qualitie is spent It must neyther looke muddie nor yet carie a taile with it Which is the best drink The most pretious and wholesome ordinarie drink as well for them that be in health as for sicke and impotent persons is made after this maner Take halfe a pound of barley foure measures of water halfe an ounce of Licoras and two drachmes of the seede of Violets two drachmes of parsley seed three ounces of red Roses an ounce a halfe of Hysop Sage three ounces of figges and raisins well pickt Seeth them all together in an earthen vessell so long till they decrease two fingers breadth by seething then put the pot in cold water and straine the ingredients through a cloth Shew mee a speedie drink for trauellers when they want beere or ale at their Inne Let them take a quart of fayre water and put thereto fiue or sixe spoonefulles of good Aqua composita a small quantitie of sugar and a branch of Rosemarie Let them be brued well out of one pot into another and then their drink is ready What shall poore men drink when malt is extreame deare They must gather the toppes of heath whereof the vsuall brushes are made and dry them and keepe them from moulding Then they may at all times brue a cheap drink for themselues therewith Which kinde of drink is very wholesome as well for the liuer as the spleene but much the more pleasaunt if they put a little licoras vnto it There is another sort of drink of water and vineger proportionably mingled together which in summer they may vse How shall I help beere or ale which beginne to be sowre or dead Put a handfull or two of oatemeale or else of ground malt into the barrell of beere or ale stirre the same well together and so make it reuiue a-fresh Or else if you please bury your drink vnder ground in the earth for the space of foure and twentie houres Teach mee a way to make beere or ale to become stale within two or three daies This is performed if you burie your beere or ale being filled into pots in a shadie place somewhat deepe in the ground What is meath Meath is made of honey and water boyled both together This kinde of drink is good for them which enioy their health but very hurtfull for them who are afflicted with the strangurie or colick Braggot doth farre surpasse it in wholesomenesse What is Meatheglin Meatheglin is made of honey water and hearbes If it be stale it is passing good Chap. 2. Of Wine What is the propertie of wine Wine moderatly drunk refresheth the heart and the spirits tempereth the humours ingendreth good bloud breaketh fleagme conserueth nature and maketh it merie What is the vse of white wine White wine drunk in the morning fasting cleanseth the lunges Being taken with red Onions brused it pearceth quickly into the blad der and breaketh the stone But if this kinde of wine be drunk with a ful stomack it doth more hurt then good and causeth the meate to descend before it be fully concocted What is the vse of Rhenish wine Rhenish wine of all other is the most excellent for it scoureth the reines of the back clarifieth the spirits prouoketh vrine and driueth away the headache specially if it doth proceede from the heate of the stomack What is the vse of Muscadell Malmesie and browne Bastard These kindes of wines are only for maried folkes because they strengthen the back What is the vse of Sack Sack doth make men fat and foggie and therefore not to be taken of young men Being drunk before meales it prouoketh appetite and comforteth the spirits maruellously How shall I know whether hony or water be mingled with wine Vintners I confesse in these dayes are wont to iuggle and sophistically to abuse wines namely Alligant Muscadell and browne Bastard but you shall perceiue theyr deceite by this meanes take a few drops of the wine and powre them vpon a hot plate of yron and the wine being resolued the honey will remaine and thicken If you suspect your wine to be mingled with water you shall discerne the same by putting a peare into it for if the peare swimme vpon the face of the wine and sinke not to the bottome then it is perfect and vnmingled but if it sinke to the bottome water without doubt is added vnto it Shew mee a way to keepe Claret wine or any other wine good nine or ten yeeres At euery vintage draw almost the fourth part out of the hogshead and then rowle it vpon his lee after fill it vp with the best new wine of the same kinde that you can get Your caske ought to be bound with yron hoopes and kept alwaies full How might I help wine that reboyleth Put a peece of cheese into the vessell and presently a wonderfull effect will follow Chap. 3. Of Milke What is the vse of milke Milke purgeth superfluous humours in the belly and nourisheth the body but soure things must not in any case be presently taken after it Also for feare it should cōgeale in the stomacke put a litle sugar salt or honey into it and so stirre them together It agreeth well with cholericke persones but not with the flegmatick What is the discommoditie of milk Milk often vsed of them that are not wont to laboure causeth headach and dimnesse of sight it annoyeth the teeth Which discommodities may be corrected by adding rice sugar vnto it Which kinde of milke is best Womans milk is wholesomest and purest because it is a restoratiue medicine for the braine and the consumption Next vnto it goates milk is best What is the vse of Creame Creame with strawberies and sugar taken of hot cholerick persons will not much hurt What is the vse of sower Whay Sower whay is a temperate drink which mundifieth the lunges purgeth bloud and alayeth the heat of the liuer Chap. 4. Of Flesh. What kinde of meate is best That kinde of meat is best which ingendreth good bloud and is easie to be digested as mutton beefe lambe pigges capons chickens partridges woodcockes young pigeons thrushes and such like What meate is of an hard digestion Venison duckes geese together with the kidneyes liuers entrailes of birdes do breed cruditie in the stomack and fluxes Shew mee a way to preserue flesh and foule sound and sweet for one moneth notwithstanding the contagiousnesse of the weather Maister Plat whose authoritie not only in this but in all other matters I greatly allow of counselleth huswiues to make a strong brine so as the water be ouerglutted with salt and being scalding hot to perboyle their mutton veale venison foule or such like and then to hang them vp in a conuenient place With this vsage they wil last a sufficient space without any bad or ouersaltish tast Some haue holpen tainted venison by lapping the same in a course thin cloth couering it first with salt then burying it a yard deepe in
bloud-letting Bloud is the very essence of life which diminished the spirites must consequently be dissolued In consideration whereof I counsel them that vse any moderat exercise not in any case to be let bloud least that corrupt water succeede in the place of the pure bloud But if they abound with bloud or their bloud be putrified and burnt if other medicines auayle not this law of mine must needes be infringed Shew mee a way to discerne the effectes of bloud-letting If the bloud which is let out appeare red of colour and white water flow with it then the body is sound if bubbling bloud issue the stomack is diseased if greene the heart is grieued Chap. 3. What is the vse of purgations Purgations as sometime they be very necessarie so often taking of them is most daungerous Hee that vseth exquisite purgations and especially electuaries soluble shall quickly waxe old and gray headed All purgations a few simples only excepted haue poysoned effectes Besides nature aboue measure is compelled by purgations and the vitall powers are diminished In respect of which reasons let euery man take hee de of those butchering surgeons and bloud-sucking Empirickes who roguing vp and downe countries doe murther many innocents vnder pretext of Physick He that obserueth a good dyet and moderatly exerciseth his body needeth no Phisick Moyst and delicate viandes eaten in the beginning of meales doe sufficiently loose the belly Sweet wines performe the very same Also the leaues of Sene soddē in water with sebastian prunes will make the belly soluble Why then will men be so headie as to take their owne destruction seeing that they may liue in health without Physick-help VVho are apt to take purgations and who not They are apt to take purgations who are strong of constitutions and who are willing And againe they are vnapt for purgations which are eyther too fat or too leane Likewise children old persons women with child healthful folkes are not to be purged VVhat humoures are fittest to be purged Those humours which molest the body and offend either in qualitie or quantitie If choler happen to offend you it is cōuenient that you purge the same if fleagme trouble you then by medicine it must be vndermined if melancholie doth abound it is expedient that you fetch it out What must I doe before purging Before you purge you must attenuate the slimie humours open the pores through which the purgation is caried and extract the whayish humours by some milde sirupe Moreouer you must diligently marke the place where you are agrieued namely whether of the headache or else sick in the stomack liuer kidneyes or the belly and then whether by reason of fleagme choler or melancholic Which being knowne according to the humour and place you must mingle sirups fit for the part affected with waters of the same nature that the humour may be aforehād concocted but in such wise that the measure of the water may double the measure of the sirupe that the measures of both exceede not foure ounces How many things are to be considered in purgations Eight things First the qualitie of the purgation Secondly the time of the yeere Thirdly the climate of the countrey Fourthly the age of the Patient Fiftly his custome Sixtly the disease Seauenthly the strength of the sick Eightly the place of the Moone Shew mee the best and safest purgation for sleagme Take one drachme of turbith foure drachmes of vineger and sugar make them into pouder and vse it in the morning with hot water But care not till three houres be expired For choler Take two drachmes of good Rheubarbe beaten into pouder and incorporate the same with fiue ounces of hot water wherein Damask prunes haue beene sodden and vse it hot in the morning For melancholie Take three drachmes of the leaues of Sene two drachmes of Cinnamon and Ginger one drachme of sugar and seeth them in Goates milke womans milke whay or in some other like thing Shew me how I may mundifie bloud Take two drachmes of Tyme and Sene one drachme of Myrobolane one drachme of Rheubarbe white Turbith and ginger two drachmes of sugar let them be done all into pouder and giuen in water where in sennell or annise seede haue beene boyled What shall I doe if the purgation will not worke If after the taking of a purgation the belly be not loosed that incōuenience happeneth chiefely for these causes eyther through the nature of the sick or for the slendernesse of the purgation or because nature connerteth hir endeauour into vrine or else by reason that the belly was before hand too hard boud which by a glister might be holpen When therefore the belly after the purgation is not soluble it procureth grieuous maladies in the body But if a man take a small quantitie of mastick lightly pounded and ministred in warme water hee shall be cured of that infirmitie Likewise it much auayleth presently to eate an apple Seeing that glisters be very commodious shew me a way to make some Take hony sodden till it be thick and mingle the same with wheaten meale then adde a little fresh butter and make your glister into a long forme Which done dippe it in oyle and vse it Or else take halfe an ounce of the rootes of succorie and licoras two drachmes of Endiue one handfull of mallowes one drachme of the seede of succory fennell two drachmes of fennigreeke halfe a handfull of the flowers of cammomel seeth them and then a most wholesome glister is made What if the purgation doth euacuate too much You must infuse three drachmes of the pouder of mastick in the iuyce of Quinces and drink it or else eate a Quince alone Chap. 4. Of vomits VVhat is a vomite A vomite is the expulsion of bad humours contayned in the stomack vpwards It is accounted the wholsommest kinde of Physick for that which a purgation leaueth behinde it a vomite doth roote out Which are the best vomites Take of the seedes of Dill Attriplex and radish three drachmes of fountaine water one pound and a halfe seeth them all together til there remaine one pound then straine it and vse it hot Or else make you a vomite after this manner take three drachmes of the rinde of a walnut slice them and steepe them one whole night in a draught of white wine and drink the wine in the morning a litle before dinner What if the vomits worke not If they worke not within an houre after you haue taken any of them suppe a litle of the syrupe of oximell put your left middle finger in your mouth and you shall be holpen What shall I doe if I vomite too much If you vomite too much rubbe and wash your feete with hot and sweet water and if it cease not for all this apply a gourd to the mouth of the stomack Chap. 5. Of vrines What is vrine Vrine is the clearer and lighter part of bloud proceeding from the reines which
wilde beastes Thirdly let them vse Borage and Buglosse in their drink Fourthly musick is meete for thē Fiftly they must alwayes keepe their bellies loose soluble Chap. 3. Of medicines to-prolong life Shew me certaine remedies to preserue health and to prolong life To liue for euer and to become immortall here in earth is a thing impossible but to prolong a mans life voyde and free from all sicknesse to cause the humours in the bodie by no meanes to predominate one ouer an other to preserue a man in a temperate state I verely beleeue it may be done first by Gods permission and then by vsing weekely either the weight of one scruple of the spirite of the herbe called Rosa solis or the essence of Celandine or the quintessence of potable gold wherein pearles are dissolued Also who someuer hath any of these well prepared may helpe all the diseases of mans body whether they be curable or vncurable Reasons I neede not alledge for that which is openly seene with eyes need no proofes It is an absurd thing to be ignorant in that which euerie man knoweth Is not the falling sicknesse onely cured by the spirit of vitrioll doth not mercurie heale the French poxe and the filthie scabbe doeth not oile of antimonie plucke vp at once the impurities of the feuer They doe none can denie the same Mineralls are of most efficacie if they be rightly prepared and purged from their poyson and superfluities Truely it is a wonderful thing in this life that mans vnderstāding can bring these inferiour works to so great perfectiō without doubt it is the prouidēce of god that learning in this latter rotten age should wax lightsom therby to defēd life which otherwise through the cōtagion of the world would soone decay frō these new strange maladies which are in all places very rife cōmon so that the saying of that great prophet is now verified come to passe my age shal renew it selfe like an Eagle O rare gift of the mighty God! who made Moses liue 120. years without dimnesse of sight without griefs not loosing any of his teeth who prolonged Hezechias life by 15. yeares hath inspired into mens hearts such excellent knowledge These quintessences which you speake of may not be gotten without great difficultie wherefore reueale those preseruatiues which I may easily get Doctor Steuens water is an excellēt preseruatiue to prolong life is made after this māner take a gallō of gascoigne wine thē take gin ger gallingal cāmomill cinnamon nutmegs grains cloues mace aniseed carrawayseed of each of thē a drachme thē take sage mints red roses time pellitorie of the wal wild mariorā pennymountayne otherwise wilde time cammomille lauender of euerie of them one handfull then bruse the spices small bruse the herbes put all into the wine and let it stand twelue houres stirring it diuers times then distill it in a limbeck and keepe the first pinte of the water for that is the best and then will come a second water which is not so good as the first The vertues of this water are these it comforteth the spirites it preserueth the youth of man it helpeth old goutes the tooth-ache the palfie and all diseases proceeding of cold it causeth barren women to cōceiue it cureth the cold dropsie the stone in the bladder in the reines of the backe it healeth the canker comforteth the stomacke prolongeth a mans life Take but a spoonefull of it once in seauen dayes for it is very hot in operatiō Doctor Steuens that vsed this water liued one hundred yeares wanting two The sublimated wine of M. Gallus physition to the Emperour Charles the fift of that name is most admirable For the vse thereof caused him to liue sixescore and nine yeares without any disease which I thinke to be better then Doctor Steuens water it is made in this sort take of Cubebs cinnamon cloues mace ginger nutmegges and galingall three ounces of rheubarbe halfe anounce of Angelica two drachmes of masticke foure drachmes and of Sage one pound and two ounces steepe these in two poundes and sixe ounces of Aqua vitae which was sixe times distilled then distill them altogither This wine comforteth the braine and memorie expelleth melancholy breaketh the stone prouoketh appetite reuiueth weake spirites and causeth a man to wax younge and lustie It may be taken twise euery weeke and not aboue one spoonefull at each time To conclude there is a iuleppe made only of white wine and sugar which comforteth and refresheth the body much causing the spirites to waxe liuely it is made thus put two pound of sugar in three pound of wine and one pound of rosewater seeth it till it come almost to a syrupe This iuleppe is so acceptable to nature that it supplies the vse of meat and drinke Declare vnto me a dayly dyet whereby I may liue in health not trouble my selfe in Physicke I will first of all in the morning when you are about to rise vp stretch your self strongly for thereby the animall heate is somewhat forced into the outward partes the memorie is quickned and the bodie strengthned 2. Secondarily rub and chafe your body with the palmes of your handes or with a course linnen clothe the breast backe and bellie gently but the armes thighes and legges roughly till they seeme ruddy and warme 3. Euacuate your selfe 4. Put on your apparel which in the summer time must be for the most part silke or buffe made of buckes skinne for it resisteth venime and contagions ayres in winter your vpper garment must be of cottō or friezeadow 5. Whē you haue apparelled your selfe handsomely combe your head softly and easilie with an Iuorie combe for nothing recreateth the memorie more 6. Picke and rub your teeth and because I would not haue you to bestow much cost in making dentifrices for thē I will aduertise you by foure rules of importāce how to keep your teeth white and vncorrupt and also to haue a sweete breath First wash well your mouth when you haue eaten your meate secondly sleepe with your mouth somewhat open Thirdlie spit out in the morning tha◠which is gathered together that night in the throate then take a linnen cloth and rub your teeth well within without to take away the fumositie of the meat and the yellownesse of the teeth For it is that which putrifieth them and infecteth the breath But least peraduenture your teeth become loose filthy I will shew you a water farre better then pouders which shall fasten them scoure the mouth make sound the gums and cause the flesh to growe againe if it were fallen away Take halfe a glassefull of vineger as much of the water of the masticke tree if it may easilie be gotten of rosemarie mirrhe masticke bole Armoniake Dragons herbe roche allome of each of them an ounce of fine cinnamon halfe an ounce and of fountaine water three glassefulles mingle all well
Vpon his right side vntill the meate which he hath eaten be descended from the mouth of the stomack which is on the left side thē let him sleepe vpon his left side and vpon his belly that the meat may be the more easily sodden and digested in a more hot and fleshy place May a man conueniently ly vpright on his back No for it heateth the reines hurteth the braine and memorie and oftentimes breedeth the disease which is called the Riding mare Shew me some remedies to procure sleep Take a litle camphire and mingle it with some womans milke and anoyne your temples therwith or else take an ounce of oyle of Roses and three drachmes of vineger stirre them both together and vse them VVhat think you of noone sleepe Sleeping at noone is very daungerous But if you iudge it good by reason of custome thē do off your shooes while you sleepe for whē the body and the members be heauie with deepe sleepe the thicknesse of the leather at the soles doth returne the hurtfull vapoures of the feet that else should vanish away into the head eyes Also you must if you can possibly sleepe in your chaire and let your head bee meanely couered according to the time For as too much cold so too much heate doth astonish the minde and spirits VVhat are the commodities of earely rising Earely rising is healthfull for the bloud and humours of the body and a thing good for them that be studious of weightie affaires for the animall spirit is then more readie to conceiue Yet notwithstanding it is not amisse to consider and serue the time and place because if the aire be corrupt as in plague time or inclined to moistnesse as in raynie and mistie wether or thundring it is better to abide eyther in bed with some light or to sit in the chamber by some sweet fire VVhat are dreames Dreames are either tokens of things past or significants of things to come And surely if a mans minde be free from cares and he dreame in the morning there is no doubt but affaires then dreamed of will truely come to passe Chap. 2. Of mirth VVhat is mirth Mirth is a motion of the minde whereby it taketh delight and stayeth it selfe in that good which is offred vnto it VVhat are the effectes of mirth Mirth enlargeth the heart and disperseth much naturall heate with the bloud of which it sendeth a good portion to the face especially if the mirth be so great that it stirreth a man to laughter Mirth I say maketh the forehead smooth and cleare causeth the eyes to glister and the cheekes to become ruddie Wherefore did God giue affections vnto men God afforded mirth and such like vnto men that thereby they might be induced to seeke after his diuine Maiestie in whome alone they should finde all mirth and comfort VVhat mirth do the common people loue best Ignorant men doe delight in corporall and outward things which moue their bodily senses As in beholding of faire women pleasaunt gardens rich attires or else in eating and drinking What mirth doe wise men like Wise men receiue pleasure by contemplation which is proper to the minde and spirit This Aristotle approued when as he placed the ende and soueraigne Good in cōtemplation Shew mee a way to make the heart merrie You must vse to carrie about you a sweet Pomander to haue alwayes in your chamber some good perfumes Or you may wash your face and hande with sweet waters for nothing in the world can so exhilarate purifie the spirits as good odoures Chap. 3. Of exercise What be the commodities of exercise Exercise is that which maketh the body light increaseth naturall heat and consumeth superfluous humours which otherwise would clotter and congeale within the body For in euery concoction some excrements are ingendred which being left alone may be the rootes of diuerse sicknesses Now the thicker sort of excrements are auoyded by sensible euacuations But the thinner may be wasted and purged by exercise At what time is it best to exercise It is best to exercise when the body is fasting and emptie least after meates by violent and vehement motions digestion be hindred and putrefaction follow In sommer exercise is to be vsed an houre after sunne rising for feare of a double heat In spring and haruest time it is to be vsed about an houre and a halfe after sunne rising that the morning cold may be auoyded For as the heat at midday is hurtfull so the morning cold especially in Autumne is to be eschewed What kinde of exercise is good Walking if it be not too slow is a commendable exercise and may be vsed in hot monethes specially of cholerick persons To hang by the handes on any thing aboue your reach so that your feet touch not the ground is good To climbe vp against a steepe hill till you pant and fetch your breath often with great difficultie is a fit exercise to be frequented in cold seasons Old men must content themselues with softer exercises least that the small heat which they haue should be spent They must onely euery morning haue theyr members gently rubd with a linnen cloth To be briefe they must be combd and cherished vp with fine delights Vnto which cóplexiō doth exercise most appertaine Vnto the flegmatick rather thē the cholerick What exercise should short winded men vse They must vse loude reading and disputations that thereby their winde pipes may bee extended and theyr pores enlarged The fourth Section Of Euacuations Chap. 1. Of Bathes VVhat is the vse of Bathes COld and naturall bathes are greatly expedient for men subiect to rheumes dropsies goutes Neither can I easilie expresse in wordes how much good cold bathes doe bring vnto them that vse them Howbeit with this caueat I commend baths to wit that no mā distēpered through venery gluttonie watching fasting or through violent exercise presume to enter into them Is bathing of the head wholesome You shall finde it wonderfull expedient if you bathe your head foure times in the yeere and that with hot lie made of ashes After which you must cause one presently to powre two or three gallons of cold fountaine water vpon your head Then let your head be dryed with cold towelles Which sodaine powring down of cold water although it doth mightily terrifie you yet neuertheles it is very good for thereby the naturall heate is stirred within the bodie baldnesse is kept back and the memory is quickned In like manner washing of hands often doth much auayle the eyesight How shall a man bathe himselfe in winter time when waters be frozen In winter time this kinde of artificiall bathing is very expedient and wholesome Take two pound of turpentine foure ounces of the iuyce of wormewood wilde mallowcs one ounce of fresh butter one drachme of saffron mingle them and seeth them a pretie while and beeing hot wet foure linnen clothes in it and therewith bathe your selfe Chap. 2. Of