graue and I arâ— but yonge we be no matchis ¶ Humfrey GOod counsell is a treasure 〈◊〉 wyse meÌ„ but a very trifle toâ— foole if thou haddest sene those thinges whiche I haue seene I know thou wouldest not be such a man nor thus spend thy tyme. ¶ Iohn VVhat haste thou sene that I haue not seen ¶ Humfrey I Haue seene many notable and greuous plages whiche haue fallen vpon greddy gluttons as â—asting their substaunce disforâ—ing their bodies shorting their â—leasauÌ„t daies and in this point â—o conclude with thee where as â—lotony remaineth from thence 〈◊〉 moderate diat banyshed and â—ose bellies that folowe the lust â—f the eyes in meates in youthe â—all lacke the health of all their â—odies in age if they liue so long Iohn My thinke thou canste geue good counsell thou semest to be seen in phâ—â—sicke I praye thee is it so great hurt 〈◊〉 delight in plenty of bankettes ¶ Humfrey SIr if it will please you to be somewhat attentiue I wyl teâ— you It is y e very grayne wheroâ— coÌ„mith stinking vomettes saue faces dropsies vertigo palseis obstructioÌ„s blindnes flixes applexis caters and rewmes c. ¶ Iohn IS it trewe that you haue sayde to mee ¶ Humfrey VVOulde to God dayly exâ—perience did not trie iâ— I dooe perfectly knowe it Anâ— once thou shalt be a witnes therâ— of if thou come to age ¶ Iohn THen I beseche thee gentle frenâ— Humfrey declare to me why theâ— is suche diuision among phisicions ¶ Humfrey THou seest amoÌ„g the TheologiaÌ„s there is much varietie â—nd yet but one troth Discordes â—e soone knowen of Musicians â—nd the Phisicions bee not ignoâ—aunt of the generall natures of â—inges No diuision is although 〈◊〉 do so apeare for regeÌ„ts place â—ge time and the present state of â—ans nature must bee obserued not the olde rules in al pointes â—or mans nature is sore altered â—nd chaunged into a vyler sorte â—an it was wonte to bee ¶ Iohn â—Ome dooe report that men of great estimacioÌ„ say what nedeth phisicke â—is but an inuention only for money â—e see say they who liueth so wel as â—ey whiche neuer knew phisicke and â—euill as these pothicary men ¶ Humfrey MAny men bee more riche theâ— wyse more estemed for titles of their honours worships then for any other vertue or cunning suche men in some pointes bee more ingratifull to naturall remedies then dogges whiche can electe or choose their vomitting gras or birdes whiche caâ— chose grauell or stones for their casting But to coÌ„clude with theâ— in this matter Plini the greatâ— clarke haue a thousand reasons to proue them folishe that wil obiecte against Phisicke And thâ— author of al thinges did wel forsâ— and knowe what was good foâ— mans nature whan he stretchiâ— out so large a coÌ„pas rouÌ„d abouâ— the earth with y e noble planetteâ— and signes and their courses inâ—fluences and heaueÌ„ly qualities and garnisshed the earth witâ— fruites herbes flowers leaues graines oyles gums stones for mans comfort and helpe and ordeined the phisicion for to helpe man Thus the almyghtye haue done saith Salomon And in recompeÌ„ce God hath not apointed the phisicions to be rayled vpoÌ„ or dispised but honoured rewarded yea estemed of princes And seing good nature and wise men be on my side I forse not of other mens phantasies with whome neither good wisdome nor good nature is guyde ¶ Iohn VVhy is phiscke of suche great authoritie or hath it ben in estimatioÌ„ among olde fathers May that be proued of thy parte ¶ Humfrey Yes that I can ¶ Iohn IF thou canst bringe in any reuerenâ— fathers that loued phisick I wil noâ— despise but greately esteme it desyrâ— counseile in demauÌ„ding of a few queâ—stions ¶ Humfrey PHisicke hath ben in so hye an estimacioÌ„ that y e gentilles did all consent it came from the immortall goddes The Hebrues did well knowe it as Moises in the moste auncient boke called Genesis primo doth discribe the worke of the almighty God of herbes fruites and plantes that Adam might teache the vertues of theÌ„ to his children Iesus Sirack which was endued with y e spirit of god haue lefte a laude behinde him greatlie commendinge Physick amongest the diuines of the Hebrues Mercuri amoÌ„gst the Egiptians Ouide doeth greately commende Apollo the inuenter of herbes when they were almoste oute of â—emory he reuiued their vertes and taught their nature to â—hers that folowed him After â—at came in Aesculapius whiche â—d many moste excellent cures â—nd chiron the instructer of Achil whose name can neuer die as â—â—ge as the herbe centauri groâ—eth vpon the earth whiche is â—led after his name Podalirius â—echaon were twoo brethren in 〈◊〉 time of the battell of Troy â—â—iche were excellent phisicioÌ„s â—â—d be greatly commended of Hoâ—â—re who was more excelleÌ„t theÌ„ â—â—ppocrates in the Ile of Coose â—ose workes will neuer die for brought in phisicke and digeâ—â— it into faire bokes for mans â—at health Then came Gallene 〈◊〉 vnknowen to all wyse and â—â—ned phisicions I coulde reherse many moo but this shaâ— suffise to proue phisicke to bee 〈◊〉 greate authoritie amonge oldâ— fathers ¶ Iohn I Pray thee frende Humfrey what phisicke I would bee glad to learn some of thy knowledge for thou hast good order in talking seme to be gâ—ded of authoritie Therfore I am so that I haue coÌ„tended with thee I prâ— y â— be not angry with my former tal◠¶ Humfrey HIppocrates in his booke of wiâ—des or blastes saith y t phisicâ— or medecine is but a putting the body whiche it lacketh or 〈◊〉 king from the bodie thinges 〈◊〉 perfluous And althoughe oâ— life be shorte yet the arte of 〈◊〉 sicke is long because great nâ— bres of thinges be in it and 〈◊〉 quireth muche study labour aâ— â—actise and first of all it requiâ—th much conteÌ„placion or know â—dge in studying good bookes â—hich is called Theoricha SecoÌ„dâ— the very effect of contemplaâ—on or study is practica or actiua whiche is doing of the thinges at learninge haue taughte as â—pairing amending or preserâ—ing the bodies of men women and children c. ¶ Iohn It semeth to be a goodly science ¶ Humfrey HErodotus saieth they greately erre that call it a science for is an excelleÌ„t art in doing of noâ—â—ble things And science is but 〈◊〉 knowe thinges There is also this excelleÌ„t art sundry sectes 〈◊〉 phisicions some be called Emâ—â—rici who suppose that onely exâ—â—rience doeth suffise and so by vse and experience dooe take iâ— hande to heale diseases not knowing the cause of the said diseasâ— or sickenes Philinus was one 〈◊〉 that secte at the first beginning Then folowed Serapion after that y e Apolonis And then camâ— Glaucius Menadotus Sextus c. Another kinde of phisicions be called Methodici whiche
to feede and slepe And should not man well foresee In youth to know his old degree THen from .xxxv. or few yeres folowing the lusty brauÌ„ches of youth begin to abate his pleasaunt leues flowers and fruite by litle litle will decaye rawe â—humers crampes dropsies quaterns melaÌ„coly will then drawe nere The riots surfittes sore labours bearing of extreme burdens wrestlings actes venerus with the abuse of youth wil then spring forth to the detriment of age nad sodaine decaye of lyfe in especiall of drunkardes ¶ Iohn VVhat be the places of blend Coller Fleume and Melancoly Naturall or vnnaturall Thou haste not made a particular distinction of their proper places but generally thou hast spoken well in thy songe ¶ Humfrey THere are also other discirptions of the foure humors very necessary to be knoweÌ„ and their places where as they dwel within the body first of bloud as Galen saieth in his first booke of effected places bloude saieth he that is in the pulsis doeth greatly differ from the bloude of the vaynes for the bloude of the pulsis is thinner yeallower and hotter and this bloud maye bee called the gouernour of life The spring fountayne of the bloud generall is in the lyuer whiche serueth euery vayne of bloude this bloud in culler is very read Flewme is whyte and is ingendred in the stomake and at leÌ„gth by the vertue of naturall heate pure fleaine is turned into blod There be also watry slimy glassy grosse salte sower thicke harde binding and extreme cold fleames whiche in dede be vnnaturall that bee engendred thorowe surphets coldnes or idelnes bringing to the bodie many noisome diseases There is also coller whiche is yellowe whose place in the body is y e gall which commeth of the clensing or puryfying of bloud and this coller is cleare hote and drie and the coÌ„forter of decoction Grene coller or coller myngled with fleame be vnnaturall melancoly naturall in the splene is nothing but the sex degrees or heauie residentes of the bloud the naturall melaÌ„coly is knowen by his blacknes the vnnatural cometh of the burning of coller and is lighter hoter browne of couler sower of taste and putteth the bodie in great dauÌ„ger as madnes blacke gaunders continual feuers and sodaine deadly diseases Therefore my frende Iohn remember this short discriptioÌ„ of humors as the wordes of Galen Auicen saye ¶ Iohn Thus I haue heard thy seueral placinge of the foure complexions of bloud Choler Fleume and Melancoly and is there any distincte hootnes coldnes moistnes and drienes in anye other creature besides man tel me ¶ Humfrey NOt onely in manne but in beastes fyshe foule serpeÌ„ts trees herbes mettels And euery thyng sensible and insensible according to their natures be equally myngled or tempered togeter whiche is called meane teÌ„peraunce or els exceadeth in degrees whiche is called intemperaunce hote and moiste may be compounded together so maye colde and drie hote and drie cold and moiste example A cholerick man hote drie a Fleumaticke man cold moist c. Of herbes as hisope and rewe hote and dry purssen and coucumbers cold moist c. But tempramentes or complexioÌ„s of men beastes and trees be some hoter some colder according to their natures As a lion is hooter then a cholericke man pepper is hoter theÌ„ cloues And though there bee degrees in more hotnes or more coldnes yet they are called but hote or colde as men after labour or trauell they will saye they are hoote but the fier which people warme theÌ„ at is hotter Also there be things repugnaunt to tempramentes as moiste and drienes together heate and coldnes together as fier to bee colde or the water of his own nature to be hote which water peraccidence of the fier is made hote and fier quenched by the water And euery thynge exceading greatly with distemperaunce or wanting temperaunce or complexion do eftsones come to an end as men by extreme sickenesses surphets or woundes or finally age lackinge naturall vertue Of heate and moistnes of trees and herbes from whome iuce and sappe is withdrawen these thinges of necessitie muste nedes die and come to corruption as Galen and Aristotel sayeth ¶ Iohn VVhether be men or women of coldex complexion ¶ Humfrey AVicen saieth like as menne be hote drie so be wemen colde and moiste ¶ Iohn YEa but Lucian saieth they be perelous hote of their tonges and ful of venim though I am no phisicion yet can I make a dissciption of that member for I am oftentimes stinged with it I would to God they had been wormed when they were yong but when they are olde they are past all cure but the best medicine y â— I haue is a gentle herbe called rewe whiche I am neuer without great store ¶ Humfrey MAnkinde was borne naked to this ende that he mighte clothe him selfe with other creatures whiche he brought not in to this world with him as cloth lether harnes made of iron for his defence because he is y e chief creature But horses of nature haue harde hoâ—es lyons sharpe teeth purpintyns sharpe prickes whiche is their coÌ„tinual and natural armour as things euer prepared to debate strife by no art can scant be tamed The Rose as pleasauntly as she doeth appeare and as swetely as she doth smel spring not further without a great noÌ„ber of sharpe prickes Therfore it is tollerable for men to beare with them whome nature hath sealed and marked for his owne With that humor most chollerick disgresse from this thy communicacion and let vs talke of thinges more profitable for in deade this is pleasaunt to no maÌ„ ¶ Iohn SEyng thou wilt not discribe me thiâ— particuler members of whiche wâ— haue spokeÌ„ I would be glad to know the partes of mankinde with a shortâ— discription of his members ¶ Humfrey MEmbers be simple and also compounde the simples bee tenne in nomber the cartilages the gristels the bones veynes synewes arteries pannicles lygamentes cordes and the skyn Members compounded be those that be ioyned and builded together of simple members as the handes face fete lyuer harte and so compounded members be made of simple Some of the compounded members be called principalles as the harte from whence the arteries springes the brain froÌ„ wheÌ„ce the sinewes springes the liuer whiche is the well of the bloud from whence y e veynes do spring the stones of generacion from whence the sede of lyfe dooe spring but those compounded members that bee principall Be all the other members except the simple as y e nose the eares the eies the face the necke the armes and legges the braynes and chief substance of our fleshe be compounded meÌ„bers of sinowes couered with panackles whiche be of a synue nature but that sinewes geue felyng to all the whole body euen as the artiers geueth spirituall bloud froÌ„ the heart to euery meÌ„ber
but he that diateth himselfe temperatly prolongeth his lyfe Therfore grose fyshe lambes flesh the in meates of beastes rawe herbes pygges braynes and all slimie meates be euyll for the but late suppers is worste of all But speciallye if they be long for it causeth paynful nightes to folowe But Galen saythe in his boke De ethimia the meates whyche be withoute all blame be those whiche be betwene subtyll and grose Good bread of clene wheate fleshe of capons or heÌ„nes phesantes and patriches pigions and turtill doues black birdes and small fielde birdes rosted veale or boyled motton These dooe engender good bloude sayth Galen Note also that any other meate that thou doest eate at supper although it seme repugnant to aflegmatike stomack if thou slepe well after it and fele no payne thou mayeste vse it as a meate necessary And when thou canste not slepe wel if the defaute came through meate marke y t meate or drinke althoughe it appere plesaÌ„t refuse it as an enemi And wheras thou hast vsed euil diete as a custome in abusinge time quantitie qualitie be litle and litle bring thy self into good order to time bothe for thy brekfastes dinner and supper Prouided alwaye to eate good thinges but not many thinges For like as repletioÌ„ or abouÌ„dauÌ„ce of meate is an enemy vnto the bodie and the soule and bringeth sodayne death euen so is emptines a shorter of time aweker of y e brayne a hinderer of memorye an increaser of wind coller and melancolye And oftentimes to manye bringeth sodayne death also excepte nature haue some thing to worke vpoÌ„ as I did tel the before vse some light things at breckfast of perfite disgestion within iiii houres after that receaue thy dinner obseruinge the good order of diete drinkinge wine or beere oftentymes litle attoÌ„s eschewing great draughtes of drinke whiche is vsed amoÌ„gst beastes and mingle thy meate with mirth which is euer the beste dishe at the borde be thankfull to God And so leue w t an appetite passinge the time wyslie betwene dinner supper with exercyse laboure studie or pastime vnto theÌ„de of vi houres and then begin thy supper prouided that it be shorter then thy dinner eating thy meate be lytle and litle for gredye and sodayne eatinge is hurtfull to nature as Galen saythe in his diatory Note also that thou mayst eate more meate in winter then in soâ—er because thy naturall heate is enclosed w t thy bodie in winter but vniuersalie sprede in soâ—er Also Collericke men maye as lightely disgeste biefe baken venison c. With asmuch speade and litle hurte as the flegmatike maÌ„ may eate rabit chekeÌ„ partriche c. But the melancoly maÌ„ throughe the coldnes of the stomacke haue not that strength in the stomacke as he haue proÌ„ptnes in wil to eate things warm and moiste be good for him The sanguine man is not so swyfte in this disgestion as the hoote collerike man is But notwithstaÌ„ding he hath good disgestion through the humiditie warmnes of bloud and coueteth to eat swete thinges whiche greatlye agment y t bloud therfore sharpe saucis made with vineger onnions barbaries be holesome Purslen sorrell smal fishes that fedith vppon the stones in fayre running waters cucombers and pure frech wine partely delayed â—ith water be good for the saide â—anguine men to kepe them froÌ„â—uch encrease of fleshe ¶ Iohn THou hast shewed vnto me a verye discrete and wholsome order of diet â—articular to my selfe and partly to oâ—her complexioÌ„s but what rule or preâ—y Gouerment is for sicke folkes ¶ Humfrey THey that be sodeinlye vexed with sharpe sicknesses must â—aue thinne dietes with water â—ruell thyn mutton or chickens â—ottage without any fat or thickâ—es violet leues endiue leaues â—nd suche lyke cooling herbes â—t their drinkes be made of Teâ—ntes thus do to them that haue â—ote harpe sickenesses occasioâ—ed of choller And also colde siâ—pes of endiue violets suger â—ater and vineger sodden together be very holsome But if sicknesses be long of continuaunce their diet must be the thicker their meates made the stronger specially if their diseases be cold with the fleshe of cockes capoÌ„s temperate wyne stewed brothe with holsom herbes as buglos burrage basel parcely and fyncle rootes with some maces daits damaske prunes raysins of the sunne and suche like Siropes of Isope and siterion prouided y t they neither take meate nor medicine immediatly before or sone after their fittes Possitale with clarified herbes excepted whiche they maye take for their comforte accordinge to the estate of their disease for such as be sicke must haue meate contrary to their complexion For they that be cold must haue hote meat and medicines And they that be drie muste haue moiste thinges But they that be hoote must haue colde thinges for the ardent heate of the fier is quenched with the moistnes of y e water so the quaÌ„titie of one qualitie ouercommeth the qualitie of an other And in deede phisicke saith the bodies that bee hoote must be fed with thinges lyke as they that be moist with moist thynges to preserue their moistnes They that bee hoote with hoote thynges to preserue their heate and suche lyke But when they dooe exceade in heate colde moist or drie then let the qualities of moistnes be teÌ„pered with â—rienes the coldnes w t warmâ—es For like as man deliteth in â—hinges of like as the collericke man collericke thinges euen so do beastes frutes as the Colloquintida which is bitter deliteth in bitter ground Hote spices deliteth to growe in hote grouÌ„d and euery frute and herbe dothe delite in the thing that is of likes euen so doth man in his foode But in al things let him beware of distemperaunce surfites or replecion reare suppers dronkenes ¶ Iohn BVt if a man feleth great grief after meates or drinkes what waye is there then for to helpe him ¶ Humfrey VSe walking vp and down and perhappes that wyl disgeste as Auicen saieth And Rasâ—â— sayeth to walke a hundreth paces after meate is holsome for it comforteth disgestion prouoketh vryne and geueth one power and strengthe of stomacke 〈◊〉 eate his supper But the counâ—aill of Galene must here be obserâ—ed Whiche saieth there is no â—eate but it wyll corrupte or â—inke if the body be cast into a â—â—dayne heate by stronge trauel â—ne after meate whiche corrupâ—â—on of disgestion is the mother â—f all diseases and the beginner â—f all infirmities as Auicen reâ—orteth And if you se this wyll â—ot helpe to disgeste your ingorâ—ed full stomake then prouoke our selfe to sleepe liyng vppon our ryght side leaning toward our brest and belly laiyng your â—arine hande vpoÌ„ your brest as â—uerois saith the power of disgeâ—ion is made stroÌ„g wheÌ„ a maÌ„ sleâ—eth For natural heat y t is draâ—eÌ„ inwardly with warmnes or â—eat hath power to disgest But slepe ease you not prouoke
voâ—mit or fast it out and this is thâ— counsell of many learned men For it is no meruaile althougâ— manye meates corrupteth one man whiche be of sundry and dâ—â—uers workinges in the stomake liuer vaines for the qualities doth hinder nature as muche as the quantities And take hede these signes and euill tokens be not founde in you The paines of all your members with idelnes wearines to go or moue your bodie Sodayne greate blusshynge or readnes in your face vaynes swelled and puffed vp read vryue and grosse skine extended or stretched out with fulnes like a blowen bladder full pulses small desire to meat ill reste and grief in slepe seming in slepe to beare some intollerable burdeyne or dreamyng to be specheles these be the euill and daungerous tokens of repletioÌ„ And of this I geue you warning for it hath slayne as manie by aboundance as hunger hath killed through scarcitie ¶ Iohn I Haue hearde saye that holsome ayre is a great comforte to mans nature but corrupt ayre doth muche harme I shall require you therfore to tell me of the good and the bad ayre that I may learne to vse the good refuse y â— bad ¶ Humfrey GAlen in lib. de Sectis sayeth A wyse phisicioÌ„ ought to know the natures of men of waters of aire of regions and dwellings generally particulerly to thy self being a natural English man of birth and education this lande is very temporat How be it our dwellinges in this laÌ„d be variable as fennes marisses wodes heythes valleis playnes and rockie places and neare the sea syde But the sayde Galen geueth counsail in his regimeÌ„t of helth saiyng a good aire which is pure and holsome is that whiche is not troubled in standing waters pooles Therfore maris grouÌ„ds places where hempe flaxe is rotten dead carions be cast or multitudes of people dwelling to together or houses inuironed w t staÌ„ding waters wherinto iakes or sinkes haue issues or wallowing of swine or carioÌ„ vnbruied or foull houses or such like places be dauÌ„gerous corrupteth the bloud whiche is worse then enfectioÌ„ of meate for y e prince saith that al places of concauetes as fellers voltes holes of minerals where mettels be digged or houses or walles ioyned together where as y e sunne with reflexion beateth in w t sodain heate whose absence bryngeth colde This aire is distempered but plesaunt clere aire swete gardens goodlye hilles in daies teÌ„perat when one may se far of These be good also there be certain stars called infortunates in their exalâ—acion whose influence bringeth corruptioÌ„ to creatures rot pestiâ—ence to men beasts poisoning waters killing of fish blasting of frute in trees and corne in the â—ields infecting meÌ„ with diuers â—iseases feuers palses dropsis â—ranses falling sickenesses and eprosis AgaiÌ„st y e said influeÌ„ces â—l christen men must pray to god 〈◊〉 be their defeÌ„ce for thei be gods â—â—strumeÌ„tes to punisheth earth Example we haue of mortall pestilence horrible feuers and sweeting sickenes and of late a generall feuer that this lande is ofteÌ„ greatly plaged withal TheÌ„ one muste make a fier in euerye chymnay within thy house and burne swete perfumes to purge this foule aire and nowe in conclusion to aunswere thy questioÌ„ for the health of dwelling Auicen saith to dwell vpoÌ„ hilles is cold And in valleis comprised with hilles is hote Vpon a hyll syde against the north is cold drie Towarde y e west grose moist verie subtill towardes the East And cleare and warme towards the South And Rasis saieth in his first boke Afforien A maÌ„ dwelling nere the Sea side or greate waters can not liue loÌ„g nor can not be without weakenes of meÌ„bers or blindnes but the bestâ— building of a house is vpoÌ„ a drie ground and a hill towardes the west side and south west dores and windowes opeÌ„ towards the east and north east hauing nere vnto y e said house swete springs of running waters From stony or chaukye grounde whiche is both pleasaunt and profitable to the house For Hippocrates saieth in his boke of aire and water the second chapter Cities townes which is placed toward the east be more surer then the townes builded towardes the north for temperat aire or wynde and sickenesses be les And in the sayde boke Auicen greatly commeÌ„deth pleasant riuers ruÌ„ning towards the rising of the sunne the dwellers in suche places sayeth he be fayre and well fauored smothe skynned cleare sharpe voyces and thus to conclude with thee this shal suffise at this time what and where good pleasant dwelling is Note also that thou must obserue aire in sickenes as thou must do meate in sickenes colde sicknessis warme aire drie sicknessis moiste ayre and so in the contraries to them that be sicke and they that be hole aire of like qualitie is moste holsome they that haue loÌ„g sickeness is chauÌ„ge of aire is a great helpe bothe in feuers dropsies fallyng syckenesses and rumes ¶ Iohn I Haue founde very muche disquietnes in my body when my seruaunts and labouryng familie haue founde ease yet we are partakers of one aire ¶ Humfrey THe cause why thy labouring seruauntes in the fielde at plough pastures or woode haue such good health is exercise and labour thy disquietnes cometh partly of Idlenes and lacke of trauel which moderatly vsed is a thing most soueraint to nature ¶ Iohn I pray y t tel me some thing of exercise ¶ Humfrey THe well learned man Fulgentius saith that exercise is afile and chaufer of the heate natural whiche chasseth away slepe and coÌ„sumeth superfluous strength Of the naturall vertues redeamynge of tyme enemye vnto Idlenes dewe vnto yong men ioy of old meÌ„ and to say y e truthe he which doth abstein froÌ„ exercise shal lacke y e ioyes of helth quietnes both of body mynde And Galen saieth in his regiment of health if we wil kepe ê‘fit health We muste begin of laborrs and moderat trauell and then to our meate and drinke and so for the to slepe this is the cause whye haukers shooters hunters and plowmen and gardeners c. haue so good dysgestyon and strength of bodie Who be stronger armed men then Smithes because of the exercise of there armes stronger boddyed then carpenters which lifteth greate blockes and masons which beareth greate stones not onely in there youth but suche men will take meruelous traueles in age which to Idle people semeth verye paynefull but vnto them selues that trauell no paine but pleasure because of custome These people can disgeste grose meates eating them with much pleasure and slepinge soundlye after them wheras the idle multitudes in Cities noble mens houses great nombers for lacke of exercise doth abhorre meates of lighte disgestion and dantye disshes marye in deade thei may be very profitable to phisicions But if trauell be one of the beste preseruer of helth
lyuer and braynes blouddy Causes Circle thicke with culler ruddy But whan Circles be thyn and red Choller graue the right syde of the head If ledden Circles swim on the brink It is falling sicknes as I do think When Oyle in vrin dothe apeer Resolutio pinguis draweth neer When Oyle apeere in feuers hote Dissoluinge the body causeth ablote But of Periotides thou felst no paynes This Oyle Pronogstick consuming raynes The grauell red declareth for euer In drye backyd men duble tertian feuer Whan golden grauell aperyth alone It hurt the raines but is no stone Whan grauel is of couller whight Stone in the bladder worketh spight Contentes like smale thrides or heers Through heate drienes y â— body weers Consumtion scabbe small sport lust Is whaÌ„ many heers be mingled w t dust In the bottom of vains or vessels great â—ieth stoppiÌ„g matter like bran of wheat Wherin contentes are like skales of fish As apereth in the chamber dishe These signifie feuers and ethickes olde Or skabs which the bladder do infolde Whight froth swymiÌ„g cometh of wind The yelow froth is of Iaunders kynd Thus of vrins I do conclude With wordes of truthe but meter rude ¶ Here is also a litle of y e signes of the excrementes of the belly OVr filthy dunge and fex moste vile The dregges of natures fode Whan thei be diuers coullerid made The singnes be neuer good If the siege be like vnto the meat Newe drawen into the mawe Or fleting with flem or burbles great The body is wyndy and rawe The yelowe doth from choller cum The grene is burnt adust The black and leady be deadly signes That fleshe wyll turne to duste The excremeÌ„t that is in y e iackes cast If it haue oyle or fatte Consuption of body than begin The chiefest signe is that The priue soft well compacte Made in the acusiomed time Is euer good and the hard is ill And thus I ende my ryme ¶ Iohn ONs I fel into a great sicknes and hetherto I am skant recouered of it the surfite was so great but cousaill was geuen me that I should not staye my selfe vpon the opinion of any one phisicion but rather vpon three then sayd I to retayne thre at once requiquireth great charge for those men to whome lyues be committed ought liberall rewardes to be geuen Then sayd my frende they are good gentlemen and no great takers What bee their names said I he aunswered saiyng The first was called doctor diet the seconde doctor quiet the thirde doctor mery maÌ„ I did wryte their names but yet I could not speake with them ¶ Humfrey HEtherunto I haue sayd somthing that shall well suffice for the to knowe doctor diat as for quiet and mery man they lie in no phisicions handes to giue but onlye in Goddes For small it helpeth to any man to haue honour riches fame conning c. And in the meane time to wante quietnes and mirth whiche bee the chief frendes Tendrist nuryshes holsomest phisicioÌ„s moste plesaunt musicions friendliest coÌ„panions to nature pleasaunt birdes singing in the branches be more happier then rauening Cormerantes and gready haukes whiche with paines inchaseth their prais The quiet laÌ„bes be euer happier in their kynde then y e gredy rauining foxes wolues and lions which neuer cese vexing them selues to kil liuing things for their fode The poore oyster lurking vnder the rock or sande whiche is neuer remoued of stronge ebbes nor fluddes is farder from trauell continuall paynes then the horrible whale most feareful to fishes The low shrubs or bushes growyng nere to the ground be euer in more sauegarde then the lusty highe florishyng trees spred with pleasaÌ„t braunches whiche be subiect to euery strong wynde The poore bootes in harbor be in lesse peryl then the fikle riche ships tossed vp downe on the cruel fluddes What shal I say but this that y e miserable ragged begger called Irus was more happier in his pouertie with quietnes mirth then was the glotonus beaste moÌ„sterous man king Sardanapalê° with all his goldeÌ„ glory court of ruffians Curticens with Cam to an end moste shamefull Diogenes I warrant you was not inferor to Alexander in the state of Happines and haue left as great a fame behind him sauing that AlexaÌ„der was a more cruel murderer then Diogenes a chast liuer In dede y e poore sylly shepehard doth pleasantly pipe with his shepe whan mighty princes do fight amonge their subiectes breake manye slepes in goldeÌ„ beds whaÌ„ bakers in bags brewers in bottels do snorte vpoÌ„ hard strawe fearing no sodaine mishappe The great paynes and secrete grieues that disquieted myndes dooe daylye susteyne bee not muche vnlike vnto the infernall turmentes that the wicked dooe fele Physicke vnto an extreme troubled mynde saye what they lyste helpeth as lyttell as to aplye a playster to the breaste or head of a dead bodye to reuocate the spirites of lyfe or soule agayne The syckenes of the body muste haue medicine the passions of the mynde must haue good couÌ„sel What pleasure hath a condeÌ„ned man in musicke or a dead man in phisicke Nothyng at all God knoweth Oh howe many men haue bene caste awaye by thoughte and moste for losse of estimacion and some of other affections of the mynde as inordinate loue or couetyng thynges that they can not gette or optaynynge those thynges that they can not kepe or ire of other meÌ„s prosperitie or good happe As Tully sayeth Ouide as fyne in Poetrie as Apelles was in paintyng discribeth this vyle passion of Ire with a pale face lene body skoulyng looke gnasshing teeth venym tounge collericke â—tomacke tounge full of poyson â—ngratefull seldome smylynge â—ut at mischiefe outwardly apâ—earynge as it were quiet inâ—ardly the serpent gnaweth fret â—eth deuoureth c These meÌ„ be euils incarnat begiÌ„ning hel in his lyfe moste enemies to them â—lues if they did beholde them â—lues in a glasse in the tyme of â—eir tempestes shoulde nottheir â—untenaunces bee more feareâ—â—ll to theÌ„ selues then their Ire hurteful to others yes and perhaps make theÌ„ staring made in seing such a diuels image therfore let wise meÌ„ be of this mind Firste to thinke that they wolde heue no man be Irefull against them or disdayne them euen so let them do to others Secondly let them thinke it is better to be spited then pittied for euery prosperus felicite hathe hys enemy wating vpon him The fole hateth the wise The wise man pittieth the fole wel couit rather to be spyted then pittied the wrech enuieth the worthy man and so forth Onlye excepte aduersite extreme misery al prosperus meÌ„ haue enimies let this suffice consider what Galen sayth that immoderat I reful motions cast the body into a cholericke heate whereof cometh feuers and all hote diseases dangerous to the body of this writeth
drink of this and to annoynt the wound If it be geuen in drinke to any sicke body a litle before the accesse or cominge of the colde fyttes of cotidians tercians or quartens so that it be dronke with wyne teÌ„peratly warmed this MethridatuÌ„ is a medicine of no small pryce Democrates hath a godlie composition of it an other excellent coÌ„position is of Cleopatre as Galen wryteth An other and the most excellent is the dyscryption of Andromachus phisicion vnto king Nero but the cheife father of this acte was kinge Methridatus the noble king of PoÌ„thus after whose name it is called Ihon. In dede this is an excellent medicin but I pray thee where shall I buye it â–ª Humfrey THe blinde felowe Iohn doe eate many afâ—ye the plaine meanynge man is oft disceiued There is no trust in some of the Poticaries for althoughe the vsurpacion of quid pro quo is tollerable for their Succidanes yet to abuse their simples or compouÌ„des it is not onely theft to robbe simple men but also murther to kyll the hurtlesse Iohn OF late time we haue bene so afflicted with sondrye sickenesses and straung diseases that in many places we could get no phisicions to help vs and when men be sodainly sicke CC. miles from London Cambridge or Oxforde it is to late for the paciente to send for helpe being infected with the pestilence I pray the tel me some good regiment for me and my family if it please God that it may take place Humfrey I Shalbe glad forasmuche as thou hast takeÌ„ paynes to heare me al this while to teache thee a prety regiment for the pestileÌ„ce Iohn REade it faire and softly and I will take my yenne and write it ¶ Humfrey CErtainly the occasion of this moste fearefull sickenes commeth many waies as the chauÌ„ge of the aire from a good vnto an euill qualitie taking his venemous effect of the vitall spirites whiche incontinent with al speede corrupteth the spirituall bloud And sodeÌ„ly as it were an vnmerciful fire it quickely coÌ„sumeth the whole body euen to death vnlesse the holsome medicine do preuent and come to the heart before the pestilent humour And because it is a very strong sickenes it is requisite to haue a strong curing medicine For weake thinges wyll not preuayle against so strong a matter Therfore I pray you note these six saiyngs as aire diet slepe or watche quietnes or trouble and finally medicine First walke not in stinking mistes nor by corrupte marris ground nor in extreme hoate wether but in faire cleare aire vppon high ground in swete fields or gardeÌ„s hauing fire in your chaÌ„ber with swete perfumes of y t smoke of Olibanium or Beniamen Frankensence beinge colde wether And in hoate wether Roses willowe braunches sprinkled with vineger and often shiftinge the chamber is holsome fleing the South wynde Secondly diat moderate eating meate of good disgestioÌ„ as all that haue pure white flesh bothe of beastes foules good bread of wheate partly leuened Eate no raw herbes Pursten Lettis yong Lettis or sorrell except with vineger Drinke of cleare thine wine not chaunged and vse oft times vineiger with your meates and myngle not fish and fleshe together in your stomacke to drinke a tisant of barley water rose water sorrell water betwene meales is good eighte sponefulles at ones Thirdly beware you slepe not at none it bringeth many sicknesses geueth place to the pestilence and abateth memorye For as y â— marigold is spred by the daye and closed by the nighte euen so is man of nature disposed although through custom otherwyse altered vnto great domage and hurte of body Eight hours slepe suffyseth wel to nature but euery complexion hath his proper qualities to slepe vpon the right side is best euell vpon the lefte and worse vpoÌ„ the back Fourthly vse moderat exercise and labor for the euacuation of the excrementes as swyfte going vp hilles stretching forth armes and legges lifting wayghtes not verye ponderous forby labour the first and second digestion is made perfit and the bodye strengthened this is a mighty defence agaynst the pestileÌ„ce and many mo infirmities whereas through idlenes bee engendred all diseases bothe of the soule and bodie where of maÌ„ is compounded made Fifthlye aboue all earthlye thinges mirth is moste excellent and the beste companion of lyfe putter awaye of all diseases the contrary in plage tyme bringeth on the pestilence through painful melaÌ„colike which maketh the body heauy and earthlye Companye Musike honest gaming or any other vertues exercise doth helpe agaynste heauines of minde Sixtly medicine the partie beyng chaunged in nature and condicion trimbling or burning vomiting wyth extreme payne in the daye colde in the night and straunge imaginacions c. Apte to slepe when these signes do appeare geue him medicine before .xii. houres or else it will be his death Take therfore withall spede Sorel one handful staÌ„ped with Rewe Enulacampana Oringe rindes Sitron seedes the great thistle rotes Geneper beries walnuttes cleane piked of eche one ounce stampe them all together then take pure sharpe vineger a quarter of a pinte as muche â—uglosse water as much whyte wine and temper your sayd receites wyth these licoures Then put in two ounces of pure Methridatum andromachi which is an excellent triacle and two drams waight of the powder of pure Bole armein mingle them al together in a verye close vessell and geue the pacient a sponefull or more nexte hys heart and eftsones asmuch more let them that take this slepe not durynge tweÌ„ty hours or else take pure Triacle and set wel mingled in possit ale made with white wine wherin sorrel haue boyled a good draught and let an expert Chirurgion let the pacient bloud vpon the midle vayne called Mediana or the hart vayne Basilica a good quaÌ„tity according to the strength and age of the paciente excepte women with childe and children For the retaining the sayde bloud would all turne to venym and incurable poyson And note this that bloud be letten vpoÌ„ the same side that y t sore doth appere If any appere for many causes slepe not .viii. hours after vse this most exceleÌ„t pilleÌ„ often times Take pure aloes epatik myrre wel washed in cleane water or Rosewater of eche two drammes and one dramme of the powder of SaffroÌ„ mingled with litle of swete wine and tempered in a very smal vessel vppon y t coles vntil it be partly thicke or els incorporat al together in a morter theÌ„ rol them vp in smal round pils vse to swalowe half a dram of these pilles two times a weke in y t pestilence time a morninges .iii. houres before meate An other medicen tormentil gentian setwell of eche one dram spicenarde drams .ii. nastick drammes three bole armen drams viii geue two drames to y t patieÌ„t or any that feare the plage in the water of Skabeas