Spread this Poultis on a Linnen Cloath indifferent thick apply to the grieved part every Hour or two at most and by God's assistance it will effect the Cure to your Heart's desire An excellent Remedy against any Wound Stab Prick or Cut with a Sword or other Weapon Take Spirits of Wine with some double refined Sugar or other Sugar mixed with it Wash or Serringe your Wound with this Sugared Spirit very well then take a small quantity of the fine Powder of Refined Sugar and put into the said Wound and presently sow it up with a fine Needle and Silk the quicker you do it the better will the Cure be performed for the more the Air is kept out of it the better If this Method be observed it will do wonders the way of tenting is generally pernicious and prolongs the Cures of the above mentioned hurts keeping the Parts from closing or cementing for this prevents the flowing of the Humors and putrefaction and Nature does her own work without trouble cost or pain Pithagoras's Method and Advice to his Disciples viz. Whenever they had Occasion to make any Medicine Poultis Plaisters Decoctions of Herbs or any other thing they were always to be mindful to take of those things that their Genius did first dictate to them and not only the Herbs or Seeds grains or other things but likewise the number of their Composition that is how many ingredients they were to mix together the manner form and postures they were to observe in gathering of them also what Words Invocations and Prayers they use also naming the name of the Person they operate for expressing in words for whom they do it for to Cure such or such a Disease And if you would know more of this Read Pythagoras's Letters lately Printed by T. Sowle in White-Hârt-Court and observe th◠Methods and Numbers there treated off at large and your understanding will be enlightened if you are in good earnest and live in the Fear and under the Dominion of the Fountain of Benignity whose Signal Character is plainness Simplicity and Innocency An excellent remedy against all Old Inveterate Vlcer's and Sores occasioned by the Disease called The Kings Evil viz. First take Rain or River Water with which wash the Grieved part very clean then take strong Spirits mixed with white Sugar and wash it several times and fill up the Mouth or cover the Sore with Sugar and Spirits mixed thick then apply this following Poultis viz. Take two Quarts of Rain or River Water as much dried Wormwood as the Water will cover let it lie and infuse two Hours then strain it off and add as much good Bread as will make it thick add to it two or three Ounces of white Sugar with half or a Pint of good strong Beer or Wine then make it boyling hot stirring it all the time then it is done Apply this every two Hours as warm as your Blood washing the Sore every time with water and then with the Sugared Spirits as is mentioned before Remember that the Water wherein the Wormwood is infused two Hours must be cold and after the Ingredients are put in made boyling hot as in other Poulises An Vniversal fomentation for all Tumors Bruises Hard Swelled Members or parts of the Body Take a good quantity of dried Wormwood put it into two three four or five Quarts of Rain or River Water make it boyling hot then take it off the Fire and let it lie in the Water one Hour then add to every Quart of this Wormwood Liquor half a Pint of old Wines three Spoonfuls of good Spirit of Wine two Ounces of double refined Sugar and one Ounce of Salt of Tartar with this wash or foment the part very well for half an Hour together or more resting one Hour and in the Interim apply this following Poultis viz. Take two or three Handfuls of the Green Leaves of Sorrel infuse them in two Quarts of boyling Water one Hour Strain it off and add to this Water as much good Mault Flower as will make it thick to every Quart put half a Pint of Ale and two Ounces of double refined Sugar apply it warm every Hour fomenting the part as you are taught before and you need not doubt but it will have a good Effect and Cure to Admiration A Famous Poultis against Sprains Take two or three Quarts of good Water and a Quart of good strong Beer four Ounces of refined Sugar make this just boyle then put in it as much fresh gathered Thyme as the Liquor will cover make it ready to boil again and then Strain it from the Herbs and add to it as much Brown Bread as will make it thick stir this over the Fire till it be boiling hot then it is done Add to this three Ounces of Spirits of Wine stirring it all well together spread this thick on a Linnen Cloath and apply it every three Hours as warm as your Blood A good Method to Cure Sprains if you cannot have the Forementioned Poultis viz. So soon as you have Sprained any Member of your Body then presently put that part into cold Water wherein some Wood-Ashes are put continue the grieved part one Hour or at least half an Hour this will give you ease and have a good Effect An Excellent Wash against all old Aches and Sciatica's in any part or Member of the Body Take Rain Water in March April May Iune or Iuly and keep it in Glass Bottles open standing either without Doors or in Airy Rooms wash your infirm part three times a Day Very well the Water must be cold and the Part or Member must not be kept warmer then is usual This do for two three or four weeks if you have occasion but in many this Method will effect the Cure much sooner An Excellent Method to Cure the Sores occasioned by the Disease called The King 's Evil. Fist take Water wherein Wormwood is infused wash the Sore part very well then take Spirits of Wine Mault or Sider mixed with Sugar and wash it again then apply this following Poultis viz. Take three Pints or two Quarts of Rain or River Water make it boil then put into it as much Hyssop as the Water will just cover continue it on the Fire till it boil then take it off and Strain it add to this Liquor as much Bread as will make it thick to every Quart put two Ounces of Refined Sugar and half a Pint of Ale spread this pretty thick on a Linnen Cloath and repeat the application every Hour two or three the oftner the better the like is to be understood in all applications of this Nature as we have demonstrated in our Book Entituled The Good Hous-wife made a Doctor A rare Poultis against all Inflamation◠Rhumes and other Sores in the Eyes viz. First wash your Eyes with Rain or other good Water then apply this following Poultis viz. Take one Quart of Water the whites of three Eggs beaten well together with
three Ounces of double refined Sugar as much white Bread as will make it into a Poultis then make it boiling hot stirring it all the time then it is done Spread this thick on a Linnen Cloath apply it to your Eye every Hour fresh and you will have your desire but this course and repeated application must be continued for 1 2 3 4 5 or 6. Days as you see occasion Observe that you never apply your Poultis hotter then your Blood nor bind the Grieved part hard both are great Evils but more especially the last A rare Poultis against the Head-Ach Take one Quart of Rain or River Water one Ounce of white Sugar as much Mault Flower new Ground as will make it thick enough add to it half a Pint of good Ale making it boyling hot and stirring it all the timâ— then it is done Spread this on a Linnen Cloath pretty thick apply it as warm as Milk from the Cow every Hour or every two Hours continue the application one two or three Days more or less as occasion An Excellent Poultis against all Sorts of Sprains Take two Quarts of Rain or River Water make it boiling hot or boil up put to it as much good Green Sage as the Water will cover then make it just boil take it off the Fire and let it stand one quarter of an Hour Strain the Water off then add to this Sage Liquor as much Bread as will make it thick put to this three Ounces of double refined Sugar and a quarter of a Pint of Red Wine and five Spoonfuls of Spirit of Wine Sugar or Mault stir them well together and make them boiling hot stirring it all the time then it is done Spread this likewise on a Linnen Cloath and apply it warm as your Blood every Hour or two for one Day or two resting all the time A brave Noble Poultis against all hot Tumors Bruises or Swellings or the like Take two or three Quarts of Rain or River Water as much Spinnage as the Water will cover But first let the Water be boiling hot then make it boil take it off the Fire and let it stand one quarter of an Hour the Vessel uncovered Strain it off add to it as much House-hold Bread as will make it thick with two Ounces of course Sugar make it boiling hot then it is done Spread this on a Linnen Cloath apply it every two Hours as warm as your Blood for two three four or five Days and you will find good Effects thereof always observe and be careful that you do not bind the Grieved part too hard but very Gently there being nothing worse then hard binding it often occasions great Evils even to Mortification Wormwood Smokt in Pipes being well dryed in the Sun and Bagg'd in Paper close is far better and more a vailâ—ble for the help and Cure of all or most of the Diseases Tobacco is taken in Pipes for A method how any Person may supply the place of Hops with Wormwood to all intents and purposes and please the pallats of the Drinkers for Wormwood is an Excellent Herb and of far greater Strength Power and Vertue then Hops provided it be gathered in it's proper Season and dried in the Sun and bagg'd up as Hops are so keep them for use according to the Directions in our way to Health long Life and Hppiness viz. Take what quantity you think fit of dryed Wormwood as you have occasion to keep your Drink a longer or a shorter time and put it into your hot Water in your Mash-Tub or Vessel and then presently put your Mault in and stir it together as is usual and when it has stood the common time draw it off then you must take the Wormwood out and add some fresh to your Liquor that you put up the second time and do the like when you put up your third Liquor if you mash more than twice by this Method or way you will only extract the thin fine saline Vertues of the Herb and leave the Gross Churlish bitter behind and Drink thus made doth not only Drink pleasant and keep well but iâ— far more wholsome and healthy than the best Hopped Drink and if your Wormwood is well preserved it will keep three four or five Years good and the second and third Year it is better than the first The very same Method is to be observed in useing all other Herbs But if the forementioned way should make the Grains so bitter that Cattel will not eat them Then observe the following Method viz. Make of fine thin Canvas Baggs both for your strong Beer Ale and small Beer and put such a quantity of your Wormwood as you think fit into them and when your several sorts of Drink is Working in the Tun then hang these Baggs in your Working Drink for three Hours and then take them out this being an approved way which do impregnate or imbibe the fine airy Spirituous Vertues of the Wormwood into the Drink The natural and common vertues of this Drink is it warms and strengthens the Stomack fines the Blood purgeth by Urine Generates like pure Spirits and Drink thus made if not too strong nor too great a quantity Drank then it will prove a Friend both to the Eyes Head as well as to the Stomach Healths Grand Preservative OR THE Womens best Doctor CHAP. I. Of the Nature and Operation of Bandy Rumm and Rack which of late years are become as common Drinks amongst many as Beer and Ale not only in England but also in all the West-Indies where the English inhabit and of the evil consequences that do attend the Drinkers thereof BRandy Rumm Rack and other distilled Spirits are all very pernicious and hurtful to the Health of the Body if not sparingly taken on extraordinary occasions in a Physical way for the Intention of all such Chymical Preparations when first Invented was for Mediâ—inal uses and not be used as Common Drink as of late years indiscreetly they are to the Destruction of many thousands the frequent use of them contracting such grievous and stubborn Diseases as for the most part are incurable 1. All such Spirits as are drawn by common Distillation though those cruel Sulphurous Fires where the Air hath not its free egress and regress atheir Volatile Spirit and Balsamick Body is as it were totally destroy'd As for Example take the best Sack which is the Richest and most Cordial of all Wines and hath the greatest Body put it into a Limbeck or any other Furnace of the like nature and draw it off and you shall have nothing but a strong harsh fiery Spirit or Brandy The same you shall have if you distill Sugar only it yields a stronger Spirit for the more Balsamick the Body of any thing is the stronger and fiercer is its Spirit when that Balsamick Body and the pure Volatile Spirits are destroyed or separated from it Now here you will see that the Volatile Spirit and sweet Cordial Qualities or
have the Preheminence of Foods Neither are they indued with so much nor so good Nourishment as Corn Foods But here we must give way to the prevailing Tyrant Custom which is the Champion I am to make War against and as the Foods of Beasts are better or worseâ— clean or substantial their Health Strength and Ability are according The like is to be understood of the Food Men live on for it is not as is said before the gross Juices that affords the true Nourishment but the fine light volatile Spirituous Vertues for this cause most are greatly mistaken that attribute so great and good Nourishment to Flesh and Fish Indeed they are full of gross Matters and Juices which do serve chiefly to cloud the finer Vertues and true Life which do also add Weight and not Spirit so that the great Eaters thereof become dull and heavy loading Nature with too great quantities of Phlegmatick Juices and Humours which do not only oppress Nature in all her Operations but is the Root of many Diseases both of the Body and Mind Green Corn and Grass are endued with more Substance and Juices than either Hay or Corn but it is Earthly and Gross and affords a Nourishment of a like Nature The more any thing is loaded or endued with Gross or Corrupt Matter the sooner it falls into Putrifaction But on the contrary the dryer firmer and more Spirituous any thing is the longer it will endure and be preserved from Corruption But of all things Men eat Flesh and Fish do sâ—oner decay because of the abundance of gross Matter it does contain which does as it were in a moments time cloud and suffocate the fine Sal-nitral Vertues I am sure that a Man may make a better Meal with half a Penny-worth of Wheat-Flower made into Pap and half a Penny-worth of Bread to eat with it and a little Salt and be as strong brisk and able to perform any Labour as he that makes the best Meal he can with either Flesh or Fish So great is the Ignorance Folly Blindness false Opinion and Custom of those that call themselves the Learned Pray tell me what kind of Ignorance and Madness does possess the Poor Labouring Man that hath but Six Pence or One Shilling to buy Food for his whole Family and to lay it out in a Sheeps Head and Gethers or an Oxes Liver which is his whole Stock and the best Food that can be expected from it is a little Corrupt Broth or Putrified Pottage when with five times less charge in Flower he might have procured a far better Meal being made into Pap or Gruel with a little Bread and Salt It is also to be noted that those that live on Corn Food have not occasion to drink Strong or Cordial Drinks as those that eat Flesh and Fish the first being more spiriâ—uous and warming the last Cold Phlegmatick and Gross and harder of Concoction 'T is likewise observable that half the quantity of Wine or strong Drink will exhillerate a Man that lives on CornFood to as high a degree as double the quantity will those that feed on Flesh c. which is a good Argument that Corn Food affords the cleanest and finest Nourishment and breeds the best Blood and Humours the Spirits being as it were always upon the Wing and consequently apter to be moved The Complexion of Fish and Flesh is Cold and Phlegmatick but whilst living they are for the most part of a hot lively-brisk Temperament each according to its Nature and the Food they live on But when the great Powers of Life are destroyed by the baneful stroak of the Butcher all the airy brisk Vertues bid the Corpâ— adue and the whole Mass becomes a lump of a sad Melancholick Nature and Operation what Notions soever some have to the contrary The True and most Natural Method of Preparing the forementioned Pottage Gruels and Paps made of Flower Pease c. TAke one Ounce of Wheatâ— flower which is a small Spoonful make a Point of Water near boyling hot temper your Flower with 3 or 4 Spoonfuls of cold Water then stir it into your hot Water keep it stirring on your Fire till it boyls up then it is at the thickest and is compleatly prepared add some Salt and a few crums of Bread letting it stand till it be almost cold this makes an excellent Meal for any Child from five or six years of Age to ten or twelve Or you may make it thus Take an Onion cut it 〈◊〉 boyl it in your Water a few minutes then add your temper'd Flower as before seasoning it with Salt and some Crums of Bread this eats very pleasant and is very satisfactory to the Stomach Onions are very wholsom in Pottages and Gruels they naturally warm and open the Obstructions of the Brest and Ureters and are not prejudicial to the Head nor Eyes when temperately used Another TAke two Ounces of Flower beaten or mixed with cold Water stir this into one Pint and a half of hot Water till it boyls up adding Salt and a little Bread and those that have no Bread may boyl an Onion in the Water before the Flower is put in this eaten makes a brave noble Exhillerating Meal for a Man which costs little more than one Farthing notwithstanding Corn is at such a high Price after this manner you may make what quantity you please thicker or thinner as it agrees best with you thick is best for strong Healthy People and for such as Labour thin is more advantagious for sick People or such as are troubled with foul Stomachs and obstructed Ureters a mean or middle sort is most proper for those that are of a soft Imployment or live a Sedentary Life Oatmeal Pottage TAke a Quart of Water make it boyling hot then take a large Spoonful of small or ground Oatmeal or somewhat better than a Spoonful temper it with cold Water then set it on your Fire till it begins to boyl up then brew it again and it is done add Salt and a little Bread letting of it stand till it be almost cold with this alone a Man may make as good a Meal as with all the Varities the four Elements afford for it renders the common Eater thereof strong lively and healthful Or you make it thus if it be for a Meal without other things make your Water boyling hot then take an Onion and some Pot-Herbs let your Herbs and Onions boyl a little time in your Water before you brew or stir the tempered Oatmeal after which you must stir your Oatmeal in till it boyl up or begins to boyl then it is done adding Salt and Bread this a most pleasant and wholsome Pottage and very nourishing but such as loves it plain may have it so and others that will have it with Pot-Herbs without an Onion may please themselves it 's a brave Food whether with or without Herbs But give me leave to tell you that for such as live only on such Flowered or
double refined Sugar half an Ounce of Mirrh and mix them well together Use it thus First wash your Ulcer with Rain Water very clean dropping some of the forementioned Spirits into your Ulcer then apply this Poultis following Take one Quart of Rain Water Parsley Mint and Balm of each a like Quantity cut small two Ounces of good Sugar as much Bread as will make it of a fit Consistency for a Poultis make it boyilng hot stirring it all the time then put a Glass of Wine Sider Ale or good Beer into it lay this Poultis on every three Hours always washing it with the Rain Water and Spirits If this Method be observed it will Cure almost to a Miracle To Cure Gaul's or the Skin being rubbed off by any accident Take Spirit of Wine and Vinegar mix it well together wash your Sore every Hour for a Day or two laying on it a Diaculum Plaister This will heal and Cure the most inveterate Gaul in a few Days time An Excellent Poultis to Cure Sore Breast's Take one Quart of Rain or River Water some Sorrel cut small half an Ounce of Coriander Seed beaten to Powder two Ounces of good brown Sugar as much Bread as will make it into a Poultis make it Boyling hot stirring it all the time then it is done Apply this every Hour or every two Hours as warm as your Blood on a Linnen Cloath for two or three Days more or less as you see occasion and remember to wash your Breast with good Water and fresh Butter beaten together every time you apply the Poultis and you need not doubt but with God's Blessing the Cure will be Effected in a short time A rare Poultis to allay all Swellings or Contusions in any part of the Body Take one quart of Rain or River Water Rosemary and Balm cut small two Ounces of Sugar a Glass of Wine Sider Ale or good Beer as much good Bread as will make it into a Poultis make it boyling hot stirring of it all the while then it is done Lay this pretty thick on a Linnen Cloath as warm as your Blood every Hour or at least every two Hours for a Day two or three according to the occasion washing of it well with Spirit of Wine wherein Sugar is disolved This is a safe and secure remedy Another excellent Poultis to Disolve Ripen and Cure any Rising Swelling or Boyl in the Flesh viz. Take white Lilly Roots good Figgs boyl them soft in River or Rain Water then Temper them together add as much Bread as will make it thick enough for a Poultis add to this one Ounce of white Sugar and half an Ounce of Carrâ—way Seeds beaten to Powder stir them all together on the Fire till they are boyling hot then it is done Apply this Poultis every Hour washing the Grieved part with Ale and Sugar every time you lay the Poultis on this is a Noble Poultis and is likewise good to cure sore Breasts applyed as abovesaid The best Spirit of Scurvygrass is made Thus. Take the Leaves of Scurvygrass some Horse-Redish-Roots Scrapt small put this into a Glass or Earthen Vessel put to it as much strong double Spirit of Wine as will cover it stop this Vessel close and let it stand three Days and three Nights then Pour it off into Glass Bottles when settled you may put it into other Bottles and then it is fit for use This is called The plain Spirit of Scurvygrass and it is the best that is made you may take in a Morning of this Spirit from 60 to 80. or 90. Drops in good Water Beer Ale or Wine fasting two or three Hours after it then eat some of our Gruel with Bread How you may make this plain Spirit of Scurvygrass into a purging Spirit Take one Quart of this plain Spirit put into it one Ounce of Rozin of Scamony and half an Ounce of Rozin of Jallop both beaten to Powder let it stand one week andâ— then it will be fit for your use Take 50 60. or 80. Drops of this in a Glass of Ale Beer or Wine Drink plentifully of our thin Gruel after it staying within it will purge you very well and not gripe or but very little An Excellent Drink against the Stone Gravel and other Obstructions Take Scurvygrass Leaves the Seeds of Dorcas some Horse-Redish-Scrapt put them in an Earthen Vessel and then add as much White-wine as will cover the Herbs Seed and Roots let them stand five Days and Nights then pour it off and keep it in Glass Bottles it will continue good four or five weeks Take a Sack Glass of this and a like quantity of Water every Morning fast two Hours and then Drink at least a Quart of our thin Water-Gruel either of the cold or hot The constant use of this is not only a prevention and Cure but it moves most sorts of obstructions of the Stomack begets appetite Generates good Blood causing it to circulate freely How to purge by Herbs and Foods When you are minded to purge your self with both ease and safety and to preserve your Health then observe the following Method viz. In the Morning drink a Quart of our thin Water-gruel either the cold or the hot Eat a small piece of Bread with it at dinner take Spinnage Lettis Onions parsley and Sage wash them and Eat plentifully of them with your Food be it what it will at night Drink a like quantity of Gruel and Eat some good Bread as you did in the Morning this you must do for four or five or six Days together more or less as you see Occasion the like Method you are to observe If you would purge your self with Carrots Turnips and Parsnips as you did with Herbs with this Variation viz. Drink your Gruel and Eat your Bread Mornings and Nights and at Dinner Eat only Carrots Parsnips or Turnips boyled only in good Water and Eat them freely with no other thing but a little Salt and Bread during these several Days you may Purge your self to what degree you please Another way to Purge by Food 's and Drinks Drink in the Morning at several times three Pints or two Quarts of thin Watergruel at Dinner drink a Pint or a Quart at Night drink a Quart more and Eat some Bread This Method will Purge or at least will keep your Body open let your Foods at Dinner be what it will the Body being kept open and cool doth prevent and Cure Various Diseases in hot costive constitutions An excellent Poultis against the Headach Pain in the Side also a rare Remedy against the disease called St. Anthonies Fire Take Sage Parsley and Balm of each a like quantity cut small one Quart of Rain or River Water one Pint of Whitewine three Ounces of white Sugar two Ounces of Coriander Seed beaten as much good Bread as will make it fit for a Poultis mix them and stir them over the Fire till they are boyling hot then it is done
innocent ways of God and Nature and through his Free-will hath awakened the dark wrathful powers in himself which have more Affinity with the Beastial Nature than with Herbs or Fruits For the Beasts are endued with the very same Passions in all respects as Men if it had not been so the Commandment had not been so strict against eating of Flesh for the Radix of Beasts and Men have a greater Affinity And the more ignorant and sottish People are the more they desire to eat Flesh and the more Flesh they eat the more Sottish Ignorant and Brutish they become Also the more the dark poysonous Wrath of God and Nature is stirâ—ed up and the more it does predominate in Man the more doth Man desire Food that hath a proportionable Nature From this very ground it is that some sorts of Creatures esteem'd Unclean whose predominant quality stands in the Wrath of Nature do so much desire unclean Food because it hath unity with their Natures the very same is to be understood of those Creatures which we call clean they do as much on the contrary desire clean Food viz. Fruits and Herb because such things have the nearest Affinity with their Natures and if Men had not departed from the Innocent ways of God and Nature and suffer their Wills to enter into the Wrath and Beastial Nature they would not so much desire Flesh for Flesh cannot be eaten without violence done to Nature for the Lives of all Beasts are as sweet to them and they as much desire to continue them as Men do and as unwillingly part with them And the Groanings of these Creatures that suffer Oppression and Pain do awaken the Wrath in them that do it which is a certain Retaliation or Reward for all kind of Cruelty does stir up and awaken the Wrath of God in Nature and so on the contrary all Love and Concord does powerfully beget its likeness Doth not every evil word which does proceed and is formed from the Principle of Wrath and Pâ—ssioâ— carry the power of its Principle with it and awaken its Simile in those to whom such words are directed On the contrary do not soft and pleasant words pacifie Wrath by awakening their Simile Every Principle and Property in Nature must have its own Food or else it loseth its Power and Strength Mens coveting to eat so much Flesh is too plain a sign that they are departed from that Innocent and Simple Life for which they were made and entered into the contrary for if the Wrath of God in Nature were not awakened beyond its proper degree and did not predominate over the Simple Innocent Life then People would no more desire Flesh than our Holy Ancestors in the first Ages of the World It is a token we are in AEgypt when we hanker so much after the Flesh pots As long as Men were partakers of and followers of the true knowledge of God's Works and lived in the simple path of Nature which led to Health and long Life Herbs and Fruits were in as great esteem as Flesh is now It was a shame in former Ages for a Man to be seen to buy Flesh or to have carried it openly in the Streets of Cities but now the best Citizens count it the contrary and make nothing to go openly to the Flesh-Markets in their Plush-Coats and load a Porter two or three time a Week with the Spoils of their Slaughtered Fellow-creatures and if a Man comes to their Houses after Dinner there he may behold a very unpleasant sight viz. Greasy-Platters Bloody-Bones and pieces of fat flesh lie up and down the Kitchin thereby rendered next door to a Slaughter-House And this Trade is drove every day in the Week but more â—specially on the day they call their Sabbath tho'in truth they do not make it so but rather a day of Feasting a day wherein they bury the dead Bodies of Slaughtered Beasts and a day on which our English Belly-Slaves and Gluttons make their Servants do more work than any other day of the Week as to dressing of Food And day likewise whereon most People Cloath themselves in all their Bravery and the Women go to Church to take notice who has the finest Cloathes and the newest fashions c. but why do I blame the Women the Men have been the occasion of all this and much more If those of each Sex did hearken to the Voice of God and Nature they would forsake such sinful Vanities and not thus seek Death in the Error of their Lives I have drawn the Curtain and given them a brief view of Natures School wherein the Sons of Wisdom learn to obey her Dictates and by their prudent Conduct and Temperance avoid those many torturing Diseases of Body and distracting perturbations of Mind to which the rest of the World necessarily enslave themselves 〈◊〉 their perverse folly What I have delivered is the very Doctrine of Nature approved by Religion justified by Reason and confirmed by Experience Those that wilfully slight so many Monitors will scarce deserve Pity in their Misery CHAP. III. I. Of Cleanness in Food WHat is more profitable for all Lovers of Health and Wisdom than Food that is Radically Clean And as Bread hath deservedly the first place together with Herbs and various sorts of excellent Fruits so the next is Milk which of it self is a brave mild and most friendly Food to Nature very fit and profitable for all Ages and Complexions and if it do not agree with some People it is because their Stomachs are made sharp and sowred by superfluity of dainty Food and the continual use of strong Drink Also Milk being altered it makes many sorts of wholesom healthy Food Next to these are various sorts of Flesh which being killed in their proper Times and Seasons and when they are free from their Uncleannesses Surfeits and other Inconveniences which most Beasts are subject to and if care be taken also that they be well and moderately seasoned with Salt and boyled in plenty of River of Spring-water which is the best of all Waters except Rain-water they become wholesom Nourishâ—â—nt For River-water hath the advantage of running through various sorts of Earth by which it sucks into it self a fat oyly and saline Quality which the Surface of the Earth does plentifully afford which also is the cause of all Vegitation and the lovely Green Colour which all Vegetables are cloth'd with does arise from this Saline Quality For these Reasons River-water will Brew Boil and Wash and it is more profitable in all Uses in Houswifery than Spring or pump-Pump-water and far wholesomer for Men and Beasts to drink Also your Vessel in which your Food is boiled ought to be uncovered all the time it boils for if the Air have not its free egress and regress the pure Spirits in the Food become as it were suffocated and then the Food so prepared becomes dull and heavy for the Air is the Essential Life of the Spirit and all
Food that hath not plenty of Water and the free Influences of the Air in its Preparation does certainly lose its natural Colour with the pure Smell and Taste For if those three Qualities be not preserved in all Preparations of Food then the genuine Vertue and lively Tinctutes are in part lost The same is to be observed in all Physical Operations And if the above-mentioned Order be not observed then the Food is not so pleasant to the Palate nor so easie of Concoction it lies heavy in the Stomach dulling and stupifying the Senses it generates a gross Nourishment and bad Blood whence does proceed many Diseases Whereas if the above-mentioned Rules be observed and your Fire quick that your Food do not stand still or cease from boiling till it be sufficiently done the Effects are contrary It is also much better the Food should be a little under-prepared than too much For when the gross phlegmatick Body of any Food is by Preparation digested then presently the lively spirituous Quality is set at liberty whence does proceed a most pleasant Smell and Taste which pleasant Quality before the Preparation lay hid or captivated in the Body of Phlegm but so soon as this Phlegmatick Body is in part dâ—troyeâ— the Spirit becomes Volatile and then if the Preparation be continued those pure Spirits do either become suffocated or evaporate and then the sweet Balsamick Body turns as it were sowr For these Reasons all sorts of Food either over-prepared or twice prepared are of a strong fulsome taste and smell as all Meats heat again and also Pottages and all such things do obstruct Nature and generate many Diseases But if the forementioned Rules be observed the Food so prepared is not only more pleasant to the Palate but far lighter of Digestion and breeds better Blood For that Universal Distemper the Scurvy which reigns so much in England is chiefly caused by Food ill prepared and the eating of too much Flesh and Fat things especially in the improper Seasons of the Year viz. from Iuly to the last of November In this Season the Sun which is the true Life and Power of all things declines and all sorts of Herbage which is the Food of all Beasts that are generally eaten doth the same The Grass all this Season is fraught with a gross Phlegmatick Matter besides it is a fainty hot time the Air which is the Cherishing Life of all things is more gross and full of Humidity than all other times of the Year the Spirits of all sorts of Creatures are also weak and on any Accidents are quickly wounded or evaporated more especially those Beasts that come from remote Parts to great Cities Besides it is then the principal time of their Generating which renders them unclean Are not the People tenfold as sickly in this Season and double the number die than they do at other times Also you may observe That the Rots amongst Sheep and Murrains that attend other Beasts are all or most of them in this Season Therefore all sorts of People ought to be more careful of their Health both in Exercises Meats and Drink that they do not exceed either in quantity nor eat things that are improper in quality This is the time that all Shepherds and also those that are Drivers of Horses and indeed all that have the Government of Cattel ought to have and use double the Prudence in the Management of them than at other Seasons of the Year as I have more largely discoursed in a small Treatise of the â—â—â—servation of Sheep from the Rot and Horses from Surfeits There are three Marks by which every one may know whether the Flesh be good The first is by its pure White and brisk Red Colour when Raw. The second is by its continuing its firmness being plump or swelled when boiled having a brisk and lively Taste and that after eating it feels easie and pleasant in the Stomach The third is by its taking Salt well for if your Flesh be free from Heat and Surfeits and not over-fed which chargeâ— the body with gross Phlegm as also if it be not kept longer after it is killed as indeed it ought not than it be thought to be cold before it is salted all such Flesh will take Salt greedily and it will not only keep longer from Putrifaction but it will eat much sweeter and breed better Nourishment For if any sort of Cattel be over-fed surfeited or any other Inconveniency attends them and they be killed before they have recovered themselves of those Injuries or if it le in August September or October this Flesh will not take Salt so well as the former neither will the Saltpreserve it half so long from Corruption Also as it is before-mentioned if Flesh 〈◊〉 kept too long after it be killed such Flesh will not receive Salt into it as other will which is salted as soon as it is cold For by keeping it does certainly lose its pure Spirituous Quality so that the Body becomes heavy gross and dull Does not the Life and Spirits of most sorts of Food waste and evaporâ—te by keeping if there be not a proper way of Preservation used If Flesh by any Inconveniences have lost its pure lively Spirits and Vertue Salt then hath no power to preserve such Flesh from Putrifaction For Salt cannot preserve the Body from Corruption but by vertue of the pure subtil Spirits which are a pleasant Habitation for the Salt to incorporate it self with For Salt will not preserve Flesh from Putrifaction any longer than the Vertue and Power of the Spirit does continue as it does appear by all salted Flesh and Fish For through length of time the Spirits become either suffocated or evaporated and then it presently falls into Purtifaction And yet this same Flesh does still contine Salt for Salt does not destroy and pâ—â—ge the Flesh from its Corruption but incorporates it self with the Essential Spirits and those two do as it were tye or hold the corrupt part Captive till the Spirit and Life of the Flesh be spent or wasted and then the Flesh falls into Putrifaction which cannot be recovered either by salting or any other Art to its first state But if the Salt had purged or destroyed the Humidity and gross part then there would have been no Room nor Matter for Putrifaction and then it would have continued firm and found as many other things do which are freed from that gross humid Matter from which Putrifaction does proceed Therefore Flesh is naturally the most unclean of all Food is being of a gross Phlegmatick Nature and if Care be 〈◊〉 taken Order and Temperance observed in the Eater it generates abâ—ndance of crude and noxious Humours 2. Cleanness in Houses especially in Beds is a great Preserver of Health Now Beds for the most part stand in Corners of Chambers and being ponderous close Substances the refreshing Influences of the Air have no power to penetrate or destroy the gross Humidity that all