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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
ground_n	branch_n	grow_v	leaf_n	1,875	5	9.3763	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A47663	The secret miracles of nature in four books : learnedly and moderately treating of generation, and the parts thereof, the soul, and its immortality, of plants and living creatures, of diseases, their symptoms and cures, and many other rarities ... : whereunto is added one book containing philosophical and prudential rules how man shall become excellent in all conditions, whether high or low, and lead his life with health of body and mind ... / written by that famous physitian, Levinus Lemnius.; De miraculis occultis naturae. English	Lemnius, Levinus, 1505-1568.	1658 (1658)	Wing L1044; ESTC R8382	466,452	422

men that are far from the knowledg of God into a very great admiration of his divinity Contemplation of Nature raiseth mens minds to God if they have any spark of sound understanding For the nature of things which is vast and diffused all over far and near when it doth every where present it self to our eye and mind it doth wonderfully affect a man and directs him into an exceeding great love and adoration of the maker of it For if a man would mind and consider seriously what beauty and comelinesse there is of things created proceeding one from the other and how artificially and skillfully all things are made and builded and shall see that all things were created for the necessary uses All was created for mans use and pleasure and commodity of man who would not be affected with them or not honour and adore their maker who would have all things be onely for mans sake and to continue in a perpetuall order and series not without admirable succession in their propagation The excellency of nature made these things As besides others that Antony he that by reason of those fierce laws of proscription against Christians and rage of persecution which in all ages increaseth and grows new in fiercenesse He went into the wildernesse and dwelt in solitary vast inaccessible desarts where Tyrants could not pursue him who delighted himself onely in the contemplation of Nature and natural things That when one asked him for he was courteous to all and would refuse to answer none as some testy people do wherefore he had so few and almost no books He is said to have answered that the spectacles of this world did so much satisfie his mind and refresh him that they afforded him such documents and precepts how to lead his life that they were in the place of many books and he did not much stand in need of them sometimes the most pleasant reading of Books will glut a man that the mind grows weary with tediousnesse of reading Proverb c. ult but the contemplation of nature brings such ●riety of delights and pleasures that there ariseth from thence no loathing or tediousnesse Curious Writers will adorn their books and Commentaries with the Colours and paintings of Rhetoriques and gallant words But Nature the Instrument and Minister of the greatest Work-master which is effectual and opposite to work any thing doth feed and refresh our minds and eyes not with any borrowed but with natural variety For who is able to expresse or unsold the cunning of Nature her work and industry and the species of Plants Flowers Animals Creeping things Fishes Birds and all their conditions forces and effects What Artificer or Work-master though he be excellent can by imitating attain to those forms and shapes which are every where evident and men behold every moment Art imitates Nature and the industry of man can draw and carve to the life So Conrade Gesner a man of hidden learning and unwearied pains took so much care in writing the History of all living Creatures The praise of Conrade Gesner and things that breathe to whom I give the Garland before all others So many more in their descriptions of Plants and expressing their forms have deserved very well But as all this is plausible and popular and to imitate Nature is praise worthy so it doth represent all living creatures in dumb shews without life taft savour or smell and void of all vertue For the inanimate nature of things is not silent or without a tongue but lively cheerfull upright that will set forth it self and sweetly allure the senses so that it will much move him that contemplates of it it will teach him many things and will draw him on with her invitations so that the beholder will never be idle or rest in that alone but will from hence elevate his mind to him by whose force all these things stand and consist So that in the things we plainly see we must not onely look upon the Excellent workmanship of Nature that is to be imitated The Nature of things brings us to God but we must behold the Majesty Amplitude Glory Splendor Magnificence of God and the good will of a most bountifull Father unto Mankind The Elements Heavens rising and setting of the Stars changes of day and night What we are taught by the viciscitude of things the four parts of the years that comprehend the two Equinoxes in Spring and Autumn and the two Solstices in Summer and Winter by the revolution whereof plants fade and fail and at their times come forth and revive again as they shew and point at many things so they shew the resurrection from death to life whereby bodies in their appointed time shall be perfectly restored to life again David that most admired the works of God did wonderfully extoll this admirable face of Nature and ascribes it as we ought to the Work-master and he doth with exceeding praises adorn his works that are seen both in Heaven above and in the Earth beneath and followes them with just commendations so that by his intent and fixed contemplation of them he was compelled to cry out Psal 103. How wonderfull are thy Works O Lord thou hast made all things in wisdome the Earth is filled with the plenty thereof This consideration of Nature seemed profitable to the very Heathens and pleasant to their minds who had a very small knowledge of Divine things L. 4. so Tully in Academicis I think not fit that natural questions are ever to be banished for it is the very food of our Souls and Mind to contemplate the works of Nature for we are made more attentive and we despise transitory fading things fastning our minds on heavenly things The very searching out of things begets delight and the mind is fill'd and affected with great delight Tuscul 5. But whatsoever Nature hath produced not onely of living creatures but of plants that grow on the Earth is the most perfect in its own kind Whereof some are very low and grow not high above ground some rise very high others are alwayes green others again in winter are spoyled of their beautiful leafs Diversity of Plants but with the Spring 's heat they bud forth again and grow into branches Nor is there any thing that hath not such an imbred property of reviving but that from the seed swelling forth it will produce flowers or fruit or berries and will bring them to perfect maturity by the Suns heat and endow them with some healthful effect Also in Animals who want reason yet have sense Living creatures led by Instinct of Nature the force and Inclination of Nature may be perceived for some are water Creatures that can swim some are Birds to flye in the open Ayr some creep others go some wander alone others fly in flocks as the Stares do Linnets Chafinches Sparrows Pigeons some are by nature fierce savge others are gentle and

some think they know them not So Calathiana in Autumn Erauthemum blew-B●ttles that grow in corn appear not onely of a blew colour but also white red purple divers colour'd so that yellow Marigold Virgil describes on the several Calends of each moneth with a double row of flowers growing thick together delights our eyes growing in a roundle So Jove's flower and Rose Campion is with a sparkling scarlet colour and died with a thin purple sometimes Oculu● Christi and sometimes it recreates our sight with a colour white as snow growing round with a various heap of leaves after the same manner do stock Gelliflowers Daisies Hesperis and all the Winter Gelliflowers bring forth their flowers Virgil shews that in former Ages Gardners did take pains in them Some I have seen their seeds to sowe prepare With Nitre and oyl lees Georg. l. 1. for they by care Will grow far greater and be sooner ripe And though the Industry of the Gardner cease and the art how to sowe them the herbs themselves do naturally change their fashion if you consider their colours form stature forces And that is partly done by the secret force of the Stars partly by length of time that such things as appeared as though they would last alwayes De ration Concionand are turned to another habit as if as Erasmus saith Natures curiosity would not have the fashion of herbs truly known that might passe currant to posterity but would have a continual search to be made for them that we see are changed or renewed daily So Nature sharpens man's Industry and shakes off drowsinesse For the first cause and spring of Husbandry Would not that this Art without Industry Should ere be learnt Virg. l. 2. Georg. thus sharpning mortal hearts And with great pains teaching to find out arts And within furrowes for Plants to enquire And hid in flints for to discover fire To this we may adde the state of the climate and nature of the Ayr Places changeth Plants and Country that will change even the hairs colours and habits of mens bodies For Plants according to the nature and quality of the place and for variety of the ambient ayr grow sometimes more tall sometimes lesse some have many branches others come forth without any stalks at all some as the earth is are watry or milky white 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 ●●a●h of A Simil the stom Children others are very green tending to black For as children that the Nurses keep the breasts from or seldome feed them do grow lean and starved and look pale or not very lively so plants that grow in lean hungry barren ground are ill-favoured and not so pleasant to behold Whence you may see plants that grow on walls and stony grounds scarse a hands breadth in heighth and if the same be set in a fruitful ground they will grow a cubit a half high and will send forth their branches long and broad So Bugloss and great Comfrey are oft-times seen with white flowers so Clove-gelliflowers either by art or fruitfulnesse of the ground will yield a white red various colour'd flower upon the same stem and stalk So the purple violet colour decayes sometimes and turns blew The flowers of herbs are changed into divers colours By the same reason some leafs of Plants are not so jagged and nicked and prickly plants grow more gentle and smooth according as the ground is higher or lower they grow on To this refer what daily experience teacheth that herbs and fruits of Trees do not onely change their shapes if they grow in a place and climate fit for them but will also grow better and be more wholesome when as before they were deadly and not edible 2. de Aliment et 3. de Sympto caus Which Pliny and Galen speak of the Persian plant transplanted into an Egypt and Columella hath writ the Experiment thereof in these words With Damask Prunes their Cups are compass'd round And such as in Armenia are found And Apples which in rude Persia grow Full of their imbred poyson but we know That now they yield a wholesome nourishment And all their venome is consum'd and spent And of their Countrey they the name retain Peaches that on small Trees do grow amain For this kind of Apple unlesse it be exposed to the Sun beams over against the South and is of a cold and moyst juice and therefore corrupts quickly and offends the stomach Gal●de Alimen facult unlesse it be eaten before meat Wherefore Nature attempts many things which the art of Man perfects and directs For grapes will grow without stones if you cleave the stalk and take out the pith yet so that in taking it forth you hurt not the bud For the sides will quickly grow together again if they be accurately joyn'd How some grow without kernels So Medlars Peaches Dates Cherries Prunes and Cornelion berries that are full of stones grow without stones by the care and Industry of Man if you cut off the young Tree two foot above the ground and then cleave it to the root and take out with a rasp the pith of both parts then straightwayes bind both the parts fast together with a band and cover the top and the partitions of both sides with loam clay or wax and put a wet paper about it when the year is over you shall find that a scar is come upon it and that all is grown fast together graft this Tree with grafts that never bore fruit and they will bring fruit without stones which by Theophrastus's direction I tryed upon a vine and it proved true Also Inoculation Insition Emplastrisation do shew the cunning of Nature and the Industry of Men. For by these means Plants will put off their own nature and get another form and fashion and one will easily change into another Three kinds of Insition A Simile from the Nature of Man and education For as we see men for the variety of their wits and care of their education not onely to grow different in their knowledge and to follow other manners and studies and to obtain other inclinations of mind and one body is more slender than another or taller or more pale and bloodlesse or more rough or hairy yet all of them have the shapes of men though some look more rudely so it useth to fall out in herbs which for the same causes are not of the same shape and vigour alwayes though they be not so changed that their whole kind and species perisheth For they alwayes are like the thing they are called by in some part and they have the effects peculiar to the earth they grow in and fit for the nature of the people of that Countrey For many plants are brought forth of the fortunate Islands which Men call the Canaries which being used in our climate do not hold the same forces in all things nor do they grow of the same form and magnitude yet they

his practice of Physick is very knowing and industrious Every where neere the Sea there are Forts and Bull warks raised to resist the Sea-waves at their very entrance and first coming into the Haven made of beams and long poles drove in straight and crosse wayes An artificiall description of a Promontory which besides huge mighty stones that are cast in to fasten the work are propped with bands of Faggots and crosse beames of wood This Engine is like a Promontory that sticks forth and is a safe shelter for Ships to ride under Not onely our men but the Italians and Spaniards call this structure the Cape whether it be artificiall or naturall and in cosmographicall descriptions it goes under that name Sea-weed grows abundantly sticking fast to this which though it be vile and base which besides that it is a Proverb Virgil also observed Baser than Sea weed Eclog. Ruder than Kneeholme than Sea-weed more baser Yet it hath some use in Physick for it abateth pains of the Gowt and Joynts the body being first purged it discusseth inflammations it cools and dryes farr more effectually than Ducks meat upon ponds What is water-Ducks meat Description of Sea-weed which is as it were a mossy excrement of standing waters that Geese and Ducks feed on willingly But since there are many kinds of Sea-weeds that which is common amongst us is with branches glib substantiall knotty with swoln Bladders and Appendixes and full of branches which being pressed with the tops of your fingers will crackle and make a noyse like Sena-leaves This Sea-weed is with a membranous leafe and swelling little Bladders stretched out by wind that shine and are smooth as if they were polished it flotes for the most part and swims above the waters and when the waters are gon it sinks down and flags and lies upon the twigs and poles that prop it up as if were good for nothing the colour of it is red dark tawny What is the colour called Ravus that consists of a mixture of brown and black between a grey and a yellow and next to a full dark green It sticks fast to the rods and stakes that are driven into the shore to fence the rampants like glew or birdlime having no root to help it to fold about that it can hardly be pulled away The second kind of Sea-weed Another kind of Sea-weed that is under the Sea-water as grasse weed grows in Lakes and standing waters it is very thick together and so defends it selfe the leafe of it is like Fennell leafe and small as hairs the colour is unpleasant with a mossy and hairy concression our Country people call it Woer and some Weert which is drawn out of the Sea with nets together with Crabs and other small fish and rubbish But Phycos or Sea Fucus is next kin to Sea-weed and is like it in forme and effect as Aristotle thinks and Pliny after him But Mosse must be held to be a thing different from these L. 6. c. 13. Host a●imal one kind whereof grows not onely on the shores but upon the stems of ships when they come home from long Voyages to which not onely Mosse Sea-weeds but shell-fish a little fish called Echineis stick so fast that they will stop Snips and hinder their course therefore our men use to rub them off with sharp brushes and scrape them away with Irons that are crooked for the purpose that the ship being tallowed and carined well and smoothly may sail the faster This common kind of mosse grows abundantly in the Belgick Ocean of a grasse-green colour which yet will degenerate into a yellow or yellowish colour as at the end of Summer Vine-leaves and leaves of Trees do it hath no root to grow upon to support it yet it cleaves with a tenacious holding fast to the ground it lieth upon or else being spread over the utmost coasts of the Sea and the brinks thereof it is lifted up by the Sea-rising and sinks down when it goes out again But Sea-mosse that Dioscorides describes is wholly different from this Sea Mosse is a stalky concretion for that must be judged to be an hearb of stalky concretion and a hairy growing together with slender hairs and small stalks that are wooddy below with leaves as small as hairs curled and nicked white and Ash-colourd and by age waxing red smelling like Soothernwood or Sea-wormwood pleasant yet weighty a good remedy for those that have Worms and soon helps the hearb being beaten to powder and a penny or a drachm weight of it given with Wine for it hath the same operation with Sea-wormwood and is near a kin to it and like it if you look upon it when it first comes forth and shews it self if you regard the numerous leaves of it or the growing stalks or the crisped and jagged skirts it hath Corallina is an hearb that takes hold on Corral Mountebanks call it Corallina because it is taken hanging fast to and folded about Coral in the Ligurian Sea and drawn forth with nets But there are in Zeland who are the utmost people of the Belgick nation whom Tacitus calls Mattiacos The Mattiaci in Zealand so called from their sociable agreeing from their sociable agreement as I shall say more at large a little after Plains that are very long and broad and from the descent of the Bulwarks there are most plentifull pasture-grounds to fat Cattle wherein do grow various kinds of hearbs as Sampire Kaly or Sea-houfleek Orache Purslain Sea-cole Halimus Rest harrow with a purple flower and little branches full of prickles fit to break the stone Sea-weed Corallina a little shrub but Buckthorn grows some three Cubits high and is proper for sandy and brambly grounds in some places it grows like a Tree as Christs thorn that is lesse fruitfull with boughs that are stubborn and hard to break Description of Buckthorn with leaves like the Olive but narrower green a top and white under next the earth the berries are round and as great as a Roman Pease and they grow together in clusters and the boughs fold close one within the other and the fruit hangs by a very small stalk and is of a yellow colour and when it is ripe like Saffron sowre and bitter in taste and it draws forth spittle abundantly and quencheth the thirst in Feavers having one kernel within yet not hard as stone as your Corneil-berries or white Thorn-berries are that is that sharp Thorn that in the Month of May when all things flourish is very gracefull and smells sweet or like to Barberries but it is easily broken with the Teeth But that which is peculiar for bushy and downy places is called by the Zelanders Down Berries when Autumn begins they use to dresse up their chambers and houses with this sprowt when the berries begin to grow yellow and they will last till winter be far spent and refresh the eyes to see them and by

Halimus I am not yet certain for that causeth hunger this drives it away But in our sandy Mountains a little shrub grows forth and a twig about two or three Cubits in length with leaves like an Olive and hath long twigs Willows that are flexible and easie the boughs being like Olive boughs but the lease is lesse and some what round green above but beneath in the part next the earth it is white and grey the fruit is in baggs not unlike to a whirl that women use For whirls are used at the lower part of the distaff the better to turn all about What a Whirl is Halymus drives away hunger This shrub comes neere to Pliny and Dicscorides plant called Halimus being of great force to represse and drive away hunger for it drives away the vitious and unruly appetite of women that they are commonly molested with about the third month after their conception and some also that are well because their stomach is full of noxious humours and sowre flegme Longing called Picatio or Citta hence are they troubled with a doggs-appetite and greedinesse to eat called Bulimia as though they could eat an Oxe as that disease in Women called Picatio wherewith like the Mag-pye they are given to eat Coles Shells Pomegranate-Pills and other things unfit to be eaten For these defaults the shrub Halimus is good to be used that hath its name from the effects the leaves being boyled like Pot-herbs with fat broth and no Salt mingled therewith for so it correcteth those sowre humours that they will lesse provoke natural appetite and it is thought to do the same being chewed in the mouth as some things onely put to the Nostrills Sea Orach discusse the faintings of the heart and recreat the Spirits But Sea-Orach that looks wan and unpleasant is found on all the Banks of Zealand Sea Coleworts called Soldanella yet it riseth to no height but lyes upon the ground and is very low Sea-Cabbage which is the German Soldanella which our Country people do miscall by the name of Sea-Purslane is rightly called Zoult Nelle from its Salt savour it grows abundantly on the Mountaines of Zealand being neighbout to Halymus Sampire Anthillis and Eringos It delights in the Sea Ayre yet it is not watered with it as the Sea weeds are of which I shall speak afterwards This herb creeps on the ground The herb Kali is another from that of Tragas with long branches that are tough and like twigs and the stalks are moyst with Milk the leaves are red somewhat round the seed is black in reddish knobs shut up in covers they use this to purge the belly boyld in fat broth that it may lesse offend the stomach by its acrimony and salt bitter juyce But that Herb the Arabians call Kali is exceeding common in Zealand for with that our Ancestors formerly and with salt Turfe and Clots that have a kind of Bitumen in them did make most whitest Salt the same way as formerly shewed you The description of Kali or Sea Sengreen It is an herb that grows at the lowest part of our Seas which the Ocean wets and it is most plentifull all Zealand over I use to call it Stoneçrop Worm-grasse Housleek or winter Sengreene the stalk is a hand long standing firmly upright round and knotted with joynts in their orders to distinguish it with many round stalks growing to it on both sides which are very smooth and compacted together and seem as though they would be pulled out one of the other as Horse-tayls are with leaves proceeding from a single stalke and they are garded about with it they are barwny thick full of juyce and as thick as reeds we call it Riet they hang about Passengers feet to stop them and hinder their going and they make a noise and crackling when we walk upon them the root is small thin and with slender hairs The whole herb from its bottom unto the top of it The herb Kali stops Crabs is very cleaf and of a bright shining green colour and it doth not decay or dye in Winter so that hanged upon the roofs of Houses it will grow green a long time without any other moysture as Aloes for it is very full of juyce and wet with its naturall moysture abundantly Our people because it hurts and hinders Crabs call it Crabbequel For being it grows very thick it stops their courses that they can hardly passe Kali is an herb sheep love exceedingly and with great trouble do they wind themselves out of it when men hunt after them and desire them for food This herb is the most pleasant and wholesome fodder for sheep For since these Cattel in moyst weather Salt herbs cure sheeps diseases are subject to the dropsie and strumous tumours we in our land call it den Bot by eating this herb they are recreated and cured For it is a most Salt Plant because allwaies when the Sea comes in it is watered by it Hence it is that being thus moystned it grows thick and abundantly But those that would keep this for sawce my Counsell is that they boyl it moderately and pickle it with Vineger not too sharp rather than with Salt pickle or to cover it with Bay-Salt as they do Purslane The use of it is more wholesome for flegmatique and fat people than for such as are lean and spare There lyes under the earth where this herb grows and almost under all Sea costs first a clay that is clammy and glutinous and being handled will stick to ones hands and it will not easily be shaken off Georg. 1. But like a fish that cleaves unto your hands if that you handle it And if it spot your cloths it can hardly be washt off We call it Cley because it Cleves the Brabanders call it Leem Cley called of Cleven because it sticks The Bitumen in Zeeland called Darri next to this follows a ceartain bituminous matter and concretion under the earth which as I said elsewhere is called Darri out of which as out of Mines they digg Turffe that are very fat which being kindled as dry turve make a vehement heat and being turnd to ashes and wet with Salt water did formerly afford matter to our Country men to make Salt with But that way is now left by reason of the abundance that is brought to us from France and Spain yet might it easily by recalled again if there should be any hostility that should keep forrain Salt from us or plenty thereof should be wanting to us from any other cause whatsoever Wherefore I think I shall not wholly lose my labour by shewing this decay'd and almost forgotten way of making Salt that if ever need be it might be restored again Rembertus Dodonaeus But since I am fully upon the mention of Sea plants I shall speak something of Sea-weeds For Rembertus Dodonaeus a Physitian of Mechlin a man that for illustrating of Plants and in

that may raise distempers quarrels or troubles between them The affections passe to the Child Which are those the people call naturall Children for all these things fall upon the Child that is then begot and inform it with the like manners and the parents conditions are imprinted upon it I referr that to the like causes that Children which they call naturall that is such that are illegitimate and born without lawfull matrimony are of different nature condition and manners from the other Children whereof such as were begot by noble parents and gentlemen are oft of an high and lofty behaviour and are adorned with many great and rich endowments with rare wits singular prudence exact judgements especially if the parents are a help to their liberal education so that somtimes they become the pillar of the family and are an Ornament and glory to all that are of their kin and blood Why illegitimate Children are more witty than others The reason seems to me to be because they have received all things abundantly from their fathers loynes and bowells and in that secret copulation obtaind by stealth they received not sparingly and slenderly but abundantly the guifts of Nature From when both greedily desire to satisfie their Lusts and are prodigall in their embracements and use all the might they have to propagate and beget a Child it comes to passe that all things necessary for conception are afforded plentifully and there is no want in this businesse and so it falls out Whence comes it Parents love their Children and contrarily that since Children represent their parents manners and have obtain'd much from them there is an incredible love and prosension on both parts and they love one the other exceedingly From which force also there ariseth cheerfullnesse and readinesse of mind in the Child and a generous inclination whereby they disdain that they were born illegitimate and out of the laudable bands of Matrimony and that they should want any thing that others do not to make them uncapable of honours and dignities and publick employments A sublime mind strives for the highest things This makes them use all means to bring themselves out of contempt and by their good life and sound manners to blot out that mark of infamy which some very unwisely impute unto them who some times were begotten more beastly than those that were begotten in adultery But such Children that are born after this adulterous way from mean and base parents and so want the benefit of education for want of means can hardly ever attain to any great matter or raise themselves from the Earth for as the Poet saith Juvenal Satyr 3. They hardly can proceed Who are at home in need Poverty that is wise For though a poor man be wise as the Proverb saith and be the inventor of many rare Arts yet it is a very great hindrance to famous wits that they cannot rise to any high things CHAP. IV. How comes it that the Bay-Tree which some say will not grow in Zeland grows no where more beautifully than in this place and what you must do to make it endure the Winter frost and cold MAny wonder that in the Sea-coasts and that part of Zeland which is denominated from the River Scheld that runs by it that such stately and large Bay-Trees grow being the Country is cold and this Tree abhors cold and frosty climates The Bay-Tree what ground it loves And they wonder the more at this miracle of nature because they are not onely in every mans Garden and allwaies green and very tall with leaves still upon them but they bear long fashioned Berries very black and smooth no lesse effectuall and good in discussing winds and dissipating collections of humours than those that are brought from hot Countries Sometimes the Bay-Tree feels the injury of the Ayre Cold an Enemy to the Bay-Tree especially to the voot and in Winter when it is very cold is in danger by it so that the leaves boughs stalks sometimes wither and dye but the root takes no harm wherefore the Bay-Tree dead upwards must not be dug up by the roots but cut off by the body for when the spring comes or somewhat sooner it will grow green again But that it riseth so high in this Country is caused by the fruitfullnesse of the earth which is wonderfull and the thick compacted nature of the ground that consists of a fat tenacious earth so that by reason of the Earth's solidity The Bay-Tree requires a thick ground Snow melted hurtfull to Plants the cold cannot in frosty weather penetrate to the root of it Now nothing is more hurtfull to plants or more destructive than Snow or Ice melted if when they are melted the drops come to wet the roots especially if after this it chance to freiz again and to stick first about the roots in icecles For so the earth loosned drinks-in the cold chilly moysture and the root drenched with it withers and dyes But that plants may not be subject to this inconvenience nor be obnoxious to the injuries of cold the superficies of the ground wherein they are set must be fenced with straw and ashes Ashes keep herbs from frost A comparison of Vineger and Lees with ashes Why the Bay-Tree grows not in Brabant for ashes by their imbred heat foster the ground and will not let the strong cold enter For as Vinegar and Wine-lees so coles and ashes are of a fiery quality But that the Bay-Tree grows not in Brabant and other parts of the Low Countries or else grows more sparingly amongst them it is not to be ascribed to the Ayre which is very calm and wholsome but to the nature of the ground which is dry sandy light empty that the cold can easily enter nor is there any solid substance to make the Tree fat and thence it is that in those Countries the Bay-Tree is low and shrubby and wanting berries whereas in the City of Zirizea by the benefit of the Earth it grows so tall that it is above 20 foot high and full of boughs about the root with many shoots coming forth whereby it defends it self from the cold Water shoots Wherefore that numerous company of suckers about the root must not be taken away or cut up for it is defended thereby that it cannot easily take cold for if it lose the leaves yet next Spring it grows again so the root be kept untouched by the cold and frost CHAP. V. Of a neutrall body that is one that can be said neither sound nor sick but is of a tottering and doubtfull condition floting between both IT is confessed that the art of Physick was formerly divided into three parts The first is that preserves the present health and carefully keeps off all inconveniences of sicknesse The second that which containes the reason whereby the body may be fenced and defended that it shall not easily fall into sicknesse The last that