well disposed A. Taste then of this seasoned broth P. The too great quantitie of such brothes makes the meate to floate in the stomacke they loose it and take from it appetite engendering much humiditie from whence diuers infirmities doe flow and therfore they which vse dry meates liue longest so the body be not too dry and moist of it selfe A. This meate delights me much certainely P. The sweeter it is the more easily it digests for the stomacke embraceth it with more facillitie A. This meate is very eager and tart P. Your sharpe and stiticke meates doe obstruct and binde engendring melancholicke bloud and those eager and tart generate melancholy they hurt the neruious members and hereupon cause vs quickely to grow old A. But how should I know good meat and discerne it from bad P. It consists in this if it be light of small proportions of good iuyce that it descends in a short time into the stomacke that it readily digests that it generates good bloud and these be they that haue a tender substance which is easily dissolued as egges the flesh of birds chickens and such like the which to tell you true please me very much A. But I pray you tell me one thing sir must the same rules be obserued both by the sicke and the sound P. He that is sound and healthfull must vse meates conformable to his complexion but sicke men require meates of a contrarie qualitie because to an humide temperature we apply dry meates and to the dry humide nourishments and therefore humide meats are good for children and for those that are brought downe by some dry infirmities as Febricitantes and they that are very sanguine must auoid hot and humide meates or which engender much bloud and cholericke and sanguine complexions those which are sweete as hony sugar butter and nuts but vinegar and veriuyce stands well with them as also the sharpnesse of Lemonds Cytrons and Pomegranates A. Out alas how full this meate is of pepper and other spices it euen inflames and sets me on fire P. Passe it ouer gentle sir for the truth is exceeding in caliditie it enflames the bloud as doth also Sage Garlicke wild Mynt pepper and other such like but to qualifie a little the caliditie of those meates you haue taken downe will you please to eate a little of these cold cates A. Sure I take hot meates to be better for the body then cold P. Except vpon this occasion euery hot meate questionlesse it better then cold especially in Winter the actuall caliditie of the meats temporing the coldnes of the drinke although as formerly was said wee must alwayes auoid that most hot as also because hunger is a desire of hot and dry things and therefore it alwayes desires hot meates euen as on the other side thirst being an appetite of cold and humide things it requires things cold and humide A. I thinke I were better to drinke a little P. Obserue well sir for in the cold and moist Winter you must as heretofore I told you eate much and drinke little but let the beere be strong but so in Summer which is hot and dry little meate sufficeth but then you must drinke more then in Winter but then drinke must not be so strong The Spring time requires a little lesse meate then the Winter but more drinke and so in Autumne lesse drinke and more meate A. Will it please you sir that I should be your caruer in somewhat P. Doe not trouble your selfe sir I will boldly take that which likes my selfe A. If you doe not you shall doe your selfe and me great wrong What dost thou What do you Why gaze you round about Reach him a plate or a cleane trencher The better to excite appetite will you please sir to eate of this sallet compounded of sundry and choise hearbes P. To tell you the truth all hearbes are of little nourishment of bad and thinne iuyce and very watrish with much superfluitie whereof if a man doe eate yet he must eate but in small quantitie A. This rule pleaseth the English man but it displeaseth the Italian P. But they nourish the better if they be sodden in broth especially in Winter during which wee ought onely to vse hot hearbs that neuer seeded for in such a season they are best A. But for those that somtimes eate of them how shall they gouerne themselues in them B. They must be eaten at the beginning of your meate because all of them in a manner make the belly soluble A. Behold I eate of the Sorrell which I haue chosen from that sallet P. Your house Sorrell is better then the wilde it digests opens and cuts besides it brings an acceptable taste to the other hearbes it helps very much pestilentiall and burning feauers it slakes and extinguisheth the heate of Choler quencheth thirst resists putrefaction excites appetite and stayes fluxes the iuyce thereof with that of Orenges doth in Summer season and sauce both flesh and fish and stirreth vp appetite his iuyce in Syrrope his water distilled the concoction thereof and it selfe raw eaten with bread remoueth the irkesomenesse of the stomacke and vomitation it breakes and expels grauell and the seede thereof drunke with wine preuailes against poisons stayes dissenteries preserues and frees from the plague and finally it is a most excellent remedie for all infirmities of the breast A. But is it possible that where there is so great vertue there should not be some vice also P. It nourisheth little it subiecteth his body to stitches that vseth it too much it is hurtfull for melancholicke men and exasperates the stomack and it ought onely to be vsed in hot seasons and by young men or of the cholericke and sanguine complexion and in hot infirmities A. In troth I haue eaten a little Marioram P. The greater or lesse Marioram whethersoeuer which is called Parsley vsed with meates strengtheneth the stomacke abstergeth and mundifieth it driues downeward choler and flegme with the odour thereof it comforts the braine helps persons hydropicall as also it is good for the strangurie and gripings of the belly for prolonged menstrues the Marioram which is the lesse Marioram is much more preualent A. Well sir seeing you like not this sallet yet I pray you eate of the Sparage P. I am well content to tast of that it nourisheth more then any other kinde of hearbe besides it benefiteth the stomacke purgeth the breast mollifies the bodie prouokes vrine increaseth genetiue seed cleanseth the reynes from sand mittigateth both the griefe of them and of the loynes but if they be eaten in ouer great quantitie they doe make women barren with some other few accidents A. Why how doe you thinke they should be sodden P. They must be boiled and then you must cast away the first water or decoction for so they will abate of their bitternes then season them with oyle salt pepper and with the iuyce of Orenges with a little Wine-vineger If they be
all this doe not cease let him prouoke himselfe to a vomit A. In your opinion a man may vse it after fruits P. No sir not in any great quantitie because it accelerates too much the penetration of the euill humour to the members but yet drinking thereof in small quantitie it corrects the malignant qualitie of meates A. But what say you to the vsing of diuers wines at one and the selfe same table P. Why let them drinke the small first and in the end the stronger wines so comforting the mouth of the stomacke and ayding digestion but by how much the more grosse cold that the meate is by so much the more you ought to drinke the stronger wine after it but if your meate be hot sleight and digestible you must vse the weake and smaller wine and regularly he that drinkes much wine must content himselfe with the lesse meat Nature being hardly able to digest both the one and other A. But whether iudge you to be best that which is naturally small or that which is made small with water P. That made with water is best because the other easily putrifies moreouer wee must obserue that they which dwell in cold countryes and are otherwise of a cold complexion may drinke the strongest wines but yet lesse in Summer and more in Winter and finally Plato said that wine should be denied to children not to adde fire to fire to young men it may be permitted moderately and largely to those in yeeres and this diuine discourse hauing caused in mee a great drought or thirst honest friend if you please reach mee a cuppe of wine A. If he please ah sure sir if it stood with you as he pleased you should be in an euill case P. God blesse me is it possible A. He loues a stranger as a dog loues a bone a cat a dog or a Wolfe a lambe P. And yet I daily see many seruants who besides their naturall modestie doe also loue other nations A. You two iumpe together in Antithesis beleeue me hee is not of that race looke in his countenance P. Me thinkes he hath both a body members and countenance very well proportioned I would iudge he should be the like in his minde also A. All Philosophicall rule failes in him before me he carrieth his head low he brings forth his words in measure and speaketh by ballance P. It is a signe of great wisedome A. Know you not that fained goodnesse is double deceit P. I know it not except I feele it A. I know it very well but all his fraud doth little good with me P. To iudge with discretion was neuer any errour A. If you did but see him after I haue once turned my back how negligent he is in my profit and in what sort he vseth to glut and panch himselfe euery one that knowes him would auoid acquaintance with him P. You must employ him in some office A. An idle nature commonly proues good for nothing know you not his fatall name it is Asmodeus P. Peraduenture hee was produced by chance and not by destinie A. If he were not so by destinie yet hath hee made himselfe such an one by habite I am no sooner gone out or that I cannot heare or see or crosse him in his way but that presently changing himselfe into Ansima he begins to brabble and braule with others P. Peraduenture it is not without some occasion A. To the purpose sodainly they agree together then is hee transformed into a flye-bitten generall absurd and disordered lust P. We are all flesh A. So it is but yet hee in my presence with fained hypocrisie faineth himselfe a Saint and shewes and declares that Peter Anthonie and Martin or else more willingly some stranger is drowned in all vice making no conscience to paint him forth for such a one as he is but whilst that hee falsely defameth others he doth manifestly shew himselfe to be infamous P. A false wicked tongue stinkes of an hereticall conscience but what then A. Furthermore when I am once gone forth without any delay romaging both aboue and below for to shew himselfe a louing one with lust with his head lift vp sobbing hee goes nieghing and gadding sometimes to one and other whiles to another of the freshest and fairest wenches neither doth he euer stay whiles hauing brought her too neare to his bent which he onely expects he graspe with her to slake his fury and so consenting with one or another but first quipping grinning smiling and ieasting with Asinine gestures without being thrown one vpon another at last falling of themselues in manner of a crosse they ducke together and yet forsooth the loose not nor diminish not the least iot of the fame title and name of virgins or of honest maides for by fauour of dishonestie all defend it for honestie and dishonestie makes vse of honestie onely for a cloake or mantle P. Is he peraduenture a true friend A. Demaund of the host whether he hath good wine he holds a kinde of Aristocraty ouer women P. Of what house is he A. He is the Apocripha and Apocripho of gurmondize the keeper of lust and the arch-type of hypocrisie P. He is but young and may mend P. Oh sir beleeue me for I doe not erre such as a man is borne such an one a man must dye the more you beate an Anuill the more blacke it is P. Yet with time blowes it consumes it is otherwise with man A. Change ah oftentimes vse and rust first consumes it but if he change he changeth when vices doe leaue him no Apologie preuailes with him P. I doubt that being so well apparrelled as hee is hee is your speciall fauourite and therfore it pleaseth you out of affection to ieast with him A. My giuing him apparrell of silke and cloakes lined with veluet is an expresse signe of my folly and the onely cause of his insolencie and carelesnesse P. May I beleeue that he hath such a blind base and ingratefull minde that he growes proud of his owne miserie wearing of other mens cloathes and vsuall liueries hee may easilie discerne if hee hath any wit that herein he weares a visible bridle of his owne pride and manifest marke and a continuall memoriall of his abiect estate and how much the more he receiueth so much the more he is bound otherwise he should be vngratefull to his Benefactor A. When hee sees himselfe well appointed like another foolish creature of lesse wit then a Peacocke not looking downe to his feete or of his basenesse he is so puffed vp and lifts vp his hornes as beginning wholy to Lord it hee winckes at the maides and women of the house I say be it as it will be he blusheth to follow me to doe seruile businesses but onely like a maister commaund ouer and sit in the first place and as a great ignorant is not worthy to sit in the lowest place being full of ignorance and of all vice he
digested they are corrected with the seed of Ameos but yet they are enemies to cold and moist complexions and to old men A. Will you not then taste of them P. Oh it does me good euen to touch them A. Why see then how strawburies are ready to supply their place P. They are cold in the first and dry in the second degree if they be red very ripe of good odor and growing in Gardens they slake the heate and sharpnesse of the bloud they quench the feruour of choler refresh the Lyuer remoue thirst prouoke vrine and excite appetite but that which is the excellentest secret their wine dryes vp the red pimples of the face and being applyed to the eyes cleares the sight washing therewith the filmes of them it scoures the skinne of the countenance and takes away meazels Their fruits stay dissenteries womens fluxes and help the milt the decoction of their leaues and rootes being drunke doth greately ease the inflamation of the Lyuer and mundifies the â—eynes and the bladder The distilled water of Strawburies stayes the fluxe of bloud in all parts but yet they hurt those subiect to tremblings to paralitickes and to the griefe of the nerues their wine will make one drunke and they that eate them in any abundance fall into malignant Feauers because they corrupt in the stomack and also generate corrupt humours But being first well cleansed and washed in white wine and then strowed ouer with sugar in Summer they are good for cholericke men Sanguineans and hot stomackes so they be eaten in small quantitie before other meates A. But you shall not denie me or at least doe such iniury to the Melon as not to taste of it P. If it were of good odour and exquisite sauour very pleasing to the taste new and ripe I would willingly eate of it but me thinkes it hath no sent at all where grew it in England out alas it stinckes I pray you keepe it for some Mare for I will none of it by any meanes the sight of it onely makes me ready to cast A. And yet they say Albinus the Emperour was so delighted with them that one euening he did eate an hundred peaches of Campania and Melons of Ostia the which in those dayes were the most commendable P. If they were of the sweetnesse they are of in many places and in a manner ouer all Italie I could with all my heart follow his example or rather mine owne taste for besides that they refresh they doe cleanse the body prouoke vrine quench thirst excite appetite and they that eate them in any abundance are secured from the stone and grauell but yet they procure ventositie and paine in the belly they easily conuert into those humours that they meete withall in the stomacke and by reason of their frigiditie they hardly digest whereupon they excite vomite cholericall fluxes and easily corrupting they generate malignant Feauers and meazels They may be corrected by being eaten fasting with good old cheese and salted things drinking very good wine after them and then afterwards eating other meates of good substance but they greatly hurt melancholick and flegmaticke men A. So if I be not deceiued you will none of them P. No not of these artificiall ones and besides I did eate so many of them in my youth throughout all the parts of Italie as I now giue them a perpetuall valete A. That which is here before you sir be it what it will remaineth at your seruice no wayes to molest except it may please and content you and therefore doe as you thinke good but doe you marke sir what a sweet ayre this is P. The aire is more necessarie then any thing else for the preseruation of bodily health A. You speake but truth because the life of all creatures hauing neede of continuall refreshment of hart which is obtained by a daily inspiration of the aire and all other things may be auoyded but this cannot for as respiration cannot be seperated from life no more can life be seperated from respiration P. Who knowes not that oftentimes and for some good space we may liue without meates but so can we not any time at all without ayre for it alwayes enters in by the chaps and from the lights flyes to the hart to refresh it A. It being then of so great importance vvee will inioy this serenitie in turning towards the East not corrupted by the fogs nor vapours of lakes stands marrishes caues durt nor dust for by reason of the dustie aire amongst the people Garamantes they hardly liue to fortie yeeres of age P. Neither neede wee to doubt of the cold aire either North or South or that of the night nor of that which proceeds from the vapours of nut trees or vnder the beames of the Moone neither of that turbulent grosse blustring or corrupted aire rising from putrefaction or anything else A. If it were so it would questionles be very hurtfull for it would make heauy the heart offend the animall spirits with too much humiditie loosing the ioynts and making them ready to take in all superfluities P. Let vs therefore while we may enioy this temperatâ— aire and so I take it to be when it refresheth at the Sunne going downe and heates at Sunne rising and such aire as this is I suppose to be very beneficiall for euery complexion sexe and age A. Questionlesse I reioyce much to enioy this pure cleare and temperate aire it procuring health clarifying the spirits and the blood chearing vp the heart and the minde corroborating all actions causing digestion in all the members preseruing temperature and prolonging life the contrary to all which aboue-named qualities bad ayre effects for it changeth our bodies more then any thing else and corrupts them P. But I pray you tell me onely to passe the time how would you correct such an aire in subtilizing and dissoluing the grosse and slimie humours thereof A. Why with a fire in the roome of sweete wood as of Laurell Rosemarie Cypresse wood Iuniper Oake Pine Furre Larix tree or else I would make a Pomander wherof I would smell both day and night taking halfe a dramme of saffron halfe a scruple of orient Amber of Muske one dramme of Steraxe Calamite and of Laurell and Anna one scruple dissoluing them in Malmesie and as I said before I would make of them a Pomander P. I thinke a man may better preserue himselfe from bad aire with a good breath as keeping Treacle Mithridrate or the confection of Alchermes in his mouth or rubbing his teeth with Zâ—loaria chewing Angelica or by taking it fasting in conserues A. And I haue tryed that in time of the plague it is excellent to 〈◊〉 in ones hand or to swell on a ball of very good Saxiâ—age that grew in a hot countrie and the ball being hollow within may haue a piece of sponge steeped in good rose-water and excellent rose-vinegar defending the stomacke and the breast with a Lambe or an Hares
the Hart is very cordiall it resists poysons and hereupon they put it in treacles but yet neuerthelesse Harts flesh generates grosse and melancholicke humour it is difficult to digest hurts paralitickes those subiect to tremblings and quartane febricitants but it is best for palsies especially in winter and the haunch is the best part A. I cannot containe but that I must needes eate of this Hare or Leueret P. Shee is called Lepus for the lightnesse of her feete and swiftnesse of her running A. These armes were giuen her by Diuine prouidence and Nature together P. The selfe same Saint Paul shewed to be the onely meanes to auoid carnall sinne which was to flye swift from it when he said fugite fornicationem And Petrarch saith the flight alone the hope of a good end A. Out of question it is taken seeing wee doe nothing else but vnder shew of kindred or pretended businesse or visitations to no end or purpose of friends in carnall lust apparrelled with hipocrisie with other meanes deuised by sensuall libertie beleeued of the foolish authenticated by common libertie or rather enormious abuse permitted by such consciences in the cleare day and darke night in euery hole in euery corner as well in publicke as in priuate with particular discoursings touchings and other such like actions framed in the Forge of Cupid to be alwayes in company of women our mistresses and they with vs so as it is now a greater wonder when we are without them or they without vs then when we are with them or they with vs. P. Euery body workes for his merit or demerit let the world follow what it pleaseth in the meane while let vs follow our swift legged Hare if not in auoiding the danger at least in enioying his flesh and knowing the vertues thereof it is dry in the second and hot in the beginning of the first degree It is the better if it be young and taken by hunting in the Winter and let the flesh be nipt with the bright cold of a cleare frosty night Your Leuerets are sweetest acceptable to the stomacke and it must be boiled in water wine and sage or roasted with sage and cloues or else by a former parboyling to make them afterwards into Pasties they are good for those that are too grosse they bring a good colour into the countenance Moreouer the bloud of an Hare fryed and eaten helpes a dissentery intestinall impostumes old fluxes it breakes the stone of the reyne and bladder the braines of them roasted helpes the trembling of the members the Hare renit drunke with vinegar easeth the falling sicknes a bath made with the broth thereof helpes goutie men but so it digests slowly breedes grosse bloud restraineth the bellie causeth vs to sleepe with irkesome dreames causeth melancholy and yeelds no good nourishment but yet it may be corrected with lard or some other kind of fat and with many aramaticall spices A. Why how now what grosse flesh is that I beleeue it is of a Ramme P. I thinke not so because it is like to that of a Goate which because it is of no vertue nor goodnesse is banished from all honourable tables as likewise that of the sheepe is which doth little good and hurts much Neuerthelesse I beleeue that your Butchers often sell this for mutton and the Buls or Cowes flesh as old as a Cuckoe for tender and yong oxe and the better to imbarke it in ships with false othes they imbarke their soules in hell the which as they neuer restore their euill gotten gaine so doth it neuer loose them nor those that possesse such goods A. You there take away this dish and set downe that same piece of sty-fed Porcke P. It is hot and moist but the sucking pigge is more moist and your piglins are worst of all let any demy Doctor say what he will but that vhich is neyther too little nor too great is much the better especially it being an hog-pig A. But what is the reason you blame it so much P. Because the euill qualities thereof blame it sufficiently it hurting all tender complexioned it breedes gouts and sciaticaes especially the sucker through his too much viscositie and humiditie it makes many excrements putrifies easily and whatsoeuer it findes in the stomacke it conuerts it into euill humours it causeth great abundance of flegme collicall griefes stones in the reynes and opilations of the Lyuer the tallow loseth the stomacke takes away appetite procures vomite and is easily conuerted into choler and yet it yeeldeth most abundant and commendable nourishment it keepes the body soluble prouokes vrine the dryed bacon thereof excites appetite and being sodden with other flesh it makes them more sauory causeth you to taste your drinke the better and cuts through flegme but of your porkes domesticall sauage or wilde your wilde Bores that liue on the sugar canes in the Iland of S. Thomas are the best to eate A. Here be some kinde of Lyuers I know not whether of the calfe or no but will you taste of them P. Some parts of the beasts are better then other some because the extremities as the necke the feete and the taile in respect of the rest are hard and of little nourishment though they be more sauourie and yet the parts about the wing necke breast and back are best the braines is worst and so the lyuer because it digests slowly and burdens the stomacke But if it be a foure-footed beast and fed with dry figges the Lyuer is most delicate and of excellent nourishment and cureth those that loose their sight vpon the Sunnes going downe that of the Goose worketh the same effect shee being fatted with milke as also that of the henne and of the swine fatted with dryed figges A. Oh how we haue forgot to eate a little milke P. The best is humane or feminine the second that of Kine the third of sheepe the fourth of Goates and the best of all that of Buffles it augments braine fattens helpes Hectickes but more after you haue made a rowell at the end of the necke-hayres of a sicke man that of a shee-Asse it takes away the burning of the vrine it giues the body a faire colour encreaseth lust remoues coughes enlargeth the breast and restoreth those that are in any recouery of a disease and Tisickes by drinking thereof three ounces with a little Sugar put in after the taking of it let him eate nothing nor drinke let him not moue much nor sleepe while it be digested but yet it is hurtfull for agues for the head-ach for the collicall disease for bad eyes for those troubled with the Catarre for the stone for opilations for the teeth and for the gummes but so it may be corrected by infusing thereinto a little salt sugar or honey to the end it may not congeale in the stomacke and we must drinke it fasting marry it hurts old men and those of a weake stomacke but it is good for
your cholericke complexions A. But what is there nothing else to eate this morning while other meates come in giue me here a cup of wine P. Beere pleaseth me as well and besides we are now in England and not in Italie A. Excuse me sir our purses are here as apt to bring forth good wines as are your vallyes and hils in Italie giue him some wine Art thou deafe This fellow stands here onely to fill vp the place like a cypher or else like the signe of a Tauerne or Ale-house or rather like an Easterly winde to heaue and carry away somewhat to gnaw in a corner drinke sir and much good may it doe you P. Me thinkes when I marke it well that wine as diuine hath onely the vertue of making a chearefull and twinckling eye as also inwardly to reuiue the spirit A. Out of question it is a very delicate and sweete liquour by humane nature wine is much desired and imbraced P. Euery thing which nourisheth is meate and this among other things which are drunke nourisheth most cheareth vp the heart restoreth the humour radicall and all the faculties helpeth digestion and generation of bloud cutteth flegme coloureth the members dissolueth ventosities prouoketh sleepe restoreth the extenuated opens opilations heateth a cold heart and cooleth an hot it dries vp humiditie and moistens siccitie and omitting many other vertues it hath in it a most secure sustentation of humane life and hereupon the Ancients called the branch thereof Vitis as it were vita or life and others called it the great Theriacke or treacle A. But among so many sorts as there are of it which commend you most P. That which is cleane pure and cleare which inclines to rednesse and is called in those parts where it growes cerasolo of a mountanous growth and excellent odour the which encreaseth spirit nourishes very wel and begets excellent bloud and being of an acceptable taste it is an excellent remedy for such as are brought downe with the griefe of the heart head or stomacke but then it must neither be too sharp nor too sweet for then it inflames causeth opilations fils the head and the sharpe wine hurts the nerues and the stomack A. Why I pray you as they are all wines haue they not the same Nature P. They are all wines but euen as men are of a sundry and diuers nature so are they likewise of diuers sorts for new wine called muste is hard to digest it offends the Lyuer and intestines puffes vp the belly through his bolition generates ventosities makes vs dreame of terrible things but looseth the belly Old wine the older it is the more mightie it is in heate it hurts a cold complexion but helpes olde and flegmaticke men but hee that vseth it much it will dry vp seede disturbe vnderstanding and hinder sleepe with many other such like inconueniences but sweete new wine is hot and moist temperately in winter it helps yong men and persons collericall and for such as are of a lustie stomacke it comforts the spirits and procures lust which is an enemie to old and flegmaticke men but if it be vnsetled it greatly hurts ripe sweete wine is hot in the second degree and temperately moist the best is that which is most bright and transparent to sight it delights the taste helps the breast and lights and nourisheth much but yet it obstucteth the Lyuer and Milt it fils the head procures thirst generates stones in the reynes and hurts cholericke men very much because it conuerts into choller but it is fit for old men in winter A. But what if it were briske P. Why the briske agresiue sower stipticke and sharp betweene these there is little difference but properly briske wine hardly comes to the first degree of hot and is dry in the second it is good in great heate for the inflamed Lyuer and an Efemera and Diaria Ague it cures fluxes and vomits but it must not be eager nor very tart it helpes colericke men and hot natures but yet it hurts old men and flegmaticks because of the little nourishment it yeelds by reason it restraines the breast excites coughes and in that it causeth neyther good nourishment nor makes good bloud A. But what thinke you of the red wine P. It is hot in the last and first degree for the rest it is temperate when it is thinne cleare and like to a Ruby it nourisheth well makes good bloud takes away the Sincopie and makes pleasing sleepes but the grosser sort of it burdeneth the stomacke hurts the Liuer and Milt causeth opilations it digests slowly the blacke and sweet is more nutritiue and opilatiue and engendreth melancholicke humours the red and pleasant are pectorall the red cleare and quick fretting and cause vrine A. But as for vs who so often vse the white wine what say you thereto P. That which is of Cedar colour odoriferous and strong is hot in the beginning of the second degree and dry in the first it must be aboue a yeare old because it would then be too hot it must be bright and of ripe grapes growing on hill tops It resisteth poysons and putrefactions purgeth the reynes of corrupt humours makes a good colour encreaseth force cheares vp the hart comforts naturall heate prouokes vrine sweate and sleepe helps quartane agues and quotidians comforts the stomacke and being discreetly vsed it is good at all times ages and complexions but so drinking too much thereof it hurts a weake head and members A. I am much delighted with what you haue hitherto related and thus much I gather there-from that wine sometimes doeth good and sometimes hurt but to the end it may not hurt what caution should we vse therein P. The stronger sorr should alwaies be allayed somewhat with vvater and that either with simple water or else with the decoction of Annises or Corianders prepared and the vvater must onely be of such a quantitie as it may allay the heate and euaporation thereof and to the end the commixtion may be the perfecter let the water be mixed an houre before it be druncke but weake wine must by no meanes be watred because it debilitates moystens and generates ventosities one should not drincke wine after dinner or supper before concoction be made for being drunke before it hinders it greatly neither must it be druncke mingled with Snow or Ice because so it hurts the braine nerues lights stomacke intestines milt liuer reynes bladder and teeth but on the contrary it being heated after the manner of the ancient Greekes it wonderfully helpes many infirmities of the breast A. But what doth it to him that drinkes thereof fasting P. It disturbes vnderstanding induceth astonishment much hurts the braine the nerues and the ioynts and fils the head from whence come catarrs but it specially hurts the catarrous and those that are weake of braine and yet hauing druncke too much thereof take sixe or eight graines of mirtle tree and if the griefe for
sanguinous and cholericke complexions A. But what thinke you of this Pike oh God how I like it P. There is little in it to be laughed at and yet you make mee laugh to heare you say you loue it notwithstanding to confirme you it yeelds much nourishment but not very commendable Follow my counsell leaue it but take the iaw therof and burne them till they be brought to meere dust then being drunke in wine to the waight of a dramme they breake the stone A. What say you that in Italie they eate Snayles and Frogs P. God and Nature many times in small things enclose great secrets The Snaile easeth the stomacke and being will prepared is acceptable to the stomacke it nourisheth much it is excellent for Tissickes it slakes the heate of choler and thirst it prouokes sleepe and is excellent for Hicticke Febricitants but yet it is hurtful for flegmaticks and for the stone A. Though it pleaseth not my sight because it is horned nor likes me not as meate yet neuerthelesse the vertues thereof please me well P. Great Frogs being fleaed their heads cut off and afterwards stewed with oyle and salt and then eaten are as a Treacle against the poyson of all Serpents their decoction made with water and vineger helps the paine of the teeth the Leprosie and Spasuraes they are very good for Tissickes and their decoction cures an old cough especially if they be boyled in pullets broth they procure sleepe but that which is more and what by experience I haue seene is that the ashes of their gall drunke with wine to the waight of one dramme cures the quartane Ague and Frogges pestled in the plaister of excellent Vigo is excellent for the French-poxe I will speake nothing of the flesh thereof because it generates putrifying nourishment c. A. Now I remember what I had almost forgotten which is that I often vse Tench P. They nourish much but difficulty digest and their nourishment is very bad because they themselues are nourished in marshes but this is one singular point that they haue that being cut along the backe and applyed to the soales of the feete and pulses they mitigate the heat of the Feauer and abbreuiate it A. There is a toy come into my head to tast of this Tortoise P. It is of great nourishment and very good for all extenuated and Tissicall persons their bloud being drunke easeth the falling euill of the flesh thereof there is made pounces for sicke men to refresh and restore them but yet it generateth grosse bloud and makes one to sleepe much A. The Trout pleaseth my taste very well wherefore not to forget old amitie I will taste of the backe of this reach me that platter there you side Simme This fellow the higher hee is in stature the more foole he growes What looke you after Dost not heare me and where is Mamaluc By how much the moe seruants a man keepes by so much the lesse they doe M. He is gone forth A. It is too great licentiousnesse for a seruant to goe out without leaue if he follow his owne affaires let his owne affaires keepe him Let him not come into the house but after supper and if he lye not this night within to morrow he shall vp with his bed and be gone Sir this Trout very heartily salutes you P. It nourisheth much digests quickly but generateth cold humours and therefore the Lyuer and bloud thereof refresheth wherefore it is good in burning feauers and hot seasons for young men and cholericke persons but it is very bad for old men and flegmatikes A. Take away from me this Fish for the sight of it annoyes me Set fruit on the table P. I doe not stir and yet I am weary In the regiment of health fruits are not very conuenient for nourishment for they nourish little generate putrified bloud and are full of superfluities A. But men vse them for many other benefits P. So I see but that being true which I tell you it followes that we must vse them as little and as seldome as possible for whatsoeuer is taken for Physicke and not for meate must be taken in small quantitie A. But how for medicine P. Because they mitigate choler extinguish the feruencie of bloud refresh and moisten the body and for this effect are to be eaten fasting and after them drinke wine and water to the end the iuyce may sodainely passe into the veynes and so let them worke in Sommer also let them be soberly permitted to sanguine and cholericke complexions A. Haue they no other effect P. As I told you they moisten the body and therefore must be eaten before meales with the interposition of some time before you eate any thing else and these be grapes figges damsins mulburies peaches and cherryes At other times they binde the belly and for this effect you must eate them in the beginning of your meat and such are Cornell Quinces and Trigonion but they are of bad nourishment A. Is it possible that all of them should hurt all men P. Remember what I tolde you before whereunto I adde that they are very bad for the podagrous especially fruits that be humide slimy and watâ—ish in that they are very vaporous your new is worse then your old fruit the roasted taken after meate are better then the raw Let your mollefieng fruits being taken first and the constringent after meales tart fruits being taken afore meales doe binde but taken after they dissolue A. But what if one should haue a colde and moist stomacke P. Why then he must eate them hot and dry but the stomack being hot and dry hee must eate them cold and moist and the ripe are best least hurtfull for euery one except Mulberies which it is best to eate before they be perfectly ripe and blacke A. Will diuersitie of these hurt P. They must not be vsed at one and the selfe same meale A. Amongst others which take you to be the worst P. The most putrifying and others wherein wormes are which beget continuall feauers and this is your pale fruit A. Reach me hither the Cheese P. That which is new is cold and moist and the old is hot and dry the best is the new cheese made of good milke and good pasturage for so it mollifies and fattens is acceptable to the mouth and hurts not the stomacke and is more digestible then the other if it be eaten the same day t is made but that made of sheepes milke is better then all the other All old cheese must be eaten in the end to seale vp the stomacke calling to minde that Casus est sanus quem dat auara manus for it being old and hard of digestion it procures thirst enflames the blood engenders the stone obstructeth the liuer passeth away slowly offends the raynes and hurts those that be weake of stomacke old men those that liue idlely and the Catarrous in conclusion cheese is the peasants meate but being chewed
with nuts almonds peares and honny it is lesse hurtfull A. Will you take three or foure stalkes of Anise P. They mend the stinch of the breath they are good for hydropickes and opilations of the Lyuer they prouoke vrine stay the white fluxes of women the decoction thereof dissolues the ventosities of the body helpes the stomacke Lyuer and Lights as also the Matrixe it hinders the vapours that ascend vp into the braine being taken before you drinke water it rectifies it it helpes all baked meates it stimulates Venus and hurts sanguine and chollericke men A. See here Teazels or Hartichoakes P. The tender ones are better then the hard but yet they are windie procure opilations and encrease lust A. Your Teazels made white by Art please me much better burying them in the Autumne with thinne earth they are eaten in the end of supper with pepper and salt to seale vp and corroborate the stomacke but I thinke that Coriander or Coriandolet hath a greater vertue P. That of Egypt is the best it is very good for the stomacke repressing the venemous exhalation that ascend vp into the head being drunke with sweet wine it kils wormes keepes the flesh vncorrupt Coriander comfits at the end of meate detained in the stomack aide digestion and fortifie the head and braine A. Then I will take a glutting of them P. Their superfluous vse offends the head obfuscates vnderstanding and disburdens the minde the iuyce thereof being drunke is mortall poyson and they which drinke thereof become dumbe or fooles A. But it being otherwise of such vertue how may the vice of it be remoued P. You must keepe it for one night in vineger then couer it with Sugar for so they are good but if any drinke of the iuyce thereof he may be cured with the powder of egge-shels with Salemonia or Treacle and wine A. I like Fennell very well and how doth it please you sir P. I haue euer delighted much in the sweet Fennell which is hot in the second degree and dry in the first but the wilde doth dry and heate more effectually but that which is new gathered and sweet breedes milke in women and menstrues and in all generally vrine it remoues ancient opilations it greatly helps the eyes A. What if it should be dry P. It is good for the Winter but let it be taken soberly for it enflames the Lyuer and hurts the eyes but yet it opens the opilations of the lyuer mylt breast and braine but both one and other hurt sanguine cholericals and it produceth blacke choler so as it is fitter for medicine to the sicke then meate to the sound In this point I commend your English Gentlemen who are not much delighted with such fruits A. In troth the very odour of that Cytron comforts my smell and the colour of it my sight if it were not hurtfull I would faine eate a little of it P. The skinne therof eaten causeth digestion the seed remedies all poysons prouokes menstrues kils wormes in the belly being beaten and giuen with the iuyce of it fasting being eaten whole it preuailes against the plague and the corruption of the ayre as also against poison the water of Cytrons distilled is pleasant to the taste and beneficiall to the heart and braine and being giuen with the conserues of Cydron it is admirable against pestilentiall feauers it extinguisheth thirst and the feauer and it resists putrifaction the water of the flowers therof distilled is very preualent against the plague and such like accidents it is a friend to the heart and effectually prouokes sweating the skinnes thereof seasoned preuailes against the aboue-named things and the oyle that is extracted out of the skinne and seede is very cordiall by annointing the pulses therewith as also it is good for the circumferentiall region of the heart but yet Cytrons being eaten in the euening they cause dizinesse and are troublesome to hot heads but the preserue of Violets being eaten after them corrects their hurtfull qualitie A. Reach me those Mulburies P. They mollifie the harshnesse of the throate remoue thirst moysten the body excite appetite slake choler they are better eaten before meate then after they sodainely corrupt the which they likewise doe when they encounter with other humours but to the end they may not breede ventosities let them be washed in wine and let hot young men eare also the sowrer sort of them with sugar in Sommer and such shall haue in them no bad humours A. Will you please sir to haue any of these Arbutes or Strawburies or Sea-cherries or Africans or Italian Corbezzuole P. Out alas the very thinking of them obstructs bindes and stitches mee corroborating my body but too much notwithstanding the water of them distilled from the leaues or flowers with the powder of the bone in an Harts heart or of the horne of the same beast thinly grated helpes in time of the plague especially before the disease be confirmed and the decoction or powder of their leaues preuaileth against the selfe same disease and their fruites stay fluxes A. Enough enough enough at this time I will no more to tell you a very secret I finde in my selfe daily a great desire to these figges or fat figlins P. They nourish more then any other fruit they quench thirst discharge the breast fatten aide sperme and being very ripe are most secure A. Seeing in our Countrey by reason of the abundant humiditie and defect of heate we cannot haue greene ones wee will eate dride ones P. They help the cough and with Nuts leaues of Rue and salt they are good against the plague besides they are good for all complexions but many of them offend the stomacke they excite collickes cause thirst hurt the Lyuer and the Milt and cause the itch with lice and opilations to come when they are too much vsed and I find in my selfe that they produce great abundance of yealow choler A. But what will you taste of no Apples P. Of what taste are they A. Some are sharpe and tart others are pleasant P. These are hot in the first degree and temperately moist but the others are cold and dry so as the great sweet and wel-coloured are the best the greene apples amongst all others hold the first place the red ones the second and the russet the third they comfort the heart much extend the breast they open the Catarre cause one to spit and being roasted in ashes they comfort a weake stomacke and therefore they are good for them that are in recoueries when they be eaten with Aniseede comfits or sugar and synnamon the syrupe of them is cordiall and most of all against melancholike passions but raw ones being eaten in any quantitie hurt the nerues and a weake stomacke and they must ripen vpon the tree or otherwise they are of very bad nourishment your sowre doe make one loose memorie and generate much flegme and ventositie they are preserued in Wheat straw but so as they
boyled in wine though they are more behouefull they are very hurtfull for cholericke men and good for them that are old and cold they are also the more healthfull sodden in fat broth A. Will you haue any of this other sallet Sir P. In truth I see in it borage bettonie dragon wort succorie endiue fennell lettice baulme mint dogs caule parsley pimpinell purslaine rosemary rocket sage wild time and spinage A. Why doe you thinke that these are more holsome then others P. O God Sir why doe you not know how Borage is called courage because it hath a certaine proprietie in the passions of the heart which is the fountaine of life whereupon it or the flowers thereof being infused into wine it much reioyceth the minde and comforts the heart remoues melancholy and creates pleasant conceits besides it nourisheth and engenders good humours clarifieth the bloud and the spirits comforteth the bowels molifieth the breast although indeed the flowers doe not so well digest as the leaues which leaues being mingled with beetes or spinage they loose their asperitie A. These capers please my pallate farre better P. If they be preserued in vineger they are not so hot but yet commonly verie healthfull those preserued in pickle doe astringe subtilize cut obsterpe and open they excite appetite open the opilations of the liuer and milt prouoke menstrues and vrine kill the wormes cure the Emrods excite venerie but if they be steept in oyle and vineger they help those that haue the gout the flegmatickes splenetickes and Ieratickes whosoeuer vseth them shall feele no griefe of the mylt nor dissolution of nerues although they are rather medicine then meate A. And what thinke you of Dragonwort P. It is dry cold it procures good appetite encreaseth sperme wonderfully comforts the stomacke and the head and cuts flegme being eaten it preserues from the plague and from all corruption it cures the cold griefes of the teeth gums in washing them with the decoction thereof made of white wine yet so it is true that it heales the Lyuer and purifies the bloud it is alwayes good for old men and hurtfull for the cholericke and sanguine young men A. I thinke Cicorie also is not without his vertue P. It preuailes greatly against the heate and inflamation of the stomacke it opens the opilations of the Lyuer and aboue all other things keepes the Lyuer cleane and the wayes thereof open being also very helpfull to the reynes but so it hurts a weake and cold stomacke and those that are subiect to catarres if we will take it in a sallet it must be mingled with other hot hearbes and those seasoned with good oyle salt and vinegar A. I suppose according to common opinion that Betonie is full of infinite vertues P. Know you not the Prouerbe Thou hast more vertue in thee then Betonie The best growes on the top of pleasant fresh hils and is gathered in Aprill it is incitiue it may be eaten sodden together with the flowers in a good broth or else seething it in wine and then drinking the decoction therof but the vessell must be well stopt wherein it boyles it is good against all inward passion of the body howsoeuer it be taken it is auaileable against poyson it helps the yealow laundesse paraliticke flegmaticke those subiect to the falling sicknesse and Icraticke but so it is but hard of digestion A. In Sommer I many times eate Endiue P. This refresheth the Lyuer and euery enflamed member it quencheth thirst prouokes vrine stirs vp good appetite drieth opilations purgeth the bloud cures the itche slaketh the heate of the stomacke and in Summer being eaten sodden in broth of flesh it comforts all the bowels but hurts a cold stomacke sloweth digestion offendeth those possest with the Palsey or that haue the heart tremblings A. I thinke Lettuce be of another temper P. Endiue is cold and dry and this cold and moist then imagine you of the rest The Lettuce top tender and without milke and being set with a delicate hand exceedes all other hearbs in goodnesse it breedes milke in women quencheth the inflamation of the stomacke extinguisheth thirst prouokes sleepe it staies the running of the reines so it proceed not from the corruption of that solemne disease it bridles the sharpnesse of choler corroborateth the stomacke and disburdeneth it it is opposite to all luxurie obscureth the eye-sight debilitates natural heate corrupteth sperme and makes one beget foolish and blockish children it causeth a man to be sloathfull it is ill for weake stomackes and so consequently for old men A. To tell you the truth you haue kindled such a loue in mee towards it by repeating of these many good properties as beleeue me I le eate but little and vnlesse it be for the aboue named dispositions none at all P. But yet you will taste of this Balme mint which comforteth the heart it remoues the trembling thereof easeth the breast opens the opilations of the braine cures throbbings helpes the biting of venemous beasts and flegmatickes and those troubled with melancholy but by reason of his ventositie it excites venerian appetite A. I thinke mint is better P. It mightily excites appetite prohibites that milke cannot be taken into the stomacke nor into the dugs it kils the wormes being vsed with meates or giuen to little boyes or little girles a dramme of the iuyce thereof with halfe an ounce of the sharpe iuyce of cedar or of the syrrope of the barke of Cedar it remoues also rising in the stomacke and vomite and fortifies the stomacke wherevpon comes the verse Nunquam lenta fuit stomacho succurrere mentha But it inflames the Lyuer and stomacke purifies the bloud and excites Venus And yet it is not good for Souldiers who by the exercise of Venus become leane debile and cowards A. By the Physitians aduise I vse Mercurie what say you to that P. The decoction thereof dissolues choler and all watrish humours but so take heede in any wise you vse it not but onely sometime it weakening the stomacke and bowels A. But from what proceedes it that they vse Parsley and Pympernell so much P. The first boilde or raw prouokes vrine menstrues sweate it mundifies the reynes the lyuer and the matrixe it remoues their opilations and dissolues ventosities the decoction therof helpes coughes and empoysonings it hath the same vertues that Coriander hath it is acceptable to the mouth of the stomacke it dissolues the stones in the reines or bladder it opens opilations helps coughes and the defects of the breast but it is hard to digest obfuscates the sight generates bad humours it hurts the head and so is euill for the falling sicknesse Pympinell is reduced vnder the kindes of Saxafrage for the great vertue it containes to cleanse the reynes and the bladder and to dissolue and expell stones and grauell out of the same parts to prouoke vrine and to open the opilations of the Lyuer moreouer it