to feede and slepe And should not man well foresee In youth to know his old degree THen from .xxxv. or few yeres folowing the lusty brauÌ„ches of youth begin to abate his pleasaunt leues flowers and fruite by litle litle will decaye rawe â—humers crampes dropsies quaterns melaÌ„coly will then drawe nere The riots surfittes sore labours bearing of extreme burdens wrestlings actes venerus with the abuse of youth wil then spring forth to the detriment of age nad sodaine decaye of lyfe in especiall of drunkardes ¶ Iohn VVhat be the places of blend Coller Fleume and Melancoly Naturall or vnnaturall Thou haste not made a particular distinction of their proper places but generally thou hast spoken well in thy songe ¶ Humfrey THere are also other discirptions of the foure humors very necessary to be knoweÌ„ and their places where as they dwel within the body first of bloud as Galen saieth in his first booke of effected places bloude saieth he that is in the pulsis doeth greatly differ from the bloude of the vaynes for the bloude of the pulsis is thinner yeallower and hotter and this bloud maye bee called the gouernour of life The spring fountayne of the bloud generall is in the lyuer whiche serueth euery vayne of bloude this bloud in culler is very read Flewme is whyte and is ingendred in the stomake and at leÌ„gth by the vertue of naturall heate pure fleaine is turned into blod There be also watry slimy glassy grosse salte sower thicke harde binding and extreme cold fleames whiche in dede be vnnaturall that bee engendred thorowe surphets coldnes or idelnes bringing to the bodie many noisome diseases There is also coller whiche is yellowe whose place in the body is y e gall which commeth of the clensing or puryfying of bloud and this coller is cleare hote and drie and the coÌ„forter of decoction Grene coller or coller myngled with fleame be vnnaturall melancoly naturall in the splene is nothing but the sex degrees or heauie residentes of the bloud the naturall melaÌ„coly is knowen by his blacknes the vnnatural cometh of the burning of coller and is lighter hoter browne of couler sower of taste and putteth the bodie in great dauÌ„ger as madnes blacke gaunders continual feuers and sodaine deadly diseases Therefore my frende Iohn remember this short discriptioÌ„ of humors as the wordes of Galen Auicen saye ¶ Iohn Thus I haue heard thy seueral placinge of the foure complexions of bloud Choler Fleume and Melancoly and is there any distincte hootnes coldnes moistnes and drienes in anye other creature besides man tel me ¶ Humfrey NOt onely in manne but in beastes fyshe foule serpeÌ„ts trees herbes mettels And euery thyng sensible and insensible according to their natures be equally myngled or tempered togeter whiche is called meane teÌ„peraunce or els exceadeth in degrees whiche is called intemperaunce hote and moiste may be compounded together so maye colde and drie hote and drie cold and moiste example A cholerick man hote drie a Fleumaticke man cold moist c. Of herbes as hisope and rewe hote and dry purssen and coucumbers cold moist c. But tempramentes or complexioÌ„s of men beastes and trees be some hoter some colder according to their natures As a lion is hooter then a cholericke man pepper is hoter theÌ„ cloues And though there bee degrees in more hotnes or more coldnes yet they are called but hote or colde as men after labour or trauell they will saye they are hoote but the fier which people warme theÌ„ at is hotter Also there be things repugnaunt to tempramentes as moiste and drienes together heate and coldnes together as fier to bee colde or the water of his own nature to be hote which water peraccidence of the fier is made hote and fier quenched by the water And euery thynge exceading greatly with distemperaunce or wanting temperaunce or complexion do eftsones come to an end as men by extreme sickenesses surphets or woundes or finally age lackinge naturall vertue Of heate and moistnes of trees and herbes from whome iuce and sappe is withdrawen these thinges of necessitie muste nedes die and come to corruption as Galen and Aristotel sayeth ¶ Iohn VVhether be men or women of coldex complexion ¶ Humfrey AVicen saieth like as menne be hote drie so be wemen colde and moiste ¶ Iohn YEa but Lucian saieth they be perelous hote of their tonges and ful of venim though I am no phisicion yet can I make a dissciption of that member for I am oftentimes stinged with it I would to God they had been wormed when they were yong but when they are olde they are past all cure but the best medicine y â— I haue is a gentle herbe called rewe whiche I am neuer without great store ¶ Humfrey MAnkinde was borne naked to this ende that he mighte clothe him selfe with other creatures whiche he brought not in to this world with him as cloth lether harnes made of iron for his defence because he is y e chief creature But horses of nature haue harde hoâ—es lyons sharpe teeth purpintyns sharpe prickes whiche is their coÌ„tinual and natural armour as things euer prepared to debate strife by no art can scant be tamed The Rose as pleasauntly as she doeth appeare and as swetely as she doth smel spring not further without a great noÌ„ber of sharpe prickes Therfore it is tollerable for men to beare with them whome nature hath sealed and marked for his owne With that humor most chollerick disgresse from this thy communicacion and let vs talke of thinges more profitable for in deade this is pleasaunt to no maÌ„ ¶ Iohn SEyng thou wilt not discribe me thiâ— particuler members of whiche wâ— haue spokeÌ„ I would be glad to know the partes of mankinde with a shortâ— discription of his members ¶ Humfrey MEmbers be simple and also compounde the simples bee tenne in nomber the cartilages the gristels the bones veynes synewes arteries pannicles lygamentes cordes and the skyn Members compounded be those that be ioyned and builded together of simple members as the handes face fete lyuer harte and so compounded members be made of simple Some of the compounded members be called principalles as the harte from whence the arteries springes the brain froÌ„ wheÌ„ce the sinewes springes the liuer whiche is the well of the bloud from whence y e veynes do spring the stones of generacion from whence the sede of lyfe dooe spring but those compounded members that bee principall Be all the other members except the simple as y e nose the eares the eies the face the necke the armes and legges the braynes and chief substance of our fleshe be compounded meÌ„bers of sinowes couered with panackles whiche be of a synue nature but that sinewes geue felyng to all the whole body euen as the artiers geueth spirituall bloud froÌ„ the heart to euery meÌ„ber
seconde ¶ Iohn I Haue harde small commendations of Beetes Humfrey THey be of two kindes and be bothe prayse worthye Simeon Sethi wryteth that they be hoate and drye in the thirde degre y e white Beete is y e best they haue vertue to cleause as niter hathe but hathe euill Iuse the iuse of this herbe with honnye applied into the nose do pourge the head it is a holesome hearbe in pottage if it be well sodden or elsse it is noysome to thee Stomacke If it be parboyled and eaten with Vineger it is good againste the stoppinge of the liuer Notwithstandinge the iuse of this hearbe do stop the belly being simply taken Iohn What is Maiden heare Humfrey IT is an hearbe betwene hoote and dry if it be sodden in wine it breaketh the stone it cleanseth the Matrixe bryngeth downe the secondes as Diascorides and Galen saith the best dothe growe vpon harde rockes Ihon. What is Mellilâ—t Humfrey IT hathe vertue to ripe and is more hotter then cold Mellilot flex seede Rose leaues CaÌ„pher and womans milke tempered together doth make a goodlye medicine against the hote inflammation of the eyes If this herbe be droncke wyth wine it dothe molifye the hardnesse of the stomacke and liuer the most excellente plaister agaynste the paines of the splen dothe Mesue discribe which is made of Mellilotte Ihon. BE pease and Beanes anye thinge beneficial to nature ¶ Humfrey BEanes be more groaser and fuller of wind then pease be maketh euel matter except they be wel sodden and buttered and so eaten with the whitest swetest Onions that maye be gotten Because they be harde of disgestion howe be it they doe make fatte and partlye clense yet they are not to be compared wyth tender white peasen well sodden and buttred or els made in pottage with gardein mintes and grose pepper whiche haue vertue to cleanse the raines of the backe and bledder Liutelles bee of the same vertue Barlye beynge cleane hulled and sodden wyth mylcke cleane water suger maketh a very comfortable holsome pottage for hoate chollericke persones or younge people And of this is 〈◊〉 â—che vsed in the North partes of Englande and is called bigg â—ele Iohn VVhat be the vertues of the leekes rootes of Radishe Turneps Parâ—neps Rapes or Naues Humfrey LEekes be euil engender painfull sleepe but eaten with hony then they purge bloude but rootes eaten rawe breadeth yll â—uice therfore being first sodden and the water cast away then sodden with fatte mutton or tender fatte bief these rootes norysheth muche Rapes Naues be wyndy Turneps causeth one to spitte easely that haue corrupt stomakes but maketh raw iuce Carettes do expulse wynde Radish rootes prouoketh vryne but be very euill for flegmaticke persons hauing greif in their bones or ioyntes and must be eaten in the beginnyng of the meale as Galen sayth but many do vse theÌ„ in thende of meales fynde ease as sir Thomas Eliot that worthy knyght and learned man reporteth in hys good booke called the Castel of health And thus I doo conclude of those herbes and rootes that I haue writteÌ„ vppoÌ„ Admonisshyng thee that herbes puls and rootes bee all wyndye engeÌ„derers of melancholly in grossers of the bloude eccept lettis bourage purslen Therfore the grose binding togither seething of herbes in brothes pottage bee more holsomer then the fyne choppynge of them Thus Iohn I haue declared vnto the 〈◊〉 vertues of certayne herbes which if thou wylte followe and â—serue my rules in theÌ„ I doubt 〈◊〉 but thou shalt receiue mutch â—rofyt therby I would haue alâ— taught the some pretie wayes or Distillation of Waters but â—n preuented therein and I am â—ad therof Forasmuch as thou â—alt se very shortly booth Theâ—â—urus Euâ—nomi and Vlstadius â—hich be exelent learned men in 〈◊〉 y t Science wherin I am sure you wylt much delite For I ensure the the lyke bookes neuer were setfurth in our mother tounge with the lyuelye fashion of the furnasses and also of the Stillitories ¶ Iohn VHat will disgest and purge choller Fleume and Melancoly prouoke ernutacioÌ„ and stoppe Flixes tel me ¶ HuÌ„fry Thinges to disgest choller ENdsue Purslein Poppy Sorrell Mercury Lyuerwort Whaye Tesantes Tarmeryndes The foure cold seedes of gourdes and CucuÌ„bers Sanders Buttermilke or the milke which cometh of the pressing of the chese Topurge choller MAanna 6. oraÌ„mes Rubarbe .ii. draÌ„mes or .iii. but put into in fusion from .v. to .vii. Pilles of aloe Wylde hops Syrrup of wormwode Syrrupe of sâ—mitory Diaprunes The disgester of fleume PVulyall Myntes Betony Egrymony Mugwâ—rt Hony Pepper Hysoppe Pimpernel Ieniper berriâ— Neppe Finkel Persely rotes Smallage Purgersâ—â— fleume A Garick infused froÌ„ .ii to .v. drammes Sticaus The myrabolanes of al the kyndes Polipody of y â— oke Centory Horhound Mayden here â—ood â—â—rgers MelaÌ„choly ELeberus Niger Capers Lapis Lazule Sene of AlexaÌ„der Borage Hartes tonge Hony sodden in swete wine Sauory Tyme Trosses of cappers of Coloquintida and of wormwod Good things to prouoke drine PEruye Tyme Saxifrage Cassa fistula Rammes Radix The fleshe of an hare Pilles of Tyribenthen Mayden heare The beris of the Eglentyn Bromseede Comforters for y e brayne to smell vpoÌ„ ROses Violettes Iellouers in sommer but in winter Cloues Spike Muske Amber gresâ—e Thynges good to stope flire Sinaber called dragons blud Sloes or there decoction Sinamom Boolearmoniak Red wine Planton Olibanum Hard egges Hard chese scraped in red wine and drinke Thinges good to prouoke starnutation or â—â—eesing Belony leâ—â— primrose roâ—â— moderatelyâ—â—sed Eleborus alâ— and Gingeâ—â— Good coÌ„fortters for y e hart Muscke Ambergreâ—â— Rosis Perâ— Maces Diamuschicis diambra The floureâ— Rosemary 〈◊〉 Nutmegge Spiknard Galanga Iohn VVHat be the vertue of Dates Figges Humfrey SEraphio saithe that the Daâ—â— whiche be preserued with suâ—â— â—ee good The crude rawe Date â—othe califie the body and dothe â—onuert quickly into choller it is not good for the hedes of the hot people ill for the throte and stoppeth the lyuer and maketh the â—eeth rotten but if they bee cleane â—illed and the inward rynde takeÌ„ away they do greatly norrishe â—estore beeyng sodden in stewed â—rothe they bee of dyuers kindes 〈◊〉 quantitie and qualitie but geâ—erally hoote moyste in the seâ—ond degree Figges as Hippocraâ—es sayeth the best be white the seâ—ond be red the third be black the â—ipest be the best amongest all â—rutes doth most norishe prouoâ—eth sweat because it doth purge superfluitie of humers through skinne it doth engeÌ„der lice they â—e hot in the firste degre and the â—ew figes be moist in y e secoÌ„d the seedes and the skyn of the Fyg be not greatly coÌ„meÌ„ded Figges and AlmoÌ„des eaten of a fasting stomake be veri holsom to make the way of good disgestion but best if they be eaten with nuttes Figges and herbe grace stamped together be very holsome to be eaten against
graue and I arâ— but yonge we be no matchis ¶ Humfrey GOod counsell is a treasure 〈◊〉 wyse meÌ„ but a very trifle toâ— foole if thou haddest sene those thinges whiche I haue seene I know thou wouldest not be such a man nor thus spend thy tyme. ¶ Iohn VVhat haste thou sene that I haue not seen ¶ Humfrey I Haue seene many notable and greuous plages whiche haue fallen vpon greddy gluttons as â—asting their substaunce disforâ—ing their bodies shorting their â—leasauÌ„t daies and in this point â—o conclude with thee where as â—lotony remaineth from thence 〈◊〉 moderate diat banyshed and â—ose bellies that folowe the lust â—f the eyes in meates in youthe â—all lacke the health of all their â—odies in age if they liue so long Iohn My thinke thou canste geue good counsell thou semest to be seen in phâ—â—sicke I praye thee is it so great hurt 〈◊〉 delight in plenty of bankettes ¶ Humfrey SIr if it will please you to be somewhat attentiue I wyl teâ— you It is y e very grayne wheroâ— coÌ„mith stinking vomettes saue faces dropsies vertigo palseis obstructioÌ„s blindnes flixes applexis caters and rewmes c. ¶ Iohn IS it trewe that you haue sayde to mee ¶ Humfrey VVOulde to God dayly exâ—perience did not trie iâ— I dooe perfectly knowe it Anâ— once thou shalt be a witnes therâ— of if thou come to age ¶ Iohn THen I beseche thee gentle frenâ— Humfrey declare to me why theâ— is suche diuision among phisicions ¶ Humfrey THou seest amoÌ„g the TheologiaÌ„s there is much varietie â—nd yet but one troth Discordes â—e soone knowen of Musicians â—nd the Phisicions bee not ignoâ—aunt of the generall natures of â—inges No diuision is although 〈◊〉 do so apeare for regeÌ„ts place â—ge time and the present state of â—ans nature must bee obserued not the olde rules in al pointes â—or mans nature is sore altered â—nd chaunged into a vyler sorte â—an it was wonte to bee ¶ Iohn â—Ome dooe report that men of great estimacioÌ„ say what nedeth phisicke â—is but an inuention only for money â—e see say they who liueth so wel as â—ey whiche neuer knew phisicke and â—euill as these pothicary men ¶ Humfrey MAny men bee more riche theâ— wyse more estemed for titles of their honours worships then for any other vertue or cunning suche men in some pointes bee more ingratifull to naturall remedies then dogges whiche can electe or choose their vomitting gras or birdes whiche caâ— chose grauell or stones for their casting But to coÌ„clude with theâ— in this matter Plini the greatâ— clarke haue a thousand reasons to proue them folishe that wil obiecte against Phisicke And thâ— author of al thinges did wel forsâ— and knowe what was good foâ— mans nature whan he stretchiâ— out so large a coÌ„pas rouÌ„d abouâ— the earth with y e noble planetteâ— and signes and their courses inâ—fluences and heaueÌ„ly qualities and garnisshed the earth witâ— fruites herbes flowers leaues graines oyles gums stones for mans comfort and helpe and ordeined the phisicion for to helpe man Thus the almyghtye haue done saith Salomon And in recompeÌ„ce God hath not apointed the phisicions to be rayled vpoÌ„ or dispised but honoured rewarded yea estemed of princes And seing good nature and wise men be on my side I forse not of other mens phantasies with whome neither good wisdome nor good nature is guyde ¶ Iohn VVhy is phiscke of suche great authoritie or hath it ben in estimatioÌ„ among olde fathers May that be proued of thy parte ¶ Humfrey Yes that I can ¶ Iohn IF thou canst bringe in any reuerenâ— fathers that loued phisick I wil noâ— despise but greately esteme it desyrâ— counseile in demauÌ„ding of a few queâ—stions ¶ Humfrey PHisicke hath ben in so hye an estimacioÌ„ that y e gentilles did all consent it came from the immortall goddes The Hebrues did well knowe it as Moises in the moste auncient boke called Genesis primo doth discribe the worke of the almighty God of herbes fruites and plantes that Adam might teache the vertues of theÌ„ to his children Iesus Sirack which was endued with y e spirit of god haue lefte a laude behinde him greatlie commendinge Physick amongest the diuines of the Hebrues Mercuri amoÌ„gst the Egiptians Ouide doeth greately commende Apollo the inuenter of herbes when they were almoste oute of â—emory he reuiued their vertes and taught their nature to â—hers that folowed him After â—at came in Aesculapius whiche â—d many moste excellent cures â—nd chiron the instructer of Achil whose name can neuer die as â—â—ge as the herbe centauri groâ—eth vpon the earth whiche is â—led after his name Podalirius â—echaon were twoo brethren in 〈◊〉 time of the battell of Troy â—â—iche were excellent phisicioÌ„s â—â—d be greatly commended of Hoâ—â—re who was more excelleÌ„t theÌ„ â—â—ppocrates in the Ile of Coose â—ose workes will neuer die for brought in phisicke and digeâ—â— it into faire bokes for mans â—at health Then came Gallene 〈◊〉 vnknowen to all wyse and â—â—ned phisicions I coulde reherse many moo but this shaâ— suffise to proue phisicke to bee 〈◊〉 greate authoritie amonge oldâ— fathers ¶ Iohn I Pray thee frende Humfrey what phisicke I would bee glad to learn some of thy knowledge for thou hast good order in talking seme to be gâ—ded of authoritie Therfore I am so that I haue coÌ„tended with thee I prâ— y â— be not angry with my former tal◠¶ Humfrey HIppocrates in his booke of wiâ—des or blastes saith y t phisicâ— or medecine is but a putting the body whiche it lacketh or 〈◊〉 king from the bodie thinges 〈◊〉 perfluous And althoughe oâ— life be shorte yet the arte of 〈◊〉 sicke is long because great nâ— bres of thinges be in it and 〈◊〉 quireth muche study labour aâ— â—actise and first of all it requiâ—th much conteÌ„placion or know â—dge in studying good bookes â—hich is called Theoricha SecoÌ„dâ— the very effect of contemplaâ—on or study is practica or actiua whiche is doing of the thinges at learninge haue taughte as â—pairing amending or preserâ—ing the bodies of men women and children c. ¶ Iohn It semeth to be a goodly science ¶ Humfrey HErodotus saieth they greately erre that call it a science for is an excelleÌ„t art in doing of noâ—â—ble things And science is but 〈◊〉 knowe thinges There is also this excelleÌ„t art sundry sectes 〈◊〉 phisicions some be called Emâ—â—rici who suppose that onely exâ—â—rience doeth suffise and so by vse and experience dooe take iâ— hande to heale diseases not knowing the cause of the said diseasâ— or sickenes Philinus was one 〈◊〉 that secte at the first beginning Then folowed Serapion after that y e Apolonis And then camâ— Glaucius Menadotus Sextus c. Another kinde of phisicions be called Methodici whiche
sleepe verie paynfull and troublous hoat in the thirde degree and warme in â—he stomake clenseth the stomake and bryngeth good couler to the face and helpeth the grene sickenes prouoketh vrine â—pened the emoroides If they â—e sodden in vineger and layde â—arme to them pele of the rind â—nd cutte it at both the endes â—nd cast it into fayre warme waâ—er and let it lie an houre or two â—nd then slice it this takes away â—e veameÌ„t sharpnes of it Rew â—alte hony one onion staÌ„ped to â—ether is a goodly plaister to lay vpon y â— biting of a dogge leekes purgeth the bloud in march and payneth the heed and be not greatly praised for their iâ— iuice Adoge saythe Dioscorides the head beinge anoynted with the iuice thereof kepeth heare frome fallinge thereis muche varietie of this onyon amongest wryters sayth Plini but this shall suffise ¶ Iohn What is Lettise ¶ Humfrey IT doothe mightylye encrease milke in womens breastes and therfore is called lettisse as Martial saithe firste shalbe geuen to the vertue and power to increasâ— milke in the breasts euery hourâ— lettis is an hearb cold and moisâ— and is comfortable for a hoate stomake bringeth sleepe mollifieth the belly the drier it be eat the better it is I meane if it be not muche wasshed in water adding cleane sallet Oile Suger and vineger to it it abateth carnall luste and much vse of it dulleth the sight the seede is precious against hoat diseases droÌ„ke with tisans There is an herbe called Rocked gentle which partely smelleth like a Foxe whiche is very hoat an increaser of sede whiche herbe must alwayes bee eateÌ„ with Lettis The roote ther of sodden in water will drawe broken boones and will helpe the cough in yonge children ¶ Iohn What he Myntes ¶ Humfrey MYntes be of two kindes garden and wylde Myntes thei be hoat vnto the thirde dooeth drie in the second degre Garden Mintes is best y e pouder of this with the iuice of Pomgarnites stoppeth vomits helpeth sighiÌ„g clenseth hoate choller Three braunches of this sodden with wine doth helpe repletioÌ„ dronke fasting This iuice teÌ„pered with good triacle eaten of childreÌ„ a morninges wil kil wormes and stamped with salte applie it to y t biting of a dogge it will heale it It is holsome sodde with wyndy meates and sodden in posset alâ— with fenill it helpeth collike it encreaseth vital sede It is not best for chollericke complexions but good for flegmatike and indifferent for melancoly and it wyll stoppe bloude stamped and applied to the place The iuice of Mintes is best to mengle in medicine against poison the pounder of Mintes is good in pottage fleshe sodden with Oximel it clenseth fleume ¶ Iohn What is Sention ¶ Humfrey IT is of a mixt temprament it coleth and partly cleÌ„seth if it be chopped and soddeÌ„ in water and drinke it with your potage it wil heale y e griefe of the stomacke purge it from hoate choller his downe with saffron colde water stamped put in the eies it wyll drie the running droppes stamped plaister wyse it helpeth many greuous woundes ¶ Iohn What is Pursleyn ¶ Humfrey COlde in the third and moiste in the seconde if it be stamped with steped Barly it maketh a goodly plaister to coole the head eyes and lyuer in agues burninge heate To eate of it stoppeth Flixes and quencheth burning choller and extingwysh venerus luste and greatly helpeth the raynes and bladder and will kill rounde wormes in the belly and comforte the matrix against muche fleume And the iuice is good to drinke in hoate Feuers it may be preserued with salt then it is very good with rosted meates Plini sayeth it is supposed to make the sight blunte and weake further he saieth that in Spayne a great noble manne whome he did knowe did hang this Pursleyn roote in a threede coÌ„monly about his necke which was muche troubled of a longe sicknesse and was healed ¶ Iohn What is Mugwort ¶ Humfrey MVgworte and Fetherfoy Tansey be verye hoate and drie in the seconde degree Mugwort sporge and oyle of Almondes tempered plaister wise and applied cold to the sick pained stomake wyll brynge health It is good in bathes saieth Galen it is holsome for women it clenseth warmeth and comfort and breketh the stone Plini saieth it is good against serpentes and holsome for trauelyng men if they carye it it comforteth them from wormes Tansey doth myghtely cast wormes froÌ„ children droÌ„ke w t wyne A cold plaister staÌ„ped layde vpon the belly of a womaÌ„ whose childe is dead within her it will seperate the dead chylde from the liuing mother causing her to niese with Betony leues ¶ Iohn THere is an herbe commonly vsed to the great relief of many called Cabage is it so good as it is reported of ¶ Humfrey CAbage is of twoo properties of bynding the belly and making laxatiue the iuice of Cabages lightly boyled in freshe bief broth is laxatiue but the substaunce of this herbe is harde of digestioÌ„ but if it be twyse soddeÌ„ the broth of it will also bynde the belly if it be tempred with AlluÌ„ This herbe hath vertue to clense a newe read Leprosie laid vpon the sore place in the maner of a plaister But to conclude of this herbe the broth of it hath vertue to preserue from dronkenes as Aristotle Rasis and Auicen doth report eaten before drinking time ¶ Iohn What is Philopendula ¶ Humfrey IT is an herbe hoate and drie if it be sodden in white wyne dronke it drieth vp windy places in the guttes cleÌ„seth the raines in the backe and bladder ¶ Iohn What is Agremonie DIoscorides saieth that if this herbe with swynes greace be stamped together and laid vpon an olde rotten sore being hoat it hath vertue to heale it the sede of this herbe dronke with wyne is good against the biting of Serâ—entes stopping of the liuer and bloudy flixe Iohn SOme men saie that the herbe Dragon is of great vertue Humfrey THe iuice of it saith Dioscorides dropped into y e eie doth clense it and geueth much might vnto the eyes of them whiche haue darke sightes the water of this herbe hathe vertue againste the pestilence If it be dronke blud warme w t venis triacle y e sauor of this herbe is hurtful to a womaÌ„ newly conceiued with child Plenij saith that who so beareth this herbe vpon them no venomous Serpente will do them harme This herbe is hote and drye Ihon. THere is a verye swete flower called a violet is it so profitable as it is pleasaunt Humfrey SImeon Sethi reporteth that it doth helpe against hote inflamations of the guts heade and stomacke if the cause be of burning choller Either the water sirrope or concerue of the saide violets either eaten or dronke in the time of any hote passion But vndoubtedly it offendeth the hart because of the coldnes the sauour
of the flowers be plesaunte the oyle that is made of this herbe haue vertue to bring quiet slepes to them which haue greuous hote paine in the hed Ihon. VVhat is the vertue of the pleasant white Lilly Humfray DIoscorides saith that the Oyle of Lillies doothe mollifye the Sinnewes and the mouthe of the Matrixe the Iuse of Lillies vineger and Honnye sodden in a brasen Vessell doth make an ointment to heale both newe aud olde woundes If the roote be rosted and stamped with Roses it maketh a healing plaister against burning of fier the same rote rosted hath vertue to breake a Pestilence sore applied hoate vnto the sore place is drie in y e first degre The oile of water Lilies be moiste sufferent against all hoate diseases to anointe the ardent places and doth reconcile quiet sleepe if the forehead be anoynted therewith Iohn IN the time of the pestilence my wyfe maketh me a medicine of an herbe called Centauri doth she well or not Humfrey PLini saieth that the Sirupe of this herbe dronke with a litle vineger and salte doth clense the body The leaues and flowers be of great vertue to be sodden dronke against al rawe humors of grose sieume watry or windy it doeth clense cruent or bloudy matter within the bodies of men or women The pouder of this herbe is good in pessaries for women causing the dead childe to departe from the mother and is holsome against the pestilence in the time of wynter and is hoat and drie Iohn VVe beutifie and make pleasaunte our wyndowes with Rosemary vsyng it for small other purposes Humfrey ROsemary is an herbe of gret vertue hoate and drie soddeÌ„ in wyne and droÌ„ke before meat it doth heale the kinges euill or paynes in the throte as Dioscorides and Galen sayeth the sauour of it doth comforte the brayne and harte y â— flowers of Rosemary is an excelleÌ„t cordial called Anthos Ihon. IS pulial royal an herbe of anye valewe or a wede of contemption Humfrey IT is an herbe of muche vertue and profite hote and dry in the thirde degre Diascorides saithe if this herbe be sodden with honnye and Aloes and droncke it wil clense the liuer and pourge the bloud most chiefly it helpeth the lunges Simeon Sethi saithe if womeÌ„ drinke it with white wine It wil prouoke and cleanse the termes menstrual and is a very holsome pot herbe Ihon. What saist thou vnto Muslarde Humfrey PLinius dothe greatlye lawd it saiyng that there is nothing that dothe pearse more swiftlier into the braine then it doth Hony vineger and mustarde tempered together is an excellente gargarisma to purge the head teethe and throte Mustarde is good againste al the diseases of the stomacke or lunges winde â—leume and rawnes of the guts and conduceth meat into the body prouoketh vrine helpeth the â—alsye waisteth the quartaine â—rieth vp moiste rumes applied plaster wise vnto y e head Hony and mustard helpeth the cough and is good for them that haue â—he fallinge sicknesse notwithstandinge the coÌ„mon vse of mustard is an enemy to y e eie Many more vertues haue I reade of mustarde but the occasion of â—ime hathe vnhappilye preuened not onlye my large discriptioÌ„ 〈◊〉 this but also in manye other â—mples whyche heareafter I entende largely to wryte vpon if it please God to permit me Iohn Thei say that Buglos is very holsom Humfrey IT is an herbe moste temperate betwene hoate and colde of an excellent vertue a comforter of y t harte a purger of Melancoly a quieter of the Frencie a purger of the vrine holsome to be droÌ„kâ— in wyne but moste effectuall in sit 〈◊〉 Dioscorides and Galen doet greatly commende this herbe that doth dayly experience wel proue Iohn What is thy mynde of swete Basell â–ª Humfrey THis herbe is warme in the sconde degre hauing the vertue of moistues and if it be soddâ— in wyne with Spicenarde droÌ„ke it is good agaynste dropsyes windes fleume coldnesse of the hart hardnesse of the stomacke the sauoure of Basill doth comfort the braine and hart the vse of this herbe in meates doth decay the sight Ihon. The plaine people of the country will say that those flowers which be pleasaunt in smellinge be oftentimes vnholesome in working the rose is pleasaunte in sence what is it in vertue Humfray IT hath an odour most plesaÌ„t hath vertue to cole and binde The water is good to make Manus Christe many other goodly cordialles Roses and vineger applied vnto the foreheade do bringe slepe conserue of Roses haue vertue to quench burning choller and to stay the rage of a a hoote feuer oyle of Roses Vineger and the white of an egge beaten together doth not onlye quenche sacra igms but also bring a madde man into quietnesse if hys foreheade be well annointed therwith after the recept of Pilles of chochi in the time of the pestilence there is nothinge more coÌ„fortable then the sauor of Roses ¶ Iohn What saist thou of Sauery ¶ Humfrey IT is hote and dry in the thirde degree if the greene hearbe be sodden in water or white wine and dronke these be his vertues to make the liuer soft to cleanse dropsies coulde choughes clenseth womens diseases and seperateth the deade childe from the mother as Diascorides and Galen â–ª saith also Germander is not much vnlike the vertue of this herbe Iohn BVt for troublinge of you I woulde be glad to knowe youre minde of Time and a fewe of other hearbes Humfrey IT is vehamente of heat with drinesse in the thirde degree Diascorides saith if it be dronke with vineger and salte it pourgeth fleume sodden with honny or meide it hathe vertue to cleanse the lunges breaste matrix rains and bladder killeth wormes Iohn VVhat saiste thou of Parslye and Saxifrage Humfrey THey haue vertue to breake the stone Parslye is hote in the seconde degree and drye in the middest of y e third The sede dronke with whyte wine prouoketh the menstruall termes as Diascorides saithe also smalledge hathe the like vertue ¶ Iohn VVhat is thy iudgemente of Liuerworte ¶ Humfrey IT hathe vertue to cleanse and coole Dioscorides saithe it dothe heale the woundes of the liuer and quencheth the extreme heat thereof tempered with honnye and eaten dothe healpe a disease called regius morbus and pains of the throte and lunges Iohn What is Bettony ¶ Humfrey THey be of diuers kindes Leonardus futchius doothe call the sweete Gilliuers by the names of Bettonye but the one semeth to talcke of that whiche is commonlye knowne of the people called the lande Bettony which hathe the vertue to kill wormes within the bellye and healpeth the quarteine cleanseth the matrixe and hathe the vertue to heale the bodye within If it be brused it is of greate effecte if it be sodden with worme wodde in white wine to purge fleume and is hote in the first degre dri in the
but waterie not ayre but airie not fire but firie But the things whiche man do fele be the foure Elementes as earth aire fier water And these be y e vttermost simples of complexions diuersly specially alone of theim selues or mingled with other takinge sundrie and diuers effectes maners condicions formes qualities both in man and beast and euery liuing thinge sensible and insensible ¶ Iohn VVhat is the coÌ„plexions of the foure quarters of the yeare and names of the signes ¶ Humfrey THe spryng time when bloud doth increase Sommer wheÌ„ read coller doeth rewle Heruest when coller aduste or melancoly doth reigne Wynter when fleme doth abounde in full strengthe It is called wynter from the .xii. day of December vnto the tenth daie of Marche This season is colde moiste it is called spring time froÌ„ the .xii. day of Marche and endeth about the .xii. day of Iune SoÌ„mer beginneth about the .xii. day of Iune and endeth about the .xii. day of SepteÌ„ber Autumne or Heruest beginneth about the .xiii. daie of September and endeth about the .xi. daie of December Capricornus Aquarius and Pisces be winter signes Aries Taurus and Gemini be signes for the springe Cancer Leo and virgo beo the signes for SoÌ„mer Libra Scorpio and Sagitari be the signes for Haruest And y e sunne goeth through all these .xii. signes in xii monethes And the Moone goeth .xii. times through eche of the forsayde signes ones in the yeare and do take sondry effectes in man beates and frutes in the sayd signes hote or cold moist or drye ¶ Iohn VVhat bee the complexions of medicines ¶ Humfrey THose thynges that ouercommeth and gouerne the bodye as purgacions expulciues c. These be called medicines and those thinges that norysheth and augmenteth the bodye be called meates For the complexions of meates medicines be knowen by their tastes as coldnes hootnes moistnes Drynes bitternes saltnes swetenes fatnes sharpenes stiptick and clammy And because thy requeste is to haue prescribed vnto thee but only a litle gouernement of health I wyll showe vnto thee another of my litle songs in plain metre howe thou shalt knowe meates and medicines by their tastes ¶ Iohn THat is my chiefe desire I wyll beare thee saye on ¶ Humfrey COlde quencheth the collers pride Moist humecteth y t whiche is dried The flowing moister be proffe I trie Is wasted of humors hote and drie The subtill fode that is persing quicke The clammy meates maketh it thicke Bitter thinges clense and wypith ofte And expelslem and maketh softe Salt drieth and resolueth fleme tough Fat norisheth and make subtil inough Stiptick or rough taste on the tonge Bindeth and coÌ„fouteth appetite long Swete things in clensing is very good â—t desolueth much norisheth blod These things wel vsed nature wilplease But abusing theÌ„ beastly briÌ„geth disease ¶ Iohn â—N good faithe me thinke thou sayest 〈◊〉 wel for there apere perfit reasons in â—hese thy prety rules Nowe thou hast declared vnto mee the signes of complexions of men with the waye and â—pte knowledge of meates by theyr astes I would fayne learne shortelye â—he tempramentis and complexions of mankynde ¶ Humfrey THere was neuer no discrete nor wyse phisicioÌ„ that either feared God or pitied mankynde or loued his own honestie wold take in hande either to prescribe diet or to minister medicine to any body before be well did consider and wysely weye with him selfe the temprament mixture or complexion of mankinde Fyrste whether he were hoote or colde moist or drie fat or leane or indifferent betwene them bothe Tempored by health or distempored by sickenesse as the extremities of hootnes coldnes moistnes and drienes Therefore Iohn these thinges may not bee forgotteÌ„ you must note also the foure ages of mankinde fyrst the tender state of childreÌ„ which beginneth at the birth and so coÌ„tinueth vntill fiftene yeares next after their said byrth Their tempramentes or complexions bee hoote and moiste very like vnto the seede wherof they be proceaâ—ed then next vnto childhode or innocent age Youth which is the seconde part of life beginneth to â—eigne his temprament or complexion hathe rather more fyrie â—eate then perfite naturall heat and this second age continueth or tenne yeares as Galen saieth â—ell in this two firste states of yfe let al natural fathers moâ—ers bring vp their youth sette GOD before their eyes for they â—aue no small charge committed â—nto theim that muste geue acâ—mpte to God howe they haue brought vp their children they 〈◊〉 in these yeares do spare corâ—â—ction truely be greuous enemies vnto their children and at laste shalbe recompensed with shame when they shall se misfortune and wretchednes fall vpon the frutes of their owne seedes For meÌ„ haue smal profit of their corne whiche bee choked ouercome with thistels bryeres and brakes whiche were not weeded in time muche lesse of their children whiche haue receaued neyther correction nor honest learnyng in due season If y e kepers of gardeins be careful ouer their late soweÌ„ sedes tender herbes whiche are in daunger to bee destroied of euerye froste What shoulde good fathers mothers do for their children whose tender and youthfull yeares bee caried away ouercoÌ„med of euery foolishe fantasie and it is no meâ—â—uayle But this shall suffise for the wyse and smally profite the fooles but to my matter whiche I toke in hande I will returne vnto the thirde age of mankynd which is called the lusty state of â—yfe and beginneth at .xxv. yeres and continueth vnto xxxv This age is hoote and drie and verye collericke as Galene saieth This parte of life is subiect to manye burnyng and extreme feuers â—oote vlcers therfore it is necessary to knowe this temprament or coÌ„plexion which is called collericke as plainely may appeare by age strength diet vrine c. This is the beste tyme for mankynde to trauell in with godlye exercise in science arte and profitable trauelles in his vocatioÌ„ puttinge in practise the vertues whiche he hath learned in youth for this is the sommer parte of life wherin all goodlye frutes 〈◊〉 florishe in euery good ocupacioÌ„ â–ª This is the very heruest to gaâ— the precious corne and frute 〈◊〉 their labours againste the colde stormes cloudie daies of their aged wynter wherein the bodie shalbe weake and the eies syghâ— decaye and the handes trimble and therfore it is not comelye 〈◊〉 see the state of age without rest whiche in the tyme of youth diâ— honestly trauell For there is 〈◊〉 grace geuen to many creatureâ— vnreasonable bothe beastes and foules to make prouision before hande what is then to be required of men reasonable as foloweth in these verses THe bird in time her nest can make The bee will buyld his house ful 〈◊〉 The Crane with stone in fote wil wake The Cony will carue vnder the myne The Squirel in trees her nuts can kepe Against colde winter
it be put in a pigge it drieth the humours that would engeÌ„der fleume it is good againste the palsie oftentimes eaten or sodden in wyne it wyll helpe clense ytche scabs and fylth from the pudent and secret meÌ„bers Aetius doth greatlye commende this herbe and the excellent regiment of Salern where it sayeth Cur moritur homo cui saluia crescit in horto enquiryng why men do die that haue Sage growyng in gardens But trewlye neyther Phisicke herbe nor running can make man immortall but assuredlye Sage is holsome for olde folkes to be put in to their meates for it clenseth fleame from the senewes which fleame will relaxe the synewes The wyne of Sage dronke vpoÌ„ an empty stomake is holsome for flegmatike persones or them whiche haue the fallynge sickenes or dropsie ¶ Iohn VVhat is Pilopodie that groweth vpon the Oke tree ¶ Humfrey IF this herbe bee sodden with Beetes and Malowes in the broth of a henne and dronke it will loose the belly and clense fleume the roote of this herbe being drie and beaten into fyne pouder and draweÌ„ into the nose thrilles helpeth a disease called Polipus ¶ Iohn I Haue heard talke of Hoorhounde I would fayne heare of his workyng ¶ Humfrey IT is a herbe hoat and drie if it be sodden with fayre water suger or hony and streyne it this drynke doeth clense the stomake from stynkynge fleume it is an excellent herbe for women to clense their moneth tearmes the water of this is good to helpe them which haue a moist reume fallyng from the head vpon the lunges being often dronke but it is hurtfull to the bladder and raynes the sirope therof dooeth clense the kynges euill and also put into the eares doth greatlye comforte the hearing if the eares be troubled and stamped with hony and applied into the eies it clenseth the syght Iohn What is Verben ¶ Humfrey IT is called the holy herbe it drieth and byndeth if it be sodden with vineger it helpeth a disease called saint Anthonies fier oftentymes washynge the pained place the leues of VerbeÌ„ and Roses and freshe swynes grease stamped together wyll seace payne and griefe in euerye wounde and wyll keepe woundes from corruption it is good for people that haue the tercian or quartaine Agues And thus sayeth Dioscorides moreouer he sayeth the weyght of a Dram of this herbe with three halfe penyes weyght of Olibbulom and put in nine ounces of olde wyne tempered together and dronke fourtie daies of this quantitie fastyng it wyll helpe a disease called the kynges euyll or paine in the throte ¶ Iohn What is Rewe or herbe Grace ¶ Humfrey I Tell thee this herbe is verie hote and bitter and doth burne because of his hotenes in y e third degree if a litle of this rewe be stamped and sodden wyth wine and dronke it is an excelleÌ„t medicine agaynst poysone and pestilence wyth roses and vineger and rewe stamped together and put in forred clothe or biggen applied vnto the temples of the heade or forehead do seace greuous paynes in the head And in lyke mauer it healeth y e bitinges of serpentes or dogges stamped with vineger many nyce people cannot abide it cryinge fie it stinkes The seade of thys herbe beaten in pouder put in freshe clarified butter pitche melted together is good for theÌ„ to drink â—hat are brused ¶ Iohn What is burnet ¶ Humfrey IT is of the nature of fyue fynger drie and byndyng and not moist as many saith stampe it put it to the eies doth take away the dropping and prickyng and doth heale woundes and is good to drinke for the tercian Ague ¶ Iohn What is Dandilion ¶ Humfrey IT is temperat colde and drie with Roses and vineger tempered together it helpeth y e head in hoat diseases The sowthistle called Soncus hath the same vertue and so hath Suckery if they be sodden they lose the belly and quencheth heate whiche burneth in the stomake and defendeth the head froÌ„ hote smoking vapours and purgeth yelow chouller and rebateth venerous and fleshelye heate and is good to be sodden and dronke in hoate burnynge Agues though this herbe be coÌ„monly knowen and compted of many as a vyle weede yet it is reported of Dioscorides to be an excellent herbe ¶ Iohn What is Spynnage ¶ Humfrey AN herbe much vsed in meat colde and moiste in the firste degree it mollifieth and maketh softe the belly it is good for them that be hoat and drie and yll for flegmatike men ¶ Iohn What is Cowcumbers ¶ Humfrey THey be trewly in the seconde degree very moist and colde The seedes be good to be geuen in hotte sicknesses the pouder of the sayde seedes dronke in clene wyne is good agaynste dyuers passions of the harte this frute wil cause one to make water wel the roote dryed in pouder therof dronken in water and honye prouoketh vomite if they be moderately eaten they bringe good bloude tempered wyth honie and anointe the eyes that helpeth a disease called Epinictidas which troubleth meÌ„ with straÌ„ge sightes in the nightes the best of this frute is whiche beareth the beste seedes the sauoure of that is not holsome mellons citrons pampans and this kinde of pepons or great apples be muche vsed in EnglaÌ„d and is more coÌ„mon then profitable because they vse to eat them rawe Englishe men being borne in a tempered region enclining to colde may not without hurte eat rawe herbes rootes and frutes plentifull as manye men whiche be borne farre in the south partes of the worlde whych be moste hote of stomake therefore lette them eat these frutes boyled or baken with hony and pepper and fencle seedes or suche lyke there be an other hote kinde of bitter cucombers which doo purge ¶ Iohn What is Garlicke ¶ Humfrey GArlicke is very hote and drie in y e fourth degre it troubles the stomacke it is hurtfull to the eyes heade it increaseth drieâ—ies but it will prouoke vrine is good to be layd vppon the byâ—inge of a snake or edder it is good for the emeroides applied to the sore place being first stamped if it be sodden the stinke is taken from it but the vertue remayneth to be eaten against the coughes paines in the lunges it cutteth and consumeth corrupt fleume and bringeth slepe It is not good for hoat men nor women with childe or Norces geuing milke to children but Galen calleth it the coÌ„mon peoples treacle if sanguin men do eate much of it it will make them to haue read faces but it is a speciall remedy against poyson ¶ Iohn What is Onions ¶ Humfrey THey do make thin the bloud and bringe slepe they be not good for collericke men the long onion is more behemeÌ„ter then y e â—ounde and the read more then â—he whyte the drie more then the grene and the rawe more then the sodden or preserued in salte although they cause
the pestilence Rosted Figges beaten together and hote applied vpon the pestilence sore doth drawe molifie make rype the sore And to the lunges liuer stomake figges be very coÌ„fortable as GaleÌ„ saith ¶ Iohn What be Peares ¶ Humfrey THey be of diuers kyndes heuier then Appels not good vntill they bee verye rype onles they be tenderly rosted or baken and eaten after meales there is a kind of peares growing in the City of Norwich called the blacke friers peare very delicious and pleasaunt and no lesse profitable vnto a hoote stomacke as I hard it reported by a right worshipful Phisition of the same Citye called doctoure MaÌ„feilde which said he thought those Peares without all comparison were the best that grew in any place of Englande Iohn What saist thou of Appels ¶ Humfrey APples be very cold winedy hard to disgest ingenderers of euill bloude hurtfull to flegmaticke people good to cholericke stomackes if they be through ripe but best if they be rosted or baken and eaten with grose pepper to bedwarde they be of many kyndes as the Costard the grene coate the pippeÌ„ the quene apple so furth The distilled water of apples Campher vineger milke is a good medicine to anointe the faces of children y t haue the smal pockes when the said pockes be ripe to kepe their faces from eres prouided that the saide chyldren haue geuen them in their milke saffroÌ„ or Methridatum to expell the venim and kepe them froÌ„ the aire during the saide sickenesse Ihon. What be Pechis Humfrey THe leaues he hoate for if theiâ— be stamped in plaisterwyse and applied vnto the belly they kil wormes The fruite is cold very good to the stomake they be good to be eaten of theÌ„ that haue stinking brethes of hoat causes eateÌ„ of an emptie stomake which is Galens counsell whiche saieth if they be eaten after meate they dooe corrupte bothe in them selues and the meates lately eateÌ„ and they be bynders of the belly But Quinces be moste comfortable after meate for they do enclose the stomacke and letteth vapers to ascende into y e braine and stoppeth vometes They be holsome for sicke folkes that be swelled in the bodies Eaten with the grose pouders of Gallanga Spickanarde Callamus and Ginger and maye be eaten before meate of the sayde sicke pacientes as well as after meat But muche vse of them be not so profitable as delectable to the â—aters of them ¶ Iohn What be Quinces Humfrey IF thy stomacke be verye hoate or moist or thy bellye laxatiue then Quinces be good to be eaten before meate beinge rosted or eaten cold and in this case the tarter be the better and Pomgranets be of the same vertue as Isaac saithe but eaten after meate they do enclose y e stomack and moist the belly they oughte not to be vsed in commoÌ„ meates the custome of them hurteth the sinnewes but in the way of medicine they be excellente and the cores being taken oute and preserued in honnye or kepte theyr musse lege Then they may long continue to the vse of rosting or baking for they be perelous to the stomack eaten raw But preserued they do mightely preuail againste drouckennesse they be colde in the first degree and dry in the beginninge of the second ¶ Iohn What be Cherris ¶ Humfrey THe tart cheries vndubtedly be more holesomer then the swete and eaten before meat do mollify the belly prepare disgestion and they be most excellent againste hote burninge choller thei be good also after meat and be of manye kindes as blacke red pale The red chery partly tarte is beste Galen and Rasis greatly commend this frute In the country of Kent be growing great plentye of this frute So are there in a towne neare vnto Norwich called Ketreinham this frute is colde moiste in the first degree ¶ Iohn VVhat be the vertue of Grapes Rasins Prunes Barberies Oringes and Medlers ¶ Humfrey HIppocrates saith that the white Grapes be better then the blacke and holsomer when they are twoo or thre daies gathered from the vine then presently pulled from it And if they be sweete they bee partely nutratiue and warme the body And vnto this agreeth Galen and Rasis semeth to commende swete grapes aboue Daites saiyng although they be not so warme yet they dooe not stoppe the body or make opilatioÌ„ as Daites do They be holsome to be eaten before meate euen as nuttes be good after fisshe Towarde the southe and southeaste partes of the world there be many growing in diuers regions wherof the wynes be made The farther froÌ„ vs the hoater wyne There be very good grapes growyng here in England in many places as partely I haue seene at Blaxhall in Suffolke where sometime I was nere kinsman vnto y e chefest house of that toun Raisins of the sunne be very holsome and coÌ„forte disgestion but the stones rindes would be refused then they be good for the splene liuer So be aligantes Rasis doth muche coÌ„mend theÌ„ but vndoubtedly the small rasins be hurtfull to the splene Prunes or damasins haue vertue to relaxe the belly if they be sweete rype but they do norysh very litle but quenche choller Grapes rasyns Prunes PluÌ„mes Sloes if they be sower be all bineders of the belly and so is the barbarye called oxiacaÌ„tha and Oringes except the said oringes be condited with suger and then they be good coolers against hoate choller whose rindes he hote drye of nature The frute called the medler is vsed for medicine and not for meat and must be taken before meate prouoketh vrine of nature is stipticke ¶ Iohn What be Capers and Oliues ¶ Humfrey FReshe Capers he hote drye in the seconde degree and eaten before meates do greatly coÌ„forte disgestion and be the best thinges for the splene or to cleÌ„se melancholye that can be taken preserued Olifes in salt eateÌ„ at y e beginning of meales do greatli fortify the stomack and relaxeth the belly cleanseth the liuer and â—â—e hoate and drye in the seconde degree ¶ Iohn I Beseche the show the opinion of the natures of some kinde of fleshe and firste of the properties of Beefe Humfrey I Wyll not vndertake to shewe mine opinion to thy request but I wil declare the mindes of some wise and learned men and first of Simeon Sethi which saith that the fleshe of Oxen that be yonge doÌ„ much nourish make them stronge that be fed with them but it bringeth melancholy and Melancholius diseases it is cold and dry of nature and hard to disgest excepte it be of cholericke persones but beinge tenderlly sodden it nourisheth Much biefe customably eateÌ„ of idle persons and nice folks that laboure not bringeth many diseases as Rasis saithe And Auicen saithe that the fleshe of Oxen or Kine be very grose ingendringe ill iuse in the
good the pouder therof to be dronke is moste of effect against the pestilence excepte Methredatum It is good against poyson winde chollericke and colde passions of the harts and doth restrain vometes The weight of eight granes doth suffice to be dronke in ale or wyne vpon an empty stomacke ¶ Iohn What is Sinamon Humfrey DIoscorides dooeth saie there be many kindes of Sinamon but generally their vertue is this to helpe dropsies windes or stopping of the lyuer and is hoate drie in the thirde degre Ihon. VVhat is Cassia fistula Seneca and Rewbarbe Humfrey CAssia fistula if the Caane be heuie the cassia within blacke and shining that is good cassia if this be drawen new out of the caane halfe an ounce or more at one time mingled with suger and eaten of a fastinge stomacke in the morning it hath power to purge choller to cleÌ„se the raines of the backe it will frete and consume the stone it purgeth verye easely and is pleasant in taking may be taken of children weke women and sicke meÌ„ in the time of their feuers y e accesse of their fyttes eccepted Rhabarbe do purge yellowe coller by him self two or thre drames may be takeÌ„ or a litle more so that there be a drame of spicanarde or sinamon put vnto it In sommer to drinke it with whay In wynter with white wine but y e cleane yellowe rubarbe sliced and put into infution all the nighte with whaye whyte wyne or Endiue water and streyne it in the mornynge doth greately purge the bloude and lyuer three or foure drames with spicanarde a dram or more Seene Alexandria if it bee sodden in the broth of a cocke or a henne doeth purge the bloude and melancoly very gently and comfort the hart One ouÌ„ce of the cleane small leaues of seene withoute codes or stalkes halfe a quarter of one ounce of ginger twelue cloues finkle seede two drames or els twoo drames of sinamon tartar halfe a drame beaten all together in pouder These dooe purge the head mightely to bee taken before supper y e weighte of one drame in a litle white wine ¶ Iohn I woulde bee glad to learne the vertue of Aloes Humfrey THere be two kindes of aloes one is named Succotrina which is lyke a lyuer cleare brittle bitter collered betwene read and yellowe this is best for medicines 〈◊〉 little of this beinge tempered with Rose water being put vnto the eyes helpeth the droppyng watery eies Also it is put in many excellent medicines laxatiue as safron myrre aloes mingled together In the forme of pilles is the most excellent medicine against the pestileÌ„ce as it is written in this book folowing Honye and aloes mingled together doe take away the markes of stripes and also doth mundify sores and vlcers it doth clense the aboundaunce of cholere fleume from the stomacke It is not good to be taken in winter for Auicen dothe forbid it but in the springe time or haruest the pouder therof The weight of a freÌ„ch crown mingled with the water of honie or meade and so droncke in the morninge it dothe clense bothe choller and flewme There is an other grose aloes which is good for horse tempored with ale and ministred aswell to other great beastes as horses the weight of halfe Anounce and thus muche haue I said of Aloes but if aloes be clene washed it is the holsomer manye vnwasshed Aloes wil cause emeroydes Iohn IS the Safron that growe in England as good as that that come from the other syde of the Sea Humfrey OVr English hony Safron is beter theÌ„ any that cometh froÌ„ aniother strang or foren laÌ„d But to thy question of Safron it haue vertue ether in bread or potage to make the hearte glad it warme the body it preserueth froÌ„ droÌ„knes droÌ„ke in ale or wine prouoketh actes venerus inducith slepe purgeth vryn Mirh a loes saffroÌ„ maketh an excelent pil against y t pestilens two peny waght of safron powder roosted with the yolke of an egge very hard and the sayd yoke beaten in powder twelf graynes drinke a morninges is good agaynst the pestileÌ„ce Safron planten Iuiry soddeÌ„ The dicoction drinke helpeth the yellow Iaunders it is drye in the firste degre haue vertue to restrayne Iohn VVe playne men in y t countrie dwel far from great Cities our wyues and children be often sicke at deaths dore we can not tell what shifte to make we haue no acquantance with y â— a apothicaris comonly we send for aquaÌ„titie or mamsey what so euer out diseases be these be our comoÌ„ medicine or else we send for a boxe of triakle when these medicines faile vs we cause a great posset to be made and drynke vp the drinke thinkest thou these medicines be not good ¶ Humfrey FOr lacke of medicine God helpeth the people oftentimes by myracle or els a great number of men should pearish But because the almightye God hath couered the whole face of the earth wyth many precious simples wherof riche coÌ„possions be made Therfore be nether so rude nor barbarous to thincke these medicines good that thou hast rehersed for al diseases although not hurtful to some but because many do receiue more mischiefe then medicine in counterfaite treacles I shal rehearse vnto thee what Valerius Cordus and other doth write vppon the vertue of the precious triacle called Metridatum Iohn I Woulde be glad to heare of that precious triacle and his vertues ¶ Humfrey THis excellent triacle Methridâ—tum is nexte in qualitye and vertue to Theriaca do differ but little but onely Theriacha is a little hotter and stronger againste venyme of Snakes edders and serpentes It helpeth all paines of the head of men or women if it come of colde most chiefly of melancholye and feare It helpeth megreme fallynge sickenes and all paines of the forehead droppynge of eyes It helpeth tothe-ach paines of the mouth chekes if it be put in maner of a plaister or els anointe the pained place It helpeth pains of the throte called Squinance and also coughe appoplextia and passion of the lunges and many greuous dollers and paynes within the body dronk with the decoction of the flowers of pomgranetes or planten it helpeth and stoppeth flixes in the Ilias long gutes windes or collick The extention or cramps be helped very much with this MetridatuÌ„ droÌ„ken wyth stilled watters Palses sickenessis in the midriffe the liuerrayns bledder be clensed therby it prouoketh the menstruall termes in women being dronke with possit ale If Isope or iermaÌ„der be sodden in the sayd ale it is excellent agaynste the pestilence or poysone If it be dronke but a litle quaÌ„titie therof accordinge to the disease strength or adge of the persone It is verye good against the stone or for wemen which haue a newe disease peraccidentes called the grene syckenes there is nothinge better against the bitinge of a mad dogge then to