shewe hee coulde scarcelye hee deliuered from sufferynge Who after feared no suche matter for that hee onelye applyed hymselfe to the studye of Philosophy yet the next day followinge when he came to reasoninge wyth another philosopher verye hotlye he was theere stricken on the head wyth a staffe and hardlye escaped death And the wyfe of Diognosta dreamed to haue halfe a bearde who after lyued seperate from her husbande so that if she had thought to haue a whole bearde then after to be a wydowe A certayne Lumbarde so often as he should wyn dreamed in the night before that he did eate whyte grapes For the whyte grapes do protende a plentifull easy encrease of labour But the blacke grapes do signify a small gayne and that wyth tedions trauayle Nowe such a custome of his endured for twelue years and after decayed A certayne learned Phisition there was who so often as he dreamed that hee saw his mother beyng deade very sadde the nexte daye followinge hee fell sicke and that by good reason for that sonne is most deare to the mother that her sadnes also signifyeth the calamityes to the child and not the lyke to the father For fathers are not like moued to mourne for the sicknesses of their sonnes except those sicknesses are deadly in that meÌ„ are stouter of mynde and stomacke then women And he was also sickly by nature so that he dreamed the lyke many yeares A certayne gentleman as Mattheus Ferrarius wrytethe that howe often hee thought that he did eate in his sleape and so often in the day following he was payned with the stone And if so be he thought that hee didd eate harde thinges of digestion then the payne continued manye dayes after So that by good reason we saye that wee so well taste of sorrowes as meates And to Valentinianus Emperour the day before he dyed beynge yet not sicke for that he dyed sodenlye appeared hys wyfe clothed in mourning apparell and standinge a farre of wythe her heare shed abroade Which well declared the former fortune that then had lefte hym in so lamentable cause And one Policrates Samius a tyraunte whyles he was in prosperitye his daughter on a tyme thought in her sleepe that she sawe her father hanginge on highe whome Iupâ—ter washed the Sunne annoynted After which followed that he beynge oueecome of Oròtes and hanged on a gibbite happened the lyke so that he was after washed with the raine fallinge and annointed of the Sunne by meltyng of his fatte whiche so seemed to anoynte him And one thought in his steape that he sawe his house on fyer whoe after receyued letters that his brother lay greuouslye sicke whyles he prepared hymselfe to iourney a messenger came declaring hym to be dead Who after counted the tyme from that hower which he saw the dreame conceiued that his brother then dyed But coÌ„monly this dreame doth threaten death eyther to the dreamer or some principaller of the house hymselfe to be with child if so be he hath bene poore hee shall after possesse muche substaunce and shal gather and keepe and heape together aboundaunce of money but if he be rych it signifieth that he shal be in torments cares or troubles of the mynde And he whiche shall haue a wyfe that he shall loose her for it signifyeth y she shal not after beare him more childreÌ„ but he whiche shal haue no wyfe that he shal after marrye suche a kynde and gentle wyfe that he may fynde in his hart to wysh to beare and suffer that payne that his wife susteneth in the traueile of child And to others this dreame doth signifye sickenesse To be wyth chyld and after to be deliuered thereof is euill for it declareth that the personne beynge sicke shall shortlye after dye For euery bodye â—earyng sendeth forth a spyrite and like as the infante by ioyninge hymselfe with the bodye is deliuered and departeth froÌ„ it euen so the soule dothe from the bodye and to a poore man hyred seruaunt or to anye whiche is in calamitye or misery it signifyethe a deliuerye of the presente euilles or mysery and that cause is manifest or apparaunte but to riche men vsurers and other occuppers and to such also as be in authoritye and power it harmeth For they whiche had before shall after lacke and loose much And to marchauntes pylottes maisters and owners of shippes it signifyeth good lucke after but to many it happeÌ„eth that also should lose by thys dreame as kinsfolke because the infant in his byrth is reiected and seperated from the bloud If any in the maner of babes dreameth that he thinketh hymselfe to bee swadled lyke a chylde and to suck of a womaÌ„ that he knoweth dothe portend after a longe sicknesse except he hath a wyfe with chyld For theÌ„ shal be borne a sonne lyke to himselfe whiche in thesame manner shall bee fedde and brought vppe But if a woman shall see this dreame it doth signyfy that she shal bee deliuered of a daughter lyke to her selfe and if anye woman thinketh in her dreame to haue milke in her breastes to a yonge woman it promiseth conception and perfecte fruite and byrth also but to an olde woman beinge poore it signifyeth riches and to a riche woman it signifyeth expenses and charges And to a mayde mariageable this dreame promisethe to her mariage for notwythout the venerall act of coactyng milke in the breastes cannot at any tyme be had but if the mayden be young that shee cannot be maried of a longe tyme for her age and making theÌ„ this dreame portendeth to her death Also to a poore and needye man this dreamepromiseth plentye bothe of monye and possessions that he may also be able to feede others And further to hym whiche is vnmaryed this dreame promiseth a wyfe and to hym hauinge a wyfe whiche lacketh or hath no children this dreame promiseth also children as hath bene found true in both For th one had after such a kynd and gentle wyfe that he did wishe to suffer al her trauailes and paines And the other had children after which he fed and brought vppe And to wrastlers warriars and suche as exercise the strength of the body it thretneth sicknesse For that effeminat bodyes haue milke and any also hauinge a wyfe and children in his dreame is depryued of his wyfe for he after bryngeth vp his children and ministrynge to them the equall vse both of the father and mother To dreame that he thinketh hymselfe to haue a greate or bigg heade signifyeth good to a ryche man whiche as yet is no Magistrate or high officer And to a pore man warriour vsurer and that kepeth a bancke of monye to them it signifyeth both good luck and the gatheryng together of much money but to a ryche man whiche is in authority And to a Rhetoritian Judge or Legate yt denounceth bothe slaunders of the people and losse of dignitye and honour And to a sicke person this dreame signifyeth beuynes and
THE MOSTE pleasaunte Arte of the Interpretation of Dreames whereun to is annexed sundry Problemes with apte aunsweares neare agreeing to the matter and very rare examples not the like extant in the English tongue †GATHERED BY THE former Auctour Thomas Hill Londoner and now newly Imprinted Imprinted at London in Fleetestreate neare to S. Dun stones Church by Thomas Marsh. ANNO 1576. To the right worshipful Mayster George Keabel Esquier Thomas Hil wisheth all health and felicity AFter I had increased this treatise of myne ryghte worshipful and waighing how ê“fitable this Arte to be of the interpretatioÌ„ of dreames in that the same sheweth to vs rather comfortable warninge then anye vayne â—nd vnfruitefull matter And that none also but the vvise and discret parsons may rightlye discerne and Iudge of Dreames seeinge it is thoughte a rash matter to Iudge of vnknowen matters 〈◊〉 those which a maÌ„ vnderstaÌ„deth not Yet hovv Dreames may be knowen to â—m whiche neuer had true dreame in â—at they onelye happen to suche whose spirites are occupyed with no irrationall imaginatioÌ„s nor ouercharged with the burtheÌ„ of meate or drinckes or superfluous humors nor geueÌ„ to any other bodelie pleasures For those which are coÌ„trary to this order are not properly dreames but be named vain dreames no true signifiers of matters to come but rather shewers of the present affections and desiers of the body And yet dreames seene by graue sober persons do signifie matters to come and a spirite vndoubtedlie shewinge to them whiche by her nature is a Prophetesse that seÌ„deth forth such a motion workemanshippe throughe whiche the bodye as in her proper dwellyng may either be defended froÌ„ the instant euiles perils or moued to the attayninge of good things to come that with diligence workinge the same that as it were into loking Glasses of the body placed it might so beholde and foreshewe al matters imminent Therefore this difference of true dreames from the vayn ought diligently to be noted Further who that knoweth rightlye to iudge these vnderstaÌ„deth a great part of wisedom and they which iudge of the same haue a sure and perfite Arte. Besides Hippocrates and Galen do wryte howe that the Phisitionnes by the Dreames of the sicke maye the redyar and aptlyar appoynt a perfite diet and due medecines also for the recouery of the sicke wherefore I see not nowe that the rashe iudgement of the ignorante can rightlye condempne the knowledge of this Arte seing the learned yea holy Scriptures do bothe allow and witnesse of Dreames As the same I maye heere aptlye applye out of the Prophet Ioel. xi where God sayeth I will breathe downe of my spiryâ—â—on all the earthe so that youre sonnes and daughters shall Prophesie and youre olde meÌ„ dreame dreames and your yong men see visions Also in sondry places of the newe testamente wee reade howe that the Apostles and other holy men were taught and warned by dreames Besides the learned Trogus wryteth that Ioseph the sonne of Iacob first founde out this laudable Arte of the interpretation of dreames althoughe Philo attribute the this inueÌ„tioÌ„ vnto AbrahaÌ„ his great graÌ„dfather And after him did the Godly Daniel and wyse SalamoÌ„ leaue in wrytinge of this arte as their Pamphlettes extant at this day do manifestly shevv But to be briefe we learne that this art of the interpretatioÌ„ of Dreames doth especially consiste of wysedome and by coÌ„iecture in that he which coniectureth cunninglye is couÌ„ted a natural Prophet So that the interpreters of Dreames as vvitnesseth QuintiliaÌ„ are named coniecturers Yet for that ther be so few parsons that see true Dreames and fewer whiche vnderstande or obserue them yea and most few vvhich can interpret them therefore of this is the arte now come into a contempt with most persoÌ„s And althoughâ— I might here write sondry examples for confirmation of this art bothe of kinges Princes and others vvhiche vverâ— vvarned by their dreames what to do oâ— auoyde or what vvoulde succeade after yet for that I mind to be briefe and no to seeme tedious vnto youre vvorshipp in so small a treatyse therefore I omittâ— them crauinge pardon of this my rudâ— attempte vnto you And to conclude I sâ—al perceiue this Treatise to be thankfullye accepted at youre handes it shaâ— encourage me shortly to set forth my little Treatise of Probleames vvith their apt aunsvveares vnder youre worshippes name Thus leauinge to trouble youre worshippe any longer I commit you to God vvho sende you a godly increase happye successe in this lyfe Your most bounden Thomas Hill. The Preface to the Reader IF it be superstitious gentle Reader and therefore denied of some men to haue a foresyghte and iudgmente in thinges to come whye is not then denyed to learned PhisitioÌ„s sklfull warriours weary husbandemen and polytycke Captains to haue knowledge in the Artes of diuination If they be coÌ„dempned which bee of such antiquitye so generallye receyued and so often confirmed by the sundry workes of learned meÌ„ who then shall dare presume to open the secreates of dreames where in is contayned so high and so many mysteries But great pittyie were that so noble a knowledge so necessarye to all men bee trodeâ— vnder fote and so lightly estemed At Artes of forknowledge hath beene of longâ—time had in great price and estimatioÌ„ I tymes past the noble warriours the graue Senatours the myghty Princes almost euery priuat man did direct al theiâ— doings and wayghty affaires by coÌ„iectures and diuinations The worthy Romaynes seldome toke â—nye greate matter in hand before theyr southsayers or wyse men broughte them good or badde tydinges The Grecians â—he Arabians the Chaldes the Egiptiâ—ns did also the lyke where vppon what through the greate credite it grue vnto what through the coÌ„modity aud pleasure â—he founde thereby manye bente theyr mindes to inuent mo such studies which â—s they increased in nombre so were their operations diuers and their iudgements seueral Of the which numbre many may worthely be cut of some as most detestable and wicked some as vayne and friuolous and many as meere foolishe onlye those are so reserued and excepted wherin any witte wysedome or reason is contained amonge this sorte the diuination by dreames dothe occupy as a Mistresse 〈◊〉 of the chiefest roumes for that in it besides certayn vnfallible rules besydes quicknes of wit there must bee adioyned dexterity in learning grauity in debating the matters moderatioÌ„ in indgemeÌ„t without the which neyther caÌ„ this art nor any other be vsed in their right kindes but al erronious no profit shall ryse to that Dreamer no honestye to the deuinoure nor no praise to the arte it selfe Let not the mis-vsage of some meÌ„ take awaye or deminish the commeÌ„datioÌ„ that is incideÌ„t to so good an Art. Let not the rashnes of some in lightly credityng euery ignorante and vnlerned professours of the same be a discredit to that which in it selfe is grouÌ„ded on certaine and sure precepts
this case euerye one maye easelye indge those dreames as the same happneth of the notes For that lyke as one beholding a farre of twoo sundrye thynges of like distaunce and the one of theym hee well knoweth then throughe this be commeth the better and easelyer vnto the vnderstandinge and knowledge of the other Also he ought to know how to discusse from like to like For like as the poetes which also are named naturall prophetes do further passe by a small similitude of any matter vnto another lyke as in speakyng of the nature of Venus do thereby proceade to discusse the caulmnes of the ayre so like in many others Yet that personne is apter to interprete dreames whiche otherwyse is not occupyed about other matters And that men sumtimes do dreame in the one they apply with the other so that the one for the other they sometyme declare And it is also written of Hercules that hee dreamed such dreames at the first whiche no persone coulde expounde but dreaminge afterwarde the like was then declared to him as it after succeded Also it behouethe the expounder not to be ignorant howe that the doinges busines of meÌ„ doe daylye alter through the one and throughe the other by the disposition of the bloude and spirits For these when they bee many and cleare doo dispose the persone vnto mirth And the same is named a signe because men beecome sad beyng in the darke vnto whiche the humor verye subtill and distemperate doth theÌ„ dispose them For otherwyse beynge cleare they dispose the personne to beholde and see hydde matters But the subtile bumors ouer heated doe dispose the person vnto Ire in that these bee engendred of the burning and great heate of the bloud easely and apte to bee inâ—amed But the grosse and cleare vnto sports and the bodilye actes of myrth And often those personnes in whome theese are mulâ—iplyed seeme to laughe withoute cause â—nd yett as the common prouerbe is that â—othinge vnder heauen but reioyseth alâ—hough the same somtime may be couered 〈◊〉 vs And the same also they declare by the motion of theym For when they bee moued vehemently from the hart toward the outwarde parte of the breaste then doo they cause Ire and towarde the part downewarde shamefastnes but when the mocion succedeth outwarde then dothe it cause ioye and myrthe And throughe the lacke also of them eyther in the quantitye or qualitye are the sensitiue powers forced to woorke eyther corruptly or dimynishedlye euen in the dreame especialye when the wayes and passages betwene the Imaginatiue and Cogitatiue by whiche they passe bee hiunred or trowbled for then the powers are often deceyued Also the disposition of bloude throughe whoos 's subtiller parte the spyrites are engendred dooth alter the workings both wakyng and a slepe For wheÌ„ the bloude is cleare not grosse nor subtyle then doth it ingendre y lyke spirites whyche dispose vnto ioye and myrthe eueÌ„ lyke as the distempered bloude woorketh vn to that kynd of Ice whiche longe lasteth contrary wyse the thin hot doth worke vnto that which is sone kindled sone qualifyed the waterye in contrarye maner doth woorke vnto feare But the grosse bloude distempered in heat doth worke vnto the sturdimâ—sse of wil sadnes wherfore it behoueth the expounder of dreams to inquite orderlye whether the dreame appeared pleasaunt or otherwyse vnpleasante for the knowledge of those dothe geue greate vnderstandinge to hym And it shal be necessarye for the interpretoure to consider and knowe what the persone tradeth or occupyeth of what birth hee is what possessioÌ„s he hath what state he is in for the healthe of bodye of what age he is also which seeth y dream Also a dreaâ—e ought exactly to be told as eyther withoute anye addinge to of matter or takynge fro For that these doo cause great error vnto the vnderstanding of a truth Also if any shal doubt or be deceiued in that tellinge of his dream then must the interpreter nedes be deceyued in the declaring of the true meanynge thereof And in all dreames also which haue not a manifeste cause it behoueth diligenty to mark whether they be sene ether in the night or day time so that we may not think to mak differeÌ„t of the night afore froÌ„ the daye or the night euening from the morning spring if so be hee hath moderatly eaten before sleape For that immoderate feedinge dothe not permit matters to be trulye decerned vnto the morninge Of them which interprete dreames by the colours of the Stars by other accidentes ANd nowe some affirminge the arte of deuining by dreams do teach that things whiche appeare in the proper nature dooe forshe we good like as dreaming to see the earthe whiche of her nature is colde and drye and of this sheweth the dominion of the Melancolie humor in that person And the lyke whereas they wryte that to see drye trees or cleft doth after signify perill of lyfe which if that should be true theÌ„ many husbandmeÌ„ and fellers of trees shoulde die because they often dreame of suche businesses which they earnestlye go about and busy them selues in And in the like sort this is not true that to see in the sleepe deformed thynges that the same foresheweth a sicknesse to come neyther is this also true if that a thinge deformed of nature doth then appeare farre to the dreamer that the farrenes doth forshewe an euill for that some do thinke to see artificial garments should signifie a deceit in that vnder these is the truethe often couered Nor it disagreeth not that to se filthye thynges in the sleepe that the same doth declare corrupt humors because the stincke maye proceeade of the outwarde meanes or bee represented by the kyndes reserued and then shoulde it rather argue the goodnes of smelling And althoughe the body greeued maye be sayde to argue many humors yet maye it declare that the expulsiue matter is shed forth to the caryringe downe of the groundes or that the sinewes or mouinge powers of the spirite are hindered stopped throughe some vapour or humor greuing wherof it faileth not vnder the propre working that it may be attributed to one cause with dependeth of many But well consideringe that the â—ayre is the outward cause of dreames because in the first it receiueth the impressioÌ„ of the starres and after touchethe the bodies of men and beastes whiche are altâ—red of it yea in the daye tyme like as appearethe in the nighte Rauen and Owle whiche as moste men affirme by his synginge ouer the chamber of the sicke is prognosticated shortlye after deathe because as men say these lyke as many other beastes are more easelye chaunged in the respecâ—e of men for that those are not occupyed with earnest cares but that the ayre in this case doth not onely touch outwardlye but by the passages or poores the sence enterethe And where that others say that to see in the sleepe cleare and brighte
formes doth signifie that the bodies not to bee altered this also is vntrue because this maye happen when the melancholie humoure lyke to the sande doth purge cause cleare visible spirites and then althoughe the clearenes of the formes doth declare the goodnes of these sences yet is the cause euill in it selfe beecause it declareth the dominion of that humour Nor it is to be doubted when similytudes appeare darklye or shadowed with cloudes but that they maye declare a troublinge of the visible spirites and when those tende vnto a witnes then do they signifye mattery humors and when the shadow appeareth smal then doth the harme soone ceasse and when it sheweth to the syght as water or earthe then the harme shal bee the greuousser and the flower apte to bee resoined But wher some affirme when the sleeaper dreameth to see starres shadowed with fyer or by a thynne cloude that the same doth argue the dominion of choller whiche rather maye declare an indisposition of the eyes eyther present or to come And wher they also afirme that when the starres appeare to the dreamer that they are so busted that they can not bee decerned of him that the same is a note of death especially if the personne then dreamynge the lyke should be sicke as though the stars coulde not then helpe hym But this trulye is rather a matter to bee laughed at that to prognosticate death of the impedimente of fight Yet certaine doo allowe when the starres seame to the dreamer to moue swiftlye that theÌ„ they prognosticate great Ire or madnes to ensew and that the inordinate motions also of theym to declare sadnes and heauines to ensue For the selfe same doothe the inordinat motion of any matter argewe And graunte that the order shoulde declare the goodnes of the organe yet rather dothe it expresse the disposition of the powers of the sensitiue spirit or of naturall heat Wherefore in the like matters are the other qualityes and proporcâ—ions of thinges referred to the dreamer considered Certain demaundes and their answers both of sleepe and of those matters through which some time we dreame ANd firste why olde men do not so well sleepe and dreame the lyke as yonge men do seeinge they take more rest Unto which Auerrois thus answearethe that for so much as olde men are of coulde complexion althoughe they maye feede sufficiently yet haue they naturall heat ouer weake in theim so that they can not well digeste the same and of this the fumes of the meat in the stomacke are not sente vpwarde But the yong men haue naturall heat intensed through which they diggest their meate wel and of this send vp much fume out of the stomacke vnto the braine whiche cause theym so to dreame Why is it when in the dreame appeareth some fearefull matter that then the personne sweateth and waketh vpoÌ„ the same Unto which the philospher thus answereth that to the man appeareth then that terrible matter to be present aud wyth enemies And nature also beyng careful of y health of man doth both send forth heate and spirites from the harte vnto the outward members So that nature iudgeth it suche a ferefull matter disagreeing to the man that throughe the concourse of the spirites about the harte the harte of this is wrong together and the maÌ„ therby weakened of the same Why men commonly are not wont to dreame in the beginning of the night To which the Philosopher thus answereth that the firste digestion is then occupyed in whiche the sumes of the meate muche ingrossed are sent vp that mightely stop and so cause the persoÌ„ that he cannot theÌ„ dreame And those also stop the passages not onely to the outward sences but vnto â—he organe the keper of tymes Whye affirmeth Aristole thar a wicked person often foreseethe euil dreames To whiche is thus answered that as the condicion of the wickednes dooth incline and dispose the persone vnto the often coÌ„siderynge of the same euen so is bee moued to dreame those thinges whiche were a good whyles together thought vpon in the day tyme in that they soner come to mynde Soo that the luxuriouse person is often mâ—oued to dreame of women the drunkarde of sundrye wyues and y theefe of sundry thefts Why dreames which are caused in the morning be parfiterâ— and to more reason then the others in the night tyme To which the philosopher answeereth that in the morning the midle deuision betweene y common seÌ„ce and the Organe reseruatiue is sufficient quiet throughe whiche the fumes of the meat eleuated then are sufficiente weake and of thiâ—s cause trewer and parfytter dreames Whye it is th t at to a manne beeynge a sleepe appeare he that hee flyeth or falleth from an highe place To whiche the philosopher thus answeare the that the same proceadethe of the indisposition of the humors of certeine spyrites and vapoures Whereof in the body sometimes â—â—che fumes are very lighte and of this â—use the man to thinke that he flyeth But somtimes the fumes are ouer grosse â—nd cooled by the brayne and do then disend to the harte and through this it seeâ—eth then to the maÌ„ that he falleth from highe verye deepe Why is it that a man sometimes dreameth of those thinges whiche in all his â—yfe he neuer possessed nor saw To which â—he philosopher thus aunswereth that in â—he slepe is a certayne compositioÌ„ of fanâ—asies through whiche composition such â—ppearance is called Lyke as when any â—haunge the kynd of golde on a hyll then â—o him appeareth in his slepe to haue sene â— golden hill Whye is it that the similitudes of â—hinges sometymes in the sleepe dooe appeare broken and sometymes defouremed The reasone of this is in that the â—otte vapour is hindered to be shed forth â—hat seeketh the Uentricle or Organe in which the similitudes are wherefore of y troubled they are then not perceiued â—nder a proper forme for that they may â—omtymes be caused of those which were neuer perceiued or decerned and that heauelye sleapyng they dreame nothing 〈◊〉 that the powers of the spyrite or the imaginatiue is hindred to passe vnto the actâ— And by the same reasone in a manner some dreame nothynge al their lyfe tym becaue the plenty or aboundance of moiâ—stures causeth the grosser spirites and 〈◊〉 confoundeth the similitudes But Aâ—â—stotle doth attribute this to a drines anâ— coldnes of complexion for these as thâ— philosopher affirmeth do hinder the ascâ—â—ding of vapours whiche like happeneâ—â— to olde persones by reason of age Whye is it that some persones neuâ—â— dreame nor dreamed all their lyfe tyme The philosopher thus aunsweareth thâ—â— suche personnes are either ouer moiste 〈◊〉 quality and the braine to much running so that the kyndes cannot abyde or such are ouer dry that the kyndes in them caâ— not be imprinted So that in both sortes the Organe is ouer muche vnquieted Why doth it sometme appeare to vs that the sighte maye bee chaunged froâ— the one
doth not take awaye sleepe lyke as otherwyse of matters to come The reason is for if the same shoulde bee true and bothe laborious yet of that to come by reason of the feare annexed is the same wythe carefulnes soo that thys letteth him to slepe whereas of the knowen it troubleth hym litle or nothing at all Why do some sometymes declare to see or to haue seene in their slepe Deuils and somtimes saints or Angels The reason is for that althoughe deuils of their propper nature haue no coloure at all yet because by this especialye as bye the black they are manifested to the people therefore whan it so happeneth that the adust humoure or fume doth occupye the spirites and and passages then the cogitatyue ruled by theÌ„ doth cause the dreamers to belene y y similitudes or black kyndes to be very diuils in that they are then caused corruptlye to decerne And al though there can not bee caused one only dreame of all the kyndes whiche are reserued in the remembrauÌ„ce yet are there ymagined many diuills in that they are comprehended vnder a certayne vnicye of blackenes imagined And euen lyke when the foresayd similitudes and ways are affected wythe the redde couloure of bloudde mixed wythe flewme whiche for that the same is white and the other redd therfore through the worthines of the colours they think theÌ„ those to be ether Angels or saints in that both these wer woÌ„t to bee so painted And that y bloud also doth dispose the sicke to gladnes appeareth in the swan whiche drawinge nere to death singeth because her subtil bloude is then dispersed in the ventricles of the harte Yet sometymes those bee trewe deuilles whiche shewe themselues sodeinlye beefore the soule departethe out of the mans bodye vnto a greater payne or rather parhappes that God will that suche call to remembraunce their wicked dedes and that the sick in conscience may therof repente and amend before death Of the opinions of phisitions iu dreames THe phisicions also dooe obserue that dreames in a maner doo declare y disposicion of our bodies as eyther to helth or sicknes whiche parhappes oughte rather to bee searched out and learned by Arte. Yet say they that when sleapynge men see blacke visiones lyke as the drye earthe obscure or deade men these they and such like do forshewe customed sickenesses to be caused of the melancholy humoure and they also warne vs then to consider whether that visione towched the whole body in that the sickenes foloweth vniuersall lyke as of the agewe or leaprye for if in any part alone the partyculer shal bee that it hath nothinge touched that it signifyeth vppon the indisposition of the spyrites throughe whiche some sadnes is wonte to happen in the spirite and the selfe same they declare of the bloud For when it doth offende in the lyke or in asmuche then doth he thinke to see redde and ayeryal matters and what soeuer is pleasaunte to beholde so that a hote and moist qualitye is prognosticated vppon the motion or indisposition of the same and then doth it in lyke sorte either touche the whole body or but parte And the lyke is to be sayde of choller when as it semeth to hym to see cytrene or fyerye matters or contentions And the flewme in lyke sorte when as it seemeth to him to see the whyte watrye glasse or clammye and other lyke proportioned matters to that humoure wyth the foresayde consideration And allthoughe these maye perhappes yelde to the place of the signes yet by them may not the bodely or inwarde nor premitiue causes bee founde oute of these as by the same appeareth in that they do depend of the gouermente of the sixe naturall thinges by which they be knowne without the dreames and of the first also in that seldome when wee doo dreame wee dooe then see those touched excepte that when they do foreshew the harde expressions or properly the nightmare by whiche are wonte to bee prognosticated the sicknes named Apoplexiae And many also of these which as they say do coÌ„monly happen to health full parsons withoute sicknes folowing Neither do the sayings declare the cause for somuche as it is manifest that the subtill vapour of bloude or flewme euer heated by laboure or sicknes may cause dreames to shew of choller with in dede beareth not sway in the body or els is sone resolued or fumeth away But if you demaund why they do foreshewe choller when as a man in sleepe feareth to fall or thinketh to haue falleÌ„ The reason is for that when the same is subtill and of a swift motion doth then in dispose the spirites and letteth the motiue spirites to proporcionate the space betwene the bounde from whiche and vnto whiche But the falling either is a discoÌ„tinuation or not without these for that wakinge a man dothe not onelye fal but throwe himselfe headlong downe which regardeth not to discende by the ordinarye steppes Also other phisicions do reduce mens dreames vnto the inward or bodily cause but these rather do happen of the effectes or cares of the spirite begon in the daye tyme and they are besydes diuers in diuers persones because not al personnes occupyed aboute the same lyke as y occupyer idle person the smith or husâ—andman whereof the selfe same forme dothe shewe one thinge to one person as to the couetouse man an other thinge to the lyberal person or Musician another thing to the healthfull an other thinge to the sick Wherfore if it should be so grauÌ„ted that the phisition by the argument of the humour rulyng may argu the temperatnes or disteÌ„peratenes of nature and vnto the more whiche eyther trouble or helpe but these contrary of beastes in y by time do diuers desires aryse of which caÌ„ no firme or certayne rule bee giueÌ„ but are woÌ„t as it is said to be aplied vnto those which eyther we are by nature or custome or by immoderat desire inclined but if those shoulde haue an outewarde cause then might they signifye many matters vpon the yssue of the busines of the hap to come but the signe of this is as wheÌ„ dreaming he remayneth after wandringe amased because the significations theÌ„ do not lack which also may be applied to the hauing inward cause of humours But the cause of the admiration is either proceedinge through the newe accesse of the outwarde kynde because they happen not customably or els when the humour ouer muche ruleth or excedeth in the bodye Of the cause of Dreames THe causes of all dreames bee on this wyse firste those whiche are caused of meates and drinckes as in surfeytes are wont to be is the cause of the mocion whiche properlye is caused of the vapoures breathing out of the foâ—e But the sleepe is the reste of the spyrites and the wakinge the vehemente motione of theym â–ª and the vayne dreame is a certayne tremblinge and vnperfit motion of theym Therfore al are vayne dreames caused through
the spirites lightlye moued Wherof whyles we soundly sleepe we then dreame nothinge at all So that all kyndes of vayne dreames in this point do agree wyth the light motioÌ„ of the spirites all do agree in the matter for y the matter of ach is the remembrauÌ„ce of y sene or heard for no vain dreames are caused but through them As y lyke for example when a man in his slepe thinketh to se a monster with thre heads which hee either hearde of by the discription of some or sawe paynted in the lyke sorte whiche heades he remembred to be on this wyse as the one lyke a Lyon the other a serpente or Dragon the other a Goat That if anye other straunge matter also a man shall see in his sleepe or some vnknowen thinge or deformed Plant then are those none other then vnparfite thinges or transposed For an vnknowen man is none other then when a man is vnparfitlye founde And the knowledge of this is that all men yea the moste knowen beeyng seene far of are vnknowen Therfore through the vnperfite knowledge and traÌ„sposing and mixinge of sightes are all dreames caused So that it appeareth that al dreames to agre booth in the efficiente cause and in the matter for the efficyente cause is the moderate motion of the spirites but the matter is the memorye of things seene eyther whole or vnparfit For as it is manifest that there be diuers kyndes of dreames euen so it behoueth y the causes bee diuers for that throughe them those are alwais caused This moderate motion oughte not alwayes to be thoughte so perfit that this moderation is exquisitely an indiuiduat But if the mocion be vehementer and troublesomer althoughe it maye bee moderated in the kynde yet are they called vayne dreames troubled vnperfite and confused And in this maner doo twoo kyndes of them aryse the one whiche is of meate and is the more confused and vnperfyte yet more fayntly For that from the meate and drinke the vapours are not soo parfytelye caried as from the humours whiche so cause dreames more vnperfite lame yea and more obscure in that the vapour is fatter if the parson drinketh wyne then of humours Yet are the kyndes not so stable doe moue wyth suche a force as those whiche are caused by the humors Wherfore the dreames caused of meate are lesse parfyte lesse agreeynge and in order so that they appeare more troubled confused and diuers then those whiche are caused of the humors as are contrary those which are caused of the humors be more stable in order agreeing yet lesser troubled and diuers with lesse force then those which are caused of meate And those which are caused wyth a lesser troublinge and bee clearer but caused as they were compounde throughe many remembraunces conioyned do affecte more by the sleepe through that whiche agreeth that by wakyng in the day time litle Also they agre for the more parte to those thinges eyther seen or harde or imagined the day before or but a fewe dayes before or els a longe tyme before And theÌ„ do they shew y order as it were of the whole matter But those whiche are in an order and bee wythe the leaste motyon of the spyrites caused gentle and that without anye agitacion of the vpper causes procured doe yet more affecte the soule that wakynge bee maye then bee holden wythe a certayne admiration And seeynge a man may throughe the effectes proceede vnto ech causes therfore oughte a trauÌ„ce to be ineche kyndes For if dreames by a greate mocion maye appeare troubled dyuers obscure and vnperfite and that they seeme a litle to agree then shall wee sâ—ye that eyther meate or drincke or suche lyke matter was the causer of these Of the deuision of Dreames and order of interpretyng of theÌ„ IT muste needes ensue that some causes of effecte to bee true of all dreames of the others whiche are caused therfore those causes are eyther bodilye or not bodilye and hoth also eyther newe or before wrought So that it must uedes ensew that ther be foure kyndes of dreames Now the new and bodelye causes are meate and drincke lyke as the heades of Garlike the Coleworts the Onyones the Beanes and what soeuer ascend to the head and especiallye those whiche engender melancholye Further yealowe choller doothe cause to appeare in sleepe bothe fyers fightynge and Melancholye causethe to appeare in sleepe claye myer or dirte Burialles graues imprisonmente and feare and bloude causethe to appeare sporâ—es fayre places bloude and purple coloure and the flewme causethe to appeare waters showers of rayne and snowe for that the same is a moyste colde qualitye But the vncorporate causes precedent are cares cogitations matter as committed to memorye feare hope gladnes heauines or sadnes of mynde hatred and loue But the new are those whiche frame the superior cause come vnto the soule For of all the other members al the causes of the diuisions doo so agree that many endeuour to place this laste vnder some of the three foresayd And it behoueth first â—o seke out whiche may be of euery kynde therfore whiche true and which false for that none do shewe matters to come but those whiche are sente frome the superioure cause and those also whiche are caused of humours And hereof why those maye bee true it behouethe to shewe and what truth also may be found in al the kindes And after that which bee formes that maye bee interpreted And to coâ—clude the whole tretise as it euidentelye appeareth doothe eyther consiste of the difference of thinges seene or of the maner of seeynge or difference of the dreaminges For that by nature men see true dreames whiche dreame but seldome and false dreames whiche dayelye dreame Also suche as be occupyed in greate actions and businesses and greately abstayne from meate and drinke nor are troubled wyth feare nor sadnes doo see and haue true dreames but suche affected in the contrary manner doo see false dreames And for that cause the dreames of Princes are commonlie true And suche of honeste manners trewe faythfull and godlye haue for the more parte trewe dreames And suche whiche are not so godlye but cruell yet no deceiuers see commonlye trewe dreames and the supersticious parsons do see very fewe true dreames Also he whiche is accustomed to see true dreames to his dreames is more credyte to bee giuen then to those whiche are of a contrary manner And men haue truer dreames in the Sommer and the Wynter then in the Springe and the Harueste for that in those tymes they often alter Also quiet seasons dooe cause true dreames but the wynde and boystrouse weather dooe worke contrarye and the more boysterouse the rather falser Besydes shorte dreames and in order are truer and moore euydente and of a cause more constante are caused And dreames moued or cansed in the rysinge of the Sonne and before or after vnto the thirde hower bee for the more