CHAPTER I.

AS health of body is accounted the prime and chiefe happinesse that can befall a mortall man in this earthly Tabernacle of clay, Health best earthly happinesse, as sicke­nesse the greatest sorrow. so sickenesse being a reward of sinne, is one of the greatest sor­rowes that can befall a mortall man. Now, as the great Architect of this universe, hath provi­ded a multitude of meanes, both for preserving in health, and repairing the same when it is lost, to this Microcosme man; so among all these none more effectuall than a due and orderly Diet: And because the matter of diet, as well in healthfull as diseased per­sons is one and the same in substance, howsoever differing in preparati­on, &c. therefore, I must of necessity say something concerning such things as are incident to the use of man, for the maintaining of health, and preventing future infirmities, and afterward descend unto a particular sur­vey of the diet of the diseased, with divers things thereto belonging. But before we proceed, it will not be amisse, first, Divers significations of this word Diet. to explaine the ambiguity of this word Diet. Amongst the Greeks, this word Diet hath divers accepta­tions; and first, a certaine kinde of life, or profession: Secondly, it signi­fieth 1 an habitation, or certaine place of abode, as in England, France, &c. 2 Againe, it signifieth certaine houses of pleasure, into the which, perso­nages 3 of note did, sometimes, for their recreation withdraw themselves. Amongst the Latines, it signifieth a certaine place next adjoyning to the 4 parlour, or rathet a part of the same, wherein (saith Varro) they were wont in the day time to take their repasts. It signifieth also an assembly 5 or meeting of many about some serious and important businesse; and thus the Germans call their generall meetings, wherein the Princes, Electors, and other Princes of the Empire are assembled, Diets; and such also are our Parliaments here in this Iland. In these latter times, custome hath so farre prevailed, that not onely hydroticke, or sweating drinkes, exhi­bited 6 for the cure of the poxe and other chronicall diseases; but even our purging ales also, and such other infused purging drinks, and continued for certaine daies, have assumed unto themselves this same name. But 7 Physitians doe most commonly take it for all the sixe things, called not naturall, as the aire; meat and drinke; repletion, and evacuation; And as Physitians commonly us it. Exer­cise or motion, and rest; sleeping and waking; passions or perturbations of the mind: of all which, by Gods good assistance, I purpose hereafter to speake somewhat largely, and how hurtfull and helpefull they are, both in sicknesse and in health. Lib. ad Thrasib. Galen observeth, that in the time of Homer, diet was not taken notice of, nor any waies looked into: And Plato writeth, that the antient Physitians seldome observed this diet. Hippocrates was the first [Page 2] that brought it in request, and so is by Lib. 29. Cap. 1. Pliny acknowledged for the first author of the same. Now, before we descend into a particular survey of these sixe things; we must first handle some generall points, and in the first place, What health is, that thereby the contrarie, to wit, sicknesse, may the better be seene in its colours. Nam contraria iuxta se posita magis clu­cescunt. This therefore, and some other things thereto belonging, shall goe before, and then take other things in order.

Plato wisely warneth us, that the principles of every Art and Profession, are diligently and narrowly to be inquired into, because that from any one false principle, doe innumerable false and erronious conclusions pro­ceed. It is agreed upon by all for an uncontrolled truth, that then men are said to injoy perfect health, when their actions are duly and well per­formed, as to be sicke when the faculties lie a languishing. Eam vero corporis constitutionem, in qua nec doloribus cruci [...] ­mur, nec in vitae actio­nibus impedimur sani­tatem appellamus. Sa­nitas una optima est, & ut sic dicā consum­mata, at (que) s [...]mma; quae­dam vero, seu deficiens ab hac, nec plano abso­luta perfectave, atque hac etiam latitudinem habet non parvam. Quare etiam sanitates multae variaequon ipsa cōmuni omniū forma unde dictae sanitates sunt, sed mai [...]ris mi­norisque ratione inter se dissidentes. Gal. de sanit tuenda lib. 2. Galen de­fines it a symmetrie, or due proportion. Now, this due proportion is double, the one perfect and absolute, the other imperfect, and declining from the former integrity. In like maner, health is of two sorts; one perfect and exquisite, and another imperfect: and yet betwixt these two is a great latitude comprehended, in so much that it may be divided into eight severall degrees, answerable to the eight severall temperatures, or constitutions of mans body. So that we may say, a man is in health, when as there is no sensible impediment or hinderance of his actions to be per­ceived, whereby diseases are ingendred. Now, this by Galen is as a funda­mentall point laid down, that Health is preserved by things like unto the temper and constitution of the body; neither neede this tenent seeme strange to any: for seeing diseases are cured by contraries, why should not health be preserved by things which are alike; neither doth it any thing at all make against the truth of this principle which some object Qua propter si eo­rum quae natura humi­diores calidioresque sunt mutare tempera­mentum ad frigidìorē siccioremque speciem libe [...], contrariam his victus rationem insti­tuas oportet, sin id cu­stodire placet, similem. Idem lib. 6. de tuenda sanit. con­cerning children that are naturally of a hot constitution, who are to be accustomed to cooling things: as likewise old men, who by reason of their age, being of a cold constitution, are to be nourished with diet of a contrary quality; for, according to the same Galen, there be Vide lib de sanit. ad Thrasibulum. two parts of health; one called euectice, preserving it by things like unto it selfe; an­other called correctrix, or the correcting part, amending that which is a­misse. But because this is a question better befitting the schooles than this place, I passe it over, and proceede to that which followeth, to wit, Whether diet be a thing necessary for healthfull and sicke people or no.

That a strict and precise kind of diet is by diseased and sicke people to be observed, may perhaps finde entertainment for truth, from an ordina­ry understanding: and that by reason, that whensoever the speedy reco­very of former health is hindered, it is for the most part occasioned, by reason of the omission of the necessary rules of diet, for the which cause a­mongst the antients, after Hippocrates, as the Physicians employment was not in every one alike, so were there some of set purpose appointed to wait upon the sicks diet, called for this cause Clinici, or attending the bed of the sicke, as hereafter shall appeare. And Galen writes, that there is no re­medie whatsoever of so powerfull an operation, that can performe the helpe it promiseth; without the help and furtherance of a good and order­ly diet. But whether it be so strictly by healthfull persons to be observed, may, and that not without some shew of reason, be called into controversie, [Page 3] and that by reason of the saying of Celsus, A good and laudable diet is not only to be observed of the sicke, but even of such as are in health also. that a healthfull man ought to be tied to no rules of diet; and not farre dissenting from this, is that old say­ing: Qui medice vivit, misere vivit. Hee that leads his life according to Phy­sitians prescriptions, leads a miserable life. Alphonsus, King of Aragon, having heard by what maner of diet one had attained to 90 yeeres of age; repli­ed, that hee had rather die within ten yeeres then live a hundred yeeres by meanes of so strict a diet. And I make no question, that without seeking farre, wee might easily find many of this Epicurean Kings mind: but since that health comprehends within its compasse a great latitude, it cannot be that a like diet should fit every individuall and particular person: Such as by reason of a laudable temper, and natural constituti­on of body, even from their very cradle injoy a perfect health, are by an extraordinary prerogative privileged above their neighbours, and may more boldly deale with any kinde of diet; but let even such not be too bold, but wise and circumspect, lest they be overtaken: and although the constitution may be strong, yet we know a strong and able horse may be overloaded, and sometimes haue his backe broken: and let the ali­ment be of as laudable a condition as it will, and thy stomacke as strong as that of the Ostrich, yet may it be mastered at length. And consider well this sentence, worthy to be ingraved with letters of gold: Plures gala, quam glae­dio periere. The sword hath kil­led his thousands, but gluttony his ten thousands, Plures gula, quam gladio periere, The sword hath killed his thousands, but gluttony his ten thousands. How many generous gentlemen of noble parentage, and of an ingenious and liberall education, might have attained to Nestorian yeeres, and shined like bright starres in their orbes, by the great good they might have procured to their common countrey, if they had not too much prostituted themselves to their sinfull and carnall pleasures, and bin drowned too licentiously in their worldly delights, which have too much now adaies ceized upon the most part of the Christian world. Now, such as are valetudinary, and of a more crazie constitution, ought in a stricter manner compose themselves to a more exact observation of physicall prescriptions. Herodicus his strict diet. Herodicus being but of a crazie constitution of body, yet by vertue of his precise diet, attained to the age of an hundred yeeres. Asclepiades relied so much upon his diet, Asclepiades his confi­dence of the use of diet. that he would lay a wa­ger against Fortune, that hee would never assume to himselfe the name of a Physician, if ever he fell sicke. And surely, who so considereth a­right the fraile and crazie condition of the body of man, dare scarce be so bold as to lay any such wager. I count it for a miracle (saith Lib. 7. cap. 50. Plinie) and finde but onely this one example, that Xenophilus the Musitian lived an hundred and five yeeres without any bodily infirmity; or as Valer. Maximus l. 8, cap. 2. ano­ther calleth him, Pythagoras of Chalcis, Q. Curtius in vita Calani. Curtius relateth the life of the Philosopher, Calanus, who being surprized with a great loosenesse, and fearing lest his former felicity of seventy three yeeres health should be by this noysome disease interrupted, threw himselfe into the fire, and so was consumed into ashes.

CHAP. II.

IT is reported of that famous Philosopher Theophrast. moriens naturā accusavit, quod vitam longiorem bru­tis animantibus dedit, hominibus vero tam brevem & malignam, ut aequa lance vitam & mortem pensitando, dubites an vita an mors sit [...]ptabilior. Quineti­am aestimatione noctur­nae quietis, quisque di­midio vita suae spatio vivit, & pars aequa morti simi [...]is iransigi­tur: ne reputantur in­fantiae anni sine sensu, nec senectae in poenam vivaces; tot periculo­rum genera, tot morbi, tot casus, tot curae, toties invocata morte, ut nul­lum frequentius votum, &c. Reolanus ju­nior in privatis prae­lect. Theo­phrastus, that dying, he accused nature, in that shee had given and granted to brute and unreasonable creatures a long, and to man the noblest of all other creatures so short and so sorrowfull a life: in so much, that weighing both life and death in even and equall balance, one might, and not without cause, doubt, whether life or death were rather to be chosen: as also in regard of the nights rest, a man lives but the one halfe of his time: that I say nothing also of the yeeres of infancy, when as he liveth void of understanding; and of old age, his yeeres seeming to be produced to this period onely for a punishment, witnesse so many cares and casualties; so many dangers and sicknesses, extorting so fre­quent an invocation of death, that nothing seemeth more welcome then the fruition of such a wish. But unjustly was noble nature of this unjust judge condemned before shee was heard: For, shee like a kinde and loving mother, being very solicitous and carefull of the life of man, hath not onely ministred unto him such things as are necessary for the maintaining and producing of his life; but besides, hath indu­ed him with reason, and given him hands, to the end hee might more comfortably make use of such things, as she in her bounty had bestowed upon him. What life is. Now, De vitae definitione variaesunt Philosoph [...]rū sententia & definitio­nes. Arist. tamen ut & medici omnes ejus essen­tiam in calido & humi­do collocant. Vide Arist. de longi­tud. & brev. vitae cap. 2. Iohan. Magirum physiol li. 6. cap. 4, &c. our life consisteth in moisture and heat, neither is our life any thing else, but a ioint-continuance of heat and moisture in our bodies. But since our heat doth daily consume & waste away this naturall and radicall moisture, it is againe by the like humidity to be repaired. Now, this is performed by meanes of food, both meat and drinke; the right and moderate use whereof this dieteticall part doth instruct and direct; the which also not onely maintaineth and entertaineth health present, but helpeth also to recover that which is by sicknesse impaired (and as some would have it) produceth the life of man farre beyond the fatall period for all men appointed. And some there were, who by meanes of diet, would promise the perpetuity of mans life, and of a mortall man, to make him immortall; and such a one was that Sophist mentioned by Galen lib. de mara­simo & lib. 1. salut. Galen, who promised immortality to all such, whose education he had from their tender yeeres undertaken. Galen is of o­pinion, that the necessity of death, can by no solid reason be demon­strated, but confirmed by experience onely. Some, who would make good Galens assertion, argue thus: All men die, either by meanes of ex­ternall, or internall causes. Externall causes, which procure violent death, Reasons seeming to prove that death may be avoided. are either such as may be avoided, and befall the body of man from without; as blowes, bitings of venomous beasts, and the like; all which, since they may easily be avoided, come not within the compasse [Page 5] of this dietetiall art; or else they are unavoidable, and such be the things we call not naturall, by the excesse and defect of the which, dis­eases are ingendred, and death doth thereon ensue. In the golden me­diocrity consisteth this health we now discourse of, the which, whoso­ever shall strictly observe, shall prolong his life for many yeeres. This mediocrity did our forefathers in that first and golden age of the world, strictly observe, and so many of them attained 900. and some neere 1000. yeeres. Neither are we to suppose that these were Lunary yeeres, or of the age of a Moone onely, as Lib. 15. de civit. Dei. S. Austine proves against Pliny and Baro. But yet further, the longevity of these our forefathers, did not onely depend upon their simple diet, but there was besides a speciall providence in prolonging their lives; and that as well for the multipli­cation of mankinde, as also by meanes of their long lives, Why the Patriarches lives were so long. they might the better attaine to the knowledge of the arts and sciences, mathema­ticall especially, and that part principally which concerneth the moti­on of the celestiall orbes, which required no small time. The Naturales causae fa­talis interitus tres sunt, naturalis ficcita [...], pe­renne triplicis substan­tiae ef [...]uvium, & copia excrementorum. Idem Gal. loco nupet citat. inter­nall causes of naturall and fatall death are, according to Galen, three; naturall drinesse, the continuall wasting of our triple substance, and the abundance of excrements. Now, naturall drinesse may be preven­ted by such things as moisten much. The wasting of our triple sub­stance may be prevented by good ayre, meat and drinke, of a good and laudable quality, engendring but little excrementitious matter: and if notwithstanding, by reason of their condition or quality, they shall chance to ingender any excrement; they may either naturally, or else by artificiall meanes be voided out: And therefore conclude they, by this dieteticall art, may the naturall causes of fatall death be declined. But this is an uncontrolled truth: Contra vim mortis, non est medicamen in hortis. It is appointed for all men to dye, and then commeth in iudgement, Hebr. 9.27. saith the Oracle that cannot lie. True 'tis, and cannot be denied, that by vertue of a laudable diet, the life of man may be prolonged to an hundred, or an hundred and twenty yeeres, as hath beene published by Thomas Philolo­gus de vita ad 120. amos producenda. Et nuper Claudius Deo­datus de eodem argu­mento. Reasons why the life cannot be perpetua­ted for ever from the materiall; And from the effici­ent cause. some of our Authors: but for ever to be perpetuated, is impossible, and that both by reason of the materiall and the efficient cause. The matter is either first or second: the first matter, by reason it hath adjoyned pri­vation, a maligne principle; therefore cannot alwaies continue the same. The second matter is of the elements, whereof the body of man is composed; the which, howsoever it conteineth in it the sub­stance of the elements well united and compacted together; yet can their disagreeing qualities never so well be composed, but some dis­cord and disagreement will arise, which is the cause of dissolution of the whole frame. The efficient cause is either remote or neerer: the remote is God himselfe, who hath placed severall and contrary moti­ons in the heavens; Duo diversi sunt in C [...]o m [...]tu [...]; [...] nempe ab ortu in occa­sum, qui dicitur m [...]u [...] deci [...] coeli, & quo me­tu [...] inferiores coe­li, at (que) adeo omnes pla­neta spatio Diei & no­ctis ab ortu in occasum circuner [...]piuntur: alter vero motus est proprius inferioribus coelis, & imprimis spharis planetarum, quae motui isti decimi [...] veluti obnitentes, contr amoventur ab occasu in ortum, qui quid [...]m motus lo [...]ge est tardior quam motus ille primus decimi Coeli, &c. Kee [...]erm. System. astron. lib. 1. cap. 13. one from the East to the West, and is once every day accomplished; Another againe from the West to the East, which are at great length to be found in the writings of our learned Astrono­mers. Now, if God would have made the world to continue for ever [Page 6] (faith Plato) he would never have placed these contrary motions in the heavens, because identity and unity is the cause of continuance, as contrariety the beginning of destruction. The neerer efficient cause is our naturall heat, which by little and little destroyes our naturall and radicall moisture, the which once failing, death undoubtedly follow­eth. And howsoever by the use of aliments it be in some sort repaired, yet this devouring heat getteth daily ground of it, till at length it gi­veth it the foyle; concerning which, more may be seene in the workes of the worthy Plato. It hath then sufficiently and plainely appeared, that the life of man, by meanes of a good and laudable diet, may be pro­longed, and diseases prevented; howsoever death is unavoidable. But then here one may aske what is the ordinary period whereunto the life of man by meanes of art may be prolonged? Ordinary period of mans life, not rec­koned above 100 or 120 yeeres. Our ordinary Authours, as wee have said, assigne 100 or 120: but wee have a certaine sort of people, who in shew, would seeme to transcend vulgar understanding, and tell us strange things of the prolongation of mans life for many yeeres, farre beyond this above-mentioned period; and that by meanes of certaine medicines made of metalls, of gold especially; and these be Quanquam & ipse Paracelsistae & qui co­rum medicinis utuntur brevis sint vitae, & morbis vexentur; ta­men ia [...]ant suum uni­versale. Novimus ali­quos qui metalla per la­pidē tinxerunt, sed qui nec se, nec alios a morte & morbis praeservare potuerint. De potentia arti [...] multus est Roge­rius, nec est ullus Pa­racelsicus quin ad oftentationem us (que) pro­fusus fit promissionibus. Argumenta proferun­tur a quibusdam longae­vis sine regimine, quod impossibile est esse per­fectum sine medicinis, [...]t al. antimony, auro potabili, lapide Philo­sophorum, &c. Quid multis? deficis ar [...] in ipsis p [...]ofessoribus; Si obijciaes hoc illis, pratendunt terminum naturae, defectum medicinae talis, & alia frivola Crollius ridicule Paracelsum ad vitam longam pervenire potuisse negat, quia veneno sit sublatus. At si promissa chy [...]ica sunt vera, debuit & contravenena fuisse munitus: ut Mi­thridates, &c. Andr. Libav. analys confess. fratrum de rosea cruce medit. 62. Memorabile hoc evenit quod Adamus a Bodenstein Paracelsicae sectae Coryphaem, cum libello edito se pestem pracavere, & curare posse sua theriaca, quam excbymicis concinnebat, divulgaret: Peste correptus, nemine tunc in ea platea ag [...]otante, peste penitus fere in [...]rbe cessante, interierit. Plat. observat. medicin. lib pag. 309. pestil 6. Accidit tunc quoque hoc memoria dignum, quod impostor qui­dam Pseudomedicus circumforanem, globo quadam ex stibio, uti ex operatione illius potuiconjicere, composito, vinoque immerso, unicum illud exhibendo, omnes se curare posse peste infectos gloriatus est, peste primum uxore eius correpta, ipseque mox eadem perierit, poenas­que audacia sic ambo dederint. Idem ibid. Paracelsus and his followers: And although this great miracle-monger (as his foolish followers would make him) died (not without tormenting arthriticall paines many times, notwithstanding all his se­crets) before ever hee atteined the 60 ^th yeere of his age, yet will not their folly depart from them if they were braied in a morter, affirming him yet to live in his grave by vertue of aurum potabile, writing great vo­luminous bookes, and inditing many profitable precepts to his disci­ples. I hope the Printers shall not want worke when they are ready. But Paracelsus tells us yet stranger tales (for, I doubt the reader will ac­count them for such) Prateros vixerunt multi vitam alienam, idque iuxta praescriptum deltica naturae, inter quos fuit Syrus, qui cum de vita laboravit, ro­busti cuiusdam edolesecutis, qui tum forte adsistebat, vim atque naturam attraxisse dicitur; idque per imaginationem sic est consecutus, ut sensus, cogitationes, demique, animus ipse in alium transferretur. Per talem imaginationem Archafas uniuscuiusque eruditi, atque pru­dentis hominis scientia [...]s atque prudentiam attraxiss [...] dicitur. Parac. de vita longa lib. 1. cap. 8. Est tertia velut quadam magica, qua quis vitam producit suam adminicule alienae. Modus antem attractionis tam vitae alienae a Syro, quam intellectus, seu prudentiae ab Archasa, seu Archel [...]o consisit in imaginatione, de qua multa Baco in hoc eodem argumento. Attractionem hanc, si vera est, seq [...]itur necessario transcorporatio animarum, quam Iohannes Picus perhibet omnes sapientes credidisse, Indorum, Persarum, Aegyp­tiorum & Chaldcorum, Leo Suavius scholio, ad idem cap. of attracting not onely life, I meane strength and vigor from a young man, but relateh of one who drew learning and knowledge from another; yea, that from any learned man he met, and kept company with, hee could easily by vertue of his strong imaginati­on attract and draw unto himselfe the others wit and learning. The same non minus coarguitu [...] ex Plinio longinquitas vita in Bachone & Paracelso, quam in Anacreonte aut Xenophonte, qui quidem Impetrim Mululcaciorum insulae Regem 800 annis vixisse scribit, & s [...]til [...] [...]ius 600. Qua omnia existi [...]nat inscitia temporis scripta esse, quod alii annū astate vnum determinabāt, & alterū hyeme, &c. Id. ib. Author, and his expositor tell us strange things of the long life of some particular persons, where is likewise to be observed the great confusion he useth, as in all his writings, so in this particular, where [Page 7] sometimes hee mentioneth mortall men, as the Patriarches, and o­thers: Quantum autem ad longavitatem attinet, scite lunares populi ex Phedone Platonis introducuntur in altis­simo terrae fastigio supra nubes habitantes, qui ob diuturnitatem aevi non tam mortales homines, quam immortales dae­mones habeantur. Puschre etiam a Ficino Arabes Astrologi pro­ducuntur qui ultra li­neam aequixoctialem ad meridiem subtilissimos montes narrant, inco­las, daemones quos­dam, qui ne (que) oriri, ne­que mori videantur: si­cut scribit Paracelsus de Hildevio, &c. Idem Leo Suavius scholia ad cap. 1. lib. 4. Parac. de vita longa. Qui [...] enim credet ad 1200 annum posse pervenir [...]? Adde inquit & Mathu­salem exemplum propo­no. Et ex parte sub [...]e­cti natura [...]em vigorem, de quo in Mose. lib. 1. Derude medicinā prae­stantem. Tertio locum eum corpors convenien­tem; locum inquam in aere seu esse quinto, vel nubibus, ubi nulla est corporatitas, at (que) ubi habitant qui dicuntur somno sepulti, &c. Idē ibid. and againe, confounds this narration with a discourse of im­mortall spirits, who are neither to be confined with in his 1000. nor yet 1200 yeeres. And is it not a thing ridiculous, now in these later times, to extend the life of man-kinde to 1000, 900, or, at the least to 600 yeeres? And besides, may it not easily to an indifferent understanding appeare, how ridiculous this opinion is, that Adam, and the rest of the old Patriarches lived so long by vertue of the Philosophers stone? And what then became of this so rare medicine, when holy Iacob complai­ned, that few and evill were the daies of his pilgrimage? And how came it to passe, that Abraham and Sarah lived then so short a while? That Isaacs eyes were dimme? Did their forefathers envie them such a medi­cine? all Arts and Sciences were transmitted from the antient Patri­arches to posterity, and were they so envious, as to conceale from them so great a good? If these prattlers could by their owne experience make this appeare, there might be some colour for us, to beleeve they had knowne this Art, and concealed it from their successors. But the contrary hath already appeared, whatsoever they prate of one Human vitae spatium longe aliter est coercendum, licet (in­usitato miraculo) Ar­tephius dicatur a Ba­chone ope sapientiae suae [...]000 annos vixis­se, quemadmodum aliē quidem primo mundi seculo. Ar­tephius, who by meanes of his wisdome (as they say) lived 1000 yeeres. But now, it may be, some will here aske mee the question, whether I am not of opinon, that mens ages now daily decline, the world waxing old, and some holding that the Coperni­cus docuit Solem esse viciniorem terrae quam tempore Ptolomaei fu­erat per miliaria Germanica vicies sexies mille sexconta, & sexaginta. Phil. Melanchton in physicis ipse queque statuit Solem ess [...] viciniorem terrae, & ait, Deum veluti Solem terram versus retraxisse, quo natura effoeta egeat majori calore & fermento. Alii autem Astronomi, & Physici istam mutatam Solis vicinitatem penitus repudiant, inter quos est imprin is magnus ille Scaliger qui exercit 90. sect. 2. violenter Copernicum nostrum insectatur. Disputat autem de ista Solis eccentricitate Clariss. Mathem, Ori­ganus cap. 1. prog. ad annum 1604. & docet esse quidem revera Solis eccentricitatem mutatam, sed non esse tantam quantam Ste. Florus ex sententia Copernici posuerat, sed vix dimidio tanta, ila ut in eo congruat cum sententia Melanchtonis; qui ia physica, ubi de Sole tractat, dicit Solem propiorem terrae esse factum quam fuerit tempore Ptolomei milliaribus Germanicis novies mille nongentis. Keckerm. systemat. Astron. lib. 1. cap. 13. Sunne, now, by that rea­son, to wit, of the age of the world, draweth neere the earth, as having more need now in this old age of a greater supply of warmth then here­tofore: But as concerning this subject, because 23 Richard Hacluyt it hath beene of set purpose in a large volume handled at great length, I shall neede to say the lesse; yet something I must say concerning this subject now in hand, I meane the life of man. If this assertion were of an infallible truth, that the age of mankinde had proportionably still declined, then had the period of mans longest life beene by this time comprehen­ded within a very small number of yeeres. But the contrary of this we see by daily experience confirmed: that in many places of the world, yea, and in most, Anacreonti poeta de iis qui 200 annos expleverint Damiatos astipulatur memora [...]s Pictorium pracipuum corpore viribusque. Etiam 300 Alexander & Cornelius Dandonem quendam in Illyrico dicunt vixisse. Leo Suavius in cap. 2. lib. 4. Parac. de vita longa. men live as long as in antient times; I meane, af­ter the times of our first forefathers, the old Patriarches. This caution I would withall to be put in, that in our comparison with antiquity, we must alwaies put in this proviso, caeteris paribus, making the cases both a­like. As they lived a sober and frugall life, free from excesse of meate and drinke, and such other things, as have so much abridged the life of man in divers parts of the world, so must wee suppose of our times. And that there have beene in severall ages and times, such long lived people [Page 8] in the world, may appeare to those that will search into antient writers: and thus wee read of some that lived 200, some 300 yeeres; and the above-mentioned Writer relateth the long life of Iohannes de Tempori­bus, or Iohn of Times, and divers others; and late Writers tell us sto­ries of the long lives of the people in The sobrietie of the Floridens doeth lengthen their dates in such sort, that one of their kings told me (saith Morques) that hee was 300 yeeres old, his father which he there shew'd mee alive, was 50 yeeres elder than himselfe; when I saw him, mee thoght I saw nothing but bones covered with skin. His sinews, veines and arteries (saith Landoniere, in descriptiō of the same man) his bones and other parts appeared so clearely thorow his skinne, that one might easily tell them and discerne tho one from the other; hee could not see, nor yet speake without great paine. They shewed mee their off-spring to the fifth generati­on, and yet it was told them by the o­ther Indians, that the eldest of them both might by the course of nature live 30, or 40 yeeres more. Pur­chas his pilgrim. lib. 8. cap. 7. Americus Vespu­tius saith, the Brasili­ans live 150 yeeres, and that they have alwaies an Easterly wind, which tempe­reth their aire. Idem lib. 9. cap. 4. Florida, where it is reported, that some there exceede the number of 300 yeeres, and that general­ly they live there very long, as living after that frugall manner, as did our fore-fathers of old. Besides, Ma­crobii in Africa, saith Herodot. lib. 7. live or­dinarily 120 yeeres; their meat was boil'd flesh, their drinke, milk. Idem l. 4. cap. 14. a late Writer allegeth Herodote speaking of a people in Africa called Macrobii, living ordinarily 120 yeeres, which is much, if we consider the bad aire generally in most pla­ces of that vast part of the world; and it is not unknowne, that in these our Northerne cold climates, many people live to a great age, some comming to 100, some more, yea, some to 140. There are some of my acquaintance yet alive, who have told me they have knowne an instance of this last period, in each of these two severall kingdomes of great Bri­taine. To atteine to 100 is no wonder, having my selfe knowne some of both sexes. If I might dwell upon this point, I could produce many proofes to confirme this truth; but this I thinke may suffice, and such as are desirous to receive further satisfaction, may have recourse to this late Author, of whom before. The like objection is likewise made concerning the stature of men, which heretofore, as seemeth, hath bin very great; and have we not even in our daies seene some of a stupendi­ous great stature? And if it shall be again replied, that such be not ordi­nary; I answer, that such great statures were not ordinary, and therefore in holy writ, we have Deuteron. 3.11. 1 Sam. 17.4, &c. 2 Chron. 11.23. Switzers tall and lusly men, especially in the Canton Zurith. such men singled out, and, as it were, pointed out by the finger. I doe not deny, that both among our selves, and di­vers other nations, it may be, in former times, men have beene both of stronger and health fuller constitution of body, and of taller stature; but this alteration proceedeth not from any sensible decay in nature, but by reason of our disorderly diet, luxurious lives, nice and effeminate education, so farre degenerating from our antient predecessours, who, thorow their valour and martiall exploits, were famous thorow the world; and we now are become contemptible to such as before stood in awe of this Iland. But that even at this day there are people of a ve­ry tall stature, whoso hath travelled into Switzerland, shall perceive by oculare inspection; where the people are ordinarily of a very tall sta­ture, especially those of Zurich: and a Platerus observat. medicin. lib. 2. pag. 548. The inundation of the whole world by the deluge, was not the cause of the ab­breviation of the life of man. late learned Writer maketh mention of the bones of a Giant, digg'd out of the ground, about Lucerne of Switzerland, which being orderly set together, that sceleton was 19 foot long, and 21 of measure by my feet, as it was drawne in the picture by him in his study, whereby I measured it, during my abode at Basil, for the finishing of my physicall studies. Now, before I proceed, I must speake a word or two concerning an assertion, affirmed by some, con­cerning the abbreviation of mans life, to wit, that, After the flood, the whole frame of the earth was so altered, and, as it were, poisoned, that people could not live so long after, as before. To this I answer, that if we compare lives with lives, wee shall finde this false; and beside, that this same abbreviation of mens lives was begunne before the flood, and that some lived as long after the flood as did before, at least within [Page 9] a little; still comparing the declining of the age of man before the flood, with that which succeeded after. We see Genes. 3.27. Methusalem lived 969 yeeres; and his sonne Lamech came almost 200 short of his age: againe Genes. 9.29. Noah his sonne exceeded his fathers age almost 200 yeeres; and his sonne 11.11, Sem lived compleat 600 yeeres, and 500 of this after the flood; and so comparing one with another, we shall find that com­paring this begunne abbreviation, Sem lived as long after the flood, as Lamech did before, although this abbreviation did not hold alwaies a­like: For, Methusalem, we see, lived longer than any either before or af­ter him; God, in this, manifesting his mighty and omnipotent power, lest wee should ascribe too much to the order of inferiour causes. But lest I heare ne sutor ultra crepidam, I leave this theme to the Divine. Howsoever, the daies of man were much abridged in the daies of Abra­ham, Isaac and Iacob, but especially in that age wherein Moses lived; and therefore we easily perceive this point to be cleare, that the time of mans age hath not sensibly declined since that time. It may be also some would aske what sexe is of longest life? I answer that the Man is ordinarily longer lived than the woman. And why, Arisi. lib. de longitud. & brevit. vita cap. 2. male, by reason of his superaboundant heat, and good temperature of body: howsoever, this must still be understood, with that parity we have here­tofore mentioned: for, no question some women are farre longer lived than some men; a temperate woman, and of indifferent constitution of body, therefore may by many yeeres out-live a debauched swagge­ring, luxurious good fellow. What complexion longest lived. And the severall complexions are not here to be past over: the sanguine of all others being of longest endurance; and next to it the cholerick; the phlegmaticke succeed, and the melancholy are ordinarily shortest lived. In what Climat. The climat wherein one liveth, maketh also much for the long life of man, and therefore we see that in our Northern countries oftentimes people live long: and in one and the same country, the native inhabitants thrive better, and live longer many times than strangers; as may appeare by the Purchas li. 14. c. 12. in­habitants of S. Helena, where the naturall Negroes lived ordinarily 110 yeeres, although the aire of it selfe be very unwholesome to our Europeans, insomuch that few of them there exceed 50 yeers. And there are yet divers other things which may lengthen or abbreviate the life of man, as the particular influence of the superior powers, and to us un­knowne, &c. But above all, there is a supreme over-ruling power in our great and omnipotent Maker, to lengthen and shorten the life of man at his good will and pleasure. It is naturally in-bred in all men to desire length of daies, and without doubt, it is in it selfe no small blessing, as being a reward of keeping Gods commandements, let those therefore, who would comfortably partake of so great a blessing follow the direction of the Spirit of God, uttered by the mouth of the Wise­man. Prov. 3.1.2. My sonne, forget not my law, but let thine heart keepe my com­mandements: for length of daies, and long life, and peace shall they adde to thee. And again, 9.10.11. The feare of the Lord is the beginning of wisedome, and the know­ledge of the holy is understanding: For, by me thy daies shall be multiplied, and the yeers of thy life shall be multiplied. See againe the contrary denuntiati­on: Eccles. 8.13. But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall hee prolong his daies which are as a shadow, because hee feareth not before God. Againe, the [Page 10] Psalme 55.23. bloody and deceitfull man shall not live out halfe his daies; Psalme 90.7.9. we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are wee troubled; for all our daies are passed a­way in thy wrath; we spend our yeeres as a tale that is told. And therefore it will be good for us still to pray with that holy man, Moses, in the same place Verse 12. So teach us to number our daies, that wee may apply our hearts to wise­dome. Many old people brag of their old age, how fruitlessely, yea, how wickedly soever they have spent all their pretious time. Indeede, the Wise-man accounteth old-age for a prime ornament. Proverbs 20.29. The beautie of the old man is the grey head. But heare againe the same Spirit speake by the same pen-man: 16.31. The hoarie head is a crowne of glorie, if it be found in the way of righteousnesse. And therefore, if many old men and women had their blinded eyes opened, they had small cause to bragge of their so neere approaching eternall misery; but I will not here inlarge my selfe upon this point, but rather leave it to the Divines pen and pulpit, and so now proceed to that which followeth.

CHAP. III.

IT is a generally received opinon, that in these yeers commonly called Climatericall, great alterati­ons befall the body of man, whereby his health is not a little hindred and impaired; and therefore my purpose is to say something of them, as concer­ning so much, both sicknesse and health; and first, what is the meaning of the word. It is as much to say, What is meant by climactericall yeeres. as a ladder, by the rounds whereof a mans life, as it were, climbeth up, untill it can climbe no higher, and the rounds of this ladder are our yeeres: and they are of two sorts; either sevens or nines, both decretory and determining the life of man. Some, as name­ly Censorinus lib. de saeculis. Censorinus, according to the doctrine of some of the Antients, would apply the seventh to the body, the ninth to the minde. Bodin deviseth a private opinion of his owne, Lib. 4. de Republ. concerning this subject, to wit, that because women grow faster, and become sooner old; there­fore he affigneth to them the ninth for climactericall, as to men the seventh; But in this I thinke hee hath but few followers. But certaine it is, that none of our Authours assigne any more but these two, either to man or woman; from the very first beginning of our lives, unto the last period of the same. Now, these clima­tericall yeeres beginne at the first seventh yeere of mans age, as­scending by degrees untill they come to 98, and the ninth be­ginning at 9, and ascending upwards to 99. Amongst these sevenths, some are reputed more dangerous then others, and amongst the rest [Page 11] (saith Censorinus) such prove commonly more dangerous, which make up their full weeke of yeeres; and they be these following: the 21, 42, 63, & 84. But amongst all the rest, the 49 and 63 are accounted the most dangerous; the first arising by the multiplication of sevens, & the other by multiplication of sevens and nines jointly together Sunt autem duo āno­rum numeri, septimus & non [...]o qui pterum (que) rerum vitae (que) [...]us, imrau­tationem, ac gravia pe­ricula invebunt. Quo fit us sexagesimus tert [...] ­us, qui utrius (que) nameri multiplicatā, at (que) invi­cem sibi connexam sum­mam continet non sine periculorum a [...]rvo in­gruat; nov es nam (que) sep­tem, & septies novem, sexa [...]inta eres constitu­unt, at (que) ob id climacte­ricus is annus appella­tur; quia a septimo or­sus, vitam hominis, ve­lut per gradus quosdam peragat. Ita (que) omnes qui per 7, aut 9 annos consurgunt, decretorii dicuntur in quibꝰ mag­nam mutationem sube­unt homines: nam vel calumnus [...]mpeti [...]olent, vel gravissimus morbis divexari, vel pe [...]iculis objici, velaeni (que) aliquod perpeti detrimentum ac [...]actaram, velfaculta­tum, vel vale [...]uainis. [...]os ergo annoram de­cursus, ac volum. na in omnibus etiam aetatibus observare soleo, sic ut impubere [...], &c. Levinus Lemnius de occul [...]. na­turae mirac. l. 2. ca. 32. Levinus Lemnius is very jealous of the 63, in the which, the life of man is liable to many alterations and changes: and Augustus Caesar did much rejoice when hee had escaped his dangerous yeere. And although In lib Hippoc. de septimestri [...]ariu. Cardan seeme but to mocke and flout at climactericall yeeres, affirming, that hee never injoied more perfect health than in those yeeres, yet seeme they not altogether to be rejected: and At vero multeribus foetuum conceptiones & abortiones & partiones, eodem tempore judi­caniur, quo & morbi & sanitas Sed istorum om­nium, alia quidem die­bus, alia menssbus, alia dierum quad [...] agenariis, alia annuo spatio de se signifi [...]ationem prabent. Et paulo post. Eteni [...] medicum qui de aegroriā salute recte consectare volet, animadvertere o­pertet, ut omnes dies in contemplationem adhi­beat; ex paribus quidem 14, &c. Hippoc. lib. de septim. partu. Hippocrates himselfe acknow­ledgeth their efficacie & power; affirming, that both sicknesse and health, and such like other notable alterations and changes have their appointed daies, moneths, and yeeres in which they are produced. And againe, in another 2 Epidem. sect. 6. place, he affirmes, that the solution of any disease, cannot be safe, unlesse on a fit & conveni­ent day; as also that there is a necessity that a man should die on a determinate day, moneth, and yeere. But an Averroes cap. 8.3. collect. Arabian Author doth yet much more magnifie these climatericall yeeres: The leprosie (saith he) is never cured by physicke, except it be administred in some criticall yeere, wherein nature of its owne accord doth attempt some renovation, and is such a time, as nature hath for this same purpose appointed; and this is yet further witnessed by the great Zacharie, and I my selfe have likewise tried it. Those who labour to render a reason of these climactericall yeeres, render a threefold reason: 1 Numericall, 2 Astrologicall, 3 Physicall. To beginne then with the Numericall, they much magnifie the number of 7. and that out of Plato, Pythagoras, and Macrobius. And first, say they, because it is composed of divers figures, it admitteth of divers formes; and therefore call it a virgine and number of perfection; and that by reason it is a full and compleat number, and may be divided into one and sixe; and againe, to two and five; and finally, into three and foure, which is not incident to any other number whatsoever. Againe, they say, this is called the holy number; for, it is certaine, that God himselfe sanctified the seventh day, and having made the whole frame of the universall world in sixe daies, hee rested the seventh. Againe, the same God appointed the Iewes a seventh Sabbaticall yeere, in the which it was neither lawfull for them to till their ground, to sow seede in it, or to dresse their vines: And se­ven weeks of yeers being past, which was the fiftieth, was their Jubilee. Again, to magnifie this number of seven, they allege that on the seventh moneth the arke rested on the Gen. 8.4.8.12. mount Ararat: on the seventh day, Noah sent out a Dove which returned, with an olive-branch in her bill: after other seven daies, he sent her out againe, and then she re­turned no more. 1 King. 8.65. Salomon celebrated seven festivall daies, and all Israel with him, and many other such numericall niceties. Againe, say they, the life of man imitateth the creation of the world, which was finished in seven daies; and so the little world man, is certainly conceived at furthest on the seventh day: and the childe borne before the seventh moneth, liveth not. And the same Lib. de carn seu prin­cipius, ubi multa de hos numero septenario. Hippocrates affirmeth, that the life of man is of seven daies continuance, that is, that without food he can hardly live longer, and so hee divideth the whole period of a mans [Page 12] life by this number of seven, Infantia, & pueritia. and that according to the ages. The first is from the birth untill the seventh yeere, and is called the infancy: the second from that to the fourteenth, Pubertas. Adolescentia, iuventus, fluens & consistens. Virilia & proprie con­sistens aetas. which is called child-hood; from thence to one and twenty called youth, or stripling age; from thence to 35 is the consisting age, or staied youth: from this yeere, un­till 45, is called properly manly, or consisting age; which falleth upon the seventh week of yeers. What remaineth of the life of man is called old age; Senectus. which is againe divided into other seven weekes, especially in temperate places, and such where men live longest; where the body is of a good and laudable temper and constitution, and the diet good and wholesome: Cruda viridisque se­nectus, seu primum se­ni [...]m. Aetas decrepita, seuse­nium secundum Astrologicall reason of these climacteri­call yeeres. and then this time is divided into two parts, the first be­ing called fresh, or greene old age, Cruda viridis (que) senectus, from the end of the seventh weeke to the beginning of the tenth, to wit, 62 or 63. the later is called decrepit old age, continuing from this yeere to the fourteenth weeke, which falleth on the 97 yeere. Now, besides this numericall, others assigne an astrologicall reason; every seventh yeere Ranzenius in ge­nethliace. vide de his annis eundem lib de sa­nit. tuend. cap 35. (say they) the planets returne in order to Saturne, who removes then to another signe, contrary to that from whence hee last departed; and therefore by reason of this maligne constellation, as also by the con­trary place of the planet, it commeth to passe, that the maligne influ­ence of Saturne is increased. But before wee proceed, it must be ob­served, that these events are not alwaies precisely confined to the very individuall climactericall yeere, but often to the yeere next insuing, and sometimes also a little before to the yeere immediatly preceding: And a late Claudius Deoda­cus Panth hygiast. lib. 1. cap. 7. ubi, & bi versus de hominis aetate re­periuntur. Infans septenos post­quam compleveris an­nos, Producti dentermu­rus & oris erunt Post si septem alios deus huic cō [...]ess [...]rit annos [...] it pu­bes, nato semine, nomen habens. Est invenis cum septem altos compleve­rit annos, Et lanugo ge­nas barba (que) prima tegie. His addas septe virtutis nomine clarus Est vir, & haec aetas optima ro­bur habet. A di [...]cias alios septem, vo [...]e [...] esse mari­tus, Er memor utique posteritatu erit His ali­as [...]ugas septe, prudētia pectu [...] Ornabit, studium non levitatis erit. An­numeres septem gravi­tas erit inclyta [...]ngua. Septem alios, linguae [...]ō ­gruit ingenium. Addi­tur his nonus cum sep­tenarius ipse est, Perfec­tus, vires sed nimis in­terimit. Scitices his ānis multi periere duobus, quorū laus celebrū mar te toga (que) suit. Hi quo (que) nunc variis fortuna ca­sibus anni, Subiiciunt multos, exitium (que) pa­rant. Accedunt a [...]i sep­tem, mors dura vocabit, a [...]d tamulum fessos, de­crepitos (que) senes. Writer maketh the climactericall yeere, as it were the time wherein sentence is pronounced, although often execution come not till the next yeere after, howsoever the body be before disposed, prepared and fitted, either for sicknesse or death; although sometimes also the effect is accelerated, and falleth out before the climactericall yeere. And this is confirmed by instances of examples produced in that same place: as to wit, of Adam, having lived 930 yeeres, died in his climactericall yeere, 931, conteining seven times 133. Abrabam also died in his climactericall yeere, 175. King Cyrus in his 70, as likwise the Poet Ennius, and the famous champion Hannibal; and Ioanna, mother of that famous Emperor, Charles the fifth: and this Emperor himselfe in the [...]63 being his climactericall. The renowned Augustus Caesar, sur­vived his climactericall yeere 70, about some three moneths: And Edward the first, King of England, ended his daies about the same period: Solyman the Turkish Emperor, ended his daies in his 76 yeer, preventing this his climatericall yeere by one. Charles the 8, the French King, prevented his climactericall yeere 28, onely by the space of 22 daies; Many more instances might be to this purpose produced, and many other things out of many Authors, alleged for the magnifying of this number of 7, in these yeeres. Now, that many notable alterations are often observed to befall our bodies in these seventh and ninth yeeres, especially the sevenths cannot be denied: and with Hippocrates we may well say, that the seventh yeeres are no lesse criticall in the life of man, than are the seven daies and moneths in the crisis of acute and chroni­call diseases; and yet these numbers have no vertue to produce any such [Page 13] effect, nor prove any causes nor occasions thereof; which to prove, any able, yea, ordinary understanding, making no question thereof, were, I thinke, to spend my time in vaine. And as for astrologicall vanity, it hath been already by so many worthy, and learned men confuted, and something also shall be said hereafter of their foolish and superstitious opinions, so that at this present I passe by it. Onely this by the way, let it be kept in minde what hath lately beene said, that these great and notable events fall not alwaies out on the same yeere, but sometimes before, and sometimes after; and Saturne, to whom they principally impute these strange events, must keepe his set turnes in his regular motion every seventh yeere: besides, that by their owne assertion he is quite excluded from the ninth. And although some such notable ef­fects fall out about such a time, and about the time of some great con­junctions; yet are they no more causes of such effects, than the shining of the Sunne is the cause of a mans intended journey, of him before re­solved upon, whether the Sunne shone or no. Now then, there must be some physicall cause assigned, the other two failing. A Qua autem rat one per illus annorum cir­cuitus morbi pler [...]m (que) incrudescant, a neminc hactenus explicatū est. Ego ideo evenire con­jicio, quod certis an [...]o­rum periodis co [...]tu [...] hu­manum magnam bumo­rum collectionem, ac re­dundantiam congesse­rit, quorum motu, at (que) excitatione morbi exci­tantur. Cum enim natu­ra ad immodicam re­pletionem devenerit, conceptacula humorum plenitudinem perserre nequeant, in morbum erumperere necesse est. Quāobrem omne fludiū omnem (que) operam conser­re expetit, ne materia exuperant [...]a evacua [...]io­nem, quam semper vere & autumno, vel incisio­ne venae vel purgante medicamento molundū est. Idem Lev. L [...]mn [...]. loco prius citat. De bis annis climact­scripserunt etiam An­tonius Guevarra, Pe­trus Messias, Ioseph Roscius, Franciscus Iunius, Franciscus Pet [...]archa, Marsilius Ficinus, Ferdinandus Mena, Iohannes La­lamanizus, Federicus Bonaventura, Baptist, Godroachus, &c. learned late Writer labours to acquaint us with the reason of the prerogative these climactericall yeeres assume unto themselves. In the periods and re­volutions of certaine yeeres (saith he) there is a great abundance of superfluous humours collected in the body of man, by the motion and agitation whereof disea­ses commonly are ingendred: For, when as the body hath collected such an abun­dance of superfluous humours, that the places accustomed to receive the same, are now no longer able to conteine them, diseases must of necessity follow, and, if not remedied, death it selfe. And therefore to avoid this danger, he adviseth people in the spring and fall every yeere, by purging and bleeding to unburthen their bodies of this masse of oppressing humours, by which meanes at the returning period of these yeeres, they may live more secure and free from feare. And cer­taine it is, there is a fatall necessity and disposition to die, from the very first birth, attending and unavoidably accompa­nying every man; and this was first procured by that wilfull and wofull fall of our first parents, and from them, as a legacie propaga­ted to all their sinfull posterity: which fatall period is often furthered or hindered, by the good or bad order of diet, and divers other exter­nall and inevitable causes, and yet nothing befalling us without the all-disposing and overruling providence of the Almighty. And in the inte­rim, although many dangerous diseases do often, both about these espe­cially, and other times also, ceize upon a mans mortall bodie; yet, un­till this appointed period, nothing can cut the thread of this life. Now, that every one may be acquainted with these yeeres, I set them here downe to thy view: The sevenths are 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56, 70, 77, 84, 91, 98. Then ninths are 9, 18, 27, 36, 45, 54, 63, 72, 81, 90, 99. Who so surpasseth this number, let him reckon the rest himselfe.

CHAP. IIII.

Res 7 naturales sunt, Elementa, temperamen­tum, humores, membra vel partes, virtutes seu facultates, operationes vel actiones, spiritus. Res 6 non naturales, aer, cibus & potus; re­pletio & vacuation; ex­ercitiun seu motus, & quies; somnus & vigi­lia; accidentia, seu ani­mi pathemata. AS man by naturall composition partakes of all the ele­ments, so in this life can hee not long life without the use of them all, especially of this ambient aire; and of the which, for this cause wee will speake in the first place. Now, the utilitie, and necessity of this element, doth in this appeare, that howsoever, sometimes, one may live without meat and drinke for divers daies, if not moneths and yeeres, (as some relate) yet, without the use of this element, was never any yet able to subsist and continue one day, no, nor yet one houre, there being so great an use for the body of man, both of perspiration and respirati­on. The whole body of man is composed of a triple substance; of an aire or spirituous, and next of severall humours; and lastly, of a more solid substance, flesh and bone. Now, these three, from the very first beginning to the end of our daies, are continually decaying, and there­fore must daily be repaired, if life be continued. The losse then of the first is repaired by meanes of this aire; of the two later, by meanes of meate and drinke. Now, since the use of this element is so great, that it not onely cooles and refreshes the excessive heat of the heart, but also repaires our decaied spirits; wee will say something thereof. Quality of the aire. The proper quality then of the aire, is reputed to be warme, joined with moisture; I meane, in a temperate, and not in any exces­sive degree: howbeit, according to the severall and manifold alterati­ons it is subject unto, it often altereth, not the body onely, but the minde of man also. A good laudable and temperate aire, is a great meanes to uphold the health; on the contrary, being corrupted, it pro­veth often the cause of many diseases: and that the aire doth not a little affect the mind, The aire doth not a little affect both the body and the minde. may from hence be evinced, that such aire as we most commonly breath in, such spirits are there ingendred. Of a thicke and cloudy aire, thicke and grosse spirits are most commonly produced. For this cause the Athenians were accounted wiser than the Thebans, by reason they lived in a purer and more refined aire. And all Scythia brought forth but one famous Philosopher, Anacharsis; and this they impute to the thicknesse of the aire of that countrey. Plato made choice of a Iu Academo, unde academici. Ficinus in vitae Platonis. moist and moorish place in the suburbs of the City of Athens to teach in; and that of set purpose, to blunt the sharpe edge of his pregnant wit. And Plato himselfe affirmeth, that Minerva being to build the City of Athens, did well before consider the nature and quali­ty of that countrey, as promising no lesse then such famous worthy wits, as in antient histories are recorded. Now, the healthfulnesse and good­nesse of the aire, according to Galen, is determined by the purity and good temper thereof. A pure aire is called a subtill aire, infected with no corrupted vapours, nor noisome smells: A temperate aire is such a one wherein we neither quiver for cold, nor yet sweat for heat. Now, if [Page 15] the aire of any countrey whatsoever, of it selfe naturally unhealthfull, What is meant by a pure aire. no art of man ever can amend it; and then the best remedy I know, A temperate aire. Aire naturally un­healthfull cannot be corrected. is with all possible speed to make choice of a better. If the aire be but accidentally bad, then there may be use of Art, and so it may, accor­ding to the excesse in any quality be corrected: as wee read that Hip­pocrates corrected the malignity of a pestilentiall aire, Alteration of the aire by meanes of the sea­sons of the yeere. by making of great fires of sweete smelling wood: as concerning that alteration of the aire occasioned by meanes of the times and seasons of the yeere, we are alwaies carefully to preserve the laudable temperature thereof by contrary remedies, as farre as in us lieth: as the sharpnesse of winter is to be helpt by good fires, and warme clothes. In the parching heat of summer, we are to coole and refresh our bodies by correcting the aire with contrarie coolers, especially within doores, as also by the use of thinner clothing. Now, that aire which any one hath suck'd in from his infancie, suteth farre better with that constitution than another, howso­ever, perhaps, in it selfe, of a more laudable quality. It behooveth there­fore every one, as far as in them lieth, to make choice of a good and lau­dable aire. But because most men must be contented with that aire they first breathed in; therefore this would chiefly be diligently & carefully considered of our new colonies, Advertisement for undertakers of new plantations. who transplant themselves into remote regions, that they first make choice of a country, whose naturall temper differeth not much from their owne; but with this proviso, that it be rather warmer than colder than their owne. In the next place, let the place of thy particular habitation be setled in a good place of the countrey, and that both in regard of the aire and water, Errour committed in the fitst plantation of Virginia. as also all other necessarie commodities. Our Virginian colonies therefore were at the first in this very farre over-seene, not being so carefull to build their townes in a good and laudable aire: and likewise my Lord of Baltomore was too confident in setling himselfe in so tempestuous and cold a place of New-found-land, which forced him at length quite to relinquish that land. And I wish all other undertakers may take warning by other mens harmes. Now, it is to be observed, that the aire is much altered in quality, according to the high or low situation of the place; and hence commeth it to passe, that there is a great difference betwixt the aire of the high hills, and that of the vallies, the aire being commonly exceeding cold on the top of those hills, yea, even when it is indiffe­rent warme in the lower regions: and this travellers, that passe the Alps and Pyrenean hills, doe often finde true, where the snow covereth their high tops, when there is none to be found in the lower regions. A Acosta hist. Ind. l. 3, cap. 6. Spanish Iesuit to this purpose, relateth a strange story of such a high mountaine in the West Indies: There is (saith he) in Peru, a high mountaine, whereupon hee ascended, as well provided as he could, being fore-warned by men expert. But in the ascent, both he, and all his company were surprized with so sud­den pangs of straining and casting, and some also of scowring, that the sea-sicknesse is not comparable thereunto. He cast up phlegme, choler, and blood, and thought he should have cast vp his heart also. Some thinking presently there to die, de­manded confession; and some are said to have lost their life by this accident. The best is, it lasteth but for a time, and leaveth no great harme behinde it; and thus it fareth in all the ridge of that mountaine which runneth above 1530. [Page 16] miles, although not in all places alike. In some different passages thereof, he found the like difference and distemper, but not so grievous as at Pariacaca. He ascri­beth it to the subtilty of the aire in those hills, which he thinketh are the highest in the world; the Alps and Pyrenees, being in respect thereof as ordinary houses compared to high towers. In other places of Peru, men sometimes are found dead by reason of this sharpe aire, and yet their bodies putrifie not, which argueth an extreme pure cold penetrating aire. Now, this maketh it to seeme the stranger, Election of aire ac­cording to the seve­rall constitutions of bodies. Peru being of it selfe situate within the Tropickes. Now, in the aire, this is likewise to be considered, that some aire better befit­teth some bodies than others; a moist foggy body agreeth better with a good dry aire; and a dry constitution, with a moderate moist aire; and so of other complexions, simple or compounded. We are yet further, in considering the aire, to take notice of it according to the severall times of the day; and therefore although the aire admitteth of many altera­tions and changes upon divers occasions; yet that aire is commonly ac­counted in every country the best which we breathe in in the morning, the next about noone, the worst of all about night, and especially after Sunne-setting, Best aire according to the time of the day. which in many countries proves very pernitious; which that noble and valorous Knight, Sir Walter Raleigh, found too true on the coast of Africke, Night aire pernitious on most parts of the coast of Africa. with the losse and hazard of the lives of many worthy generous Gentlemen. And the French are very jealous of this night-aire, which they call la serene; Divers other things concerning the aire, especially of the sicke and diseased, together with the best and most commodious situation of houses, I reserve to its proper place hereafter, and now proceed to the winds for the affinity they have with the aire.

CHAP. V.

AS 1 Kings 18.44. Elias his little cloud no bigger than a mans hand, yet at length so over-spred the face of the whole hea­vens, that it distilled downe abundance of sweet com­fortable showres, to the fructifying of the hard yronic earth, which had been so long deprived of these sweet refreshing showres: so these small dry exhalations, of how little esteeme soever they may at first seeme to bee, Winds are of great force. yet wee see what prodigious and stupendious effects they often produce, having their warrant sealed by the great God of heaven and earth. Now, whe­ther thou please to call these vapors or exhalations by the name of wind, or whether this wind be an aire tossed to and fro, it is not much materi­all for our purpose in hand, my desire being altogether averse from wrangling about words. Now, because the wind doth not a little alter the body of man, as well in sicknesse as in health, it shall not be out of purpose to say something concerning this subject: and the opinion of 5 De legibus. Plato is, that where the winds are very various and boisterous, the peo­ple of that countrey, for the most part, prove crabbed and untoward; [Page 17] and the winds have ever beene esteemed to carry a great pre-eminence both over the bodies and mindes of men. Winds then in the generall, are of two sorts: common and sudden, or such as blow suddendly or at unawares, called repentini; such as wee call common, are such as blow out of certaine parts of the world, or else at certaine times or seasons. Such as we call sudden, are winds which neither blow from any one de­terminate or certaine quarter of the earth, nor yet at any one certaine and determinate time. These common winds are of foure sorts, answe­ring to the foure corners of the world; and againe, betwixt each of these two extremes, are other two inserted, making up the number of twelve in all, and are very well Asper ab axe ruit Boreas, fugit Eurus ab ortu: Auster amat me­dium Solem, Zephyrus (que) cadentem. Hos inter binae mediis e partibus aurae, Expirant similes mutato nomine flatus. Manilius lib. 4. described by the Latin Poet. Tetrub. 2. sermone 3. cap. 100 sect. 3. Aetius out of the antient Mariners, reckoneth up the number of the winds, and yet mentioneth onely 12 in all, which he ascribeth to the 12 signes of the Zodiack. Our moderne Mariners have by their compasse observed 32 severall winds in severall tracts of the sea. Neither ought so great a number of winds seeme strange to any, since that the antients observed 24 severall sorts of winds, as witnesseth Lib. 1. cap. 6. Vitruvius; Whereunto Agricola rei metall. lib 3. A­gricola doth also agree. And it may be more winds may yet be obser­ved; so that the number of the winds may by this meanes be infinite; by reason these exhalations, when they are ingendred, may arise out of any region whatsoever; and so according to the nature and situation of the place, thorow which they passe, their effects are various: Properties of winds according to severall countries. and that wind which is propitious and benigne to one country or place, may in another place produce a contrary effect. The South wind (saith Lib. de Pest. South-wind best of al others to Africa. Hol­ler) is very unhealthfull to all Italy, as also to most Northerne coun­tries; and yet to Africa this wind is most comfortable, insomuch, that what refreshing other countries feele by the Etesian, or Easterly winds, the like benefit reape the Africans by the benefit of this South wind. Zephyrus, or the Western wind is generally with us reputed a milde and gentle wind: The West-wind most terrible to Gasconie. and yet in Gasconie (saith Scaliger) it never blowes without the great terror or amazement of the inhabitants of that country. Hip­pocrates therefore observing this variety and multiplicity of winds, wisheth Physitians onely to observe foure, and for the most part hee mentioneth but two, as being the principall, the South and the North. And so Hali abbas and Avicenne, when they have mentioned 12, yet at length pitch upon these foure principall winds, chiefly of a Physitian to be observed. Division of winds. These foure chiefe principall winds then are divided in­to land-winds and sea-winds; Land-winds I call such as blow from the land, and sea-winds such as blow from the sea. Division of Land-winds. The land-winds a­gaine are of two sorts, either common, or else proper and peculiar to some one country; as the North-westwind to the Athenians, and the South-wind to Provence in France. Comment. 3. in 3 E­pidem. Galen makes the South-wind of two sorts, one hot and moist, cloudy and rainy; and another hot and dry, clearing the cloudy and muddy aire. The former of the two proves often the author of great mischiefe to these our Northerne cold coun­tries; as namely, of that fearefull plague of pestilence, The South-wind for the most part our greatest adversary. The Northerly wind our best friend. and divers other dangerous and epidemicall diseases, whereon in this place to insist, were too tedious: In generall, it is the most unhealthfull wind that blowes in our climat; as I hold the Northerly wind to be our best [Page 18] friend; Etesian, Easterly, or anniversary winds. although some would have the Easterne wind, which bloweth directly from the Equinoctiall line, to be the healthfullest wind for our climat. It may be, because they blow in most countries in the heat of sommer, about the canicular daies, and so qualifie the extreme scorch­ing heat of the time, whereof frequent mention is made by Jn libris Epidem. Hippoc­crates, who doth often also prognosticate the approching of diseases, by the blo [...]ing of these winds, called Etesiae. Now concerning maritime, or winds blowing from the sea, Lib. 2. cap. 1. Maritime, or winds blowing from the sea. Celsus holdeth them to be very hurtfull to the health of man; the which opinion many others have imbraced. And the more they are confirmed in this opinion by Lib. de longitud. & brevit. vitae, cap. 3. Aristotle him­selfe, affirming all those creatures which have their being and living in this watry element, to be of a shorter continuance, than those that live upon the land: but this opinion is againe contradicted, by Hicronym. Rubeus in Comment. in praedict. Celsi locum. o­thers, his owne expositor being of another minde; for the sea being warme in winter, and cold in summer, yet alwaies temperate, yea, even in the opinion of the Philosopher himselfe, it must of necessity follow, that the wind which bloweth that way, Galen 1. de semine. Commendation of winds blowing from the sea. and often also hath from thence its originall, doth partake of the like qualities: Now, these qualities being temperately hot and moist, of all other are the fittest to maintaine in perfect health the body of man. And hence commeth it to passe, that Gal. in aph. 14. l. 3. Galen affirmeth, that the maritime parts of Thracia (in it selfe a cold country) are much warmer than the more inward parts of the land: and on the other side, againe, the maritime parts of Libya, and Egypt in Sommer, are farre cooler than places more remote from thence: Lib. de tuenda. vale­tud. Plutarch seemeth likewise to favour this opinion, who affir­meth, that it is not necessary to prescribe any remedies for the preser­vation of the teeth of such as dwell neere the sea; and that in regard of the dry quality of that aire and wind, strengthening and corroborating their heads. Againe, that the sea-aire is hot, appeareth in that Lib. 2. cap. 106. Pliny writeth that no snow falleth in the maine Ocean: but, what may then be the reason, that in may places of Italy the sea aire is so bad? Idem Rubeus loco nuper citat. Why the sea aire in Italy is so bad. The reason many be, in the first place, because, perhaps, this wind bloweth sometimes too violently, and so in too great abundance drawne in by the inhabitants; or else by reason, that by the sea aire, divers marshes, or stincking standing pooles and ponds; or yet salt water mingled with fresh, or any the like occasion, which causing the water to putrifie, sendeth forth such ill vapours and exhalations, as are altogether hurt­full to the health of man. And by reason this is ordinarie in most places of Italy, hence have we this evill report; and slander raised upon the sea aire and wind: which, notwithstanding, is onely accidentall, being in it selfe most healthfull, and without any hurt at all. Hence is it also, that the 10 Probl. 54. Philosopher affirmeth, that the sea creatures are farre more vigo­rous, and of a greater stature: and Averroes affirmeth that they are lon­ger lived. As concerning that which was before alleged out of Lib de longitud. & brevit. vitae. Ari­stotle, seeming to maintaine the contrary opinion, was spoken of crea­tures living in the water, Venetians are vigo­rous and long lived. the word Water, taken in a generall sense; but is not meant of the sea in particular. Hence also commeth it to passe, that the Idem Rubeus. ibid. Venetians hemm'd in on every side with the sea, breathing in no aire, which doth not partake of the qualities of their so neere borde­ring [Page 19] neighbour, are so lively and vigorous, that many of that republique attaine very nigh the hundred yeere of their age: and this was verified in that noble and renowned Champion, and sea Captaine Andrew Dore, Admirall of the fleet of Charles the fift, Emperor; and who spent in a man­ner his whole life upon the Sea, as the aforesaid Author averreth. Confirmation of this opinion by experi­ence. And this opinion seemeth yet more probable, in that both the snow which falleth neere the sea-coasts; yea, even in the most Northerne parts of this Iland, both falleth often in a small quantitie, and lieth a shorter while, than in the places further remote from the same: and the corne is also sooner ripe, caeteris paribus, and no other let or rub come in the way: and yet further to confirme this truth, we see most commonly, that sea­faring men, seldome need any sauce to provoke their languishing ap­petites. I have a little the longer insisted of set purpose upon these winds blowing from the sea, by reason of our new colonies, now planted and planting in these remote regions, that they may neither be afraid to set­tle themselves neere the sea coast, if all other things be answerable: nor yet any such as are there already seated, be by any needlesse future fears discouraged by reason of this aire. And now being arrived into these re­mote regions, ere we return, a word or two of the nature and property of som of these winds blowing in those far distant contries. Acosta the Iesuit relateth, that upon all the coast of Peru, it bloweth continually with one only wind, Of winds blowing in America, lib. 3. cap. 10. South and Southwest winds blow constant­ly in Peru. which is South, and South west; contrary to that which doth usually blow under the burning Zone: & being by nature the most violent, tempestuous & unhealthful­lest of all other; yet in this region it is marvellous pleasing, healthfull & agreeable: insomuch that we may truly attribute the habitation of that place thereunto. Now, Northern winds noi­some to some parts of Peru. the Northerne wind is not usually cold and cleare in Peru, and beyond the line as here. In some parts of Peru, at Lima, and on the plaines, they find the Northern winds troublesome and unwholesome; and all along the coast, which runnes above 300 leagues, they hold the Southerne winds for healthfull and coole, and (which is yet more) most cleare and pleasant: yea, with it it never raines, contrary to that we see in Europe, on this side the line. The Solanus, or Easterly wind is commonly hot and troublesome in Spaine, and in Murtia it is the healthfullest and coolest that is; for that it passeth thorow that large champian, Various qualities of the Eastern wind ac­cording to severall countries. and sweet plea­sant orchards. In Carthagena, which is not farre from thence, the same wind is troublesome, and unwholesome. The Meridionall is commonly rainie and boisterous; and yet in the same Citie whereof I speake, it is wholesome and plea­sant. In a region containing fiftie leagues in circuit (I put it thus for example) the wind which bloweth on the one part, is hot and moist, and that which bloweth on the other, is cold and drie. Lib. 2. cap. 49. And Pliny reports, that in Africke it raines with a Northerly wind, and that the Southerne wind is cleare: And Acosta tells us yet more, that there is a certaine wind of such a Idem. Acosta ibid [...] quality, that when it bloweth in some countrie, it causeth it to raine fleas, and that in so great abundance, that they trouble and darken the aire, and cover all the sea-shore; and in other places it rai­neth frogs. There are winds which naturally trouble the sea, and make the water thereof looke greene and blacke; others make it looke as cleare as chrystall; some comfort and make glad, others trouble and breed heavinesse. Such as nourish silke-wormes, have great care to shut their windowes when as the South-westwinds doe blow, and to open them to that opposite to it, having found by certaine experience, that [Page 20] their wormes die and languish with the one, fatten, and become better-like by the other. The same Idem ibid. cap. 9. Authour reporteth, that in some parts of the Indies, he hath seene grates of yron rusted and consumed, that passing it betwixt your fingers, it dissolved into powder, as if it had beene hay, or parched straw; the which onely proceeded from the wind corrupting it, and it having no power to withstand the same. But before we conclude this chapter, we must take notice, that See Purchas his pil­grimage, lib 4 cap. 12. ex Linch [...]t. l. 2. without the Tropicks from the twentie seventh to the thirtie seventh degrees, the winds are said to be for the most part Easterly (as some thinke) by a repercussion of the aire: even as we see waters being incountred with more force, returne with an eddie, in a manner, backe. This which is said of the Easterly wind, is to be understood of the sea: for, at the land, though winds be, as hath beene said, certaine, and set; yet, that which is the generall wind of one countrie, is not generall to all: yea, in the same countrie they have a set wind for the day, and another quite contrary bloweth for the night: also neere the coast, they are more subiect to calmes in this burning Zone, than further off in the sea; the grosse vapours which arise out of the earth, and the divers situation thereof, being the cause of these differences. Many other strange effects of winds may in these Authors be seene, which here I willingly passe by; having dwelt some­what the longer upon this point, to acquaint such as shall travell into this new world, with the condition of the aire and winds of those re­mote regions.

CHAP. VI.

GOD of his infinit goodnesse to man-kinde, af­ter that great and terrible deluge and inunda­tion of the universall world, Genes. 8.22. made man a promise, that from thenceforward should not faile the severall seasons of the yeere; Sommer and Winter, Seed-time and Harvest; which hath hitherto accordingly come to passe. Now these seasons, according to severall cli­mats and countries doe much vary and differ: Vnder the Line, and betwixt the Tropickes, they continue more constant, and lesse deviation from their ordinary course is to be observed. Without the Tropicks there is a greater dif­ference and irregularity therein to be observed: Now these seasons therefore, according to their unconstant course, must needs diversly af­fect the body of this Microcosme, man, both in sicknesse and in health; and therefore will not be impertinent to say something of this subject. Wee will threfore begin with the naturall temperature of the sea­sons of the yeere, The naturall seasons of the yeere. as they are commonly seene and observed with us here in Europe. The naturall temperature of the Spring then with us here in Europe ought to be hot and moist; of the Sommer hot and drie; of the Autumne, or Harvest, cold and moist; of Winter cold and drie: These [Page 21] among innumerable others, are the chiefe alterations incident to our aire, and by the which the seasons of the yeere are with us ordinarily di­vided and distinguished; and these seasons are occasioned by meanes of the exaltation, or declining of that glorious prince of Planets. Now, the further these seasons decline frō the afore-mentioned qualities, the more intemperate and greater enemies to the health of mankind they prove. Our Pracipue vero maxi­me anni temporum mu­tationes observandae sunt, ut neque medica­mentum purgans luben­ter exbibeau [...]us, neque partes circa ventrem u­ramus, aut secemus, an­tedies decem, aut etiam plures. Maxime tamen sufficient decem, ac maximi periculi plena sunt ambo aequinoctia, maxime vero autumna­le. Periculosissima etiam sunt ambo Solstitia, praecip [...]e (que) aestivum. Sy­derum quo (que) ortus ob­servandi, praecipue (que) ca­niculae, deinde arcturi, & vergiliarum occasus. His enim potissimū die­bus morbi indicationem subeunt, & alii quidem perimunt, alii vero de­sinunt, alii (que) omnes in a­liam formam & statum transeunt. Lib de acre, aquis & locis. Hipporcrates defines not these seasons after this manner; but according to the rising and setting of certaine starres; and the chiefe times by him observed, are these following: the two Solstices, the one in Sommer, about the eleventh of Iune, the other in Winter, about the eleventh of December: then next the two Aequinoxes; the one a­bout the eleventh of March, the other about the eleventh of September. These times, because of dangers about these seasons, this old Father would have us to observe. The Sōmer Solstice he accounteth most dan­gerous; and the Harvest Aequinox. The same Authour, againe, obser­veth the rising and setting of certaine starres; as namely of the Pleiades, Vergiliae, rising the five and twentieth of April, and setting about the first of November: and againe, the rising of Arcturus, about the one and thirtieth of August, and setting about the beginning of March. Besides, this same Authour observeth also the rising of the Dog-starre the nin­teenth of Iuly, and setting againe the twenty seventh of August; and with these also he observeth the blowing of the West-wind: And this is all the Hippocraticall spheare, comprehending such starres and seasons as he thought fit for Physitians to observe. But now, againe, as concer­ning the temper of these seasons, whereas I say the Spring is hot and moist, it may be objected, that in it selfe it is rather temperate. To this I answer, that howsoever it be so accounted, yet in comparison of the other seasons, it may be called temperate. And againe, it may be called temperate, as some say, effective, by producing the best temper. It may againe be demanded, if heat and drouth be proper qualities be­fitting Sommer, and cold & drouth approptiated for Winter; Question cōcerning the temperature of the seasons, with the answer. whether the hottest Sommer be not the healthfullest? as likewise the coldest Winter? To this I answer, they are not so, simply and absolutely consi­dered: Nam omne nimium vertitur in vitium. The extreme hot Som­mer inflames the humours of the body, making it subject to hot and acute diseases: and the extreme pinching cold, accompanied especi­ally with sharpe piercing Northerly winds, disposeth the body to rheumes, and rheumatecke diseases; as likewise to Apoplexies, The humours in the body of man, answer the foure seasons of the yeere, and the parts of our civil day. and ma­ny other such like dangerous infirmities. The humours in the body of man have pre-eminence and dominion according to these foure seasons: for in the Spring, blood most abounds; in the Sommer, choler; in the Harvest melancholy; and in Winter, phlegme: and the parts of our civill day, answer likewise to these seasons; the morning to the Spring, the noonetide to Sommer, the afternoone to autumne, and the night to Winter. Now, these anniversarie, or yeerely seasons, Seasons of the yeere differ acording to cli­mats and countries. doe much differ according to the climat: For, within the Tropicks the seasons are much warmer than without; and under the Equinoctiall Line, then Winter is, when the Sorrow is perpendicular over their heads; by reason that then it doth more powerfully attract and draw unto it selfe divers [Page 22] moist exhalations, which descending againe in great abundance upon the face of the earth, doth plentifully refresh & water the same; and this season they therefore call their Winter. But againe, when the Sun de­clineth a little, the beames not darting downe so perpendicularly as before, there not being now that forcible attraction of vapours; and by consequent, as fewer clouds, and lesse raine, so heat to the outward ap­pearance, being then intended, and of greater force than before: and this time they call their Sommer, as being fairer and warmer than the former, quite contrary to that which befalleth us here without the Tro­pickes; as in particular may be observed in the country of Chili in the West Indies. Situation of places altereth the seasons: See Acost. in places al­leged in the former chapter. Now the situation of places (as hath before beene mentio­ned) often altereth the nature of this ambient aire, and by consequent, altereth the seasons in those particular places, although the elevation of the Pole differ little or nothing: the which is evidently seen in Peru, whereas the whole breadth of the countrie not much exceeding forty leagues, in the plaine, it neither snowes, raines, nor thunders; and in the meane time, upon the Sierra, or hils, the seasons have their courses as in Europe, where it raines from the moneth of September, untill April, and in the Andes it raines in a manner, all Winter. And even here in Europe, no small difference may thus be observed, that oftentimes, the high hills are infested with terrible cold tempests, when as the adja­cent vallies goe many times scotfree, as travellers can testifie. And of this, Historie of the diffe­rence of the season in the hills and vallies. my selfe was once an eye-witnesse, when as in the yeere 1610, tra­velling from Misnia towards Prague, and passing over the high hills which encompasse Bohemia round about; on Easter eve at night (falling then about the midst of April) as likewise all Easter day, and the three next daies after, it snew continually without any intermission, accompanied with so nipping a frost and North-Easterly wind, that I have seldome at any time observed a sharper season: the next day after, the snow fell no more, and comming downe into the plaine of Bohemia, about halfe a daies iourney from S. Annaberg, where I rested these foure daies, I found neither frost nor snow, nor any signe of the same; but both corne and grasse as greene and forward, as had ever beene observed about that season, to­gether with a fine warme temperate aire: and inquiring there of the weather past, they assured me that they had seen neither frost nor snow, onely that morning had falne a small showre of warme raine, which was scarcely to be discerned upon the ground. But it is yet stranger, that within a few miles of ground, one place not exceeding another in height, should be Sommer in one, and Winter in the other, as appeareth by that which followeth: See Purchas his pil­grimage lib. 4. cap. 16. At the same time, when in the West part of this Peninsula ( being neere Cambaia) betweene that ridge of mountaines and the sea, it is after their appellation Sommer, which is from September to April, in which time it is alwaies cleare sky, with­out once or very little raining: on the other side of the hills, which they call the coast of Choromandell, it is then Winter, every day and night yeelding abun­dance of raines; besides those terrible thunders, which both beginne and end their Winter: and from April till September, in a conntrarie vicissitude, on the Westerne part is winter, and on the Easterne part Sommer; insomuch that in little more than 20 leagues iourny insome places (as when you crosse the hill to S. Tho­mas on the one side of the hill you ascend with a faire Sommer; on the other side you descend with a stormy Winter. The like, saith Linschoten, happeneth at the [Page 23] Cape Rosalgate, in Arabia, and in many other places of the East. But it is as great, if not a greater wonder, that in some places of the same elevation of the Pole, even upon the low levell ground, there should be such a disparity in the qualities of the ambient aire; as it is reported of the straits of Magellan. Idem lib. 6. cap. 14. In and about the straits of Magellan (saith a late Writer) ( in as high an elevation of the Pole, as many parts of Spaine) the cold is yet there so violent, that besides the mountaine tops alwaies covered with snow, their very Sommer, in the midst there­of, freeth them not from yee. Yea, at that time of the yeere the Hollanders encoun­tred an Iland of yee in the Sea. The trees yet there are generally greene all the yeere long. The cold is so extreme, that Henry Barwell became balld there­with, so continuing a yeere or two. One Harris a Gold-smith, blowing his frozen nose, cast it with his fingers into the fire; and our Authour himselfe going on shore, And returning wet in his feet, the next morning pulled off his toes with his stac­kings, from his benummed feet. Those countries wherein the aire is so con­tinually warme, as within the Tropicks, and neere to them, prove not commonly so healthfull, especially to our Northerne constitutions; whose lives are better preserved in a Northern aire, Observations for un­dertakers of plantati­ons. than any of those hot regions, which is diligently to be observed of those who undertake to transport colonies into remote regions, that they settle not themselves in too hot a climat. Now, that the distempered qualities of the aire are a meanes of producing divers diseases, appeareth by many places of that famous Hippocrates his works, where hee setteth downe divers distempered constitutions of the aire, whereupon ensued divers dan­gerous diseases, both pestilentiall and others. And among our selves the instances, I thinke, are fresh enough yet in our memories, of this last yeere, 1630. which deprived many of life, and many so pinch'd with poverty, that the wound is not yet healed up. It is then apparent that the severall seasons of the yeere, together with the alterations and changes thereof doe not a little affect both the body and minde of man; and therefore diligently and carefuly of Physitians to be considered.

CHAP. VII.

IT is now more then time that we come to this so noble and necessary element of Water, which can never sufficiently be commended. And in so high an account was it among the Antients, that Thales Milesius, The high esteeme the Antients had of wa­ter. one of the se­ven Wise-men of Greece, thought it to be the originall of all things, quasi aqua omnia, from whence all things have their first being and beginning; and this was also the opini­on of the Greeke Poet Hesiod. But in briefe, both the antiquity and utility doe highly recommend it unto us. The Antiquity, Antiquity. as being that prime and principall liquour where with [Page 24] our forefathers untill the time of Noah after the flood, yea, and even after the flood, Vtility. continued still to bee in greatest request. The utility appeareth in this, that it is the most common and natu­rall drinke to all living creatures; and withall the most familiar, and easiest to come by: and hence by the goodnesse of our God, have we this Element obvious every where, as well in the highest hills as in the lowest vallies. And that great Quoniam aqua alter­um est ex duobus ele­mentis quibus constat bominum vita, altera vitae parte Aegyptios spolians, optimo com­pendio usus est ad humi­liandam eorum feroci­am, nisi prorsus fuissent intractabiles. Calvin. comment cap. 7. Exo. vers. 19. Calvin saith, that God deprive the Aegyp­tians of the one halfe of their life, when as hee inflicted upon them that great plague of turning their water into blood. The utility and necessity of this noble Element was not unknown to Gen. 26.15, 16, 17. &c Isaac and Abimelec, which made their herd-men so strive for these fountaines of living water: and did yet more manifestly appeare in 1 King. 17.1. that more than triennal disastrous drought in Ahabs daies. And some late writers relate, that the like In one place West­ward from Florida & Virginia it had not rained for the space of three yeeres; and therefore was there great scant of food there. Purchas lib. 8. cap. 7. In Mexico in former times had bin a drought of 4. yeeres continuance, which forc'd the inhabitants to forsake the coun­try, Idem ibid. cap. 13. hapned of late yeeres in some parts of the West-Indies. And is yet more cleerely in this seene, in that it is the Basis, or foundation of all other liquors whatsoever; and giving, as it were, the essence even un­to that king of liquors, Wine it selfe; as without the which, neither it, nor yet any other ever attaine to any perfection. Being therefore so usefull both for drinke, dressing of meate, and many other necessary uses, it will be requisite to say something of it: And first for the tem­perature, both Physitians and Philosophers have reputed water to be of a cooling quality. And Aristotle himselfe is of this opinion; and as for moisture, Galen holdeth, that it is an absurd thing to hold that any thing is moister than this Element. It is then generally held, that Water is very cold and very moist; And yet Lib. de Aqua. Division of water. Cardan thinkes it not to be cold, as it is commonly accounted, but rather temperate, and ex­claimeth against his teachers who instructed him in that maner, which (saith he) hath done me great mischiefe. Temperature of wa­ter. And in very truth, it would seeme in its owne naturall condition not to be so very cold, howsoever actually, as many other liquors, it may partake of an intense frigidi­ty. All water is either potable and usefull for ordinary emploiments; or else Physicall, and appropriated to divers diseases; or lastly veno­mous, Properties of the best waters. and altogether unprofitable for the use either of man or beast. My purpose is in this place to speake of such waters as be beneficiall for the life of all living Creatures. In the first place then, let us exa­mine the qualities of the best water. Jmprimis ita (que) illa a­qua ad potandum opti­ma censetur, quae clara, pellucida, tenuis, pura, frusti lorum & sapo­rum omnium expers, le­vis (que) reperitur: necnon quae igni admota citò califit, remota vero o­cyssime frigescit, gustu iucundo: quae den (que) celeriter praecordia per­transit, & fine ulla ventriculi molestia la­bitur & secedit. &c Matthiol in lib. 5. Di­oscor. cap. 14. de aqua. The goodnesse thereof is principally discerned by the lightnesse and thinnesse; the which, ac­cording to Hippocrates, is soone warme and soone cold againe; if it bee free from any smell or taste; if any kind of pulse bee quickly tender that is boyled therein; if put in a silver vessell it cause it no to rust, and leave no slime at bottome. It is also accounted a good signe of wholesome water, if a handfull of sage being throwne therein, it be presently dispersed: if it nourish good fish, and good and wholesome plants grow in it, we thinke well of it: but if it nourish toads, snakes, or other such vermine, it is utterly to be rejected. The weighing of wa­ter is not to be trusted to: for a venomous water may be as light, as that which is of a more laudable quality: and besides, one and the same wa­ter may be heavy in winter, and light in sommer; as for any other expe­riments, either by a linnen cloth or round piece of wood, as idle and [Page 25] impertinent, I passe by, and come to the differences, and severall sorts of water. Water that is in request for the ordinary use, Hippocr. fusius de bi [...] omnibus aquu agit. lib. de aere, aquis & locis. Gal. 1. de salut. 26. Aph. lib. 5. Avic. fen. 2. primi doct. 2. cap. 16 & 17. & alii multi, ut Lang. [...] 1. Epist. [...]4. Division of [...] water. Raine-water. as well of man as beast; (as for Physicall waters we referre them to their pro­per place, and venomous waters we will not meddle with) wee will divide into Celestiall and Terrestriall. Celestiall are either snow or raine-waters. Terrestriall, is either spring or river-water, well-water, or of a pond and standing lake. Raine-water is engendred in the middle region of the aire, of certaine vapors, which the Sunne by his heat in the day-time draweth up. 2 Meteor. cap. 3. Aristotle is of opinion that some hot and dry vapors are therewith mingled, which causeth the saltnesse in the sea. In raine-water againe, we are to observe both the time and the manner of falling. Loco prius citato. Hippocrate [...] rejecteth that which falleth in the winter­time, as being heavier and harder than in the Sommer. Best raine-water ac­cording to the time of the yeare. The best in his opinion is that which falleth in Sommer, and in the most tempe­rate part of the same: not in the extreme heat of the canicular dayes; it being then farre worse. Rufus apud Oribafi, Columella, Plinius. Some, notwithstanding, hold that the winter and spring raine water are the best, and to be preferred before that which falleth in Sommer and Harvest; and that by reason it is not so soone putrified. But the opinion of Hippocrates is to be preferred, who measureth the water by the lightnesse and thinnesse thereof. What parts of the day are best. Of the parts of the day, that which falleth in the morning is accounted best. The manner of the falling is likewise of some moment; The manner of the falling. whe­ther it fall with force or violence, or mildly and softly; with greater or smaller drops. That which falleth with smaller drops and with vi­olence, Hippocrates esteemeth better than that which falleth more lei­surely, and with greater drops: and that which falleth with great stormes of wind, is accounted worst. The substance of raine-water is most subtile and sweet, by reason that the most subtile and thinnest parts are exhaled and drawne up by force of the Sunne-beames. Snow-water is either of snow alone, or of snow mingled with haile or yee; Snow-water nothing worth. or else snow and yee are mingled with other water. Both these sorts are to be rejected, by reason that the thinnest and subtilest parts by con­gealing doe exhale and vanish away, the thicker and more terrestri­ous part still remaining behind. Of this a triall may be made by let­ting some water freeze in the night-time, and the next morning being dissolved by the heat, the quantity shall easily bee discerned to bee di­minished. Now what harme insueth by drinking of these snow-wa­ters, is by the testimony of Aph. 24 lib. 5. Hippocrates apparent: Hurt by drinking of snow-water. and such as doe in­habite the Alpes and Pyrenean hills, and Auvergne in France, are sensible of this hurt, being much molested with great throats, whom for this cause their neighbours call Goitreux. Cisterne waters are of a very neare af­finity with raine-water; as being nothing else but raine-water con­veighed into a cisterne, as a fit and convenient receptacle. Cisterne water. Pliny ap­proves not of raine-waters, because by reason of their standing they pu­trifie, and ingender noisome creatures, harden the belly, and are hurt­full to the throat. But since raine-water is so usefull and soveraine, I see no reason why cisterne-water should be blamed. Correction of cistern waters. And since of raine-water there be some better and some worse, we must choose the fittest and convenientest time, to wit, that which falleth in the Som­mer. [Page 26] As for the slime & filth which often accompanieth rainewa-ter, be­ing strained thorow gravel and sand, they easily leave al that behind the: as for the feare of putrefaction, it may easily be avoided, by casting in some small fishes, Quaity of cisterne water. which will keepe it in continuall motion. As con­cerning the quality of such water, it is by some Physitians beleeved, that it bindes; but that which is reserved in the middest of Sommer, rather looseneth then bindeth the belly. And by the same reason, boi­led water rather looseneth than bindeth the belly, contrary to the vulgar opinion; A vulgar error. and that by reason that being boiled, it is more easily againe expelled out of the body.

Consideration of springs and spring-water. Best Springs. Laso prius citat [...] de Aere, [...]quis, &c.Now, as for terrestriall waters, among then, Fountaines or Springs challenge vnto themselves the prerogative of the first place above any others. In fountaines or springs, wee are to consider three things: their originall, Obiection. situation, and places through which they passe. The best springs, Answere. in the judgement of Hippocrates, are such as spring out of high places and earthy hills. In the situation of springs what to bee considered. The soile or place from whence they spring. Situation in regard of the Heavens. The ground or soile thorow which they runne. The manner of run­ning. Whether water car­ried thorow pipes of lead may bee safely used. Such as spring out of rockes he mis-liketh, as also such as runne neere any hot bath, or thorow mineralls. It may be objected, that springs issuing out of rockes, are by some of the antients accounted wholesomest and best. It may bee, Hippo­crates, in regard of their excessive cold, and that they are not so passible thorow the body, rejected them. In the situation of springs, wee are to consider the soile where it is seated, and next the aspect of the Heaven. As for the soile, the best spring out of high hilly places; but worse that spring out of champian and plaine grounds: for such water in Winter is hot, and in Sommer cold. In regard of the Heaven, such are commended that runne towards the Sunne rising, and have their aspect that way. Such as runne towards the West or other parts, &c: are not of that high e­steeme, although not unwholesome to drinke. Now the ground through which waters runne is not to bee neglected: The best ground is a good firme clay, unto the which the filth and corrup­tion of the water sticketh fast. Againe, it must runne a swift course; by which meanes it is freed from all smell and putre­faction. But heere ariseth a question, whether water carried through pipes, especially of lead, may safely be used. The rea­son may bee both in regard of Aqua quae per plum­heas solenas deducitur fugienda est, sordes nam (que) et limus plumbi [...]i [...] adharent, ob id qui illius subsi [...]entiam bi­bunt dyfenterci fiunt. Gal. lib. 7. de medi­cam. loco affect. ap­propr. Verum est ae omni metallo quod propter sulphuream sub­stantiam oliquid habe­at accuitatis; quam­vis in flanno & plum­bo saper id minime in­dicat: probatur tamen per illud, quod aqua quaedam currit vel stat in fistulis plumbei [...], aut stanneis, efficitur in testinorum sive visce­rum exceriatio Al­be [...]t. Magn lib 3. de. metal. tract. 2. cap. 4 Aqua per plumbum ducta ideo videtur vi­ [...]iosa, quod ex cerusa fit & nascitur. Vit. lib. 8. Pallad. lib. 9 cap. 11 &c. Galen and others, antient Au­thors and famous in their generations: Now besides the close­nesse of the passage thorow which it is conveyed, they alleadge another inconvenient; that by this passage the water draweth ceruse from the lead; and these drossie dregges thus drawne from this ceruse, say they, engender the bloody flixe. I answere, that daily experience evinceth this to bee most false and erroneous, as may bee seene in the Citie of Paris, where such water is in most common and frequent request. And if they bee sometimes sub­ject thereunto, it is rather to bee imputed to the slimy river of Seine, than to these leaden pipes, as their owne Physitians confesse. A­gaine, in Montpeliers the water is brought into the Towne by meanes of such leaden pipes, and yet are they no wayes obnoxi­ous to this disease, and this is likewise the case of many other [Page 27] cities of that great and populous kingdome of France, who are not­withstanding as free as the former. Inde (que) Lang. Epist me­dicin. loco nuper citat. Confutation of this opinion. But that wee may come neerer home, what shall wee say to the noble City of London, whither that ri­ver of Ware is conveied, and by these leaden pipes distributed tho­row that great body; and yet it is well knowne that this is not a dis­ease that much troubleth ordinarily this great and populous City. And this Towne of Northampton maketh likewise use of these leaden pipes; and yet the inhabitants are but seldome troubled with this dis­ease: and no doubt, many like instances may be produced to prove this truth. Againe, ceruse, which Vitru vius and others so much feare, cannot be extracted out of lead, except it be first steeped in strong vineger. If any can object any thing else against such water, the fire will make amends.

River-water partaketh of the same nature with Spring-water, River-water. from whence it hath its originall and beginning, yet commeth short of the former, in regard of the slime and filth they carry with them; as also in regard of the diversity of the natures of the springs whereof they are composed; and therefore Avicenne commendeth rather the water of small Brookes, than of great Rivers; as likewise, What river-water is best. the further they runne from their springs, the better he liketh them; by reason the fur­ther they runne, the more subtile and thinner they are: howbeit, A­verroes his country-man is of another mind, by reason that the further it runneth, the more filth and corruption it gaineth. Such therefore as abound in mudde and slime are the worst to be liked.

Waters of Lakes being alwaies renewed by their springs, Waters of Lakes and Ponds. and tossed to and fro with the wind, are not to be rejected. Well-water being often drawne, standing in a free and open aire, Well-water. with a large mouth, may also be of good use: but that which is other­wise, declineth from this bonitie, Pump-water. and therefore pumpe-water is not so good as open Well-water is.

Standing pond-water of all other is the worst, Pond-water worst of all others. and very prejudiciall to health. Salt-water is not of ordinary use, either to drinke or dresse meat with; and this shall now suffice to have said of Waters in gene­rall, as they are serviceable for the use of mankinde; reserving a more particular discourse of water, untill wee come to speake of drinke. As for the other two necessary and usefull elements, wee deferre speaking of them, untill wee come to the diet of the diseased. But before we proceed to speake of elements assumed within the body, wee purpose to discusse two questions: and first,

CHAP. VIIJ.

BVt before we enter upon the discussing of this question, it shall not be amisse to know what Aliment or nourishment is. It is by Quicquid substantiam nostri corporis auget & conservat, vel ut alii; Alimentum est quod vitales vires custodire natum existit, per refe­ctionem triplicis sub­stantiae, spirituosae, hu­midae & carnosae; quae in nobis quotidie perit, & vires imminuit. Mercatus tom. 1 lib. 2. quaest. 164. class. 2. Galen defined to be whatsoever increaseth or multiplieth the substance of our body, and conserveth the same. Now the substance of our bodie (as hath bin said) is threefold; solid, humid, and spiritu­ous, or airy; from whence the differences of aliments are desumed. The solid parts are re­paired by food; the humid by drinke; and the airie or spirits, by sweet and comfortable smells. Now that any thing cary the name of aliment or nourishment, it ought to be indued with these qualities following. In the first place it ought to be of quality hot and moist; that it may the better repaire the decay of our naturall innate heat. It is againe requisite that it affect our taste with a good rellish; Properties required in nourishment. Quod sapit, nutrit. for what pleaseth the palat in taste, often nourisheth well. Now that which doth most affect the taste, and is agreeable to nature, is in taste sweet (I meane not in excesse, as to feed on sugar and sweet meates continually, which being much used are more hurtfull than helpefull to health; but in a meane, not declining to any other; as sharpe, sowre, &c.) and so is most acceptable to nature; all other being rather Physicall than Alimentall, as I may say. And howsoever meat may in the taste be somwhat salt, bitter, &c: yet in the concoction there is made a sequestration of these qualities from the substance of the food, and that onely which is sweet remaineth for nourishment. Lib. de carnibus. Hip­pocrates writeth, that all manner of creatures are nourished onely with sweet things, which 2. Meteor. cap. 2. Aristotle also repeateth. Againe, that which nourisheth, ought to be mixed and compounded, and therefore pure elements are here excluded; according to that vulgar saying, Ex qui­bus constamus jisdem nutrimur. And lastly, it is required that there be a power of giving life; Potentia vitae & animationis: And such things onely nourish which once have lived, saith Lib. 2 de caus. plant. Theophrastus. And there is an easier passage and change of such things as have a communication, or symbolize in symbol or quality. And for this cause, the juyce which commeth of living creatures is farre easilier changed into our substance, than that which is desumed from plants: Now to the que­stion. Although then it hath bin hitherto received for an uncontrolled truth, that no simple Element can nourish a mixt body; yet som things seem to crosse this opinion, and there is a common proverbial verse ten­ding to this purpose. Quatuor ex purit vitamducunt elementis Chameleon, talpa, ma­ris halec, & Salaman­dra. Halec unda fovet, &c. Quatnor ex &c. Now to discusse the truth of this [Page 29] question, we will briefly runne thorow the foure elements: and first of the fire. It is reported by antient Arist. lib 5. de nat. a­nimal cap 19. & Pliny lib. [...]0. cap. 67. & li. 13. cap. 30. Theoph. lib de igne, &c. Authors, that a certaine worme, or flie, called therefore Pyrausta, is both bred, and liveth in the fire, which is notwithstanding, most absurd and false, and as concerning the vulgar conceit of the Serpent Salamandra, living in the fire, and with his cold frozen venomous moisture, extinguishing the firie flames, it is as false as the former, as witnesseth Lib. 2. cap. 56. Dioscoride: and the Salmandra con­tinuing any space in the fire, is notwithstanding consumed to dust and ashes. Now come we to [...]e aire the next element: It is the opinion of some, that such as live altogether without any solid substance of food, may be fed with the aire. Indeed, if people were so contented, corne would be the cheaper, and people then would not be so destitute of food in a deare yeere, as was this last, 1630. Some relate strange things ten­ding to this purpose, as namely A man living only upon the Sunne and aire: Olimpioderus, Ci­tante Riolano ficio in praelect. of a man living only upon the Sun and aire; Fides sit penes Authorem: I never yet could see any such good hus­bands. Lib. 7. cap. 2. Men without mouths Pliny maketh mention of a certaine man, living without any thing else, save the attraction of the aire, being destitute of any mouth; and for this cause called Astomi. And the inhabitants of the new world, they say, will live 16 or 18 daies with the smoake of Tabacco only. Our Tabacconists here in England, are commonly as briefe with the pot as the pipe; and besides, many say, it procures them an appetite. And thus Ta­bacco, like aurum potabile, or that noble Elixir, is able to doe any thing. Athen. lib. 2. Diog. Laertius in eius vita. Democritus, wee read, being ready to give up the ghost, for a certaine time susteined his life with the only smell of hony, to the end he might be partaker of the Thesmophorian solemnity; and that not only the spirits, but even the solid parts also are fed by meats, Plinies Astomes (if it be true) confirme unto us, and Jn Epistolis. The Chameleon, Rhin. tax, Manu [...]odiata, avis Paradisi. Manardus seems to second it. The Chameleon also said to feed upon the aire only: and there is a certaine bird in the Indies call'd Rhintax, Manucodiata, or avis Paradisi, which being deprived of feet, is said to flie in the aire continually, & feed on the same only. But to an­swer the former objections; in the first place it is one thing to speake of the aire, as a simple Element, and another thing to speak of smels. Lib. de sensu, & sen­sib. A­ristotle against the Pythagoreans tells us that neither the aire nor the wa­ter can nourish, by reason of the simplicity of their elementary bodies. As concerning Plinies Astomes they are meere fictions & fancies, never any such people having bin discovered by any traveller whatsoever; Confutation of these former assertions. no more than many other monstrous and prodigious narrations, by too credulous antiquity received for uncontrolled truthes; Many lies left us by antiquity and travel­lers. and so for lega­cies left to posterity, which here to confute would spend me more time than I can now well spare. As for the Chameleon, it hath bin observed to catch flies, which sticking to its slimie tongue, Chameleon liveth not on the aire. it did afterwards feed upon. As for that Manucodiata, it hath bin hitherto constantly and con­fidently beleeved, that it lived alwayes balanced in the aire, Nor the bird of Para­dise. living up­on no other nourishment, but the aire onely; howbeit now in our late navigations, it hath bin observed to feed upon cloves: and moreover, Notable imposture. that the inhabitants so artificially cut off their feet, that no print or marke of them can ever be discerned. Now as I deny that any creature can live upon the aire only; so againe, I will not deny, but by good and pleasant smells, the exhaust and spent spirits, may againe be repaired, a [Page 30] smell being nothing else, save a certaine vaporous exhalation, or corpo­reall effluxe, Whether the bare e­lement of earth can nourish or no. or sliding out. But that the solid substance of the earth should nourish, would seeme to savour more of truth, in that God him­selfe seemeth to give the earth to the Serpent for food: and it is repor­ted, that the Mole liveth on the earth only. Besides, we see many women with child troubled with the disease Pica, to eat earth, coals, chalk, &c. And we see birds to swallow peeble-stones, the Ostrich to eat iron. But to answer these instances, Answer. the Serpents and Moles live not on the simple element of earth, which with us being [...] farre from the center is mixed, and not a simple element; and therefore maketh nothing for the purpose. It is true also, that women often make use of such trash as wee have mentioned; but that they have no great cause to brag of this food, by their ill-favored colour, and the evill accidents accompa­nying them, may easily appeare: the which doth argue the evill nou­rishment that such food doth affoord: Besides, they feed not onely on this food; and it may be now and then they will afford themselves a cup of good liquour, as a lavative, to wash downe this rubbish. As for fowle, which either devoured peeble-stones or metalls, they deliver them back againe such as they received them, their appetites being to such things as for physick, rather than food; and therefore it is but an idle tale Para­celsus telleth us, of one that lived fifteen daies only with a turse applied to his stomack. 3 De temporum. Galen mocks and scoffes at them, who thinke that one might sustaine life with wine applied outwardly; since whatsoever nourisheth must first be attracted by, and concocted in the instru­ments of concoction. It is therefore a mere dotage of our Paracelsists, that tell us that metalls will nourish our bodies. Let some of these gal­lants, I pray you, be fed but for a weeke, or lesse, with their best aurum potabile, lapis Philosophicus, or what else you can devise, and I warrant you at, or e'r the weeks end, if he be alive, he will snatch at a crust of browne bread. Now, concerning water, there is no lesse controversie amongst our Authours, and seemeth to be back'd with better reasons. Homer thought it nourished by his epithete [...]. The Iewes in their so­lemne feasts absteine from water, as did the Egyptians of old. The Iewes at this day, in their solemne feasts, abstaine from water, being of the minde of the old Egyptians, who thought the river Nilus nourished, because Moses turned the water thereof into blood. Lib. de Anima. Albertus Magnus reporteth, that he saw a melancholicke person, who lived not only many moneths, but yeeres also with the only use of this element. Comment. in lib Hip­poc. de aere, aquis & locis. Cardan mainteineth this opinon, and seemeth by many reasons to corroborate the same. Comen. Aph. 13 lib. 4. & cap. 7. lib 4. de usu part. Galen notwithstanding, is of a far other mind, and proveth that water nourish­eth not at all. And 4 Meteor. Aristotle is also of the same minde, who tells us, that water cannot at all thicken, and therefore cannot nourish. To decide the controversie, true it is, that pure elementary water cannot at all nourish, which neverthelesse thicke muddy and slimy water may sometimes effect, and so some fishes may live on the same; and yet it is well knowne, that many fishes either prey upon others, or live upon herbs and weeds; howsoever, they live not on mere and simple water; I conclude therefore this point, that pure elements, as they are in their owne sphere, especially neer the center, do not nourish; but the elements that are next unto us, being mixed and confused, may in some sort nourish.

CHAP. IX.

THis may, perhaps, to some seeme but a need­lesse and superfluous question, and that I might herein have spared my paines. It is true, the matter may seem somewhat strange, and many will be of opinion, I doubt not, that never was there any man so foolish, as to mainteine any such erronious and false opini­ons. But because this hath not been maintei­ned by vulgar wits only, but men of transcen­dent understandings, and eminent parts, both Physitians and others, have not only left us multiplicity of instances in this kind, but even affirmed, and stiffely mainteined the possibility and probability of the same; therefore, for the readers recreation and satis­faction, before I proceed to the use of aliments, How long one may live without food. I wil say something con­cerning this question. Lib. de carnibus▪ Hippocrates circumscribeth the full period of a mans continuance without food within the compasse of seven daies. If any man (saith hee) for the space of seven daies neither eateth nor drinketh, he must die in that space: and although some do exceed this period, yet when they would returne to their food, their belly receiveth it not: for in this space of time, the iejunum, or hungrie gut is so dried up, and clunged together, that they die speedily. But Lib. 11. cap. 54. Pliny seemeth to controll this truth, affirming divers to have continued above eleven daies without food, or any kinde of sustenance whatsoever. Lib. 3. observat me­dicin. cap. de asili [...], Schenckins telateth many strange stories, of such as have lived not onely daies and moneths, but even divers yeeres without any manner of nou­rishment: as namely, of one who lived at Rome the space of forty yeeres, without any sustenance whatsoever, and that by the testimony of Hermolaus Barbarus. The same Consili [...] adversus fa­mem. Author relateth out of Sylvius, the story of a young maid in Spaine, who lived two and twenty yeeres without ta­king any thing at the mouth, but a little faire water. And againe, of a German woman, who lived without food for the space of three yeeres, out of Ioannes Bocacius. And againe, of another whom Rondeletius saw, who had lived ten whole yeeres after the same manner; besides many others more. But amongst the rest, Idem Schenck. ex Bartholomaei Anull ficta poest circa finem. he relateth a pretty story of a fellow about sixty yeeres of age, who having digged a Well about forty foot deepe, the earth fall­ing in upon him, thrust this good fellow thirty foot deepe, and so filled up almost all the hollow againe; the fellow, as he fell, held up with his armes as well as he could, History of a fellow li­ving seven daie [...] un­der the earth upon his owne urine only. some part of the scaffold, which bare the earth so off his body, that it gave accesse to some aire whereby he might breathe: and in this case he continued for the space of seven daies; when as they thinking to digge up the dead corps to bury, they heard some noise, wherewith at first affrighted, yet afterwards encouraged with some hope of life, they made haste, and after a draught of Wine, would neither suffer him­selfe to be tied, nor use any other helpe but his owne to ascend out of that deepe dun­geon. [Page 32] At length being now ascended de profundis, he confessed that hee lived all that while without any sleepe, or any sustenance, saving his owne urine, distil­led and redistilled in the alembicke of his owne bladder: adding, with all, this iest, shewing his purse; told his companions hee had met with a kinde Host, who had interteined him these seven daies, and as many nights, without one penny expences. More such stories, if thou be disposed, thou maist see there, and Vide Marcellum Donatum de historia medic. admirab. Clau­dum Deodatū Panth. Hygiast. lib. 1. cap. 20. Lang Epist medic. li. 2. Epist. 27. alios (que). else-where; as of the Maid of Spire, of Berne, &c. who were said to have lived divers yeeres without any food. Whether these relations be true or no, let the Authors answer for them. Now, what should be the cause of so strange and prodigious fasting? Now sure, if any such fasting be indeed, yet is it hard to find out the cause and reason thereof, although, as yet, the case is controverted. Some would ascribe the cause to the influence of certaine starres: yea, and Iulius Firmicus Maternus. lib. 4. Ridiculous reason of this strange absti­nence. some have gone so farre, as to explicate unto us what stars doe conduce for the furtherance of this strange abstinence. But were these starres influences of no effi­cacie and power in antient times before this strange fasting came into the world? and the stars being generall causes, and therefore affecting all equally, what is now become of these influences in these later daies? Surely, Another more plau­sible. if these starres had any such efficacy or power, now in this last deare yeere 1630, it had beene time to demonstrate the same. But Laurent Ioubert. decad. 1. Parad. 2. some of our Physitians pretend a more plausible reason, desumed from nature it selfe, alleging for a naturall cause hereof, a cold and moist phlegmatick constitution; which, as they affirme (and experience and reason both confirme it) can best beare abstinence; and cold and tough phlegmatick humors abounding in their bodies, together with a debili­ty of naturall heat, doth so benum and stupifie the sense and feeling of the appetite, that the partie is able for a long time to live without any sustenance whatsoever. Vlysses Aldreandus. lib. de exa [...]g. Some more absurdly faine, that there is some store of stony moisture in the body of man, which touching the guts, turne them presently into a stony hardnesse. Now, that some such sto­ny juice or moisture may be ingendred in the body of man, seemeth to be no fable, by the history of that stony child of Sene; as also by the hi­story of an Hen dying for hunger in an old castle, which was afterward found turned into a hard stony substance. It is true indeed, that of a tough & hard baked phlegme, with the concurse of a strong heat, stones may be ingendred; as wee see buckes made of clay: but that of these humours, so dispersed through the body, the guts should be turned in­to a hard stony substance, is not recorded by any antient Authour what­soever. And it is to be observed, that most of these histories are of young women, of a cold phlegmaticke constitution, which humour without heat, and that of some strength, cannot be congealed into so hard a substance. And besides, it is recorded, that many of these parties re­turned afterwards to their former appetites againe. Now then, as there was a congeling humour within their bodies; so they must of necessi­ty acknowledge a contrary dissolving, or degelating humour, as I may say, and so we shall play the foole in infinitum. Againe, if this opinion were true, the substance of the guts must needs be solid, and so with­out feeling; and without sense and feeling the inward parts were never able to subsist. The learned Loco supra citat. Ioubert is very confident in defence of this [Page 33] long abstinence, and would seeme to make his assertion strong by the examples of some creatures, as the Chameleon, which we have already answered; and the Beare supposed to live all Winter with­out any food; and yet hath beene observed to provide store of apples in Autumne, and carry them to his denne; that I say no­thing of others. But if there were yet any such matter, In antient Authour [...] no mention made of any such strange ab­stinences. yet is there a great disproportion betwixt these creatures and man-kinde, the most temperate of all others. And if these miraculous fastings were so frequent in these later times, why read wee not of the like in former ages? In all the old Testament wee read but of two, Moses and Elias; which, howbeit they did neither of them exceed forty daies; yet were they undoubtedly miraculous. And the like may wee say of our blessed Saviours fast in the new Testament. It is also to be observed, that most of these strange abstinences are reported of sick­ly women; who being once recovered of their former infirmities, returned againe to their appetites. Howsoever, sure I am, we find none here amongst us that are able to indure any such strict absti­nence, in sicknesse or in health: and I thinke foure, or five daies absti­nence, either from meat or drinke, None can long con­tinue without suste­nance. will gravell most men and wo­men; even in sicknesse it selfe; what shall wee then say of health­full persons? And indeed, if wee consider the matter aright, wee may easily consider, that it is not likely, that any should long live without food; and that by reason of the daily decay of that triple substance, whereof something hath beene said heretofore, and therefore all these former narrations seeme to be but fabulous, and cuningly contrived, and for some private impostorious respects, set abroach. And whoso made any shew of such abstinences, their abstinence was not reall, but fraudulent to circumvent the world. And such was that Aelianus in varia hi­storia. abstinence of Pythagoras, said to have fasted for­tie daies; whose wants were, in the darke night, by his disciples secretly supplied. And to conclude this question and chapter, it is worth the observing, what is written, concerning Iovius Pontanus. Notable imposture of a cozning counterfit Hermite. one Antony an Hermite, who counterfeiting extraordinary holinesse of life, made likewise a shew of absolute abstinence from all manner of food: but after certaine daies, this counterfeit hypocrisie was discovered; it being observed that all his candles were made of the pulpous flesh of pullaine, well minced and mingled with cinnamon and sugar; and to conceale this fraud from the eyes of the world, artificially covered over with tallow, after the manner of other candles. But this need not seeme strange among such miracle-mongers, where many other such juggling trickes passe for currant coine, and are by them accounted but piae fraudes; as they please to call them.

CHAP. X.

IF ever this was true in any age, Flures gula quam gladio periere, More perish by intempe­rance than by the sword, I thinke it may be found true in those times wherein wee now live. Lib. de legib. Plato esteemed in his time, that Ci­tie intemperate, which mainteined many Physitians; and used alwaies to exhort his followers to sobriety. And both holy Writ and prophane Auhours are very frequent in their precepts of temperance and sobriety; and doe every where much abhorre and detest intemperance in meate and drinke. Intemperance not only hurts our selves, but propagates here­ditary diseases to po­steritie. And indeed, if we seriously with our selves consider the shortnesse of the life of man, together with the manifold miseries by sickenesse of all sorts, susteined, we may see good reason for us not to be so leavish of our lives: I meane, not to be so cruell, as by intemperance, not only to kill our selves, but even to derive a multitude of loathsome and noisome hereditarie diseases, as lega­cies to our posterity. But because I meane heereafter to say some­thing of the loathsomnesse and hurt this sinne procureth to intem­preate persons, Things to be consi­dered in all manner of nourishment. Substance. Aliments of grosse substance. Of a slender sub­stance. I will not here dwell upon it. In all manner of nourishment, then there are these things to be considered; the substance, quality, quantitie, the time, the preparation and order. In regard of the substance, some food is called grosse, and harder of digestion: as unleavened bread, pie-crust, bacon, beefe, &c. as hereafter shall more particularly appeare. Some, againe, are of a more slender and smaller nourishment; as wheat bread leavened, ba­ked in an oven, then washed in faire water, barley bread, ptisan, rockie fish; and such as are of a soft substance; being especially prepared with vineg [...]r and opening roots; Of a meane sub­stance. wild birds, young pigeons, &c. The meane, betwixt both, is best for ordinarie food and nourishment; to wit, such food as is neither grosse nor slender; such is good wheat bread, not too cleane drest, well leavened and baked; oatmeale gru­ell, reare-rosted egges, new milke of a young cow; amongst fish, the Pickerel, Carpe, Turbot; and the flesh of Hens, Capons, Turkies, Pigeons, Veale, Lamb, &c. of all which in their proper places. It is also to be observed by the way, Qualitie of aliments. that such meats are of easiest degestion: As for the quality, they ought to be of a good juice, euchymi; such as are those we mentioned last, & the like, which are also the best for nourish­ments as on the contrary, those of a bad juice, affoord but a bad nourish­ment to the body of man: such as are bread made of corrupted corne, of darnel, rie, panick, and millet; as likewise bread baked on ashes, or em­bers, Sōmer fruits, which last not; and whatsoever is quickly corrupted [Page 35] in the stomack, &c. As for the quantity, Quantity variable ac­cording to sundry circumstances. in regard of the variety of coun­tries, complexions, customs, course of life, age, and such other considera­ble circumstances, it cannot certainly be determined. Old age must not feed so liberally, as lusty yong laboring men: and such as lead a sedenta­ry life: as Schollers, women, &c. must not feed so liberally as husband­men, sailers, &c. But although wee cannot certainly determine the due quantity of food; yet searching into antiquity, wee may find out the quantity of food ordinarily used, and allotted a man for one day, which will not be unworthy our consideration. In old times, wee read, Allowance of foode for one naturall day in old times. that the ordinary allowance for a mans diet, in one naturall day, was that measure which they called choenix, conteining about a quarter of a peck of our ordinary measure, or forty ounces, according to the computa­tion of Budans lib. 3. de asse. Budaeus. And this quantity of Manna, did God himselfe allow his owne people of Israel in the wildernesse. This quantity was when they were deprived of any other sustenance: for this quantity is to be understood both of bread, flesh, or any other food; all which joyned to­gether, did not commonly exceed, in sober men this aforenamed quan­tity; howbeit, no question, many sober people did then content them­selves with lesse allowance: and the like proportion of drinke is likewise to be understood. Observe also, that all this while the people of Israels ordinare drinke, was nothing else but water; as likewise most other nations used this for their ordinary drinke, except the better sort, at festivall times, and some extraordinary occasions. As for us in these Northerne parts of the world, although all have not wine, Northern people, and living in cold climate are allowed a more li­berall use of diet, than such as dwell in hot countries. yet doe wee ordinarily use a drinke answerable to it, which doth not a little nourish, and therefore may we be the more sparing in the quantitie of our food. And yet I doe not deny, but that our Northerne cold climats may be a little freer in the use of food, than the inhabitants of the Southerne parts and hotter countries, howsoever, it is alwaies good to use a mode­ration. Husband-men, and such as labour hard, have able bodies, and take great paines; we cannot well regulate nor accommodate this pro­portion precisely to all; Schollers, and such as have weak stomacks, and weake digestion, not being often able to overcome this quantity. Be­sides, that the quality of the aliment, of hard or easie digestion, doth often indicate an alteration of the quantity; and yet I thinke few of our people, although reasonable aged, and otherwise valetudinary, will content themselves with twelve, thirteene, or fourteene ounces of food for one day, unlesse their stomacks be exceeding weake; although Fa­ther See Sir William Vaughan his newlan­der cure, part. 1. sect. 2. Lessius the Iesuit, and Lodovico Corvario a Venetian could so content themselves. Custome, education, and out cold climats, doe hinder the effecting of that which otherwise in hotter countries may easily be brought to passe. Next followes the preparation, which is very various, Preparation various. according to the diversity of dishes; some being rosted, some boiled, some baked, some fried, &c. and some requiring one preparation, ano­ther must be ordered after another manner; whereof more hereafter in the particular discourse of diet. The order of ingestion is that which is next to be considered, concerning which point, Order of ingestion. our Authours speake at length, and wish us alwaies to take with us this rule of direction, that the lightest meat, and easiest of digestion ought first to be eaten, quite [Page 36] contrary to our ordinary and usuall custome; and that both in regard, say they, the bottome of the stomacke is warmer than the upper part, and because the lightest meates being first eaten, sooner descend into the guts after concoction, which if last eaten, are by the other hin­dred to descend, and so putrifie, and ingender crudities, the originall of obstructions, and consequently of many dangerous diseases: as for mine owne opinion, I thinke the stomacke mingles all confusedly toge­ther, making thereof, that which Physitians commonly call chylus, and afterward converted into blood. To prevent, therefore, all disorder, doubts, danger, and feare, were best to eat but of one or two dishes at most at a meale; and if thou shouldst sometimes take unto thy selfe a greater liberty, keep this caution, that the dishes thou eatst of differ not much in quality, being all easie of digestion. And for the quantity, let the strength of thy concoction be alwaies thy best guide, and keepe ra­ther within, than at any time exceed the strength of thy stomacke. Next followes to handle the time, upon which dependeth a question to be discussed, The time. concerning the number of repasts, whereupon we must insist awhile, not omitting likewise to handle this question, at what time of the day, at dinner, or at supper we may eat freeliest.

CHAP. X.

MAn being made according to the likenesse and image of his Maker, and that for his service principally, it were not therefore fit that so noble a creature should make a god of his guts, and at all times minde nothing but his belly: and therefore not onely decency and good order, but even that sublime em­ploiment also for the which he was at first framed, requireth some certaine and set times for taking his refection. And both Anatomists tell us, and experience teacheth us, that man is of a farre different structure in his guts from ravenous creatures: as Dogges, Wolves, The structure of the intestinall parts of ravenous beasts dif­fer frō that observed in man, and why. &c. who minding only their belly, have their guts descen­ding almost straight downe from their ventricle or stomacke, to the fundament; whereas in this noble Microcosme man, there are in these intestinall parts many anfractuous circumvolutions, windings and tur­nings, whereby longer retention of his food being procured, hee might so much the better attend upon sublime speculations, and profitable emploiments in Church and Common-wealth. Now, if wee shall consider the fittest time for refection, Fittest time for refe­ction in naturall rea­son. it will seeme to be when the [Page 37] appetit doth demand it. Interrogatus Diogenes quando sumendum esset alimentum? H [...]benti in­quit, quando [...]surit: si non habeat cum habere poterit. Diogenes Laert. in cius vita. And therefore Diogenes being asked when was the fittest time for food, answered; to him that hath it, when his stomak calleth for it; and to him that hath it not, when he can come by it. But all our civilest nations have accustomed themselves to some set times for their ordinary repasts. And because nature proceeds order­ly in all her operations, therefore Tu nunquam comedas stomachum ni noveris esse pureatum vacuum (que) cibo quem sumpseris an­te. Shola Salernit. before wee make a new meale wee must see that the former be first concocted: and for this purpose there must intercede a certaine distance or space betwixt our two meales. Lib. 25. contin. Rhusis would have eight houres distance betwixt dinner and supper; and from supper to dinner sixteene. But here ariseth a question to be discussed, How many meales a day ought we ordinarily to use? This question hath beene variously tossed to and fro amongst our Physitians, some being of one minde, and some of another: Some hold it best to eate but one meale a day, and some twice. 2 De diaera acut. Hippocrates seemeth to favour one meale a day. Others hold that one meale a day maketh men more cholericke, by reason the humors by abstinence are too much sharpened, which by meanes of food are well qualified. Lib. 1. cap. 1. Celsus is for two meales a day; the which seemeth best to agree with reason: for hee that useth but one meale a day, is forced to eat as much at one meale, as another at two. Now the stomacke being oppressed with too great a quantity of food, it failes under the burden, and the strength of it is quite overthrowne: for by so great a distention it loseth much of its thickenesse and firmenesse; Cause of the weaknes of gluttons and belly-gods stomackes. which two make not a little for the retention and concoction of the food: neither is there any other cause to be inquired into of the weaknes of gluttons & belly-gods stomaks. It is further to be observed, that the stomacke being too much stuffed up with food, cannot so freely concoct the same; which may easily appeare in a pot full of meat, where the meate is not so easily boyled as when there is more roome. But let us search into antiquitie, and see what was their manner and custome. A Mercur. vari. lection. lib. 4. cap. 17. Foure names of re­pasts among the anti­ent Greeks. Athenaeus lib. 1. citant. Stuckio. antiquit. con­viv. lib. 1. cap. 11. [...] voca­runt veteres. No one man used all these foure repasts. late writer would by ma­ny arguments prove that the antients used but one meale a day. Others are of an opposite opinion. Amongst the Greekes of old, we read these foure names of repasts mentioned: [...]; all these foure, saith Athenaeus, were used in the times of the Trojan warre. The first of these was used in the morning betimes, and was in stead of our breakefast; the next in stead of our dinner; and that after an­swerable to that refection, which some use in the after-noone; and the last answering to our supper. And it is to bee observed, that seldome any one person used all these severall foure meales, yea scarce three; and that chiefely in the warres; when as by their labour and toile, their bodies were more tired out, and their spirits spent; and therefore needed a more plentifull measure of nourishment than had beene otherwise requisite. Some used this manner of refection also of later times: but that this was not alwayes the custome of the Greeks may by that speech of Plutarch. in ejus vita. Leonidas appeare; Prandete commilitones, apud Inferos forsan caenaturi. Dine my fellow-souldiers, for you may perhaps sup in another world. The Greekes then ordinarily used but two meales aday, schollers and such as were given to sobriety, although they used two meales aday; yet one of them, to wit, that of the mor­ning, [Page 38] was most commonly but sparing; as witnesseth Lib. de sanit. tuenda. Galen of himselfe, that seldome he eate any thing till night; which if at any time he did, it was but a little bread in a morning dipped in a little wine: and this counsell 5. de loco affect ca. 5. he gave also to Diodorus the Grammarian, who if he fasted long, fell into fits of the falling sickenesse. By the premisses, as also by Hippo­crates himselfe, it doth appeare, that the ancient Greekes had not all, and alwayes the same times and seasons for their diet, and this last order of diet Epist. 83. Seneca, seemeth also to confirme, whereas hee maketh mention of a morsell of bread onely for his dinner, without the use of a table. The Persians used most commonly two meales a day, as witnes­seth De Cyri institut. lib. 8. Xenophon: although in the time of Xerxes it appeareth to have been otherwise, as witnesseth Lib. 7. Herodote; where Magacreon the Abde­rite gives Xerxes great thankes, that he and his company used but one meale aday: for saith he, if wee had beene commanded to provide a dinner like this supper, we had been all undone. The Iewes used com­monly two meales aday, as may appeare both by that of Exod 16.10, 11▪ Exodus, where they had Manna for their dinner, and Quailes for their supper; as also by the manner of their fasts, which was untill the even; as may appeare by the practice both 1 Sam. 14.25. 2 Sam. 1.12. of Saul and David. Among the Romans we read of five severall names of repasts: Ientaculum, prandium, meren­da, coena, & comessatio; the foure former answering to these foure alrea­dy mentioned, and the last was used after supper: such are our pos­sets here in England, made of drinke, milke, bread and egges, sugar and spice; Vnseasonable use of possets in England. very unseasonably often used after supper, and being a meere superfluity, which might well be spared. But two meales were ordinarily in most use among them, to wit, dinner and supper; and as for all the other they were but for children or labouring people. Two meales most or­dinary amongst most Nations. And in­deed in all civill and well constituted countries and common-wealths two set meales are most ordinary and frequent. I do not here mean pre­cisely by any precept punctually to tye every person to the observing of this order; as not being ignorant of the variety of circumstances, which may easily alter the same: as namely the climat, the constitutiō, the sex, age, the time of the yeere, and the particular calling or condition of a man. In cold climats we must yeeld to a more liberall allowance than in a warmer. And children and chickens, they say, must not be long kept from food. Old men by reason of the debility of naturall heat concoc­ting the aliment, Fa [...]es & mora bilem in nasum conciunt Adagi­um. are not able to receive much at once; and therefore are allowed to eat little and often. Refert Appollonius in mirabilibus ex Arist. eos qui semel in die ves­cuntur iracundiores esse quia per inediam exa­cerbantur humores, qui cibo & potu mitescunt. Riolan filius in prae­lect. privatis. Cholericke persons finde much hurt by long abstinence; and so doe such as are subject to ingender wind in their stomackes. And sicke folkes are to bee exempted from these rules, as hereafter shall appeare. And here custome is neither to be neglected, nor yet suddenly altered, be it good or bad: if good, continue it still; and if evill, alter it by degrees, by little and little, all sudden alterations breeding danger. Now, as for the particular times of these two repasts, for dinner the best time is that which is most ordinarily in most places used, about eleven in the forenoone, a little before or after, and supper-time betwixt six and seven at night; so that by this meanes there may intercede about some eight houres distance; and betwixt supper and dinner sixteene.

[Page 39]Now as in the sea one wave begetteth another; so here, one questi­on begetteth another. It being already granted that two meales aday are most commonly and ordinarily to be used, it may now be deman­ded, in which of these two wee may feed freeliest, Whether dinner or supper ought to bee more liberall. which concerneth not a little the health of mankind, and hath beene as much contro­verted, at least as the former question, and probable reasons produced on both sides. And first for the dinner, they produce these reasons. Arguments for din­ner. First, for that in the day-time, our naturall heate is much helped to perfit concoction by meanes of the Sunne. Againe, exercise and mo­tion, so much used in the day-time seemeth still to plead for a more liberall dinner than Ex magna coenâ sto­macho fit maxima poena ut sis nocte levis sit ti­bi coena brevis. Schola Salernit. supper, after which we goe to rest. Besides, the day maketh a greater dissipation and resolution of the triple substance of our bodies; as by the like reason Summer should consume more food than Winter, and by consequent, the dinner being compared to Sommer, and Supper to winter, should doe the like. And lastly, that nature in the night time being intent upon the concocting of bad and superfluous humors, as also in the distribution of the nourishment for the whole body, is not to be disturbed with a liberall meale. Reasons for a more liberall supper. Others againe, and in my opinion building on a surer foundation, favour more a liberall supper; and that for these reasons: First, there is a far grea­ter distance betwixt the time of supper and dinner, than betwixt din­ner and supper, as witnesseth 7 Meth. Galen himselfe; and this was his owne practice. Againe, 1 Zaph. lib. 1. & 5. ac 6. Epidem. sleepe succeeding after supper furthereth the concoction, proved by many of our ancient famous Physitians: Now the time of rest is of all others fittest for concoction; as watch­ing is most opposite, ingendring crudities, as witnesseth 2 dae vict. acut. Hippocra­tes. And whereas it may be objected, that labourers and husbandmen oftentimes use violent labor and exercise immediatly after meales: I answer, that the strength of naturall heat in their strong and rusticall constitutions, often overcōmeth and concocteth many crudities, which other bodies of more tender education would produce many danger­ous diseases: and yet many times escape they not scot free; but fall even often into many dangerous and desperate diseases, Besides, Aph. 15. lib. 2. Hip­pocrates telleth us, that in the Winter and Spring the inward parts of concoction are hotter, and therefore our sleep's longer; from whence he concludes that wee may use more copious aliments in those times. Now as the morning is answerable to the Spring, the middle of the day to Sommer; the evening to Autumne: even so, the night set apart for sleep, is compared to the Winter. And the better to cleere this point, which hath made many to stumble, we must distinguish betwixt con­coction and distribution: the later of these two, distribution, I meane, Difference betwixt concoction and dis­tribution. is more speedy in the day-time, than in the night; which is often, by violent motion, and disorderly exercise procured; from the which pro­ceed crudities, and by consequence obstructions, the fountaine and spring of innumerable dangerous diseases. Concoction againe, which is a due, orderly and leisurely conversion of the aliment into the sub­stance of our bodies to bee nourished, is farre better performed by meanes of rest and sleepe, which conquering and overcomming crudi­ties, preventeth a multitude of dangerous diseases, And if we shall re­flect [Page 40] upon former times, we shall find it was most customarily received among most nations: as it appeareth to have been the custome amongst Gods owne people of the Iewes; who eating Manna for dinner, were al­lowed Quailes for their Supper, being of a more nourshing substance than the Manna used at dinner. And besides the premisses, the very E­tymology of the word coena, intimating in the originall a communion, as the learned wel know, seemeth to plead for this preheminence; Plutarch. 8. sympos. probl. 6. and this, it seemeth, was the custome among most men, that they ate but little and in private at dinner: but at night they assumed unto themselves a greater liberty, to refresh and solace themselves with the society of their loving friends, together with a more liberall allowance of the creatures. But here I still understand a moderation in both to be used, and not exceeding the limits and bounds of mediocrity, a hea­vy supper much disturbing the nights rest, ingendring crudities and procuring troublesome dreames. And if there should any excesse bee committed, I hold it safer at dinner than supper; and that by reason that after some rest, Supper ought to bee sparing, and yet may be more liberall than dinner. What cases are here to be excepted. moderate exercise, and abstinence from supper, nature may overcome and concoct crudities; by this meanes preven­ting future infirmities. I conclude therefore this point, that caeterit pa­ribus, setting all things in even balance, and both meales being mo­derate, my opinion is, the supper may exceed the dinner. Notwith­standing the premisses, this is principally to be understood of health­full persons, and not subject to rheumes and defluxions, with great danger often distilling upon the lungs, ioints, and other parts of the body; Of Breakefasts, and whether they are to be used. for in such cases to eat a very small, and sometimes perhaps, no supper at all, will prove to thee a great gaine. Besides, if there be any particular individuall constitution, finding ordinarily more hurt by eating freelier at night than at noone, let such a person follow that course, which best suteth with the temper of his body; my meaning being to tye no man to that, which might in any sort prejudice his health. But here it may be asked, whether breakfast bee allowable or not? I answere, in the first place custome, together with the constitu­tion of the body, must in this case give us direction, as hath partly been said already: for cholericke persons, and such as are much subject to wind, cannot fast long; no more than children and aged people. Paucissima natura mane exigit, tantum (que) refocillari pauxillo ali­mento postulat, ne ca­lor naturalis flaccescat. Illorum ita (que) exemplum imitari par est, qui cum post aliquot horas lucu­lentum ignem excitare meditantur elixandis, assandis (que) carnibus, pri­us nonnullo fonite, ari­dis (que) nutrimentis focum instruunt, ne ignis pe­nitus sepiatur, qui cum sit opportunum, iustam ignem in cocturae usum e [...]citant: sic cum exi­iguo fomento, ac velut succendiculo ventricu­lus paulo ante incaluit, in prandio avidius ci­bum appetit, ac di [...]atatis venis validius concoquit digerit (que) cum plaeris (que) qui in prandium vs (que) [...]eiuni persi lant, appe­tentia evanescat, calore vel flaccido, vel tan­tum non extincto. Levin. Lemnius de occult. naturae mirac. lib. 2. cap. 21. Le­vinus Lemnius is of opinion, that a little eaten in a morning, providing it be but very little and easie of digestion, whets on the appetite for dinner. As for the time of these repasts I have said already, and expres­sed my opinion; and howbeit, I could here expatiat upon the divisi­on of the day naturall and artificiall, and how severall nations divided their daies, Hebrewes, Greekes, Arabians, Aegyptians, Romans, &c: as al­so concerning the difference of houres equall and unequall (the later being in use untill the first councell of Nice) yet all this I willingly here passe by, that which hath bin said, being sufficient for the purpose we have in hand: and that time I have already set downe being answer­able to the times the antients used for their repasts howsoever, they reckoned their houres otherwise than we doe now; which arose by the divers manner of computing their daies, some beginning at one time, and some at another. And for this matter this shall now suffice; [Page 41] whereon I have a little the longer insisted, by reason these points seeme to me very materiall for the preservation of health, and have not as yet beene divulged abroad after this manner; and withall, conduce not a little for the diet of the diseased, which is the principall scope I here aime at: and therefore, I now proceed to that which followeth.

CHAP. XIJ.

WHatsoever nourisheth and mainteineth this crasy body of man, is desumed either from the plants, and such fruits as the earth doth yeeld for the sustenance of mankind; or else from living creatures, and such things as are from them desumed, and yet are no parts of them: as milke, butter, cheese and blood. Mans first food. Mans first food was of the fruits of the earth, such as were produced without his industry and paines: but afterwards by reason of sin, man was appointed to eate his food in the sweat of his browes. Division of Corne. And by the meanes of husbandry, the earth brought forth several sorts of corne, very usefull for susteining the life of man. By the name of corne I under­stand whatsoever kind of grain is cōteined either in eares or husks. That in eares; as wheat, barley, rye, oates. That in husks; as pease, beanes, &c. As concerning bread made of Corne, Plin. lib. 18. cap. 7. Hordeum, quibusdant quasi nascituri cibi ex­ordium. Divers differences of Bread 1 Difference from the meale whereof it is made. some will have barly to have yeelded the first bread; but shortly after succeeded wheat, the noblest and most nourishing graine of all others; and therefore we will begin with this bread. Bread of wheat taketh its difference, either from the parts of meale or floure whereof it is made; or from the manner of pre­paring. Of the meale, some parts are finer, and some courser. Bread made of the courser nourisheth lesse, yet keepeth the body more solu­ble: but that made of finer floure, as it nourisheth more; so maketh it not the body so soluble; and is worse for obstructions and the stone; and as the bread partaketh more of the one or the other, so are the vertues thereof. The next difference is taken from the preparation. Second difference from the preparation. All sorts of bread were either leavened or unleavened; unleavened bread was commanded by Exod. 13.1, 2, 3, &c. God himselfe in the institution of the Passeover, howbeit not for their ordinary use. But such kind of bread, saith Lib. 1, de alim. lacul. Ga­len, is unwholesome for nourishment: and therefore bread indifferent­ly leavened, and a little salted, is of all others most wholesome and convenient for mans use. The leaven maketh the bread lighter, and of easier digestion. To make our bread light, Bakers abuse the buy­ers by putting too much barme in their bread. there is with us a cus­tome to adde barme, whereof the antients were ignorant: but the o­ther is better and wholesomer. Many bakers thus abuse the buyers, [Page 42] puffing up their bread with a great deale of bitter barme, which mak­eth the bread both more unsavorie to the taste, and unwholesomer for ordinary use. The French Nation doth parallel, if not exceed any na­tion in the world in good wholesome light bread of divers sorts; and yet never use any barme. Now the baking maketh or marreth the goodnes of bread: and that which is baked in an oven, not overheated, is of all others the best: the rest, by reason of the inequality of the parts of bread so baked, then externall parts being burt, and the internall raw, Third difference frō the age. are not to be ranked with the former in goodnesse. Another dif­ference may be yet taken from the age of bread: hot bread 2. de victu acut. Hippocra­tes findeth fault with, by reason it increaseth thirst, and is not so easi­ly concocted, and of the same opinion is Lib. 2. tract. 2. cap. 273. Avicenne. Mercur. varia [...]. lection. lib. 6. cap. 3. The excellency of Bread above all other food. A late writer out of divers places proveth that the antients used to eate hot bread; but at length concludeth, that the better sort used not ordinarily hot bread; but new baked bread after it was cooled. Now of all other food or nourishment, bread is the most noble; as being the staffe of mans life, and of all other foods most necessary for the use of man. And therefore, in that so absolute and compendious forme of Prayer, pen­ned by our Saviour himselfe, under the name of bread all other neces­saries are comprehended. The excellency of bread may from hence also be collected, that no meale is ordinarily without bread, if it may be had; according to that triviall, yet true verse.

Besides, bread is that nourishment with which a man may longest subsist, and without loathing continue in the use thereof; whereas any other food, especially long continued, will weary and tire us out, which bread doth not. And the preheminence of this food may also from hence appeare; that whereas fish and flesh will in three or foure dayes putrifie, and send out an evill smell, bread, unlesse it be salted, may well grow mouldy at the worst, or dry; but never putrifie. By reason then of this prerogative, Inconveniences of feeding more on fish and flesh than bread. I advise all those who have a care of their health, at their meales to eate more bread than any other food. And such as feed more freely on fish and flesh, and eate lesse bread, have not their flesh so firme as those who feed most on bread: besides, that oftentimes their breath smelleth strong. And for this same cause, fish being prone to putrefaction, Bread to be used with Sommer fruits. and very moist, require a more libe­rall allowance of bread than flesh; and the moistest flesh, as veale, and lamb more than other. And this reason may also be a warrant for us to use bread with our Sommer fruits, cherries, plumbs, abricocks, &c. Now besides this most noble, and, of all others, most excellent and usefull bread made of wheat, there is yet bread made of severall sorts of other graine, and first of barley, As for barley bread, although it be inferior to wheat, yet it is not to be despised: and, howsoever, it nourish not so much as bread made of Wheat; yet being made of good barley, it nourisheth well, and looseneth the body more than wheat bread. Barley bread. Oaten Bread. It yeeldeth good nourishment. As for bread made of oats, it is a good wholesome and nou­rishing bread, and so is the grewell made of this graine, in great re­quest in the south parts of this kingdome: and in the north parts ther­of, as also in Wales, and the Kingdome of Scotland, the bread of this grain [Page 43] is much used: and it is likewise in request in many parts of Germany. But it is to be noted, that the graine they commonly make their bread of in those parts, is a fairer and bigger graine, and fuller of meale, than that which groweth further south, and is ordinarily given to horses. Rie bread. Rie bread is of a more glutinous substance, more windy, and nourisheth lesse than the former, and is more apt to ingender obstructions; and therefore it is best mingled with other graine, as is here the custome with wheat or barley. Rice is a good nourishing graine, Bread of rice, m [...] panicke, &c. whereof in many places, as namely the East Indies they make bread: it is of an a­stringent nature, and drying, and of grosse substance. Millet and pa­nicke are not unlike in quality; and howbeit in other countries they be in some request, yet with us not used. Bread of Maiz. Maiz or Indian wheat is a graine in great request in the West Indies, whereof they make their bread, which is of a grosser substance than that of wheat; yet befit­teth well the bodies of the natives of that country. Now besides the ordinary sorts of bread, there are yet many other sorts made with the addition of divers ingredients, which doe often alter the nature and property thereof, and often prove more physicall than alimentall: Divers sorts of physi­call bread. yet let this proviso alwayes be put in, that all forts of unleavened bread are hard of digestion, apter to ingender obstructions, & to stay fluxes of the belly than leavened bread: and yet to strong and labouring people may well be now and then allowed. Besides Corne, there is another sort of graine in great request in many places of the world, and commonly called by a generall name in Latine Legume [...], and in our English tongue, pulse, In Galens time there was no bread made of these graines: but later ages have made use of the bread both of beanes and pease. The Lib. de euch. et cacoch. Of pulse and bread made thereof. same Author is of opinion, that all manner of pulse are of bad nour­rishment: and both these are windy, yet beanes more. Greene beanes are with us here in England ordinarily fried with persley, and that to good purpose, it correcting this windy quality. And it is not out of purpose, Bread of pease and beanes. Greene pease and beanes to be sparing­ly used. that dry mints are in Winter and Lent used with pease pot­tage. Bread made both of pease and beanes is hard of digestion, of a drying and astringent quality; yet very strengthening; and well moist­ned is good to strengthen labouring people. Pease yeeld the best bread, but beanes the more nourishing. Now howsoever many people eate greene pease with a greedy appetite in the Summer-time, as also beanes; yet, I wish they be sparing in the use of them: Other sorts of pulse more used for phy­sicke than for food. for howsoever prepared, yet used in any quantity, especially in sedentary persons and weake constitutions they may breed no small annoyance. There be yet some other sort of pulse, as chiches, red and white, lupines, lentiles, And in many places they make a bread of dried fish, ordinary a­mong the Jchthyopha­gi or fish eaters Plin. lib. 7. cap. 2. Sic Aeg [...]ptii pastores e loti semine, milio simili maxime lacte, aut aquae subacto, panem confi­ciunt, quo pane negatur quicquam aut solubrius aut lantius dum calet. Idem lib. 22. cap. 2 [...]. and som others; which are more in use for physicke than for food, and there­fore we will not meddle with them. In divers places of the world be­sides the premisses, in defect and want of corne they make use of some fruits and roots to make their bread of: as in some places of France, as Limosin, and some other places, the countrie people use bread made of chestnuts, participating of the nature of the acorn, a course and grosse, yet a strong nourishment. And in the West Indies, they make bread of a root, called Cassani and others: but I will wade no further into this sub­ject of bread, but proceed to the most frequent and ordinary use of roots in ordinary diet.

CHAP. XIIJ.

AFter our discourse of severall sorts of corne, it followeth that wee should now say something of other vegetables, to wit, of Plants, usefull for the sustenance of mankinde: and that the rather, I joine those vegetables with corne, is by reason this was a food in request, at least before we read that flesh and other food were frequent: under the name of herbs and plants, therefore, I understand both the root, the seed and the leafe, and stem or stalke. And because in plants the root is answerable to the head in sensible and reasonable creatures, therefore we will begin our discourse with those vegetables, whose roots are most eminent, and in greatest esteeme: and first, we will beginne with the Turnep, as being so well knowne, that the plai­nest and ignorantest countrie-fellow is no stranger in the knowledge thereof.

Of the Turnep.The Turnep or Navew, which are thought to differ little or nothing, groweth sometimes to so great a bignesse, that Pliny lib. 18. cap. 13. some have beene seene of thirty, some of forty pound weight. As for the properties, 2 De aliment. fac. Galen thinketh this to be the worst of all other roots. Lib. 2. cap. 104. Dioscoride saith, it ingendreth a soft and foggy flesh. It is of a flatuous and windy qua­lity, as most other roots, howbeit, some more, some lesse; trouble­some to a weake stomacke, being hard of digestion. The best way of use is accounted, first to boile them, and the water being powred out, then to boile them againe with fat beefe, adding to them some pepper. The seed of Turnep is good in antidotes, and very good against the plague, and all other contagious diseases.

Of the Reddish.In the next place we are to say something of Reddishes, the which roote, contrary to the custome of other roots, is eaten raw. At what time of our meale it should be eaten, our Authours somewhat differ. Lib. 2. cap. 106. Dioscorides would have it eaten after meales, to strengthen the sto­macke: but sure, in my opinion, it being of a nauseous quality and provoking to cast, hee had but small reason for him. But Lib. 2. de alim. facult. Galen is of another mind, to use it at the beginning of our meales, taxing both the vulgar errour, and some of Physitians also, who used it last. Simeon. Sith. Aloi­sius. Mundalla etiam Epist. 11. Some, againe, tooke upon them to moderate the matter thus: if the body be soluble, and free from any flatuous matter, it should be eaten first; but if the body be costive, last. We use them after a third, and different way, to wit, with our meales, as a sauce, and, as is thought, to excite a languishing appetite. Now, as I see small reason for either of the other two manners of use of this root, so see I farre lesse for this; and I thinke the controversie might be best decided, if this root were left for physicks use, it being good against the stone. It hath this in­convenient, [Page 45] that often eaten, it wasteth the teeth, eating into them. Poncetus lib. de ve­nenis. A late Authour giveth us warning, that after the eating of Reddishes, wee beware of milke-meats: for, saith hee, it turneth them into ve­nome. There is a great antipathie betwixt this root and the vine, inso­much, that from hence, some thinke they have found a remedy against drunkennesse. Loco supra citat. Dioscorides writeth, that the leaves and roots of wilde-Reddish, which wee call horse-Reddish; was usually eaten as other pot­herbs. In high Germany, where they call it meer rettich, Wilde-Reddish, or Horse-Reddish. it is in ordinary use, the roote I meane. And I remember in Saxony, wee had this root first grated, and then boiled with our beeefe, which made us many times water our plants as well as the keenest mustard: but it is hurt­full both for head and eyes, whatsoever our palat-pleasers may allege for its commendation.

The Reddish is of a cutting quality, and hot; and therefore cutteth tough phlegme.

The Parsneps are indifferent good, The Parsnep. boiled and buttered with vineger and pepper. They are somewhat hot, and yeeld better nourishment than the Carrot is; it is somewhat hard of digestion, and flatuous, yet not so much as many others.

The Carrot differeth something, The Carrot. as yeelding in goodnesse to the former, being something moister, yet of an easier and freer distribu­tion thorow the body. They are commonly eaten with beefe. In some countries they make sallets of them, especially of red, or rather pur­ple-coloured.

The Skirret root in goodnesse farre surmounteth the others, Of Skirret roots. as being of indifferent good nourishment, and no enemy to the stomacke, a great strengthner of nature, and expeller of urine. It is somewhat fla­tuous, as the others, but not so much. Plin. lib. 19. cap. 4. Tiberius the Emperour, did so highly esteeme of these Skirret-roots, that hee sent for great store of them out of Germany, where they abounded, to plant them in Italy for his owne use, there growing none there before.

That out-landish root brought unto us from the West-Indies, Of Potato roots. called commonly Potato, and by some Batato, is of the same nature and proper­ty, or at least goeth a little beyond it; but that this pre-eminence it hath, that it is, according to the common proverb, Farre fetcht and deare bought, and therefore good for Ladies.

Another root, which hath beene sent from the same soile, Artichoake of Ierusa­lem. called by the name of Artichocks of Ierusalem; which in leafe resembling our Solanum, or night-shade, may therefore not without reason be called Solanum peruvianum esculentum radice tuberosa. These roots are very windy, and ingender melancholy; and therefore howsoever at first, they were extolled by fames open mouth; yet now, by reason of these aforemen­tioned qualities, their credit is much crackt.

Iringo roots are also often used, both condited with sugar, Iringo-roots. and other­wise. They are of a thinne attennuating substance, being hot and dry about the second degree. They are good to cleanse the kidnies, and withall are esteemed to strengthen nature.

Now come we to our Bulbous roots, beginning with garlicke, which Galen esteemeth to be hot and dry in the fourth degree; and therefore [Page 46] very sparingly to be used, Of Bulbous roots. Of Garlike. especially in hot constitutions of body, and the like seasons of the yeer. In cold constitutions and countries it may safe­liest be use, especially being yong. It is accounted a great enemy to the eie-sight, and an antidot against all poison and contagious infection, cal­led therefore, Vertues of Garlicke. Theriaca rusticorum, or the countrie-mans treacle. It is like­wise good against the wind-colicke, and the stone in the kidnies, and pectorall infirmities, where tough phlegme obstructeth the pipes of the lungs. In many places of France, especially in Gosconie, although it be farre South, and next unto Spaine, yet use they garlick very ordinarily in their sauces; but when it is yet greene, and before the cloves come to their full strength and bignesse: and yet this simple is not so proper for so hot and salacious a people. It is also ordinarily accounted good a­gainst wormes, and all manner of vermine. And yet is it strange, that is reported of Arnulphus the Emperor, who, by the frequent eating of gar­licke, at length had his body so full of wormes, that by no humane helpe could he ever be cured. But howsoever, he was indeed surprised with this disease, and with that likewise we call phthiriasis, or the lousie dis­eases, his body abounding likewise with this vermine; Mulier astuta cum desperata [...] videret ar­tis defensionem, per unum ex familiaribus Imperatoris auro cor­ruptum, Pharmacum ei propinavit, quo ille hausto, statim profundo sopitus somne, ad diem xertium us (que) stertivisse scribitur Et paulo post. Sed quod venenivehe­men [...]a tetum insecerat corpus, pu [...]efactione incurabili, [...] etiam accessis. Ita mor­tuus est, erumpentibus toto corpore vermi­bus, tertio Calend De­cember &c. Ch [...]onic. Carion. a Peucero ex­positi & aucti, l 4 page 452. edition. 1617. in 8. apud Crispinium. yet the Hi­storie maketh mention that he died of poison. The antients thought by caring thrice of garlicke in a morning, to turne away all evill from them that whole day following, as the Incussere deos inflan­tes pectora, si non pre­dilium [...]er mane caput gustaveris alli. Pe [...]si. antient Poet expresseth. It is also indued with this property, that Mirum est, allio de­lectari homines quod fu­git Leopardus: nā sicu­bi par [...]etes litu infeceris exibit protinus, nec resi­ [...] et ciuus odorem vene­nata fera non patitur; nos interuis visceribus infund [...]mus Ambros. lib. 7. Hexameri. some wild ravenous beasts, namely, the Leopard cannot abide the smell of it. And indeed, it is rather to be used as physicke, than otherwise. The evill smell of garlicke is hel­ped by the eating of perslie in a pretty quantity; the like is promised by eating of greene-beanes; as likewise zedoary. And Promittit. l [...]nius al­l [...]um omni odore carere fi dum Luna est subter­ra seratur, dum est in co [...]tu colligatur. Lib. [...]9. cap 6. some say, that if it beset when the Moon is under the earth, & gathered when she is in conjunction with her dearest spouse, it loseth all this strong smell.

Onions are also very hot in quality, insomuch, that Of onions. 7 Simpl. medic. Galen ascribeth unto them the fourth degree. Onion is an enemy to the cholerick per­sons, and to the eyes, and any inflammation of the head, and causeth trouble some dreames: but is good against the stone, provoketh urine, openeth obstrutions, and cutteth tough and slimy humours; especial­ly the red, which is a great deale keener than the other. And this is to be understood of raw Onions; and yet if they be a little steeped in water, they lose some of this acrimony: but they are best boiled, and then they nourish somewhat, and may either be used in pottage, or o­therwise in sallets. And as by this meanes they lose much of their me­dicinall vertue; so on the other side they lose as much of their noxious qualities, whereby they hurt the body of man.

Of Skallions and chi­balls.That which hath beene said of the nature and vertues of Onions, may be accommodated also unto Scallions and Chibolls, which are often eaten raw in sallets: but let young and hot constitutions ever mingle store of cooling herbs with them.

Of Cives.Cives are somewhat of this temperature, howbeit milder, and may be used as a pot-herb, as Onions and Leekes, it being of an attenuating, opening and cutting quality, is good especially in phlegmaticke and cold constitutions.

Of Leekes.The Leeke is inferiour to the Onion in goodnesse, being hot even [Page 47] to the third degree: it openeth the urinary passages, and other obstru­ctions, but yet hurteth the head and eyes, and causeth troublesome dreames. Transplanted into a fat and fertile soile, they become both greater and milder in force and operation; and so boiled with other herbs, they lose their noxious quality: The root is most in request, the which being of a very bigge size, the French use ordinarily in their pottage boiled in slices, and often with a fat Capon, or other meate, and so are of a very good, sweete and pleasant re­lish. Vnset Leekes are most physicall, and of greatest vertue and efficacie.

As concerning Mushroms, or Toad-stooles, Of Mushroms or toad-stooles. as they are commonly called, although properly they be no roots, yet are they common­ly ranked among them. It is a food (if so it deserveth to be called) in small request here amongst us: howbeit in France, Italy, and ad­jacent countries, it is in no small esteeme: and therefore I shall neede to say lesse concerning this subject. Caution for travel­lers. I advise therefore all our Centrie, who travell into those forraigne countries, if they be wise, altogether to absteine from such excrements of the earth; some of them (yea, the greater part) being venomous, as I could by true histories make appear: all of them being of an evill qua­litie, and breeding no good nourishment at all. Lib. de historia stir­p [...]um. Clusius writing the exact history of them, reckoneth up three and twenty sorts of such as may be eaten; and five and twentie sorts of venomous Mushroms. Who then that is wise, will venter on a doubtfull dish, when God of his infinite goodnesse hath affoorded us such plentie of profitable and pleasant food? Amongst these, are also ranked those roots commonly called Puffes, or Truffes, Tubera terrae, Of puffes, or Truffes, Tubera terra. and in the Northermost parts of this Iland, by some called Ar­nuts; growing under the earth, but in the spring of the yeere bursting forth. They ingender tough, clammy and melancholicke humours; being apt to ingender the stone, and all manner of ob­struction: they are also hurtfull for the stomacke; further, and pro­cure the Apoplexie, Strangurie, and many other dangerous diseases: and therefore heere I will leave them, and proceede to speake of more profitable simples, namely, of such herbes as are in most ordinary use and request for the use of man.

CHAP. XIV.

AFter roots, wee come now to such herbs as are in most ordinary use for daily food, either for sallets, or the pot: and wee will first be­ginne with such herbs as are of a cooling qua­lity. Of lettice. And among all our herbs, none is of more use in our ordinary diet than the let­tice, taking its denomination from a milkie juice wherewith it aboundeth; and is by Galen preferred before all other herbs; who used it both in his younger yeeres, to coole the great heat of his stomack, and in old age to procure sleep. The an­tients for religions sake, absteined from lettices: Suetonius in eius vita Plin. l. 19. cap. 7. but Augustus Caesar having by the advice and counsell of Antonius Musa his Physitian, by the use of this herbe recovered his health, brought this herb in no small esteeme among the Romans. It is cold and moist in the second degree, and ingendreth no evill juice within the body, and by this meanes car­rieth a great pre-eminence above most other herbs, In antient times, it was wont to be eaten at the later end of the meale▪ but now quite contrary, at the begining: and this moved the Claudere lactuca cae­nas solebat averum: [...]ic mibi cur nostrat inchoat illa dapes? Martialis. Poet to aske the reason of this alteration: which probably is this; that eaten after meales, it represseth the hot vapours of wine, by this meanes both resisting drunkennesse, and withall procuring sleepe, being especially used at night; and as it would seeme, being then most ordinarily used. And this was the reason, why Flavius Vopiscus in eius vita. the Emperour Tacitus in his feasts, above all other dishes, used this herb most liberally. Custome notwistanding hath now so farre prevailed, that to whet on the appetite, it is with oile and vineger used at the beginning of our meales; and unto it most commonly are added perslie, and some other hot herbs, which doe well allay the coldnesse and moisture thereof. It hath beene received by tra­dition for an uncontrolled truth, that lettice hurteth the eye-sight: but since neither Galen, Whether lettice hur­teth the eye-sight. nor our antient Physitians have left any such quality upon record to posterity, I wonder from whence this slander should first proceed: I know all the colour they have, is, that it too much thickneth the blood, and by consequence breeds an incrassati­on in the opticke spirits, conveied to the eyes. To this I answer, in the first place, Answer. it is not indued with any transcendent incrassation be­yond many other simples, which neverthelesse, were never so reputed, this plant not exceeding the second degree in either quality. Againe, admit this were a truth; that it were indued with such a specificall in­crassating quality; yet must it both be eaten in great abundance, sole, and of it selfe; and withall must meet with some answerable cold and moist complexion (for as for hot cholericke bodies, especially hot sto­mackes [Page 49] it is for them a most soveraine alimentary medicine) and that without addition of other things, which correct such a quality, It may safely be eaten as it is ordinarily used. if any there were. And therefore being used, as commonly it is with oile, vineger, and ordinarily some hot herbs, as said is, what hurt can there be in it? As for the oile, although it doe somewhat loosen and relax some weake and choice stomackes; yet is this by meanes of the tartnesse and sharpnesse of the the vineger well corrected; and the oile also, being of a temperate heate, doth in some sort correct the others cold quality: and of this temper, is the sugar also, which is often ad­ded; howbeit in my opinion, a little salt, as the French use, would farre better correct any superfluous moisture, it correcting also any cold and crude quality.

Endive and Succory, are moderatly cold, and somewhat drying, Of Endive and Suc­corie. and are ordinarily used as other pot-herbes; are good to open obstructions of the liver, as also for the heat thereof, and of the stomacke: They are best for young hot-blooded people; if they be used in sallets, the younger they be the better, used especially with addition of hotter herbes. The French, they keepe Succory buried a long time under the ground, which maketh it both white and tender; A way to whiten Suc­corie. which they call Ci­choree blanche, and so use it in sallets, with addition of other herbs. There be divers sorts of these herbes which grow wilde, participating of the same qualities, yet, I thinke, scarce so cold, but rather inclining to some temperate heat, and prove more forcible against obstructions; although not so pleasing to the palat as those which grow in gardens. Among these kinds, there is one most commonly taken notice of by the name of Dandelion, corrupted from the French, dent du Lion, or Lions tooth, and may well be used in all obstructions of the liver, as the others, and in such other cases.

Spinage is an ordinary pot-herb, cold, and withall moist, Of Spinage. yet this more than the other, being cold in the first, and moist in the second de­gree. It best befitteth hot and dry bodies, and such stomacks especial­ly, nourishing very little, loosening the belly, and ingendering wind: In France this herbe shred and made up in balls, fried with oile and vineger, in the time of Lent, filleth up the roome of an ordinary dish.

Beets are of three sorts, which are commonly used for pot-herbs, Of Beets. especially the white and green, the red being more physicall. They all are moderately cold, not exceeding the first degree at most; yet moister, to wit, about the second. They open obstructions, and loosen the belly, as most of these cooling and moistning simples doe. In some pla­ces they make sallets of the red-beet root, boiled and sliced, adding thereto oile and vineger. For the insipidity of taste, the antients, as seemeth, were wont to eate them with wine and pepper; as may by the antient Vt sapiant fatuae fa­brorum prandia betae: O quam sape petit vina piper (que) coquus. Marti­alis. Of Blites, or Bleets. Poet appeare.

Somewhat like unto them in name is that herb, commonly called Blite, or Bleet, and not much differing in vertue, howbeit something inferiour. And Orach is not unlike, differing little in operation. Orach. They loosen the belly, and rather hurt than helpe the stomacke, unlesse it be strong, or cold and dry, and the temper of body cholericke.

[Page 50] Pricke. madame.That herb commonly called Prick-madam, is yet cooler than any of the former, and withall very moist; yet used both for a pot-herbe and in sallets. It is best for hot stomacks, and cholericke complexions, as also for younger people.

Of Purslaine.Purslaine is a herbe with us in great request in the sommer season; but especially in sallets. It is accounted cold in the third degree, but wanting one in moisture. It is best for such complexions and stomacks, as we have often mentioned. It is good against all internall heats and inflammations. Vertues of purslaine. It is good against all manner of fluxes. The leaves and seedes are good against wormes, against the immoderate menstruous fluxe, spitting of blood, and running of the reines. If it be pickled up with salt and vineger, it acquireth some heate, strengthening the sto­macke, and whetting it on for food, and cutting tough phlegme.

Of Sorrell. To Sorrell may also bee referred Blood­wort and Souredock, called Oxalis acuta. Vertues of Sorrell. Sorrell du bois.Among all our pot herbs, none I know more usefull and profitable, both for physicke and food than this so noble simple, Sorrell I meane. As for the qualities, it is esteemed cooling and drying in the second de­gree. The very vulgar can tell that it is very soveraine in all hot dis­tempers and diseases of that nature. In contagious, maligne and pesti­lentiall fevers, it is a soveraine good simple, especially the wood-sorrell, called therefore Sorrel du bois. And by reason of the aciditie in taste, it is not unwelcome to the palate, in this particular farre exceeding other cold simples: for the which cause it is not unfitly used in Sommer for greene-sauce. Being young and tender, it may be used in sallets with the addition of some hot herbs.

Of Borrage and Bu­glosse.Borrage and Buglosse, and that sort called commonly Lang de beuf (for I take it to be nothing else) although they doe partake of some heat, yet are they by the vulgar accounted among cooling herbs, their heat, as likewise their moisture being so moderate, that they ex­ceed not the first degree. It hath ever beene, both by Galen, and other Physitians since his time, esteemed good against melancholy, and may safely be used both in sicknesse and in health. They be also ordinarily used for pot-herbes. The flowers are sometimes used in sallets, and sometimes steeped in wine; and, notwithstanding all this that hath beene said, some have not so high a conceit of these simples. So hard a thing is this to practise, Omnibus placeto.

Of Mallowes. Hither wee may also referre the Marsh­mallow, call'd Althaea, or Bismalva.The Mallow is reckoned also among our ordinary pot-herbs, which loosneth the belly, as being of an abstersive quality, and the heat so small, that it is scarce discernable. The curled, called the French Mallow is most esteemed; they are not to be used in sallets, as other herbs, being offensive to the stomacke. But indeed, the Mallow is fitter for Physicke than for food. Our antients, for the high esteeme they had of it, called it omni-morbia, that is, good against all diseases. It is thought to be good against melancholy, to further the menstruous fluxe, and good against all oppilations and inflammations of the kidnies and bladder: and by reason of the temperate qualities, good to be used in cataplasmes for outward paines.

Of Groundsell.There is an herb called Groundsell, ordinarily used to loosen the bel­ly, being boiled in pottage, and withall, sometimes it will procure casting, if taken in any competent quantity. But boiled in broths, it [Page 51] loosneth the belly as many others do, being of somewhat a cooling qua­lity, and somewhat drying, of a bitter taste, and openeth obstructions, especally in womens diseases. It is not good for weake stomacks to use. Of Mercury.

Amongst our loosening herbs, there is one ordinarily used, called by the name of Mercurie; for the which, here in the country is in common use, an herb called by the the Latines, Matthiol. in libr. 2. Dloscor. cap. 161. Bonus Henricus, having leaves like that herb, commonly called Wake-Robin, and is somewhat hot and drie, howbeit not in any excesse: and is of somewhat an abstersive fa­culty; and is much used in pottage and broths, to make the body solu­ble, and is by Matthiolus accounted to participate of the nature of Lapathium acutum, being a certaine kind of dock. Mercuriali [...] est eam mas quam foemina, Di­oscoridi Linozostis di­citur. Idem Matth. in lib. 4. Dioscor. cap. 183. But there is another true Mercurie so called, by the antiens Linozostis, and by the Latins, com­monly Mercurialis mas & foemina, Mercury, male and female. And this is that right Mercury so much mentioned by Pliny, and Hippocrates; and ordinarily appointed and prescribed by our Physitians, for glisters. The leafe of it is not unlike to that of Pellitory of the wall, and doth farre excell the other, commonly called Mercury, as may be seene both in that place of Pliny, of Dioscoride and Matthiol and others: of this there­fore I thought to give some warning.

Wee use often also in broths strawberrie leaves and roots, Of strawberry leaves. which are something cooling, and withall drying. They are good against all fluxes, good in greene-wounds and ulcers, and inflammations of the bladder and kidnies; and is also good to strengthen the gums, and fasten loose teeth, being gargled with a little claret wine, or plantaine water, or both. Of Strawberries in their owne place.

The herbe commonly called Cing-foile, or quinquefolium, Of Cing-foile. from the number of leaves, is much of the same nature with the former, being of an astringent corroborating faculty, with so small a heat, that, if any, it is not discernable. It is very much used in broths, and not without great reason. The roots are most drying. It is exceeding good, both for food and physicke.

Violets are not of smallest note, nor in least request, Of Violet-leaves and Violets. both for phy­sicke and food, being both leaves and flowers of a moderate coo­ling, and moistening facultie. The greene leaves of the herbe are ordinarily used among other pot-herbs, and sometimes in sallets, and are good in all hot diseases, fevers, or inflammations whatsoe­ver. But the sweete and pleasant flowers are the principall in this plant, being used both in sirup, conserve, candit, and in cakes, &c. Vertues of Violets. They are very effectuall in diseases of the breast, especially where cooling and thickning of sharpe humours is required. The sirup al­so is a gentle purge for young children and weake constitutions; and properly, it is rather to be esteemed a loosener of the belly, than a proper purger.

The Rose is also in no small request, both the red, white and damask. Of Roses. The damaske rose is most of all the other sorts esteemed. Sirup of Rose [...]. The sirup of it is much used for a gentle purger of choler, without heating the body in any fever, wherein it may safely be exhibited and to any age. Rose-water. The water is used for many uses, being very delectable and comfortable to all the principall parts, both head, heart, and all the senses, and so is the [Page 52] smell of the flower it selfe. There is yet a Muske rose which doth ex­cell in the purging faculty. The muske rose. And these three, damaske, muske and white doe most abound in airie and watrie parts; the red more in earthy: for the which cause it is more astringent, corroborating the sto­macke, liver, &c. And although a sirup may be made of these red roses new gathered, yet is the purgative faculty farre inferiour to the o­thers. Conserve of red-roses. The conserve of it is good in thinne and sharpe rheumaticke di­stillations, and to stop fluxes. The sirup of the drie leaves is likewise astringent, The wilde rose, and conserve made there­of. and therefore good against all fluxes of the belly. The wild rose is most astringent of all the rest, and therefore the conserve thereof is esteemed by some more efficacious than of the former. The roses participate of a small and moderate heat, testified by their sweet smell and bitternesse, as witnesses De simpl. medic. fa­cult lib. 7. Matthiol. li. 1. Diosorid. cap. 113. Galen; although this be but in a very re­misse degree; and therefore are comparatively accounted cold, in re­gard of other simples apparently hot to any indifferent understanding: and this is diligently to be considered, especially in regard of the sicke, when there is any use of this simple, or any thing made thereof.

Of Cabbage and Coole-wort.But I had almost forgotte Cole-worts and Cabbage, which may well be ranked among our loosening herbes, partaking of a certaine nitrous quality, which maketh it soluble. This plant was much beholden to old Roman Cato, who used no other physicke for his whole family; and came in so high an esteeme among the Romans, that for the space of 600 yeeres, it was the chiefe drugge they used. It is now esteemed to be of an evill nourishment, and to ingender melancholy. It is not any waies hot to the sense discernable. Lib. 7. simpl. medic. Galen ascribeth unto it a drying quality, used either inwardly or outwardly, and helpeth hard tumours left be­hinde after inflammations; and consolidateth and cleanseth ulcers, as well ordinary, as of a maligne nature. Matthiol. in libr. 2. Diosc ca. 115. ubi mul­ta de Brassicae viribus. Some use it for an outward medicine to cleare the sight, mingled with honie. Many more vertues some ascribe to this simple, whereon I will not insist. That it should hurt the eye-sight, being eaten, I know no reason. Being boiled, and the first rejected, and it boiled againe, it becommeth much bet­ter for the use. It is commonly boiled with fat beefe; and by reason of the flatuous and windy quality proceeding from the grossenesse of the substance, it is ordinarily eaten with pepper or other spice. Weake stomacks may easily be offended with the use thereof. Cole-worts and Cabbages are best in the winter after they have beene frost bitten, as wee use to say: I hold the Cole-wort to be lesse hurtfull than the Cab­bage. Claudius Deodatus Panth. Hygiast. lib 1. cap. 22. ex Hippolito Guarinovio. A late Writer mentioneth another Physician, who, in a worke by him published, highly extolleth Cabbage, being pickled up with salt, cumine-seed and bay-leaves; and; next unto bread, giveth it the highest commendation that can be given to any simple. And thus pre­pared, hee relateth, that Iulius Alexandrinus medic. Caesareu [...]. another famous Physitian, who attended on an Emperour, used this dish very frequently in his old age. They pickle it up in all high Germany, with salt and barberies, and so keepe it all the yeere, being commonly the first dish you have served in at table, which they call their sawerkrant. They make also there a sallet of Cabbage small shred, with vineger and oile, and all set about the dish with red-herrings, and hard rosted egges; the which [Page 53] who so is in love with, let him have his liking; and I thinke wee might well spare our hard rosted egges out of our sallets, and use them after a better manner.

CHAP. XV.

HItherto have wee discoursed of herbes of a cooling faculty, or at least of so small, a heat, that it is scarce to the senses discernible. Now we will speake of those that are known to be hotter, beginning with the Marigold.

Among other pot-herbs the Marigold, Of Marigold. as well the leafe as the flower, is in no small ac­count, but the flowers especially; which may also well be kept drie till winter. These flowers are somwhat hot, yet not exceeding mediocrity, inclining also to drinesse▪ The flowrs and their vertues. These flowers are esteemed to be very cordiall, and good against the plague and other conta­gious diseases. It is also esteemed good against obstruction, especially of a womans fluxe, as also against the Iaundize. The stilled water of the plant and flower is esteemed good for red eyes, and any inflam­mation thereof. The greene leaves of the plant it selfe are not so effe­ctuall as the flowers, being onely as ordinary mollifying herbs, helpe­full to make the same soluble.

There is a pot-herbe in use with us here in the countrie, commonly called Columbine; the leaves whereof are ordinarily used as others, Of Columbines cal­led Aquilegia or Aqui­lina. ha­ving some resemblance unto the leaves of great Celandine, howbeit the flowers have no resemblance at all. This herbe is not very hot, and therefore ordinarily reckoned among cooling herbs; as the vul­gar account all herbs cooling, which doe not evidently evince their senses of the contrary. Although some would ascribe great vertues to the simple; yet because I finde no certainty, nor any such things re­corded by antiquity, I leave it as I found it.

Asparagus, or as we call, it Sperage, is an opening herbe, Of Sperage. tempe­rately hot and moist, and for food, the tops or tender sprouts first springing out are in most request, and commonly boyled in faire wa­ter, and afterwards with oile, vineger and pepper, eaten as a sallet by themselves; or else, as in some places, set round about the dish where­in meat is conteined, and so eaten with it: and sometimes it is eaten last with banqueting stuffe. That this was an ancient custome amongst the Romans to beset their dishes round with them, may appeare by an Aspice quam mag­no distendat, pec­tore lancem, Quae fer­tur Domino scilla, & quibus undi (que) septa, Asparagis. Iuven. ancient Poet. They are good for the stomacke, yeelding no bad nou­rishment to the body, loosen the belly gently, provoke urine, cleanse [Page 54] the kidnies, open obstructions, and helpe the eye-sight. They must be but a little boiled; and if thou wilt boile them againe, they lose much of their bitternesse; but withall some of their vertues. The roots are much used by Physitians in opening Apozemes and syrups.

And after the same manner may the first yong and tender Hop-buds be used, and produce the same effects with the former.

Avens Cariophyllata.Avens is also used as an ordinary pot-herbe, being somewhat hot, yet not exceeding the first, and dry, yet not exceeding the second de­gree. The leaves are most ordinarily used in brothes; and yet the roots are most effectuall against obstructions of the liver or other parts, and are of themselves abstersive, and are very fit to bee used in Physical broths, as being both opening and strengthening.

Of Persley.No herbe in more frequent use than persly, both the leaves and the roots. It is no wayes hurtfull, agreeing well with the stomacke, o­peneth obstructions, discusseth wind, and provoketh urine. But I ad­vise none to eate it raw, being best dressed with meat or in pottage. The severall wayes of using it are so well knowne, that it were superfluous for me to speake of it. The roots are very usefull in Physicall broths, e­specially the inward pith taken out: and thus we use fennell roots also. It hath been an inveterate opinion among many, that Persley was hurtfull for the eye-sight: but let it be used as we have set downe, and I warrant thee from any harme: but if any will eate great store of it raw and often, let him looke to himselfe▪ It is both hot and dry, yet not exceeding the second degree of either.

Of Alysander or A­lexander.Some use in the Spring to make use of the herbe called Alexanders or Alysander in pottage; and some againe use the young leaves and tender stems, first bioled for a sallet with some other herbes as they please, or else, of it selfe with vineger. This hearbe hath the same o­peration that persly hath; but yet more forcibly, as being of it selfe of a hotter quality.

Of Clary. Sela [...]ea.The herbe Clary is in great use also, especially among women, which they esteeme soveraine good against their immoderate fluxes, and strengthening of the backe, howbeit I cannot find any such thing re­corded by antiquity. They use commonly here with us in the coun­trie to fry it with egges.

Of Penniroyall.Penniroyall, an hearbe well knowne both in towne and countrie, is of very good use, and very wholesome for the body of man and wo­man; especially, it is best for phlegmaticke constitutions, and anci­ent people, and is very good for women, such especially as are any waies troubled with any manner of stoppage. Some call it pudding grasse; by reason it is often used in puddings, being small shred, and mingled with the blood, Vertues of penniroy­all. which in my opinion is very good, and would wish none made without it. It is good for a weake waterish stomack, against the wind colicke, provoketh urine, and cleanseth the urinarie passages; it is good in obstructions of the pipes of the lungs, and others also. It is comfortable in all cold diseases of the head and nerves. It is hot and dry about the third degree; howbeit our ordinary garden penniroyall, I thinke, commeth somewhat short of this intense de­gree.

[Page 55]There is yet an other herbe in frequent use amongst other pot-herbes, and called here in the countrie Pot-marjoram, Pot-marioram. which is no­thing else save a sort of Organy, called Origanum. The qualities and properties in Physicke, because I thinke they differ not much from the former, therefore I need not to insist upon them.

If I should passe by this so soveraine and noble a simple, Of Mints. I should much wrong the publike, it being of so excellent an eminency. The vertues. All sorts of Mints are good, howbeit, that wee commonly call the garden Speare-mints is of all others the best. It is hot and dry; howbeit, I think our garden mints doth not exceed the second degree. It is very good to comfort the stomake, both greene and dry, being good against vomiting and all manner of immoderate fluxes of the belly, or other in women, which both the red mints and this speare-mints effect. Their smell comforteth both the animall and vitall spirits. Besides, it clean­seth the kidneyes, killeth worms, and stayeth the effusion of blood. It hath beene an inveterate opinion among the antients, that this plant procured barrenesse; and therefore was not to bee sowne in time of warre; as Hener. Meth. ad praxim. lib. 2. cap. 9. ex Arist. probl 20.2. a late writer allegeth out of Aristotle. But this opinion is most false and erroneous, if we shall attribute any specificall qua­lity to this plant, whereby it should cause sterility. I doe not denie but in hot and dry wombs, especially excessively used, it might bee some hinderance. But the like may by other plants of a hot or hot­ter and drier quality, as easily be effected. But since that mints not onely strengthen those parts of generation; but consume also and dry up all cold, raw, and uncocted crudities; (ordinarily proving the grea­test hinderances of conception) I see no reason why this plant should not rather be esteemed a great furtherer and friend to generation. This herbe being yong may bee used also in sallets with other herbes. And the uulgar doe well in using this herbe very frequently in their pease pottage, both greene and dry. It is of all other most proper for the use of the stomacke.

Rosemary is, & that not without good reason, Of Rosemarie. in high esteeme among all sorts of people. It is hot and dry in operation, at least in the se­cond, if not touching upon the third degree. It is exceeding com­fortable in all cold infirmities of the braine, comforteth the senses and the spirits, especially the animall, as also all the noble parts, and cor­roborateth all the nervous parts. It is best to bee in most frequent use in the Winter, and cold and aged constitutions of body. Of the flowers of it is made a comfortable conserve for all these uses. And of the same is made a very soveraine good water. And of this simple there is a spirit, quintessence, distilled. But beware of impo­sture, if thou beest not well acquainted with the preparation.

Marjoram is a sweet, pleasant and well smelling herbe, Of Marioram. hot and dry in operation, and little inferior to the former in this respect. It comforteth all the noble parts, especially the stomacke, and may with good successe be used to further concoction, comfort the stomak, & dis­cusse wind. It much comforteth the brain also: and as the precedent, so is this good against all cold diseases of the braine and nervous parts. But this, as all other hot plants excelling in strong smell, are most ap­propriate [Page 56] for phlegmaticke constitutions, cold and moist braines and stomacks. Strong hot smells of fend hot braines. Hot cholericke bodies are thereby offended. And very hot braines are offended with any strong smell. I have knowne some, whom the smell of a Damaske rose would presently make their heads ake.

Of Sage.Of the soveraine vertues of Sage few are ignorant; and the singular good opinion the world had alwayes of this simple, did minister occa­sion to aske the question, why any man dyed that had sage growing in his garden? Cur moritur homo cui-Saluiacrescit in borto? Contra vim mortis non est medicamen in hortis. To which it was as truely againe answered, that a­gainst death no Physicke was to be found. The qualities for heat and drouth doe much accord with those of the plants last spoken of. It is above all others most effectuall against all cold diseases of the braine, and nervous parts: and therefore good for those who are obnoxious to Palsies and Apoplexies. It is good also to strengthen all the noble parts, and very good against wind. It is very good to comfort and cleanse the cold and moist womb, and fit it for conception. And being of an astring­ent and corroborating quality, it is good to prevent abortion in such as be thereunto subject: as also good against womens immoderate fluxes. The country people in Germany thinke themselves free from poyson all that day after, if they eat in a morning three leaves of sage with a little salt, well dried, and taken in a pipe, as is usuall to take tobacco; it would produce a farre more safe and certaine effect in cold and moist braines; and so might prove an excellent preservative against Apople­xies, Epilepsies, and all manner of cold rheumaticke defluxions, com­monly called by the name of colds. And I am perswaded, that if it were to us unknowne, Sage very good and usefull taken as To­bacco. and brought from the East or West-Indies, or som other remote region, and so begunne to bee taken by some of our Shagd or Slasht Mounsieurs, we should quickly have it thus used in the country: for we are all now for the new cut.

Of Bawme.Bawme is a soveraine good cordiall herbe, and is very good against melancholy, strengtheneth the braine, and helpeth the memory, where the defect is from a cold cause. Bawme-water. It is more used for Physicke than for food, and yet it may wel be used in broths, and in sallets ming­led with cooling herbs, especially when it is yet tender and young. There is a strong water stilled out of it, very good in palpitation of the heart, and other such infirmities, especially where there is no great heat. It is hot and dry in quality about the second degree.

Of Be tonie.Betonie is no lesse hot and dry than the former, a very good herbe, howbeit in greater request for Physicke than for food; and yet may it well be used in broths. It is a soveraine good herbe for many both out­ward and inward diseases. It is esteemed principally good for the braine, Vertues. and cold infirmities of the same. It is likewise good against inward obstructions: and is good also to cleanse the kindneies, and all the urinary passages, with many other vertues which were heere too long to relate, and shall suffice to have reckoned up the principall.

Of Tarragon.There is an herbe called Tarragon, as hot as any we have yet named▪ of a pleasant and delectable smell, and comfortable both to head and heart, whereof is also sometimes made use in the kitchin, and is used in sallets, being used with cooling herbs. It may be used of cold and phlegmatick nauseous stomacks, and so it both warmeth the same, and furthereth concoction.

[Page 57]Hyssop is sometimes used in broths or pottage, Of Hyssop. although in a small quantity, being hot and dry about the third degree, or not farre off it; being also of a thinne, attenuating and cutting quality. It is good for the head; but principally for the breast, and obstructions of the pipes of the lungs, and singular good for attenuation and expectoration of tough phlegmaticke humors. Phlegmaticke cold obstructed bodies may freeliest use it.

Time a soveraine good and usefull herbe, is as hot and dry, Of Time. if not more than hyssop, and is in no small request both for food and phy­sicke; being especially good in cold infirmities, and phlegmaticke constitutions, against the wind colicke, weakenesse of stomacke, and may also conveniently be used against melancholy, and for many o­ther infirmities, which for brevity I here passe by.

Savourie is much of the same vertue that Time, Of Savory. and appropriated for the like infirmities. It is used amongst other pot-herbs, howbeit alwayes in a small quantity, and mingled with many cooling herbes. And this is alwayes in the use of pot-herbs to be observed, that there be a small proportion of these hot and dry herbs used to a greater quan­tity of those of a cooling quality.

Besides the herbes themselves, some of them bring forth a fr [...]ut [...], Of Artichokes. which is in no small esteeme among many. We will beginne with the garden thistle▪ which although it beareth not properly any fruit, yet is it answerable thereunto: for before it flowre it sendeth forth, as it were a fruit, which is in no small request, and used by most people. It is most commonly eaten boiled with butter, vineger, pepper, and salt. The young and tender stalkes used after the same manner are nothing inferior to themselves. The Italians eat Artichockes raw, while they are yet young and tender with pepper and salt, which is a food no­thing worth, ingendring crude grosse and evill nourishment. 2 de alim. facul. Galen saith, it ingendreth but bad nourishment boiled and dressed; much more than raw. But being used moderately, they will not offend the body. They are accounted hot and dry; howbeit I thinke ours doe not exceed the first degree. They are esteemed flatuous, and to excite lust: and are with all diureticke, provoking urine, and cleansing the passages of urine.

There are three sorts of these fruits of herbs which have som affinity among thēselves, especially two of them. Of the Gourds. The first is by the Latines cal­led Cucurbita & Citrullus, by the French Citroulle, and in English a Gourd, and by som a melon. It is cold and moist, ingendring no good humors in the body, and never to be eaten raw; but boiled, or rather fried with butter or oile, and onions, or the like, which may correct this cold and moist quality. It is of it selfe insipid, and therefore the French use to adde to it vinegar or ver [...]uice, as some use here in England also. It may be best used of young and hot bodies▪ but is an enemy to such as are molested with raw phlegmaticke humors or wind. The seeds, as of all the others are good to provoke urine, and qualifie the sharp­nesse and acrimony thereof, and therefore of them, as of the seeds of cucumers and muske-melon, with an appropriate liquor, wee may make not onely emulsions to provoke urine, and cleanse those passages; [Page 58] but even in burning diseases of the brest, lungs and other parts. Of this, as also of Cucumers, may bee distilled a water very good against burning Fevers, and other hot acute diseases.

Of Cucumer.The Cocumer, as they commonly cal it, challengeth unto it self the second place; Authoritatem eis dedic Tibetius Caesar qus nullo non die eos (te [...]te Plin) mandebat. which came chiefly in credit and estimation by the means of Tiberius Caesar, who scarcely ever either dined or supped with­out them. The best way of use is, as is the cōmon custome, sliced, and with vineger shaken betwixt two dishes, and then with vineger, oyle & pepper eaten as a sallet. They are very cold and moist in themselves, ex­ceeding the gourd. They minister no good nourishment at all to the body of man; and are best for the hot and dry constitutions, and deadly enemies to the cold phlegmaticke body, and such as are subject to wind. Before they be big, they use to pickle them up with vineger and salt, and use them in Winter as a sallet, and so I hold them best, as ha­ving then lost a great deale of their crude and unconcocted moisture. Nos [...]ic gravitate me­dica decernimu [...], a Cu­cum [...]um pepo [...]um (que) e­su abstinendum: quo­niam in venire corrupti succum pariunt proxi­mam ei, qui a laeta [...]i­bus medicamentis pro­ficiscitur. Et eodem ca­pite, Galenus cibis ho­minum perpe [...]uo abdi­candos censuit, ut caete­ra [...]i aria in [...]qu [...]oris su [...]c [...] vivunt, Autore [...], in stomacho in po [...]erum diem, nec per­sici qu [...]ani. Quod si [...]i [...]cantur a v [...]tricuto (id enim p [...]ssunt qui­ [...]am peculiari quadam naturá) nibilominus longiori tempore in eo durant, at (que) si immodice haurtantur, gel. dum si­mul ac crassum in venas diffunaunt suc [...]ū; quem po [...]ea venae sua onco­quendi facultate vix in probum sanguinum va­lent commutare. Com­pertum est eos qui eu di­ut [...]us liberalins (que) ve­scuntur, morosis febri­bus, morbis (que) alijs diffici­boribus opportuniores fieri. Audio Venetos in perniciales pe [...]titen­tes (que) ob ij [...] cib [...]s aegritu­di [...]es [...]ncidere: Foren­les in Gallia, propter esum frequentiorem Cucumerum, obnoxios fieri f [...]bribus non est dubitanaum. Si quis valctud ni consuluere velit, ne (que) seret ne (que) e­det, cum lantum fit in eorum e [...]ca periculi. Bru [...]er. de re ciba [...]ia lib 8. cap. 89. O [...] mu [...]k-melons. 8. de simplic. medic­facultat. [...]lutt by them procu­re [...] to the body. Caution for travel­lers. How to discerne the best. But a late writer rejecteth the use of them how curiously soever pre­pared; and imputeth the raigning of many contumacious Fevers, and other diseases in France, amongst other causes, to the too frequent use of this unwholesome fruit.

There is yet another fruit called a melon, and with us commonly a muske-melon: the French call them Melons, and the Poitevins in France Poupon, from the Latine Pepo, which is thought, was only a great ripe cucumer. This is the best of the bunch, as is the Proverbe; howbeit in this our cold & moist climat I hold them nothing worth. This fruit moist­neth very much, and is by many esteemed to be cold in quality: but for my part, the sweetnes of their taste (and therefore by the French called sugar melons) make me rather of opinion that they partake of som heat, or at the least that they are temperate. Galen esteemeth them far better than any of the former, as being of a more solid substance, & nothing so miost. They stir up the appetit, provoke urine, and moisten the body. They are pleasant to the taste, but are easily converted into choler, & so produce both putrid Fevers, and the bloudy fluxe; as I have observed in France, where they abound; and therfore let our yong Gentlemen tra­vellers take heed, lest sweet meate at length prove to have sowre sauce. They are to be eaten before meales, as many Sommer-fruits, and some counsel a cup of wine after them. But whither that wil not too speedily carry those crudities into the small veines, may be questioned. The best grow in France, Italy and Spaine, and such hot countries: and in France, from Tours southward. In and about Paris they are nothing so good, the ground being so forced by art, they growing, as it were on dung-hills. They may be discerned to be good by these properties following. First if they be heavy, of a pleasant smell; if they have thicke stalks, and the outward skinne greene; and withall they must have the inward pulpe firme without moisture, and the seeds sticking fast to it. I have some­what the longer insisted upon this point, to acquaint travellers with the nature, use and danger of such things as are not so common with us here at home.

CHAP. XVI.

IT is more than time wee come now to the fruites of trees which ministred unto man­kind both in the state of innocency, Fruits rare and deare in antient times. and after also his food for a long time. But after vari­etie of other food was found out, they were commonly served in for after-courses; or as the French call it, for desert. But after a while when men beganne to neglect this point of good husbandry, fruits became so dear that gold could scarce buy them. In the time when Varro lived, they were equalled with the weight of gold. In Plinies time a Peach was ordinarily sold for three hundreth pence. Division of fruits. We will divide all fruits according to the usuall manner, into those of a shorter, or of a longer continuance. Those of shorter continu­ance, are by reason of their short continuance, so termed; called ther­fore fugaces, or flying away; as also Horarii, as it were, during but for a short season: and such are Mulberries, Cherries, Peaches, Abricocks, &c. The others againe are called of a longer continuance such as are divers sorts of Apples, and som sorts of Peares. Nourishmēt of fruits. All sorts of fruits minister but small nourishment to the body; and most fruits yeeld but bad, espe­cially those of shorter continuance. The cruditie is corrected by prepa­ration; whether by boiling, rosting or preserving. Whether good to eat bread with fruits or no? And some for this purpose use a draught of wine after them; of the which something hereafter. But here is a question moved by a Aleisius Mundella Epist. 34. learned late writer, whe­ther it be good to eate bread with those short continuing fruits or no? He answereth, that if they bee used as Physicke, they are then to bee used without bread or any other food: but if used for food, then bread is to be eaten with them.

Amongst all these fruits we will first beginne with the Strawberry, Of Strawberries. although no fruit of any tree; yet because of the affinity & resemblance of it to the fruit of some trees and shrubs, I follow other mens method. The antient Greekes, it seemeth, were ignorant of this plant, although Plinie mentioneth it, howbeit deceived in the description thereof, while hee ascribeth unto it five leaves, [Page 60] which is the right Pentaphyllum or our ordinary Cingfoile. The Straw­berrie cooleth, Vertues of Strawber­ries. moistneth and qualifieth hot distempers; and therefore good in Fevers, all maner of inward inflammations, hot and cholerick con­stitutions. They are of themselves no enemy to the stomacke, unlesse it be very moist and phlegmaticke. Their stilled water is very usefull for all internall heates, Straw berries with creame not to be or­dinarily of every one used. and to cleanse the kidnies and urinary passages. In hot stomacks and like constitutions of body, they may safely be u­sed with rosewater or the like. Some use them with creame, where­of I advise weake, cold and phlegmaticke persons beware. And yet this is a dish wherein our Gentle-women doe much delight, howsoe­ver not so agreeable to their constitution of body. Some use them a­gaine with a little claret wine and sugar; which in such constitutions is to be preferred before the former. The Strawberry is also accounted cordiall, for the which cause it may well be used in all cordiall ju­leps; where cooling especially is required. They are to bee eaten before other food; the which is in all these short-lasting Summer-fruits to be observed.

Of Raspes or Fram­boeses.There is yet another small fruit, not much unlike the former ei­ther in forme or operation, and in no small request both for food and physicke. And although some preferre the Strawberry before the Raspe, yet is not this the judgement of all; this being accounted more cordiall than the Strawberry. And indeed the smell and taste, me thinks, doe insinuate no lesse unto our senses; which occasioned most of the Apothecary shops of Germanie to be alwaies well furnish­ed with the sirup of this simple, in imitation of that great Gesner, who had it in so high an admiration. And although it bee accounted as cooling as Strawberries; yet I incline rather to thinke it tempe­rate, if not inclining to some moderate heat. Howsoever, neither of these fruits nourish much, and moisten apparently, their siccity be­ing very small. This fruit is also esteemed good against the inflamma­tions of the mouth and tensills, and fluxes of the belly. If either of these fruits be eaten in excesse, they ingender Fevers.

Of Mulberries.The Mulberry, as well as the former fruits, is of two colors red and white, Ovid. 7. Metam. the white is of an unsavory taste, and therefore we will leave this tree to the silke-wormes. The Poet reports, that Mulberries were at the first all white; but that afterwards, they were died red with the blood of the two true lovers, Pyramus and Thisbe. They are also to be eaten before meales, or with an empty stomacke; although an­tiquity used them after meales, as witnesseth an antient Jlle salubres Aestates peraget, qui nigris prandia moris Finierit. Horat. serm. 1. sat. 4. Poet. If eaten with a full stomacke, they ingender many dangerous diseases. And because of their cooling and moistning quality, they are best in hot and cholericke bodies, young persons, and the Summer season, and they loosen the belly also, much moisten the inward parts, are good against thirst, and roughnesse of the throat; and by some are thought to provoke urine, especially our Arabian Physitians; and be­sides, are thought to cleare the blood from all corruption, for the which cause, some have been of opinion they were good against the gout. And a learned late Iohan. Bruyer de re cibaria lib. 11. ex P [...]thernio apud A­thenaeum. Physitian relateth a story out of an old Author, that in his country, for the ful space of twenty yeers together, [Page 61] the Mulberrie trees bare no fruit at all; and that for this cause, during all that time, the gout did so rage, that not only men and women, children and eunuchs (contrary to Hippocrates his rule) but even whole flockes of sheepe and goats also were so therewith assaulted, that scarce the third part of them escaped free. But what should be the cause that Mulberries should either cure, or yet prevent the gout; I confesse, I could never yet finde out: and all the colour I can finde for it, is, that by meanes of loosening the belly, they may scowre away superfluous humors, the cause of this disease; and so may many other simples, farre more effectually; so that in this, it will come short of many others; so farre is it from obteining any prerogative above them. And why may not this learned mans opinon (granting that this story were yet true) be a fallacie, a non causa pro causa; assigning that for a true cause which is none at all? Mercur. variar. lect. libr. 1. cap. 4. Another learned Physitian troubleth himselfe much to find out a cause of it; but is faine to leave it as he found it: even so must we where none is to be found; as I am of opinion there is none. Of this fruit is made a sirup for sore throats, called Diamoron. It is best that is made of Mulberries before they be full ripe, which are both more cooling and astringent, in this case much requisite. The Blamble-berry. There is a bramble growing every where wilde in the fields, the berries whereof, before they be full ripe, may be used in defect of the former.

The Goose-berrie was not knowne, it seemeth, in antient times, The Goose-berrie. how­beit now with us, in frequent use. Greene Goose-ber­ries. Green Goose-berries are of a cooling and astringent facultie, and in stead of verjuice are used as a soveraine sauce to divers sorts of meat: and although they yeeld small nourish­ment to the body, yet are they good to sharpen the appetite, and against thirst and choler, much resisting putrifaction, Goose-berries full ripe, Ripe Goose-berries. are not so cold as the former, yea, rather inclining to a meane temper. The full ripe are not usefull for sauces, and being eaten in abundance, they ingender corrupt humours, and in hot cholericke constitutions, are quickly converted into choler. The unripe eaten raw of hot stomacks, keeping within compasse, will coole the same; but are safelier used, being boiled, and as they use to speake, scalded, and a little sugar and rose-water with them, they prove a dainty dish for this effect. Of Goose-berries not yet full ripe, our Ladies and Gentlewomen know how to make a daintie marmalade, and many other things, fit to refresh the appetite of a weake and languishing stomacke, which for brevi­ties sake I here passe by.

That little berry, which the vulgar call Currants, Ribes, commonly, but falsly called currants. although it have no affinitie with them, and by the Arabian Physitians, called Ribes, is of two sorts, both red and blacke; although the red is most with us in request, best knowne, and most effectuall, both in Physicke and food. It is indeed, most ordinarily used for physicke, although it may well be used also for sauces. The ripe Ribes agreeth much in vertue with the unripe sowre Goose-berry; howbeit I thinke, it rather exceedeth the same. It is cold moderatly, not exceeding the first degree, but exceeding the same in moisture, participating of some siccitie, and a notable astringent qualitie; whereby it strengtheneth a weake sto­macke, and exciteth a weake and languishing appetite. It is exceeding [Page 62] good as the other, against all fevers, inward inflammations, maligne diseases proceeding of putrefaction of humours: as also in hot chole­ricke constitutions, and young age. But in old age, cold constitutions, and diseases in the breast and lungs, it is not so good: the which is al­so to be observed in other acide and sharpe liquours and fruits. Of it with sugar is made that composition, commonly called Rob of Ribes.

Of Barberries.Of the like nature and vertue is that berrie, which is commonly called Barberries, and in vse for the same purposes, as fevers, hot sto­mackes, fluxes, &c. They are used both in conserves, and also pre­served.

Lib 3. cap. 69 Of Whotts & whor­tle-berries. Gerard in his Herball maketh mention of severall sorts of whorts, or whortle-berries, blacke, red and white, all of an astringent faculty, and are called by a generall name Vaccinia. They stop fluxes, and casting of choler, coole the body; for the which purpose the black be the best.

Bilberries, or Blea­berries.There is another berry, which, at London, they commonly call Bil­berries, and in the Northermost part of this Iland, Bleaberries, well knowne by the blewish violet colour, wherewith they die the lips and teeth of the eaters. They use commonly to eat them with creame and milke, whereof I allow not in cold phlegmaticke constitutions and sto­macks; nor yet in the aged, as was already said of strawberries. This is cold and dry, not exceeding the second degree, and is very astringent, especially before it be full ripe, and therefore may serve for the afore­said uses, and will helpe well the former infirmities. And this benefit they also bring us, that they may be used in stead of the out-lan­dish myrtle.

Of Cherries.Now, from the fruits of shrubs and the like, we proceed to the fruits of taller trees, (howbeit these next following differ not much from shrubs) beginning first with the Cherry. Of Cherries there be divers sorts differing both in colour and in taste; some being of a pleasant, as it were mixt taste betwixt sweet and and sowre; some, againe being ve­ry sowre; and some yet of a loushous taste, being blacke in colour; the former two red. The best Cherries. The first is the best, and of safest use. Cherries are cold and moist, howbeit some more and some lesse. Those we first men­tioned agree best with the stomacke, and provoke appetite, cooling a hot stomacke, liver, and like constitution of body; and are good in hot cholericke diseases, Caution concerning preserved fruits. and against thirst. Being preserved, their cruditie and superfluous moisture is well corrected, howbeit in fevers, and chole­rick complexions, I wish the use be moderate, as also of all other such preserv'd fruits, for feare of increasing choler by reason of the sugar. The sowre Cherries are nothing so good as the former. The Blacke Cherry. The blacke Cherry looseneth the belly more than the other, and is more for the use of physick than food, not good for the stomacke, and are quickly conver­ted into choler, especially in some bodies. These be the sorts here with us in greatest request; although there be yet some other sorts, by meanes of grafting, which, neverthelesse, all partake of these for­mer tastes, some more, some lesse; and by consequent, their facul­ties are accordingly to be judged of. In France especially, and hotter countries, there are great diversity and varieties of this, as of divers [Page 63] other sorts of fruits: and in France, they use to drie them in an oven, Dried Cherries. and keepe them all the yeere, and so they bind the belly. They must be eaten before other meats, as we have said of others already, Cherries, and other such fruits, when to be eaten. and would have it understood of Plums, Peaches, and Abricocks after to be spoken of. And withall, that such fruits best befit hot cholericke bodies, the contrary whereof [...]w see commonly practised: but by this meanes, wo­men should have the least there in them, which might, perhaps, prove more prejudiciall to the Physitian than to themselves. Cherries are best new gathered, or eaten off the tree.

Of no other fruit is there greater variety than of plummes: Of Plummes. and they are of two sorts, either wilde, called sloes, or slane; and bullases all, of a very astringent and binding faculty, used ordinarily for physicke, ra­ther than food. And this is to be understood also of any sowre or unripe plumme. The ordinary and domesticke plummes, are used both when they are newly ripe, and dried and kept all yeere. The best Plummes. They differ both in colour, taste and bignesse. The damsons of all sorts (there being both blacke, yellow, and neere unto blacke; called by the French, damas vio­olet) are esteemed best among plummes. Those of a firme and dry pulp, and withall somewhat tart, and of a winie taste, as it were, betwixt sweete and sowre; as peare, plummes black and white, date plum &c. are farre better than others, and in my opinion, are nothing inferiour, if not superiours, to the damson. What hath beene said concerning the tastes of Cherries, and the answerable faculties, together with the use and convenient time of eating them, may well and fitly be applied to plummes, that we need not repeate againe the same things. Prunes, or dried plummes sent us from other countries. In France and Spaine, and hot countries, they drie their plummes, from whence wee have them sent hither: and they are either sweet, and come com­monly out of Spaine; or else are tarter in taste, and come out of France. All these kinds wee commonly call by the name of prunes, and are all farre better and wholesomer than the others, and are much used of sicke people. The sweeter loosen the belly best, the other coole more in hot diseases, and cholerick constitutions of body.

Peaches and Abricocks differ not much in their faculties, Of Peaches and A­bricocks. being both apt to putrifie in the stomacke, and to produce divers dangerous putrid fevers, and other diseases. Peaches are of divers kindes, Peaches of divers sor [...]. and in France, especially the South parts thereof, they are very pleasant to the palate, being many of them of a pleasant winie taste, betwixt sweet and sowre. All of them are somewhat cold, and with all very moist; yet some more, some lesse, according to the soile they grow in. In our cold and moist climat, they are little or nothing worth, as seldome com­ming to perfect maturity. Some doe advise, to correct their cruditie, to wash them downe with a cup of wine, acccording to the old Verse: ‘ Ronsard.Petre quid est Pesca? Est cum vino nobilis esca.’

But by this meanes the crude juice thereof is quicklier conveied tho­row the mesaraicke veines, and so distributed thorow the whole body. Whether wine be to be used after Peaches. The better way were to boile them in wine with a little sugar and cin­namon, and so eat them. Or if they must be eaten raw, let them be [Page 64] first steeped in a little sweet Canary wine, or muscadine, which will not so speedily passe thorow the capillary veines. The kernell within the peach stone. The kernell within the stones eaten with them, being somewhat hot and drie, will helpe to correct their crude and cold moisture. The like may be said of Abri­cocks, Cherries and plummes; the kernells within their stones being used after the same manner. And what is said here concerning the use of wine with Peaches, is likewise to be understood of Abricocks and all other such fruits as abound in such cold and crude waterish moistures.

The Abricocke.The Abricocke, with us is farre better than the Peach, both in re­gard it atteineth to the full ripenesse in the heat of Sommer; as like­wise, The kernells of Abri­cockes and Peaches kill wormes. because it is of a more firme and solid substance. They are to be eaten before meales, sparingly. The kernells in the stones are farre better than themselves, and open inward obstructions.

CHAP. XVIJ.

IN the beginning of this chapter, we will take these pleasant and delectable fruits follow­ing, beginning with that so noble fruit, the Grape. Of Grapes. Grapes, if they have atteined to per­fect maturity, and be sweet in taste, doe nou­rish and fatten the body, howbeit they ingen­der wind & crudities, and the flesh procured by that nourishment is soft & foggie, and not firme and solid. Bruyerm. de re ciba­ria libr. 11. cap. 10. ex Plutarch. Probl. 39. The antient Greekes there­fore did inhibite, that Grapes should not be tasted before the Aequinox in Autumne after mid September, and so the body might by this meanes be least indangered. Sweet Grapes are somewhat hot in faculty, and loosen the belly, yet some more than o­ther; and the best Grape is that which bringeth forth the best wine. That which is called the Muscadine Grape, is sweet and pleasant to the palate. Best Grapes. They are much better when they are kept a great while after the gathering: as in France, they will keepe them untill the next Spring, and so they lose all crudity and superfluous moisture. The sowre Grapes are the worst to eate, ingendring no good humours within the body, and wrong concoction; and alwaies the sowrer and harsh in taste, Their use. the worse they are for ordinary eating; howbeit made into verjuce, as the French use greene unripe Grapes, they may helpe a dull appetite, and coole inward hot distempers. Most of our Grapes [Page 65] here in England, seldome atteine to perfect maturity, and therefore, The best way of use. doe for the most part offend the body, especially phlegmaticke and cold complexions and stomacks. But, if they be boiled and sweetned with sugar, and some cinnamon, or the like added, they will not be offen­sive. They are to be eaten with an emptie stomacke.

Raisins, which are nothing else but Grapes dried, Of Raisins. are farre better than any of the former, yeelding a good and wholesome nourishment to the body, especially those that come out of Spain, sweet and fair & pulpous, Raisins of the Sunne. which wee commonly call Raisins of the Sunne; and are very good for the liver, lungs, and the infirmities of the same, and of the brest wind­pipe; and withall loosen the belly, the stones taken out. Other raisins that are neither so sweet nor fat, great and pulpous, how f [...]e soever they are inferiour to the other in taste, &c. so farre doe they also come short of them in their alimentall facultie, and loosening the belly, as being more astringent, and lesse nourishing.

There is yet another small Raisin, brought unto us here ready dried, Of Currants. out of the Straits, called Currants, and is in very great request in all parts of this Kingdome. They are of a temperate qualitie, partici­pating of some heat, and are of good nourishment, a good friend to the stomacke, exciting appetite, and nourish well, especially the red. But let a moderation, as in all other things, so especially in those sweet meats be used, which, by too much intising thy taste, may make thee at length finde by experience, that sweet meat hath sowre sauce. I speake this the rather, for that I finde a very great excesse in this kinde, A great excesse in the use of Currants, and other sweete meats. tho­row this whole Kingdome. The teeth, as they make the first onset, so are they often accordingly rewarded for their paines.

As other fruits, so doe Figgs differ in their faculties, according to their age. New ripe Figs are not so hot as the dry barreled Figs; Of Figges. they nourish well, but withall ingender crude and flatuous humours in the bodie, being therefore enemies to the wind-collicke, and other flatu­lent diseases; and the flesh they ingender is spongious, foggie, and not firme and solid; but withall loosen the belly, which maketh some part of amends. But this fruit is not very frequent here in England, it seldome comming to any maturity: The vertue of Fig. but drie barrelled Figs are with us here in frequent use. They are to good purpose used in pectorall dis­eases, being of an abstersive facultie: they cleanse also by a diuretick vertue, the passages of urine; and by old Jn libiis de morbi [...] mulierum pasiim & a­libi. Hippocrates, are much com­mended for the infirmities of the womb, where cleansing is required, as hee witnesseth in many places of his workes: they expell likewise serosities and superfluous humours from the inward parts to the cir­cumference; usefull therefore to expell poxe, measells, and such like venomous matter to the skinne: And for this cause much used. They are esteemed to further the itch, and often lice also. Let those that abound in choler, be sparing in their use, lest they finde in a short space those humours get the mastery over them. They are farre better for the phlegmaticke and old age, than for the younger sort and hot complections.

The fruit of the Palme-tree, called Dates, Of Dates. is sent us from Syria and Palestina, which are the best: this fruit, especially the sweet fat Date, [Page 66] nourisheth much, and corroborateth and strengtheneth nature, is of a hot and astringent faculty, and is very good in all weaknesses and fluxes, boiled in broths and liquid substances, and are not to be eaten raw. The greene ripe Dates are moister and colder, and yet neither ex­ceeding in heat: it is good for the brest, and no enemy to the stomacke, and some say, good to provoke urine. But such as are subject to the headach, or feare obstructious, let them be sparing in the use thereof.

Of fruites used after meales. Of Apples. Differances and vari­etie of Apples.Having spoken of such fruits as are used before meales, now proceed we to such are ordinarily used after; beginning first with the apple. Now of Apples, there are as many sorts, and as great variety as of any other fruit whatsoever: their differences are divers, both in regard of substāce, colour, In regard of the sub­stance. taste and duration. As for substance, some are of more firme and solid substance; and some againe of a softer. The firmer in substance are the best for use, and will keepe longer: as the Pippin, Pearemaine, Har­vie-apple, In regard of the taste. &c. Againe, they differ not a little in the taste; some being sweet, some sowre; some mixt, and partaking sometimes more of one than another; some againe are insipid, Their faculties are also answera­ble: Their faculties or vertues. the sweete partake of some small heat; the sowre are cold; the mixt, of mixt faculties, more or lesse, as they incline more to the one or the other. Insipid Apples. The insipid are ful of a crude, superfluous and unconcocted moisture, Sweet Apples. and therefore worst for use, being very windy, and bad for such as are subject to wind: the sweeter and firmer the substance is, the more they nourish, Apples of a mixt taste betwixt sweete and sowre. and are harder of digestion: the middle taste, betwixt sweet and sowre, is the best, and agreeth best with the stomacke; as Rus­setings, Sowre Apples. Queen-apples, Pearemaine, Pippins, &c. and these are also most cor­diall and usefull in physick. The sowre, although they nourish lesse, yet are they more proper for hot and cholericke bodies; but worse for phlegmaticke and aged people. It is also to be observed, both in apples and other fruits, The best way of use. that for the most part, they are not so good eaten raw, as otherwise; But especially when they are new ripe, or before, worst of all. Quodled Apples. Raw Apples before they be ripe, if used, are best quadled, adding afterwards some rose-water and sugar, which cooleth young hot, and choleticke bodies: but it commeth most common­ly to passe, that the contrary constitutions, women I meane, have often the better share. But in truth, if reason might beare rule, their share should be least, especially (as they often use) to adde creame to them. Apples are best, that are suffered to come to maturity, naturally, and not forced by art, laying them in straw or hay to mel­low, When best to be ea­ten raw. which is no right and proper maturation. They are best to be eaten raw in winter, and afterwards; but especially of young people, hot and cholericke bodies. It is no bad custome to use with them Carroway Gomfits, as in many places they use to eate them. And rosted and eaten with sweet Fennell seedes, is a very good and wholesome way to correct their flatuous facultie: But I advise those that love their health, to beware of raw Apples, or other fruit be­fore they be ripe; and after observing these former directions, they shall finde some benefit thereby.

O [...] Peares.Of Peares, as before we said of Apples, are divers and sundry sorts, differing likewise in substance, taste, colour, and greatnesse. As we [Page 67] said before of Apples, so may wee here apply to the taste of Peares, that the sweetest are the hottest, howbeit they are none of them tart as Apples. Peares are esteemed more windie than Apples, Faculties of Peares. and withall, of an astringent facultie, and lesse durable; being for the most part to be spent in Sommer, abounding with a crude and super­fluous moisture, the cause of their short continuance. The Warden the best The Warden is of the firmest and solidst substance of all others, and therefore the best. It is not to be eaten raw, being then hard of digestion, and ingendring crude and evill humours within the body. Baked or rosted they become farre better, and a wholesome food, in sicknesse or in health. The custome of baking them, stucke with cloves and cinamon, is very commendable, where rose-water and sugar is commonly added. The Bruyerm. de re [...] [...] ­rial [...]. i [...]. ex Athe [...]. [...] antient Greeks were wont to bring Peares to the table in water, that by this meanes, the guests might choose the ripest, which would swim on the top of the water. In France they drie Peares in an oven, and so keepe them all the yeere, and then they are not so windy, Dried Peares. but very good against all fluxes.

Quinces are also in no small request, as well for physicke as for food, Of Quinces. and are of an astringent faculty, and somewhat cold and dry, and are not to be eaten raw; they are so hard of digestion, that a strong stomacke will hardly be able to overcome them: and therefore they are common­ly either baked or rosted. They are good to strengthen a weak stomack. Being used before meales they binde the belly; but eaten after, they loosen the same, and represse fumes and vapours ascending up towards the head; and therefore to strengthen the stomacke, and further con­coction, this is the best way of use: they are used both preserved, in mar­malades, red and white, &c. of which I shall not need to speak, our Gen­tlewomen in the countrie, every where being so well acquainted with all these preparations. Besides the premisses, there are some other fruites which are sometimes, howbeit seldome, used as food, and yet more as physick, and these are Medlars and Services, cold and dry, Of Medlars, Services and Corneille [...]. and of an astringent faculty, and therefore to be used after, and not before meales: they must be soft before they be eaten: their greene juice is most effectuall in fluxes. There is yet another fruit, or berry partaking of the same faculty, commonly called a Corneille.

Before wee passe from those kindes of fruits, wee will make men­tion of some outlandish fruits, in no small request, both in the Kit­chin and in physicke; howbeit I am not ignorant, that they are ra­ther to be reckoned among sauces than otherwise; and these are the Orange, Lemmon, or Citron and Pomegranat, which last is rather ap­propriate for physicke.

The Orange differeth in taste, some being sweet, some sowre, Of Orange [...], some more and some lesse, and so their faculties differ accordingly. And the find and the seedes differ from the pulpe or juice, Difference of Oran­ges acording to the taste. being farre hotter than the sweetest Orange, and yet the sweet partake of some heat; the sowre againe cold, and the sowrer the colder. The sowre are best for the stomacke, used with any meate: the sweete is no wise fit for this purpose. The sowre and tart Orange being cold and drie, is very good for young hot cho­lericke [Page 68] bodies, and very cooling in burning feavers and hot diseases; but care must be had in the diseases of the brest, that neither this, nor any other acide or sharp things be unadvisedly used; such things being utter enemies to those parts; and withall, they bind the belly, for the which cause circumspection must be had, even in that regard, where sugar must sometime qualifie the excesse. Those that are of a meane, betwixt those two extremes of sowre and sweete, are the sittest for use, and will agree well with the stomacke.

Of Lemmons and Citrons.The Lemmon is much of the nature of the sowre Orange, but that it is tarter, and of a more cutting and attenuating faculty, exceeding good for hot cholericke constitutions, and very cooling and cordiall in all burning fevers, and a great enemy to all putrefaction; and for this cause, singular good against pestilent and contagious fevers: the ex­cessive aciditie thereof may be corrected with sugar; and for the sicke, we use with good successe the sirup made of the juice thereof: and the whole pulpe of this and the Citron (which, I thinke, differ little but in forme, howbeit some thinke the Citron more cordiall) are pre­served for cordiall uses. The rind of all three preserved, or candit with sugar, The rind of these fruits. is good to strengthen a weake stomacke, and comfort the heart. The feedes of Citrons and Lemmons are also very cordiall, howbeit both these and the rind are hot, and the juice very cold, as hath beene said already.

Of the Pomegranat.And although the Pomgranat, taking its denomination either from the multitude of graines, or the countrie Granada in Spaine, be used commonly for physick, rather than food; yet speaking of the others, we will say a word or two of it also, some of them being also by some used sometimes for sauces: they are of three sorts, sweet, sowre, and of a mixt or winie taste, betwixt both: the mixt is the best, and most use­full for a weake stomacke, Of three sorts. the sweete being no wise usefull to this end: the sowre Pomgranat is cooling and drying, and of an astrin­gent facultie; yet not so much as the Lemmon. What hath beene said of the Lemmon may be applied to this fruit, the juice I meane, with some qualification, the acidity not being so great, and by con­sequent the effects from thence proceeding, being more remisse: the rind of it is very astringent, and therefore much used against all fluxes, as also in putrid and foule ulcers. The flower is also used for astriction, and boiled in decoctions for this same purpose.

Of Nuts.Now we proceed to the severall sorts of Nuts in most ordinary use for food and physicke. All such fruits then that are covered with hard shells, we commonly call by the name of Nut; and amongst all these, the Wall-nut, or Walsh-nut, beareth away the bell. The Wall-nut being new gathered is the best for use, Of Walnuts. being of a temperate facultie, howbeit after becomming older, it groweth hotter; and afterwards be­ing long kept, it becommeth oilie, and then is not to bee used: All Wall-nuts are accounted hurtfull for the pectorall parts, especially the elder they are. Old Wall-nuts require strong stomackes to digest them. They have even before Galens time beene esteemed as a good antidote against poyson, who also maketh mention of that famous an­tidote made of this same Nut with Rue and Salt; and hee giveth it al­so [Page 69] an astringent faculty. Claudius Deodatus Panth gia [...]. lib. 1. cap. 3. 1 [...]. A late Writer giveth it some commendation in furthering womens menstruous fluxe. They preserve them ordina­rily in France and Italy, about mid-sommer before they be ripe, cut­ting off their greene coat, and after boiling them while they bee ten­der, sticking them with cinamon and cloves, and afterwards preser­ving them with sugar, and so they become very comfortable for the stomacke, and good for the heart. The oile of walnuts is not only used for lights in lamps, and by painters for vernice; but is of a great use also for dressing of meats, and in many parts of France, supplieth the roome of butter, and is ordinarily used in sallets: and in my opinion it is better than butter, and wholesomer for use. Lib, 2. ca [...]. 14 [...]. Dioscorides holdeth this nut hurtfull for the head and stomacke, to be ill of digestion, and hurtsfull for the cough; which must be understood of them when they are old, as hath been said already. The shaddow of this tree is hurt­full to them that shall sit under it in Sommer, and thought to bee cal­led Nux a nocendo, from hurting. Nuts according to our Arabian Phy­sitians, are chiefely to be eaten after fish, according to that triviall verse.

And this I thinke in regard of their astringent and drying faculty. Of Hasell-nuts and Filberts.

The Hasell-nut is not so good as the former, hard of digestion, espe­cially being any thing old, and hurteth the breast and lungs, and therefore sparingly to be used, especially of weake stomackes. They are best used when they are young, and newly gathered. When they are old, they are of a terrestrious substance, hot and dry, whereas yong and new gathered, they are farre moister, and rather temperate than hot. The best are those we call Filberds, especially those that have red skins. The astriction I, thinke, of all nuts proceedeth chiefely from the skin.

The Almond both bitter and sweet is reckoned among nuts. Of Almonds. The bitter are for the use of Physicke, and not for food. Sweet Almonds are good for the breast and lungs, they fatten and nourish much, espe­ally their creame or milke. They are of an opening and abstersive or cleansing facultie, and withall participate of some narcoticke vertue, Vertues of Almonds. whereby they further sleepe, and send many vapors up to the head, whereby in some weaker dispositions head-ach is sometimes procu­red. They are rather temperate, than of any great heat; howbeit the new ripe Almonds are much moister, and somewhat colder. If they be very old and withered, they are not good to be eaten, but onely for oile. The use of Almond [...] The older they are, the harder they are of digestion, and offend the sto­macke more. Blanched, their skins being taken off, and eaten with rose-water and sugar, they are easilier concocted, moisten and nourish more; but eaten too liberally procure head-ach. They use also to eat them with Raisins in Lent and some other times. The yonger they be, & before they be full ripe the moister they are, and the more appropri­ate for hot and dry constitutions, and worse for phlegmaticke; Oile of [...] sweet Al­monds. the riper may be indifferently used of any age or constitution. The oile of sweet Almonds is exceeding good taken inwardly, being exceeding good in infirmities of the lungs, helping gently to concoct and ex­pectorat [Page 70] that which was descended upon those parts; but especially it is good for young children with a little sugar candy for this purpose. It is also exceeding good in outward paines and griefes, being of an anodyne faculty, by reason of that temperate discussing and concoct­ing faculty wherewith it is endowed.

Of the Pine-apple or Nut.There is another Apple or nut, call it as thou wilt commonly cal­led a Pine-apple, which is much used in pectorall diseases, and ther­fore used in compositions for that end and purpose, being good to cut, cleanse and expectorate tough and Phlegmaticke matter out of the pipes of the lungs. These kernels are moderately hot, and some­what moister, yeelding good nourishment to the body, howbeit hard of digestion, and no good friend to the stomacke. The newest are the best, and easiliest digested. But because this is not a food fre­quent with us, and not every where easie to come by, nor yet much used for food, I leave it here.

Fisticke-nut.Fisticke or Pistach nuts are more used in Physicke than in food, and are much of the facultie of the former, and are very wholesome, good for the stomacke, helpe obstructions of the liver, are good against consu­med or weakened and wasted bodies, and esteemed forcible to pro­cure lust, good to cleanse the kidnies, and strengthen the same. They are better for the aged, cold and phlegmaticke constitutions, being somewhat hotter than the pine-apple kernels. This nut is sent us out of Syria, Persia and Arabia, and groweth also in some places of Italy and other countries, howbeit the best and most we have come from those parts.

Of Chestnuts.There resteth yet one Nut, which some ranke among the glands, which we commonly call a Chestnut, which are not very frequent with us, especially in most places. This nut is thought to bee very nourishing: but it is hard of digestion, and the nourishment there­of is but grosse, and fittest for strong rusticall bodies: This Nut bindeth the belly, stoppeth fluxes of the belly, breedeth obstructions, and hurteth the head. They are used in many places of France for a de­sert after dinner or supper, either boiled or rosted, together with o­ther fruits. Bread of Chestnuts. And what they can spare from their owne use they bestow on their hogges, which doe exceedingly fatten them. In some parts of France where they abound, and other provision, come especially, is scant; as in the country of Limosin, Perigort, and some others, the country people make bread of them.

CHAP. XVIII.

OF all food flesh is most agreeable to the nature of man, and breedeth most abundant nou­rishment to the body. Division and differ­ences of flesh. Now flesh is of two sorts; either of foure-footed beasts or of fowle. The flesh againe of foure-footed beasts differeth in quality, not only one kind from an other; but even the same kind from it selfe, according to the age, &c. Differences accor­ding to severall cir­cumstances. And of foure-footed beasts some are wild and some are tame, which makes some difference in their alimentary faculty. The tame are of a more nourishing faculty than the wild: and among them the male of such as be gelded is com­monly better than the female of the same kind: and so is that of middle age wholesomer, than that which is either very old or very young And againe, among the young, some are better than other; as yong veale (providing it be not too young) is better than lamb or pigge. Be­sides, very fat meate cloieth the stomacke, Too fat meat is not good. and quickly overthroweth the appetite; howbeit the leane of fat meat is better than that which is altogether leane; but the meane betwixt both is the best. Difference according to the preparation. There is againe some difference in regard of the preparation: for rosted flesh and fried is harder of digestion; yet nourisheth better, and is drier than that which is boiled. And this is still to bee understood of one and the same kind: as rosted mutton is drier than boiled mutton, &c. Baked meat. Salted meat. Baked in an oven, smothered and suffocated within picrust is estee­med for health the worst of all others. Salted meat, and afterwards hung up in the smoake, is farre worse than fresh meat, and ingendreth melancholy, and is very hard of digestion, howbeit a good shooing horne for a cup of good liquor: although beefe and porke a little pow­dered are good and wholesome food for good stomacks, and whole­somer than altogether fresh. And the moister the flesh is, the more dayes may it endure to be thus corned or powdered: and it is properly for daies, or a weeke or two at most, not for moneths or yeeres to bee salted; I meane for ordinary use, and wholesomest diet. But now we will proceed to the severall sorts of flesh, and will first begin with Hogges flesh, for the likenesse and resemblance it hath to mans flesh, and for the high commendations the antient Physitians gave of this flesh.

Hogges flesh of a middle age, neither too fat nor too leane, Of Hogges flesh, a little salted, hath alwaies beene accounted one of the best nourishers a­mongst all other forts of flesh. By reason of the superfluous moisture [Page 72] it is better rosted than boiled. It is best for strong stomackes, and such as use exercise; but not so fit for students, and such as lead a senden­tary life, and aged people. Bores flesh, of a middle age, reasonable fat, Bo [...]es flesh or Brawn. and killed in a convenient season, to a good stomacke is no evill food, especially accompanied with a cup of muscadine, as is the com­mon custome. But in my opinion it were farre better to use it, when there were fewer other dishes on the table, than, as is the ordinary cu­stome, to use it at the beginning of great feasts. A pigge, the younger it bee, Of Pigges. the worse it is for health, and ingendreth more glutinous and and phlegmaticke humors, and by consequent is a great furtherer of obstructions; and is not to bee eaten unlesse it be of some indiffer­ent age: and is the best way of dressing according to the common cu­stome, to rost it, and make a sauce with sage and currants: and if the skin were not eaten, it would be far easier to digest by a weake sto­macke; although I am not ignorant, that this is ordinarily of highest esteeme. Pigges, in regard of their moisture are best for dry and che­lericke bodies. And for the same reason, it is not so good a dish for phlegmaticke people, moist bodies, and old age.

Of Beefe. [...] de alim facul. lib. 3. This assertion of Ga­lens must bee under­stood of leane old beefe.Next we are to speake of beefe, which hath been by Galen branded with an aspersion of an evill meat, and ingendring grosse and melan­cholicke humors, and so hath raised an evill report upon this noble dish, so usefull for every man. This flesh, as divers others, differeth according to age. Beefe that is young, indifferent fat, and a little corned, either of an oxe or Cow, is very good and wholesome meate for any indifferent good stomacke, a savory nourishment, and with the which, the stomacke will long agree, without any loathing. It is best that exceedeth not two yeeres or three at most. Old Beefe, especially long salted, is both harder of digestion, and ingendreth grosse me­lancholike humors, being no wise fit for choice weake stomackes, stu­dents and such as lead sendentary lives. And therefore that which is called Steere or Heyfer-beefe is the best. Besides, this is yet to be ob­served, that the younger the beefe be, the better it may bee rosted; and the older better to bee boiled. Very old tough leane beefe, is on­ly for strong labouring people, that in a manner can turne Iron into nourishment; especially Bull-beefe, which is the worst of all o­thers.

Of VealeVeale being indifferent fat, and of a reasonable age, above a mo­neth at least, is a meat of very good nourishment, and yeeldeth not to kid it selfe, how highly soever commended. The best way of prepa­ration is to rost it, howsoever it be also often boiled, especially with bacon, which to a good stomacke may not be hurtfull; howbeit a weak one may therewith be offended. Veale is especially good for those who are not of a very moist and phlegmaticke constitution of body, that which is very young, especially within the moneth, is in no case to bee used, Very yong Veale is not to be used. if wee either regarded health or policy, and the good of the common-wealth. Otherwise, Veale, such as we have described it, is a very good wholesome nourishment, and is of easy digestion, not being burdensome to the stomacke at all. And as for excellent good Beefe and Veale, there is no countrie in the world that can parallel, [Page 73] farre lesse exceed our beeves and veale here in England; English Beeves sur­passe others. whatsoever some talke of Hungary and Poland.

Goats flesh yeeldeth no good nourishment to the body, Of Goats. but rather a tough and melancholike: for the which cause they are not with us in use. Their young ones, called kids are notwithstanding every where in very great request, and yeeld to the body a very good and whole­some nourishment, and nothing so moist and excrementitious as Lamb. The Arabian Physitians did so highly esteeme this flesh, Of Kids. that they would have it farre exceed any other. Wee are content to give it the due commendation, but yet we will not yeeld too farre to super­lative comparisons. They are best in the Spring and beginning of Sommer.

Lamb, if of an indifferent age, and not too yong, Lambs flesh. is a good and whole­some food. It may seeme strange perhaps to some of our dainty palats, that I should insert this, not too young, it being now ordinarily accoun­ted the best that is yongest; and many great folkes think nothing of that which is common, and ordinary people easily may come by. And ther­fore the youngest sucking Lambs are by them in highest account and estimation. But by their leaves they are farre deceived that so thinke: For beeing so young they are very moist; Very young sucking Lambs are hurtfull to health. for the which cause they in­gender crude phlegmaticke humors, wherewith they pester the sto­mackes, and bodies of such persons, apt enough of themselves, by reason of ease, idlenesse and dainty fare, to accumulate superfluous humors. This flesh would not at least be eaten before it be six weeks, or two moneths old, if not more. And therefore it were a very good policie, if neither Lambs nor Calves were killed so young as most commonly they are. And as such flesh is hurtfull, so to the phlegma­ticke constitutions especially, and old people, and such as are of a moist constitution of body, and is best for cholericke hot bodies, and in the midst of Sommer.

Mutton of a middle age, especially of weather, Of Mutton. Weather mutton. not above two yeeres old, reasonable fat, is a very good nourishment for any age or sex, and is very wholesome for the body of man. Ewes mutton obtai­neth the next place in goodnesse, howbeit it is somewhat moister. Ewes mutton. Rammes mutton. Rammes mutton is worst of all other, and very old and tough mutton is hard of digestion, and only fit for extraordinary strong stomackes: especially for labouring people. And it is here to be observed, that the greatest, and fattest pease-fed muttons, and in rankest pastures, are not the wholesomest for ordinary food, howsoever most profitable for the masters purse, muttons of a middle size, and feeding on shorter commons, as the Fuge pabula lata. Virgilius in Georg. Poet well described them, are the daintiest, and wholesomest for food.

After our discourse of tame and domesticke beasts, Of Venison. Fallow & red decre. wee come now to the wild; and here in the first place, we must say something of our Deere, both Red and Fallow, which we, as the French also, call com­monly venison. All venison is thought to ingender melancholy, and to be very hard of digestion. Young Fallow-deere, reasonable fat, Young Fallow deer a reasonable whole­some dish. in in my opinion is a very good wholesome dish, and ingendreth not me­lancholy, more than a peece of good yong tender beefe. It is commonly [Page 74] attended with a cup of claret, for the opinion of hard digestion. It is a custome to bake it, Baked venison. inclosed within a thicke crust, the eating much whereof, I thinke, doth more hurt to the body, and more offendeth the stomacke than the Venison it selfe. And againe, I thinke, if the Venison be too fat, it more offendeth the stomacke, especially be­ing hot, than by any evill quality in the flesh it selfe. That which is not too fat, nor yet too leane, is the best. It is commonly excessive­ly seasoned with salt and pepper; and in my opinion, oftentimes too much. Red-dee [...]e [...] to the former. Red-deere, I confesse, is farre harder of digestion, and cannot be freed from the former aspersion of breeding melancholie; and therefore had need of all helpes of correction and preparation, and would be eaten but sparingly like cheese. And such Venison is the bet­ter and tenderer, Erroneous opinion. the more it be hunted before it be killed. It is the opinion or some, that Venison is never good untill it be mouldy, and may be found out by the smell. But I love not to dine with so good husbands, that will keepe their meat so long till none can eat of it. And I wish every one that love their health to beware of medling with such putrid mouldy stuffe, and let them feed on wholesomer food.

Of Hares flesh.Hares flesh was among the ancients in so high esteeme, that some ascribed unto it the preheminence above all other flesh, as witnesseth the Inter quadrupedes gloria prima lepus Martial. Poet. But certainly hee was unfit to be a Physitian, who was no better skilled in the nature of diet: for certaine it is, this is a very hard flesh, and of no good and wholesome nourishment, being very hard and dry, and therefore hard of digestion, and ingendring melan­choly, & the seldomer they be used, the better it is for health. The fat­test are the best, Leverets. and are better boiled than rosted; and being baked with store of butter, or well larded, they are the moister. Yong Leverets are far better, and of easier digestion.

The Rabbet or ConyThe Rabbet or Cony hath some affinity with the Hare, and is some­what dry in substance, especially the old ones. But yong rabbets, provi­ding they be not too yong, are a good & wholesom dish, in sicknes and in health.

Wild Swines flesh.Wild Swines flesh is esteemed better than the tame; by reason it is nothing neere so moist and excrementitious: but it requireth a good stomacke to digest it. Hedge-hogge.

In many places of Germany the country-people use commonly to eat Hedg, Of the parts of beasts hogges, as we doe other food, which are pleasant to the palat, strengthen the stomacke, loosen the belly, and provoke urine.

Before we leave foure-footed beasts, we must yet say something of some parts of beasts. Among all the parts of the beast, the musculous or fleshy part is that which affordeth the best, and most laudable nou­rishment, Fat of all sorts as being of a most temperate faculty. Now there bee divers other parts, both inward and outward, much declining from this golden mediocrity. In the first place, all maner of fat of beasts yeeld but little, and that but bad nourishment to the body of man, swimming on the top of other meats, provoking a loathing to the stomacke, hindring con­coction; and therefore hurtfull for weake, moist and nauseous sto­macks. It is used more for seasoning than for food, and helpeth well dry meats. The fat of Hogges and Geese is of all other the moistest.

[Page 75]The braines of foure-footed beasts are of a clammy and glutinous substance, howbeit not altogether cold, Braines. and ingender the like nourish­ment, are hard of digestion, overthrow the appetite, eaten especially in any abundance. And the moister the creature is, the moister com­monly are the braines. And yet Calves braines, as also of Pigges are with us in great esteeme; as likewise of Rabbets, Preparation of brains which are not so moist as the former. It is good to use with them, when they are used, pepper and vineger, sage and such hot and dry herbs. Such food, as al­so of the eyes and other glutinous, cold and clammy nourishment, doe best befit young and hot cholericke bodies and dry constitutions. The Eyes.

The eyes are of a clammy and glutinous substance also, howbeit not so much as the braine, and are fit for the like constitutions; and the fat­ter the beast is, the more clammy and glutinous the eies are, as of fat Calves.

The marrow is better than any of the former, The M [...]r [...]ow and being used with mo­deration▪ it nourisheth much, and strengtheneth and fortifieth nature, and is good for the throat and pectorall parts. Immoderately taken, especially by a weake and moist stomacke, it overthroweth the appe­tite, and overturneth the stomacke.

The Tongue yeeldeth a good and laudable nourishment to the bo­dy, and easy of digestion, being of a thinne and spongious nature. The [...], The nourishment thereof is more or lesse according to the nature of the beast whereunto it did belong. A little corned I hold them good; but sal­ted and hung up to dry, they are best to commend a cup of good drinke, and make drinke descend more freely.

Hogges cheeks use to be kept soused in sowre drinke and fried, Cheekes. how­beit they yeeld no good nourishment, are hard of digestion, as being of a clammy and glutinous substance. And so these externall parts, as the eares also and the feet partake much of this nature, Eares, snowt, feet. and therefore it is not amisse, that such things are fried with onions & mustard used with them. The like may be said of other beasts, which are also better or worse according to the nature of the beast.

The bellies of beasts are much of the same nature, The Belly or Tripes. yeelding a like nourishment, and are hard of digestion; and therefore wee eate tripes with mustard. A Calves belly is better than others, and that also of a sheepe. But of strong stomacks of labouring men, and such as take great paines, neither this nor any food lightly commeth amisse.

The heart is of a hard digestion, and requireth a strong stomacke, The Heart e­specially of elder beasts; but yet yeeldeth indifferent good nourishmēt.

The Lungs are of a spongious substance, nourish little, & that nourish­mēt they yeeld, is but phlegmatick, and not of any laudable condition. The Lungs.

That Livers, especially of beasts of full age, are of hard digestion, Liver. and ingender grosse humors, and are apt to breed obstructions, howbeit such food nourisheth much. Livers of younger beasts, especially when they suck, are far better, and of a moister substance; and yet are not free from offending weake and tender stomacks, and withal from ingendring ob­structions.

And what account can we make of the Splene, the cisterne, Milt and as it were, the very magazin of meclancholick blood, but that it will produce such a nourishment.

[Page 76] The Kidnies.The Kidnies are of a very hard digestion, yea harder than the Liver it selfe, and ingendreth no good nourishment: yet the kidnies of the youngest beasts are the best, and that of a fat Calfe especially. And the older the beast is, the worse they are.

The Vdder.The Vdder of a young Cow, if it be not too fat, although somewhat hard of digestion, yet to a strong stomacke, it will not be offensive. It is not indeed so good for weake stomackes, and phlegmaticke consti­tutions. And all Vdders are inferior to other flesh, and the worst are those of elder beasts; and therefore the best is to use them but sparing­ly.

Stones.The Stones ingender a thicke and grosse flatuous blood, and nourish well; yet of the younger beasts they are best.

Blood of beast.Blood of beasts ministers but a grosse and course nourishment to the body; yet some better and some worse. Bulls blood was a poison a­mong the antients. The blood of an Oxe or Cow, howbeit in some place they make use of, yet in most places it is altogether rejected. Hogges blood is now in greatest request in most countries, as being the sweetest, and pleasing the palat best. And because Blood is of a grosse and course nourishment, and withall somewhat dry; it is there­fore a good custome to mingle with those puddings some fat of the same beast, some salt and pepper, and penniroyall, or other hot herbs, which helpe well other defects.

Of Milke and what it is.There are some things that come from beasts, yet being no part of the same, as Milke, whereof is made Butter and Cheese. Milke is nothing else save a second concocting and refining of the Blood, drawne up into the dugs, and there by vertue of naturall heat refined, and by a proper faculty of that part, converted into a white milkie substance: and therefore, according to the quality of the Blood, so is the milke also. Best Milke. Milke seemeth to bee temperate in regard of heat or cold; but withall very moist. That milke is best which is of a sound beast, and that both for whole and sicke persons, and that feedeth in good pastures. To nourish well, milke must be new milkt, white and of a good smell; of a meane substance betwixt thicke and thinne; sweet in tast, and free from either sowrenesse, bitternesse or saltnesse; and the beast should bee of a middle age, and feeding upon greene grasse, and in the Spring, or beginning of Sommer. Such milke in­gendreth a good and laudable Blood, and very fit to nourish the bo­dy. Now for what bodies it is best, together with the manner of the right use, shal hereafter appeare. In milke there is a triple substance ob­served: the first a thinne waterie substance, called the ferositie or whey, In Milke a triple substance observable. Whey. Butter, being of good use both in sickenesse and in health; and is of a cooling faculty. There is another which swimmeth on the top, called the creame of the milke, being the most airie part of the same; which after it is separated from all the other parts, is called Butter; and serveth us for the same uses that oile doth in hotter countries, being hot & moist: and moderately used, it agreeth well with the stomacke, looseneth the belly, Cheese. and is good against divers diseases of the breast. The third part of milke is that which is most terrestrious; the which beeing prest out, and quite separated from the other two substances, wee [Page 77] commonly call Cheese, the which is somewhat cooler than Butter, yet lesse or more, according as it partaketh more or lesse of the sub­stance thereof.

Cheese bindeth the belly, is harder of digestion, ingendreth ob­structions, and is a great enemie to the stone: Cheese is distinguished according to the milke it is made of, the age, the art is used in the making. Of all others that which is new, somewhat salted, Best Cheese. and made of good Cowes milke, ingendreth the best nourishment; and mo­derately now and then used will doe no harme to any. My meaning is, of such as have not the creame much skimmed off: for such as are made of milke much skimmed, are farre drier, unwholesomer, and lesse worth than the others. But of this, and other things concer­ning this purpose, more hereafter in the diet of the diseased.

CHAP. XIX.

THe flesh of Fowles is of easier digestion, hath a speedier passage thorow the body; but yeeldeth the lesse nourishment than the flesh of foure-footed beasts. In all sorts of fowles, Fowle best for use ac­cording to its usage. they are best that exceed not a yeere in age, To make them tender, if need be, they are to be hung by the heeles two or three daies; providing alwaies they hang not till they smell.

Among all our tame fowle, our Cocks, Hens, Capons, and young Chickens, are with us, not without good reason, in greatest request, and ingender a good and laudable nourish­ment, usefull and very wholesome for the body. Of Capon [...]. A young fat Capon of all others is the best, and yeeldeth best nourishment, and is easie of concoction. Next unto them are Hens indifferently fat and young, Hens. yeelding little unto Capons for good and wholesome nourishment.

Chickens are very good, light, Of Chickens. wholesome and nourishing meate in sicknesse and in health. They are good for weake stomacks, and such as lead a sedentarie life, and use but little exercise. It is not good to use them too young, as is the ordinary custome, having hatched unto themselves this false and erronious opinion, that the younger any thing is, the btter it is in diet. And because such things are not for the most part so common, therefore partly for this same reason, When best for use. and partly out of an affected singularity, many are contented to dwell still in this errour. But when they come to be best, to wit, little pullets, then doe our pa­late-pleasers esteeme them nothing worth.

[Page 78] Of Cockes.Cocks are inferiour to any of the former, yeeld worse and lesse nourishment, but are hotter than any of the other, and loosen the belly.

Turkies.Turkies of a middle age, and reasonable fat, are a good whole­some nourishing food, and little inferiour to the best Capon, espe­cially the brest and fore-parts, and breedeth very good nourishment. But their fat is somewhat fulsome.

Caution concerning cramming of tame fowle.And here it is to be observed as a caution in all our tame fowle, that it were farre better to let them feed themselves with good graine, then to cramme them with dough, close cubd up, as is the custome. It is true that thus they prove often the fatter: but too much fat makes them too fulsome, and nothing so wholesome.

The Peacocke.The Peacocke is of a very hard, solid and firme flesh, and hard of di­gestion, being of a hot and drie substance, ingendring grosse and melancholicke humours, and therefore need a strong stomacke. After they are killed, they are best to hang some daies, to make them the more tender. The younger pullets are tenderer and easier for the sto­macke to overcome. Others, againe, esteeme this to be of as good a nourishment as a Turkie. It was esteemed a dainty dish among the an­tient Romans, as likewise of late yeeres, as witnesse Macrob. Saturn. libr. 3.13. our Writers. And De civit. Dei. lib. 2 [...]. cap 4. Of Pigeons. Saint Austine saith, hee had made triall of it, that the flesh of it would not putrifie.

Pigeons are hot, and nourish indifferent well, especially fat, young plump ones, being blooded under the wing, and stuffed with cooling herbs, and sowre Goose-berries or Grapes. It is a preposterous kind of cookerie, which is most commonly used to bake Pigeons with so much pepper, that it is sufficient to set on fire all the stomackes of those that eat them. It is belike conceived, that Pigeons are of themselves ex­ceeding cold. Boiled they are coolest and moistest, and fittest for hot and cholericke constitutions, and Sommer-time.

The Stock-dove.The Stocke-dove is a kinde of wilde dove, or Pigeon, greater in bodie than our ordinary doves, called in French, Pigeon Ramier, from the bran­ches of trees whereon they sit, most commonly in great companies. They are esteemed indifferent good nourishment, howbeit somewhat hot and drie: and therefore in France they often boile them, which is the best way. The younger are the best.

The Turtle.The Turtle is another wilde kinde; but lesse than the tame, or dove-coat Pigeon, and being young and fat, they yeeld good nourishment. In France after they are caught, they keepe them commonly up a pretty while in cages, feeding them with millet seed, by which meanes they become exceeding fat, and good to eat.

[...] Goose.The Goose is of no small account among our tame fowle, howbeit it yeeldeth but a grosse nourishment, and nothing so good as the former, harder of concoction, and ingendring more excrementitious humours. The young Goose, called a greene-Goose, is farre better, easier of digesti­on, and ingendereth better nourishment, howbeit not so good as o­thers.

Wilde-goose.The wilde Goose is drier than the other, breedeth not so excre­mentitious an aliment to the bodie; yet nourisheth lesse, is hard of [Page 79] digestion, ingendreth melancholie, as other the like doe.

There is yet a certaine sort of water-fowle, Solan Goose. called by the name of Goose, howbeit not properly, which for this cause, notwithstan­ding, we here mention: and this is that Solan-Goose, breeding in a little rockie Iland in Scotland, called the Bast, and in one of the North-west Ilands of the same Kingdome, and no where else that I could heare. This fowle or Goose is called Oysan du Bas, by that famous Du Bartas: and indeed it is lesser than our Goose, rather of the bignesse of a good bigge Ducke; and yet for some resemblance called by this name. This fowle is of a fishie taste, like unto the taste of Herring, whereon especially it feedeth. It is all fat, scarce any leane to be seene in the whole carkase. They are found ready in their nests round about this rocke (the young I meane, for the old ones are not eaten) about the later end of Iuly, or beginning of August. The manner of the eating of the Solan-Goose. They are eaten as we eat Oysters, before they sit downe to table, piping hot off the spit, accompanied immediatly with a cup of good claret wine. If they were not eaten thus hot, none were ever able to eat them: for their nourishment, I cannot much commend it; howsoever it be there (for the raritie it seemeth) in no small account, esteeming it in steed of physick (and indeed it ordinarily loosneth the belly thus eaten) and that they shall injoy their health the better a long time after. The nou­rishment can neither be great nor very good, as is the nature of other wa­ter-fowle, wherof hereafter: but this pre-eminence it hath above others, that it slippeth quickly thorow the guts, and so offendeth the lesse.

Among wilde fowle, the Pheasant, without all controversie, The Pheas [...]n. beareth away the bell: and it is, no doubt, a very daintie dish. They nourish very well, and are wholesome for any age or complexion whatsoever: they are much of the nature of our tame Pullaine, howbeit nourish not altogether so much; yet their nourishment is very good, and easie of digestion, and befit such stomacks as most ordinarily use them: they are esteemed the more excellent by reason of their rarity, Omne rarum carum. It is a dish that doth adorne great mens tables: if ordinary peo­ple can come by them, I hope I shall not need to bid them use a moderation in the use of them.

The yong Partridge being fat, The Partridge. is a very good and wholesome nourish­ment, and of easie digestion; wherefore it is good for dainty stomacks, for weake and valetudinary people: for it strengtheneth nature much: the elder are drier and harder of digestion, and therfore in bounty yeeld to the former. Some, notwithstanding, in winter, esteeme the elder better than the younger; I meane, if both were to be had. It is true, indeed, that in Winter the stomacke, by reason of the redoubling of naturall heat, is farre better able to deale with them, and digest them. They are then to be hung up for two or three daies, which is also in o­ther wild fowle to be observed: It is to be observed, that generally, all wilde fowle is drier than the tame, Wilde-fowle commō ­ly drier than tame. and yeeldeth lesse nourish­ment; yet most of them are easily digested. Againe, in some countries this drinesse is well corrected by preparation; as in France, where they lard them, the which cookrie, as I cannot but commend in wilde fowle, providing the lard be good and sweet; so I think it very superfluous and [Page 80] needlesse, if not worse, to our ordinary tame fowle, as fat Capons and Geese, yet are they there ordinarily in use.

The Quaile.Among wilde fowle, the Quaile is one of the moistest, and is fattest in Harvest, and nourisheth much; but is easily putrified in the stomack. They need no addition of lard, or butter; but are rather to be baked with spices; being much used, they ingender Fevers, Convulsions, and the falling sickenesse. But I hope the seldome using of them will make a­mends for all. Their rarity makes them in greater request: but were they as common as our Capons, their credit would quickly be crackt.

The Powt.That wilde fowle, called in Latin Attagen, and by some a Woodcock, but falsely, being bigger than a Perduch, spotted on the backe, like a Jugge, but of of a browner colour, and some call a Powt, the flesh blacke without, but white within; is by some accounted of all wilde fowle the best; is very tender, easie of digestion, good for all ages and conditions, ingendreth good nourishment, agreeing well with the sto­macke.

The Moore-cocke, or Heath-cocke.There is also a great Moore-cocke or Heath-cocke, called uro-gallus, or uraga, and greater than our ordinary Cocke, yeelding little in good­nesse to our Turkies, howbeit, somewhat drier, and harder of digestion.

There be divers sorts of little Birds in no small esteeme for ordinary use, The Larke, some of them very good, and some againe, not worth the ea­ting: the Larke is of a good and laudable nourishment, and best and fattest in coldest weather: they have ever beene dignified with a certaine vertue against the wind-colicke. And for this purpose, some wish to stuffe them with Garlicke; but then they lose much of their re­putation, Garlike of it selfe being able to bring this to passe. Some to make them eat plump and fat, rost them with their guts: every man as hee likes.

The Thrush.The Thrush is counted little inferiour to the former, yeelding in­different good nourishment, but that it is somewhat hotter: and as Larkes, so are these also best in Winter, and cold weather. It was in high esteeme Jnter aves Turdus▪ si­quis me iudice certet. Jnter quadrupedes glo­ria prima Lepu [...]. Ma [...]ial [...]s. Sparrowes. among the antient Romans.

Sparrowes nourish much, and increase both blood and sperme, and yet are they hard of digestion, especially rosted; but the best way is to boile them; and then hast thou the benefit both of their bodies and their broth, which is restorative.

Linnet.The Linnet yeeldeth good nourishment, and is easier of digestion than the Sparrow; and may safely be used of any.

Black-bird. Blacke-Birds, although esteemed by some a good nourishment, yet others are of opinion they are better to delight the eare with their mu­sicke, than to feed the belly, being bitter in taste, and hard of digesti­on: but if eaten, the fattest are the best.

The Ster [...]ine.The Starline is rather worse, and therefore utterly to be rejected.

Whatsoever opinion some have of the Wood-cocke, and would par­allell it with the Partridge; yet affordeth it but a dry, melancholick nou­rishment, being withall hard of digestion: the Winter is their season.

The Snite, or Snipe.The Suite, or Snipe is worse than the Wood-cocke, being more un­pleasant to the taste, harder of concoction, and nourisheth lesse; and is very apt to ingender melancholy.

[Page 81]And the like may I say of that little bird called Fildfare, Frid-fare, so common and frequent here every where in the Winter season; and therefore all such as are any waies disposed to melancholy, let them be very care­full and circumspect how they adventure on such meats:

Rails are of very good use, yeeld good nourishment, The Raile. and are easie of digestion.

The Plover hath purchased a great reputation, The Plove [...]. and high esteeme of a dainty dish; and although it be none of the worst, so is it none of the best neither, being somewhat hard of digestion, and not so good for melancholicke persons.

The Lapwing, by some called the greene Plover, is by some like­wise in high esteeme, and yet is it inferiour to the Plover: The Lapwing. and there­fore I thinke them wisest that make no use of it at all, especially when they are well supplied with store of other good food. Such as are in want must make use of anything.

Some of those already named, live in Moores, Fowle living in and about waters. or watrish and fenny places: but besides these, there are a many more, both grea­ter and smaller fowle, that live both in and about waters; which, for the most part, are nothing so good, nor yeeld so good and whole­some a nourishment as other fowle which live most commonly in drier places, and feed on better food. Amongst all these, Swanne. the Swan is the biggest, and yet not the best. It ingendereth melancholy, and is very hard of digestion, affording but bad nourishment. And howbeit it agree somewhat with the Goose in the nature of nourish­ment; yet is it farre inferiour, and of harder concoction. It is ac­customed to be served in for a dish at great feasts, with the first course: but those that feed well on this dish, I warrant them need no second course, or else they have better stomacks than their neighbours.

Of Duckes, there be both wilde and tame, Duckes, wilde and tame. all which frequent waters, and live most therein. They are ranked amongst food of good nourishment, being hard of digestion, and ingender store of excre­mentitious moist nourishment, especially the tame ones: the wilde are of a more solid and firme flesh, and will indifferently nourish a strong robust body that can well digest it. But of choicer stomacks these and all water-fowle are to be avoided; as also of melancho­licke persons, and such as use but little exercise; as students, &c. But Ducklings being fed with good food, are easier of digestion, and ingender indifferent good nourishment: yet they are farre fitter for hot and drie bodies, than for phlegmaticke and moist complexions.

The Heron, Storke, Crane, Bustard, Bittour, Heron, Stork, Crane, Bustard, Bittour. afford no good nourish­ment at all; but are all very hard of concoction, and ingender no­thing but melancholy, and abundance of bad humours, Caveat emp­tor. And indeede, such fowle give no approbation to the palate of their worth and sufficiencie; no more than doth the Sea-meaw, or Sea-gull, and many other such fowle of an unpleasant fishie taste.

The Teale, notwithstanding, hath procured unto it selfe a good re­putation, (and not without cause) above his fellow-water fowles. Teale. It is easie of digestion, nourisheth indifferent well, and will not offend a weake stomacke, seldome in water-fowle to be observed.

[Page 82] Moore-hen, or Fen­ducke.The Moore-Hen, called also by some, a Fenne-Durke, although some­what more cōmendable than many other water-fowle, in regard of the fatnesse; yet are they not freed from the faults wherewith other wilde fowle frequenting waters are charged. There be yet many more both water-fowles, and which live neer, and in the water and fens, and watry places, which either are not so much in use and request as the former, or if they be, yet differ they not in nature from the former, by the which one may easily judge of their natures and properties. And among such as live in drier places, some are sometime accustomed to eat some other kindes of fowle; as Rookes, or young Crowes, and some others: the which, notwithstanding, are neither so usefull, nor yet of so good and laudable an aliment, as others in more frequent and ordinary use. But these be the chiefe, and which most frequently furnish our tables.

Of the parts of fowle, daintiest, and in most request.But befor wee finish this discourse of fowle, I will say some­thing of some parts of them; as also of things which proceed from them, namely, their egges. In fowle, both wilde and tame, some parts are preferred before others: In fat Capons, Hens, Turkies, the wing is esteemed the best and daintiest; in Geese, Duckes and water-fowle, The wing. the legges, as being in perpetuall motion. And for the same reason in Partridges and other wilde fowle, The legge. the wing is esteemed the best. Pulpous flesh about the brest. But the pulpous flesh about the breast, by reason of the hearts neighbourhood, being drier, declineth from that degree of goodnesse.

The braine.The Braines of the great water-fowles; as of Swanne, Goose and Ducke, which are themselves none of the best nourishment, cannot be much worth. And the moister the creature is, the brains must needes be the worse, being so much the more moist than others. The braines of wilde fowle, themselves of a good ali­mentall qualitie, and somewhat dry (as Partidges and the like) are the best. But of Pigeons they are starke naught: as among foure-footed beasts, Cats braines are esteemed poison. Howsoever the braines are alwaies farre worse than the rest, especially in water-fowle, where themselves yeeld no good nourishment, even those of the smaller kinde also must needes be of no esteeme at all

The Maw or GussordThe maw or Gufford of yong Hens, Capons, Pullets, Turkies, Geese, or Ducks, although they are hard of digestion; yet if well concocted, and meeting with a strong stomacke, they yeeld indifferent good nou­ishment. And some have opinion, that the inward skinne thereof prepared, is good to strengthen the stomacke, and to be good a­gainst the stone; whereof I am not as yet so well perswaded.

The wings of young fat fowle are easily concocted, and yeeld the bodie indifferent good nourishment: but as for those of old leane fowle I wish-weake and tender stomackes to beware, and ra­ther feed on better food.

The Live [...]The Livers of ordinarie fowle, although they be somewhat harder of concoction than the Musculous flesh it selfe; yet in young fat fowle, as of the Capon, Henne, Pullet, Turkie or Goose it selfe, they yeeld indifferent good nourishment. The Liver of the Goose among the Romans was in high esteeme above all others: and for [Page 83] this purpose they fed their Geese in such a manner, The Goose liver in great esteeme among the antient Romans. that the Liver would grow to an exceeding great bignesse. And this the Iewes pra­ctise even now in our daies. Their meate they eate mingled with milke, is thought is a great meanes to bring this to passe.

The stones of Cockes or Cockerrells; as also of Turkies, Geese, The stones. Drakes, especially of Sparrowes, are commended for good strength­ning meat, and to ingender sperme.

The Egge, although it be not properly a part of the fowle, The egges. yet doth it proceed from the same. The Egge is a good wholesome and temperate food; yet better or worse, according to the Fowle that laid it. Hens and Turkies Egges are most familiar to mans nature, and best and wholesomest for ordinarie use. The white of the Egge compared with the yolke, is cold and moist, and is somewhat harder of concoction than the yolke. But concerning Egges, more herereafter.

CHAP. XX.

BEfore we enter upon our Fish, wee will say something of some strange and uncoth kinde of diet, especially flesh, as also some other things not usuall among us: that by this meanes wee may the more be induced to laud and magnifie the great and extraordi­narie bountie of our great and gracious God, in affording us such plentie and varietie of good and wholesome food for susteining these fraile bodies, that by this meanes in all mo­deration and sobriety, and without excesse, we might the better be ena­bled for his service. And besides, that travellers, which shall by any oc­casioned necessity be cast upon any such places, may be somewhat ac­quainted with the nature and faculty of such uncoth food. It hath been already plainly proved how usefull & necessary a food bread is, and how agreable to the life of man, and without the which, all other food what­soever giveth but small content: and yet there is a people (saith a Purchas his pilgri­mage lib. 4. cap. 12. late Writer) that live upon flesh only; and these be certaine Indians, under the command of the great Mogere, and bordering upon China; which al­so hold all manner of corne to be food for beasts, and not for man: and yet those people live 100 yeeres. I have seen with mine eies ( saith Caesar Frede­rick) that the inhabitants of Pegu or Brama, have eaten Serpents, Scorpions, and all manner of herbs and grasse. This I meane (saith he) not of their extremity, or famine, but ordinarily. M ^r Fitch saith the same, that they eat roots, herbs, leaves, Dogs, Cats, Rats & Snakes; they refuse almost nothing: Idem cap. 4. and this is also the cu­stom in Florida, where they eat such vermin; as also ants egs, wood, earth, [Page 84] and dung of wilde beasts; and keepe the bones of Serpents and fishes to grinde afterwards. Jdem libr. 8. cap. 4. The Guineans diet is strange, as raw flesh, handfalls of graine, large draughts of Aquavitae, Dogs, Cats, Buffles, Elephants (though stinking like carrion, and a thousand magots creeping in them:) and that Lib. 6. cap. 14. Vi­pers flesh was in use to be eaten, appeareth by Dioscorides. And Pliny relateth, Lib. 2. cap. 16. that the Aethiopians, and Indians, called Seres, and the inhabitants of the hill Athos, (called by Isigonus, Macrobii, or long lived) lived on the like food; and by reason thereof neither in their head, nor whole bodie, were bred any kinde of vermine whatso­ever. Of Rats. And that Rats were in request, as an ordinary food among the antients, as also that they had warrens for this same purpose, is apparant; and therefore Lib. 3. cap. 65. & lib. 36. cap. 1. Pliny mentioneth, that Marcus Scaurus, in his Censorian law, abolished and banished from their tables, both Rats, Shel-fish, and fowle fetcht from forraigne parts. But it may, perhaps, Horses, Dogges and Cats flesh. be asked, whether Horse, Cats and Dogges may not be eaten? I answer, that indeed, such creatures not being in ordinary use with us, and being supplied with other variety of usefull creatures, and exceeding any of them in bounty, good and wholesome ali­ment, I see no necessity of their use. But because in some staits and extremitie, as sieges of townes, and other occasions, there may be sometimes a necessitie of using such food; howsoever, not to be compared with our ordinary flesh; yet doe they not partake of any evill or venomous quality. Indeed, such creatures, as also Mules and Asses, Mules and Asses. especially old and leane, are hard of concoction, yeelding a bad and melancholicke nourishment to the body. The young ones that be fat, are of farre better use, nourish better, and are easilier dige­sted. And as for Dogges and Cats, especially being young and fat, many have often fed upon them, and found them good food. In Ita­ly, Cats flesh no uncoth food. it is no uncoth thing to eat Cats; and even here among our selves Cats have beene sometimes eaten by some of purpose, and by others unawares, who never found any offence by this food. And this same last hard pinching yeere, 1630, some in this same towne, ate the flesh of Cats, and made good pottage thereof. Beside, even Hippocrates him­selfe appointed whelps flesh to his sicke, as may in divers places of his works appeare: whereby it may plainly appeare, that such crea­tures may in time of need be eaten. But besides these, in divers pla­ces Pars quaedam Locu­stis tantum vivit, fumo & sale duratis in annua alimenta. Ii quadrage­simum vita annum non excedunt, Plin. lib. 6. cap. 30. & libr. 7 cap. 2. lib. 11. cap. 29. Diod. Sicul. libr. 3. cap. 3. Leo African. descript. Afr. lib. 9 cap. 3, &c. Locusts, which wee commonly call Caterpillers, (a creature whereby God often scourged the inhabitants of hot countries, and wherewith hee also often threatned the rebellious and stif-necked peo­ple of the Iewes) have beene, and yet are at this day much used for ordi­nary food among many Nations, especially the Africans. And this is both by Pliny, and many other Authors, witnessed. How the Aethiopi­ans catch them with smoake, and salt them up, may be seene in Au­thours; this being their chiefe food whereon in these countries they most ordinarily feed. They use either to boile them, or else to dry them in the Sunne, and beat them to powder, and make meale of them. And that they were used of the inhabitants of Arabia Foelix, whereunto Iudea adjoined, or was not, at least, farre distant from it, is apparent by Iohn Baptist his diet. Now, by the way by occasion of mentioning Iohn [Page 85] Bapttist, it is to be observed, that Iohn did indeed feed upon such beasts; and not upon the buds of certaine herbs, as Michcaell Taxates & Leonabardus Thurnheyleus, in O­noma [...]tio suo super Theoph [...] Parac. de mellescribentem. Vide Sturbrium antiq. con­v [...] l [...]b. 2. cap. [...]. some would have him, drawing the Greeke word [...] to their owne interpretation; which notwithstanding in any antient Author is not found in such a signifi­cation as they would have it. And it is againe reported by Epiphanius contra Ebienaeos. Ibid. Ep [...]phani­us, that some Iewes desirous to be lye the truth, [...] read, [...] sig­nifying thereby certaine junkets made of hony or oile, whereof men­tion is made, Exod. 16. and Num. 11. But these, and many others which for brevity I passe by, are but frivolous and farre fetcht; and therefore let us rest upon this, that Iohn Baptist did indeed feed upon such a food, contenting himselfe with this austere kind of diet, Lo­custs and wild hony. Now this same late alleged author tells us that this need not seeme so strange untous, since that even of late yeeres some Germane souldiors, even in so great an abundance of all manner of provision, yet used ordinarily to fry Silke-wormes, and eate them with no small delight; and that not without good reason: Nam quae innoxia sum, & sapore & odore tetro care [...]t, sola opi­nione constant. Idem ibid. for such things as are indued with no noisome smell or taste, depend onely up­on opinion; which is a good rule to be observed in the use of uncouth food. And the Italians eat another worme, differing from the other but in colour to outward appearance, it being black, and the former of a reddish colour; and yet are such with them esteemed as greatest dainties, although ingendred of putrefaction, and not of Egges, as both the Locusts and Silke-wormes are. Now that the Locust was a food, and used to be eaten, even among the Iewes themselves, at least some sorts, may by the 11. chap. of Levit. appeare, where foure sorts of Locusts were allowed to be eaten, and therefore called cleane, and other three sorts forbidden, and called uncleane. Of these creatures I could make a long and large discourse, relating their severall names and natures, together with divers histories of their hurt done in severall Countries at several times, with many other things to them belong­ing, which I willingly passe by. Whoso desireth to know more concer­ning these creatures, Let him read Pliny and others, even our late al­leged Author.

But besides all the sorts of creatures usefull for mankind, as though this were not yet sufficient, and that our bountifull God had abridged us of necessary provision for the sustentation of this fraile life, Alranarum quo (que) & coch [...]earum esum per­venit hominis audaci [...], quosi vero tam inops fuerit natura, ut non opulentissimos ad vi­vendum thesauros, quo­vis in loco, ubi vita per­agenda foret, disposuis­set. Ars enim inventa est teste Libav. lib. 1. Batrach. cap. 15. Non quo pacto gallinas, aves, oves, juvencos, brassi­cam, [...]etam, frumen [...]a & Cyprinos recte mensis imponeremus, sed prodigiosa andacia portentosoq, ingenio undarum limo vesceremur, ranis; & telluris sordi­bus, cochleis; silvarum (que) scabie, fungis, & stagnorum putredine, ostreis, ut aterna sapientiae arcem & domiciliun [...] eo praecipitaremus ma [...]is, quam ista sunt in perniciem procliviora. [...]os artifices mittere oportuit ad Indorum Gymnosophistas, ut discerent stercoraceis cibis utent [...] homines ad speratam vitae diuturnitatem pervenire hand posse. Et tamen dum haec facimus, summi potius quam imi, fer­ream nobis aetatem, & multos vita annos audaciter promittimus. Claud. Deod. Panth. Hygiast. lib. 7. cap. 45. ex Andr. Libav-Barrach. lib. 1. cap. 15. mans boldnesse hath yet extended it selfe to strange and prodigious dishes. So that now we are not contented to feed on Sheep and Cattell, Hens and Capons, and other such creatures usefull for the maintaining of the life of man; and fit them for our tables: but prodigious gluttony hath now devised to feed upon the excrements of the earth, the slime and scum of the water, the superfluity of the woods, and putrefaction of the sea; to wit, to feed on frogs, snailes, mushroms, and oisters. And that this custome hath beene very antient, may by Pliny appeare; [Page 86] who writeth that they used to feed snailes in warrens, as they did o­ther creatures. And it seemeth that such creatures were at the first used either as Physicke, or in the defect and want of better food. And it seemeth that some antient Physitians used frogs in Consumptions and wasting away of the bodie, as also in that oppilation of the pipes of the lungs called, isthma. But this was never their meaning that they should be either of them, or any other as an ordinary food, but rather Phy­sicke, or at least physicall food, alimentum medicamentosum. But to speake the very truth, both frogs and snailes are now adaies ra­ther used for wantonnesse, and to please our curious palats, than for any necessity, or defect of other food. And thus are they ordinarily used in France, and some other countries, although yet not in fre­quent use with us; howbeit, one of these daies these dishes may be­come as common as our new French fashions of apparell. To enter upon a large discourse of the nature, properties, and preparation of frogs, and the manner of using them, is not here my purpose; and therefore leave it to them that have more leisure, and purpose to feed upon them. If any have a purpose to use them, let them beware of those that are venomous. And my advice shall bee rather to abstaine from such things, wherein there may be either danger or doubt, and to make choice of that which is free from either, where there is such choice and variety. And this I would have also understood concerning mushroms (whereof some thing hath been said already) and the like. As concerning Snailes, they are used for food both in France, and o­ther neighbouring countries: and for this purpose, as the Cochlearum vivaria instituit Fulvius Hi [...] ­pinus in Parquinien­si, paulo ante civile bel­lum quod [...]um Pom­pe [...]o magno actum est: distinctis quidem gene­ribus earum; separa­tim ut essent: albae quae in Reatino agro nescuntur: Separatim Illyricae, quibus mag­nitudo praecipua: Afri­canae, quibus facundi­tas: Solitanae quibus nobilitas. Quin & sa­ginam earum commen­tatus est sapa & [...]arre, alijs (que) generibus; ut c [...] ­chleae quo (que) altiles ga­neam implerent. Cujus artis gloria in eam magnitudinem producta sit, ut octoginta quadcantes caperent singularum ca­lices, Auctor est Mar­cus Varro. Plin. lib. 9. cap. 56 Verum hoc raninae escae inventum potius surd [...]scenti libi­dinibus palato, semper aliquid novi, tanquam per certamen exigenti tribuendum est, quo so­pita vis, delitiarum multitudine revocari possi [...]. Relinquantur er­go ista del [...]tiae vel ex­tremae necessitati, vel de [...]iti [...]sis Italis, Gallis & Hispanis quibus & [...]maces (quas gregatim destina is ad id hortis, et nutrint & impin­guans) delica [...]ssimus & gratissimus est cibus, quae in delitijs, & men­sarum [...]uarum la [...]titijs, ra [...]arum cl [...]nes, seu cox­as, modo frixas, cum o­rigani & menthemodico assumunt, modo elixas, & cum o [...] phacio aut a­gresta conditas mensis apponunt, nulla necssi­tate, sed gulae libidine impulsi. Idem Deod. Ibid. antient Romans fed them in their warrens, so doe some even at this day feed them in their gardens. Now some are of opinion that Snailes are of a very nourishing faculty; and for this cause, our women doe often ordi­narily indifferently exhibit them in Consumptions of any kind whatso­ever; sometimes in milke, and sometimes in broth, even as their owne fancie leadeth them. But by the way, if Snailes be so nourish­ing, I wonder why our Papists use them so ordinarily in the time of Lent, when as they will not allow so much as a bit of Porke or pow­dered beefe! They may well answer, they may as well be allowed as wine; and I thinke so too, and farre better, and nourish farre lesse, and with lesse speed, I am sure, than wine and divers other things they use. The reason why they are esteemed of so alimentall or nourishing a nature, is by reason (say som) that in Winter they are able to sustaine themselves with their owne substance: and that for this same cause, Galen appointeth them in Hecticke Fevers and consumptions. But the truth is, that these creatures, by reason of their viscidity, and gluti­nous tough substance, and the imbecillity and want of naturall hear, loose little or nothing of this their tough and glutinous substance, and by consequent need no reparation of the same. And as for the exhibi­tion of them in Hecticke Fevers, it is rather by way of humectation and refrigeration, than for any strong alimentall quality hee acknow­ledgeth in them. Etjam fi [...]entis invol­vamus, viscidum [...]en­tum, tenacem, ac gluti­nosum limacum muco­rem, artis Spagyricae beneficio, eo perduci, ut levissimo negotio in le­vissimum lapidem con­ge [...]etur: quo vel solo ar­gumento omnes ab ca [...]m alii [...]. l [...]berent, qui & ve [...]tr [...]cul [...] [...], & [...] o­sis, po [...]agr [...]ci [...], [...]o o [...]ibus & vi [...] crum [...] [...] ­nibus obn [...] [...]. Idē ibid. Anthr [...]o [...] [...] men [...], eaters. And that they participate of such a slimie gluti­tinous substance, may from hence also evidently appeare (saith the late alleaged Author) in that by Chymicall art and industrie, this [Page 87] slimy substance may with small paines be converted into a stone. This might therefore in my opinion deterre any from the use of such an ali­ment, especially such as are of a weake stomacke, are troubled with the stone in the bladder or kidnies, arthritical infirmities; as gout, s [...]hi [...] ­cira, &c. As also any obstructions of the inward parts, liver, spleen, &c. I have somewhat the longer of set purpose insisted upon this kinde of food, because it is growne an ordinray custome here in the countrie, as I have said, in any consumption; nay in any supposed, and but surmi­sed weakenesse, or frivolous feare thereof, indifferently to exhibit this dish in manner as I have said. Besides, this is done without any con­sideration of circumstances, either of age, strength, time of the disease, &c. And therefore I leave it to the understanding and judicious Rea­der to judge, whether this be a legall and laudable course or no. And withall, let the judicious and ingenious Reader judge of the necessity and utility of handling the diet of the diseased. Besides all the former sorts of diet, there hath a barbarous and inhumane custome of killing and eating mans flesh, not of late onely; but even many yeeres agoe, crept into the world; insomuch that wee know for a truth, that now there are divers of those Anthropophagi, or men-eaters in divers places of the world. And truely, I thinke, there is scare any among vs that would easily have beleeved, that any that bare ingraven the stamp and image of his Maker, could ever have harboured so barbarous a thought within his breast; farre lesse to have acted so tragicall and inhumane a crueltie, unlesse it had been by divers true histories testified unto us, and related by word of mouth by those, who, to their great griefe, have been spectators of so barbarous and inhumane a cruell custome. The late histories of such as have travelled of late yeeres into those parts of the Westerne world doe evidently witnesse the truth thereof. And it is yet further recorded, that in Beyond the coun­trey of Loango are the Anziges, the cru­ellest Caniballs which the Sun seeketh up­on, &c. They keepe o [...]en shambls of men [...] flesh. &c. Pureb. lib. 7 cap. 10. some of those places they keepe ordinarily shambles of mens flesh, as we doe of beefe and mut­ton and other flesh: and besides, if they thinke their Slaves will yeeld them more mony, cut out by the joint than sold alive (if there were but a halfe penny saved) they will bee sure to send him to the shambles. I doubt not but that the very reading of these things will strike a cer­taine horror and amazement in the minds of many men, with an horres­co legens, when they consider of the customes of these cruellest Cani­balls of all others; and iustly so they may. But have we no such de­vouring Caniballs here at home among our selves? The law would take hold of so barbarous a fact. But if there be not as bad, if not worse Cani­balls among our selves, let the world judge. I could instance in many several sorts of extortioners, and daily grinders of the faces of the poore, if this were a theme befitting my person & profession. But there is one particular kind, which not in my private opinion alone, but of many both of the most judicious and honest, hath beene alwayes accounted and reputed as horrible and cruell an oppression, as any other whatsoe­ver; if not far crueller. My meaning is of depopulating inclosure, wher­by many wealthy townes, who before maintained a number of able people, and fit in time of need to doe their country good service, have [Page 88] now for the most part left only a sheepherd and his dog. But the judge­ments of God upon their Persons, or at least upon their posterity (most of them I meane) are yet so recent in the memories of most now li­ving, that I need say no more, but wish that others may take warning.

CHAP. XXI.

AS in the land we may not without wonder and admiration, behold the great bounty our gra­cious God; so in that liquid element of water is no lesse to bee seene the rich liberality of our great Lord and Maker, in affording us for food so great variety of severall sorts of fishes. All fishes are of a cold and moist temperature, but some exceeding others in bounty, according to the nature of the water, Division of Fishes. and places wherin they live. Now all fishes live either in the salt-wa­ter, which we call the Sea; or in fresh-waters; as Rivers, Lakes, Pools or Ponds. Division of Sea-fishes The Sea-fish are accounted the best; as being of a firmer substance, Best Sea-fish. hotter and drier, and not so clammy and slimy, as the fresh-water Fish: they are also more savory, and nourish better. Among sea-fishes againe, such as have scales and firme substances are the best; and such as are inclosed within shells, divers of them, as Lobsters af­ford the body good and solid nourishment. Others of a softer and sli­mier and cartilaginous substance, Nourishment of fish inferior to tha [...] of flesh. are not so good. That fish that liveth in a pure water, tossed to and fro with waves, is better than that which hath lesse agitation and motion, and liveth in a more muddy water. And such as live most neare a rocky or sandy shore, are bet­ter than where there is much slime and mudde: and therefore were Pisces saxatiles, or rockie fish, for this cause so called, in so high an e­steeme among antient Physitians. And so among fresh-water-fish such as live most commonly in cleere, rockie or gravelly Rivers, and which are of a swift course, are the best, an of best nourishment. Such fish againe, as live in slimy and muddy waters, in the fens, marshes, Ponds, Pools and motes, are nothing so good, nor yeeld any good and laudable nourishment to the body. And howsoever, Fish have beene in use and great esteeme among the ancients, especially the Romans, and sold at a very high rate; yet if wee compare their nourishment with that of flesh, it is in many respects farre inferior to it; as not yeelding so wholesome and laudable a nourishment to the body. And it is to bee also observed, that fish are greatest enemies to cold the moist phlegmaticke bodies, and old age, especially the moistest and slimiest. Now something of some sorts of fish. And first wee [Page 89] will beginne with the Sturgeon, called of the antient Romans, as is supposed, Acipenser and by some, the sea-peacock, which was in so great request among the antient Romans, that not onely was it served in to the table with musicall Pomp; but even they also who carried it in, Sturgeon. were to weare garlands on their heads. The Sturgeon is of a reasona­ble good nourishing substance, if it be not too fat, which will easi­ly cloy the stomacke; and then take heed of surfetting with this dish, which hath indangered some, and cost some their life, for want of good take heed. We have it commonly brought to us barrelled up, from the Easterne countries, being commonly used at great feasts: and then by reason of the salt and vineger, (although it please the palat) yet must it needs be of hard concoction, and ingender melancholie, and bad humors; being especially mingled with so many severall sorts of food. The young Sturgeon is farre better, and of easier conco­ction than the old; but if thou be wise, eate as little of the fat of ei­ther as thou can. The belly of the Sturgeon is accounted the best.

The Conger, or as some for the resemblance call it, the Conger-Eele, Conger or Conger-Fele. is by some had in no small esteemed; howbeit others againe, as the French, care not for it; and in my judgement in this they are the wiser: for whatsoever account men make of it; it is of hard concoction, and breedeth no good nourishment, and to digest it well, requireth a strong stomacke, and a body free from infirmities; and yet let them use this Fish but a while, and they may perhaps make some worke for Physitians.

Turbot is a good firme fish; Turbot. and yeeldeth good and wholesome nourishment to a good stomacke; and is called therefore by some the Sea-pheasant.

The Plaice is not unpleasant to the Palat, Plaice. and howsoever by some esteemed a dainty Fish; yet is it in very truth very waterish and phleg­maticke, and of too soft a substance: it is best when it is growne to a good thickenesse, being then somewhat more firme.

The Flounder is much of the same nature and nourishment, Flounder. yet somewhat firmer.

The Sole is without exception a good and dainty Fish in sickenesse and in health; of very easie concoction and distribution, Sole. yeelding a very wholesome and good aliment to the body: it is for this cause cal­led the Sea-partridge; or as others say, the Sea-capon. Of this there are divers sorts differing but little in nature and nourishment. This is a­mong all others of prime use for the sicke.

Cod-fish is by some esteemed hard of concoction, Cod-fish. and of a clammie and glutinous substance: but by others againe it is esteemed quite contrary, of very easie concoction, and of a laudable nourishment. I confesse the substance of this Fish is of a moderate firmenesse, and not too hard; and therefore fresh Cod, a little salted, is an indifferent good nourishment. When they are salted and dried, they are far harder to be concocted, and nourish farre lesse. Of these kinds, Haberdene and Ling are accounted the best and daintiest; as againe Stock-fish the worst, concerning which it was not ill said, profecto non magis nutrit quam lapis. It yeelds no more nourishment than a stone. And therefore wee will [Page 90] leave it with biscuit bread to sailers strong stomackes, when they are unfurnished of better food.

Haddocke.The Haddocke hath some affinity in nature and nourishment with the Cod-fish, howbeit easier to be concocted, and not altogether of so firme a substance.

Whitings.The Whiting is easily concocted, nourisheth but little; yet yeeld­eth that which is good, and well suteth with a weake and choice sto­macke.

Smelt.The Smelt is a very dainty fish, of a very good nourishment, and free from any exception either in sicknesse or in health, and is pleasing to the palat.

Gournard.The Gournards red and gray are of a firme and solid substance, and yeeld [...] indifferent good nourishment, and not so phlegmaticke as many others doe.

Hallibut.The Hallibut, called Vmbra marina is of a firme white substance, and in great request among great ones, as is the Sturgeon; and thought to be nothing inferior to it, and is a good wholesome fish to an indiffe­rent good stomacke, although some thinke it is very easily cococted. It is somewhat a bigge fish, and hath beene in great account in Italie.

Mackrell.The Mackrell is sweet and pleasant to the palat, of a reasonable firme substance, and yeeldeth indifferent good nourishment.

Mullet.The Mullet living neare a stony or gravelly shore, although it be of a firme and solid substance, is easily concocted, and yeeldeth in­different good nourishment.

Scat & Thornbacke.The fish called Scat, Thornebacke, and all the kinds that have any affinity or neate resemblance to this Fish, are all utterly condemned, as breeding very bad, grosse and putrid humors in the body; and with­all is very hard and uneasy to be concocted, and therefore utterly to be abandoned of all such as would live in health; especially such as are of a moist and phlegmaticke constitution of body.

Cuttle fish.The Cuttle-fish is for strong labouring stomackes, mariners especi­ally, being of very hard concoction, and ingender grosse and bad humors.

Wolfe-fish.The Wolfe-fish although it be indifferent easie of concoction, yet is it a very moist, waterie and phlegmaticke fish, ingendring no good hu­mors at all.

Vast and great fish.The great fishes of Vast bulke and body; as all sorts of Whales Porpuises, and many other such afford the body no good nou­rishment, are very hard of concoction, and are onely for strong stomackes, and time of necessity, where there is want of better food.

Herings. Hering is a reasonable sweet pleasant fish, and moderately eaten is of indifferent good nourishment. Of these Herings there are ma­ny sorts, some better and some worse. The best are sweet and pleasant in taste, firme in substance; and indifferent fat; and such being a little corned with salt eate very pleasantly, and are no bad food for an indifferent stomack, and easily digested.

Pilchards and Sprats▪ Pilchaards and Sprats participate of the same nature, howbeit they are a little sweeter in taste, and eaten in too great abundance will easily cloy the stomacke, and so a dangerous surfet may ensue. But [Page 91] these and Herings use to bee salted up, and sent from one countrie to another. And some are salted, and afterward hung up and dried: and then wee call them Red-hering and Dry-sprats. But all salt-fish both nourish little, and ingender bad humors in the bo­dy, and are hard of concoction. Red-hering. And these being dried are enemies to dry melancholicke and cholericke bodied; but very good to make a cup of good drinke rellish well.

There is yet another sort of small fish of this same nature, Anchoves. called commonly Anchoves, being never used but pickled up, and afterwards used as a sallet before meat. I can give them no greater commen­dation than their fellowes went before them, as being both of one and the same facultie, and may well bee called the drunkards de­light. They cut tough phlegme in a phlegmaticke stomacke, and provoke appetite.

Rochet is accounted a good wholesome fish in sickenesse and in health, Rochet. yeelding indifferent good nourishment, and not offensive to the sto­macke.

Besides these, there are yet a great number of other good and whole­some fishes, Shell-fish which this great vast Ocean produceth for the use of man­kind, these already named being but some of the principall, in great­est request and best knowne. And as for others not named, their nature and nourishment may by that which hath beene said of the former easily be found out; and no other but have some affinity with some of these already named.

But there remaine yet an infinite number of Shell-fish, Division of Shell-fish whereof we must say something before we come to the fresh-waters. In generall, Shell-fish for the most part ingender crude, viscous and phlegmaticke humors; howbeit some more, some lesse. Of these some are of a farre softer substance, and others of a firmer. Oisters, Mushells, Cockles, and the like are of a soft substance. Lobsters, Crevices, &c: are of a firmer and solider substance. And in nourishment and concoction they differ al­so accordingly.

Oisters, among all others are in greatest request, Oisters. and for the softnesse of their substance and easinesse to be concocted, they are commonly eaten raw, and before meales, by which meanes they are good to loosen the belly. And although they better befit some constitutions of body than others; as namely, hot dry cholericke bodie: yet are they indif­ferently used by all constitutions, sexes and ages. But they helpe them­selves with the correction of pepper, vineger and onions, and a cup of good claret wine for the most part. But I wish a moderation in the use of this Sea-excremēt (for it is nothing else, hath bin shewed already) is in divers others, so especially in this & others of this nature and kind. Cockels, mushells, &c

Cockles, Mushells, and such others not much unlike them, are far inferi­or unto Oisters, as being harder of concoction, and yeelding worse nou­rishment to the body, especially Mushells. All are enemies to obstru­ctions.

Pranes and Shrimps to an indifferent good stomacke prove good and wholesome nourishment, exceeding any of the former, Pranes & Shrimps. and being in­different easy of concoction.

[Page 92] Crabs. Crabs and their kinds, Lobsters and the like Shell-fish are of a farre more solid and firme substance, nourish much; but are hard of con­coction. The Crab is the colder, and worst for cold and old complexi­ons.

Lobster.The Lobster is better than the former, and may better bee used of colder complexions, provided the stomacke be strong, it being also hard of concoction.

Tortoise.The Tortoise, as living most in the water, deserveth well to bee ran­ked among fish. It is of a firme and solid substance, being in forren nations often used as an ordinary food. The wood Tortoises are ac­counted of all others the best. Tortoises have not an evill taste, and yeeld to the body abundance of strong nourishment, howbeit hard of di­gestion, used liberally they are esteemed to loosen the belly. They in­gender tough and clammy humors; and therefore unfit for the wind-collicke, obstructions, stone, &c. They use to prepare them with great art and industrie against Consumptions and Hecticke-fevers. And for this purpose the Wood Tortoises are the best.

Fresh-water-fish. Sal­monAmong all our fresh-water-fish, the Salmon in all ages hath borne the bell away, even in the dayes of Pliny. It is very sweet, and plea­sant to the Palat, easy of concoction, and yeelding a good and whole­some nourishment to the body, howbeit it quickly filleth the sto­macke, and taken in any quantity will not so easily be concocted. The Salmon-trout, Salmon trout, or Salmon-Peale. young Salmon, or Salmon-peale are yet better and easilier concocted than the great and older Salmon. Eaten with vineger they are not so burdensome to a weak stomacke. Many use to keep this Fish sometime in such sowre liquor, although it then nourish lesse. They are taken in great abundance in many places both of this Iland and Ireland. Salt salmon looseth much of its former bounty, Salt-Salmon. as nourishing lesse, be­comming harder to be concocted, and ingendring worse humors in the body, as is the nature of salt-fish.

River-trout.The little River-trout among River-fish challengeth the second place, and unto it by some is assigned the first place. The best are such, as are bred in cleere and rockie Rivers. The others that live in great Lakes, and more muddy waters, although in greatnesse they may exceed, yet in good wholesome nourishment they are farre infe­rior to the others. The Trout yeeldeth a dainty, moist and cooling nourishment, especially to hot and dry complexions.

Perch.The Perch that liveth in pure Rivers, I ever held for as good a Fish, as the fresh-water bringeth forth. It is of good taste, pleasing the pa­lat, of an indifferent firme substance, and may safely bee used of the sicke.

Pyke and Pyckerell.The Pike is of a firme and solid substance, yeelding to none in good wholesome nourishment; that especially, I meane, which liveth in pure Rivers, and not in muddie ponds and pooles. The Pickrell or yong Pike is easiest of concoction. Those of middle age are best for or­dinary use, for most people in sickenesse and in health. It may as well be allowed the sicke as any other fish.

Gudgeon.And the Gudgeon is as good as the best River-fish both for sicke and healthfull people, and will easily be concocted with a weak stomacke, [Page 93] affording the body a good, laudable and wholesome nourishment, and may be called the River Smelt.

The Roch is an indifferent good fish, and affordeth the body no bad nourishment, howbeit it be farre inferiour to the Gudgeon. Roch.

The Allowes yeeldeth good store of nourishment to the body, Allowes. although it be hard of digestion. Take time and leisure to the eating of it, and take heed of bones.

The Barbell is easily concocted, yeelding but small nourishment, Barbell. and that not very excellent, and somewhat muddie in taste; the greater are the best. It is to be observed in the use of this fish ( Barbonoa antimonii vitrificati instar totum corpus perturbant, al­vum vomitum (que) horren­de, non sine vitae disci­mine ci [...]nt, ideo (que) a [...] eo­rum esu sedule caven­dum D [...]o [...]. Pant [...]-Hygiast. libr 1. cap 42. lib 1. Epist. Famil. ad Attitum. saith a late Writer) that the spawne thereof worketh as violent effects in the bodie, both upwards and downewards, as either Antimonie or Sneesing powder, or the like; and therefore wisheth every one to take good heed that they eat none of this stuffe. This fish was in so high esteeme among the antient Romans, that one cost sometimes neere threescore pounds Sterline. And Cicero himselfe maketh it plainly appeare in what high esteeme it was then among great ones at Rome.

But me thinkes I heare the Carpe complaine, The Carpe. that hath beene all this while neglected, being neverthelesse so highly esteemed, and reckoned one of the chiefest fish that furnisheth our fish meales. The Carpe then howsoever in so high an account yet scarce deserveth so high a praise and commendation. It yeeldeth to the body a viscous and clammie nourishment, apt to ingender obstructions, wind-co­licke, stone, &c. and therefore I wish the use thereof to be but sparing.

The Brame is better, and of easier digestion than the Carpe, howbeit inferiour to the Perch, and some others. Brame.

The Tench delighteth commonly in slimie and muddy waters, in which it ordinarily liveth: Tench. and although it yeeld abundance of nou­rishment; yet it is naught, ingendring obstructions, and many dan­gerous diseases; being especially much used by such as use little ex­ercise, and are used to feede daintily. Strong robust labouring people are better able to overcome the harmes from thence ensuing.

The Lamprey, not onely among the antient Romans, was in no small esteeme and account; but is even at this day accounted an ex­traordinary daintie fish; but especially among the greater sort, Lamprey. the poore not being able to reach to so costly a sauce. And I may well say of it, that the sauce is farre better than it selfe. The Lamprey, although pleasant to the taste, yet ingendereth it tough, viscous and slimy humours, obstructions, and divers diseases. They use to correct their evill qualities, to make for them a costly and daintie sauce, of wine, sugar, atd cinnamon: but truely in my opinion this cost is but badly bestowed.

Eeles are yet worse than the former, and yeeld a tough, clammie, Ecles. glutinous nourishment, apt to ingender obstructions, the gout, stone, &c. They are of a very sweet pleasant taste, and please the pa­late well; but their fat, especially, is very loathsome to the stomacke: Eeles living in purer and clearer waters, are yet better than those that live in muddy and foule waters, especially in the fennes. They are best rosted with sage leaves, as they are used, and then eaten with a little [Page 94] pepper and vineger. A little salted, they are better than fresh; strong labouring people may be bolder with such a [...]od. Let others, as they love their health, be sparing in the use of such a dish.

CHAP. XXII.

ALthough bodily labour, moderate exercise, and abstinence from food, untill our sto­macks crave it, be the best sauces that can be devised: yet because the world is not contented with that frugality and tempe­rance, Reasons for the use of sauces. which produced the lives of our fore­fathers to a great number of yeeres; and sicke folkes have many times neede to have their dull appetites quickened and sharpned with some such whetting sauces: besides, that custome, a sedentarie life, choice and tender education, and the qua­litie of some such sorts of food thereby corrected and bettered, doe of­ten challenge unto themselves a necessary use of them: That the qua­litie therefore of such sauces be not altogether unknowne, Vertues of salt. I will say something of them ere I proceed further. And in these, as in the ali­ments themselves, I wish a more moderate use than is customed by many. I will beginne with the most noble, most necessary, and of all others in most use and request.

Sa [...]t, and the excel­lency, vtility and ne­cessary use thereof.Salt then, which may most justly be called condimentum condimento­rum, Sauce of sauces, in generall, is hot and dry, yet drier than hot; and yet participateth more or lesse of these faculties according to the nature thereof, there being so many sorts of Salt, as shall hereafter ap­peare. Besides, it doth attenuate, cut, and penetrate tough, grosse and phlegmaticke humours. It preserveth moist meats from putrefaction, exhausting their superfluous moisture; and giveth a good relish to ma­ny, otherwise unsavory meats: so that it may appeare, that with many excellent vertues is this noble creature indued; insomuch, that it were forme an easie matter to spend much time in the due commendati­on thereof. But in the use of Salt, wee are to observe, first, that all sorts of food need not the use of Salt: Cautions in the use of salt. And againe, some neede more, some lesse, according to the superfluitie of moisture, the unsavorinesse, or the time we intend to keepe the same. To what bodies most hurtfull. It is againe to be observed, that it is more contrary to the hot cholericke, and verie leane people; and such as are molested with scabs, itches, and whose bodies abound with such humors. The excessive and immoderate use of Salt drieth up the humours of the body, and overthroweth and destroieth the radicall moisture which upholdeth nature. I saw in Saxonie a young maid about [Page 95] 16 yeeres; of age, who would emptie the Salt-seller on the table to eat, History. as she would doe with as much as shee could come by; insomuch that she looked as old and wrin­kled in the face as any other at the age of 70. But yet the moderate use of Salt, is for most sorts of meats very necessary; and besides that, it pleaseth the palate, it helpeth also concoction and distribution; by which meanes, divers diseases proceeding from crudities are often pre­vented. Now, it is to be observed, that some salt is of greater efficacie and power than some other; and for the same cause, some sorts of salt are more usefull and efficacious for some things than other. Severall sorts of salt. There was a kinde of salt among the antients, digged out of the ground under the sands of Liby [...], called from thence Sal ammoniacus, Sal ammoniacus. whereof fre­quent mention is made amongst our antient Physitians, whereof there is now none to be found with us. We have now some salt digged out of hills, in great lumps like stones; called Sal gemmae, Sal gemmae. and answerable to the former before mentioned: and this kinde of salt is found in great abundance in Poland, and many other places; as in Calabria in Italy, and in the county of Tirole in Germanie. There is againe a salt made of salt wells: as at Nantwich, here in England, and at Hale and Luneburg, Salt of salt wells. both in Saxonie. Some, againe, is made of the Sea-water; and that either naturally by the heat of the Sunne in Iuly and August: as at Rochell, Sea-salt naturall, of Bai-salt. Brouge and Marenes in France, and some places of Portugall▪ Salt of Sea-water by boiling. or else artificially, boiled by the heat of the fire; as in some places here in England, and in Scotland also. And it is to be observed, that where fewest rivers runne into the Sea, the best salt is made. Now, for keeping up fish or flesh for a long time, for some Sea-voiage, or other use, that which is digged out of the earth, made by the heat of the Sunne, called Bai-salt, or of wells, is of greatest force. The other is milder, and well be­fitting our ordinary use, at table especially. Best salt. Out of these naturall salts by refining is made a fine white salt for ordinary uses. And besides all these, there are yet infinit other sorts of salts made of severall sorts of vegetables and mineralls, and usefull for many diseases. Salt of simples, vege­tables and mineralls But howso­ever, the use of salt moderately used be excellent; yet would I advise thee, let the use of saltmeats be sparing, for feare of scabs, scurvie, Dangers by immode­rate use of salt-meats. it­ches, and many other diseases.

Next unto Salt, Honie shall succeed, Of Honie. which in all ages hath ever bin of high and great esteeme. It is hot and dry, not above the second de­gree at most: It is a soveraine preserver from putrefaction, and withall of an abstersive facultie. Cholerick constitutions and young people ought to be carefull and circumspect how they use it, and rather leave it to others, especially to old age, which may safely use the same. Hony for whom most hurtfull, or helpfull. And this is confirmed by the benefit Gal 5. de san t [...]uend. Antiochus the Physitian, and Telephus the Grammarian found by it. And Plin lib. 22. cap, 24. the Roman Pollio being asked by the Emperour, Augustus, by what meanes hee had prolonged his life to an hundred yeeres? Answered, that hee had used honie within, and oile without. I [...] it best for phlegmaticke and cold complexions, being moderately used: for in hot complexions it is quickly converted into choler. It is farre better boiled than raw, and so ingendreth not wind, Boiled hony best fo [...] use. especially where the bodie is predisposed; and so it is also more nou­rishing, easier of digestion, and lesse it looseneth the belly than the [Page 96] raw; and new honie is better than old, as being somewhat moister and pleasanter in taste. The best honie ought to be very sweet, pleasant in smell, Notes of best hony. of a cleare yellowish colour, indifferent stiffe and firme, yeeld­ing but little scumme on the top when it is boiled. Garden honie is the best, Clarifying of hony. and gathered of sweet flowers; it is clarified by adding a little water unto it, about the fourth part, so scumme it while any froth ariseth or while the water be euaporated, which is known by the bubles rising from the bottome: and if thou wilt have it more pure, put into every pound of honie the white of one egge, Vertues of hony. and afterwards scumme it againe in the boiling. Honie is good in divers pectorall infirmities, the cough, shortnesse of breath, pleurisie, &c, as also in the stone: and of it with divers liquours, are made divers drinkes for this same use and purpose; whereof more hereafter in the drinkes for the diseased. And although honie moderately used, openeth obstructions, being of an ab­stersive and cleansing facultie; yet immoderatly used, it ingendieth ob­structions, and so procureth many diseases, arising from thence. Mercur. variar. lect. libr. 2. cap. 23. A late Writer allegeth, that there was a certaine people in Africa, which out of flowers made abundance of good honie, nothing inferiour to that made by the Bees. There is made of honie, both a water, a quintes­sence, Metheglin. and divers other drinkes. Amongst divers others, there is one that hath ever beene in no small request amongst our antient Britons, and now known by the name of Welsh, which is that famous and wholesome Metheglin; the which I will here set downe, as I found it in a Butler his booke of Bees and hony. late pub­lished booke of Bees. This then is nothing else but a generous kinde of hydromel, bearing an egge, the breadth of a groat or six pence, and is usually made of finer honie, with a lesser proportion of water; namely, foure measures of water for one: Metheglin, how it is made. receiving also into the composition, as wel certain sweet & wholesome herbs, as also a larger quantity of spices: namely, to every halfe barrell, or sixteen gallons of the skimmed must, Eglantine, Marjoram, Rosemary, Time, Wintersavory, of each halfe an ounce; pepper, granes of each two dragmes; the one halfe of each being bagg'd, the other boiled loose, so that whereas the ordinary mede will scarce last halfe a yeere; good Metheglin the longer it is kept, the more delicate and wholesome it will be; and withall, the clearer and brighter. There are yet divers other sorts of descriptions of this famous drinke, and may be altered and accommodated to severall seasons and constitutions and ages. There is to be seene in the same Author a long description of a Metheglin, which Noble Queene Elizabeth of famous memory had in frequent use.

Of Sugar.Sugar hath now succeeded honie, and is become of farre higher esteem, and is far more pleasing to the palat, and therefore every where in frequent use, as well in sicknesse as in health. Whether the anti­ents were acquainted with Sugar or no, may justly be demanded? Certaine it is Gal. 8. Meth & 7. [...]mpl. Drosc. lib 2. cap. [...]5. Plin. lib. 12. cap 8 &c. Solm. cap. 65. they knew Sugar-canes, and some Sugar they had, which naturally was congealed on them like salt: as likewise a cer­taine kinde of liquid Sugar they expressed out of Canes, which they used in stead of honie: but that they had the art of preparing it, as now it is in use, and the severall sorts of it with us in our age used, doth no where appeare. Sugar is neither so hot nor dry as honie. The cour­sest, [Page 97] being brownest, is most cleansing, Sugar, for what dis. ca [...]es most [...]it. The immoderate [...] of Sugar and sw [...] meates breed i [...] [...]y disenses in the [...]. and approacheth neerest unto the nature of hony. Sugar is good for abstersion in diseases of the brest and lungs. Th [...] which wee commonly call Sugarcandie, being well refined by boiling, is for this purpose in most frequent request, And although Sugar in it selfe be opening and cleansing, yet being much used produceth dangerous effects in the body: as namely, [...]accharum in [...], s [...]ee [...]s, [...]ob [...] [...]i­l [...]m abit, idee (que) ab f [...]c­que [...]t [...]ore, illius p [...]tiss [...] ­mum. quod cal [...] vivae laxavio, & condidius, & si [...]um magis red i [...]tu [...], usa arcendi invenes, quibus nocentissimum [History] e [...]t Sa [...]charum: dum enim freque [...]ter & sac­charo, & sacchara [...] cō ­sectionibu [...] utuntur, p [...]s­sima scal [...]t, Italorua, Hispanorum & Gal­lorum, (ad [...] Anglo­rum imprimu) consuc­tuaine mes [...]at [...], perpe­tua siti v [...]antur, sa [...] ­gainem contrabunt re­ [...]orridam, u [...] & [...], Cachex [...]am, cum re­fraxa [...] vis [...]rum in­ternorum [...], & con [...] [...] rh [...] matism [...], [...] p [...]lo­re, etiam anhel [...]tus f [...]e­tore, & dentium ni­grad [...]ae sere vexantar. the immo­derate use thereof, as also of sweet confections, and Sugar-plummes, heateth the blood, ingendreth the landisc, obstructions, cachexies, consump­tions, rotteth the teeth, maketh them looke blacke; and withall, cau­seth many times a loathsome stinking-breath. And therefore let young people especially, beware how they meddle too much with it. And if ever this proverbe (Sweet meats hath often sower sauce) was verified, it holdeth in this particular. I remember, living in Paris, 1607. A young Clerke, living with a Lawyer in the City, procured a false-key for the closet where his Mistresses sweet-meat lay; and for many daies together, continued thus to feast with her sweet-meats, and loafe-Sugar (whereof there was there no small store) untill at length, hee became so pale in colour, leane in bodie, and withall so feeble, that hee was scarce able to stand on his legs; insomuch, that the skilfullest Physi­tians of the Citie, with the best meanes they could use, had much adoe to restore him to his former health again. And to what, I pray you, may we impute a great part of the cause of so many dying of consumptions in the weekly bills of the Citie of London? Surely, often admiring at so great a number dying of this one disease, to the number, for the most part, of thirty at least, and often upward; I have ever esteemed this one of the princi­pall causes. Before I leave this discourse of Sugar, I must give the world notice of one thing, to wit, that there is great store of our finest Sugar, and which is most sought after; Nam etsi candido illo colore, & dulc [...]s suavitate m [...]au os de­cipiat; fi tamen interior c [...]us anatomia ob o [...]ulos ponatur sub ilia albed­ne deterrimam nigredi­nem sub eo (que) dulcore, a­cerrimos, acutissimor (que) spiritus, vel eum aquis Seygi [...]s, seu fortibus cer­tantes partibus vitali­bu [...] & respirationi dica­tis infenfissimos, is faci­le repererit qui in ossi- [Vineger.] cina chymica sese exer­cuerit, &c. Claud. De­odat. Panth. Hygiast. lib. 2. cap. 1. Vertitur in bilem praesertim in ae­state, & in naturis bili­osioribus. Quin & ob­structionibus viscerae [...]nplicare creditum, quanquam vi [...] obtineat obstersoriam. Caterum dentibus, siquid aliud inimicissimam: affert enim & ni­gredinem, & rubiginem, & mobilitatem, quare ab ejus usu os collui diligenter prudentiores docent. Nos medica severitate pronuntiamus usui [...] Saccari mensis nostrae aetatis plus justo familiarem: prastantissimos enim escas putamas, quae suapte na­tura placent. Nec audiendi sunt qui sapares ciborum dulcedine sacebari fucari praecipiunt. Millia gentium sine s [...]ccharo, elegan­ter, ac falicter vivunt, Iohan, Bruyerm [...]ere cibar. lib. 10. cap. 8. refined and whitened by meanes of the lee of lime, the which how prejudiciall it must needs prove to the health, may appeare: so that here it may well be said, Sub melle dulce venenum. The toothsomest is not alwaies the whole­somest. Our forefathers in former times; found honie very whole­some; but now nothing but the hardest Sugar will downe with us in this our effeminate and gluttonous age. I say no further, but let those that will not be warned, stand to the perill that will fall thereon, I have discharged my duty in giving warning to the wise, sober, and temperate; I know there are some intemperate apitian palates, who preferre their bellies before health; yea, before heaven it selfe. Verbum sat sapienti, A word is enough for a wise man.

Vineger is a sauce in no small request for seasoning of meat. It is, as the word importeth, nothing else, but a sowre wine, used both to sea­son and to keepe meats, howbeit farr inferiour to salt. For, although it preserve meat from putrefaction, yet will it not keepe it so a long time, unlesse it be often renewed. That it is very dry, even as farre as the second degree, is true; but as for the other qualities, Galen saith, it is [Page 98] composed of hot and cold. It is of a piercing nature, and apt to dissolve hard stones, wherof Hannibal had a sufficient proofe, while he made him­selfe a passage into Italy thorow the Alps, in dissolving the hard rocks by meanes of hot vineger, with the losse of one of his eyes. It is good to at­tenuate grosse, tough and phlegmaticke humors; it is not so good for leane, cholericke and melancholick people; and the too frequent use of it is an enemy to the nervous parts, the stomacke, guts, the womb; as also the liver and lungs, and all the pectorall parts. Let women, such e­specially, as think to make themseves look leane and faire with the use thereof (young maids especially) take heed what they doe, for feare of a late repentance. Wine-vineger is the best & most forcible. These strong and forcible effects of vineger, are especially to be understood of that which is made of good strong wine; that which is made of our Beere or Ale, being farre inferior to the other, both in the one and th'other qualities; drying, I meane, and heating and cooling. And that of Wine differeth also, according to the nature and quality of the Wine whereof it is made; that of white Wine be­ing more opening, and of claret more binding. Vineger strongly resi­steth putrefaction; and therefore is good in the time of the plague of pestilence, and other diseases proceeding of putrefaction of humours, and strengthneth the gums, and dissolveth soft, phlegmatick and rheu­matick tumors thereof. With the addition of some herbs we may make vineger participating of the like vertues, as of Roses, Elder, and many others. That made of red Roses with claret Wine vineger is very good, and most strengthning for the stomack, &c. Vineger made of Cider or Petry, is liker unto the nature of Verjuice made of Crabs, than to wine vineger.

Ver [...]uice.Verjuice, as it is a generall name agreeing with any sowre green juice; so is it most properly taken in Wine-countries, for that which is expres­sed out of greene sowre grapes; and with us, we call by that name the juice expressed out of our sowre Crabs. It is neither so drying, nor pene­trating as vineger: it is also, without controversie, cold, and is good to stirre up a dull appetite, for hot and cholericke young bodies: but ene­mie to age, moist and phlegmaticke bodies, and cold diseases. Our Crab verjuice is not so forcible as the other.

Oile.Oile which is expressed out of the Olive berry, hath ever bin both for inward and outward use in no small account and esteeme. Outwardly, it hath bin much used by way of inunction; Vse of oile very an­tient. but in hot countries especial­ly: and therefore our gentlewomen in this age, which dirt-dawb their faces with their severall slibber-sauces and paints, are nothing war­ranted by this antient custome, as being by them onely used by reason of the parching heat, which did much dry up and wither that tender part of the body. Oile of two sorts. Oile of Olives is either expressed out of the yellow ripe berry of the Olive, or else before it be full ripe, being of a greenish colour; and therefore call'd oile Omphacine. The first maketh the body more soluble; but is more fulsome for the stomacke, and cloieth the same.

Oile Omphacine.The other agreeth farre better with the stomacke, as being of a more astringent facultie; and therefore farre better to be inwardly used. And this is the best for sallets, and dressing of meat, in such [Page 99] countries where it most aboundeth. There is yet another oile in no small request, in France especially, oile of Walnuts; Oile of Walnuts very wholesome. which being fresh, and not too old, I hold to be nothing inferiour to the other: the Walnut, as said is, being esteemed an antidot against poison; and this, as well as the other, is good for this purpose, expelling by vomit what is hurtfull. And for ordinary use, either for dressing of meat, as also in sallets it may well be used.

The Olives themselves are ordinarily pickled up for sauce, Pickled Olives. to stirre up the appetite. It is of a temperate heat: they are either full ripe, being then yellow in colour; or else not fully ripe, and greene in colour. The first weaken the stomacke, and ingender but bad humours, the others are more cooling and astringent, and therefore to better purpose, used for sauces, as being fitter for corrobo­ration of the stomacke, exciting of the appetite, staying of casting, &c. They are pickled up with salt, or salt and vineger: the later are the bet­ter, howbeit, no great goodnesse in either, ingendering but grosse me­lancholicke humours, and binde the belly.

Among many other sauces, Mustard. Mustard is none of the meanest esteeme among most people, and is hot even in the fourth degree: and therefore with us, it is commonly prepared with vineger; and in hot countries where wine aboundeth, with must, or new wine, whence have we this name Mustard, from this Must, and ardor or heat. It is much used with the grosser sorts of meats, both fish and flesh, especially, it is most usefull with those of a glutinous and viscuous substance. It is best in Winter-season, in cold and moist diseases and constitutions of the braine. It very forcibly cutteth and attenuateth tough phlegme in the head, brest, &c. For young people, especially, hot and dry cholerick peo­ple, and diseases of the like nature, it is worst. If immoderately used, especially by these persons last mentioned, it hurteth the eye-sight, be­sides many ill offices it performeth to the rest of the body.

Capers are pickled up after the same manner, in salt and vinger, Capers. which is the best way, and doe very well excite the appetite, cut tough phlegme, and cleanse it; as also open obstructions of the Spleene, especially. If dry or leane melancholicke bodies use them, let them be sparing, and wash off the salt, and after they have steeped them awhile in faire water, they may use them, especially with a few Currants, a­lone, or with oile if they love it.

The young buds of Broom flowers, are used also after the same maner, Broom [...] b [...]ds, Ashkeies. and produce the like effects: and some use ashkeies pickled up in salt & vineger after the same maner, for the same uses, and provoking of urine.

Sampeir, or Sea-fennell, is pickled up, and used in sauces after the same maner, being somewhat hot and dry, exciting appetite, Sampei [...]. and ope­ning obstructions, and every diureticke, or forcibly provoking urine, and cleansing those urinary passages.

The pleasant flowers of Clove-gilliflowers is often also with vineger and sugar pickled up for a pleasant and dainty sauce, the which, Clove-gilliflowers. besides that they excite the appetite, they are also of a cordiall faculty.

Cowslip-flowers comfortable, Cowslip-flowers. especially for the head and animall spirits, are by some after the same māner pickled up, and used for sauce. [Page 100] and the like art may also be used with divers other flowers or herbs, according as to every ones minde shall seeme best; and therefore I surcease speaking any more of them.

Of spices in most re­quest and use. Pepper.It is now more than time I come to our spices, which are in no small use, as well in physicke, as used for seasoning of meats. Amongst all these, Pepper, in regard of the generall use, may be accounted one of the chiefe. It is a very hot and drie spice, even towards the fourth degree: Sorts of pepper, and the most in use with us. It is of three severall sorts, and all of them are very hot, and brought to us out of the East Indies, especially the kingdome of Caleent. The white is esteemed hotter than the blacke; and the long most of all, and is of least use; Blacke Pepper is with us in most frequent use; heateth much, cutteth tough & grosse phlegme, helpeth the concocti­on in a cold phlegmaticke stomacke; is also good against crudities, wind-colicke, and cold in any part, sinewes, or others. It is not to be too small beaten, for feare of inflaming the blood, and other profitable humours of the body; it is safelier used in old age, than in younger people; for whom the too frequent use of it is exceeding hurtfull. And therefore it ought not to be so ordinarily, Caution in the use of pepper. without any consideration had either to age or season of the yeere, as it is, used of every one. Let youth therefore take heede how they use, too liberally, Venison so much peppered and salted in the Sommer-season; and to mend the matter after, make it swimme in wine. It is thought, pepper heateth lesse than other spices: Whether pepper hea­teth lesse than other spices, and how. and this I doe not conceive, that other spices are indeed actually hotter; but by reason the heat of it is lesse durable, and it is not of so terrestrious a substance. And for this same cause, I sup­pose, long Pepper, by reason of a more terrestrious substance, and more durable heat, is accounted hotter, by reason of this durable, biting and a­biding heat. And this, I suppose, gave the vulgar occasion to call Pepper hot in the mouth, and cold in the stomack. But let the dullest taste try a small quantity of Pepper, and I will appeale to his senses, whether it be hot or cold; so that I shall need use no other argument to proove it.

Ginger.That little hot root, which we call Ginger, commeth in the second place of spices to be considered. And although it be not so intense in heat as Pepper, I meane in the degree, yet heateth it more by reason of its terrestrious substance. It is brought over unto us either dry, or else preserved greene in sirup: and it is sometimes, yea, very often, preserved after it commeth over, being first steeped and boiled in wa­ter, which, notwithstanding, yeeldeth much in goodnesse to the former. Dry Ginger is very hot and dry, Vertues in Ginger, and for whom best. and is used to season cold and moist meats, as pepper is; howbeit Pepper be in far more frequent use, either for fish or flesh, especially for fish. Ginger is good to helpe digestion, and to open obstructions, to cut and attenuate grosse and tough phleg­maticke humors, to discusse winde, and helpe to expell it out of the bodie. It is better for aged than for young hot cholericke bodies, or the like diseases. Greene Ginger pre­served in the Iudies. Green Ginger preserved in the Indies when it is yet moist and succulent, as it is pleasing to the palate, so is it nothing so hot and dry as any other sort; and therefore may safelier be of younger people used, than any of the other sorts; and is good to eat fasting for a waterish or windy and weake stomacke, and comforteth the head, [Page 101] being good for diseases of the braine proceeding of cold. Ginger here with us at home is both preserved in sirup, as hath been said alrea­dy; and sometimes also candied to be eaten dry. This last approach­eth neerest to the nature of dry Ginger, and is fittest to bee used of the elder, colder and moister age and stomacke. Ginger here preser­ved for inferio [...] [...] that which is brought us from Iudies. That which is heere preserved in sirup, is farre inferior in goodnesse to that which is pre­served in the Indies. And thus prepared, they are hardly concocted by a weake stomacke, and continuing long there, are converted into a tough glutinous substance; of the which, Historie. a late writer bringeth an instance. A Bishop of Basile (saith he) having by the too frequent use of a certaine Minerall water, acquired a very cold and moist stomacke; to correct this crudity, used much this so prepared Ginger, notwithstanding his Physi­tians counsell to the contrary. At length he fell into a desperate disease whereof he died. His body being opened, in the capacitie of his stomacke were found a­bout two pounds of putrified water, together with a petty quantity of the afore­said Ginger; some part of it yet continuing still in its owne nature, and some part of it converted into a tough, blacke, glutinous substance, sticking to the sides and cels of his stomacke and guts; some part whereof, hee did also before his death now and then, yet not without fainting and swounding, often cast up. Let o­thers then take warning to use it more sparingly.

The Clove is a spice brought us from the Molucks in the East-In­dies, being hot and dry in the third degree. Cloves. It is very much used in the kitchin both for sauces, and sticking of meat. Cloves comfort the head, heart, stomack and liver; helpe the eye-sight, and concoction, and strengthen nature. They are good against fainting, swounding, as al­so against the plague, and any infectious disease. Besides, they are good against all fluxes of the bellie, proceeding of cold humors, strengthen the retentive faculty, and make the breath sweet. Of this, as of other spices, are extracted water, oile, and other things usefull for the health of mankind, whereon I will not now insist. But I ad­vise young people, hot and cholericke complexions to bee sparing, as in the use of all other spices, so of this also; and of any thing extracted from them.

The Nutmegge is the fruit of a tree growing in the East-Indies, Nutmegge. be­ing covered with that spice we call Mace. They are accounted hot and dry in the second degree, and are good for the same cases for the which Cloves were commended; and although they be not altogether so in­tense in hearing and drying, yet are they very astrigent, and comfort the noble parts, being also very good for moist, cold, phlegmaticke bo­dies and cold diseases, fluxes, &c. But still let young, hot, dry and me­lancholicke persons carefully take heed what they doe. The Nutmeg being yet greene, covered over with a greene huske, as are our Wal­nuts, is preserved in the Indies, and brought us over: the which is nothing so hot nor drying as our dry Nutmegges; and therfore very comfortable for the head and stomacke, especially, and may be either eaten fasting in a morning or after meales. Mace covereth the Nut­megge, partaking of the same nature, strengthening all the noble parts, being good against cold diseases, and against fluxes, and spit­ting of blood.

[Page 102] Indian nut.There is yet another great fruit brought to us from the same Indies ready preserved, called the Indian Nut, which is very good likewise to comfort all the noble parts, and strengthen nature.

Cinamon.Cinamon is the inward rind or barke of a tree growing in the East-Indies, hot and dry about the third degree; and yet in regard of the te­nuity of its parts (as was before said of blacke pepper) is thought not to heat so much as some other spices. This noble spice, both in re­gard of the fragrant smell, Vertu [...]s of Cinamon. and pleasantnesse to the palat may justly challenge the first place of excellency. It comforteth all the noble parts, cheereth spirits, openeth obstructions both of men and women, furthereth the expulsion of the birth, sweetneth the breath, helpeth concoction, and expelleth urine. But still let the same cautions be ob­served, Cinamon water. which have beene mentioned in the use of other spices. There is out of this likewise distilled a noble water, and in great request for the aforesaid purposes, in the use whereof, notwithstanding, I wish everyone, especially women, to be wise and circumspect.

Saffron.Saffron, although it be a simple growing with us here at home, and in our owne soile; yet is it nothing inferior to any of the former, in regard of the excellency thereof for use. It is hot in the second, and dry in the first degree; and much comforteth and cheereth the heart, and reviveth the vitall spirits. It is exceeding good against all obstru­ctions both in man and woman; against all obstructions of the li­ver, against the Jaundize, and stuffing of the pipes of the lungs; good also to further the menstruall courses, and facilitate the birth: and therefore let women with child beware of the use thereof. And I ad­vise all to a moderate use of it, by reason that taken in too great ab­undance it much offendeth the head and braine, and oftentimes procureth the head-ach.

And this shall suffice to have said in briefe concerning the matter of diet in generall both for the whole and sicke, as also of some sauces and spices in most frequent and ordinary use: and concerning divers other things, as yet here omitted in the diet of the diseased, shall hereafter bee somewhat said at greater length. And as concer­ning our spices, although now we be well supplied from forraine parts; yet are we not here at home unfurnished of many excellent and whole­some aromaticall plants, very wholesome both in the use of physicke and food, and whereof we have frequent and often use; such as are, Rosemary, Lavander, Time, Savorie, Sage, Mints, Penniroyal, Basil, sweet Cervill, Avens, Angelica, and many others. And a Mirandum interim quod nost [...] Germani, relictis muitis egregi [...]s Plantis, patrio & coelo & solo natis, at (que) insig­ni facultate aromati a p [...]aed [...]s; ad exo [...]icas plantas, aromati [...] o [...] (que) tum f [...]uctus, tum semi­na, cortises at (que) eodices, non [...]olum peregrino & exotico tum Coelo tum Climate; acre ac solo productas; sed etiam ob locorum distantiam, vectura difficultatem, & mercatorum incuri­am, dolum, fraude [...] (que) marcidas, putrescentes­ve ac verminosas con­fugiant; cum tamen [...]: Germania non [...] aromaticas planta [...] condiendis cibis & oppo [...]tu [...]ssimas, & salunerrimas, tam e [...]do­me [...] [...], quam syl­v [...]sis, monto [...]a campe­strious locis indies sub­ministrent; quales sunt Amaracus, Rosmarinus, Sal [...]ia, lavendula, Sp [...]ca, Co [...]us. Nardus, Da [...]us, [...]asilicum, Mentha Hortensis, Palegium, Origanum, Serpillum, Thymus, Na [...]urtium, Piperina, [...] Lep [...]dium; Pip [...]r item Germanicum seu Hispanicum, Ceresoli­um, Aaronis item, imperat Levistici, ac Angelicae radices, & aliae sexcentae, quae insigni suo ardore, mordicatione, & acrimonis, ita saep [...]os, linguam (que) & palotum vellicant, feriuni (que), ut cum quovis Zinzibere, Pipere, Cardamomo, macere, aut Cinamomo, &c: certare videantur. Deodatus Panth, Hygiast. lib. 2. cap. 3. Ger­mane Physitian much wondreth at his owne nation, that being so well supplied at home with so many excellent aromaticall simples, his country men are so eager of out-landish spices; which both by rea­son of the remotenesse of those regions, the difficulty of transporta­tion, the carelessenesse of the merchant, and divers frauds and im­postures, are often brought unto us rotten, worme-eaten, or at least, that have lost a great deale of their vertues.

CHAP. XXIII.

HAving now discoursed of severall sorts of Ali­ments, and the right use of them, I thinke it not amisse to say something of the abuse of these creatures, and the great damage and danger doth from thence insue: and this ex­cesse we commonly call Gluttony, and such as doe thus exceed, we call Gluttons and Belli-gods. Now if ever this saying, Plures gula quam gladio perire; More perish by intemperance than by the sword; I thinke, it is verified in this age wherein wee live. Plato in his time esteemed that citie intemperate which mainteined many Physitians; and used alwaies to exhort his followers to sobriety. Inter epulandum (in­quit Epictetus) memi­neris te duos conviva [...] excipere, amniam & corpus, utru [...] (que) crapula & inpulvia ob [...]ut, non re [...]reari. Riolanus fi­tius in privatis praelect. Stuck antiq. convir. lib. 3. cap. 9. And remember (saith Epictetus the Philoso­pher) that at thy meales thou alwaies interteinest two guests, the soule and body; and that both these are by gluttony and intemperance oppressed, and not refreshed. Proverb. 22.2. The wise man wisheth thee to consider diligently what is be before thee, and put a knife to thy throat (saith he) if thou be a man given to thy appetite. Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitfull meat. And since the life of man is since the first age of the world so much abbreviated, why wilt thou by intemperanee abbreviate that small portion of time al­lotted thee here to live? And if it be forbidden to kill another, what barbarous inhumane cruelty is it for thee to lay violent hands upon thy selfe? Now Gluttonie and intemperance weakeneth the naturall vigor and strength of the whole body, together with all the senses, and hindreth the right operation of the soule, maketh the body crasy, the life short and uncomfortable. Whosoever therefore loveth his life, and is desirous to injoy the benefit of health, let him use a moderation in his meat and drinke; and so let him use these good creatures to comfort and strengthen nature, and not to give the full swinge to his disorderly appetite. To reckon up all the diseases procured by this Gluttony, were too tedious: but let it suffice, that in a word few dis­eases there are, which are not by this belly-god sin of Gluttony pro­cured to the body: as Apoplexie, Epilepsie, Incubus, called Night-mare, Diseases procured by Gluttony. all manner of distillations or rheumes, oppression of the stomacke, Crudities, Vomits, Lasks of severall kindes, putrid Fevers of severall sorts, disqui­etnesse and watching; together with a multitude of other more. And some who have been for a long time tormented with that mercilesse tyrant the Gout, which contemned most generous remedies, Harmes procured to the soule and minde▪ by means of abstinence and spare diet, have at length recovered their perfect health. The mind also, and that reasonable soule, which maketh a man differ from unreasonable creatures, is not a little also by this o­dious sinne of Gluttony interessed and damnified. Is it not apparent [Page 104] that it blunts the edge of the understanding? Dulls and deads the in­tellectuall and reasonable part of the soule? and breeds a sluggish­nesse, drowzinesse and stupiditie in the whole man? and doth it not by this meanes make a man altogether unfit for any noble or excel­lent imploiment? Let no man then esteeme this a small sinne, which is also so antient, that it had its originall in Paradice; and joined with pride, Haec fuit origo hu­manae miseria, hoc ma­lorum omnium semi­narium, hinc mortis mi­tiū natum est, quae cru­deli dominatu omnes postea homines oppressit. Stuck antiq. conviv. lib. 3. cap. 9. was the first originall and beginning of all the misery that ever befell mortall man. Besides, this Gluttony proveth fatall to a mans fortunes, and in a few yeeres, moneths or weekes wasteth that which might have mainteined many, a multitude of yeeres. And therefore we see daily by woefull experienee, that many young gallants, ha­ving in a very short space galloped out of great estates; as having ne­ver well learned that golden lesson,

Fall at length into penury and poverty: and then being brought up in idlenesse and ease, Excesse and riot of our times. in affluence and abundance, and without any lawfull calling (the bane and breake-necke of many a young Gentle­man) before they will wrong their backe and bellie, will rather be­take themselves to some such unlawfull courses, that will at length bring them to a tragicall and shamefull end. Now because, by reason of sinne, the nature of man is so apt to exceed in the too too liberall use of the creatures; therefore as well the sacred Oracles, as prophane wri­ters have shewed their dislike of this odious sinne, and exhorted us to sobrietie. And if the wise man commend sobriety in Princes, whose prerogative royall might seeme to beare them out in excesse far beyond ordinary people, what shall wee say of others? Eccles. 10.16. Blessed art thou O Land, when thy King is the sonne of Nobles, and thy Princes eat in due season, for strength and not for drunkennesse. Woe unto thee, O Land, when thy King is a child, and thy Princes eat in the morning. Haere againe the counsell of Ecclesiasticus 31. another wise man: A very little is sufficient for a man well nurtured, and he fetcheth not his wind short upon his bed. Sound sleepe com­meth of moderate eating, he riseth early, and his wits are with him: but the paine of watching, and choler, and the pangs of the belly are with an unsatia­ble man. It is againe in Ezek. 16.49. another place recorded, that idlenesse and ful­nesse of bread, that is, excesse in diet, was the sinne of Sodom. And the Luk. 16.22, 23. rich Glutton, who fared delitiously every day, descended into hell, when poore Lazarus was carried into Abrahams bosome. Among the Heathens of old, it will seeme no strange newes to heare of such Belly-gods: as for one Idem Stuckius ex Livio & Aulo Gellio. Sergius Aurata; Abidius a Citizen of Rome; Fa­bius, who for his great Gluttony, was metaphorically called gurges, a gulfe or deepe pit: Aesop the stage-plaiers sonne, is to posterity recor­ded for a notorious and extraordinary glutton; who to the end hee might the more easily overcome his great patrimonie, Gluttons and belly-gods among the Ro­mans. dissolved faire orientall Pearles, and served them in at table for ordinary dishes; and besides, provided great store of Parrats, and other singing birds, pur­chased at a high price, and had them likewise served in at table as though they had beene but ordinary Guat snappers. I need not in­stance [Page 105] in any more of these antient and notorious Gluttons, but would wish that the Christian world, yea, our owne countrie yeelded us not too many instances; in so much that of this one subject I might write whole volumes. But I think there is none but can find instances enough, without fetching them from farre, which may save me a labour. But let us heare how the very Heathens had this sin in detestation. That noble Orator Tullie hath this golden sentence. [...] [...]ummum esse bonum, vox mihi pecudum [...], non homi [...]um, &c Cicero in Parodoxis. To say that sensuali­tie or voluptuousnesse is that chiefe happinesse to be sought after, seemeth to me a speech better beseeming a beast than a man. The same Author againe rela­teth, that when that famous Philosopher Aristotle had read the Epi­taph of that Epicurean Assyrian, King Sardanapalus, which himselfe had commanded to be set over him after his death,

What other Epitaph (saith he) couldest thou have set over the se­pulchre of an oxe, and not of a King? But heare a little now the hea­then Herat. lib. 2. serm. [...]. Poets upon Belligod-Gluttons.

Heare yet againe Pers. sat. another speake to the same purpose.

And Iuven. sat. 11. another speaketh yet in the language.

But heare yet a lively description of such a spend-thrift set down by another Ovid Metam [...]rph. Poet.

Now I will make it appeare that great Princes, even of the Hea­thens themselves have had this vice in great detestation. Alexander in Persa­rum regia prandium Regis legebat, & coenam in aerea columna in­scr [...]ptam, in qua caete­ra quo (que) leges inerant, quas Cyrus scripserat: de triticea farina pura quadringentae artabae. Artaba autem medica modium atticum confi­cit. De secundaria po [...]t­ea farina post puram ar­tabae 300. & de tertia aliae deinde artabae 300. de omni triticea farina artabae ad coenam mille. Grani avenarij artabae ducentae Pol [...]inis in po­lentam admixtae, pro offis artabae decem. De berdeacea farina puris­sima ducentae artabae; desecunda posteam 400 at (que) etidem de tertia 400. Nasturtij incisi signati (que) tenuis ptisanae artabae 10: de semine sinapi tertia pars unius artabae. Oves masculi quadringenti, hoves centum, equi triginta, anseres saginati quadringenti, turtures trecentae, aviculae omnis generis sexcentae, agni trecenti, pulli anserini 100, damae 30. lactis recentis decem maries. Maris autem decem valet Choas atticas. Oxygalactis dulcorati decem marios, alli [...] talentum, caeparum semitalentum. De asperiorum genere, folij artaba liquioris silphi) duae minae, cucumeris artaba, silphij talentum ponderatum. Favi ex cucumere facti quarta pars artabae Grana panici tria talenta pondere, melanthii tertia pars artabae. Musti ex vino quin (que) maries. Aethiopici cucumeris sex capetes. Capetis autem est che [...]nix attica. Anethum a­rid uin triginta minerum pondere, de apis semine 4 capetes. Oleisesamini decem maries, Olei lactei quin (que) maries, Olei terchutini quin (que) maries, Olei acanthi quin (que) maries, Olei de amygdalis dulcibus tres maries, amygdalarum aridarum dulcium tres artabae. Vini qumgemae maries (quod si Babilone aut Susis caenam faciant, dimidium vinum de palmis praebet) [...]ignorum ducenti currus. Mellis fluentis centum paluthae quadrangulae, quae circiter decem minas capiebant. Cum in Media haec praestat, semen cuici ad tres artabas, Crocum duas minas excedentem pondere. Haec in coenam & prandium. Consumit autem largiendo triticeae farinae purae quingenas arta­bas, hordeaceae farinae purae mille artabas, sitiginis quingencas artabas, chondri ex farre quingentas maries. Hordeum pro iumentis vicies mille artabas, siliginis quingentas artabas, patearum decies mille currus. Olei sesamini ducentas maries. Nasturtis incisi tenuis arta­bas trigenta. Haec omnia dispertit copiis quae sunt enumerata. Rex autem cum tantum in hunc apparatum quotidie insuna, reliqui Ma­cedones haec legentes, tanquam beatum admirabantur: Alexander tanquam miserum & infoelicem deridebat, at (que) multis negotiis impeditum. Ita (que) columnam etiam in qua haec scripta extabant, convellere iussit, diceus ad amicos; nequaquam utile esse regibus tam intemperanter & prodige caenare discere. Necesse enim est, ut magnum luxum ac prodigalitatem eximia timiditas at (que) mollities conse­quatur. Videtis autem eis qui tantis coenis impleri solent, in pugnis etiam celeriter hostibus victoriam dare. Polyaenus stratag. lib. 4. ex interpret Latina Iusti Vulteii Hermanni patris. Histo­ries record that Alexander the Great being in the Palace of the Kings of Persia, read what was written in a pillar of brasse concerning the Kings dinner and supper, and the ordinances concerning that busi­nesse set downe by Cyrus; wherein was set downe of pure wheat-floure about 400 bushells; of a second sort of courser floure▪ 300 bushells, and of another third sort 300 more; in all 1000. Of bar­ley floure, a 1000 bushells. Of Oates, 200 bushells: Oat-meale [Page 107] for pudding, gruell, &c. 10 bushells; and so of all other things pro­portionably: as 400 fat hogges, a 100 beeves, 30 horses, 400 fat geese; and so proportionably of divers other kinds of fowle, and o­ther provision both for ordinary food and sauces. The Macedonians reading all this great provision for one day, admired this great Prince as a most happy man. But Alexander deriding all this prodigality, ac­counted him most miserable and unhappy; as being intangled with too many affaires: and for this cause, caused to pull downe the pillar wher­on all this was written, saying to his friends about him, that it was not fit for Kings to learne to sup so intemperately and prodigally: for it cannot be (said hee) but that great cowardlinesse and effeminate­nesse must of necessity accompany such excesse and prodigalitie. And now you manifestly see, that those who use to fill their bellies with so great suppers, basely yeeld the victory to their enemies. And in this, this mighty Monarch spake the truth, although afterwards ma­stered by this Persian prodigality.

The same [...] priu [...]quam [...] [...]et, dix [...] commodo [...] fe [...]um du [...] re, nemp [...] m [...]tuti [...] la [...]ore ad condiendum pr [...]ndium, ad [...] vero prandu [...], Cra [...]on [...]. Alexander, before he gave himselfe over to excesse of diet and drunkennesse, was wont to say, that hee carried about with him curious cookes to provide sauces for his meat: to wit, his mor­ning labor and travell to season his dinner; and againe a spare dinner to season his supper. [...] que [...] [...] eibum su [...]er­sussit [...] ebriosos capua­li [...]upplicio mut [...]avit. [...]uchan, rerum Scotiae. lib. 6. pag. 166. It is recorded of Constantine the sonne of Kenne­thie, and 71 King of the Scottish nation, that hee compelled all the youth of his Kingdome, at that time much effeminate and drowned in delights and pleasures, to lye on the bare ground, and to eate but once a day: and as for that Swinish sinne of drunkennesse, it cost them no lesse than their life. David 91. [...] Rex, luxuriam lat u [...] proserpentem patris ex­emplo coere [...]t: art. si­ces & inventores [...] illecebrarum quae galam [...]eritant regno esceit. Idem lib. 7 pag 113. David the 91. King of the same Nation, according to his Fathers example, suppressed all riot and excesse, which then began to increase and creep abroad; and expel­led out of his Kingdome all inventors of any dainties and curious sauces, wher­by the appetite might be starred up. By the which, it may plainely appeare that in former times, divers of the Kings of that Nation bent them­selves against the abuses of their times. And would to God we had now some course taken for the suppressing of excesse in all his Majesties dominions: I am sure, those who have but one eye may easily see how necessary a thing this were. Among the ancient Romanes, Longum f [...]at si c [...] ­merare velim quod in­strumenta gulae inter illos vel ingenio cogita­ta sunt vel studio con­secta. Et hae nimirum causae fuerunt propter quas tot numero leges de coenis & sumptibus ad populum ferebantur [...] & imperari c [...]pit, ut patentibus jan [...]is pra [...] ­sitaretur & caenitare­tur: sic oculis civium testibus factis luxuriae modus si [...]et. Prima au­tem omnium de coenis lex ad populum Orchia pervenit, quam tulit C. Orchius Tribunus plebis de Senatus sententia, tertio anno quam Cato censer fuerat: cujus verba quia prolixa sunt, praetereo: summa autem ejus praescribebat numerum convivarum. Post annum vicesi [...]um se­cundum legis Orchiae, Fannia lex lata est, anno post Romam conditam, secundum Gell [...]i opinionem quingentesimo [...]luagesimo octavo; de hac lege Sammonicus Serenus ita re fert. Le [...] Fannia Augusti ingenti omnium ordinum consensa pervenit ad populum, ne (que) eam Praetores aut Tribuni, ut ploeras (que) alias, sed ex omni bonorum consilio & sententia ipsi consules tu­lerunt, cum respublica ex luxuria conviviorum majora quam credi potest deirimenta pateretur. Siquidem eo res redie­rat, ut gula illecti plaeri (que) ingenui pueri pudicitiam & libertatem suam venditarent: plaeri (que) ex plebe Romana vino ma­didi in comitium venirent, & ebrii de salute reipublicae consulerent. Haec Sammonicus. Fanniae autem legis severitas in eo superabat Orchiam legem, quod in superiore numerus tantummodo coenantium cohibebatur, licebat (que) secundum eam unicui (que) bo­na sua inter paucos consumere Fannia autem etiam sumptibus modum fecit assibus centum. Ʋnde a Lucilio Poeta, festivitatis suae more centussis votatur Fanniam legem post annos decem & octo lex Didia consecuta est: ejus fere [...]da duplex causa fuit; prima & potissima, ut universa Italia non sola urbs lege sumptuaria teneretur, Italicis aestimantibus Fanniam legem non in se, sed in so­los urbanos ci [...]es esse conscriptam. Deinde, ut non soli qui prandia coenasve majore sumptu fecissent, sed etiam qui ad ea [...] vocati essent, at (que) omnino interfuissent poenis legis tenerentur. Post Didiam Licinia Lex lata est a P. Licino Crasso divite: cujus ferundae pro­ [...]andae (que) tantum studium ab optimatibus impensum est, ut consulto Senatus juberetur, ut ea tantummodo promulgata priusquam tri­nundino confirmaretur, ab omnibus observaretur, quasi iam populi sententia comprobata. Lex vero haec paucis mutatis in plaris (que) cum Fannia co [...]gruit: in ea enim ferenda quaesita novae legis auctoritas, exolesente motu legis antiquioris, &c. Sed legis Liciniae sum­ma ut Kalendis, nonis, nundinis Romanis, cui (que) in dies singulos triginta duntaxat asses edunaì causa consumere liceret: caeteris vere diebus, qui excepti non essent, [...]e amplius appo [...]eretur quam carnis aridae pondo tria, & salsamentorum po [...]do libra, & quod ex [...]erra, vite, arboreve sit natum. Macrob. Saturnal. lib. 3. ex Tito. Livi. & Aulo Gellio. this was [Page 108] for a while very carefully looked into, and many sumptuary lawes then made for this same end and purpose. And it is well observed, that before these lawes were made, that people was exceedingly given to excesse and riot: for the which cause, it was commanded that they should dine and suppe, their doores standing open, that thereby better notice might bee taken of their excesse, if any committed. And besides, Gluttony was then come to that heighth, that many youths, to please their palates, and satisfie their greedy guts, did not onely sell themselves for slaves; but even abandoned their bodies to be in most beastly maner abused by those who were addicted to this unaturall and unlawfull lust. The first of these lawes was called Orchia, from the Au­thor Orchius: and in it was set downe the number of the guests which were to be invited to any great meeting, the which number they should not exceed. The next was that, called Fannia lex, made by the consent of Augustus Caesar, and the whole people of the City, and this limited the expences which might be spent at any feast, which to exceed, was not allowed. And afterwards followed that, call Lex Didia, extending the former Law, (which before was most injoin'd to be observed in the Ci­tie) to all Italy. And againe, adding this likewise, that not onely such as invited their guests; but even the invited guests also themselves should be accounted transgressours, and breakers of this law. There followed yet another after, called Lex Licinia, appointing smaller prices, upon di­vers things they were before sold for: but this was not in that esteeme, as the former.

Now in Stuck. antiquit. con­viv. libr. 3. cap. 4. ex Thoma Aquin. in libr. quaest. disput. quaest. 14. idem ibid. ex Gregor. meral. 30. Gluttony, there is a trible fault committed: First, in the substance of the meat, when it is too curious and delicate: Secondly, in the quantity, when it exceedeth in the same; and thirdly, in the qua­lity, if it be too daintily seasoned, and too curiously cooked. And then is it not properly called [...] nourishment, but [...] cupediae, junkets, or wanton fare. Another saith, we transgresse in Gluttony five manner of waies: First, sometimes we prevent our need: Secondly, in provi­ding too dainty fare: Thirdly, when wee are too curious in the prepa­ration of our food: Fourthly, we often exceed in the quantity: Fifthly, wee often erre in the too earnest and immoderate desire of dainty fare; all which are comprehended in this verse following: ‘Praepropere, lante, nimis, ardenter, studiose.’

The remedies against this sinne, are set down both in holy Scripture, and prophane Authors. The Proverb. 22.2. wise Salomon gives us good counsell in his Proverbs: And to this same purpose, see some precepts in Ecclesiasticus: And a E de citra cruditatem: bibe citra ebrietatem: nec praesentibus delitiis inhaerebis, nec desidera­bis absentes. Victus tibi ex facili sit, nec ad vo­luptatem, sed ad cibum accede. Palatū tum fa­mes excites, non sepores. Desideria tua parve re­dime qui hoc tantū cu­rare debent, ut desinant. at (que) ad exemplar quasi compositus divinum, a corpore ad spiritum quantum potes te fastina redimere. Idem Stuck, ibid ex S. Martin Duminensis Episcopi libello ad Mironem Gallia Regem. worthy Bishop sendeth these golden rules to a King: Eat so as thou maiest avoid crudity: drinke so as thou maiest shunne drunkennesse. Be nei­ther too much addicted to dainties present; nor yet too much desire those thou wan­test: Let thy diet be ordinary and homely; sit downe to wholesome meat, and not to delight and pleasure: Let hunger, and not exquisite sauces provoke thy appe­tite &c. The heathens, from the dignity, excellency, and eminency of this noble creature above all others, doe dehort us from this [Page 109] Gluttony Omnes homines qui sebudent prae [...]tare cae­ [...]eri [...] animantibus, [...]m­ma ope n [...]ti decet ne vi­tam silentio transigant veluti pecora, quae na­tura prima & ventri o­bedientia f [...]uxit. Salus [...]-de bello sug. All men (saith one) that would excell the rest of the creatures, should doe their best endeavour, not to passe over their life in silence, as the brute beasts, whom nature hath made to looke downe-wards, intending onely to supply the wants of their bellies. And the very structure of a man should put him in minde of his creation; and therefore not to live the life of a beast.

The same Poet in another place giveth us very good counsell:

And Idem Salust. de bel­lo Iugurth. another late alleged Author, witnesseth that the antient Nu­midians used meat and drinke, onely as antidotes against hunger and thirst; and not for riot and excesse. And therefore it is Merito Diogenes Cynicus eos [...]rridere solitus est, qui pro bona valetudine dus rem at­vinam facerent, & deiude cibo potu (que) con [...]a sanitatem se ingurgita­rent: afferens insanum esse ea a dus petere, quae in nostra sunt potes­tate. Diog. Laert. in e­rus vita. recorded of Diogenes, that hee was wont to scoffe and mocke those, that sacri­ficed to the Gods for their good healths, and then quite contrary to the rules of health, would stuffe up their guts; affirming withall, that in vaine doe we aske chat of the Gods which was in our owne power. Socrates suadere so­litus erat illes eibos po­tusve esse vitan [...]os qui ultra sit [...]m famemve [...] ­dandam preaucant ap­petentiā, Macrob. Sa­turnal. libr. 7. And a famous antient Authour gives us warning, that such meats and drinkes are to be avoided, which, besides the satisfying of hunger and thirst, did yet provoke the appetite to more meat. It were an easie matter for mee to bring in many more both heathen Poets and other Authors inveighing against this vice, but that it would take me up too much time. But there is In secretis secretorum Aristotelis ad Alexā ­dium legitur de qui­busdam Philosophis a quodam rege congrega­tis, ut de sanitatis con­versatione saniorem & meliorem proferrent sententiam. Pluribus vero sententiam intel­lectam proserentibus, unus suam pro [...]ulit, di­cens, quod melius con­servare non potest quam si digestus comedatu. Tales enim qui seip­sos pejoris non faciunt conditionis, quam fal­cones, ve [...] accipitres suos facerent, qui cibum non darent nisi digestis. Qui etiam seipsos non minus quam animaliae sua diligunt, sententi­am sequuntur sapientis q [...]i dicit, non vivo ut comedam, sed come­do ut vivum: Et pau­cis intercedentibus lineis. Desiderium er­go talium (Epulonum) simile ea desiderio Dae­monum, seu Inserni: quia sicut infernus mul­tos devorando cōsumit, desiderium tamen sem­per manet insatiabile, dolet (que) quod plures [...]e­vorare non potest. Et ideo vias, & modos In­ferni ministri excogi­tant, quibus plares de­vorare po [...]unt; Ita Gu­tosi licet multa devo­rent, desiderium tamen non satara [...]ur, quibus, dicitur, Agg. 1 come­distis, & non e [...]i [...]s fatu­rati; scilicet quo ad de­siderium quo dolent, quia plu [...]a devo [...]are non possunt; & ideo vias & modos diversos exquirunt in cibariis & potationibus colores, & sapores, & serculorum diversitatem, ut sapor, odor [...]tus, color, & di­versitas visa appetitū provotēt ut ad plura de­vorandum provocentur. Jnde est secundum Bernardum apologia, quod grandia carnium sercu­la duplicantur, quibus ro [...]aliter intenti modum nesciunt in edendo, nēpe [...]is prioribus fuerint sa­c [...]ati si secundos attige­rint, videbi [...]tur nec dum a [...]tigisse cibo [...]; fit (que) ut nec prima impediant novis­sima, nec sa [...]ietas minu­ac appetitum: palatum quippe dum novellis se­ducit condimentis, pau­tatim disfuescere cogni­ta ad cibos exiraneos, velut adhuc [...]e [...]unum re­vocatur in desideria, venter quidem oneratur, sed varietas tollit fastidium. Sic insuper ut dum gula variis provocatur coloribus, suavibus (que) d [...]lectatur odoribus, transitur nimium meta necessitatu. Et paulo postea. Qui vero omnibus praedictis non retrabuntur tribulationibus, & persuasionibus, saltem mortis cogitatione, quales videlicet erunt post mortem, retrabuntur timore: mortem nam (que) gulosi & omnes percatores timere solent, quam gula, nisi evitetur, velociter introducit. Ex Iohannis Bromiardi summa praedicantium, cap 5. Num. r. Par. 1. pag. 358. de gula. Plura de hac re ibidem, & in Agrippa de vanit, scient, cap. de arte coquinaria. Macrob, Saturnal lib. 7. Gregor 30. Moral. Thom. Aquin. in lib. disput. quaest, disput [...] [...]. Stuck. antiqu. conviv. lib. 3. cap. 4. & alios. a late Writer, who, among many things set downe against this vice hath this which followeth. A certaine King cau­sed assemble many skilfull Philosophers (I thinke it should have beene Physitians) to consult about his health, and some advising one thing, some ano­ther; one among the rest, delivered his opinion thus, that hee could never better inioy his health, than never to eat untill such time hee found his former food di­gested. And such as will have but that care of themselves that they have of their Hawkes, and many other creatures, to whom they will give no new food untill they have concocted the former; follow the advice of the Wise man, I live not to eat, but eat to the end I may live: and againe, the same Authour hath these words: The greedy desire of such gluttons, is like unto the desire of the Divell, or of hell it selfe: for as Hell swallowes up many people, yet never is satisfied; yea, ra­ther sorry it cannot swallow more; for the which cause these hellish ministers leave no wind unsailed: even right so fareth it with Gluttons who are never satisfied, to whom it is said, Agg. 1. You have eaten, and yet are not satisfied, to wit, accor­ding to their disorderly appetite, being displeased with themselves, that they are able to devoure no more. And for this cause, they invent all the waies they can, to please their palates, both in the colour, taste, smell, and in the various multiplici­tie of meat and drinke. And hence commeth it to passe, saith Saint Bernard, that they double their great dishes, upon the which, being totally intent, they can [Page 110] keepe no measure in eating, &c. Is not this then a great blurre and disgrace to our Christian profession, that we should be farre inferiour to so many heathen and meere morall men? But especially, is this a time for riot and excesse; for chambering and wantonnesse, when many of our neighbours and brethren by Christian profession, lie groaning in grie­vous affliction? The want of this sympathising with the afflictions of the Church, is that which God reproacheth his own people, Amos 6.4. They drinke Wine in bowles, and stretch themselves upon beds of yvorie; but no man remembred the afflictions of Ioseph. And as at all times, so more especially in the times of penury and scarcity, wee ought to be sparing in our diet; and those whom God hath inabled, ought to be the more helpfull to the poore; whose pinched bellies often would be glad of the scraps and crums, which fall from many a rich Gluttons table. A­gaine, I could wish, that many did not so profusely spend upon unrea­sonable creatures, and that onely for sport and recreation, that which would fill the bellies of many a poore Christian, who scarce can have a bit of browne bread to satisfie their hungry appetites, while their beasts have abundance of the best. If any shall here againe reply, may not I doe with mine owne what I list? Let mee then be so bold againe, as to demand what is their owne? And if they will not, I will answer for them, that is, just nothing: they are but onely Stewards, put in trust with their Masters goods, the great God of heaven and earth, and there will come shortly (and how soone they know not) a messenger to dis­charge them of their Stewardship: thou maiest be no longer Steward, and then if thou hast been a good and faithfull Steward, and canst make thy Master a true account, thou maiest expect with comfort that Euge bone serve, Well done faithfull servant, enter into thy Masters ioy: but if other­wise, let them looke to it. I will conclude with the words of the late alleged Author: Now, who so will not by all the former inconveniences and dangers be reclamed, neither by afflictions and troubles, nor yet by faire perswa­sions; yet let this one thought and consideration, what they shall be after death, af­fright them: for all Gluttons, and generally all sinners and wicked people are usu­ally affraid of death, the which Gluttony, if not avoided, will inevitably hasten and further. I have somewhat the longer insisted upon this point, in re­gard this sinne is so frequent in this Kingdome, which hath been there­by with our neigbours, the French, reproached, Les Anglois sont grand man­geurs, English are great eaters. But wee have eaten more than enough, it is time wee now proceed to drinke.

CHAP. XXIIII.

AFter meat it is seasonable, now, to come to drinke, the one being as necessary, if not more than the other. This liquid substance helpeth the distribution of the food thorow the whole body; withall, quencheth thirst: and as with­out food, so likewise without drinke, Veility and benefit of drinke. the life of man cannot be prolonged. And although wee read of some, who without any drinke at all, have spunne out the whole threed of their life; as namely one Schenck. observat. medicin. lib. 2. pag 36 [...]. Lasyrtas Lasionius, Andrew of Argos Mago of Carthage, and Iulius Viator, a Roman Knight; yet is it most certaine, that without drinke, or some moisture to conveigh the meat thorow the body, man cannot subsist: and such persons were not of a sound constitution of body; and that because they did not sweat at all, their bones being all solid without any marrow. And our stomack is not vnfitly compared to a pot with meat boyling in it, which without moisture, must needs be burnt up. Besides, drinke seemeth to be of a greater profit and utility to the body than meat it selfe, and the want thereof hardlier to be indured, it allaying both hunger and thirst, in man especially: and therefore the old [...]. Aphor 11. lib. 2. aphorisme holdeth here true: It is easier to be refreshed with drinke than with solid food. Drink is a thin liquid substance, quenching thirst, furthering the concoction and distribution of the food thorow the whole body, and often also apt to nourish the same. Definition of drinke. Drinke is two-fold, either that common liquor, whereof all living creatures are partakers as well as man: or else it is desumed from beasts and plants; from the which a wholesome liquor or juice is expressed, Certaine rules in the use of drinke to [...] observed. fit for quenching thirst, and nourishing the body also. Now, some rules con­cerning drinke are carefully to be observed; and first wee are not to in­dure too much thirst, but moderately to drinke in time of need, especi­ally 1 at our meales. In the next place it is good to drinke little and often 2 at our meales; to the end there may be an exact mixture of our meat and drinke in the stomacke: neither are wee to follow the custome of the people of the East, to drinke most after meales, as is also the cu­stome of our beasts. Thirdly, wee are not to beginne our meales with 3 drinke, but rather with solid food. Fourthly, wee are not to drinke be­twixt 4 meales, for feare of disturbing and interrupting the conco­ction of the stomacke; except a very hot and dry stomacke, some­times for feare of burning up the meat, plead privilege for a cup. Fifthly, after bathing, running, or any other violent exercise, it is not 5 [Page 112] good suddenly to drinke either water or strong drinke; but especially water, or small drinke. 6. Epidem. Hippocrates maketh mention of wrestler, wh [...] after violent motion and agitation of his whole body, and all covered with sweat, Historie. drinking a great draught of cold water, died suddenly: and this was also the fatall end of the famous Physitian Valerius Cordus. Many more such histories are related by the Observat. medicin. lib 3 loco prius citat. learned Schenekius. And in France, my body being then in the like case and had almost bin made an addition to the former examples. For after a draught of col [...] water in the heat of Sommer, Historie I was immediatly after surpized first with a single, and after with a double tertian fever: and to adde yet unto my former mis [...]rte [...]l was short­ly after, about the beginning of the canicular daies surprized with the blody flixe, (at that time epidemicall, and for the most part mortall in most places of France, especially Southward) the which, together with the former infirmities, did ad­here unto me almost a quarter of a yeere; and recovered not my full strength a­gaine for the space of a whole halfe yeere and upwards. Now as meat, so is drinke not to be excessively and inordinatly used, but stinted and limi­ted to a certaine determinate quantity. And howsoever, I confesse, it is impossibe to regulate, and determine how much every particular and individuall person ought to drinke; and that by reason of the difference of countries and climats, Quantity of drinke. of divers and various constitutions, and seve­rall obseruable circumstances; yet may we still aime at a certaine decorum, or golden mediocrity alwaies, as in other things, so in this dili­gently to be observed. The antients, as it seemeth, observed even a set number of draughts at their set meales, which Ter bibe vel to [...]ers ter [...]o [...] sic mystica lex est. Autonius. were 3, as witnesseth the Poet: and the same number was determined by the Synod of Nants. Democritus, as witnesseth Pliny, wrote a booke, wherein hee averreth, that no man ought to drinke foure draughts at one meale: and it was a saying of the antients, the first draught is good against drougth, the second is for mirth, the third for pleasure and delight, and the fourth made one madde. But because the number of draughts is nothing, the quantity of the draught, being that wee are to build upon; therefore that was also regulated among the antients.

[...] ordinary mea­sures of drink among the Romans.There were among the antient Romans three usuall measures for drinke, called by these names, triens, sextans, deunx: The middlemost was the least, being under foure ounces, and with the which, sober people contented themselves: that called triens was about a quarter of our wine pint, not above foure ounces: the last was above our wine pint. Sober people contented themselves with the smallest measure; and such as assumed some more liberty, proceeded to the other: but intemperate persons would adventure on the last and biggest measure. [...]ere re [...]ica Cato allowed to labouring men, and such as wrought hard, about three English pints of wine aday; which, perhaps, was then ordinary for such kindes of people.

But mee thinks I heare some, by reason of that which hath beene al­ready said, Whether it be good to [...]rink in a morning fasting: aske mee a question, whether a draught of drinke in a mor­ning fasting, be not, in the rules of wholesome diet, to be allowed of? Their colour to cleare this their custome, is this: a draught in a mor­ning (say they) washeth downe all ill humors, that lie in the stomack, or places adjoining, and withall, is good against the stone. I answer, [Page 113] thy draught is either strong drinke, or small: if strong, then have I the authority of our famous antient Physitians on my side, that this is very hurtfull to the health. Indeede, during the Empire of Tibe­rius Caesar (saith Lib. 14. cap 20. Pliny) the Physitians some fortie yeeres agoe, ap­pointed that people should drinke fasting; and that onely by meanes of some cunning Physitians, willing by some plausible novelty to skrew themselves into the favour of the people. And it seemeth there is some recent authoritie, at least to beginne our meales with drinke. But Galen is flat against this preposterous custome of drinking thus fasting; Comment ad d [...]i 28. lib 6. averring, that to drink strong drink fasting, is very hurtfull for the nerves and nervous parts, and withall, hasteneth and procureth to the body ma­ny dangerous diseases, as Epilepsie, Apoplexie, and many others. Strong drinke i [...] no [...] to be drunke [...] It is therefore farre better for thy health to eat a little before thou drinke. But some will say, I will take but a draught of small drinke, Nor small drinke. which is good against the stone. To this I answer, that howsoever this be a seeming reason, yet to mee it is none at all: for, by this meanes thou causest the more speedie descent of those glutinous and feculent hu­mours toward the kidnies and bladder; and by consequent, rather fur­therest than hinderest either the generation or increase of the stone: as the like is also, by the unseasonable, and too frequent use of diu­reticall medicines often procured. But if thou wilt drinke, Best to eate before one drinke in a [...]. then the best will be to eat a little before thou drinkest, and this, like a Sponge, will drinke up this liquor, and afterwards these superfluous excrements will at great leisure be thorow the guts expelled out of the body. Some hot and dry bodies, may, perhaps, plead for some privi­lege, who, of all others, are most to be excused, especially, if they be not rheumaticke; and in such a case, let not the drinke be too strong. And as for antient people, and cold constitutions, who, perhaps, will take it ill to be abbridged of their morning draught; of wines, mus­cadine, sweet canary, and the like, with a tost soked in them and ea­ten, are the best, and a cup of good wholesome ale, with a tost, some nutmegge and sugar may be allowed. But the ordinary use of morning draughts, being indifferently of every one used, is not so good for the health of the body, whatsoever our tost pots prate to the contrarie. And now I proceed to the next.

In the next place it may be demanded, Whether it be good to beginne our meale with a draught? whether it be good to begin our meales, as likewise to end the same with a draught? As for the first, it hath beene by mani holden as an oracle to beginne the meale with drink; which was also held by the Vt vites paenam, a potibus incipe coenam▪ Schol. Salern. Salernitan Schoole, and with us it is holden for an ordinary and inveterate custome to be­ginne our meale with a cup of sacke. Now, as in many other things, so in this particular also, can we set downe no certaine precise rule, which may fit every particular individuall constitution. But this, ac­cording to my opinion, and of our Physitians of the best note, is the best for health, in ordinary constitutions, and the most part of peo­ple, to beginne their meales with solid food. Answer. And from this rule none is to be exempted, unlesse some hot dry constitution; and in such bodies, the pot may be washed, (as some use to say) or rather moistned before the meat be put into it; providing alwaies there be no pottage, Best to beginne the meale with solid food [Page 114] or other liquid meats; in which case they may well supply the place of drinke. And besides, as concerning the use of such moist and liquid food, the more an ordinary stomacke useth thereof, the lesse drinke is needfull; Caution in the use of drinke and liquid or moist meats. and not, as too many use needlessely and foolishly to drinke immediatly after hot pottage. And as concerning rheumaticke per­sons, I wish them to be sparing both in the use of pottage and drinke; especially when rheume is most busie. And as for a cup of sacke, it cannot be indifferently good for every one at the beginning of meales; but onely for feeble, phlegmaticke, cold and old constitutions, and that immediately before meales: for otherwise it may even hurt such constitutions, especially, if subject to any diseases of the head and nerves: Drinking of sacke at the entry of the Ta­ble is not ordinarily of every one to be u­sed. as Epilepsie, Apoplexie, Palsie, &c. Now to the next, whether it be good to finish our meale with meate or drinke? To finish the feast with a draught of good drinke hath beene alwaies a very ancient cu­stome, Whether it be better to finish our meale with meat or with drinke. as by many antient Authors appeareth, which I could easily here make good, if I feared not to trespasse upon the Readers patience. Scal [...]g. de emendat. tempor. lib. 6. citante Stuckio. The Iewes, it seemeth, were accustomed both to beginne and end their feast with such a draught; and of the beginning therewith, the pra­ctice of our Saviour Christ in Luk. 22.27. Luke maketh it cleare. The English have long continued this custome, as witnesseth the learned In a dagijs. Erasmus; and is so used among the Germans, and many other Europaean people, even at this very day, being commonly used after the washing of the hands, which in Scotland they call the grace drinke: and from the washing of the hands, this drink tooke the name, and was called [...], or [...]. The Germanes call it Saint Iohannis segen, or Saint Iohns blessing. Erant enim tres crateres; primus lovis Olympij, seu Olym­piorum ac coelestium; secundus Heroum, tertius lovis Servato­ris perfecti, a ternario numero, in quo sit principium, medium & finis. Alij sanitatis sive valetudinis poculum nominant. Dictum est item poculum boni Dae­monis, quod ab initio coenae, & in extremo convivio antequam sur­gerent asportarenturve mensae a convivis u­surparetur. Moris e­nim erat, ut omnes in conviv [...]is mensae post ultimam i [...]lam Daemo­nis potationem remove­rentur, vel ex impio & sacrilego Dionysij ty­ranni facmore videre est. Is enim cum Syracusis in Aesculapij famo aurea ante simulacbrum mensa reposita esset patera mero reple­ta, propino, inquit, tibi, Aesculapi boni Daemonis calicem, & cum dicto auream statim mensam auferre [...]us [...]it. Stuck. antiquit. com iv, lib. 3. cap. 22. ex Polluce & Athenzo. Now by antient Authors it may appeare, that there were cups called after three severall names used about that time: one was drunke in honour of Iupiter, called Olympius, or in ho­nor of all the gods: the second was in honor of deified men, whom they called Heroes; such as be our Popish canonized Saints: the third was in honor of Iupiter Saviour, called perfect, from the number of three, wherein is the beginning, the middle and the end. By some also this was called the cup of health or good lucke, which they dranke one to another: and by some also it was called the cup of their good spirit or God, which was used both at the beginning, and ending of their sup­per before they rose from table. And after this last cup was once drunk, then all the guests rose, and all was taken away; as may by that sacri­legious pranke plaied by Denis the tyrant appeare: who comming into the temple of Aesculapius within the city of Syracuse, where was the statua, or image of Aesculapius, with a table of pure gold standing by it, tooke a cup full of wine, adding these words, I drinke to thee Aesculapius, the cup of the good God or spirit, and with this word caused presently carry away this golden table. A­mong the Indians it was called the cup of Tantalus. But now to the solution of the question, whether is it better to close our stomacke with meat or drinke? I answer, that for the generall, and for the most part, it is holden, that it is best to close it up with meat; yet with a li­mitation, [Page 115] that such as are hot and dry, Who are allowe to drinke last at their meales. and are troubled with thirst may drinke a little at the latter end of their meale. And of such is Celsus to be understood, when hee willeth us to close up the sto­macke with a cup of cold water (a custome I am sure would not be very welcome to the Swill-bowles of our times) and that of Hippo­crates, who in feare of fumes and hot vapors arising up, and fuming into the head, adviseth us to use this water or else very thinne wa­terish white wine. But there are many pleasant astringent meanes which in such cases may better bee used; as namely, marmalad of quinces, of goose-berries, preserved quinces, conserve of barberries, of rasps, and many other such things astrigent and acid in taste. How­soever, it is the best course ordinarily to close the stomacke rather with meate than drinke, according to this verse:

Now the answer to the other question, whether it bee good to drinke to bed-ward, or going to bed, is concluded to the negative, Whether wee are to drinke going to bed. Answer. that we are not at all to drinke at that season, for feare of hindering concoction. But if the body be hot and dry, the stomacke especi­ally, and the partie thereunto accustomed, and sometimes in ex­traordinary great thirst, heere something is to bee yeelded to ne­cessity: in which case it is good to be sparing, and when concocti­on is almost finished, as foure or five houres after meales, a more liberall draught may then bee allowed. And this may likewise serve for an answer to that question, whether one may drinke be­twixt meales? So that I shall not need to make any repetion, Not good to drinke betwixt meales. con­cerning this point. As for very aged people, of cold windy sto­mackes, I shall not find fault with them, if they take a little draught of sacke, or such liquor at the end of their meale.

CHAP. XXV.

HAving discoursed of Drinke in generall, as wee have done in meats, so must wee here come to the particular sorts of drinke; a­mongst which, Water offereth it selfe in the first place, Water the most com­mon, and most anti­ent drinke of all o­thers. as the first and most ancient; so the most common to all living creatures, most obvious and easie to come by. And although after the flood, wine came in request for mans use; yet by many passages, both of holy and prophane Writers (whom for brevities sake I here passe by) it may appeare that water was the most common and ordinary drinke, and wine used more at festivall times, and so­lemne meetings, than for their daily and ordinary use; and it is even at this day so used in many places. As for the division of waters, their variety and diversitie, I have already said sufficient, as also con­cerning the qualities: whereas, I shewed, that water was not of so coo­ling a qualitie, as hath beene by many, both Philosophers and Physiti­ans hitherto deemed. A late Aquam quidem sua natura frigidam dixe­runt Ocellus, Hippo­crates, Empedocles, Aristoceles, & potior medicorum pars: imo Strato Philosophus, om­nium frigidorum pri­mum esse venit. At Bernardius Telesius, Franciscus Patritius, Franciscus Mutus, & veterum recentiorum (que) non pauci, ab inditu a natura principiis, lumi­ne, calore, stuore, mobili­tate, etus essentiam, con­stituentibꝰ, a viribꝰ, itē astionibus, generandi multiplici potestate, a perspicuitate, raritate, sapore, item tam dulci, tamamaro & salso, &c. audeater, & confiden­ter, omnes aquas, ipsum scilicet mare, seu Oceanum, quod & loci magnitudine, & aquarum copia, & molis immensstate primatum obtinet; omnes item lacus, stagna, flumma, sontes, puteos, tum & ipsas subterraneas aquas, Platonis Tartarum, alios (que) ingentes speluncas & cavernas adimplen­tes, ut & fluvios subterreneos a metallorum fossoribus, alijs (que) curiosis hominibus tum auditos, tum visos, &c. sua natura calidos, eos (que) tum salsos secundum magis & minus, tum & dulces esse astruxerunt. Omnis erum aqua, tam subterraneae quam superterranea (de a­quis enim supercoelestibus hic nobis non est sermo) vel amara & salsa est; uti maria; vel dulcis, uti flumina, fontes, lacus, &c. Nisi per accidens alieno s [...]pore, aliarum rerum accessione tingantur. At cum omnes aquae, fontes & flumina, ab uno Oceano, seu aquarum universitate, & abysso oriantur: ne (que) enim ullos habet fontes, sed ipsum fons est & scaturigo reliquarum omnium aquarum teste Moyse; lussit enim conditor omnes aquas quae sub Coelo erant in unum locum congregari, quam postea congregationem mare; & abyssam vocavit Maria autem aquae sunt amarae, ita ut omnes aquae a primordio fuerint amarae, ac salsae, quas post modum qualitates, aquae terrarum anfractus subeundo, & fontes constituendo, amiserunt, &c. Claud. Deod. Panth. Hygiast. lib. 1. cap. 18. Writer confirmeth this same opinion by the authority of divers other writers, by valid and probable reasons thereto perswaded. The chiefe and principall reasons are desumed from the inbred principles of this element; as light, heat, agitati­on and mobiltie; which constitute and make the essence or being thereof: as also from the actions; as the manifold generative power, perspicuity, raritie; the taste also, bitter, salt and sweet, &c. Of the other quality of moisture there is no controversie. Now, concerning the drinking of water, wee are herein to consider three things, the good quantity, the quality, and the order. The qualities of the best water have already largely beene described, and that among all waters, raine water was the best; and next unto it, the best spring water, or good river-water. In quantity, it must not exceed: for so it would hinder the concoction of the stomacke. And as for the order, it must be drunke, as is already in the generall directions of drinke set downe; little, and often at a meale. Vsed before meales, it moistneth much dry bodies, and cooleth more than sacke, or any wine whatsoever, be it ne­ver [Page 117] to small; and therefore fitter for hot and drie bodies, than wine or strong drinke. Vsed after meales, it inhibiteth and hindereth the hot vaporous fumes of strong drinke to ascend into the braine; and so is said to resist drunkennesse: but I advise weake stomackes to looke unto themselves, for feare of too much debilitation, proceeding from too much humectation. And howbeit in hot countries, their water, by reason of correction by the splendor of the Sunne-beames is accounted wholesomer than ours; yet might ours be farre more used than it is, especially by hot and dry bodies, especially such stomacks, and yonger people especially: but this is the mischiefe, that such commonly powre downe most strong drinke, by this meanes adding fewell to the fire, untill Fevers, inflammations, and such furious diseases, in the very Aprill of their age bring them to an untimely death. And the poorer sort, I am sure, might make more use of the same than ordinarily they doe; which would better become them than go a begging strong drinke; or which is yet worse, steale, to procure mony to buy it. And notwithstanding this our nicity, I know som honourable and worship­full Ladies who drinke little other drinke; and yet injoy more perfect health than most of them that drinke of the strongest. Two things do most deterre people from the use of this noble antient drinke, the cold­nesse and the crudity. As for the coldnesse, howsoever it doth often actually to the palat appeare such; yet have I shewed that there is no such intense cooling quality here to be feared. The other is the cru­dity; which is indeed nothing else but the abundance of moisture, wherewith it is indowed; and most offensive to weake and moist sto­mackes: and all is notwithstanding ordinarily imputed to the cold­nesse of water. Some to correct what they deeme amisse in water, use to adde some sugar to it, and so thinke all is well amended, and is most practised by the female sex. But this is no good correction: for of this they cannot be ignorant, and experience teacheth no lesse, that sweet things doe rather hurt than helpe a weake and tender stomacke. And besides, Sugar being but temperately hot could adde but a little heat to such a drinke, if it were as cold as is supposed. Againe, sugar ha­ving no drying quality ascribed unto it; but rather a meane moisture, it will rather adde to, than detract from this moist quality. But in my opinion, the best correction is by boiling it first, and then if thou wilt, adde thereunto a little hony or sugar, and a little wine vineger (which well correcteth the moisture, and joined with the other sugar or hony, giveth it a pleasant rellish) thou maiest make thee a pleasant and wholesome drinke.

Now as concerning the boiling of waters, there is a controversie a­bout the quantity, or how much should be boiled away; Correcting of bad watersfirst by boiling 2. By distillation. some wil­ling to boile water to the wasting away of the third part, others of the halfe, which others againe thinke too much; and indeed a meane is the best, Againe, some would have water corrected by distillation; 3. By straining. which I must needes confesse to be best, if not too costly: besides, 4. By boiling with sand. that it is not so easy every where, and at all times to be effected. Some straine it thorow a cleane linnen cloth; 5. By Corall beaten to powder. and some againe boile it with sand. Some with corall beaten to powder correct the bitternesse of [Page 118] waters; and some attribute a correcting qualitie to Penniroall. Pliny reports, 6 By wheaten floure or meale. that bitter waters are made sweet and potable by casting into them a little meale or flowre of wheat; so that they may bee drunke within two houres after. I doubt this triall would hardly answere our expectation. And I am sure the practice of the 2 Kings 2.21. Prophet Elisha in healing the water with salt, was miraculous. It is familiar with ma­riners after the use of evill waters to eat garlicke. The Arabian Physi­tians advise him, 9 By carrying some of the earth of the place. who is to remove his habitation to a place where waters are not good, to carry with him some of the earth where hee lived before, and mingle with his water, and being well strained, drink of it.

Invention to coole water.Now because oftentimes water is either somwhat warme, and ther­fore quencheth not the thirst so well; or else is not so cold as to please some nice and curious palats: therefore partly for pleasure and wan­tonnesse, and partly for necessity; especially when all manner of riot and excesse began to reigne, amongst many other things, were devi­sed severall waies to coole both their water and their wine. And it cannot be denied that cold water doth better further the concoction of the stomacke than warme. And Lib. de cibis boni & mali succi. Galen, in Sommer alloweth of very cold drinke; yea, even cooled with snow, and to such especially as labour hard, and use much exercise: but others that live idly, leading a sedentary life, and free from imployment, either of body or mind, he adviseth to drinke water, as nature hath produced it, without any alte­ration. Avicen wisheth alwaies to eat before they drinke water, and to drinke sparingly and often at our repast, and out of a vessell with a narrow mouth; Sixe waies of cooling water. 1 By the Aire. that so the draught may be the more moderate. There were six several waies the antients used to coole their water, by means of the aire; which was familiar to the Aegyptians, as witnesseth 6 Epidem▪ comment. 4. Galen. In the Sommer (saith he) the Aegyptians of Alexandria, having first well warmed their water, and put it up in close earthen vessells, exposed it to the night aire, and before Sun rising, set them in some shadie places of the ground, environed round about with cooling herbes. Sailers have beene seene some­times to expose their water to the night aire, and afterwards cover their bottles with many clothes: and thus it is very certaine it retein­eth still the cold quality. The reason why they thus boiled their wa­ter, was because that water once boiled receiveth sooner and easilier the impression of the cold aire; as witnesseth the Arist 1 met e [...]r. cap. 12. Prince of Philoso­phers. And therefore in Pontus, where they fish alwaies in frost, they besprinkle their angling-rods with warme water (which afterwards congealeth and freezeth so much the harder) which serveth them in stead of glue. The second way of cooling water, is, by letting it downe in an earthen bottle into a deepe well: 2 Way, letting it downe into a deepe well. 3 Way, by salt peter. howbeit others are of opinion it receives some evill impression from this close water; and therefore thinke it better to draw up the water, and so set it in it. The third way, is by injection of some salt peter, which afterwards for a while is stir­red about with a sticke: howbeit this is not so well approved of, with whatsoever present satisfaction it may seeme to sooth us up. The fourth way, 4 Way, by ice or snow is by meanes of ice or snow. It was the invention of the Emperour Nero to boile water, and then let it downe into a pit of snow. [Page 119] Lib. 2. Athenaeus saith, it was an old invention, howbeit others affirme it first found out by Nero. Bellon. observat me­dicin. lib 3. cap 22. The Turkes at this day familiarly use this kinde of cooling their drinke. The fift way, 5. Way, by deepe cel­lers. is by meanes of deepe cel­lars, wherein in antient times, some were wont to set bottles full of hot water, and take them out againe colder than any snow. In Paris there are some such deepe cellars, wherein the smallest wines will seeme to the taste, twice as strong as they are in very truth. Besides all the premisses, water falling from a high place, acquireth unto it selfe a greater coldnesse than that which runneth softly in a river; 6. Way by motion & agitation. and the agitation and much stirring of the water furthereth not a little this cooling qualitie. And this for the present concerning the use of water shall suffice; what resteth shall be discussed in the diet of the disea­sed, which doth something also concerne them.

CHAP. XXVI.

IT may be my former discourse of water was to some unwelcome, who would more willing­ly, perhaps, heare of some more noble liquor; and therefore now from the water-pale to the wine-pot. Now although this same sub­ject of wines alone might well fill up a lar­ger discourse than this in hand; yet will I content my selfe with such things as shall be of greatest use for the health of mankind. And because al wines are not alike, differing in divers respects, it will therefore be for us very usefull to set downe the severall differences. Divers differences of Wines 1 From the age. Wines therefore differ not a little one from another, and that in these respects following. The first difference then is desumed from the age; for some wine is called Mustum, Mustum or new wine. or new wine; and others of longer continuance, one, two or three yeers, &c. New wine, before it be well purged from the lees, howsoever it may seeme to please the palat, by reason of a sweet pleasant and de­lectable taste; yet is it most dangerous for the health of the body. Gal. lib de cibis bor [...], & mali succi. for by reason of the thicknesse, grossenesse; and (as some call it) a tartareous substance, it is very windy, and apt to ingender all manner of obstructions, wind cholicke, and the stone it selfe, &c. But among all such wines, the white and Rhenish doe least harme; and that in re­gard they make the body soluble, and so all corruption is evacuated, and so in regard of their short abode within the body, they are least of all others offensive unto it. New wine pressed out of tart and sowre grapes is of all others the worst. The Qui properant noua musta bibant, mihi fun­dat avitum, Consulibus priscis condita testa me­rum. Ovid 3. de amo­re. Poet Ovid could well tell whe­ther new or old wine were better, when he wishes to drinke wine of [Page 120] the continuance of certaine Consuls; that is, so many yeeres old. And as the new wines are not to be allowed for ordinary use; no more are the very old wines better to be liked of: for then they become farre hotter, sharper, and sometimes bitter also. As for the certaine deter­minate time orange, when wine might safeliest be drunke, no man can certainely determine, for some lasted twenty, some more, some fewer yeeres. Very old wine. Cicero at a supper with Damasippus was served with wine of 40. yeeres old. But the Emperor Caligula was presented with wine of 160: yeere old. Now the nature of such wines was this, that they were not to be drunke, unlesse mastered with much water. Our wines now a daies differ much from those in frequent use among the Ancients, the Romanes especially: for few of our ordinary wines will continue good for yeeres, as theirs did; yea a yeere, and sometimes lesse, will put them to the period of their longest endurance. Although I deny not but some of our sackes, and some such strong wines will continue good farre beyond this prefixed period. 2 Difference from the substance. The second difference is taken from the substance; some being thinne, perspituous and very small, needing no admixture of water, called for this cause [...] such as grow plentifully about Paris, Rochell, and divers other places; as along the river of Rhene, in Thuringia, Misnia, &c. And yet Cardan thought no such wine grew in those regions. Others againe were of a thicker, and grosser substance, and may therefore be called [...], or bearing much water, as being of farre greater force and strength than the for­mer. 3 Difference from the colour. The third difference may be taken from the colour; some being white in colour, some pale yellow, some sadder in colour, or of a high golden yellow colour; some againe of a blackish intense red, and others of a pale red colour. The yellow wines are the hottest, the red lesse; and the white least of all. And it is to bee observed, that mingling grapes of divers colours, the wine becommeth of a mixt colour: as the white and red grape mingled together maketh a claret; and the more red grapes be in the mixture, the higher coloured is this claret; and the more white grapes, the paler coloured it is; approaching both to the colour and quality of white wine; as is to bee seene in that wine called from the colour of peach flowre, couleur du pesche. The fourth difference is taken from the taste, 4 Difference from the taste. sweet, sowre, sharpe or bitter. The sweet are most nourishing, such as are commonly the high coloured red wine, and some sweet sacks brought unto vs from Greece, and other parts: such as are our malmesey, muscadine, browne-bastard, Canary, and some others of that colour; and our high coloured red wines, cal­led vin de Graves. Some againe are of tarter taste, as most of our white and claret. Galen was of opinion, there were no sweet white wines; howbeit divers Provinces of France can now witnesse the contrary. And I doubt not but the Wine-brewers of the City of London have so well profited in their profession, that they are able to furnish any with as sweet wine of any colour as any other place whatsoever. The fift difference is desumed from the smell, 5 Difference from the smell. which in wine is also not a little to be regarded, and the wines of best smell are also ordinarily the hot­test. Among our ordinary wines, that which smelleth like the raspe, as the French say, sent la fram boose, is esteemed the daintiest. But here [Page 121] my meaning is not of any artificiall smell procured by the wit and invention of the vintner, no more than that which already hath bin spoken concerning the substance, colour and taste. Another difference may yet be desumed from the soile, and the naturall temper of the aire where such wines grow. And thus in one and the same country are so many severall sorts of wine to be seene, differing in goodnesse one from another; and yet far more those of one countrey from those of another. And thus we may apparently perceive what a great difference there is in the wines of that one kingdome of France. The wine of Orleance, al­though farre to the North, yet doth it exceed in goodnesse many others more to the South. And we see severall countries produce divers and severall sorts of wine, and some againe produce none at all: and that partly by the unfitnesse and coldnesse of the soile and climate; 6 Difference from [...] soile & naturall tem­per of the aire. and partly in some places, by meanes of the neglect and ill husbandry, or ignorance of the inhabitants. And there is yet another difference de­sumed from the faculties: 7 Difference from the faculties: thicke red wines. for the thicke red coloured wine tending to blacke, especially the sweetest, are of all others aptest to nourish and fatten the body. But whosoever useth them much, let him take heed of obstructions, the stone, the dropsie, &c. Such wines grow plente­ously in Gascony, and from thence conveyed to their chiefe citie Bur­deoux, and so to divers places of the Christian world. All sweet wines loosen the belly more than any other kind. The other sweet wines, Strong sweet wines of a yellow colour. such as we named heretofore, are hotter than the former, and yeeld some­what to them in this alimentary facultie; and are rather of the antient, and married people, yet sparingly to be used; than of the yonger sort. In France alone many severall sorts of wine, French wines of di­vers sorts. differing not a little in strength one from another. The wines of Orleance are of prime note for goodnesse; as also the wines of Aniou and adjacent places are in no small esteeme: and those wines in so great request at the French court; Small wines. called vin de Coussy and D'Hay, are very wholesome and dainty wines. But the wine about Paris, Rochell, and many places of Xaintonge are but poore small wines in comparison of the former. Againe, in Gascoigne; but especially in Provence, Languedoc, and the south parts of that King­dome are many strong and generous wines, equalling, if not exceeding divers wines of Italy it selfe. But it is now more than time, wee come to the temperature of wine, the knowledge whereof doth not a little make for our purpose.

Concerning the temperature of wine, there hath been some contro­versie among the learned, which we will leave to the schooles, Or [...] & brief­ly declare that which we conceive to bee most profitable for our pur­pose. Wine then of all sorts, whatsoever, is undoubtedly hot, [...] howbe­it some more and some lesse; and new wine is at first colder, and in time acquireth a greater heat; insomuch that must or new wine is by Galen accounted cold; which must be understood comparatively▪ ha­ving respect to that it is afterwards. Now this heat acquired by [...] ebullution is of a great latitude and extent, according to the sever­all natures and ages of wines. Thinne small wines, especially white, [...] participate of least heat: old strong wines are very hot: that which is betwixt both these extremes, is also of a meane heat betwixt both. [Page 122] But now concerning the second quality, Wine is dry in the second quantity. and joined with this first, whe­ther it be moist or dry, is in like manner controverted. In a word, I thinke it to be actually moist, howbeit potentially dry, as we speake in the schooles. For howsoever it moisten, as is the nature of all liquors; yet hath it a certaine faculty of drying up superfluous moisture; as we see come to passe in many other liquors extracted out of hot simple, vegetables or mineralls: and yet this drying faculty differeth not a little according to the strength. Ou [...] wines differ much from the wines of the antients. It is moreover to bee observed, that our wines much differ from the wines used in antient times, in regard of their strength. With us our new wines are hotter than our old, which by little and little, their heat decaying, grow dead: Vappescunt. Contrariwise, the wines of antient times being new, that is, not ex­ceeding five yeeres age, were not so hot as those of greater age, which perhaps had atteined to ten or twelve yeeres. The longer they were kept, [...] Caeterorum vinorum tanta cura fuit medica­minu, ut ciner [...] apud quosdam, fe [...] gypso a­l [...]b [...] quibus diximus mo­du instaurentur, &c. Qui & marinam aquā ejusdem rei gratia ex alto peti [...]ubent, &c. Pix in Italia ad vasa v [...]o condienda maxi­me probatur Brytia, &c Tot benefici [...]s piacere cogitur; & miramur noxia esse in vitium in­clinantes. Plin. lib. 19. cap. 20. the greater heat they contracted, which was not naturall; but procured by art: for they were accustomed to mingle with their new wine, pitch, rosen, brimston, plaster, ashes, to adde smell and quicknesse to their wines. Some used also to smoake their wines: and for this end, had certain places in their houses built for this same pur­pose. Others againe mingled therewith sea-water fetcht superstitious­ly from the deepest Ocean. By so many poisons cause we wine to please our palats (saith Pliny) and yet wonder at the woe they procure us, yet inclining still to vice. Let Londoners, and others that frequent the city much, looke about them, and moderate their insatiable wine-bibbing humor, lest withall they drinke downe some of this stuffe, whereof Pliny here complaines. Sure I am our Vintners are as cunning, and witty in invention for their owne profit and commodity, as ever were any of the antients. But concerning the hot facultie of wines, it may perhaps be replied, how commeth it to passe, if all wines be hot and dry, it produceth cold and moist diseases in the braine: Co [...] diseases produ­ced b [...] the use of wine accidentally. I answer in a word, it commeth nor so to passe properly by reason of these faculties; but by accident, these exhalations being by the braine quickly converted into such a substance. And that this is true may by this appeare, that the excesse of drinking of the strongest wines are aptest to ingender such diseases.

Vertues of wine mo­derately used.Now this noble creature moderately used, is a most soveraine meanes to restore and renew our decaied and dead spirits, and to preserve the naturall heat of the body: and for the great affinity it hath with the na­ture of man, and sympathy with the heart, it is as it were in a moment conveied thither; and so produceth that famous effect of Psalme 103. Iu [...]g. 9 Ecclesiast. 31, &c. cheereful­nesse, so often in holy writ ascribed unto it. But the use of this so no­ble a creature is not indifferently to be permitted to every age, per­son and complexion. Plato would not have children to drinke any wine before the 22. yeere of their age. 7 Politic. Lib. de salubri diata. Aristotle forbiddeth wine to nur­ses and children. ^f Hippocrates permitteth the use of it to some caco­chymicall dispositions, and to women of a soft and foggy, or spongi­ous flesh. 3 de sanit. tuenda. Galen setteth downe what constitutions it best befitteth. To those of mature and ripe yeeres he permitteth wine, but well wa­tered; but to hot and dry constitutions, hee forbiddeth it altogether, [Page 123] water better befitting the state of such bodies, What person it be [...] befitteth. to whom assenteth also Hippocrates. As for old age, especially if very phlegmaticke by consti­tution, vvine is not to be denied them; it being for them a wholesome milke, and withall a convenient food for the preserving and cherish­ing of the radicall moisture, and innate balsame of their bodies.

But from hence ariseth some doubt, in that I allow wine to old men; My doubt may seeme so much the stranger, in that it seemeth this o­pinion hath alwayes gone currant without any controll. But there is [...]am vero [...] larvitr [...] si ultius quam [...] ca [...]oris au e [...]d gratia, vinum abundanter, meracum praecipue in­dulgere Quanto e­nim vinum calidius est per se, tanto ma [...]ore ven [...]ris ac viscerum omuium c [...] ore opusest ut superetur: aliaqui a mino [...]i acessic, cru­dam (que) succum auget, unde & calorem natu­ralem suffocat, & mor­bos innumeros [...]arit, ac mortem properat. Quare vinum esse lac senum non valde pro­ho [...] censeo, potius se­nibus sensim esse dan­dum aiturius, us (que) dum in extremo senio consti­tutis toto vino detrac­to de ur pro eo mul [...]a, aut dec [...]ct: aqua: sa­tius enim est p [...]rmittere catori n [...]turali sensim venire au na [...]ura [...]em in­teri [...]um, quam vine obruere, & [...]enectam facere mis rabi [...]torem, & breviorem. Va [...]. de sacr [...] philos. cap. 20. a late writer, who hath contradicted this opinion, and would have them when they grow in yeeres, to use wine well diluted with water, and afterwards vvhen they are novv atteined to decrepit old age, to give them onely hony-vvater, or boiled vvater to drinke. But I thinke fevv that read this, but vvill thinke this too rigid; and so am I of their mind. His reason is because (saith hee) hot strong wine drunke in abundance hath need of a like proportion of naturall heat to over­come it, otherwise it sowreth in the stomacke, oppresserh naturall heat, ingendreth crudities, and proveth the cause of many noisome dis­eases. But by his good leave, although a learned man, yet he delivers his opinion too lavishly and without limitation. Wine in old age mo­derately taken cheereth the spirits, furthereth concoction, and overcō ­meth crudities. The chiefe hurt befalleth old age by the too liberall use of strong hot vvines, in my opinion, is by way of ex [...]ccation, their bodies howsoever replenished with an accidentall and excrementiti­ous moisture; yet the naturall Crasis and constitution of their bodies get, inclining to siccity. The excesse in the use of any sort of wine I allow not of. But I see no sound reason, why the moderate use of our Muscadines, sweet Canary sackes; and sweet nourishing red wines may not safely and to good purpose be allowed this age, which besides the former benefits may likewise by their mild fumes and vapors so irrigate the braine, that it may procure them quiet and comfortable sleepe to this age so acceptable. And by this moderate use I see not but it may likewise communicate a gentle warmth to all the parts of the body; although I am not of opinion this is the only use, as this Au­thor seemeth to allege.

And in the use of wine among the antients this is yet to be observed, that they were either to drinke this or water, there being no other in ordinary use among them; and therfore, wheras they allowed youth at the age of 22. to drinke wine, this is not a precept for us to practise, be­ing furnished with so fit and wholesome drink, and so appropriated and fitted for this climat, and our complexions; and the which may safely to any age or complexion be exhibited; and being in our owne power to make it weaker or stronger, there is no danger in the use of our ale or beere. And besides, we must also withall consider that in the hot seasons of the yeere both wine, and other strong drinkes must more spa­ringly be used; but in colder seasons we may be bolder. Now againe, Wine either drunk [...] pure of it selfe or mingled with water. among the antients wine was either drunke pure of it selfe without a­ny mixture; or else diluted and mingled with water, and is used also in this our age. In antient times some added the water to the wine, and some againe wine to the water. Water was, and is used to be added [Page 124] unto wine, to allay and qualifie the heat and fumes thereof, and is more frequent in those countries, where wine is their ordinary drinke. This mixture differeth according to the diversitie of the natures, of the parties drinking, the wine drunke, together with the severall times of drinking: all which points are learnedly and largely set downe by Mercur. variar lect. libr. 7. a famous Italian Physitian; and which were too long for mee here to insist upon. But this I must advertise in briefe, that as young people, especi­ally, hot and cholericke constitutions, ought not to drinke wine; so if they doe at any time drinke thereof, they ought to delute, or mingle it with a greater quantity of water than others: and the like I wish to be understood of the heat of Sommer, when as both smaller drinke, and wine more deluted is best. Some in stead of ordinary spring water, use rose water, and a little sugar, which is not amisse: and the like may be practised with Strawberry, Sorrell, Succory, or Endive water. But to determine the quantity of water, which differeth according to cir­cumstances, is very hard: but the best will be for people to consider of that proverbiall speech, Every man is either a foole, or a Physitian. The meaning is, a man should observe what best befitteth the state of his owne body, and so accommodate all things accordingly. Many in hot countries where the wine groweth, sometimes use wine so sparingly, that they adde but a little quantity of wine to a great quantity of water; it may be not the fifth or sixth part. But with us, where wine is not our naturall and ordinary drinke, How we use to dilute or mingle our wine. this deluting, or mixture of wine and wa­ter is not so frequent; except sometimes in Sommer, where often, and most commonly sugar is also added thereunto, with some Borage flo­wers, and a sprig of Rosemary, which are not out of purpose; espe­cially, if the wine be any thing tart, or sowrish.

Of the use of Sugar with wine.And by the way I must here say something concerning the use of su­gar with wines: It is a common custome thorow this kingdome, to adde sugar to all wine indifferently sweet or sowre, or whatsoever sort. I doe not deny, but sometimes, to helpe a tart taste, or to inhibit the hot fumes of a vaporous or strong sacke, apt to flie up into the braines, a little su­gar helpeth well: but to use it indifferently, with all sorts of wines, and without any consideration of circumstances whatsoever (which is the ordinary and common custome) and that merely for wantonnesse, and to satisfie their lustfull desires, I hold it not convenient. Our neigh­bouring Nations, who abound in all sorts of wine, and most somewhat tartish in taste, yet never use this addition of sugar. And therefore, as I advertised already, so wish I all, especially our women (aptest in such ca­ses to exceed) to use a moderation in the use of sugar. As for wines thus to be mingled with water, they must be indifferent strong, and withal, of an indifferent thinne substance. Wines of a grosse and thick substance, are not thus to be mingled with water; but rather moderately and spa­ringly drunke without any addition. And as for our Rhenish and small white wines, they need farre lesse water than other stronger. Arnoldus de villa nova tractatu de vinis. Some wish that certaine houres before the wine be drunke, water be mingled therewith, that by this meanes there may be a more perfect mixture of the one with the other. There is to this purpose a certaine antient speech recorded: Vinum lymphatum cito potatum generat lepram, Wine [Page 125] mingled with water, suddenly drunke, ingendreth leprosie. But concerning wine this shall suffice. Of the use of wine in the sicke, in what diseases usefull, and how to be used, hereafter in the diet of the diseased.

CHAP. XXVII.

NOw, because all countries are not furnished with this noble liquor of the grape, therefore our gracious God besides this element of wa­ter, with man-kind, common to all living creatures, hath furnished these our Northern Regions with other drinkes, which might to us supply the place of wine. This drinke hath for its principall ingredients water and corne, Ingredients of our Beere. and to season it, and make it keepe a long time in stead of salt, hath hop added to it. And that this is no new invention to make drinke of corne; but hath beene in frequent practice in antient times, may by the relation of our antient Physitians plainly appeare. The The antient Egypti­ans made drinke of corne. Herod. in Euterpe. Egypptians, it would seeme, were the first authours thereof. But it may be objected, that the anti­ents doe likewise condemne this drinke, as most unwholesome for the body of man. Lib. 2. cap. 80. & 81. Dioscoride ascribeth to this drinke, which hee there calleth Zythum & Curmi, differing but little one from another a noxious quality against the reines, nerves, and nervous parts; as the mem­branes, of the head especially: and affirmeth that it ingendereth wind, filleth the body with corrupt humours; and leaveth the body u­sing it much, the leprosy for a legacie. Lib. 6. simpl. m [...]lic. Galen singeth also the same song, and confimeth his assertion. But whatsoever was the opinion of the an­tients concerning that drinke, and that it was of that nature, Our drinke made of corne, differeth from that of the antients, and is a very whole­some drinke. Divers differences in our drinke to be ob­served: First, from the adding or withdrawing of hoppe. Secondly, from the corne it is made of. I will not deny; yet I am sure, the drinke wee make is both wholesome, and very agreeable to our nature; and besides, is farre otherwise prepared, than that of antient times. Now, of this drinke, there are two sorts, one bre­wed without hop, commonly called Ale; the other with hop, and commonly called Beere. In Beere then, as in wine, there are many dif­ferences to be considered, where the first is taken from the corne it is made of; it being sometimes made of one grane, sometimes of another, and sometimes of more granes mingled together: but with us, most commonly malt is made of barlie alone, which doth also with us heere most abound. Some doe also mingle some oats with this drinke, and so make it more cooling for Sommer, very quicke to the taste, and wholesome for the bodie; the oat being of it selfe a daintie, whole­some, and nourishing graine. Some to adde strength to their Beere, especially that called March-Beere, then brewed to last all the yeere, adde thereunto a few pease. In some places beyond seas, they make [Page 126] Beere of Wheaten malt: as in some places of Saxony and in Bohemia; which much needs be good: and wholesome, if no errour in the making be commited. Third difference frō the age. Another difference againe is taken from the age and duration of this drinke: some being very new, some very old, and kept a long time. Very new drinke is very hurtfull for the health, ingendring both wind and crudities with obstructions, and many diseases from thence proceeding; as hath beene said of new wine. That which is very long kept, must needs be strong; as our March Beere, and some others; and yet are not so good for ordinary use, but rather now and then as physicke. The best and wholesomest, is that of a middle age. A maine and principall difference is taken from the strength, and is esteemed by the proportion of the malt to the liquor: Fourth from the strength. and this varieth much, according to severall circumstances; as the place where one liveth, the persons who are to use it, the season and time of the yeere, &c. This neverthelesse is to be observed, that in Winter and cold weather, strong drinke is more tolerable than in Sommer, and warme weather; and to old age, there is a greater liberty allowed, than for younger people. Another difference is taken from the substance, thick or thinne, and perspicuous or cleare. Fifth from the sub­stance. Thicke and muddy drinke is altogether un­wholesome, and the mother of many diseases: and that which is cleare, is best and wholesomest; providing alwaies, that water be not too much master. Thicke beere ingendreth wind, all manner of obstructi­ons, the stone, strangury, and many more dangerous diseases. Againe, that difference taken from the taste is not to be neglected; some being bitter, Sixth from the taste. some sweet, some sowre, &c. And this the age will often alter: for very new drinke, if much hopt, must needes be bitter: and very small drinke, if long kept, especially in Sommer, will grow sowre. A meane is best, that it be not too bitter, too hot and heady, nor sowre at all: Seventh difference from the quantity of the hoppe. and therefore another difference may be taken from the quantity of hoppe, that a due proportion thereof be observed; it being hot and dry in the second degree, and sometimes weaker, and sometimes stron­ger: and too bitter drinke is more physicall than is for our ordinary use fitting. The best course then is to let the hoppe rot in the drinke (as the vulgar people) before wee drinke it. There is another difference taken from the colour; Eighth the colour. some being of one, and some of another colour; some pale; some of a reddish, some of an amber colour, &c. The highest coloured drinke is not alwaies the strongest and wholesomest. That which looketh of a pure transparent yellow amber colour, like a pure sacke, is reputed the best. The best March beere, if well brewed, and no error committed, is often of this colour; and the goodnesse of the malt whereof it is made, and the fewell wherewith it is dryed, maketh yet another difference, Ninth frō the good­nesse of the malt. and often altereth both the colour and taste of the drinke. Straw is thought better than wood for drying of malt. In some places of this Iland, in the Northerne especially, they dry their malt with ling, or heath, called there hadder, which maketh very good malt; some also use furres, or whins, as some call them; and some againe, broome. But straw, and heath, or ling are the best; the soli­der the substance of the fewell is, the worse it is, there being the more danger of over-drying the malt, which may make both the drinke taste [Page 127] worse, and sooke with too high a colour. The Barlie whereof the malt is made must be good and fresh, not light, lanke, or worme-eaten, fu­sty, &c. And besides, it must not be made of Barly too new, before it hath sweat in the mow (as husbandmen use to speake) and is also to be made in a convenient season; I meane not in a hot season of the yeere, and therefore commonly called in the countrie, cuckow malt. The last difference is taken from the water whereof the drinke is bre­wed; and the best, if it may be had, is to be preferred before the other, 10 From the water wherewith it is ma [...]e, and the fewell where­with it is boiled. and in defect of the best, the next best is to be chosen. And what is the best we have already at large related: and we find here that many times our well water maketh the drinke looke of a higher colour than is sutable to the strength thereof. And to the water we may adde the fire wherewith it is boiled, which I thinke is best to be wood, and such as we allowed of in making of malt. And yet I confesse good drinke is, and may be brewed with sea-coale, as wee see in all the city of London: and the fewell is not so materiall here as in making of malt, where the smoake toucheth it immediately. Now all these differences, except that taken from the hop, are common both to ale and beere; the which in our Ale here is but little, and in the Northerne parts of this Iland is none at all. And because the hop maketh some differ­ence in these two drinkes, therefore it will be usefull to say somthing thereof. Of the temperature of barley, a very wholesome graine, Hop and the vertues thereof. som­thing hath beene said already, and something yet more shall bee said hereafter. As for the hop it openeth the obstructions of the liver, spleen, and kidnies, cleereth the blood, and cleanseth choler, and therefore this drinke must needs be very wholesome. But if there bee too much hop in it, or yet drinke very new, the hop will wrong the head, Vertues of Beere. by sen­ding up to it hot exhalations, and so procureth rheumes; and the bitterer the Beere is, the lesse it nourisheth.

Ale againe is of a grosser substance, and nourisheth farre more; Of Ale. but is of a more oppilative and stopping faculty: and therefore such as are obnoxious to obstructions ought to bee sparing in the use of this drinke. Such as are leane, and free of this feare, may freelier use it. And although hop added to beere would seeme to make it hotter than ale, yet when the strength of it wasted, and not much discernible in the drinke, in regard of its penetration, and scowring away of choler, and the ale having a like quantity of malt in it, I thinke there will be but little or no difference in their heats. Howsoever both Ale and Beere are good wholesome drinkes; the which if any one will deny, I will appeale to our owne experience: for where can you find stronger, healthfuller, and lustier people, than in those countries, where this drinke is most ordinarily used? And in this I dare be judged by Valeriola loco com­muni. forren Writers, who lived in countries where this drinke is not used. Who so desireth to know more of these drinkes, and their severall sorts, according to severall countries, may have recourse to Eibro de cerevisis. Placoto­nius, who hath written at large of this subject. And what was said before concerning the use of wine, may here bee understood of our strong Ale and Beere, that they are not good for young people, hot and cholericke complexions, and hot seasons of the yeere. And this shall suffice concerning these drinks.

[Page 128] Of Cider.There are yet some other drinkes expressed out of fruits, and in no small use among many people, called by these two names, Cider and Perry. Cider is the juice expressed out of Apples, and sometimes attai­neth to that excellency, that it emulates wine in strength and vertue. The sweet is more windy, as when it is new; and therefore is not to be used untill it be 4. or 5. moneths old at least. For whom it is best, Vertues. It is better or worse according to the fruit it is made of; and is best for hot and dry cholerick bodies, hot livers, and melancholicke persons: they are of an opening and penetrative nature, opening obstructions notably.

Of Perry.Perry is sweeter than Cider, and withall windier, taking its de­nomination from Peares whereof it is made, and differeth little in vertue from the former. These dtinkes are very frequent, and used for ordinary drinke in the Province of Normandy in France; as also in the shires of Glocester, Worcester, and Hereford here in England. They are both very good to quench thirst, and to cut tough phlegme.

Divers other sorts of drinkes in divers countries.Besides these drinkes in most frequent and ordinary use among us, there are yet many other sorts of drinkes in frequent use among many nations: as in many places of the Indies, and other countries they made a wine of dates; and others againe, make a dainty wine or drinke of rice. And many nations of the West-Indies make drinkes of certaine roots and herbs. And no question wee might make drinke of divers other fruits and plants, if we pleased. It is reported that that antient and warlike people called Picts, inhabiting in former times a part of the realme of Scotland, made a dainty drinke of the herbe or shrub, ling or heath; the making of which notwithstanding, neither for love nor mony (as we use to speake) nor any other meanes could e­ver from them be extorted.

CHAP. XXVIII.

THE more excellent any creature is, the more pernicious is the abuse of the same; which as in many other things, so especi­ally in this so usefull a creature which we cal drinke, may plainely and evidently appeare. I have at large already discoursed of severall sorts of drinkes, their excellent vertues and right use; and because the abuse thereof, which we commonly call drunkennesse, is so prejudiciall to health, besides the detri­ment and damage both of the soule and substance; I will say some­thing of this subject, before I enter upon the diet of the diseased. And therefore although it bee a fitter theme for a divines pulpit than a [Page 129] Physitians penne; yet, both by reason this vice now so reigneth, and hath by other Physitians in the like case beene touched, therefore I will intreat thy patience, courteous reader, but for a short space, that I may give this beastly sinne a lash or two, and then I shall proceed. And as sinne is no upstart, not of yesterdaies hatching; Drunkenne [...] no new sinne. so this swi­nish sinne of drunkennesse in particular, hath beene no stranger in the world, both in antient and later times. Hence is it that wee have the drunkennesse of certaine nations recorded by prophane Writers: as of the Thracians, Assyrians, Parthians Grecians, and in the time of Tacitus, the Germanes, it seemeth, were taxed with this vice: Nations of old taxed with drunkennesse. even as at this day it is among them in as high esteeme as ever. It may be thus in briefe or generally defined. What drunkennesse is. Drunkennesse is an excessive and unseasonable powring downe of strong drinke; and therefore it doth plainly appeare, that one may be a drunkard, although his braine were made of brasse, that it were insensible of any weaknesse, or other incon­venient whatsoever, and no apparant prejudice either to his sense or reason; whenas some weake braine may be deprived of the use of both with the third part of that which such a Swil-bole will easily swallow downe. And unto this have relation Isaiah 5.22, 28.7. Habac. 2.13. Amos 6.6. Prov. 31.4, &c. many of those places out of holy Writ, and others hereafter to be alleged. But because there is most commonly with the excesse of the creature some indecent action or ge­sture adjoyned; and many times also after this gulletting downe of strong drinke, there insueth surfetting, or heavinesse, called crapula; therefore an antient Greeke Writer compareth all three. Clemens. Alexand. Paedag lib. 2 cap. 2. A large definition of drunkennesse. Drunkennesse (saith he) is the excessive use of wine, or other strong drinke. Rage or fury, in latin debacchatio, in greeke [...] is that unseemely carriage from thence proceeding. The surfetting, or heavinesse called crapula, is the trouble and and loathsome nauseous effect following the same. The genus, or generally word in this definition is ebrius, or ebriosus, concerning the difference where­of thou maiest see something in the Ebrius, & ebriosus a se invicem differunt ut amator & anians Ebri­ofit as proprie est affecta­tio, cum quis biben [...]er, cito, saepe, & facile fit ebrius: Ebrietas vero est ebriosi status, eum scilicet quis actu est E­brius: sic ira differt ab iracundia, invidia ab invidentia, Cicero 4. Tuscal. Quest heathen Cicero, where it is appa­rent, that he maketh him a drunkard, that wittingly, and willingly often followeth this trade of drinking, and gulletting downe of strong drink, although they neither reele in the streets, nor will easily be overrea­ched in a bargaine; which is the common plea of strongest drunkards. Now holy Scripture is every where full of invectives against this wic­ked sinne. The Prov. 20.1 [...] Wise man in his golden Proverbs, hath many excel­lent precepts to this same purpose. Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging, and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. The 21 17. same Wise man hath these words also. He that loveth Wine and oile shall not be rich. And 23.21▪ Verse 29.30, 31, 32▪ 33, 34, 35. againe, Be not among wine bibbers, riotous eaters of flesh: for, the drunkard and the glut­ton shall be clothed with ragges, and a little after; Who hath wo? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath the rednesse of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine, they that goe to seeke mixt wine. Looke not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth colour in the cup, when it moueth it selfe aright: at the last it biteth like a Serpent, and stingeth like an Adder: thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. Yea, thou shalt be as hee that lieth downe in the midst of the Sea, as he that lieth downe upon the top of a mast. They have strucken mee shalt thou say, and I was not sicke: they have beaten mee, and I felt it [Page 130] not, when shall I awake? I will seeke it yet once againe. And the Proverbs 31.4: same spi­rit of God in the same booke, by the mouth of a woman, forbiddeth Kings (who, if any, might seeme to challenge unto themselves a greater liberty) to be given to this vice. It is not for Kings, O Lemuel, it is not for Kings to drinke wine, nor for Princes strong drinke: lest they drinke and forget the law, and pervert the iudgement of any of the afflicted. Give strong drinke to him that is ready to perish, and wine to those that be of heavie hearts, &c. Againe, Ecclesiast. 31.25. another Wiseman giveth us good directions against this same sinne. Shew not thy valiantnesse in wine: for wine hath destroyed many. And a little after; Verse 29.30. wine drunke with excesse, maketh bitternesse of the minde, with brawling and quarrelling: drunkennesse increaseth the rage of a foole till hee offend, hee diminisheth strength, and maketh wounds. A number of other places of holy Writ might be to the same purpose produced. And whereas mention is made of wine, wee are withall to comprehend un­der it all manner of strong drinke whatsoever. A Stuck. antiquit. con­viv. libr. 3. cap 8. late Writer proveth a drunkard to breake all the ten Commandements: For, first, saith hee, in stead of the true God, A drunkard breaketh all the commande­ments. hee maketh a God of his guts: and againe, mancipating and making himselfe a slave to his idoll drinke; hee neglecteth, and often contemneth, yea, even mocketh at the pure wor­ship and service of the Almighty God. And as for taking of Gods name in vaine, and tearing and rending his glorious attributes, by whom more frequent than by drunkards at their drunken meetings, and where are more bloody oaths belch'd out, than by these swil-bolls and tos-pots, upon their ale-house benches. As for the prophanation of the Sabbath, that drunkards are most commonly impious in this point, I thinke will not be denied; and as for the duties due to our neighbor, a drunken man maketh little difference betwixt superiour, inferiour, equall, as being injurious unto all. And not onely doe they deny their superiours, that reverence and respect due unto them; but even often mocke and de­ride them. And as for quarrells, murthers, uncleannesse, and adulte­ries, who so ready to perpetrate any such sinne as a drunkard? And their theft in this appeareth, in the first place of their sacrilegious rob­bing God of the time due to his worship and service; their wives and children and neerest kindred, the poore and publike of that portion due unto them. Againe, who so prone to perjury, lying, slandering, back­biting, and taking his neighbours good name from him? and are not their lustfull eyes now inflamed with the fire of strong drinke, set a lusting after strange flesh? And are not their eyes full of adulterie? &c. Ebrietatis vitium fugiendum est, primo prop [...]er damnum, & [...]e [...]ulum, quod affert ipsi in mae, ipsam insa­tuando, prodendo & spoliando. [...] Quia mul­ta peccata secum ducit. 3 Quia famam aufert. 4 Quia poenam prome­rein [...] tempo-alem. 5 Quia ad penam ducit eteruam. 6 Quia in rebus exterioribus de­pauperat. 7 Quia cor­p [...]u [...] damnificat, &c. D [...]x [...]t Diabo. us cuidam quem saepe ad poccandum tentaverat; elige consentire uni extribus peccatis (nimirum ebrietati, adulterio & himi [...]iaio) & nunquam te tentabo; qui elegit potius inebriars. Et postea ad utrum (que), adulterium, videlicet, & homicidium adjecit vinum: quia virum cum cujus uxore ebrius peccavit, supervenientem occidit. Quando vero de ebrietate reprebandatur, quidam cor [...]m se excusant per societatem & amicorum instantiam, Sed in hoc defectum proprium potius ostendunt, quam se excusant, minus scien­tes in hoc fa [...]o se offendunt quam irrationabilia animalia, quae od nullius regatum ultra potum necessarium s [...]mu [...]t. Vnde fertur quod quam quidam paterfamilias habuit quendam cervum demesticum in domo sua, qui ad prandium cervisiam de sciphis solebat hibere, & quada [...] vice tantum bibit, quod inebriatus erat, & saliens in curia inter ligna crus suum graviter laesit, nunquam postea cervisiam, re [...]al quid praeter aquam bibere voluit. Ex Iohan. Bromardi summa praedicantium, cap. 9. Nu. 2. pag. 229. de ebrietate. Ebrietas flag [...] orum mater, cu [...]parum materio, radix criminum, vitiorum omnium erigo, homines ad Dei imaginem fictos & formatos non modo b [...]lluis, at (que) feris, sed imman ssimae furiosissimae (que) illi bestiae infernali, hoc est diabolo quam simillimos reddit, sicuti quotidiana experien­tia [...]atis su [...]er (que) testatur. August. lib. ad sacras virgin. cap 1. ubi multa alia de hac re fusius explicantur. Epistol. libr. 12. Epist. 84.1. de legibus [...]lorat. ode 21 libr. 3. & libr. de arte poet. Another Writer giveth us warning to avoid this sinne, for these seven ensuing reason: First, for the dammage and detriment it procureth to the soule, [Page 131] by infatuation of the same, and by betraying and despoyling of all its glorious orna­ments: Secondly, because this sinne seldome commeth alone, but accompanied with others: Thirdly, by reason it bereaveth one of his good name and reputation: Fourthly, because it deserveth a temporall punishment: Fifthly, because it lea­deth a man to eternall punishment: Sixthly, because it weakeneth and impoveri­sheth a man, even his personall estate: Seventhly, because it damnifieth the body by diseases, &c. The same Authour againe, The Divell said to a certaine per­son whom he had often tempted to sinne, Make now thy choice, I pray thee to yeeld to me, but in one of these three sinnes, (to wit, adultery, murther, or drunkennesse) and I will never tempt thee any more; who chose rather to be drunke. But after­wards the same partie to his drunkennesse, added both the two other sins: for, being drunke, he committed adultery with another mans wife, and withall killed the wo­mans husband, who, by hap came into the roome at the same time. Some, againe, (saith the same Authour) when they are reproved of their drunkennesse, ex­cuse themselues by reason of their companions, their solicitation, and importanity. But in this they rather bewray their owne want of understanding, than excuse themselves; and in this particular, shew themselves inferiour to the very brutes themselves, who by no meanes will be urged to drinke more than need requireth. And to make this good, it is reported, that a certaine house-keeper, kept a tame Hart in his house, which would often drinke of their drinke, drawne for dinner or supper: but at a certaine time drunke so liberally, that he was drunke; and after, skip­ping in the court, among some logs of wood lying there, at length hurt his leg; who after that time would never drinke any other drinke but water. The holy Fa­ther, S ^t Austine, calleth it the mother of all mischiefe, the matter of all offences, the root and originall of vices, making men (at first mad [...] after the Ima [...]e of all­mightie God) not like unto brute beasts, but like that cruell and ravenous infer­nall Fiend himselfe, that is, the Divell; as wofull experience doth daily more than sufficiently witnesse. But heare what epithites the very heathen give this swi­nish sinne. Seneca calleth it the cause of all publike calamities▪ and the same Author compareth wine and strong drinke to a poison, Optum and Hellebore. Plato calleth it a torment; and so doth a heathen Poet: But let us a little consider what mischiefes befall both man in particular, and the common wealth in generall, Mischiefes following upon drunkennes in the mind and under­standing. by this loathsome sinne. In the first place then, it unmans a man; and of a reasonable man maketh him worse than an unreasonable beast, expelleth all ver­tue out of the mind, troubleth the understanding, overthroweth rea­son, destroieth the memory, and inciteth man to many mischiefes. And whereas the brutes by helpe of their senses onely are able to a­void imminent dangers; these men oftentimes deprive themselves even of the use of their senses, making themselves by this meanes, as senselesse as blocks; and contrary to the common course of nature (alwaies carefull and sollicitous to preserve it selfe) either rush upon their owne ruine, or by their in discreet carriage bring ruine upon them­selves. And of this I need not, I thinke, produce any instances, Loathsome diseases procured to the body by meanes of drun­kennesse. there be few, if any; that cannot instance in some particulars of his owne knowledge. And as for diseases of the body procured thereby, they are not a few: as namely, the Apoplexy, Epilepsie, or falling sicknesse; Incubus or nightmare, Palsie, giddinesse, lethargy, and the like soporife­rous diseases; besides sudden death, losse of memory and understan­ding, [Page 132] red and watery eyes, a corny face, all beset with rubies and carbuncles, accompanied with a copper nose. Besides, it is often af­ter attended with rottennesse and roughnesse of teeth, a stinking breath, Dangers from with out attending a drunken man; often preventing repen­tance, and so over­throwing the soule. a stutting and stammering tongue, rotten lungs, filthy and stinking, belching, vomitings, Fevers, inflammations, defluxions on the joints, procuring gouts of all sorts; Dropsies of all kindes, the stone, stran­gury, with many more: yea to speake in a word, it may prove a meanes of most diseases which befall mankind. And besides all these, how many dangers from without attend a drunken man; which with­out one minute of an houres time to repent him of his former wicked course, Drunkennesse over­throweth a mans temporall estate. often suddenly send him into another world? Moreover it is not to be omitted, that drunkennesse overthroweth also a mans tem­porall estate, lavishly and prodigally wasting that substance in a very short space, which had by honest industry and paines beene a long time a purchasing; by which meanes many times besides a crasy and rotten body, they pull at length poverty, not upon themselves alone, but upon their wives, children and posterity also; leaving likewise a many beggers behind them to be a burden to the common-wealth: besides, 1 Timoth. 5.8. that in this is also transgressed the Apostles rule, if any man provide not for his owne, especially those of his owne house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an Infidell: Besides, they prove also in this per­nitious plagues to a common-wealth by mis-spending and wasting so much graine in drinke, as might feed a number of poore people. Against this beastly sinne a many worthy writers both Christian and Heathen have much inveighed. And the heathen Poets have not failed to play their parts.

And againe Lucretius. another describeth some effects following this vice.

Heare yet Inven. sat. 6. another speake to the same purpose.

It were no difficult matter for me, to produce a multitude of such in­vectives against this vice out of these and other Poets, but that I must husband my time. It is therefore worth the observing, how carefull [Page 133] many of the heathens were, not onely in shunning themselves this vice; but by wholesome lawes, suppressing the spreading of it abroad into the common-wealth. And no small commendation was it for that great and potent Sueton in ejus vita Emperour Augustus Caesar, that during all the time of his warres, he never drunke above thrice at a meale. On the contrary, wee read of that Q. Curtius. great Conqueror of the then knowne world, Alexan­der the great, unconquerable by all the Persian forces, was, notwith­standing, at length Alexander Magnus schypho Herculano vi­ctus est antea invictus. Seneca lib, 12. epist. 84. overcome with their wine; which made him imbrue his hands in the blood of his dearest friends. And by divine punition in the aprile of his age, by a draught from the hands of Pro­teas, ended his daies. The like it were easie for mee to instance in many others of high and eminent ranke: as likewise of a multitude of others of inferiour degree, if time would permit mee. Eusebius, Plato, Aristole and Galen, greatly commend the lawes of the Carthaginians, whereby was forbidden any man during the warres, to drinke any thing but wa­ter. Athen. lib. 12. cap. 11. Among the Indians, it was not lawfull at any time to be drunke. And among the Persians on that day onely when they sacrificed to the Sunne, it was lawfull for them to be drunke, and to dance after the Persian manner. I have already in the chapter of Gluttony, made menti­on of a Scottish King that made a law, that the drunkard should be put to death. Now as this swinish sinne is odious to all ages, sexes, and con­ditions; so it is more odious in some than in others. Wime forbiddē youth And therefore wine Plato 2. de leg. Clem. Alexand. Paedeg. lib. 2. cap. 2. Gal. 5. de sanit. tuend was forbidden youth, untill certaine yeeres, and then permitted with moderation. And Leont cap. 87.188. Athen lib. 10. cap. 13. Valer. Max. lib. 2. &c. women were forbiden wine among the Massili­ans and Milesians; and at this time is not usuall for women in France, to drinke wine before they be married, but water onely. Valer. Maxim. lib. 6 cap. 3. And among the Romans this same law against womens drinking of wine was in force. To this purpose it is very memorable which is recorded, that one Igna­tius Melentius a Roman, killed his owne wife for being drunke: the which fact of his was so farre from being punished, that there was not so much as one to accuse him for the same; every one accounting her justly punished for exceeding the bounds of sobrietie. Now, as this sinne of drunkennesse is unseemely, Drunkennes unseem­ly in a Churchmen▪ and odious in all ages and degrees of the laity; so it is yet farre more odious in a Church-man, Math. 5.16. who as a light, ought by his life and conversation so shine before others, that men seing his good workes, holy life, and good conversation, may glori­fie our heavenly Father. This being well considered of the antient Fathers of the Church, was the occasion of so many canons and constitu­tions against this so loathsome sinne in the Clergie. And that this Isaiah 28. [...] ▪ same sinne reigned even among the Clergy of the Iewes, may by some places of Scripture appeare. God forbad Aaron and the other Priests under the paine of death, when they were to offer up sacrifice, to drinke either wine or strong drinke. The Nazarites were also all forbidden wine and strong drinke. The Apostle Paul reckoning up the quali­ties wherewith a Minister of the Word ought to be indued, among the rest, reckoneth up this, that hee must not be given to wine, nor strong drink. And wee see that holy 1 Tim. 3▪ 3▪ Tit. 1.2 [...] Timothy was so observant of so­briety, and so fearefull to fall into this sinne, that hee indangered his owne health, and needed by the Apostle to be put in minde to regard [Page 134] it a little more. It was a care worthy of commendation, those anti­ent Fathers had in former times, in constituting so Concil. Agathens. [...] di [...]inct. 35 [...]em ex conc [...]. Nanneten [...]i. di­ [...]. act. 44 &c. many worthy Ca­nons in their counsels against this odious sinne. And hence came it to passe, that as well in So [...]om. lib. 3. cap. 6 S [...]crat lib 5. cap. 18. Tripart. hist. lib 6. cap. 29 Sic in can. decret. distinct 35. Jt [...]m can. Apost. 42. Citante Stuck. antiquit con­viv. lib. 3. cap 9. all the Churches of the East, as also in Greece it selfe, it was forbidden Clergy-men to enter into Tavernes or victualling-houses, except in trauailing. And that even the heathen Priests, at least many of them, did either wholly, or at least some daies before their sacrifices abstaine from strong drinke, may by antients histories appeare. The Aegyptian priests abstained all their life long from wine and flesh, as witnesseth Lib. advers Jovini­anum. S. Ierome. And con­cerning Volater. lib. 13. cap. 4. Alexander ab A­lex. lib. 6. cap. 2. other Priests, by many other places it may appeare. And concerning the Esseans, it is by De antiquit. Iu [...]aic. & libro peculiari de eorum vita. Citante Stuckio. ibid. Iosephus recorded, that they abstained altogether from wine. Since then the holy fathers in former times were so vigilant and carefull to prevent this loathsome sin of drunken­nesse in the Clergy, as appeareth by the former canons and constitu­tions, what care and circumspection ought there now to be had ther­of in this our age, when as the light of the Gospell is not now set un­der a bushell; but with its bright beames shineth overall this our Goshen. I hope the reverend Fathers of the Church in a laudable imi­tation of antiquity, will narrowly looke into this so enormious and swinish a sinne. If the watchman bee overtaken with strong drinke, what shall become of his charge he is set over? If the minister bee a drunkard, how shall he reprove this sinne in his Parishioners? Or if hee doe, may they not reply, Medice cura teipsum. Luke 4.25. Physitian heale thy selfe.

It was a worthy saying of a Petrus Raven. gra­viter sane verc (que) hac de re ita dissent. Eb [...]ietas, inquil, in la [...]o crimen est, in sacerdote sacrile­giam, quo alter animä suam praesecat, alter se prop [...]anat, & spiritum sanctitatis extinguit. E­brietas enim mater est litium, suroris genetrix petulantiae magistra. Huic qui obnoxiu [...] est, homo non est, hac qui laborat non modo pec­catum facit, sed ipse est peccatum. Haec enim est rabies voluntatis, invi­tatus bostis, pernicies honestatis, & pudoris injuria. Vbi enim reg­nat, ebrietas, ratio exu­ [...]at, intellectus obtundi­tur, consilia deviant, & udicia subvertuntur. [...]dem Stuck. ibid. learned man that Drunkennesse in a Lay man was a great and hainous sinne, but in a Clergy-man a sacriledge; where­by the one suffocats and kills his soule, the other (the Clergy-man) quite extinguish the holy Spirit. It were therefore to bee wished, that as David would have no liar to dwell in his house; so a drunkard should not have the charge of soules in Gods house. Too much moisture will extinguish a light; wherefore, if this cannot be amended, I wish such might bee removed, and better burning lights set up in their roomes. And if any shall thinke this too sharpe a censure, I answere, that sometimes for lesser matters, some have been as sharply censured. And whereas men are often so Eagle-eyed, that they can espy a bro­ken pane in a glasse window, or a stone broken up in the Church pave­ment; I wish there might be the like vigilancie and circumspection in presenting & punishing of drunkards, especially the Minister, if such [...] parish; I speake not here against the keeping of Gods house in that orderly decencie becomming the same; but I would not have Matth. 23.23. Luke 11.42. mint and cumin tithed, and weightier matters of the Law neglected. It is a true say­ing Vivimus exemplis, non regulis. People are are apter to imitate the life and conversation of their minister (especially in any sinne where­unto all Adams sinfull off-spring are prone enough by nature) than his doctrine. And I wish these two golden sentences were deepely en­graven in all Clergy mens breasts. Ezek. 3.17 [...] Sonne of man, I have set thee a watch­man, [Page 135] &c. And that of the new Testament: Matth. 15.14: If the blinde lead the blind, they shall both fall into the ditch. Clergy-men often complaine that they are not in that esteeme and account, as the eminency of their calling requireth: and I confesse it to be too true: but withall I advertise them, that many times this proceedeth from themselves; and be­sides, they are often the cause that many honest ministers have the same aspersion, howbeit undeservedly, cast upon them. But because I purpose not to uncover my parents nakednesse, I leave this point, which I have onely touched occasionally and by the way. Since then drunkennesse is so loathsome and detestable a sinne, so hurtful both to the soule and body; leaving both liable to Gods curse; so hatefull to God and man, and by which all Gods commandements are bro­ken; it being so great an enemie also to the common-wealth, and so great an enemy to the health of the body, is it not fit that such offen­ders should be condignely punished? And if many yeeres agoe, Idem Stuck. ibid. & nuper Claud. Deod. Panth. Hygi­ast. lib. 2. cap. 17. som Germane writers did even then acknowlege some judgements, which had then befalne that Nation, and others then threatned (which ne­verthelesse were but flea-bitings to that hath since befalne them) was, by reason of this beastly and swinish sinne of drunkennesse, what may we say now? But this I leave to them, whom it most concerneth to handle such a subject. I confesse indeed, we have good and whole­some lawes enacted against drunkennesse, and I praise God for it: and withall my wish is, there were no neglect in the execution. I could likewise wish, that the superfluous number of Ale-houses, the very nurseries and upholders of this swinish sinne did not so much ex­ceed. It seemeth, that howsoever drunkennesse is no new-upstart, yet in antient times people were not come to that height of brazen-faced impudency to bee drunke in the day time; but as it is a worke of darkenesse, so was it the custome to be most used in the night-sea­son, as may by the Apostles speech appeare: 1 Thess. [...].7. They that are drunke are drunke in the night. But now people are come to that height of impu­dency, and have so steeled their fore-heads against all shame, that they dare even in the sight of the Sun; yea, in the open view of the world; yea, even before God, and all his heavenly host of Angels, reele drunk up and downe the streets. It was againe wont to be a proverbial speech, Drunke like a begger: but now many of the Gentry (alas the more is the pitty!) doe assume this as a prerogative to grace their gentility. And what a pitty is it now, to see Gentle-men of faire estates, Drunkennesse doth much derogate from the dignity of genti­lity. of an­tient houses, descended of noble parentage and pedegree, so farre to wrong themselves, as in Tavernes and Tap-houses to become a com­panion to any base varlet, swill-bowle, tosse-pot and pot-companion? If their noble predecessors, of martiall courage and invincible valour, men famous in their generations, among whom many spared not their blood for the defence of their countrie, and to purchase peace to the publicke; should now behold these their degenerate successors, with their busie heads, long love-locks, slasht sutes, Italianised, Frenchised, Espaniolised, and what not: and besides, should yet see their excesse in gluttony and drunkennesse, chambring and wantonnesse, in taverns, ale-houses, play-houses and whoore-houses, and neglecting that anti­ent [Page 136] hospitality and good house-keeping which heretofore hath been so common in this kingdome, I leave to the judicious reader to judge what they would say to such a sight. But if I should proceed in this point, I should lose my selfe, and too much inlarge this discourse. Onely this counsell I shall be bold to give to some that are most exorbitant, that wheras they are often so punctual in their points of precedency, and such other things, as they suppose, concernes their credit, that they wil some­times, rather than come short an inch of their owne due, take an ell of another mans right: yet by such carriage make themselves base and contemptible in the face of their countrie; howsoeuer, some of their flattering claw-backe parasites, and some others for some sinister respects, may with cap and knee, seeme to honour and worship their worthlesse greatnesse. Such as are betrusted with matters of Iu­stice ought to be free from this fault. Howsoever, my wish is, that such as are betrusted with matters of justice, and have the oversight of Alehouses, may be free from this fault, or else what reformation can wee looke for at their hands? As for his Majestie, he hath alwaies expressed him­selfe and his good affection for the suppressing of this and such other e­normities: it remaineth therefore, that such as he hath therewith betru­sted this businesse, be careful. Now, in many great cities & corporations of this Kingdome there is often too much neglect even in this fame particular; and that often by reason of a meere relation unto and de­pendance one upon another, every mans private so overswaying him (quite contray to the 1 Cor. 10.24. Philip. 2.21. Apostles golden rule, Seeke not every man his owne, but seeke yee one anothers good) that it is a hard matter to have justice executed as it ought. And in such societies there is a certaine triumiv­rat combination betwixt the Master, and the Baker, and Brewer (Innes and Alehouses especially I meane) having neere relation one to ano­ther, and indeede a mutuall dependencie one upon another. Some trades-men againe, for feare of losing some custome, are contented to sit still, and keeping the formality of the place, and what credit may thereby unto themselves accrue, goe on still the old pack-horse pace, lest they should be thought too stirring and pragmaticall. And by the way, I cannot but highly commend one laudable constitution of late yeeres made by this corporation: That no Victualler, or Innekeeper should be elected Governor or Major of this corporation; Laudable constituti­on of the Towne of Northampton. which hath also beene a­bove these twenty yeeres by-past inviolably observed. But my speech is not here against the lawfull use of these so necessary places for the re­liefe and comfort of travellers; my speech is onely directed against blinde and unnecessary Ale-houses, which might well be spared; and others made to keepe the statutes made to that end and purpose. I therefore earnestly exhort all those with whom God hath betrusted authority, and the sword of Justice; that as they would avoid, and turn away Gods heavy judgements from themselves, & from the whole land; and as they will give a good account of their stewardship at that last and dreadfull day, they would be carefull to draw the sword of ju­stice against both these active and passive offenders; the Drunkard, I meane, and the disorderly Ale-house. And whereas by a laudable late law; there is a pecuniary mulct inflicted upon the Drunkard, I pray you robbe not the poore, but let the offender be punished, and the [Page 137] poore have his due. And as concerning Gods heavie Judgements in­flicted upon great Princes, whole kingdomes and common-wealthes and many private persons, by reason of this same, it were easie for me to compile a whole volume. But this I can say of mine owne know­ledge, that for the space of about twenty yeeres at least, since my first comming into this place, I have observed few of those who kept such tipling houses, and died since that time I mentioned, ever attaine to the period of old age; and died for the most part of dropsies, consumptions, palsies, or the like diseases. My purpose is not here to enter upon a large discourse against drunkennesse, the multiplicity of dehortatory arguments against it, being so various, so many, and handled by so ma­ny, both prophane and divine Writers; what I have said, is but by the way, being an abuse of that good creature, wherof I have at great length set downe the right use, and therefore shortly and briefely have tou­ched upon it, and how hurtfull it is to the body (that being most pre­valent with most men) with a little touch of some other hurts. As for that forced kinde of drinking by measure (commonly called drinking of health) I thinke it a Satanicall invention, to rob men both of health and heaven. The multitude of strong unanswerable arguments, both against this and all maner of drunkennesse; as also the authorities, both divine and humane, Christian & heathen, lawes and constitutions, both civill and ecclesiasticall, as they are many; so are they learnedly, and at great length set downe by a learned religious Gentleman, W. Prin. in his book called. Health [...] Sickenesse. whose booke I wish those who desire to be satisfied in this particular to per­use, and there, no question, they may receive full satisfaction. Now, since by some it hath beene prescribed to be drunke to drive away an ague, and some have deemed it good physicke to be drunke once a moneth, it may be demanded, whether this practice be allowable? I answer, it may as well be demanded, whether wee may not sinne, that some future good may thereon ensue, and I doubt not, but all sound Divines will answer with a negative voice. And besides, there is no benefit can this way be proved, but we may farre safelier, both for soule and body, effect it by other meanes. But this assertion is so absurd, that it needeth no further confutation.

CHAP. I.

WHat hath been hithero handled, hath beene chiefly in regard of that which now hereaf­ter ensueth; to wit, the Diet of the Diseased, which is the principall end I at the first aim­ed at. And I cannot sufficiently wonder, this being a worke so profitable, so necessary and usefull for all sorts of people, Diet of the diseased hath beene hitherto much neglected. that it hath beene hitherto so long neglected. And so much the more am I hereat amazed, in that so many both antient and late writers have so copiously handled the diet of healthfull people: yea, even here a­mong our our selves, some such tractats have beene published in our vulgar tongue. Among the antients this part of Physicke hath scarce by any of set purpose been touched, but scatteringly here and there some few things have been said concerning this subject. Hippocrates first be­ganne this subject. Hippocrates is the first we read of, that ever set upon this businesse, and wrote some thing concerning the diet of acute diseases against the Guidian Physi­tians of his time, above 2000. yeeres agoe, and which differed not a little from the diet used in our daies. And besides, his witing is so short and succinct after his Laconicke manner, that they are not obvious to every vulgar understanding. Since his time I know not any that hath published any tractat concerning this subject, excepting onely one Brudus Lusitanus scripsit de victu febri­cit. lib. 3. Strictnesse of the Locrians in the diet of the diseased. Brudus a Portugall by nation, who hath written but slenderly of the diet to bee used in fevers. And yet we read the ancients were so carefull in the observation of diet, that among the Locrians, it was death without the Physitians prescription to drinke a draught of wine. Q Curtius. Alexander the great commanded to put to death his Physitian Glaucias for allowing his favorite Hephaestion to drinke too much: or as some will have it, that seeing him drinke wine abundantly, he did not inhibite or hinder him. Among the Aegypti­ans. Among the Aegyptians it was strictly commanded they should fast till the fourth day. Since therefore, this part of Physicke concerning the diet of the diseased is so much neglected, what marveile, if diseases prove so fierce and furious? And there is no remedie so effectuall (saith Lib. de theriaca ad Pisonem. Galen) which can produce the expected effect, if either not furthered by a due and convenient diet, or at least not hindered by disorder. And therefore it is the opinion of the Meth. med. lib. 11. same Author in another place, that people of inferior ranke, and smaller meanes, are often easilier and sooner cured than many of greater eminency and ability: and that by [Page 141] reason of their willingnesse to be ordered by the Physitians prescipti­on; whereas the richer sort often oppose them, desiring commonly to be cured with slight and triviall medicines, not able to expell so strong an enemy. And sometimes this is againe occasioned (saith 1 Meth. he) by the assentation and indulgence of the Physitian, who will give them drinke as much as they desire, let them drinke wine when they de­mand it, and suffer them to doe whatsoever they list: and finally, in every thing carry themselves in a slavish maner towards their patients, quite contrary to that which becommeth such as are descended of Ae­sculapius, who ought to command his patients, as a Generall of an army commandeth his souldiers, or a King his subjects. The office of the phy­sitian among the an­tients divided into three parts, and con­sequently there were 3 sorts of physicians, 1 Clinici. 2 Architectonici. 3 Pepaedeumeni. Aristot 3. polit. It is moreover to be observed, that among the antients, the office of the Physitian was divided into three parts, and by consequence there were three sorts of Physitians. The first were such as assisted the sick observing all their actions, and seeing them observe the diet, and other things prescribed by the chiefe Physitians, called Architectonici, (answerable to our rati­onall Physitians) when they came at their accustomed houres to visit them. The third sort were called Pepaedeumeni, who taught this art in the schooles, and brought up others in the same profession: to which are answerable the Doctors of the chaire in our Vniversities. Now, such as assisted the sicke, by reason they sate by their bedsides, were called Clinici; and from thence this part of physicke handling the diet of the diseased, was also called Clinice. The two later sorts of Physiti­ans, wee have here in our countries; but with the first sort wee are not acquainted. And in truth this is a great defect, The care of assisting the sicke most com­monly committed to women. and the prejudice there­by redounding to the publike not small, for as much as this charge is most commonly committed to ignorant women, with us called nurses, a people for the most part so wilfull, and wise in their owne eyes, and so selfe-conceited, that in stead of furthering the Physitian in his course, by keeping the patient strictly to his prescription, they are of­ten the readiest to overthrow whatsoever they ordaine, unlesse it please them very well. And many other women also (the judicious, discrete and better bred, I alwaies except) who take chiefely this charge upon them, are much of the same stamp. And this was the reason why that famous Ex his intelligi potest ab uno medico multor [...]non posse curari, eum (que) (si artifex est) idoneum esse qui non multum ab aegro recedit Et iterum paulo post. Ille assideat necesse est, qui quod so­lum opus est visurus est, quādo minus imbecillis futurus sit nisi cibum acciperit, Cels. libr. 3. cap. 4. Celsus wished an able and understanding Physitian never to be farre from his patient. Of this same diet of the diseased, my pur­pose is with the aid of the almighty to discourse. Now, howsoever the matter of this diet be the same with that of healthfull people; yet the manner of preparation, use, and other circumstances doe not a little differ, as hereafter shall more plainly appeare. And first, I will begin with the aire:

As then the aire is that elemenr without the which, in health the life man of cannot subsist, and a sweet, pure, temperate aire a great meanes to preserve health: so is the aire, endued with the same laudable quali­ties a great means to further the recovery of health already lost. In sick­nesse therefore, it is a matter of no small consequence how the aire is or­dered. Now, as it will not of any be denied, but that the best aire is to be made choice of, so againe, all are not able to change their owne naturall aire; some for want of ability, and some in regard of the nature of the [Page 142] disease. In acute diseases ( Fevers I meane, and such diseases as have Fevers for their continuall attendants; as Pleuresies, Squinancies, &c.) it is not safe to transport the sicke: In chronicall, and diseases of lon­ger continuance; as dropsies, consumptions, &c. thou maiest be bolder. The aire then is in a double respect to be considered, either as the common ambient, The aire considered in a double respect. or as it is included within some particular roomes. The aire, as the common ambient, which is of a laudable qualitie, neither too cold and piercing, nor too hot and foggy, if it be possible, and thy disease will permit, is to be made choice of. Now, the pro­perties of the best and most laudable aire, together with nature & pro­perties of severall sorts of winds, have beene heretofore at great length related. True is it indeed, that acute diseases seldome suffer the pati­ent to remove his habitation, after he is once ceized with the same; for the which cause, we must use art to alter and correct the quality of the aire contrary to the disease, In chronicall diseases the aire is to be ex­changed for a better if it may be, but sel­dome in acute. as wee shall shew anon. In chronicall and long lingering and continuing diseases, such as are dropsies, consumptions, quartanes, and the like, one may easily exchange the place of his abode for a better. And that this was also the practice of the antient Physiti­ans▪ doth by that of 6 Epidem. Hippocrates plainly appeare, who wisheth the sicke in long continuing diseases, to retire themselves into another aire. And 5 Math med. Galen himselfe, sent such as were sicke of consumptions, by meanes of ulcerate lungs, to a place not farre from Rome, called Tabiae, being a pretty high place, where was a pure dry aire, the which is even at this time also much frequented by such diseased people. And for this same cause in Plinies time, Custome with us to send the sick into an­other aire. many, upon the same occasion sailed into Egypt. The like custome in these our countries wee likewise observe, to send the sicke either into a better aire, or else into his owne native soile. Qualities of the aire whither one is to re­tire himselfe. Now, the aire whither they are to retire, ought to be a pure, sweet, and fresh aire, not infected with any noisome and evill smells, nor yet neer any fennes, and standing pooles. But before I proceed, I must needs give an aduertisment to the reader, concerning the place for burying of the dead, on the which, if I insist a little, I must needes crave pardon, the matter being of some consequence for the health of mankinde. I say then, Inconvenience in bu­rying of dead bodies in the Church-yard. that the inveterate custome of burying the dead in Church­yards, but especially in Churches, proveth often very pernitious and hurtfull to the health of the living. And this inconvenience in popu­lous cities and townes, (especially in the noble City of London) may not seldome be observed: and that in such places principally, where the Church and Church-yard are so little, that often times new graves are digged for new guests, before the old inhabitants be quite metamor­phosed into their mother mold; the which how inconvenient it is, e­specially where the corps must stand unburied untill the sermon be fini­shed, let the unpartiall reader judge. Sure I am this great Church of All-saints, in this towne, was already this last Sommer so fraught ful of dead corps, that it was a hard matter to finde a place to digge a new grave▪ and yet since that time, how many have there beene buried, there are a many witnesses. And so good Church men would many be after their death, who in their life time cared but little for comming at the Church assemblies; that if they be of any ranke or means, they must [Page 143] needs lye in the chancell at the least; Against policy to bu­ry in Churches. and then after a Popish super­stitious conceit, many it may be, thinke they shall be the wel-comer to heaven. But they will finde I warrant them, that they reckoned without their host. And that this is not mine owne private opinion, it may appeare that it was accounted a matter of policy, not to bury within cities and townes; as may by a Curet etiam ut lo­ca sepultu [...]arum & monumentorum sint extra frequentem coetum hominum, eo nempe loco, quo vi­vis non possint noce­re. Expostio. Nempeid vult canon, lo [...] [...]a sepulturarum debere esse extra urbes; in o & extra templa, in qui­bus homines frequente [...] conve nunt, id quod probatur ex perpetua consuetudine popu [...]i Dei qui mortuos suos sepe­l [...]t, non in urbibus & templis, sed in campis; sicut videre est in histo­ria Patriarcharum, qui omnes in campis sepeli­ri voluerunt, & impri­mis manifeste testatur Evangelista Lucas. cap. 7. Ʋbi narrat filium vi­dua habitantus in u [...]be Naum, cum mortuus esset, deportatum fuisse extra urb [...]m adse ul­turam▪ [...]d qu [...]m lo [...]um vide quae an [...]otet [...]octi interpretes, qui id om­nes uno ore profitentur, non tantum Iudaeorum, sed etiam gent [...]m [...] remfuisse, ut mortuos suos esserrent extra ur­bes. Ʋide etiam [...] ­martyr loco commu­clall. 2. loco de s [...] pu [...]t. 2 Ratio aucitur ex charitate proximi, cu [...] plane aduersatur iste mos sepeliendorum mortuorum in urbibus & templis, dum nempe valetu [...]ni & vitae vi­vorum nocetur, per hae­litus qui exc [...]daveribus mortuorum in urbibus & temp [...]s tanto copio­siores exhilant, quanto locus est conclasi [...]r, & ob hominum frequenti­am tepidior; quos qui­dem balitus, praesertim ex eorum cadave [...]bus, qui peste e [...]cts sunt evaporantes, venenatos ac contagiosos medici testantur: inter quos Le [...]in. Lemn. 2. De mirac Nat cap [...]. Vt non dicam hoc loco de [...] & ter­r [...] in qui [...] plura [...]; quam [...] ea [...]o a [...] nata quasi quam mate­riam [...] m [...] ­nument [...] [...] istud mov. a [...] & effo [...]tur 3 Ratio e [...] a caus [...] [...] & or [...] ­gine estius consu [...]tud [...]nu sepeliendorum ma [...]tu [...] ­rum in templ [...]; quam originem [...], vel id testimoniam est, quod nempe Mon [...]m, & prae [...]itim [...]a [...] c [...] ­cani. ac praeser [...]m [...] a [...]untes ex ist [...] [...] ra mor [...]u [...]rum quae in temp in temp i [...] fiant, non nisi lucrain [...] qu [...]lium quae­siverint tur [...] [...]mum. & quidem ita suae si [...] erint, ut n [...] [...]xpe [...]rint templa [...] quae aqua [...] c [...]at [...] ac con [...]amin [...]ri, cum Deut ipse di [...]rte in [...] [...]andum ea [...] & pu­ [...] [...] ai [...] sum­mo altare viciniora. Ac­ce [...], & aliud argu­mentum ex testimo [...]io [...]uris ci [...]ilu, de quo [...] ure pl [...]t annotare verba: Francisci Ripae extracta de peste, cap. 4 ante citato, ubi iuquit, ad removen­cum [...]oe [...]or [...]m ex cadaveribus provenientem a maioribus nostris inventa sunt sepulchra non defunctorum causa, sed viven­tium gratia instituta: Nam quia sepulchra ut plurimum foetent, staruit D. Adrianus poenam [...]0. aureorum in eos qui in ci­vitate sepulchrum [...]ociunt locumq publicati iussit, & corpus inde transferri, eadem Magistratibus patientibus imminente. 3. § Divus Adria [...]us F. de sepulchrorum violatoribus Huc accidit & lex 12. tabularum, quae jussit humari corpora extra urbem [...]verbis: Mo [...]tu [...]m hominem in urbe ne sepelito. Quam legem citans Franciscus Patricius & ipse homo Pontificius lib. 5. de institutione reipubl. tit. 10. in [...]r alia haec etiam addit verba: Nullum genus sepulturae megis laudandum puto, quam hu­m [...]ones sub di [...], [...] flores & herbae na [...]cuntur; tam id in sepulchris vetustissimis inscriptum sit Sparge rosas lector, vel can [...]id a lilia pone stem Manibus date lilia plenis, Item purpureos spargam flores. Et addit Patricius Pulchrius est & optabilius Germinatiti teriae [...]di hoc corpus, cum ex tali terra factum sit, & ut aequum est, ut f [...]lius in gremium matris revertatur. De­ni (que) etiam a edit hodierna consuetudo laudatissimarum rerum publicarum, Argentinensis Norib [...]ensis, Lipsensis, in quibus vel rara, v [...]l nulla etiam mortaliorum cadavera in templis urbanis humantur. De Spartanis m [...]ror, quod permiforint mortuos in urbe sepe­l [...]i: de quo [...]m consuetudine, vide Era [...]um libr. 3. pag. 110. Interim tamen vetuerunt ne monumenta in templis fierent, sed [...]uxta, Vide i [...]id Ante annos cir [...]iter 400. haec execrabilis consuetudo coepit, cum ante haec tempora. etiam Martyrum cadavera extra urbes sepulta [...]. Franciscani enim & Dominicani cum viderent numerum fraterculorum angeri, nec tantos sumplus ipses su p [...]ere, [...] em [...]ugendae pecuuia artem invenerunt, ut homines in cucullis Monacborum, & prope altare sepeliri deber, [...] duent, ita ut recte quis dicat, Nullam artem acquitendae pecuniae esse probatiorem quam mortuorum, Vide ibedem plu [...] Ca [...]. 10. learned late Writer, who proves that the dead should be buried without cities and townes, and not in Churches; where are frequent assemblies and great concourse of people, which he there proveth by divers arguments and reasons. 1. This is proved, saith he, by the continuall custome of Gods owne peo­ple, who buried their dead not within townes and temples, but in the fields, as by the Patriarchs may appeare. And this is yet made more manifest by that place of S. Luk. 7. where mention is made of the son of the widow of Nahum, who being dead, was carried out of the towne to be buried: upon which place, all the learned interpreters doe ob­serve, that, not among the Jewes onely; but even among the Gentiles also, it was the custome to bury their dead without their cities and townes. 2 Reason is taken from charity towards our neighbour, against which is this custome of burying the dead in townes and temples, the health of the living by this meanes being hurt, and that by meanes of vapors and exhalations arising from these dead carkasses; and the which must needes exhale and rise up in greater abun­dance, by how much more the place is close, and warmed by the multitude of people. And that such vapors and exhalati­ons (especially if they proceed from bodies dead of the Plague) are venomous and contagious, our Physitians doe witnesse. And be­sides, this earth being thus embrued with those venomous vapors, when it is moved, and cast up to bury new bodies, must needs send out evill and venomous vapors to the living. The 3. reason is taken from the originall of this custome, which was evill, and at first introduced by the Monks, Franciscan Friers especially, and that for their owne profit and gaine. And whereas God himselfe affirmed to the people of the Jewes, that the very touching of a dead corps made them uncleane, and that the place where it was laid, was thereby polluted: yet, those holy begging brothers hold that the sepulchers are the clea­ner and purer, the nearer they lye unto the high Altar, howsoever their churches have before beene consecrated with their holy water. 4. The civill law it selfe condemneth this custome; and to this purpose are there cited the words of a learned writer: that to prevent the stinc­king and noisome smell proceeding from dead bodies, by our ancest­ors sepulchers were divised, not for the dead, but for the good of the living: for by reason of this noisome smell where dead bodies are bu­ried, therefore the Emperour Adrian inflicted a mulct or fine of forty crownes to bee taken of such, as should bury any dead body within a city or towne, the place likewise to be confiscate, and the body like­wise to be from thence removed; the magistrate permitting to be like­wise punished. And the law of the 12 tables commanded likewise dead bodies to bee buried without the cities and townes. And some haue beene of that opinion, that no buriall place was to bee compared [Page 144] with that of the open fields whereas grasse and flowers grow in great abundance. And 5. This is the laudable custome of some common­wealths: as of Strasbourg, Nuremberge and Leipzig, whereas either very seldome, or never bury they any dead bodies in their Churches. Besides, this same point concerning the buriall of the dead, among other things was thought a matter worth the reformation: and ther­fore at this day they have ordinarily other convenient places deputed for the buriall of their dead. And if we will yet more narrowly looke into this businesse, considering this is Gods house, the which, wee ought at least to keepe as cleane and sweet as those of our owne ordina­ry abode; I thinke, we shall find it but a matter of equity. And I will yet appeale to any, whether they would have their owne houses, especially their parlours or roomes, where they are most frequently to be made places of burying the dead. And the Papists would yet make a man wonder more, who were so carefull and curious in contenting the outward senses, that not onely would they please the eyes of the specta­tors with curious pictures and images, and by melodious musicke of organs and other instruments of musicke besides vocall, give so good content to the eares that notwithstanding, they were so carelesse of this other sense of smelling, that they would not spare to bury the dead even under the high Altar it selfe. But I thinke they may reply, there was another smell which did more affect them, to wit, that which did so much affect that Roman Emperour, Vespasian, the smell of gaine. And this pleasant smell was that which first forged purgatory, indulgences, consecrating of Agnus Dei, Episcopall palles, and innumerable other things, sent to Princes and great persons, and sold at a high rate: and this same bred first this burying in Churches, in S. Francis his habit, yea, caven hard by the high Altar; the which was little above 400 yeers agoe brought into the Church, whenas this begging brother-hood be­gan to increase to a greater number than their almes and ordinary al­lowance would well maintaine. But on this particular I will not dwell any longer, but wish that things might be so carried, as injury might be done to none: and withall, that a publike good might be alwaies pre­ferred before any private or personall respects: neither were it a hard matter for mee to answer whatsoever could be objected against this so [Page 145] laudable a custome of burying the dead in some place set apart for this purpose in some out-part of Townes and Cities, or rather without the same. Howsoever I have discharged my dutie as a Physitian, giving warning of the inconveniences from hence arising, and prescribing a sweet and wholesome aire, especially for the sicke. But of this, [...]us much shall suffice. Now, when there is any fault, either by excell [...] defect in the aire, wee may safely correct the same. [...]ectiō o [...] [...] In the Sommer time, when the aire is too hot, wee are to use all meanes to coole and re­fresh it; by strowing our roomes with cooling greene herbs: as lett [...]ces, [...] to coole the aire in Sommer. vineleaves, violet leaves, sallow and the like, by sticking the roome with greene boughes, and letting in some aire by opening the windowes, if any, that looke towards the North. There may also great pales full of cold water be set in severall corners of the house, and sometimes water powred out of one uessell into another. If the aire againe be too cold, Warming of the cold aire in Winter. as in Winter, then the best way is to warme the roome with a good fire. And because fire is so necessary and vsefull, wee must have a speciall regard, especially being for the use of the sicke, of what fewell it is made. In the first place then, it must be made of drie wood, and not of greene smoakie sticks, very offensive both in sicknesse and in health. The fire of coles is not so good for the use of the sicke, The fewell whereof the fire is made. Sea coale and pit-coale [...]re naught. [...] [...]ndled in a close [...]ome dange­ [...]ou [...]. History especially such as are digged out of the bowells of the earth. And those wee common­ly call char-coale, if either new kindled, or yet be in a narrow roome, are very hurtfull for any sicke, yea, will offend a healthfull person. And it is reported that Iovinian the Emperour travelling towards Rome in the Winter-season, by the way was lodged in a roome newly whited with lime, in the which, to aire the roome, was made a great fire of char-coale, and the next mor­ning this Emperour was found dead in his bed, being stifled by the venomous va­pours of these coales and lime. I remember, that living in Paris, 1608. A young Gentleman of Poictou in France, my chamber-fellow set a great pan of char-coale within his studie in the Winter time, shutting both doore and window, [...] & within a little space came running out of his study halfe stifled, whenas being in mine own study within the same chamber, [...] marvelling, and much amazed, came to him, asking him the cause of this sudden fright; who scarce able to speak, related the truth of the matter, and how that being almost suffocated with the venomous and suffocating vapours of these coales, hee was scarce able to open his study doore. Sweet wood, without all controversie, is best fewell; as Rosemary, Sweet wood i [...] th [...] best. Juniper, Bai-tree, if they were as frequent with us as in the south parts of France, and many other Countries. With us our ordinary wood of Ash, Elme, oake, Good fewell [...] Worse fewell. sallow and beech are good fewell for the chamber of the diseased. But the poplar, the elder, and all sorts of thornes are farre inferiour to the former, by reason they trouble the head more, as witnesseth De conservanda va­letud. cap. 7. Ranzovius: and what if we adde to these the walnut tree, which hath beene ever reputed an enemie to that principall part? Besides, there is a fewell in the northerne parts of this Iland, called heath or ling, whereof there is great use made, Heath or ling whol­some fewell. as well for ordinary uses of baking, brewing and drying malt, as for burn­ing in the chambers sometimes, both of sicke and healthfull persons▪ the which in my opinion is exceeding good, especially for the sicke, without any offence or hurt to any part of the body, being very good in [Page 146] all manner of defluxions, [...] of [...] wa [...]e [...]. and diseases from thence proceeding, and good to corroborat the sinews and nervous parts. If the aire of thy chamber be infested with noisome smells, if otherwise unavoidable, then art thou to correct the same with sweet smells: as of vineger, roses and rose water, sanders, in hot diseases: and in cold diseases, with juniper, Hot and [...] woods [...] whom [...] and many hot aromaticall smells. It is also to be observed, that such hot woods are best for the sickes chamber in cold, and not in hot acute diseases, unlesse the roome be large and spacious. If there be no other meanes to correct the aire, we are, if it be possible, to ex­change it for a better, as hath been said already. But it is now time to come to the habitation of the sicke.

CHAP. II.

Consideration of the particular aire about the sicke. THe ambient aire wee considered in a double respect, one generall, of the which already in the former Chapter; now in the next place wee come to consider of it in a particu­lar relation to the sicke, considered in the ha­bitation, or place where the sicke dwelleth. And since it is seldome so safe to remove the Diseased, there is therfore no small care to be had in the choice, of the place wherin any one is to live. [...] situation of the [...] station. The healthfulnes of the house is by the situation and structure thereof esteemed. That house is by many esteemed the best, which is situate somewhat high, and on a dry firme ground, sandy rather than any other: the house it selfe being of an in­different and competent height, and looking towards the south princi­pally; from Sommets heat well shaded, yet not deprived of cooling winds, and in Summer receiving the benefit of the Sun-beames in a­bundance: the which ought also to bee accommodated with divers roomes, differing in bignesse and situation, where the sicke may so­lace himselfe according to times and seasons. The next best situati­on The worst. It is also here to bee un­derstood that there bee no fennes, marshes, or any such noisome and stinking places neare to the sickes habitation. Now next to this situati­on is that which is towards the Sun-rising: but worst of al towards Sun-setting, in Sommer especially: for in such places the morning light is more unpleasant, in which time, notwithstanding, the sicke should finde most solace. And the morning Sunne doth purge and rectifie the ambient aire, provided it be not admitted within the house, untill it hath first a little cleansed the aire, and dissipated and driven away the [Page 147] thicke vaporous night exhalations, in moist times especially. And it were to bee wished also there were some pleasant springs, or some little cleere brooke, or swift running little river not farre from this ha­bitation. Many great houses are now a daies so built both in cities and townes, and in the countrie that there may be choice of roomes, which way one will. Low roomes, especially vaults, or caves under the earth are the fittest for Fevers, spitting of blood, Low [...]oomes in what diseases best. and faintnesse of heart; by reason of the coolenesse of the aire, which better uphold­eth and mainteineth strength than higher roomes. Great and spatious roomes. Great and spatious roomes are fitter for fat and full bodies, by reason they draw ever in fresh aire, which discusseth and resolveth collected humors. In nar­row roomes the aire is suffocate and stiffled up. And therefore we read that that great and memorable plague of the Athenians in the time of Thucidides, did first of all set upon the poore mens cottages. Narrow and close rooms in contagious and pestilentiall dis­eases are not good. And common experience doth even so farre testifie unto us, that in any E­pidemicall, contagious, or pestilentiall diseases, the meaner sort which live in little close roomes, are sooner and in greater number, than those who live in more spatious houses therewith surprized; as I my selfe could instance. And I beleeve, many are able to say something to this purpose, the alleies, and other close places of the city of London, Close roomes when best. at this last great and memorable plague. But in cold frosty wea­ther, I confesse, especially where is no feare of any such infection, a close roome is not to bee refused; provided it bee not made too hot, and too many people be not suffered to be in it at once. Stones and hot-hou­ses not wholesome. And by the way, with Locoprius citato. Ranzovius, I cannot but reject the use of the aire of stones or hot-houses, as they are ordinarily used throughout all the Germane countries, which are ordinarily made so hot, that in the coldest frost of Winter one is not able to sit in them without sweating, Of Light, and how it maybe used about the sicke. as I have of­ten, howbeit sore against my will, experimentally tried. And by this meanes the Pores of the body are so relaxed and dilated, that they ea­sily receive the impression of the first occurrent cold aire. Now to this discourse of the aire & habitation belongeth also to say something of the light, wherwith the patient is often not a little affected. Alium enim lux, ali­um tenebrae magis tur­bant, reperiuntur (que) nul­lum discrimen depre­hendi, vel hoc, vel illo modo possit. Optimum ita (que) est utrum (que) experi­ri, & habere eum qui tenebras horret in luce, eum qui lucem ut tene­bris. At ubi nullum ta­le discrimen est, aeger si vires habet, loco lucido, si non habet, obscuro continendus est. Cels. lib. 3. cap. 18. & Hip­poc. lib. de medico. If the sick be weake, then the light often offendeth, and is therefore to bee kept darke; especially if the eies be weake. If the sicke love the light, let him enjoy it; if no apparent danger be thereby procured: if both be troublesome, keepe a meane betwixt both. Where the sicke is not offended with the light, if the time and place concurre, especially in Winter; the beames of the glorious Planet Phoebus will not a little correct the ambient, and comfort the patients weake spirits. The co­lour of the walls come also here within our consideration; which if whited with lime or chaulke, are likewise offensive; The Colour of the walles. Hangings of the roome. but especially if the roome be of it selfe full of light. Hangings also of severall co­lours doe much trouble the eye-sight of the sicke, especially if they be mad. To this place may we also reduce that which writeth Hippocra­tes. [...] Aph. 1. lib. 1. That it is not sufficient for the Physitian to play his part; but the sicke and the assistants, tending upon the sicke: and besides, all outward things must be accordingly accommodated. Such as are about the sicke ought to bee gentle and couteous, not peevish and froward, observing the sickes [Page 148] humor and disposition, and in reasonable and lawfull things ready to fulfill his just desires; to cheere up and cherish the sicke, and to give them good words; but especially carefully and diligently to observe the Physitians prescriptions. The Physitians (saith Liv. ut anima [...]. Aristotle) can­not alwaies cure the sicke, because it is in the hand of another man that he cure according to art, and not in the power of art it selfe. Besides, in the roome where the sicke lieth there should be heard no noise, nor ought the sicke be troubled with much talking; and therefore much company is to be avoided; especially in hot diseases and the like sea­sons, and narrow roomes, which are thereby over heated. And [...] cap 3. P [...] ­nie writeth, that it hath been observed, that wounds have beene the worse by much trampling and stirring with peoples feet. But concer­ning the aire, there remaineth yet a question to be discussed, whe­ther the aire of townes and cities, or that of the countrey be better?

Now this hath been an antient question among Physitians; and it seemeth it was by the antients decided on the countries side, in that the Temple of Aesculapius was built without the city of Rome; intima­ting thereby the prerogative of the country-aire above that of cities and townes, as witnesseth In quaestion Romanis Plutarch: and not for the gaine of Phy­sitians, as [...] 29 cap. 1. Country aire in ge­nerally an [...] [...] the most part to bee pre­fer [...]d. Pliny prateth. It is true indeed that in the generall, and for the most part the countrie aire is more open and free, than that of cities and townes▪ which oftentimes by reason of multitudes of peo­ple, nearenesse of buildings, narrownesse of streets (especially if they be not kept sweet and cleane) must needs bee farre inferior to the o­ther. And yet are there herein divers particular cautions and limita­tions to be observed. Great diversitie in countri [...] [...]. Some country-aire is farre inferior to that of ma­ny townes: witnesse the hundreths in Essex, and the fennes in Lincolne­shire; by which it plainely appeareth, there is great diversity in the qualities of the country-aires. There is againe some country-aire in its qualities simply considered, especially for the naturall inhabitants healthfull; and yet for some constitutions very dangerous: as many places of the North parts of this kingdome and Iland, where the aire is very sharpe and penetrant, and therefore might easily offend thinne and weake constitutions, and consequently procure distillations, from whence arise many dangerous diseases. Diversitie in the aire of seve [...]all townes and cities. There is againe a great differ­ence to be found in divers cities and townes: for some are very great and populous; as Paris and London, &c: and therefore in such cities, the aire must needs be grosser and thicker, and not so sweet and whole­some as that of the countrie: and therefore in such populous places, it is good for the patient, if it be possible, especially in chronicall, or diseases of long continuance, to remove into a sweet country-aire. A­gaine, some townes are so well situated, and so free from the aforena­med annoyances, enjoying so free an aire, that they often equall, if not exceed sometimes a country-aire: for as I have already said, some country-aire may be too sharpe and piercing, whereas a city or towne well situate in a temperate aire, and freed from these former inconve­nients, Good and wholesom aire of the towne of Northampton. may prove farre fitter for indisposed persons. Of such divers may by found within this noble Iland, amongst whom, in this respect, few exceed this antient towne and corporation of Northampton. This [Page 149] towne hath for its soile whereon it is seated, a ground gravelly for the most part, and under this digging a little is to be found a good firme tough clay, producing good store of good stone, fit for buildings. Situation of this Towne. It is situate in a fruitfull country, on the side of a hill, looking towards the South Sunne (the best situation as wee have already proved) the streets faire and spatious; and by the care and industrie of good go­vernours, kept sweet and cleane; the buildings faire and beautifull, and adorned with such a market place, as few corporations in this kingdome exceed it; yea, very few that come neare or equall it. It is not my purpose to discourse of that old strong castle, together with the first founder, and the famous Churches and religious houses have been in and about this towne. And as the aire is good and wholesome, [...]. so is that other element of water, neither within nor without the walls wanting. Within are divers wholesome wells and springs: and with­out the walls, besides many wholesome and pleasant springs, that fa­mous River of Nine (so called from the nine springs, from which it hath its first orignall) which runneth all along the South side, River of [...]ne, and good [...] breeding [...]er­in. and the West directly under the Castle walls, and with many serpentine win­dings and turnings, thorow a pleasant medow ground above 30 miles in length, and conveighing its silver streames by the antient city and sea of Peterborrow, at length marrieth it selfe with the great Ocean, being every where furnished with many good and wholesome fish: such as be, Perches, great Jacks, Pickrells, Roches, Genious, little inferior to smelts; Chubs, silver-eeles, and divers others. [...]stures and [...] about [...]. And as for sweet and pleasant walkes of pastures and meadows, it is almost ever [...] where with them environed. And all beyond the towne for many mi [...] North-ward, it is a dainty light gravelly ground, yet very profitabl [...] and commodious both for corne and cattell. My purpose is not here to set downe a particular and exact geographicall description of this antient corporation; but onely by the way and occasionally discours­ing of the aire, tooke occasion to acquaint the reader with a touch of the commodious and healthfull situation of the same. Decay of [...] this, com [...] [...] many other con [...] ­tions of this kingdom But this famous corporation hath now for a long time lyen lingring under the burden of wasting and consuming sickenesse, which hath eaten up, and con­sumed the bowels, not of this onely, but of many other famous cities and corporations of this flourishing kingdome: my meaning is decay of trading, the which to supply, as a feeling member of the publikes wants, I wish, it were as well in my power, as to be moane and be­waile the same. It is not unknowne to many of the inhabitants, what great trading by meanes of clothing hath been here in former times; as the ruines of some great buildings, imploied to that purpose, doe yet evidently witnesse. And I know nothing to the contrary, [...] wood of Nor [...]hamp [...]o [...] shire. why this might not as well now bee followed, as it was in former times. This countrie is furnished with as good wooll as any other, Good water for dy­ing. and af­fordeth this commodity to some of those countries where clothing is in greatest request. The water is likewise very good for dying, and no other conveniency, that I know, wanting, except good will, This towne commo­dious for enterta [...]n­ment for great meetings. and an earnest desire to promote a publike businesse. And in so high esteeme hath this towne been had in former times, that besides Parliaments [Page 150] here kept, and other solemne meetings, it was once accounted one of the fittest places for founding an Vniversity: and now for these ma­ny yeeres hath beene accounted the fittest and most convenient place for publike meetings, as well of assise and sessions, as of any other impor­tance: and that in regard of that entertainment and content which all things in even scales well weighed, may be better had in it than in any other towne in the whole Countie. And besides, this corporation yeeldeth as much to his Majesties exchequer, I thinke, as any other of that bignesse and trading. Neither yet hath this Towne come short of any in expression of dutifull and loyall affection to their Princes, according to the possibility of their powers. My wish therefore is, that a mother in Israel may not decay, but some regard may be had to the re-establishing of the former flourishing estate of this antient corporation. And this by no meanes, in my opinion, might sooner be effected, than by setting up this antient trade of clothing againe: for this purpose it were a worthy worke, Clothing wold make this corporation flou­rish. and deserving great commendation, if such as have had their first being in this place, God having now made them his Stewards of a great substance, would helpe to uphold their aged, and weake decaying mother. And this were a pious worke (at least in a large acceptation) and a part of that honour the childe oweth to an aged, and decayed pa­rent. Remember that the very heathen held this tenent, that men were not only borne for themselves, but that their common countrie claimed some interest in them. To incourage others in the prosecution of so laudable a worke, Master Iohn Denbigh, one of the Aldermen of Northampton hath begun to set up clo­thing. one Alderman of this same corporation, hath now of late broken the yce, and againe, like a good Patriot, minding the pub­like good (whereof now most are unmindfull) hath at his owne cost and charges, begunne to set a foot this laudable trade of clothing: the which, if well followed, and seconded by others, and neighbours in the country would further to set forward so laudable an enterprize; it would in a short time, prove no small benefit both to the towne and countrie; and by this meanes, many poore might well be set a worke, who now are forced either to begge their bread, or else labour hard at knitting stoc­kings, which will not furnish them with browne bread to fill their hungry bellies, especially in these hard pinching times: besides, some other inconveniences on which I cannot spend time. I adde onely this, let us follow and imitate the laudable industry of the Dutch, in provi­ding for their poore, The river of Nine made navigable wold prove beneficial both for towne and coun­trie. and setting them a work. They suffer no straggling beggers among them, and why may wee not as well? Another thing there is, which would much further and advance this businesse, and prove beneficiall, not to this corporation alone, but to other market townes also: to wit, Owndel, Thrapstone, and Waldenborrow, together with the whole adjacent country, and other neighboring shires: and this is by making the river of Nine navigable from Peterborrow to Northampton. Now, let every one seriously consider the need, and they shall find more than enough; if it were but even in regard of the scarcity and decay of fewell in this Westerne part of the shire, besides many other bene­fits would from thence arise: as preserving the high-waies (now chargeable to the countrie in regard of much carriage by cart) keeping [Page 151] the meddowes from so frequent overflowing; and that by meanes of scowring the chanell, and raising the banks: besides the importation of corne, and other commodities in time of dearth; and againe, expor­tation of the same commoditie of corne in time of greater plentie and cheapnesse; besides many other benefits whereon I may not now dwell. As for any objections to the contrary, they may easily be answered, and the worke knowne to be faiseable, having been long since surveied, and the charges cast up, and an act ready drawne to be put up in parchment divers yeeres agoe; and this same Alderman lately mentioned (as hee hath ever manifested himselfe a good Patriot, in furthering any pub­like good) at that time followed the same businesse. I hope, when time and opportunity shall serve, good Patriots will not be unmindfull of promoting and furthering the publike good; and those whom it more neerely concerneth, even this same in particular. And although, I shall perhaps, by some be censured for this digression; yet, because I thought it not impertinent, I must needs crave the curteous reader pardon, and so I now proceed to the prosecution of the businesse I have begunne.

CHAP. III.

NOw, because among other uses of clothes, one is to keepe and defend us from the injuries of the ambient aire; therefore after our dis­course of aire, I thinke it materiall to say something of the clothing and covering of the sicke. Now, our meaning is of such clothes as cover the sickes bed, and lie upon him: and the sicke are either covered with many & thicke heavy clothes to defend them from the injury of the cold aire, or else with thinne covers, for feare, lest they be by multitude of clothes oppressed, and internall heat increased. Lib. de intern. affe [...]. Hippocrates in cholericke diseases, cove­reth the sicke with thinne and soft clothes. And Asclepiades the Physiti­an, saith Lib. 25. cap. 3. Pliny, did abrogate this troublesome custome of covering the sicke with so many clothes. In that great and fearefull sweating sicknesse it was observed, that most died by reason they were covered with so many clothes: for, their opinion was, saith Cornel Gemm [...] lib. 2. cosmo [...]t. a learned Writer, that the disease was to be helped by sweating, which by all meanes they laboured to further. In the beginnings of the paroxysmes, When to cover the sicke▪ or fits of fevers, we ought to cover the sicke with many clothes, that the sicke [Page 152] may quickly grow warme, and the cold be driven away: and for this purpose, the parts which are cold are to be rubbed with warme clothes. After they beginne to be warme, More clothes to be used in the night than in the day. the clothes are to be taken off, and to­ward the declining of the heat to be laid on againe, the better to pro­voke sweat. Moreover, it is to be observed, that more clothes be used in the night-time than in the day, and that by reason the Galen comment in eam par li [...]. 6. in epid e­videnter vigilans cali­c [...]or e [...]tertus, &c. night aire is colder than that of the day. But if it should so fall out that the sicke could not sleepe with a multitude of clothes, then were it good to wait while they be asleepe, and then to cover them. Now, the bed wherein the sicke lieth, is not to be neglected: as for the forme of the bed, a high headed bed, such as is now in greatest request, and we commonly call French beds, Best form of beds for the sicke to lie in. (especially in Sommer-time, and in hot acute dis­eases) are the best for the use of the sicke, and afford him most aire: and withall, I would have the ascent, or going up to it low and easie. In Sommer and hot weather, in hot acute diseases, the curtaines would be thinne, Bed he lieth on, and whether feather beds be best. in Winter, and colder weather thicker. As for the bed he lieth on, downe beds are the hotest of all others, and next to them ordina­ry feather beds; yet both doe much heat the sicke, especially in Som­mer, and hot acute diseases. And therefore I can in no wise approve of the preposterous German custome, to cover them with one feather bed, Wood-beds and mat­ [...]ces. and lay another under them. Wooll beds and mattrices are cooler▪ and fitter than the former, if the sicke would be perswaded to indure a little hardship for a future benefit. Beds of straw and c [...]affe. But straw and chaffe, especially of oats, are coolest of all other, and fittest for sicke folke, if people would prise more their health than their ease. In Babylon (saith a late Writer) great men used in Sommer to lie upon beds of leather▪ Bed filled with water. With [...]. filled with cold water, which I would not advise our new fashi­on-mongers to imitate. And they say in Italy they use even at this day to lie upon leather-beds filled with wind, as we doe here our foot-balls, and the French their ballownes. Our low field beds and canopy beds, are not so good in the former cases as high beds. The best of all others are accounted such as hang by cords, whereby this benefit may be rea­ped, Hanging beds. that the sicke may be rocked asleepe; as is the custome of the Bra­silians, to have their beds hung betwixt two trees, for feare of venomous vermine.

Now, from the covering of the bed, to the covering of the sickes body in bed, and immediatly touching the same; and first wee will beginne with the head-peece, his cap I meane. It is an inveterate and radicated custome, in all diseases, to cover the head with thicke caps or other clothes; Erroneous custome of too much covering the [...]ead. esteeming all manner of defluxions and diseases to proceed from the head, and as it would seeme by their practice, to proceed of a cold cause: whereas by this meanes they rather increase, for the most part this paine, if any there be already; the head like a ventose, or cupping glasse, attracting vapours from the neather parts. A­vicen warneth us, that too much covering of the head weakneth it. And yet it is thoght by many that the head can never be sufficiently coverd. I confesse, in this case it is hard to set down and determine all the parti­cular circumstances; as of the time of the yeer, the sex, the nature of the disease, the age and constitution of the diseased, according to which [Page 153] circumstances, the Physitian is forced to accommodate his particu­lar prescription of clothes. And heere I must needs give warning to younger people, that they would not so much in their health op­press themselves with such a multtiude of cloths, who keep themselves so warme in their younger yeeres, that they become farre infirmer af­terwards when they come to age, and apter to receive harme by the least blast of cold wind. There is a great difference to bee had both in our clothing and diet, according to the severall seasons of the yeere. Difference of clothes according to the sea­sons. The apparell in Sommer and warme weather, ought to be thinner than in Winter; and among these, the hotter constitutions ought to goe thinlier clothed than others. And as on their body, so on their bed the clothes ought to be thinner. But few, if any, observe the difference to bee observed of the beds they lye on; it being for an uncontrolled custome received, both for young and old, hot and cold complexions, to lye both Sommer and Winter on the softest feather-beds they can. Downe and feather-beds hurtfull for hot livers, kidnies, and the stone. And yet for hot constitutions, especially the younger sorts, and such as have hot livers and kidnies, and molested with the stone in the kid­nies, especially in the Summer time, this custome cannot but be hurt­full. And as for this covering of the head, as it is indifferently used, alike in Sommer and Winter, of young and old, and all complexions whatsoever, I hold it a very pernicious custome, especially in the younger sort, and very prejudiciall to their health. Parents much to bee blamed for the toe too nice and tender education of their children. It is a great fault in many parents, that they are too carefull in the nice and choice ten­der educating of their infants, who in their tender yeeres might be ea­sily accustomed to goe thinner in their apparell; and custome would afterwards make this easy. And this wee may see apparently in many of our Gentle-women, who both young and old, both Sommer and Winter, go with naked breasts, wrests and necks; and yet never com­plaine; in this verifying the old proverb to be true, Pride is never pain­full. And yet those parts are, according to Physitians prescriptions, most carefully to be kept warme. And yet all this notwithstanding, as also all our best Divines preaching to the contrary, and oppugning this pride by their pens, we see, how carefull many are to accustome and inure their children with this kind of pride; whenas for the most part (alas more is the pitty!) there is but small regard had of their vertuous education in the feare of God. But I leave this Purita­nisme.

Another point in the clothes and covering of the sicke to be conside­red, is the quality, that they be cleane and sweet. Qualitie of the clothes about the sicke, that they bee sweet and cleane. Lib. de medico. The sicke ought to be often shifted. Hippocrates would have the Physitian to bee neatly and decently apparelled, and perfu­med with sweet odours, that by this meanes, he might bee the more acceptable and pleasing to his patients. How much more then ought the sicke himselfe to be neat and cleane in his apparell? And it is no small contentment to the sicke, when hee seeth himselfe neat and cleanely in his clothing. Againe, it much discourageth and deject­eth the sicke, when he is suffered to lye stinking like a hogge in the mire, in dirty and foule clothes. And Eib. 1. de sanit, tuend. Galen advertiseth us, that young children, who after much crying, could neither by the teat, by rocking nor singing be quieted; by changing of their foule and stin­king [Page 154] clothes, and exchanging them with cleaner; were presently stilled. Obiections of the vulgar. But, me thinkes, I heare some of our wise women, at least in their owne conceits, with open mouth cry out against me, by reason, I wish, the sicke should be often shifted, objecting in the first place, that by this meanes the sicke may catch cold; and next that it weak­neth the sicke to bee thus shifted. To the first I answere, it is but a foolish feare, Answere. the vulgar often fearing where there is no cause: but howsoever, if it be in cold weather, it may by meanes of the fire easi­ly be prevented; and if in warme weather, their feare is frivolous. As for the other feare, which I have heard some women object, of wea­kening the sicke, it is very absurd, and as frivolous as the former: And so farre is it from weakening the sicke, that on the contrary, it is ra­ther a meanes to further and increase strength. And to make this more plainely appeare, Three concoctions in the body of man, with their severall excre­ment [...] ▪ we are to take notice that in the body of man, there are three severall concoctions: the first, in the stomacke or maw, cal­led chylification; having for excrement, the fecall ordure, or ordina­ry egestions. The second, in the liver, veines, called sanguification; and hath for excrement, the urine. The third, is called nutrition, and is performed in the whole body; and hath for excrements, certaine fuliginous vapors, which by insensible transpiration breath out by the pores of the body; and the sweat, which is apparent to the eye. Now in time of sickenesse, especially in all sorts of Fevers, these excrements doe most abound, and make foule the linnen they lye in, and that they weare next their skinne; for the which cause, sicke folkes should have their linnen often shifted, especially when they sweat much. Besides, Inconveniences and harmes by not shift­ing the sicke. if they bee not shifted, this danger yet insueth, that if the sweat continue about the body, it will bee drawne in againe by the same way it went forth; and then judge whether thou likest that bet­ter, or sweet cleane linnen. For this must be well considered, that the arteries of the body have a double motion, one whereby they expell these excrements already named; and the other whereby they draw in the ambient aire to refresh the blood. Now whatsoever aire is next unto them, be it good or bad, sweet or stinking, they draw it in. And therefore, if thou let this dung-hill lye about thee, undoubtedly the arteries will draw in these noisome excrements, which will suffocate naturall heat, and by consequent, prolong thy disease. And a Laurent. loubert. des erreurs populaires partie 2 cap. 5. lear­ned French Physitian who doth much inveigh against this nastinesse (that so also it may appeare, this is not mine owne private opinion) to prove this truth bringeth in an instance: Let any person come newly out of a heat hath, where there is great store of dust newly raised, he shall presently feele a pricking over his whole flesh; which is nothing else but this small dust drawne in by the arteries. The case then thus standing, all filth and cor­ruption ought to be cleansed from the skin, and all the pores and pas­sages thereof kept open and cleane, by removing whatsoever might let or hinder the same, And for this end and purpose, the Romans and Greeks in antient times had so frequent use of their frictions and hot bathes. Let this then be a warning to all those who attend the sicke, that they have a speciall care of shifting and keeping them cleane and sweet, as hath beene said already, and let the contrary erroneous cu­stome [Page 155] be hence forward [...]for ever buried in the dust. Whether the [...]ed [...]ee to be warmed. An [...]w [...]e One thing yet re­maineth concerning warming of the sickes bed, whether it be to bee used? I answere, in weake and aged people especially, and the Win­ter time in others also, there is no doubt to bee made of altering the cold aire of the bed with a warming-pan: but in young people, in hot acute diseases, and the Sommer time, when all tendeth to heat, I see no necessity, yea rather hurt than any good; unlesse some cold consti­tutions, or decrepit old age doe plead for a continuance of this custome, and then I shall not bee against it. But whether this be so convenient for such as live in health, may with better reason be demanded? Wh [...] or it [...]e fit for healthfu [...] people. Answere. I an­swer, that for young people I wish, they were not so daintily brought up, and accustomed to this warming of their beds, which maketh them afterwards the more unfit to undergoe any hardship. But for the antienter sort, tender women, and such as have heretofore accustomed themselves thereunto, I am not against the airing of their bed in cold Winter weather, that so going to bed, they may still finde the bed-clothes somewhat warme about them at their first downe-lying. Whether in sickenes the haire is to be [...]ut. To this place also belongeth to say something concerning the haire of the head, and whether in sickenesse it ought to bee cut, or no? My pur­pose is not here to insist upon the generation, utility, and proper use, and the material cause, & differences of haire with many other things; this onely know, that haire is but an excrement, and properly no part of the body, in the esteeme of all our Physitians; and yet appointed for a speciall use to cover and adorne that part wherunto it is appropri­ated. In women, it hath beene alwaies a comely ornament and cover of the head. And to men, (saith the Apostle) doth not even nature teach you that it is a shame for a man to weare long haire. Answer [...]. But I come to the question, whether in the Diseased, it bee safe to cut the haire of the head or no? Long and thicke haire keepeth in fuliginous excre­ments of the head, and suffereth them not so well to breath out of the pores; from whence rheumes are ingendred, the originall almost of all diseases. Hence was it that the Aegyptians painted Aesculapius bald; thereby signifying thus much, that the haire was to be cut short; yea, if it were even shaven, it were better for a mans health than to weare long haire. It is therefore best in all diseases of the head, especially in long continuing defluxions of sharpe rheumes, to shave the head, according to the opinion of antient and late Physitians. In a word, it is better both in sickenesse and in health to have the haire rather short than long; howbeit the too often cutting of the haire is not so good, and the often shaving of the beard and face is evill, and not to be used. I enter not here upon particulars, in what diseases the haire is chiefely to be cut, yea even shaven; whereof something may per­haps more largely be spoken in any another place. Effoeminate custom [...] of our age. But this which hath already been said, may easilie convince the more than mad effoe­minate custome of our effoeminate age, Disguising of the head with perwigs. wherein men are not now contented with that portion of haire, which their Maker in his wise­dome thought fit for them; but besides, must have their head covered with a great bushie perwig, both to the great dishonour of Almighty God, and with no small prejudice to their health, as by the premisses [Page 156] may easily appeare. I deny not, but some of them have scalded their haire in the fire of the Barber-surgeons purgatory, and therefore have the more need to cover that deformitie: but let others take warning by their harmes. But as for women, they being commonly of a colder constitution than men, and their heads weaker, their haire is not com­moly so hurtfull for them: besides, that 1 Cor. 1 [...].1 their haire was given them for a cover and ornament. But as for their curles, false & sophisticate haire, either not content with that colour which God gave them, or else be­cause they would not seeme to yeeld to old age; as I do not much mer­vaile at such tricks in a stewes strumpet, or a cōmon curtisan: so I think, they no waies beseeme a sober, modest and grave Gentle-woman, e­specially in the state of wedlocke, and now attained to some com­petent number of yeeres. I wish both sexes to call to mind that saying of a French writer, speaking against the pride of women, painted faces, and many other particulars, almost 80. yeeres agoe. Fra [...]ca [...] Grand [...]u, Cure de l' [...] de­grate de [...] S. Ioan [...]aptistee a [...]gers an liure da de [...]ruition de [...] orgued [...]oada [...], &c. That when as they shall stand before the Tribunall of the great GOD of Heaven at that last and dreadfull day, it is to be feared that the Judge of all the world will say unto them, get you out my presence into everlasting damnation: for I doe not acknowledge this colour, haire, to be of my making. But as concerning the abuse of this excrement of haire both in men and women, directly crossing the Apostles rule, men wearing side and long haire, and some wearing it longer on one side than the other, by them now called a love-locke: women againe, quite contrary to womanly decency and modesty (that I say nothing of Gods command) cutting and clip­ping their haire, and the great injury they heerein offer to Almigh­ty God, it being daily by our learned Divines preached against, and a M. Prin. of Love­locks learned religious Gentleman having lately of purpose written a tractate concerning this same subject in both sexes, where at great length he proves both the unseemelinesse and unlawfulnesse of this custome, I will not insist upon it. I will onely tell you of a I [...] pilorum af­f [...]u, [...] aliud est a [...]m [...] o vel [...] def [...]xiou [...] ad a [...]a [...] nartes [...] gravissime tar queri. Maximam partem foeminas invadit. Eos etiam qui porriginem capitis, quam vulgus tineam vo­ [...]a [...], medicamentis repe [...]utientibus represserunt. Praeterea foeminas quae menstruis temporibus non satis purgantur. Quis non novum, mirab [...]e, & horridum putei, capillos ex propria naturâ planos, demissos ac simplices, sponte sua, sub coelo admodum frigi­do inc [...]spari, paulo post erigi, involvi, at (que) indissolubiliter conjungi, varias recipere figuras, quando (que) maximi cuiusdam anguis, aliquaudo plu [...]um & minorum serpentum, u [...]di (que) vermes, spurcitiem, foetorem (que) redolere: quod (que) omnium maximum est, & a seculo in [...]ditum, ac [...] perpu [...]ctos, vel transfixos sangumem effundere. Hercules Saxonia praxeos suae lib. 10. cap. 1. Horridum quoddam, i [...]pexum, adeo (que) intricatum capitis at (que) barbae capillit [...]um, apud nostros haud infrequens, caeterum veteribus cuiuscun (que) aetatis medi­c [...] incognitum o [...]servare li [...]et: Quo affecti praelongas capillorum tricas & cincinnos mirifice intricatos, digitisaepe crassitiae, ex re­ [...] [...] capi [...] & barbae capillitio, ad bumeros, pectus, & aliquando ad umbilicum us (que) demissos, propendere videas, aspectu plane mon­ [...] [...]ico, & Gorganeum caput praeserente. Quos illi magna religione incultos, nec ferro praescindere, nec pectine explicare sustinent. Persuasi omnino, gravissima capitis morborum fomenta, velut Apoplexiae, Paralyscos, Maniae, & comprimis Cephalalgiae perti­naces, consimilium (que) ma [...]eriam i [...]sdem alen [...]is absumi. Qua sine superstitione, sine multa hominum observatione ducts, quidvis petius, quam corundem culturam, aut perfectionem, velut prorsus infaustam & lethalem admittunt. Factis (que) de experimento & hi­storia perteulis, sententiam suam mordicus tuentur. Ioana. Georg. Schenckius, Schenck. E. Hagenones. medicus observat. m [...]dic lib. 1. observ. De Tricis I [...]cuborum. mon­strous and strange disease in the haire, heard of but of late yeeres, and not recorded by any antient author that ever we read of. And this is nothing else but an agglutination, or inviscation of the haire of the head and beard, by which meanes it acquiteth sometimes the forme of some great adder, or snake; and sometimes of lesse serpents: and these horrid and hideous serpent-like locks doe often occupy the whole superficies of the head and beard; insomuch, that who so beholds this [Page 157] strange serpent like sight, may the easilier be induced to beleeve that monstrous Gergonean head, the Poets attribute to Medusa. And as the author affirmeth, may it not seeme a strange thing, that plaine and smooth haire in so cold a climat (meaning Poland and a part of Ger­many) should so curle and balter, and contract such hideous and strange shapes: besides, that they should bee of so loathsome and putrid a smell. And which hath never yet been heard of, that these baltered locks being prickt with a pin, should presently yeeld blood. And it hath been observed, that such as have cut off these locks, have either suddenly become blind, or else a great defluxion of humors hath falne downe upon some other parts of the body. This disease hath of late yeeres runne thorow a great part of Poland; and entered also into some parts of Germany. If God should send it here over among us to punish this prodigious pride in the use of this same excrement, were it not just with God, to punish us in the same part wee offend in? This Au­thor affirmeth, it is most frequent in women: but another affirmeth, it as often frequenteth men, and that they let both these prodigious locks of haire and beard hang downe over their shoulders, and many times downe to their breast and navill, a strange and prodigious thing to be­hold.

CHAP. IIII.

AFter the aire, and such other things thereon depending, I now proceed to the Diet of the Diseased. But before wee come to discourse of the particular sorts of Diet, wee must per­mit some generall rules and directions con­cerning the Diet of the Diseased. Now all manner of Diet is of a threefold nature, a thinne spare diet, a liberall or full, or a meane betwixt both. A thinne or spare diet we call, either a totall abstinence from all food for a certaine time; or else a very sparing use of one or more sorts. Now of all other Diets this is the most sparing, when the sicke for certiane daies takes no sustenance at all. And this abstinence among some of the antients, the Greekes especially, was often very ri­gid and strict; insomuch that many times the patient was suffered to take no kind of sustenance for the space of three, foure, five or six daies. But because we are now falne upon this point of abstinence, it will not, I hope, be unwelcome to the reader to make a particular enumera­tion of all the sorts of fasts whatsoever. Now then as repletion and [Page 158] gluttony is the cause of manifold mischiefes in the body of man; so this abstinence seemeth to make amends for that which is don amisse. Abstinence fourefold Naturall. In health. In sickenesse; Now this abstinence is of divers sorts, and may be reduced to these foure; naturall, voluntary, miraculous, and violent or forced. Naturall I call, when as nature in her full strength and vigour, and health; or yet foi­led with some sickenesse, abhorreth the use of some certaine kindes of food, and therefore abstaineth from the use of the same. Another absti­nence againe is in diseases, when as the appetite is either quite lost, or else smal or slender, loathing food for the most part: which refusing and loathing is called by the Greekes, [...] and [...], and by the Latines, Nausea a navibus & navigatione, quod na­vigantibus praesertim in marinausea oberiri so­leat. Voluntary abstinence fourefold. nausea & fastidium cibi. Voluntary abstinence I call that, which is by mature advice and deliberation willingly and freely undertaken: and this, according to the severall ends and scopes it propounds to it selfe, is also of divers sorts. For either it is physicall, politicall and civill, religious or superstitious. Physicall Physicall abstinence I call that, whereby people whether sicke or in health, either for preserving and maintei­ning this healthfull estate, or else for recovering of the same being now lost, by the appointment and prescription of the Physitian, doe either abstaine from all manner of food, or else from some certaine kindes, contrary to their health and constitution: and this either for a certaine and determinate time, or for ever; and which is there­fore called Diet. Politicall or civill ab­stinence. Politicall or civill abstinence is that, whereby peo­ple upon certaine occasions, as profit or others, for a certaine time, ab­staine either from all, or some certaine particular kindes of food, be­ing then it may be, imploied about som earnest busines; as when 1 Sam. 14.25. Saul followed hard after the Philistines, he discharged any to eat till the eve­ning. Our Lent fast a poli­ticall, not religious nor superstitious fast. And of this nature is our Lent fast or abstinence in this Iland both in England and Scotland, according to the expresse words of the statute (howsoever some a little to symbolize with our neighbour- Romanists would faine have it a little to smell of religion) and was no doubt upon very good grounds and considerations injoined to be obser­ved. 5. Q Elizab. 5. Religious fast and is either moral or cere­moniall. The third sort of voluntary abstinence, is called religious, and had its originall from God himselfe; which is againe either morall or ceremoniall. Morall, ordinary or extraordinary. Ordinary. Morall againe is either ordinary and daily, or else extra­ordinary, and ordained but for a certaine time. Ordinary and daily abstinence is nothing else but temperance and sobriety, which as it hath been in no small request even among the heathens; and that not for their healths sake alone, but that they might thereby also the bet­ter wait upon their contemplations and philosophicall studies: how much more then doth it become us Christians? Extraordinary. Religious extraordi­nary abstinence at any time undertaken, is that which wee commonly call a fast; and being not onely a bare abstinence from food for a time, but from all other delights also; that thereby we may the better bee fitted, Extraordinary reli­gious t [...]st publike or private. to pray either for the removall of judgements present, or keep­ing off judgements imminent, and like to overwhelme us. And this was very frequent among the people of the Jewes, and was either pub­like or private. Would to God we were made more acquainted with this noble ordinance of Almighty God, when as both in regard of our owne selves, and our distressed neighbours abroad, our need hath been [Page 159] so great. Ceremoniall absti­nence. Ceremoniall abstinence is when we abstaine from certaine kindes of meats, and that for religions sake: the which kind of absti­nence was by God himselfe strictly injoined the Jewes, and lasted till the comming of the Messias, Matth. 15.11. Acts 10.34. Colost. 2.14. 1 Timoth. 4. &c. Superstitious absti­nence or fast. which tooke away that partition wall; as may by divers places of the new Testament appeare. There was lastly, & is yet, a certaine superstitious kind of abstinence, whereby som peo­ple, without any warrant of the word, abstained from certaine kindes of meat: and such were both some heathens, and some hereticks al­so, and bastard christians. Among the heathens, Pythagoras of Samus, who lived during the Babilonian captivity, abstained from all manner of flesh, and that for feare lest some mens soules might bee conveied into such beasts as he might eat of, as witnesseth Lib. 7. de civit. Dei. cap 2. & lib. 18. cap. 25. Plutarch. 8 sympos. probl. 7. S. August. and Lib. 2. advers. Jovin. S. Ierom. tells us that the antient Aegyptian Priests, after they were once initiated into that superstitious worship, abstained from wine and flesh ever after. The Babilonians also lived onely upon fish, and the Persian Magi lived onely upon meale and herbs. Lib. bello de Jfide & Osyride. Plutarch also repor­ted that the priests of Heliopolis abstained from all manner of diet that might increase lust and wantonnesse, and never wine to come within their temples. And it is Caesar. comm. a [...] bello Gall. lib. [...]. reported, that the antient inhabitants of this Iland abstained from the hare, the hen, and the goose. And o­thers againe abstained from certaine vegetables, fruits, flowres, &c. Some abstained from all manner of flesh. The Joseph. de bello Judo. lib 2. cap. 7. Philo. lib. peculiari de eorum vita. Esseans among the Jewes eat neither flesh, nor yet drinke wine; nay eate not of any creature that ever had in it any blood. In the time of the primitive Church, e­specially a little after, many heresies sprang up, amongst whom, som forbad the eating of flesh; and some both that and wine. Epiphanius tom. 2. lib. 1. The Eu­cratite who came out of the schoole of one Tatianus abstained from all flesh; withall so strictly abstained from all wine, that they would not so much as use it in the holy Sacrament, but in stead thereof used wa­ter. The Ebionites also condemned altogether the use of flesh. The Tertul. in catalog. haeres. Marcionites were so farre from eating of flesh, and placed holinesse in the eating of fish. And the Idem lib de [...]eiunia adversus Psychos, & lib. de cultu foeminar. same father affirmeth, that the Monta­nists lived on bread, salt and pulse, and dranke onely water: they ab­stained at certaine times from flesh and wine. The Maniches, of one Manes a Persian hereticke so called, about the yeere of our Lord 247. among many other and destestable errors, brought in this also of ab­staining from certaine meats; as all manner of flesh, egges, milke, and all things made of the same: the reasons see in Lib. 6. contra Faustin. cap. 6. & lib. 3. cap. 5. & lib. de haeres. S. Augustine. They forbad also the use of wine, were it never so new, and yet per­mitted the use of grapes. The same hereticks forbad also the use of marriage. It is also to be observed, Idem contra Faustin. lib. 30. cap. 5. that all this abstinence was on­ly forbidden their elect ones, and such as they tearmed perfect and initiated into their sacred mysteries: but to their hearers, who were but novices and beginners such meats were permitted. Bernard. sermon. 66 in Cantica. The same heresie was againe about the yeere of our Lord 300. by one Priscillia­nus in France and Spaine renewed, from whom it received also a new name. And this same heresie, as by many fathers it was spoken against, so was it by many Synod ancyrana cir­ca annum Domin. 318. can. 14. Total. 1 can. 21 Eraccarensi prima cele­brata in Hispania anno 690. can. 14. & 32. Gangrensi. can. 2. damnara fuit. councels condemned, Sigismund. Baro in comment, rerum Mus­covit. Among the Russians or Muscovites, the Metropolitans, the Arch bishops and Bishops alwaies ab­staine [Page 160] from flesh: and yet when they invite any lay-men, or other priests to their table, they set flesh before them: and yet may neither an Abbot nor Prior eat any. Besides, the Russians never eat of any thing killed by the hand of a woman, esteeming it altogether uncleane: and therefore in the absence of all mankind out of the house, if they have any pullaine or other creature to kill, the women stand in the house-doore, holding a knife in their hands, intreating any that passeth by to performe this kindnesse for them. Now besides these afore-mentio­ned severall sorts of abstinence, Voluntary, miracu­lous abstinence. there is yet another voluntary absti­nence, which is miraculous; as that of Christ, Moses and Elias, which is beyond the reach of any ordinary person; although we read of many strange stories of such as fasted not onely many daies, weekes and mo­neths; but even many yeeres also, as hath been declared already. The last kind of abstinence is involuntary, Involuntary or for­ced abstinence. when as any one is forced against his will to fast, and is divers waies procured, whereon I will not now insist. True abstinence, and the excellency of the same. The excellency then of a right abstinence may evidently ap­peare, which is not properly an abstinence from any one particular kind of food, either totall or for a time: but a sober and moderate use of all the creatures at all times, especially in sickenesse; as it is some­times necessary for a time to abstaine from all, and sometimes from some sorts of food. In health, moderation and temperance are never out of season, and totall abstinence at sometimes required; and that both for preventing infirmities, and sometimes a religious abstinence is to be observed, Abstinence from cer­taine k [...]nds of meates by Scripture condem­ned. as hath been said already. As for religious abstinence from certaine kinds of meats, not I, but the 1 Tim. 4.1, 2, 3. holy oracle it selfe, which cannot erre, doth plainely evince to be a doctrine of devils. And here by the way, if there were no other marke, it may easily appeare, that the Church of Rome is an apostaticall and hereticall church, and jum­peth just with the Hereticks of antient times, whom the Fathers of the Church have confuted. They would beare the world in hand, they abstaine from flesh in Lent and some other daies. Popish abstinence or fast as they use it a meere mocking of God. A great matter in­deed, when they are fed with the best fish they can come by, dressed with the most curious sauces, and afterwards well washt downe with the best wine or other strong drinke. Besides the variety of banqueting stuffe, march-panes, and varieties of other junkets, all which notwith­standing, this must needs be accounted a strict abstinence and fast, e­specially, Popish fasting, Diet as nourishing as ours and iuciceth as much to lust as ours, if not more. Wine nourisheth & cherisheth more sud­denly and speedily than any flesh. if these things come but in the name of a drinking. Now would I willingly aske one of their wisest prophets, whether a peice of powdered beefe, or other meat, such as wee ordinarily use; or a dish or two of dainty fish well dressed, it may be with wine sauce, and divers good spices, and afterwards made to swimme in the belly with good wine, be more inciting to lust? It is well knowne that wine yeeldeth a more speedy nourishment, and is farre sooner distributed through the body, & a little quantity therof more cheereth and cherisheth the drooping spirits, and with lesse oppression, and withal inciteth more to lust, than a great quantity of flesh; which must lye a long time heavy in an ordinary stomacke before it bee concocted, and thorow the body distributed, and then by assimilation and agglutination converted in­to aliment. And this is the judgement of all our both antient and later [Page 161] learned Physitians: yea doth not even ordinary experience instruct us in this truth? And yet here is no small quarrell, because we will not assent to their Pharisaicall superstition, and will not in every thing jumpe with them in their erroneous judgement. And I pray you, Great gluttony and disorders among the Romanists at Shrove­tide. is not this a meere mockage, that a little before Lent, especially on Shrovetuesday, (by the French called Mardy-gras, or fat tuesday, and by some here in former times gut-tide) they let the reines loose to all manner of lasciviousnesse, and all excesse of riot: pampering their bellies with the best cheere, the most exquisite wines and strong drink is to be had; assuming to themselves liberty of doing what they list; ad­dicting themselves to dancing, dicing, drabbing, and all manner of other insolencies: insomuch that one would thinke all the divells in hell, and all these foule fiends were then set at full libertie; Insolency in Rome it selfe; [...]qualling o [...] exceedin [...] the hea­thenish Ba [...]c [...]na [...]a. in this e­qualling, if not exceeding, the heathenish Bacchanalia. And which is yet more, their Romish god the Pope, must that day depart the citie of Rome, and then all manner of insolencies and outrages (greater than which, if as great, were scarce ever by any heathens committed) of all sorts, without any controll there committed. And in this is veri­fied the saying of that And although J­taly be the country of al Christendome nea­rest to the Romane church, yet is it most certaine that in [...]t there is of all others least religion and pi­ety to be found, and that by reason this holy court doth no­thing else but sow distention, and breed all manner of disor­ders. And if any make a doubt of it, and that he may assure himselfe that all this mischiefe proceedeth from the church of Rome, let him but transport for a cer­taine time the Papall chair into the coun­try of the Switzers, an honest and peaceable people, and in a shore time thou shouldst see them as bad as any of their neighbours. Machiavell in his booke of the Prince, part. 1. maxime 4. in­tituled. That the church of Rome is the cause of all the cala­mities that have be­falne Jtaly, Florentine Secretary to bee true; that if the court of the Pope with his Cardinalls were translated from Rome, and placed among the Switzers (a people in those times most ingenuous, and freest from all manner of exoticke vices) they would in a short space become the most wicked, factious people in the whole world: in so great credit was then this court of Rome, even in the esteeme of those who made profession of the same religion. But these, and a thou­sand more of their pranks are better knowne to the Christian world than I can relate them. My purpose is onely here to let the world know, how senslesse and absurd is this superstitious kind of abstinence from flesh onely, whereof like proud Pharisees, they make so great an ostentation, and would put out the eyes of the world, that they should see nothing in the cleere Sun-shine. And yet what is all this but a re­nuing of the antient heresies lately mentioned? and renuing heathen­ish superstition? Nay it doth plainely and evidently appeare, that the antient hereticks and heathens did farre surpasse in this point, many of our Romanists. If they would, as they pretend, subdue the lust of the flesh, why doe they not then abstaine from wine, in that point farre sur­passing any flesh, as hath been proved? And why doe not their Priests and clergie-men abstaine from wine, and forbid it the people, at least in Lent and on fasting daies? I have already instanced in the like ab­stinence both in heathen and heretickes. If Sir Iean and his generation will reply, that they must serve at the altar, and therefore must both drinke for themselvs and the people, who by their Canons, are debar­red from the cup: I cannot deny, but as in many other things, so here­in likewise, their clergy have been too hard for the laity: yet good Sir Iean, if you have purchased such a privilege above the people, mee thinkes, you might the better abstaine from wine at other times, e­specially those of your strictest abstinence; and might likewise ab­staine from many flatuous meats, as many sorts of bulbous roots, which all our Physitians doe hold to be irritamenta & incitamenta lib [...] ­dinis. [Page 162] The Abissine Priests and religious persons so strictly observe their Lent fast, that it is reported of them, that they eat nothing but roots, and drinke water during that time; yea, and stand often up to the chinne in cold water: and the Laity, during that time onely eate bread and drinke water. If our supercilious Pharisaicall Romanists would imitate this rigid austerity, the Clergy I meane, it would coole their courages, yet withall purchase them a great deale of more praise and reputation, than many of them have hitherto attained unto. I am not ignorant, that some of the simpler sort of their religious orders are more rigid and austere in their manner of living than many others: but this I confidently avouch, that for the most part, their Clergy, especially the greater sort, are as licentious and luxurious, as any sort of people this day living under the face of heaven, upon which point I will not here digresse. Now to conclude this point of absti­nence, we are so farre from rejecting, and far lesse from finding fault with it, that we wish it in farre greater request than hitherto it hath been: I meane, not onely that ordinary and customary abstinence, or sobrietie in meat and drinke, and other delights; but even that other sort of fast also, which we have wished might bee more in pra­ctice. But I hate and abhorre these counterfit and hypocriticall, hea­thenish and hereticall-like fasts of our Pharisaicall Romanists, with their many idle repetitions of their many mumpsimus upon their beads, ma­king a shew of prayer, where there is nothing but a little lip-labour, without any true religion, or any true devotion indeed. But having said more than I doubt I shall be thanked for, I leave this point, and proceed.

CHAP. V.

FRom the Elements wee are now comming to the aliments, of nourishment and food fit for the sicke. Now as by the moderate and timely use of aliments the diseased reapeth no small benefit; so againe by the immode­rate and unseasonable use of the same, the diseased is much indammaged and indange­red. And for this cause no small care ought to be had of the Diet of the Diseased. We made mention of three sorts of Diet, of the which we have Comment. in lib. Hip. de victu acut. Three sorts of Diet. Galen for our warrant: a thinne or slender, a full and liberall, and a meane or middle diet betwixt both. Now these two extremes have a great latitude and extension. In the first place, a thin and spare diet is either simply thinne and sparing, more sparing, and [Page 163] most sparing of all. So againe, the like by way of opposition is to be understood of a full and liberall diet. Absolute thinne and spare diet. Now an absolute thinne and spare diet, called victus tenuissimus, is nothing else but an absolute abstinence from all manner of food whatsoever: or at most, permit­ting onely the use of a drinke made of water and hony, called by the antient Greekes, melicratum. And this manner of abstinence did the antients use in most acute diseases, which were terminated on the fourth day. And when they did a little exceed this first so thinne and slender diet, or abstinence, they did then allow the sicke some barly-water, ptisan or creame of ptisan at most. This was usuall among the Greekes, which strict and rigid kind of diet the Arabians were not able to undergoe. And it may bee the Greekes, Thin and slender diet either because they were thicker skinned, or else surprized with sharper sickenesses, did more easily endure this kind of diet. It may be also the Arabians fared better than the Greekes, and were not therefore able to endure this kinde of diet. And in this wee adhere more to the Arabians than to the Greekes. Hippocriticall Diet too rigid and strict for our climat, And therefore, if Physitians should now imitate the Hippocraticall course of dieting, they should be utterly shent. Galen was not so rigid and strict in his diet: for he often suffereth the sicke to use some suste­nance in acute diseases, and often findeth fault with certaine Physi­tians called diatritarij, who pined their patients with abstinence, in the beginning of their disease made them fast untill the fourth day, and after againe exhibited something on the sixt, and againe on the eight; and so consequently after the first foure dayes, they fed them but every other day. And Mercur. variar. lect. lib. 6. A full and liberal die [...] this manner of cure is by Celsus Aurelius called a circular cure. To this manner of cure was quite contrary that manner of diet, which used that antient Physitian Petronius, who abbridged his patients of no kind of diet, but filled them with wine and flesh. And this is that we call a full or liberall diet, according to the exten­sions and latitude therof. To this manner of diet ours approcheth near­est: and it is the cōmon opinion of our people, of our vulgar women es­pecially, that unlesse the sicke be crammed with all manner of food, he is quite starved. And this commeth often to passe by importunitie of those about them, and sometimes by meanes of the Physitian, saith Comment. ad partic. 1 lib. 1. de vict. acut. Whether a thinne & slender, or a full and liberal diet be better? Galen; who to give satisfaction to the sicke, and assistants, often­times giveth way to such a diet. Followeth now in the next place a question to be discussed, whether a thinne or slender, or a full and li­berall diet be the better? Now as almost all diseases have their origi­nall and beginning from gluttony, and abundance of humors; so would it seeme the cure thereof required principally abstinence and hunger: For by this meanes the body is dried up, and superfluous humors ex­hausted. And it is reported, that the Emperour Aurelian in his sicke­nesse used no other Physicke. Flavius Vopiscus in eius vita. Aph. 4. & 5 lib. 1. Hippocrates seemeth in some places to allow of a full diet in all diseases; and Lib. de victu acut. againe in other places to stand for a thinne and slender diet, finding fault with the Guidian Physitians, who in the beginning of the disease, permitted the use of a more liberall diet. Comment. in eundem lib. & alibi. Galen often preferreth a slender diet before a full and liberall: and that by reason a full and plentifull diet breed­eth innumerable dangers in the body, which a thinne and slender diet [Page 164] doth not, the which, if to the body troublesome, may easily by addition be amended. Answer to the for­mer question. This question cannot absolutely be determined, by reason both are alike, and equally necessary, all circumstances well & seriously considered, but especially having a due regard to the strength of the pa­tient, together with the nature of the disease. [...] Apo. 9 lib. 1. We must conjecture, saith Hippocrates, whether the sicke be like to hold out with such a diet or no, or whether the disease will not first give over, before there need any alteration in the diet. But with us wee need never be afraid that there be any fault committed in the defect; wee are most commonly inclined to be faultie rather in the excesse. And howsoever, I confesse indeed, our bodies are not able to beare that antient strict and rigid Grecian thinne and spare diet, yet I wish there were a more moderate course taken for moderating the diet of our diseased. But riot and excesse haue so ceized upon us in our health, that it is a hard matter to regulate our desires according to reason, when wee are diseased. Now, wee proceede to other circumstan­ces according to this subject.

CHAP. VI.

AS in the structure and building of houses, we must lay a good foundation, before ever we beginne to build: so no lesse carefull ought wee to be this case, where the Diet of the diseased is to be handled, to lay a good and firme foundation, whereon our building may stand the firmer; wee are therefore in the first place to take notice of certaine rules or lawes (call them as you list) which in the ordering of the diet of the diseased are care­fully to be considered: Rules or Lawes from whēce the diet of the diseased is desumed, reduced to two prin­cipall heads. In the diseased, what things to be observ'd. and they are all reduced to these two principall heads, being all desumed or fetcht from the party diseased, or from the disease. In the party diseased, or the sick himselfe, we are to consider, the strength, the temperature, the disposition or quality of the body, the age, custome, particular, or individuall disposition or propertie of each person (expressed by this word idiosyncrasia) the time of the yeere, and the region where one liveth. Now, the first and principall rule, law or judication, 1 Rule, or iudication from the strength. is taken from the strength of the sicke person; which by a due and convenient diet, answerable to requisite necessity must be sustained, to the end the diseased may the better be inabled to over­come the contumacy of the disease: for here nature must play the phy­sitian in curing of the disease, both food and physicke receiving their power and efficacie from our naturall heat, and from divine benedicti­on [Page 165] principally, which we ever would have to be understood. This one thing is alwaies, saith Vnum illud & sem­per, & ubi (que) servendum est, ut aegri vtres subtu­de assidens in al [...]us in­spiciat, & quair diu sa­pererunt, abstinentia pugnet: si imbecillita­tem vereri coeperit, cibo subveniat, Cels. l [...]br. 3. cap. 4. 2 The temperature of the body. 3 The structure of the body, Habitus. Celsus, to be observed, that the Physitian pre­sent, diligently observe the strength of his patient, and so long as it holdeth out, to cure him by abstinence: but if feeblenesse be feared, let food then supply what is wanting. In the next place, the tempera­ture of the body is to be considered: for this, wee may easily observe, that cholerick complexions are not long able to indure long abstinence, although in perfect health; and if they be at any time ceized with any diseases proceeding from choler, they are by a thinne and slender diet much offended. In the third place, wee are carefully to consider of the frame and structure of the body, called Habitus; for such as are of a thinne and slender constitution of body, are more by a thinne and slen­der diet offended, than others of a thicker. Wee are not also to neglect the age, for old people are best able to indure abstinence; 4 The are. Who best indureth abstinence. and next un­to them, those of a consisting or middle age: but children, and little in­fants, are with fasting most offended. By old age, I here vnderstand greene old age, as it is called, cruda viridis (que) senectus, and not decrepit old age, which by reason of the languishing and decaying of the innate naturall heate, as the oile of a lampe, unlesse it be frequently by good and comfortable food, and good drinke refreshed, will quickly faint under the burden. And this must be done frequently, and often, not confertim, or abundantly at once; lest this small fire be by too much fe­well suddenly suffocated and oppressed. 5 Custome, And since custome often car­rieth so great a stroke, that wee see, even poisons by long continued custome converted into food; it is not slightly in ordering the diet of the diseased to be past over. And experience it selfe doth even teach us, that things wherewith we were formerly accustomed, doe lesse of­fend us. The prerogative of custome Lib. Galen well describeth by the example of Arius the Peripateticke, who being much molested with a great weaknesse of stomacke, that he durst neither indure the cold aire, nor once so much as taste a drop of cold water; falling into a fever, and forced to drinke cold water, died suddenly. And therefore if any were in their health accustomed to eat twice or thrice aday, not onely are we to yeeld to this custome in their sicknesse; but even to permit unto them their accustomed houres, unlesse some sudden accident (as the fit in a fever or the like) doe hinder us. Now, besides the premises, every one almost hath some certaine peculiar property, or condition, 6 Jdiosyncrasia, or an individuall property and condition. called idiosyncrasia, whereunto belongeth often some peculiarity in appetite, and other things, and to the which sometimes wee are forced to give way: and wee finde often, by common experience, that when the stomacke is whetted on, and eagerly longeth after some particular food, howsoeuer, it may be in it selfe not so fit, having injoyed it, greedily imbraceth, and with great facility concocteth the same: and this [...] Hippoc. Aph. 38. lib. 2. 7 The season of the yeere. [...]. Hippocrates in his aphorismes, did very well expresse. But herein I would not that any one should, at randome, let loose the reines of his appetite, but carefully, and with good counsell regulate and moderate his desires. We are in the next place to consider the time of the yeere, howsoever, many may, perhaps, thinke it to small purpose. But as in health this is to be observed, there must then be like correspondency in [Page 166] the time of sicknesse. And certaine it is, that in Winter, the internall heat of the stomacke, and inward parts, is farre intenser, and greater than in Sommer, and the concoction easilier performed; and therefore no question is to be made, but that the quantity of aliment must needs be answerable, and in greater abundance than in Sommer, when as by the heat of the ambient aire the internall is extracted, the pores of the body rarefied and dilated, and sweat with fuliginous excrements more copiously expelled. And therefore a lesser quantity of food, of a laudable quality and easie of digestion; as also a more liberall allow­ance of drinke is then to be permitted. And this was the opinion of Aph. 18. libr. 2. Hippocrates, and so hath beene held by all our Physitians, that in Win­ter wee are to feed most liberally, in Sommer very sparingly, and in the Spring and Autumne, to keepe a meane, betwixt both the former, what­soever any say to the contrary. 8 The region where­in one liveth. The region wherein any one liveth, is likewise not to be neglected: for in cold countries, where people feed more plentifully, there the sicke is to be allotted a more liberall allow­ance, 9 The calling, or course of life. than in hot countries: as Spaine, Egypt, and the like. And mee thinks, that besides all the premisses, the calling, or course of life one leadeth is worth the consideration: for the which cause, schollers, and others accustomed to a sedentarie life in their health; as then their diet ought to be more sparing and easier of concoction than for other peo­ple: so falling sicke, the like caution must be observed. And here women come also to be considered, who, for the most part use lesse exer­cise than men, and have the pores of their bodie lesse perspirable, and often a colder complexion: and this is chiefely of the better sort, who live in ease and idlenesse, Influence and abundance of all things, to be understood. In the next place wee come to rules of diet desumed from the disease it selfe, which was the second head wee here proposed to handle. Rules, or indication desumed from the disease it selfe. And these rules must be understood by dividing them into their proper ranks, and must be illustrated by accommodating them to fe­vers; few diseases without a fever ceizing on the body of man; and therefore in this discourse wee have of them a speciall regard, though other diseases also shall not be neglected. All diseases then are either acute and of a shorter continuance, All diseases, either a­cute or chronicall. and for this cause called acute; or else chronicall, or of longer continuance. Acute and short diseases, require a slender and sparing diet, and the shorter and sharper the dis­ease be, the more sparing should be the diet. Againe, in chronicall and long continuing diseases, the diet must be allowed more liberall; lest in a long journie nature being toiled and tired out, before shee be at her journies end, faint and succumb under the burthen of the disease. Now, of chronicall diseases, some are of a longer continuance than o­thers; The Diet to be ac­commodated accor­ding to the continu­ance of the diseased. and therfore as to them that continue long, wee allow liberall allowance, so to the longer wee still allow the more liberall allowance: and on the contray, since among short and sharpe diseases, some are shorter and sharper than others; as the acute and sharpe requireth a sparing, so the sharper a more sparing, and the sharpest of all, the most sparing diet of all; which approacheth neerest to that strict diet of Hippocrates: having all this while a principall regard to the strength of the patient, and other cicumstances already nominated. Now, be­sides, [Page 167] the difference of the nature of the disease, Diet to be a mini­stred according to the times of the dis­ease. The time general and particular. no lesse carefull and circumspect ought wee to be in the observing the times of the disease, both generall and particular. The generall time, I call the whole course and continuance of the disease: the particular, the paroxysmes, or ex­acerbations of the same, and in fevers commonly called fits. Now in both these times, as well generall as particular, wee are diligently to observe the beginning, the increase, the heighth, and the declining: many in the beginning of the disease, if they foresee the disease, like to be of long continuance, doe use to feed the sicke liberally. But ac­cording to Lib. 2 cap 16. Celsus, in the beginning of the disease, the sicke should suf­fer hunger and thirst: for if corrupt humours abound, the best food is but by them corrupted. Foule bodies (saith Aph 9 lib. 2. Hippocrates) the more thou feedest, the more thou hurtest. Wherefore in the beginning, if strength permit, wee are by degrees to withdraw their food, untill the heighth of the disease, in the which, if it be an acute disease, they are more spa­ringly to be fed. In diseases therefore, Diet in acute disease [...] how to be [...]pen [...]ed. that very speedily come to their heighth, a very thinne and slender diet is to be used. But where it ma­keth not so great hast to the heighth, then are wee in the very time of the heighth, as also a little before, to withdraw some part of their diet, and before permit to them more liberall allowance, that the sicke may the better hold-out. But there being so many severall circumstances herein to be observed, and the severall and individuall constitutions be­ing so various, it is very hard to set downe any certaine rule concerning this particular. In diseases which give no intermission; as continuall fevers, beware of feeding the sicke in the exacerbation or worst time, In continuall fevers. but wait for some remission, when the sicke findeth some alteration. In intermitting fe­ver [...]. In in­termitting fevers; as tertians, quartanes, &c. except their fit should prove very long, and their strength feeble, feed them not in their fit, but wait for the remission or declining of it: or else prevent the fit cer­taine houres, lest it surprize the sicke with a full stomacke, and so pro­long it. But if it should come to passe, that the sicke were not able to attend this appointed time, then were it better to take something in the beginning, or increasing of the fit, and no waies towards the heighth of it: and yet if strength should faile, it were better to yeeld to an inconvenience, than to a mischiefe. And there 10. Meth. & sequen­ti de diata aegrorum a­git. Galen diligently ob­serving the strength of his patients, fed some of them in the beginning, some in the vigor and very heighth of the fit, which occasioned some to mocke and deride him. But with us, women, many times, must have their will, although it cost the patient his life; and what they ap­prehend to be right, the Physitian may often spend his breath, but doe little good. I wish people therefore to be wise, when they see especial­ly it lieth them upon their lives; and if they will learne wit of no body else, let them learne some of Satan: Iob [...]. Skinne for skinne, and all that a man hath will he give for his life.

CHAP. VII.

OF the three severall sorts of Diet fit for the dis­eased; to wit, a sparing, slender, or thinne, a liberall or full, and a meane diet betwixt both, wee have already discoursed. Each of these diets is so called in relation to the ali­ments which nourish sparingly, liberally, or in a meane maner. Now, in each of these ali­ments, we are to consider the substance, quan­tity, quality, the fit time for feeding the sicke, the order, and the preparation, or manner of preparing the same. The substance of food is either solid or liquid, of easie or hard degestion, yeelding to the body good or bad nourish­ment. Properties of nou­rishment fit for the use of the sicke. That aliment which is appropriated for the sick, ought to be easie of digestion, of a good and laudable juice, and nourish much in a small quantity; and liquid or solid, according to the nature and variety of the disease. Lib. de victu acut. & alibi passim. Hippocrates used to feed the sicke of fevers with suppings. And Probl. 32. sect. 1. Aristotle, wisheth us to feed the sicke in fevers, with suppings at the beginning, especially, by reason or their lightnesse, and facility of concoction and distribution. The quantity or measure of the Diet of the diseased, must be ordered according to the sense and feeling of the sicke, and nature of the disease, as Lib. de veteri medi­cina. Hippocrates well expresseth it. Now, it is not unknowne, that whole and sicke folkes are not with alike quantity of food to be fed. And this by the practice in Hippocrates appeareth, where 7 Epid. Cratolaus being sicke Dimidiata chaenice contentus erat. Lib. de victu acut. contenteth himselfe with the one halfe of his former allowance. To the quantity wee may also referre the number of repast, which must be measured according to cu­stome, which is consonant to Hippoc. aph. 16. lib. 2. & 6. Epid. Hippocraticall prescription. And this according to many severall circumstances, is also variable. The next is the quality, which we are not to neglect, nor slightly to be past over. Healthfull and sound people ought to use a diet like unto their owne temper and constitution: but the sicke are to use a diet contrary to their disease. A hot distemper requireth a cooling diet, and rest from motion. Neither are wee in the diet of the diseased, onely to consider the first qualities; as hot and cold, moisture and drinesse, but even the second qualities also; as opening and astringent, &c. If the hu­mours be tough, then have they need of opening diet; as all manner of obstructions: defluxions need astringent and strengthening diet. As for the time of feeding the sicke, as witnesse Lib. ad Thrasib. de dè­aeta, cap. 57 A double time of fee­ding the sicke; of e­lection and necessity. Galen, it is very hard to define, and that in regard of the diversity of fevers, requiring divers times for diet. In diseases, wee may consider a double time of feeding the sicke, one of election, another of coaction, or necessity. That of election I call, when as the disease gives the sicke some truce, and [Page 169] leaveth the sicke sometime free for food. That of necessitie and coacti­on, when as for preserving strength, we are forced at uncertaine times to feed the sicke. Now, for feeding the sicke, the day-time is alwaies the best, as witnesseth Lib. 3 cap. 6. Celsus, and many other Physitians. Des erreurs populai­res, part. 2 cap. 8. Ioubert, a French Physitian, much inveigheth against that perverse and preposte­rous custome of feeding the sicke in the night time, and giveth this reason for his assertion: The day is ordained for our nourishment, as the night for rest and sleepe; now, by sleepe the noisome and noxious hunmour, cause of the disease, is concocted, the naturall heat now by reason of sleepe being recalled into the center: now, if by nourishment in the night time, Preposterous custom of feeding the sicke in the night. thou make a distraction of naturall heat to helpe concoction, it must needes have the smaller force to subdue the disease, and from hence arise many crudities, the cause of much evill in the bo­dy. But if, perhaps, the sicke cannot sleep, and have bin sparingly dieted in the day time; then may wee give the sicke some supping, as a little broth, almond, milke, or the like: but in no case let the sicke ever be wakened out of his sleepe to take any food; it being farre better to let the sicke take his rest, than unseasonably to waken him for food: for Hippoc. lib. de vict [...] acut. watching suffereth not the disease to come to maturity, making all sustenance harder to digest. It may then be asked what time of the day is fittest to feed the sicke? and in what time of the day may the diseased feed freeliest? If it may be with conveniency, the morning is the best time, or towards noone, and worst towards night. It hath been already proved, that in healthfull people a larger supper is allowed: What time of the day fittest for feeding the sicke, and when hee may feed freeliest, at dinner or supper. but in the sicke it is not so, as hath been already proved. Besides, experience it selfe telleth us, that toward night, and in the night time, diseases most commonly afflict most: what reason then is there to oppresse the body with a double burthen? And this is principally to be observed in all defluxions and diseases of the head, yea, even in health it selfe, much more then in sicknesse to be observed. The order of diet in the diseased is then chiefely to be observed, when there is variety of dishes; The order of the sickes diet. Whether variety may be allowed to the sick which, whether fit for the sicke or no, would be considered. A single diet is alwaies most profitable, agreeing best with health, and in sicknesse is easiliest concocted. The multiplying of many severall lusts, Cibus homini simplex: acervatio saporum pe­stifera, & condimenia perniciosiora, libr. 12. cap. 54. saith Pliny, is pernicious, and a multitude of sauces is yet farre worse. And yet some would have the sicke use variety of dishes, especially in a weake and queazie stomacke, that by tasting a little of every dish, his weake stomacke might the better be whetted on. But if it be possible, and strength subsist, the sicke is not to be incited to such variety, Preparation of the diet varieth much. for feare lest he eat more than hee can well overcome. But in the diet of the diseased, the preparation is not of smallest moment: as whether it be better rosted, boiled or baked, the which is, according to di­vers circumstances, varied, as wee shall heare more hereafter. Some­times also sauces are not unseasonable for the sicke; and for this cause some Physitians have written tractats concerning this subject: and to speake the truth, they are the fittest for the sicke, to excite and stir up their weake and languishing stomacke, which often by all our art, wee can scarce indure to take so much sustenance, as will support their weake strength for a few daies. Now, as there is a preparation requi­red in the diet, so is there also in the diseased, who is to wash his mouth [Page 170] with faire water, Preparation in the sicke in himselfe re­quired. or water and vineger, with a little wine, or other fit and convenient liquor. And is principally in Fevers, where the mouth is often so furred, principally to be observed, to wash away that slime, and other stuffe that sticketh to the tongue and palat of the mouth, and giveth a bad rellish to all that is eaten. Besides, The sicke should sit up to eat. as Avicenne saith, the sicke, if it be possible, should sit up in his bed to take his food, and so for a while after continue: for by this meanes conco­ction is farre better, than any otherwise performed. Now to the par­ticular Diet of the Diseased.

CHAP. VIJ.

THe matter of Diet for the Diseased, as wee have already said of the Diet of healthfull people, is either taken from vegetables, or plants and fruits: or else from living crea­tures and their parts: as from beasts, fowle and fish. Among plants or vegetables, corne, and among corne, wheat, whereof the best and wholesomest bread for the use of man is made, challengeth by right the first place. That bread then is best for the use of the sick which is made of the best wheat, Best bread for the use of the sicke. not fusty, mildewd, or of any o­ther evill quality; and withall made of new ground meale, which is better than long kept. This bread would be a little salted, and mode­rately leavened: for so it becommeth more pleasant to the taste, ligh­ter and easier of digestion, and lesse stopping. In our countries here we have a custome to adde barme to our bread, which other countries, as France, Italie and Spaine, &c. use not; and therefore I give warning, that this be sparingly used in the sickes bread, very bitter barme e­specially; which maketh both the bread unpleasanter, and hotter in acute diseases, and hot bodies. As for salted bread, 7 Meth▪ med. Galen himselfe doth not reject it, even in Fevers; and besides, even in the cure of a dry stomack alloweth the use of it. Bread for the sickes use is to be used new, and not old; especially not above two or three daies at the most. New bread is two manner of waies used, either simply as it is of it selfe, or else artificially prepared. Simple bread I call such as it is baked, Two sorts of bread. Simple bread. Prepared bread. Crummes. Crust. when it is so administred to the sicke. Bread is againe pre­pared after the baking, and that divers wayes. Now whether the one or the other be used, the crummes are the best, the crust being of an evill quality. Ordinary simple bread was used either hot, or after it was cooled. A Merc. variar. lect. l. 6 late writer sheweth that the antients used hot bread. And Hippocrates used hot bread in the cure of that kind of Dropsie [Page 171] which wee call anasarca or leucophlegmatia, which neverthelesse else­where hee Lib. de diaeta acut. alloweth not of. Hot bread filleth suddenly, is hard of digestion, and drieth much; and this later reason might move him to exhibit it in that kinde of Dropsie. Cold bread best, and not too stale. But cold bread was ever most in request, and is also the best, especially if not too old, as hath beene already proved. As for the preparation of bread, Preparation of bread for the sicke. the antients used ei­ther to wash it in faire water, or else to mingle it with flesh broth. Elb. 22. cap. 25. How the Antients washed their bread. Pliny affirmeth that wheat-bread being washed either in cold or warme water, is a very light food for the sicke. Now they used to wash their bread two manner of waies: either they soaked and stee­ped their bread in warme water, which they often shifted untill such time as it had quite lost all the taste of leaven and salt: or else they grated and punned it small, and so steeped it in faire water, and strai­ned it through a cleane linnen cloth; by this meanes making a sepe­ration of the solid from the subtilest parts, which subtile thinne part they afterwards boiled untill it grew thicke. This washed bread both Hippocrates and Galen used to coole in all kindes of Fevers. Wee use rather to wash it in rose-water, adding some sugar and currants. Our manner. Nei­ther was it the custome onely to steepe bread in water, Bread soked in wine. but in wine also; where they were free from any Fever. Wee use rathe to toste bread at the fire, and so steepe it in wine, In flesh broth. And that sometimes also they mingled bread with fresh broth is apparent out of the same Lib. de affection. Hippocrates. There are also divers artificiall preparations of bread which may be usefull in some diseases: Biscuits and the like. as biscuits prepared with di­vers ingredients; as yolkes of egges, annise and fennell and coriander seeds, with a little sugar, and may be usefull for weake stomakes, and rheumatik persons. But because few of our Gentle-women are ignorat of the preparation of these and the like, March-panes. I shall not need to insist upon their preparation. Besides these, there are divers sorts of march-panes made, partly for superfluity and adorning great feasts, and great mens tables; and partly also sometimes for physicall uses: as in hecticke Fevers, and some pectorall diseases, which here to particularize, is neither the particular place, nor my purpose. But before I finish this point concerning bread, I must advertise all diseased people, Vnleavened bread unwholesome. that since unleavened bread, as pycrusts, many sorts of cakes and the like, are not so fit even for the use of healthfull people; how much more then are they unfit for the sicke? Such bread is alwaies very hard to be con­cocted, and apt to ingender obstructions and the stone.

Now in the Diet of the Diseased there is no small use made of herbs, Herbs usefull in the Diet of the diseased. whereof we have spoken already. Herbes minister but small nourish­ment, and serve rather to alter than to nourish the body. And there­fore they are of good use to coole, to open obstructions, and keepe the body soluble: of the which both juleps, apozemes, and divers decoctions are made, according as the nature of the disease requireth. We use them likewise in the sickes broths, according as we see occa­sion. Now that herbs nourish but little, Lib. de facult. natur. Galen himselfe avoucheth, affirming, that men cannot live upon herbes, although beasts are there­with nourished. And Hippocrates affirmeth, that those who use this kind of food much, live a shorter while than others. And Comment. ad eam partic. lib. 6. Epidem. imbecilliora cibaria breviorem vitam ha­bent, Galen [Page 170] [...] [Page 171] [...] [Page 172] upon that place expoundeth the word imbecillis cibus, or a feeble food, to bee such as yeeld little or small nourishment to the body: such are herbes, and many sorts of fruits growing upon trees: and such, saith Hippocrates, are both of a short continuance, and make them short li­ved who use them: by reason such food maketh but short stay within the body. Out of this place then is confuted the opinion of Lib. de sanit tuend. Cardan, affirming, that such as lived on fruits and herbes were longer lived than those who lived on flesh, which hee would prove by the antient fathers, and by Eremites living in deserts onely upon such food. But this may easily be answered, Those who live on herbes and fruits live not longer than such as live on flesh. that it was our forefathers frugality, free from all manner of excesse and riot, and not the quality of their food which prolonged their lives. Besides, their lives were for other necessary and usefull ends then prolonged, as we have heretofore touched. As for Hermites, and others who live long by the use of such diet, I doubt not but with the moderate use of flesh, and keeping a moderation in all o­ther things, they might have lived longer, and in as good health of bo­dy, whatsoever Cardan say to the contrary.

Whether fruits may be admitted into the Diet of the Diseased. Answere.Now it may againe be demanded, whether fruits may be admitted into the Diet of the Diseased? I answere, it would seeme that by rea­son of their waterish juice they should bee excluded: yet no doubt they may safely be used, at least some sorts; as apples for melancho­ly, What fruits best. capers for the spleene, pomegranats for hot and cholerick stomacks, the quinces in fluxes of the bellie; in costivenesse, prunes and cher­ries; raisins and currants for the liver: and so of divers others accor­ding to severall occasions. Lib. 12. Trallian tells us that the Aegyptian Physi­tians fed their sicke of Fevers with cucumbers and melons; and that by reason they cooled much and nourished little. But Lib. de abusu med. Cardan alto­gether disalloweth of any such diet. And it were farre more tolerable to use the distilled water of such fruits. I doubt not, but fruits may sometimes be exhibited to the sicke, provided they be first rosted, that by such meanes, the moist watery juice may either be corrected or dis­sipated. How the antients ro­sted their fruits. Now the antients had another fashion of rosting their fruits than we have, as may by the same late alledged Author appeare; who speaking of the use of peaches in a tertian, saith, that being hung up, they are to bee rosted by the onely heat of the fire. Lib. 2. [...] & initio lib. [...] Galen in two or three places explaneth this manner. They tooke (saith he) a high pot, which they filled ful of water, & within the pot above the water they set in grate, on the which they layed their fruits, and so rosted them at this vapor. And Epist. 83. S ^t. Ierome writeth, that cookes were wont after this manner to rost their phesants, Preserving of fruits. which made them farre daintier to the taste. Our age hath in use to preserve divers sorts of fruits in the Autumne, and so to keep them both for necessity and delight. Sparingly to bee used in Fevers. But I wish they bee sparingly u­sed of the sicke, especially in Fevers and hot cholericke constitutions, by reason that sugar wherewith they are preserved, is quickly in such turned into cooler; besides, that the too frequent use of such things quickly cloggeth and overthroweth a weake stomacke, whereof we are to have alwaies a principall regard.

CHAP. IX.

ALthough wee have already spoken sufficiently both of the nature and nourishment that seve­rall sorts of Flesh efford the body of man; yet will wee now say something more of this sub­ject, as it hath relation to the sicke. That flesh was a strong nourishment, Pythagoras was not ignorant, saith Pliny, who changed the wrestlers diet from pulse to flesh; their fat and gluttonous substance, having neerest affi­nity with mans radicall moisture: and there­fore, as well in sicknesse as in health, it yeeldeth strength and vigour to the party that useth it. But all sorts of flesh are not promiscuously and indifferently to be used of the sicke: for, among foure-footed beasts, Flesh fittest for strōg nourishment. What foure-footed beasts are best for the use of the sicke. some for goodnesse and wholesomnesse, are farre before others to be preferred. And here for the use of the sicke, are principally recommen­ded Weather mutton and Veale. Among fowle, young pullets, Hennes, Cocks and Capons, Pigeons, Partridges, Phesants, What fowle. thrush and some others: and all these kindes of flesh are common to all diseases; and besides, there are yet some certain sorts of flesh proper to some par­ticular diseases. Such flesh is in a double manner adminstred unto the sicke; either in substance, boiled or rosted; or else their juice drawne out by decoction, called broth; or else expressed and strained; called commonly colices or gelees: or, lastly, distilled; and so called destilled restorative water of Capon, or any other flesh. Besides these afore­mentioned, Hippocrates accustomed to feed his sicke with other sorts of flesh; as with the flesh of Hares, Hogges, Horses, Antient Physitians dieted their sick with flesh, uncouth to us. Asses and Whelpes, which with us are now altogether out of request. But a question may be here asked, whether flesh be in diseases a fit and con­venient food. And it hath beene by some Arabian Physitians called into question, who forbid flesh in all sorts of fevers; Whether flesh may be used of the sicke. and that by reason it is easily, by the distempered heat of the fever, putrefied and corrup­ted. And by the fame authority was it denied in the inflammation and consumption of the lungs. And in the Ile of Crete, it was not permitted to feed the sicke with flesh. Lib. de carn. Hippocrates himselfe, in fractures of the skull, forbiddeth flesh, untill the tenth day. But there he must be un­derstood of solid flesh, by reason hee forbiddeth any mastication or chewing. But to forbid broths, colices or gelees, and the like, Answer. I see no reason: and therfore with the same Hippocrates, and the generall cur­rent of all our best Physitians, wee allow of the use of flesh for the sicke. Ewes flesh is often used by Hipprocrates, and commended by Galen: Ewes flesh used by the antients. but wee to better purpose, use Weather mutton, to them altogether un­knowne; and the which we have from the Arabian Physitians, who first [Page 174] used it. Flesh of gelded crea­tures better than of others. Veale seldome used in antient times. And in this flesh, it is also to be observed, that it is colder in quality than either Ewes or Rammes flesh: and it is to be observed, that the flesh of gelded beasts is both sweeter and cooler than of the ungelded. As for Veale, the antient Greeke Physitians seldome used it, and wee read not of it above once in Lib. de ratione victus. Hippocraters. And for this are wee also beholden to the Arabian Physitians, and Lib. 4. collect. Averroes in par­ticular, who averreth, that it may safely be used in all diseases. Lib. 1. ad Glancon. Ano­ther antient Physitian, would not have the sicke to meddle with it, al­though in health he holdeth it to be a singular good nourishment. And some thinke it too moist, and that it was therefore in the Easterne countries quite forbidden. But it is now without any doubt by all our Physitians admitted into the Diet of the Diseased. Hogges flesh was both by Galen and Hippocrates, had in high esteeme for the sickes use, howbeit it be now altogether banished from the Diet of the Dis­eased. And wee read, that Lib. de diaeta acut. & Gal. in comment. Galen gave to the sicke in a tertian, Hogges braines and feet: as also gives Hogges feet boiled in pti­san for a restorative diet. How would this rellish our dainty palats? And that Hogges flesh, as also pigges to bee eaten without the skin Of fowle, and what nourishment they af­ford. Hippocrates himselfe did use it, may also appeare, by that hee warneth us to eat it without the skinne: and Galen in his commentary, taketh it for granted, that Hogges flesh and Pigges ought to be eaten without the skinne, quite contrary to our custome, who hold that the daintiest of all the rest: but I warne weake stomackes to looke to themselves. Young sucking Rabbets are for the sicke, with us, in no small request, yet let them not be too young. Now, as concerning fowle, 3. de alim. facult. Galen affirmeth, that if compared with foure footed beasts, their nourishment, as it is farre lesse, so is it farre ea­sier of digestion; especially the wings of such fowles as are in per­petuall motion, and affoord the body a wholsome and subtill nou­rishment. All manner of wilde fowle, saith 2 de diaeta. Hippocrates, are of a drier substance than foure-footed beasts: and whatsoever creatures yeeld no spittle at the mouth, are of a drier substance than others. And the wilde fowle are drier than the tame of the same kinde. And therefore the flesh of the stocke-dove is drier than that of our ordi­nary Pigeon: Among all fowle, pul­laine most familiar for the use of the sicke. among all manner of fowle, our Hennes, Cocks and Capons for the sickes use beare away the bell. Neither was it without a mysterie that the Cocke was consecrated to Aescula­pius. As for the Goose, Ducke, and other water fowle, they are seldome allowed the sicke, especially in acute diseases. And it is to be observed, that in antient times the comparison was betwixt the flesh of the Cocke and the Henne, which of their flesh was the best, Capons unknown to the Antients. some preferring that the Cocke: as for Capons, which wee acknowledge both in sicknesse and in health to be better than both the former, Pullets best for the sicke. they were to the antients unknowne. Above all sorts of pullaine, pullets, or pretty bigge Chickens are accoun­ted the best for the sickes use, especially if they be of a white co­lour: for such are not so hot as the others, and therefore fittest for fevers and hot diseases. The antients used especially the stones and wings of pullaine, as may by Lib. 1. ad Glauc. Galen appeare; and this must be understood of young pullets, and not of old Cockes. Now, as for [Page 175] old cocks, they were of old chiefely used to purge the belly, Old Cocks how used of old. being for that end and purpose stuffed with divers ingredients; which is even usefull with us at this day also. As concerning Capons, a question may here be moved, whether they ingender not the gout: and that this questi­on seeme not strange, it hath beene by some of later times, Whether Capons in­gender the Gout. called into question: and howsoever it hath beene held both of Vide Crat. consil. me [...]icin. consil. 229.225, &c. Answere. Cocks and Hens also, yet principally and chiefely of Capons; and that principally if they be old: the reason whereof is pretended, that these creatures are obnoxious to this disease, witnessed by certaine knots gro­wing sometimes on old Capons legges. But in my opinion, this is but a needlesse and frivolous feare, it being a thing most certaine, that in a good and strong stomacke, they will be converted into a good and laudable nourishment. As for those who feed every day dain­tily upon that or any other delicate food, using little or no bodily exercise, nor keeping a good moderation in their diet, be they young or old they shall find they shall either ingender the gout, or as bad, if not a worse disease. So that I cannot adhere to their opinion, who hold any specificall podagricall qualitie in this kind of fowle more than in any other food. Turkies. The young pullets of Turkies may be ranked among our pullaine, and may likewise bee safely used of the sicke. Phesants. As for Phesants, I forbid them to no body that can come by them. Pigeons whether safe to be used of the sick. As con­cerning pigeons, it may be demanded whether they bee safe for the use of the sicke? The Arabian physitians, by reason of their heat, ut­terly rejected pigeons from the use of the sicke, which we understand of the elder. As for young pigeons, they are nothing so hot, Temperature of pi­geons. especi­ally well blooded under the wing. And therefore, all the controversie betwixt the Arabian and Greeke Physitians concerning the temperature of pigeons may easily, by distinguishing the ages, be composed. Old pigeons are hot and dry, and the young rather temperate, participa­ting of some heat. Arist. de hist avium. lib. 5. cap. 7. Wild pigeons by reason of their drinesse accoun­ted better (especially in moist diseases) and their young ones hatch­ed in the Spring, better than those in Autumne. Pigeons good against the plague. Others hold that ordinary pigeons hatched towards Harvest, when corne beginneth to ripen, are best, and feed fattest. There are some which hold an opini­on that pigeons are good against the plague, and that such as eate of them often in such seasons, free themselves from pestiferous and conta­gious diseases. And for this cause, if the plague at any time had been in Persia, Plinius, secundus the Physitian was wont to make pigeons his chiefe food. It is moreover to be observed, that pigeons never bee ro­sted with their heads: for it hath been observed, Pigeons to be rosted without their heads. that such as have often eaten them thus, have by degrees falne blind: and it is moreover held, that thus they ingender the leprosie. Lib. [...] Rhasis also relateth a hi­story of a certaine Casipha (as he calleth him) who having thrice in one day eaten of pigeons rosted with their heads, History. the same day died sud­denly. As concerning Partridges, Lib. de euch [...]m. Galen writeth, that the flesh of young Partridges is of a laudable nourishment; but the elder of a more solid substance, and harder of digestion, which neverthelesse be­ing two or three daies hung up, becommeth tenderer. Now concern­ing this flesh betwixt the Greeke and Arabian Physitians, there is no [Page 176] lesse controversie than was about the former, and by distinguishing the ages, Thrushes. may as easily be composed. As for Thrushes they are by Galen ac­counted among good and laudable nourishment, as ingendring nei­ther too thicke nor too thinne humors: and it seemeth, it was accu­stomed to be prescribed to sicke persons, by the ancient Romane Phy­sitians: as may appeare by the prescription of them to Pompey in his sicknesse, Plutarch. in vitae Pompe [...]. Larkes. who would rather venture his life, than be beholden to Lucullus for them. The larke is of very good nourishment, and easy of digestion, and good in moist diseases, especially commended a­gainst the wind-colicke. It is somewhat dry, and therefore not so fit in Fevers; and if used, they are best boiled, by this meanes becom­ming moister. The Larke with the tuft on the head is the best. And it is to be observed that in Fevers, wilde fowle, by reason of the drinesse, is not neere so good as the tame.

CHAP. X.

NExt to fowle, for the affinitie, wee are to say somethings of Egges, as being their proper birth and off-spring, as I may call them, and will withall subjoine next after them, for the affinitte, some liquid substance made of them. This then is a light, liquid and laudable nourishment for the sicke. There is no food (saith Lib. 29. cap. 3. Pliny) that nourisheth more in sickenesse, and burdeneth lesse the stomacke, supply­ing the place both of meat and drinke. And yet is this food by some called in question, whether it may be allowed the sicke or no? E [...]es whether good for sicke folke? and that for a double reason, both in regard of the plenti­full nourishment it yeeldeth in Fevers, and by reason also of a suppo­sed exorbitant heat in this aliment more than in another. And this hath beene not a feare among the vulgar onely, but even some learn­ed Alois. Mundella e­pist. 29. Latinus Henricus in quaest. medictnal. Physitians have held the same opinion. And if at any time, say they, the antients did allow of egges in Fevers, it was never in the beginning, but in the declining of the disease; unlesse it were in ex­treme weakenesse, which overturneth and altereth all order in Diet. Lib. 1. ad Glanc. Galen in tertian Fevers alloweth both the yolkes of egges, and roc­ky fishes; but withall giveth us warning, that this diet was onely for the daintier and nicer sort: but that in others it were better according to the Hippocraticall rule, to use the juice of ptisan untill the crise. And againe in 18 method. another place, in a Fever with swounding he allow­eth of egges before the fourth day, and afterwards flesh. And Li. de ras, vict in aecut. Hip­pocrates [Page 177] where there is no Fever permitteth the use of rere-rosted egges, Egges permitted b [...] Hippocrates. which in a Fever, it is like hee would not have permitted. But it might be proved, that sometimes in the inflammation of the liver and of the lungs, where there is alwaies a Fever conjoined, he permitted the use of egges. But what talke we of antient times, when as people lived more frugally, and used not so liberall and plentifull a diet as now adaies, and we were never now able without danger of life to sustaine so strict a diet, as did the diseased in those daies? And ther­fore in our daies to give the sick egges to eate, Egges may safely be used even in Fever or any acute disea [...] yea even in acute disea­ses, we see no danger at all. As for the feare of heat in egges it is very frivolous, they being very temperate, allaying the acrimony and sharpenesse of humors, and withall moisten much. The Diosc [...]n. [...]. 2. cap 43. yolke of an egge applied to any part grieved with paine, easeth the same: and ac­cording to the cōmon consent of Physitians such things as ease paines, called properly anodyna, are of a temperate facultie. Besides, the white of an egge cooleth, as daily experience teacheth us. The white of the eg [...]e co [...]leth. And although the white of the egge be cooler, yet is it withall harder of digestion than the yolke: and therefore Galen in the aforementioned place in a tertian admittteth of the yolke onely. And a late writer condemneth much the vulgar erroneous opinion of the heat of egs, affirming withall that the Italian Physitians doe ordinarily exhibite them to their patients, even of hot constitution of body, and the like diseases, and that even in the heat of Sommer. To nourish much in a smal quanti [...]y is a sin­gular good property. As for the feare of nourishing too much, we esteem that to be a singular prerogative in egges above many other meats, that they nourish much in a small quantity; as being that which we cheifly aime at in great weakenesses, and which we may easily regulate according to our plea­sure, exhibiting a quantity answerable to present necessity. Hens egges best. My mea­ning all this while is of hens egges, as being of all others the most temperate, and most appropriate for the sickes use. Of a hen troden with a cocke a [...]e best. Such egges also are esteemed best, which are laid of a hen troden with a cocke: for others nourish lesse, are of lesser quantitie, and moisten lesse, Preparation of egges. if wee will beleeve Aristotle. In egges also the preparation or dressing is of no small consequence. They are commonly either boiled in water with the shell, or rosted likewise with the shell, or boiled a little in seeth­ing water or other liquor without the shells, called potched egges; Boiled without the shell, called p [...] ched egges. or fried in a frying-pan with butter, and sometimes with an addition of herbes or others things. Of all these preparations the boiled in water without the shell, or potched are best and fittest for the sick, & potched in vineger or verjuice, as some use to doe, they coole, Boiled with the shell. and withall corro­borate a hot and weake stomacke. The next in goodnesse are accounted those are boiled with the shell in water, Rosted egges. by reason they are all alike and equally bo [...]d. Egges rosted in the imbers or otherwise are therefore held inferior to the former, because they are not so equally rosted: how­beit if care be had in the rosting, I hold them nothing inferior to the o­ther, if not better. But for the use of the sicke a speciall care must be had, that they be not hard. Fried egges Egges fried are worse than any of the former, and therefore altogether to be forbidden the sicke. Some­times they have mingled with them divers sorts of herbes, Tansies. tansey especially, (whereof this composition taketh the name) and creame; [Page 178] which howsoever used, are no waies to be allowed sicke folkes, being heavy of digestion even for the healthfull, especially for weake sto­macks, Of Egges also are made caudells, which being made of drinke that is not too strong may without any danger be allowed the sicke; of the making whereof there is hardly a woman in the countrie, I thinke, that is ignorant. Markes of good Eg [...]. But that we may discerne the good from the bad, it is materiall for us to know some certaine markes which may make this appeare. The Priests, it seemeth, in former times, as they ever loved their belly well, so set they us downe three marks whereby we may dis­cerne the best: that an Egge be new laid, long in figure, and white in colour, according to the Regula presbyteri ju­bet hoc pro lege teneri, ut bona sint ova, candi­da longa nova. old proverbiall verse. But to know the new laid from old, stale and addle, wee must yet finde out some more markes. New laid Egges are commonly full, and the stale empty to­wards the broder end, which is also the cause that stale and addle Egges swim in the water, when as the new laid fall to the bottome. Besides, new laid Egges, betwixt thee and the light looke brighter and clearer than the stale and addle ones, which looke more darkly and obscurely. Another signe is, that when it is opened, an old and stale Eg, the yolke especially disperseth it selfe, whereas the new and fresh laid clingeth close together. I have the longer insisted upon Egges, by reason it is so usefull an aliment for the sicke, and the vulgar is so possessed with a needlesse feare of a supposed excessive heat in this food, and therefore thought good to remove all such rubs.

Of the iuice of flesh of severall sorts.Having heretofore sufficiently spoken of solid flesh, as also of egges, I come now to speake of some liquid substances made of flesh, and fit for the use of the sicke. The juice of flesh nourisheth more speedily and easily than the solid substance it selfe. It is farre easier, saith [...]. Hippoc. Aph. 11. lib. 2. Hip­pocrates, to be refreshed with drinke, than with solid food: which is not onely to be understood of drinke, but of liquid and supping meats also. Whosoever have need of a sudden and speedy refection, Lib. de aliment. saith the same Author, humid or moist diet, is the best to repaire strength. And whosoever have yet need of a speedier way, it may be effected by smels. The antient Physitians therefore, taught by experience, that often­times the sicke was not able to concoct solid food, found out this way of suppings. The Lib. de affection. same Authours counsell is againe in another point carefully to be observed: that such as are able to digest and con­coct solid food, to such, suppings are to be denied: for they exclude the use of other food: but to such as cannot make use of any other, to such, In the preparation of these liquid substan­ces made of flesh, care must be had of the cleanlinesse of the persons, and the like care of the vessells they are made in. suppings are to be allowed. Moreover, in the preparation of these liquid substances, there must be an especiall care had of cleanli­nesse, both in the persons that prepare them, and in the vessells wherein they are prepared. The persons must be neat and cleanly▪ skilfull in such preparations, and carefull in skimming off skum and fat, offensive to a weake stomacke. The vessels wherein they are made must be cleane and free from all filth, Earthen and iron ves­sells best, brasse the worst. evill smell or taste. The matter of such vessells are best of earth, yron, or silver: but brasse is the worst of all other, and what is made therein is likeliest to offend a weake stomake, especially if it stand any space in it, as experience daily teacheth us. Some brasse, I confesse, is better than other, and yet the best bad enough. [Page 179] Of all these liquid substances, that which we commonly call broth, is most ordinary, and made after various and divers waies, Broth made after di­vers manners. according to the nature of the disease, and party diseased, and the patients palate. Some is made with herbs, some without; some with plummes (as they call them) raisins of the Sunne, or currants, or dried prunes, and some without any. The variety therefore of broths being infinite, it were a tedious taske to enter upon this subject. But one sort of broth was wont to be made by the antients of an old Cocke to purge the belly, be­ing for that end stuffed with many such ingredients fit for that pur­pose, which is even usuall with us at this day also. I will instance in one fit to be used in pectorall diseases. Take an old Cocke, Broth made of an old Cocke in pecto [...]all diseases. and after a long combat with another Cocke, kill him, pull him, and cleanse him of all his intralls; then fill his belly with barlie prepared as it ought, raisins of the Sunne stoned, violet leaves, maidens haire, a little hysop and peny-riall, with a little salt: boile him till the flesh come from the bone, then bruise him well, and squeeze out all his moisture, and of this broth take a good draught. There are yet many sorts of broth used for severall ends and purposes; some to coole, some to strengthen and cherish nature, &c. Amongst restorative broths, there is one in frequent use, especially in consumptions and great weaknesses, China broth in con­sumptions and great weaknesses. made with the outlandish root, fetcht us from beyond sea, called from the soile, China-root. The proportion of this root to the liquour is not alwaies the same in every sicke person. The China-root must be heavy, and not worm-eaten, and being thinne sliced, must stand about twelve houres by a soft fire, not boiling at all, but simpering by it; and after­ward provide a good bigge young red Cocke-chicken well dressed and cleansed from his intralls, bruise him and put him to thy China, It may also be made with Veale, or other meate, howbeit in weake and sicke peo­ple, a chicken is com­monly best lik'd of. adding ingredients, as the nature of the disease and other circumstances shall permit: as in pectorall diseases, such as wee nominated already, more or lesse, as occasion shall require, which cannot be determined: and in other cases, the ingredients may be altered accordingly. It must boile till little above the fourth part remaine, and it looke red in colour, be­ing still well skimmed as it boileth, and towards the later end adde to your broth the bottome of a manchet, and two or three chives of mace: and when all is sufficiently boiled, bruise your chicken in a stone mor­ter, and squeeze out the juice, and adde to your broth; whereof, being sweetned with sugar, the diseased may take a little draught an houre or two before dinner, supper, or both, if need be. In my opinion the quan­tity of China would not be under an ounce, and seldome exceed two. Howsoever, in time of need it is safest to be directed by learned counsel, which may direct the right preparation and use according to severall circumstances. Againe, sometimes meat is first well rosted, Expression of the iuice of rosted meat, called expressum. and after­wards pressed out in a presse or otherwise, and seasoned with sugar, or made a little tart with a little juice of a lemmon, or otherwise appropri­ated to the patients palat, as particular occasions shall require: which they call in latin expressum, or a juice squeezed out of flesh. And this is best given by it selfe without any other broth or liquor: and this is bet­ter for cold constitutions than for hot, and consequently for the like dis­eases. Now, when the flesh is let boile untill all the substance of the [Page 180] meat be boiled away in the broth, and then strained thorow a clean lin­nen cloth; Colice called cousup­tum. it is called in latine consumptum, and in the English a colice, and may likewise be seasoned and salted according to the liking of the sicke. This colice is either taken of it selfe, or else mingled with other broth. Another liquid substance there is yet extracted out of flesh, which we commonly call a gelee, which is made of a capon or a big cocke-chicken, Gelee. and a couple of calves feet, and so let boile untill it fall to pieces, and being sufficiently boiled, the skum and fat being carefully taken off, it must bee well strained thorow a cleane linnen cloth, and the juice so strained is to bee sweetned with a little sugar, and seasoned with a little cinamon, and so set on the fire a­gaine to boile a wame or two, adding thereto, if thou wilt, two whites of egges the better to clarifie it. After all is done, straine it through an Hippocras bagge, which being cold will turne to a gelee, and may bee coloured with a little saffron or red sanders, and with a graine or two of muske or amber-greze, if the patient please, this may also acquire a pleasant smell. This gelee may also bee used either by it selfe, or else mingled with broth. If there be a Fever, it is best to boile it in faire spring-water: if there be neither Fever, nor yet feare of any, then the one halfe, or yet lesse, may be of white wine, which will make it both pleasant to the pal [...]t, Gelee of harts horn. and very comfortable to refresh weake nature. Our Gentle­women have in frequent use a gelee made of harts horne, which I hold very good, especially in pestelentiall and contagious disea­ses, or in pox and measels is very soveraine. Those of ability may adde to it a little of confectio alchermes or de hyacintho, and then it will bee very soveraine. And if thou wilt have this or any other gelee tart, thou maiest adde a little juice of Lemmon or the like to it. Besides all these, there is yet in use for sicke folkes, a forme of restorative distillation made of a capon, Restorative distillati­ons of capon or other flesh. or other restorative flesh with an addi­tion of cordiall ingredients for that purpose. Some find fault with this distillation, because of the impression of fire left in it, and may bee distastfull to the sicke. But this may easily by a glasse still in balneo mariae be prevented. But the truth is, that by this meanes the phlegmaticke and watry part is onely extracted, which hath but very small nourishing power in it: since that which nourisheth (as witnesseth Lib. de mercur. cap. 9. Galen) ought to bee of a tough, thicke and glutinous substance, to the end it may bee the more firme and permanent. These kinde of distillations are very frequent it France and some o­ther countries; insomuch that they are to bee found ready distilled in many Apothecaries shops; which a learned Rondlet. lib. de fa­bric. cap. de causo. French Physitian findeth fault withall, as being fusty, and of no value at all; if they be kept but a litle while. With us these are not so in request; yet to speake mine opinion also, since they retaine both some taste and smell of the meat they are distilled of, (if carefully done) although their nourishment be but very small, yet see I not, why in great weak­nesses, and a loathing of all food, these may not sometimes bee ad­mitted, especially, since thereby no damage or detriment whatsoe­ver redoundeth to the stomacke, or other part, it passing so speedily [Page 181] thorow the body. There are also some restoratives made of flesh brui­sed and minced, made up in solid formes, and may be used in chro­nicall diseases, but are not for Fevers, nor other acute diseases. But at this present, I will dwell no longer on this, not this subject of flesh, but will say something concerning fish.

CHAP. XI.

NOw, because sicke persons are not all and al­waies to be fed with one and the same food, and some in their sicknesse loath flesh; it may then be demanded, whether Fish may not be permitted sicke folke, although they be not so nourishing, & are also indowed with another manner of juice? and therefore whereas flesh is forbidden in Lent, yet Fish are permit­ted. It may by many places both of Lib. de victus rations in morb. a [...]utis, &c. Hippo­crates & Galen evidently appeare, that the an­tient Physitians fed their patients more with fish than flesh. Besides, when as the sicke loathed their hony water and ptisan, Galen allowed them rockie fish boiled in water, prepared with leekes, dill salt, and a little oile Lib. de sanit. tuend [...] Cardan, in the Diet of the Diseased, preferreth fish before flesh; and that because they are of a cooler quality, moisten more, and nourish lesse. And that the Arabian Physitians allowed to their patients the frequent use of fish, it may by Lib. Averroes appeare. Their manner was to fry them in oile, by which manner of food their opinion was, that the liver was much strengthened. Mercur. v [...]iar lect. libr. 2. cap. 25. A late Writer is of opini­on, that most of the antient Physitians used to feed their patients with fish rather of custome, than that they esteemed them better than flesh. And this may yet the better appeare to be true, in that the Easterne people, and the Greekes especially, used, and doe yet at this day, very frequently use fish; as is by Pellonius observat. libr. 2. a learned Physitian, who, of late yeeres, travelled into those countries, well observed. But if wee shall in even scales weigh both flesh and fish, we shall finde that flesh doth farre sur­passe fish in good and wholesome nourishment, and that even by the testimony of Lib. de affection. Hippocrates himself. Fish indeed, saith he, in the same place, are a light meat, both boiled and broiled, both by themselves and with other meat. And yet they differ thus among themselves: fish of ponds and pooles, the fattest especially, as river fish also, are harder of digestion: but Sea, fish living neere the shore, are lighter; and easier of digestion: and among them againe, Different nourish­ment which fish af­foord. fish boiled are easier of digestion than rosted or broiled. And therefore in case of restoring strength, feed the sick with the former: but if thou wilt either keepe the sicke at a low ebbe, or yet abate some of his strength, feed him with the [Page 182] latter, which are lighter and nourish lesse. Flesh therefore beeing wholesomer than fish, yeelding a more laudable nourishment to the body, they are rather by way of permission, to satisfie their languishing appetites, then otherwise allowed sicke people; and that even in Fe­vers, What fish best for the use of the sicke. where we affect a moistening diet. But then if may in the next place bee demanded, what fish are best for the use of the sicke? All fish are either bred in fresh waters or in the Sea. Sea-fish a­gaine, are either such as frequent the shore, called littorales: or else live most among rockes, called Pisces saxatiles; or else they live in the depth of the maine Ocean, callen therefore Pelagici. Lib. de euch. & cach. Galen preferreth sea-fish before fresh-water fish: and againe among sea-fish, those who live among rockes; as the sole, sea-perch, and the like, he accounteth best. Neither yet are such as live in the maine Ocean and neare the shore to bee misliked. That kinde of fish, saith Lib. 2. cap. 18. Celsus, is lighter that liveth among the rockes, than among sand; and againe, that which liveth among the sand is lighter, than that which liveth among mud and slime. And therefore fishes living in lakes, ponds, pooles, or rivers, must needes bee inferior to the former. What river-fish best. And yet notwithstanding fishes living in cleere and roc­ky rivers, and which have a quicke current, are not to bee misli­ked: such as are the Pyke and pickerell, the Perch and carpe. The Go­nion especially, called the river smelt, may as safely as any fish be allowed the sicke. Galen would have all his fish prepared with his white broth, Preparation of fish in antient times. as he termeth it, being made, as wee mentioned before, with faire water, dill, leekes, and a little salt. But since Galens time the case is much altered, and our European palats have since that time well improved their sense of tasting. Preparation in our times. In acute diseases especial­ly, a tart sowre taste gives our patients best content. And for this pur­pose we use, not without good reason, the juice of a Lemmon, as also of a sowre Orange, a soveraine good sauce in all Fevers, infections and contagions especially, both unknowne in Galens time. And for a corrective in all fish sauces, pepper and salt are with us in most fre­quent use and request, the former not then so much by him used. In France, Mushell broth made with the yolke of an egge. I remember, there was a frequent use of a broth made of mushels with the yolke of an egge, made tart with verjuice of sowre grapes, which pleaseth the palat well, and is not impertinent for a weake sto­macke, whereof in my fever I made now and then a triall.

CHAP. XII.

WHat cruelty it were, after so many and various sorts of meat, it may be, scorched with seal­ding heat in the heighth of a Fever, without a comfortable refreshing with that so much desired drinke, those who have beene scor­ched in this purgatory can best tell: and therefore with the assistance of the Almigh­ty, I purpose to dwell a little upon this so usefull and profitable a point. [...]. And how use­full and profitable the handling of this point is, may from hence easily appeare, that many times the stomacke re­fuseth all manner of sustenance whatsoever, especially in great weak­nesse and acute diseases, and yet drinke is seldome out of season. And in this same particular, we see by experience, it is a hard matter to make the sicke keepe within compasse. But because all times are not alike fit for drinke, therefore must we be a little more circumspect in the choice of the time when it is fittest for the sicke to drinke. And therefore when the time is not fitting, wee must acquaint the sicke, saith Decendus est aeger, [...] in potione [...] [...] bo indugere, [...] cap. 6. Most opportu [...]e time for drinke. Celsus, that when the fit is over hee shall drinke, and that as abstinence from food will shorten the fit, so when the fit is over past, the lesse he now drinke, the lesse desire shall he have after to drinke. But because often times little or no food serveth the sickes turne, therefore must wee be the more carefull to gratifie them in their drinke. Now, as for the time, if election may have place, wee are to make choice of that time when he goeth to rest. Lib 8. cap. 9. Sitis mendosa. A fal [...]e thirst. Celsus in another place, would have the sicke in the night time to rest, and neither to eat nor drinke, if it be possible, and drouth be not too urgent, in which case hee would not have the sicke too much tormented with thirst. But because sometimes the mouth and the throat are drie, and crave drinke, when as the internall and inferiour parts are plentifully supplied with moisture; which is that we call sitim mendosam, or a false thirst, as there is also a false appetite; therefore it wil not be amisse sometimes to wash the mouth & throat with a little cold drinke, sometimes with a little faire water, and a few drops of wine vineger, or some such other liquor; and sometimes some preserved or conserved barberries, raspes, ribes, some lemmon sliced and sugred, or the like acid things; and sometimes a stewed acid prune, keeping the stone in his mouth, as the manner is, or any other like art may be used to deceive this counterfeit thirst. But when the house is now all on a fire, we must needs have some liquour to quench this heat, and ex­tinguish the fire: even so when this house of mans body is all on a fire, [Page 184] wee must needs have some moisture to quench the same. Now what this must be, Water the most anti­ent and common drinke. is our purpose here to discusse. The most antient drinke, and most common to all living creatures is water, of the which, as in generall usefull to all, and in particular, as serving for drinke in health­full persons hath beene already spoken. Now we are to speake of it as it serveth for the use of the sicke, and whether it bee usefull for all or not? Water very frequent among the antients. The use of water we read to have been very frequent among the antients, and especially the Guidian and Rhodian Physitians used it much, and that chiefly in acute diseases; whom therefore Lib. de diaeta acut. Hippo­crates reproveth for not distinguishing the causes of diseases, which may often alter our purpose of exhibiting water to drinke in acute dis­eases, especially where there is a burning Fever proceeding of choler. And this he there illustrateth by the example of the inflammation of the lungs, where he affirmeth, that neither staieth it the cough, nor maketh spit up eafilier; but in a cholericke constitution is altogether converted into choler: and besides, is hurtfull to the nether parts about the stomacke, over­throwing the whole body, especially if dranke fasting. If there bee any inflam­mation of the liver or spleene, it increaseth the same, swimming and floting in the stomacke, descending slowly, being hard and not easy to bee concocted: for the which cause also it looseneth not the belly, provoketh not urine, nor futher­eth any excretion. And Gal. in commen Galen himselfe also confirmeth this same o­pinion, adding, that when as Hippocrates perceived the harmes and mis­chiefes proceeding from the drinking of water, abstained from the use of it in all acute diseases, and betooke himselfe to drinks made of hony and water, of honie and vineger, and sometimes to wine. And with them yet agreeth Augerius Ferrerius in castigat. pract. a late Wri­ter, who out of divers places of both these Authors compared and par­allelled together, mainteineth, that in acute diseases water is altoge­ther hurtfull. And of the same opinion is likewise Mercur. variar. lect. lib. 2. another learned Physitian, yet with this qualification, that if a small quantity of water be added to a great quantity of choler, it is quickly converted into cho­ler: but a great quantity of water drunke, tempereth and allaieth the heat of the choler, and so overcommeth it, whereas a small quan­tity increaseth this humor, being turned into the same. Trallianus. Another antient Physitian notwithstanding controlleth this opinion of Hippo­crates, How water is to bee exhibited without hurt. and affirmeth the quite contrary. But to compose this contro­versie, our Authors meaning is to be understood of water actually cold, which indeed in pectorall diseases, and for the breast it selfe is very hurtfull, and hindereth expectoration: but being once boiled, it groweth thinner and more subtile, and then onely fit in pectorall dis­eases to further expectoration. And it cannot be denied, that cold water is very profitable and usefull in acute diseases, as may even by divers other places both of Hippocrates and Galen appeare: What things in the use thereof to bee considered. and besides, most of our antient and moderne writers with one unaminous consent approve of the same. But in the use thereof wee must diligently consi­der, both the nature of the disease, and constitution of the Diseased. And it is the saying of the same Lib. de acre, aquis & tocis. Hippocrates; whose bellies are hard and apt to bee inflamed, they are to drinke the lightest and purest water: but whose bellies are soft, moist and phlegmaticke, such are to use hard, thicke and some­what saltish waters, subsalsis is his word. Now water is not in all diseases [Page 185] to be used after one and the same manner. In burning Fevers, water is to be drunke cold, in pectorall diseases, a little warmish. Now, that it was familiar in antient times to give cold water to drink in hot acute diseases, I shall make it appeare. Lib. 9 meth, &c. Galen himselfe findeth fault with Erasistratus and his followers for denying cold water in burning Fevers. And againe, for the same cause 7 Meth med. reproveth Thessalus, and braggeth, that hee hath often cured distempered hot stomackes with drinking cold water, yea, even sometimes cooled with snow it selfe. And a­gaine, in 10 Meth. another place hee cureth that sort of Fever, called Ephemere or Diaria, that is of one day, by this same meanes. And in the same booke, by this onely meanes hee preventeth this same disease. And in Lib. de victa in acut. comment. 4. another place giveth us yet warning, that this is a remedy fit for any sort of Fever, providing it be drunke in great abundance. Erastus Antipara [...]. Part. 4. A late Ger­man Physitian also braggeth how many fevers hee hath by this meanes cured; and I know it will seeme no strange thing to heare a Amat. Lusit. centur. 4. curat. 14. centur. 1. curat. 3. Portugall relate what cures he hath by this meanes performed, as in his centuries is at length to be seene. Neither is it my purpose to spend time, and increase the bulke of this booke by relating of such stories. And it is not only commended in all ordinary acute diseases, but even in maligne and pestilent Fevers also, as witnesseth Lib. 3 cap. [...]. Celsus, and is the opinion of the Arabian Physitians, who all seeme to have borrowed it of Lib. 7. epid. in aegrot [...] 7. qui suit meton. Hippocrates, who relateth the story of one sicke of a pestilent Fever, who having drunke great store of cold water, and cast it up againe, recovered pre­sently his health. And besides, the same Libr. 1. cap. 6. Celsus in fluxes of the belly, and in all defluxions proceeding of choler, commendeth this as a sove­raine remedy. The point then being reasonably well cleared, it resteth to be considered, how it is to be exhibited. 6. Epidem. How water is to be prepared for the use of the sicke. Hippocrates, in that hot coun­trie would have the drinke for the diseased to be exposed to the night aire, that so it might receive the morning dew, which might increase the coldnesse thereof: but because this procureth to it some acrimony, some would have other meanes tried; as salt-peter, snow, &c. Concer­ning the which, wee have sufficiently spoken heretofore. But I would not have any such extraordinary actuall frigidity by any such meanes in this case procured, it being so prejudicial to heath, howsoever, peradven­ture at the first not so sensibly perceived. Now, in the exhibition of wa­ter to the sicke, two things are to be considered, the fit and convenient time when, and the quantity thereof. The time is either generall, In the exhibiting of cold water, what things to be conside­red to wit, the course of the disease, or particular, the exacerbation or paro­xysme, which we call the fit. Concerning the generall time, all are not of one mind: for 11 Meth & commen. lib de victu acut. Galen, and our Greeke Writers, would have us wait for signes of concoction in the urines and other excrements. The Rhas. libr. 1. divis. ca. 148. Averih. collect. lib. 7. cap. 8. The generall time. Arabian Physitians are of another minde, and would have us give store of cold drink in the very beginning of the disease. It is indeed very certain, that better it were to wait for signes of concoction, if the fever were not vio­lent: but in extremity of heat, and for feare of further inconvenience by meanes of too long absteining, it is better to yeeld to an inconvenience than to a mischiefe. True it is indeede, that drinking of cold water be­fore signes of concoction, may somewhat prolong the disease, and make the humour grosser, and more crude: but againe, this scalding heat [Page 186] would parch up the humours of the body before these signes of conco­ction. And therefore 10 Meth. Galen sometimes fore-seeing this danger, was forced even in the beginning of the paroxysme to take this course. As for the particular time, Particular time. in intermittent Fevers, it is by Lib. de diaeta acut. Hippocrates himselfe determined, while as he willeth us in the fit to absteine from all manner of food: and if hee forbid food, why not drinke also? since that by much drinking in the beginning of the fit, wee see it prolonged. While the feet are yet cold, wee are to absteine not from suppings on­ly, but from all manner of liquid substances, saith the same Hippocrates, and so the common currant runneth, that the sicke should not drinke during the fit, and yet are not all of this minde. And there is a Ioubert des erreurs populaires partic. 2. cap. 7. Contre ceux qui ne permetient aux f [...]brici­tans de boire durant, leur acces, &c. lear­ned late Writer, who would not have the sicke altogether debarred from drinke during the fit. And although, saith hee, Hippocrates willed us during the fit to absteine from all food, even from suppings also, yet must not this be extended to drinke. And Galen himselfe, in the heighth of a burning Fe­ver, ordeineth a good draught of cold water: and the fit of an intermitting Fever is correspondent and answerable to the whole duration and continuance of continu­all Fevers. As for my part, as I would not be too rigid in denying any reasonable gratification which might not prove prejudiciall to the pa­tient; so would I not be too servile and obsequious without some great necessitie, it being most commonly seene, that if wee give an inch, they will take an ell. Besides, there is difference betwixt our bodies here, and the French in the South parts of that Kingdome where this Author lived: and both in regard of the ambient aire, and their ordinary diet and drinking of wine, their bodies in any fever must needs admit of a higher degree of cooling, than our moist foggie phlegmaticke bodies in this our climat. But if any particular individuall patient should be thus by excessive heat scorched up, as I should not my selfe be too rigid, The quantity. so I wish others to be wise. It resteth in the next place to define the quantity, which would seeme to be controverted, some allowing of a great draught at once, and some againe, would have drinke taken by degrees. It is by the most, both Greeke and Arabian Physitians maintei­ned, that the sicke may drinke, ad satietatem; even to satiety. But Proct. 57. sect. 1. A­ristotle seemeth to be of another minde, and it seemeth, it was the cu­stome of some Physitians of his time: Obiect. for, saith he, Physitians use to give cold drinke by degrees, whereof he rendreth this reason; that be­ing thus drunke by degrees it moisteneth more than drunke plentifully and at once: even as wee see soft showers moisten more than great da­shes of raine. Answere. I answer, that wee intend not here so much humectation, as sudden extinction of this exorbitant scorching heat: for even as we see in Smiths forges, that a little water kindleth the fire, and maketh it burne faster; even so doth a little drinke rather increase the heat of the fever, than extinguish it. Now, because so great a quantity of cold water, if it should long lodge within the body, might breed some incon­venience, it is therefore by Physitians appointed, that the sicke should cast it up againe, as both by De d [...]ta acut. Cels. lib. 3. cap. 7. Hippocrates, and many other Authours may appeare. And Lib. 5. epid. in another place relating the disease and death of the wise of one Antiochus in Larissa, to the end of his long discourse subjoineth this, that it seemed shee might have lived, if shee could have drunke [Page 187] store of cold drinks, and cast it up againe. But now, to come home to our owne country wherein we live, and to see how the premisses may agree with us, I thinke it will not be impertinent. It is then to be observed, Accommodation to our owne countrie [...] climat. that all those countries wherein the Greekes and Arabians lived, were ve­ry hot, and the inhabitants thereof much naturally addicted to drin­king of water, their wine being there too strong for ordinary drinke, as it is in many parts of Europ even at this day, where the vulgar drinke most water, or mingled with a little wine, and therefore in time of sick­nesse cannot so much offend them. But with us water is not so usuall for ordinary drinke, and therefore might more wrong our bodies. Be­sides, water is hurtfull to weake stomackes, whose bodies abound not with blood, or yet are troubled with any tumour, or inward inflamma­tion, and oppressed with tough and crude clammy humors. Small beere with i [...] in stead of water allowed the sick, and so to be used. And there­fore wee safely permit the use of small beere, which neither indange­reth the body, if not cast up againe, neither can it much wrong the body by sudden overcooling of the same. Besides, the boiling correcteth the crudity; the barly is good in all acute diseases, as after shall appeare; and the hoppe openeth obstructions of the inward parts. If the patient, after a good draught can cast it up againe, it will doe him good: and if not, it will finde a vent some other way, as being farre more penetrant than water. And as for the benefit might by casting it up againe be procured, it may by meanes of a convenient vomit easily be effected, which may by a discreet Physitian be according to severall circumstan­ces accomodated. But if the heat were yet very violent, and more coo­ling drinke be yet requisite, we are not unfurnished of variety of distil­led waters, whereof we can easily compose such variety of cooling ju­leps, with the addition of tart acid juices and liquors, as may give con­tent to the nicest and daintiest palats. And wee are not unfurnished of barly waters, posset drinkes of severall sorts, and many others, whereof we purpose shortly to make mention. And yet, if wee would make use of water in fevers, I see not but it might be very well, How water may safe liest of us be used. and to good pur­pose used. I would have then pure spring water well boiled, and after­wards well cooled againe, and then made tart with a spoonfull or two of good white-wine vineger, or some drops of the acid spirit of vitriole, some barberries, or the like. This would prove a soveraine good cooling and wholesome drinke in all hot fevers whatsoever, contagious or others: and the poorer sort might reap as much benefit by this, as any other drinke.

CHAP. XIII.

WHat hath hitherto beene spoken concer­ning cold water, and the many waies were used to coole it its hot countries, to please the palate, wil easily finde credit with a vulgar understanding, What thirst is: Hot drinkes have bin in use of old. hot drinke being of no living creature whatsoever desired, and can­not therefore be naturall: for thirst is no­thing else but an earnest desire of a cold and humid substance. Now, de facto, that there were such hot drinkes in use among the anti­ents, if we should deny, yet many Authors will make the truth thereof appeare. But whether this now used in sicknesse or in health, or both; as likewise de iure whether usefull for the body or no, resteth now to be discussed. It hath beene an usuall speech among people, that wee ought to drinke as hot as our blood, and that for feare, lest naturall heat by cold drinke be quite extinguished. And it would seeme that the antient Romans had this custome in frequent use: for wee read that Dio [...]. in Rome there were shops where such hot drinkes were sold; called therefore Thermopolia, Thermopolia in Rome, place [...] where hot drinkes were sold. as may appeare by that the Emperour Claudius discharged this custome, and tooke quite away all such places. And againe, Caius Caligula put to death a Master of one of these shops, for selling of this warme drinke, during the funeralls of his wife Drusilla. And from this warme drinke was the Emperour Tiberius nick-named Biberius Caldius mero. Fiberius Cal [...]ius mero. And in great families, one of the servants had the charge of fetching such warme water, which was alwaies in a readinesse to be sold, the which, if he brought too late, his punishment was 300 stripes. And that the Romans had it in ordinary use, especially at their suppers, when as they fed most liberally, may also by many places of the old Quando vocatus ad­est calid [...] frigida (que) mi­nister. luven. Caldam poscis aquam sed nondum frigidale­nit: Alget adhuc nudo clausa culina soco, Mat. Poets appeare. And the old comicke Poet In Vers. in Trinum­mo, Rudente, in pseu­dolo. Plantus make thereof frequent mention, and many other Authors, whom for brevity I here passe by. Stu [...]k Anntiqu con­ [...]. libr. [...]. cap. 6. ex [...]. Iud. A late Writer rendereth a reason why some of the Easterne nations, as namely the inhabitants of China and Iapan use warme drinke, and yet live long, and in good health, to wit, that by reason of the ex­treme heat of the ambient aire, their stomackes and inward parts are cold, and therefore, to warme them within, use this warme drinke. [...] ex [...], tem ex Athen. 8 Di [...]noso [...]. Others againe, used this warme drinke onely for wantonnesse, to make them cast up their meat, and so fill their stomacke againe with fresh food: the which, the same Authour also out of some an­tient Writers relateth, and that this was a common custome among the Rhodians. Mercur. [...]ariar. lect. [...]. 1. Frigida non d [...]crit, non decrit [...]. Some againe were of opinion, that the antients never dranke warme water of it selfe, but mingled with their wine. At least, it seemeth it was the custome of some, as likewise that nothing [Page 189] might be wanting at a great and sumptuous feast, as the Poet intima­teth unto us. Idem Stuck. ex [...]. Some againe thinke that although they warmed their water, yet that they let it coole againe before they either drunke it, or mingled it with their wine: at least it seemeth it was the custome of some, as of some others, to warme both their water and their wine, and then to coole them being so mingled before they dranke them. Lambi [...]. & Turne [...]. in praed. Plauti loc. refe­rente eodem Stuckio ibid. Some learned men are also of opinion that these warme drinkes were not alwaies water, but some other sweet artificiall drinkes, and which people out of wanton­nesse were wont to drinke: as is the custome both in high Germanie and the Low-countries to repaire in a morning to cer­taine shops where strong waters are sold, whereof they drinke some, being mingled with sugar or sweet sirup. Cold drinke is best and most usefull. But certaine it is, the best course is to drinke our drinke cold, as it is in its owne na­ture: and if in extreme cold, as in frosty weather, or any otherwise be by extreme cold drinke offended; then may they qualifie this ex­treme quality, either by putting a warme tost into it, or otherwise abate the extremity of the cold, but in no case to drinke it hot. And yet we see, that even among our selves we have a custome sometimes to drinke warme wine, burning it with spices, as is supposed, Burning of wine whe­ther better for use than other wi [...]e▪ to qua­lifie the heat and strength of the wine, and so drinke it warme. But in my opinion, this is a wrong both to the wine and themselves also: burning away the spirit, which is the life of the wine, they procure unto it an accidentall and adventitious heat, more hurtfull to the bo­dy, than the naturall heat of the wine it selfe. And besides, although it be often used in cold weather, yet to drinke it so actually hot is no­thing so good, the wine howsoever it be actually cold, yet doth it al­waies by a potentiall heat warme the inward parts.

But let us now see whether warme water were in use with the sicke or no? Whether warm drink be useful for the sicke It would seeme to bee more usefull for the sicke than for the whole, and the Arabian Physitians administer it in pectorall diseases, by reason cold drinke is an enemy to all the pectorall parts. And an Cels. lib. 3. cap [...]. antient Roman Physitian commendeth it in all Fevers. Trallianus & Pau­lus Aegineta. Others com­mend it in that Fever called diaria, or of one day. Besides, the Greeke Physitians used it ordinarily in diseases of the reines. But yet that it is not so good for the stomacke, cannot bee denied. Warme drinke in use with us also. And although it be not now the custome with us to give our patients warme-wa­ter to drinke, yet upon divers occasions we use also warme drinks▪ as warme posset drinke to further the operation of vomits, and o­thers to provoke sweat. And howsoever we use not to exhibite this warme water, as did many of the antients; yet because we are ac­customed for the sickes use and benefit to boile our water with ad­dition of some simples, something I will say concerning this point. Water boiled is more subtill and of a more sudden penetration, Boiled water. than crude as it commeth naturally out of the earth. The antients boiled it either with the heat of the Sunne, or of the fire. And the Persian and Aegyptian Kings were wont to boile their water at the he at of the Sunne, were it never so thinne and pure in it selfe. With us we have in use a double boiling of water: the one by the heat of [Page 190] the fire in ordinary vessells, Distillation [...] us in frequent use, to the antients unknowne. the other by way of distillation to the anti­ents unknowne. Which of these two wayes is the best, we are now to inquire. Our Physitians are for distilled water, and must needes be the best. Indeed boiled water is to bee preferred before the crude, and is farre more familiar for the stomacke: but in this, distillation hath the preheminence, Distilled waters to be preferred before o­thers. that whereas by decoction many thinne parts are e­vaporated, this is here avoided. And indeed by distillation all uncouth taste, if any, is removed, and by reason of this refining and attenuati­on, it will also keep a long time without putrefaction. But this point is so cleere, that I shall not need to prosecute it any longer. And al­though we are not accustomed to distill ordinary water, yet is it very frequent with us to distill waters out of simples of all sorts, both hot and cold, whereof here to speake is not now my purpose. Onely this one thing I adde, that whereas some object that waters distilled in stills made of metall, either are not so good by reason of some relicks of the mettall communicated unto them, or else have some smoakie or firie impression left behind in these waters: I answere, the first feare is frivolous, and builded on a false foundation, and the other may by care and diligence be much prevented. But if any be so curious and fearefull, they may have their waters distilled per balneum Mariae, in glasse stills, if they will be at cost. But it is the custome of many people, Needlesse feare of som conceived in the use of distilled wa­ters. that they would fare well and pay little for it. Now before I fi­nish this point, I must give warning to such as attend the sicke, that they doe not unseasonbly too much obtrude upon the sicke these their warme drinks, or suppings, wherein women doe very much exceed, and many times quite debilitate and overthrow their weak stomacks. And this shall for this particular now suffice: as occasion shall offer it selfe, I shall now and then touch upon some particular abuses and failings in this kind; and now I proceed to some other drinks, and first concerning wine, and whether the sicke may be suffered to drinke any.

CHAP. XIIIJ.

OF wine we have already spokē at great length and of all the severall sorts thereof, the right use and abuse, resteth now to say some­thing thereof, as it hath relation to the sick. Of the excellent vertues of this king of li­quors there is no doubt to be made; but yet the event is often doubtfull, whether it may prove a profitable medicine, or a deadly poi­son. And therefore Androcide [...]s sapien­tia claruo ad Alexan­drum Magnum scripsit intemperantiam eius [...]o­hibendam sic scripsit. Ʋtinam potaturus rex, memento te bibere san­guinem t [...]rrae. Situti venenum est hominici­cuta, ita & vinum. Quibus praecep is si ille obtemperavisset, pro­fecto am [...]cos in temu­tentia non interemisset Plin lib. 14. cap. 5. Pliny relateth, that a fa­mous wiseman called Androcides wrote good counsell to Alexander the Great, as an antidote against his intemperance: when thou art to drinke wine, O King, remember that thou drinkest the blood of [Page 191] the earth: For as hemlocke is to man a poison, even so is wine. To which precepts if he had hearkened, he had not in his drunken fits imbrued his hands in his deerest friends blood. So that of it may truely bee said, there is nothing more conduceth to the strength of the body, not yet more dangerous delight than this, if not regulated according to reason. No mervaile then, if there ought to bee great caution and circumspection in exhibiting this to sicke folkes: and indeed there hath beene some alteration among Physitians, whether wine might safely bee exhibited to sicke people? For si [...]e diseases are cured by contraries, and wine in the estimation of all Physitians is reputed hot, it will follow that to drinke wine, especially in hot diseases (for of others there is no controversie) is to increase the disease. In vita Alexandri magni. Plutarch writes that Alexander the great falling into a Fever, and drinking wine liberally, by that meanes died; how­beit we are not ignorant, others hold an other opinion concerning his death: & yet it cannot be denied, but wine might hasten his end. It may be then admired and wondered at, why De victu in a [...]utu. Hippocrates in Fevers and hot diseases permitteth the use thereof. Neither yet did In comment & alibi Galen in like cases deny his patients the use of wine. If the like care and caution they used in the exhibiting of it were observed, no doubt, it might be without feare yeelded unto. The wine they used was thinne, Wine may safely som­times be exhibited the sicke. weake white wine, called by him vinum aquosum, or watery wine, much dege­nerating from the nature of strong hot wine: and there he findeth fault with the Guidian Physitians, who were altogether ignorant of the right use of wine; affirming, also that we may safely, even in a Pleuresie or in­flammation of the lungs, exhibite such wines: providing, still there bee nei­ther great headach; nor deliration or perturbation of mind; as likewise that the spitting up of tough phlegme bee not hindered, nor urine suppressed, &c. And a little after, thou must know that it will be lesse hurtfull to the blad­der and upward parts, if it be thinne and waterish, as he termeth it: but bet­ter for the guts if it be stronger. It appeareth then plainely, that even in the opinion of Hippocrates such small wines might be used of the sick. And therefore these wines, which in comparison of others may bee called Vide Gal. sub finem lib. de euch & cacoch Circumstances consi­derable in exhibiting wine to the sicke. cold (of the which both Hippocrates and Galen are to be under­stood) are often without danger administred to sicke persons. But in the use thereof wee are diligently to consider, besides the quality, whereof we have already spoken, the quantity and opportune time of offering the same. The quantity cannot well be determined, yet must it be by moderation regulated, and severall circumstances not negle­cted. The fit and opportune time is by the same authors assigned, when signes of concoction appeare, or in the declining of the Fever. As likewise in a pleuresie or inflammation of the lungs, the matter being now concocted, and the inflammation abated; and by this meanes expe­ctoration is furthered, not hindered. Something notwithstanding, is to be yeelded to custome and old age. If any from their youth bee brought up with wine, they will hardly admit of any other drinke, neither will the stomacke commonly admit of any other liquor. But heare what Pliny saith concerning this same subject. Quod ad febrium ae­gritudines attinet, cer­tum est non dandum in febre, nisi veteribu [...] ae­gris vinum, nec nisid [...] clinante morbo. In a­cutis vero periculis nul­lis nisi qui manifestas remissiones habeant, & bas noctu potius. d [...]mi­dia enim pars periculi est noctu: hoc est spesomai bibentibus, nec a partu abortuve: nec a libidine aegrotanti­bus, nec in capitis dolo­ribus, nec quorum ac­cessiones cum frigore extremitatum fiant: nec in febri tussienti­bus, &c. Et paulo post, dari uti (que) non nisi in ci­bo debet, nec a somno, nec praecedente alio po­tu: hoc est uti (que) sitienti, nec nisi in desperatione summa, &c. As concerning Fevers, saith he, it is certaine we ought never to give wine in that disease, but to such as bee of good yeeres, and that in the declining of the disease onely. [Page 192] And in acute diseases to none but such as have manifest remissions, especially in the night time, the halfe of the danger being in the night time, that is, hope of sleepe to such as shall then drinke. It must therefore be given onely with meate, neither after sleepe, nor yet after any other drinke, that is onely taken when the diseased is dry, and almost in the case of greatest extremity, all hope almost now failing us. In such places then where such smal wines grow, as in the Ile of France about Paris, and in the countrey of Xantonge, especially about Rochell, Plin. lib. 28 cap. 2. they may freely give the diseased such smal wines without any danger at al. And of such a thinne acid, and somwhat tartish wine, com­posed of most white grapes, and a few red, I my selfe made a triall in a double tertian during my abode in France. This they cal couleur dupesche, or peach coloured wine from the colour of the peach flowre or bloome: Wine called couleur du pesche. and this wine mingled with water did both quench thirst without any apparent heat, and provoked both sweat and urin. But let us now draw nearer home, and see whether wine may be allowed our sicke? It is not unknown that our cold moist climat bringeth not this noble liquor of the grape to any maturity or perfect ripenesse, so that whatsoever wine we use, Accommodation to our climat. we are beholden to our neighbour countries for it: besides, that wine not being our naturall drinke in time of health, is neither in time of sickenesse of us to be used, especially in hot acute diseases. And our wines are commonly so strong, that it is not fit to administer them to sicke folkes; VVhat wine with us fittest. howbeit if any, I thinke our Rhenish were the safest and fittest, if it were free from brimstone, or such other trash, where­with our vintner, Beere better for our sicke than wine. wine-brewers doe oftentimes marre our best wines. But God of his singular goodnesse hath furnished us with a wine be­fitting our owne countrie and climat, which being also in ordinary use in time of health, may freely and without any danger be allowed the Diseased in time of sicknesse, But because in imitation of wine, this our northern wine (for so I may cal it) wee are likewise furnished with divers sorts, differing in strength one from another, we may, ac­cording to the nature of the disease and constitution of the diseased, al­low the sicke such as shall be thought most fitting. But in acute disea­ses the smaller the beere be, In acute diseases the smaller the better. it is so much the better; provided it be nei­ther too new, too stale, nor taste too much of the hop, which will make it more heady and hotter. Let people therefore beware of their march beere and strong ale in all such infirmities, which may as much offend their bodies, Erroneous opinion of the vulgar, esteem­ing strong drinke a Panacea or catholick medicine against all diseases. as strong wines doe others in hot countries. But in any case, let this beere be very cleere, and not thicke and muddy. Most of our ordinary people, in the country especially, are perswaded, that wine and strong drinke will recover all diseases whatsoever, bee they never so hot and acute. And a bottle of good wine is commonly the first physicke they send for to the next market towne. But many times before their recovery, they are forced to their cost to recant their for­mer erroneous opinion, and often cry a too late peccavi.

Artificiall wine.Now besides naturall wines made of the juice of the grape onely, there bee also severall sorts of artificiall wines made for divers uses: some made with purging ingredients to purge the body, and so for di­vers dayes to be drunke, according as the Physitian in discretion shall thinke fit, and the strength of the patient, and nature of the disease [Page 193] shall suffer. Some, againe, are appropriated for other uses: as for strengthening of the stomacke, opening of obstructions, and innume­rable others. But because these artificiall wines are commonly to best purpose made with new wines, when they are new prest out of the grape, therefore wee are deprived of the benefit of making such artifi­ciall wines. In stead of them, wee use to boile in our new wine, Diet drinkes made of ale or beere. our wort I meane, such ingredients as we thinke fitting for that we intend; either purging simples or others: as sage, wormewood, &c. And thus wee make severall sorts of diet drinkes, and ales, for severall ends and purposes. But amongst many others, Scurvy grasse ale. Scurvy-grasse is good a [...]ainst obstructions of the spleene, and accidentally cleareth the blood, and i [...] therefore good a­gainst the Scurvy. Of Aquavitae, and o­ther strong sublima­ted waters. there is a drink made with scurvy-grasse, much used by our Ladies and Gentlewomen in the spring of the yeere for clearing of their blood. Many, I am sure, make use of this drinke without any use or need at all, but only out of a wanton custome, and a certaine preconceived opinion of making them looke faire.

Out of wine is also extracted a noble liquor or spirit, called for the noble effects (as being esteemed the true balsame of a mans life) A­quavitae, or water of life. This liquour by many hath been much mag­nified, and no small commendations ascribed unto it, for the preserving and mainteining the life of man for many yeeres. Among many there is Savonatola tractati [...] de aqua vitae. an Italian Writer, who doth exceedingly extoll and set forth the praises thereof, and relateth many histories of such as have by meanes thereof prolonged their lives for many yeeres. Historie. As one Physitian called Antonius Sapelius, who, after hee had atteined to 80 yeeres of age, by the use of this liquor, lived yet 22 more. Another. The like hee relateth of another famous Phy­sitian called Iacobus Parmensis, Aurum potabile pro­duceth but few wit­nesses of its efficacy. who attributed his long life of 90 yeeres to the use of this noble liquor. But what? me thinks I heare some secret complaints of aurum potabile, as though it were somewhat thereby disparaged; by meanes whereof, notwithstanding, they say men may live multitude of yeeres. But I heare nothing but words, their smoakie promises not be­ing seconded by answerable events, as I have already proved. But I wish people to be wise, and cautelous in the use of this or any other such hot fiery liquor. Those of whom this late alleaged Author made mention, Srongwaters sparing­ly & warily to be used. were Physitians, and of a good age, and no strangers to the state of their own bodies, and well able to judge what might best make for the preser­vation of their own healths, and so might find that benefit therby, which another might long seek, and at length, perhaps, for his labour, For whom most use­full. find a late repentance. If it be usefull for any, it is especially for old and cold moist constitutions; and so no question, moderatly used now and then, it may produce a marvellous good effect in spinning out of divers yeeres, the thred of mans life. And therefore let youth, and hot and dry constitu­tions, be very wary in the use of this, or any other such hot waters. There is also a spirit extracted out of our Northern wine, beere or ale, I meane, Spirit of ale or beere. the which, although inferiour to the former, yet may it well in time of neede, with good successe be used. That which is most commonly sold under this name of Aquavitae, and in most frequent use, Ordinary aquavitae pernicious to the health of man. is nothing else but a liquour distilled out of the dregges and washings of ale and beere barrells, and might rather from the evill it breedeth in the body, be cal­led, Aquamortis. The right spirit of wine, if it be as it ought, The right spirit of wine how to be dis­cerned. will suffer drops of oile to sincke to the bottome, and will dissolve Campher: [Page 194] besides, being once set a fire, it is quickly all wasted away. And such a liquor would be used onely in extremity, in swounding, and the like, and then but a very small quantity at a time. I deny not but it may be of good use also, which commeth somewhat short of this absolute per­fection: howsoever, I advise thee, as thou lovest thy life and health, know well what water thou medlest with, and especially shunne such stuffe as I have already disclaimed. Somewhat milder than this Aquavitae is that strong water, wee commonly call Vsquebach, so much in use among the Irish, having for this same purpose some Liquirice and raisins of the Sunne, and withall some Cloves, Mace and Ginger. This is likewise cautelously to be used, and especially of cold phleg­maticke constitutions, and in a cold and moist constitution of the aire. But still beware of excesse, even in those whom it best befitteth. There are yet an infinit other varieties of strong waters, both simple and compounded, Great variety of strōg waters. destilled both with wine, ale and beere, and take the denomination from that simple or simples wherewith they are distilled: as Wormwood-water, Balme-water, Cinnamon-water and the like; and they reteine the vertue of the simples whereof they are distilled, whereof we have at large already discoursed. Some of these waters againe, are com­pounded of many severall simples; and take the denomination either from that which is most predominant; as the Theriacal-water: or else from the sublime and extraordinary effects; as aqua coelestis, aqua mi­rabilis, &c. and sometimes from the Author also; as Doctor Stevens his water. Great danger in the too frequent use of these sublimate wa­ters, especially in the yonger sort. But whosoever is too busie, or bold with any of these hot waters in ordinary use, either for furthering concoction, or otherwise, shall at length finde them produce the like effect, as lime laid to the roots of trees; which howsoever it hasten the fruit for the present, yet killeth it the trees in a short time. And this I have in some of my very good friends and patients often found too true; with whom I wish sound rea­son might have more prevailed than their owne disorderly appetites. I have observed in some, who had these hot liquors in too frequent use, as they pretended, to warme their stomacks, that at length they came to this pitch, that whether they drunke any of these sublimate waters, or the best sacke or other wine whatsoever, they found no more heat in it than of a cup of cold water powred downe their throats. But this was not all the harme from thence ensuing, but was after accompanied with an extraordinary great distempered heat, both in the liver and kidnies; and in some an irrecoverable scirrbus in the liver, a disposition to a dropsie, and in conclusion, an untimely death. I could easily, at great length, dilate and discourse largely upon this one point, but that I hasten to the other matters which yet remaine to handle.

CHAP. XV.

ALthough wee have already handled hony with the vertues thereof, and divers other things concerning this subject; yet now wee are to speake of it againe at more length, at least of some drinkes made thereof, of no small use in the Diet of the Diseased. And the praise of it may from hence appeare, in that the Land of Canaan was commended, and that by the Authour of truth himselfe, to be a Land flowing with milke and hony. Of this many excellent drinkes were made by the antients, which with us at this day are not in so great request. Howbeit even at this day, some nations, where hony is plentifull, make thereof some drinkes very usefull both in sicknesse and in health: as namely, the Polonians, Lituanians, or country of Lettow, and other territories subject to the Polonian Crowne, where good wine is scant, and good hony plentifull; and therefore in stead of wine use this drinke. And wee have already made mention of Metheglin, made in Wales. Now, Three sorts of drinks made of hone in use among the antients. of hony were made three sorts of drinkes, differing one from another: The first of those was called Mulsum, or a drinke made of hony and wine: another Mulsa, or Hydro­mel, a drinke made of water and hony; the third of hony and vineger, water sometimes being mingled therewith, and by them called Oxymel; at this day with us in no small request, in pectorall diseases especially. The first of these then is that which the antients called Mulsum, and so celebrated by that Roman Pollio, as wee have already mentioned. And that this was a very antient drinke, may by a Mercur. variar. lect. lib. 6. late learned Writer ap­peare, who proveth the same against Plutarch, who held it in his time to be but a new invention. His opinion hee proveth both by the authority of Homer and Hippocrates, who call this drinke [...]. Of this drinke Plin. lib. 7. cap. 56. Pliny maketh one Aristeus a Thracian the author, and the which drinke he brought into that credit and reputation, that in these daies there was no sort of drinke in greater request, howsoever, now in our daies neglected. It was made of tart or sharpe wine and hony, taking its name a mulcendo, from mitigating and qualifying the sharpnesse and tartnesse of the wine. Pliny would have it made of old wine, as being easiliest incorporated with the hony. That this is that Oenomeli menti­oned by Dioscorides, may by comparing that place of Pliny with his, easi­ly appeare. 4 Sympos. Pro [...] [...]. Plutarch writeth, that honie spoileth and corrupteth the wine, and may therefore be questioned, whether it be wholesome or no? I answer, that being new made, it is windy; but being well boiled, and [Page 199] kept a good while, it becommeth a most wholesome drinke. And many, saith the same Pliny, have by the continuall use of this drinke, atteined to old age, as hath been already in Pollio instanced. This drinke is in some places of Hippocrates prescribed in pectorall infirmities. The likest to this drinke, is that famous Metheglin, so much used in Wales. Piacotonius lib. de cerevisia & mulsa. In some sea-cities of Germanie, they make this Mulsum, and mingle therewith many aromaticall simples. There was another drinke made of the same hony and water onely, Hydromel, and divers compositions thereof. and in no small request among the antients, called therefore Hydromel. Of this drinke, there were divers manners of composition: Libr. Dioscorides maketh it of two parts of old river water, and one part of hony boiled together, and set a long time in the Sunne. Loco nuper citat. Pliny composeth it of hony and raine-water long kept, boiling the water with the third part of hony, untill the third part of it were wasted away. There was also another drinke made of hony, in request among the antient Greekes, Apomell. called Apomeli, and was made of the hony-combes, washed and boiled in faire water. 4 De san. tuend. Galen maketh yet mention of ano­ther manner of composing this drinke; taking of vineger one part, of hony two parts, of faire water foure parts, and so boiled them, where no mention is made of the combes. How Hydromel or Mulsa was made a­mong the Arabian Physitians. The Arabian Physitians made their Mulsa or Hydromel after this fashion. They tooke one pound of very good yellow hony, and not too old, which they boiled with eight times as much spring-water in an earthen or stone vessell, skimming them well, and boiling altogether at a great fire, and then straining it thorow a cleane linnen cloth. In Lib. de victu acut. Two sorts of it a­mong the Greekes. Hippocrates, wee read of two sorts of this Mulsa, or Melicratum, one ravv, another boiled. The former was made of three parts of spring-water, or old raine-water, and one of ve­ry good hony well mingled together, and set a long time in the Sunne. The second sort which was boiled, was composed of the same quantity, but presently boiled to the wasting away of the third part. Besides, he maketh there two sorts of this drinke, according to the predominancy of the one or the other of these two: for when the quantity of water ex­ceeded that of hony, Melicratum Aquosum, & sincerum. it was called Melicratum aquosum, but when there was greater store of hony than water, then it was call Sincerum Melicra­tum, or pure and plaine hony-water. In our daies, some make this drinke of good pure hony one part, and six times as much good spring water, well boiled and skimmed, till the fourth part be wasted away. To know whether it be sufficiently boiled or no, To know when it is boiled enough. put into it an egge, and if it swimme on the top, it is sufficient, but if it sincke to the bottome it is not. When it is tunned up, for better defecation and purging, in hot weather, especially in hot countries, it may be set into the Sunne for certaine daies. It may be about a quarter old before it be drunke. When it is very old, the use of it is condemned, even by Lib. 31. cap 6. Pliny him­selfe. This drinke might be of good use in many infirmities of the bo­dy, of the brest especially, excepting alwaies hot and cholericke consti­tutions. It might be made tarter by meanes of some vineger, or some other acid or sharpe juice, provided alwaies it exceed not.