breeders and young Nurses are best For the Spartan women marrying not untill two or five and twenty yeeres of age called therefore man-like Women had no luster long-liv'd children than the Roman Athenian or Theban Women counting themselves at twelue or foureteene yeares old marriageable Therefore spare Dyet made the Spartan Women excellent Breeders not late marriage But experience shewes that some Families are long-liv'd long life and diseases beeing hereditary to all of the same stocke and Parentage 34. A blacke or red haire and Complexion with freckles are signes of longer life than a white haire and Complexion And a fresh red colour in yong Folkes is better than a pale a hard skin being not a thick spongy Goose skin but close grain'd is a better signe of long life than a smooth skinne And great wrinkles in the forehead are better signes than a smooth fore-head 34. Haire hard like bristles is a better signe of long life than dainty soft locks and hard thicke curled Haire is better than soft and shining 35. Baldnesse comming sooner or later is an indifferent signe many being soone bald yet long-liv'd and gray haires accounted signes of old Age comming betimes without baldnesse are signes of long life with baldnesse betokening the contrary 36. The hairinesse of the lower parts as the thighes and legges is a signe of long life but not of the breast or upper parts 37. Men of a tall stature proper bigge strong and active are long-liv'd but a low stature and slow disposition are contrary signes 38. In regard of proportion short wastes and long legges betoken longer life than long wasts and short legges And a bigge proportion downwards and slender upwards is a signe of longer life than broad shoulders and slender making downwards 39. Leane folkes of a quiet peaceable disposition and fat folkes of a cholericke stirring nature are commonly long-liv'd Fatnesse in youth is a signe of short life but not in age 40. Long growth eyther to a great or lesser stature is a signe of long life but suddaine growth either to a lowe or high stature is a bad signe 41. Firme flesh full of muscles and sinews buttocks not too bigge and high swelling veines doe signifie long life the contrary are signes of short life 42. A small Head proportionable to the body a middle-siz'd necke not long slender thicke or short shrinking within the shoulders large nostrils a wide mouth eares grisly not fleshy and strong close even teeth doe signifie long life and especially breeding of new Teeth 43. A broad breast bending inwards crooked shoulders a flat belly a broad hand with few lines in the palme a short round foote thighes not very fleshy and high calves of the Legges are signes of long life 44. Great Eyes with a greene circle betweene the white and the white of the Eye senses not too sharpe slow pulses in youth in Age quicker holding the breath easily costivenesse in Youth loosenesse
much as change of Ayre Therefore poore men living in Cottages and never changing their Dwellings are commonly long-liv'd But in other Respects the Spirits beeing fresh and lively change of Ayre is good foure yeerely remoovings beeing sufficient that so neither Travayle nor continuall residence in one place may proove wearisome So much of excluding or keeping out and avoyding the praedatory devouring power of the Ayre The Operation on the Blood and cooling the heate of the Blood 3. The History THe two Operations following have as Actives to Passives Relation to the former which endeavoured to keepe the spirits and ayre from wasting the body as these shew how to make the blood moysture and body lesse subject to depraedation and wasting but Blood watering the moysture and limbes three powerfull rules concerning the operation on the Blood shall bee first propounded 2. First Blood being cold is lesse dissipable and subject to scattering abroad There are two coolers more agreeable to the following Intentions than Julips or Potions 3. In Youth Glisters not purgative or cleansing but onely refrigerative cooling and opening made of the juyce of Lettuce Purslane Liverwort Sevegreene or House-leeke Fleawort-seed with a temperate opening decoction mingled with a little Camphire but in Age instead of Houseleeke and Purslane the juyce of Borage and Endive may be used and these Glisters must be an Houre or more retained 4. Secondly in Summer a Bath may be made of sweete luke-warme water and new whey and Roses insteade of Mallows Mercury Milke and such like mollifiers and softners 5. Annoynt the Body with Oyle and thickning substances before Bathing for receiving the refrigerating quality of the coolers and repelling the water the pores of the body being not shut too close lest outward cold strongly closing shutting the Body doe hinder cooling and rather stirre up heate 6. Bladders also apply'd with Decoctions and cooling juyces to the inferiour Region of the Body beneath the Ribs downward are a kind of Bathing whereby the liquour being excluded the Refrigerating quality or Coolenesse is onely received 7. The third Rule doth onely qualifie the substance of the Blood making it firmer and lesse subject to Dissipation and scattering abroad or to the working heate of the spirits 8. To effect this Operation powder of Gold or Leafe-Gold or powder of Pearle precious Stones and Corrals are good being therefore much esteemed by the Arabians Grecians and also Modernes Therefore to omit fantasticall Opinions insinuation being made into the substance of the Blood the spirits and heate having no power to worke thereon putrefaction and drying would bee thereby prevented and Life Prolonged yet divers Cautions are observable First let them bee exactly pulveriz'd and made into powder secondly let their malignant quality hurtfull to the veines be taken away thirdly beware lest their long abode in the body being taken with meate or otherwise received doe breed dangerous obstructions in the Bowels fourthly to avoyd Repletion or filling of the veines let them be seldome used 9. Therefore take them fasting in White-wine mingled with a little oyle of Almonds and afterward use some exercise 10. In this operation use Pearles Corrall and Gold for all Other Mettals having some malignant quality are not so exactly pulveriz'd or made into powder and the powder of cleere grasse greene stones is bad being a Corrosive 11. But drugges of wood may be more safely and effectually used in Infusions and Decoctions being good to make the Blood firme and not dangerous for breeding of Obstructions and their Infusions being taken in Dyet or Drinke having no dregs doe easily pierce into the veines 12. Drugges of Wood are Sanders the Oke and Vine but hot woods having in them any Rozzen or Gumme are not good but dry Rosemarystalkes being a shrub as longlivd as many Trees and such a quantity of Ivy-stalkes as will not make the Potion unsavory may be used 13. Drugs of wood may be also boiled in Broths infused into Ale or Wine before they be setled or refined But Guiacum and such Drugges must bee put in before the Broaths are boyled that the substance of the firmer parts of the Wood being dissolved may remaine in the Broath but whether Ash bee good in Potions is uncertaine So much of the Operation on the Blood The Operation on the moysture of the Body 4. The History 1. TWo kinds of Bodies formerly mentioned concerning living creatures are hardly consumed hard bodies as Mettals and Stones fat as Oyle and Waxe 2. Therefore the moysture of the Body must bee hardened and made fatty or dewy 3. Moysture is hardened by firme foode by cold thickening the skinne and flesh and by exercise compacting the juyce that it may not bee soft and frothy 4. Beefe Porke Venison Goat Kid Swanne Goose and Woode-pigeons especially beeing powdred also dryed Salt-fish olde Cheese and the like are firme sollid meates 5. Oaten bread or Miscelline bread made of Pease Rye and Barley is more sollid than wheaten bread and the course Wheaten bread or browne bread that is full of Brane is sollider than White bread made of purer flower 6. The Orcades feeding on fish and beeing generally fish-eaters are long liv'd 7. Monkes and Hermites living sparingly on drye foode commonly attayned to a great age 8. Pure water beeing mingled with Wine or Drinke hardens the bodies moisture and because the Spirit of the water is dull and piercing Nitre may be there with mingled And so much for the firmnesse of nourishment 9. People living abroad in the open ayre the cold thickning their skinne and flesh no longer liv'd than Dwellers in houses and in cold Countries the Inhabitants attaine unto a greater Age than in hot Countries 10. Many thicke cloathes on the bed or backe doe loosen and soften the body 11. Washing the body in colde Baths doth lengthen life but hot Baths are very bad Baths of binding Minerall waters were formerly mentioned 12. By an easie jdle Life without exercise the flesh is made dissipable and soft being by stout exercises used without excessive sweating and wearinesse compacted hardned Swimming is also a good exercise generally all exercises abroad are better than within the house 13. Frications by a kind of exercise fetching out not hardning nourishment shall be hereafter handled in its proper and due place 14. To make hard moysture oily and dewy is a perfecter worke than hardning being attended with no inconvenience whereas hardners of moysture staying the Consumption and hindering the Reparation and Renewing of Nourishment do thereby further and hinder long Life But oilie and juycy Nourishment by bedewing the Body is lesse dissipable and more reparable 15. This Dewy fat moysture of the Body is no tallowy fatnesse but a Radicall Dew diffused and spread through the body 16. Oily fat meates are not converted agayne into fat perfect Substances returning not agayne into one and the same Substance but Nourishment doth after maturation and Digestion breede an oy lines in the bodies