Book 1L

14 6
A double Sun feen in aglajjt under water.
Jjtlogs 1.
Burning- gfoffto-
The memorable ad if Archi¬ medes.
A Limbeck or Still .
7b* force of Aquarvit**
Homo try A- igua-vit0A
what force and vertue Aqua-virae bath.
when as the Suns brightnefle io darkneth all the liars, that they can¬ not be feen in the day. But the Suns Image appears double, firft by reafon of the water, and then by reafon of the Glaflc 5 For that clown in rirgtll teftifies, befidcs our own experience, that water may ferve inltead of a glaffe, and makes all things fhew larger.
Iam not fo deformed , 1 lately faw my face , when that the S ea was calm, — -
Wherefore firft the 'brightnefle of the glaffe, by reflexion fhews the Suns form, and next the water, from the fuperficies whereof the Sun-beams are beaten back. The like rcalon ferves for a Candle, Torch, or the Moon being over againft a Glafle put under the water, for it will by reflexion return the objeft double. Alfo concave Glaffes are invented foranother ufe, that being held againft the Sun, by reflexion will burn and make fome combufti- ble matter flame, fetting on fire flraw, Chaff, and other dry fuel. So c Archimedes fired the enemies galleys with burning glafles, as Hiftorics report: for all the Sunbeams are refle&ed by them with¬ out the point of Incidents, and running all to one point, they fet all things in the way on fire.
CHAP. XXXI V.
what force and vertue Aqua-vitae hath, or the fpirit of wine dijtilFd, and who may Jafely drink it : by the way, fome admirable eft efts of this made -wine, are fet down. -
,T1 Here was invented in the memory of former ages, an art of X diftilling, for the ufe andprefervation of mans health, and ’ to drive away fickncfle, whereby we diftillfrom hearbs, juices, and Phyficall liquors, which, though it be certain that they have not fo much vertue and force as the lnfufion and deco&ion of the hearbs themfclves,or the juice prefled forth, yet are they not whol¬ ly to be rejected, as they are by fome men. Nor muft we judge them to be altogether uneffc&ual and vain jfor the quality and force of them is not totally loft & aboli(hed,which may be prq^d, as by many things, fo by Aqua virx, or as fome commonly call iflpirit of wine- or fublimed, which fometimes is drawn from the beft wines, but oft-times, from the lees of any fmall dead fowre wines by a Still in a furnace, with a gentle fire. For oft- times I made trial of the wonderf ull force of it. For let the froft be never fo cold and ffiarp that liquor will never freeze, nor become Icc^fothat writing Ink and many more things that have fome drops of this mingled with them will never be frozen, and this come .from the exceeding heat and thinnefTe that it hath. And if you would try whether this quinteflencc be pure and without mixture, wet a Table-cloath or linnen Towel with that liquor, and put it to the flame; if it burn
prefently
Of the vert ue of Aqua-vit
147
Chap.34.
prefently and do not to^ich nor hurt the linnen, it is pure and un- mixed. For linnen wet in this water will flame and not be con- fumed. For the flame will but gently lye upon the fineft linnen, and not take hold of it, but licks up all that is next of kind to ir, namely that liquor that is like it, and of a fiery nature. And if you put a little of it into the hollow of your hand, and put flame to it with a burning paper, the palm will be hor, but the hand will hot burn. But if you walh your hands with the juice of Mallows How netted; or Mercury, you may without any hurt handle icalding lead, fo leadfhaUm you do it with a fpeedy motion. And yet there is nothing in the bHrn*a*' world that burns more then melted lead or boyling oyle ; fo that if you put a Tin or lead fpoon into fealding oyle or melted lead, it will prefently melt, which you (hall never be able to do in the moft boyling water. ' For oyle and all fat things become molt hot, and are extreamly inflamed, fo that lead will foon melt and run being mingled with fatiwhereas water hinders thatthe heat cannot penetrate into the lead,, and therefore it is that the Eels rofted on a Gridiron, will burn a mans fingers vehemently, if you do not take heed when you turn then : for the fat will flick to your fin¬ gers, and ulcerate the skin, and raife blifters with the heat. But T, r ... » iince there are four things that contend for gravity and levity, u^iru “ ^ namely, Wine, Water, Honey, and Oyle. The lighteft of all thefcand that weighs leaft, is fpirirof Wine, that being mingled with Oyle will floieon the top, and fwim above the Oyle ; for all terrene matter is taken from it by concodion5 and all the fub- ftance of it is fire and Ayre.
Next to this in lightneffe is the Oyl prefled forth of Linfeed and Sefama, which never, contrary to the nature of other Oyles, 0yle ef llnfccd grows hard with cold, by reafon ofits foftnefle and inward heat. Zrnmfm e
Next to this is the liquor diftill’d from green hearbs by force of the fire, and cleanfed Wine that hath no fweetnefle mingled with it. For that Forreign Wine, which they call bafiard, and wc ca\\Serope or Zerape, is heavier than all liquors, fo that veflels fill’d with that liquor will fink in the water. Dew of Heaven, if it be not troubled, is of the fame weight with Wine, namely that which falls from the Ayre in the Month ofcMaj, and is kept ma¬ ny years. But honey is a third part heavier than they.
Wherefore there is no liquor, that is ufed any ways for mans body that is lighter or more penetrating than Aquavine, as it is called., becaufe it fuftains mans life, and retards old age, or that better preferves all things from putrefa&ion and corrup¬ tion. »
The ufe whereof is grown fo common amongft the Dutch, that . -
they drink more ofit than is good for their health ; For the drink- uTsToodfvr. 6 inigofitis nothealthfull for allpeople, and at all times; name¬ ly, for fuch as arc lean and dry of nature. Again, in Summer the ufe ofit is rnoft pernicious; for it burns their bodies, and feeds on the natural, moy flure. But for fat bodies and moift, and filch as are ftfll of flegmatique humours, it doth them no hurt.
Y » For
I
148
The prodigious force 0/ Quickfilver.
, Book II;
For it concofts the excrementall humours* and it defends their bodies from Lethargies, Apoplexies, and all cold difcafes, where¬ fore in Winter I grant they may ufe it moderately, that is a dram and half, which is a fpoonfuil very well fweetned with Su¬ gar, and a piece of white bread put into it that it may not penetrate and tiy up totheNoflrillsand the Brain, or hurt the Liver with its piercing hear. But being ufed outwardly to the Nerves and Mulcles, and to parts chil’d with cold, it will help them, and by its heating, and quick penetrating qualities, retrains and dif- cufles all painfull effects that confift in cold humours. Alfo it reftores fpcech to Apople&ick people, if you mingle with it a lit¬ tle Rocket feed and iome Vinegar offquills. And if that kind of wine be put into a Still, and drawn off twice or thrice with the fire, it will have an incredible piercing force.
CHAP. XXXV.
The prodigious force o/Quickfil ver, and the nature of it : the ‘Dutch¬ men call it fofrom its quick motion .
THcre are two principles in the nature of things, out of which in the deep bowels of the earth all mettals are made of, Brimfloneand Toe one is Brimftone as the Father that effe&s and ads all: Quicttfivir are But Quickfilver is in ftcad of the Mother, which fuffers all thofe the prince* of e]aborateci and produced out of it. Firft Gold, then Silver,
* u ** then all kind of baler mettals, as Tin, Lead, Brafle, Copper, Iron, and all thefe with their principles hold affinity and agreement. For they will all melt in the fire, and may be made du&ile for any work.
But for Quickfilver, that is that watry and running fil ver, what quality and force it hath, and whether it be cold or hot, Phy fiti- ons cannot agree.Some fay it is cold and moift,bccaufe if you touch it, ir will feel exceeding cold, and will aftonifh them, and caufe thePalfie: others fay it is hot and dry from the efled, becaufe they fee the penetratious nature it is of, for if you open a vein of thole that have been once or twice anointed with it, for the Pox, the Quickfilver hath been leen fomecimes to come forth ; which I think proceeds not from any imbred natural heat of it£ but be¬ caufe it is extinguifhed with fome burning materials or elfe mingled, whereby the cold and moift quality of it is blunted and made dull, and a fiery quality comes in the place of them. For , . there is a kind of powder that Mountebank, Chirurgionsufe,caU’d
precipitate, becaufe it performs its operation fuddenly and hafti- ly, not without very grievous inconvenience of the body, for by the mixture of Vitriol, Salt- peter, andAllum, it acquires a fiery cauftick quality by this way of preparation. But fince this Sil¬ ver colour’d liquid fubftance diffipated and pul’d afiunder, will some together again as it was, and run on heaps, that you can¬ not
Chap.3 5*
The Prodigiow force of Quiekiilvcr.
14 9
not handle it, or trame it, or mingle it with any medicaments, un- leffethc motion of it be hindred, the Induftry and realon of man hath thought on fome wayes how to do that, and to flop the quick- nefle thereof.
Amongfi; which the fafeft and with leaft danger is, to do it with mans fpitde, to which there is mixt a lirtle allies or powder of cuttle-bone. Now a cuttle is a fea- cat, whofe white crumbly bone the Gold-fmiths ufe, the fiefh is ftirring, and the blood ASiA cAU •' ferves for Ink. Buc this is worthy admiration, that fince all things that arc dug out of the earth, though never fo heavy will fwim up¬ on this mcttall, as Steel, Iron, Lead, and all forts of Braflfe, one- ly Gold finks below it, and is fwallowed in, and becomes filver colour'd, that can be got off onely by fire, forfeit evaporates into fumes into the Ayre, with a moft filthy fmell, not without great hurt to the ftandersby, for it willcauie their limbs to be aftonifh- ed, and will ioften their nerves : as we commonly fee in fuch as are bulled in guilding Silver veflels, for Silver cannot be guilded with gold, but with the help of Quicfilver, for by that alone it be¬ comes tra&ible and obedient, for it refufeth all other mcttals and is affe&cJ with none but Gold, and will mingle with it, and be framed by it. So 1 have oft tried that on a pound and halfof Quick- Kothtagisiwi- filver, two pound of Lead would fwim, buc a penny weight or q jZ^vtr. fcruple of Gold which is but the third part of a dram would fink to the bottom. Bur of all mettals it is worft to flick to Silver, bad to lead, very hardly to Iron, and fomewhat difficult to ftick to Brafl'c. Melted lead in fome refpe&s is like to this Silver coloutM liquid fubfiance. For all things will fwim on the top thereof, Iron,
Bines, Potfheards, and many other things that will not melt in the fire, and will naturally run 5 for fince nothing is more hot that* melted Lead, Gold, Silver, Tin, will fwim on the top thereof, but they prcfencly melc and run like wax. Alfo it is like Quickfilver for this, that being powred forth on a plain table, and the drops of it fprinkled here and there, it doth not make it moyft,and flippery, nor doth it ftick to the Tables but with incredible fwife- ntfle and unftable motion it comes together again, and the drbps run upon heaps wicn themlelves,becaufc they are of a condenfed matter, compact and folid and continued, and fo condcnfcd chat it will admit of no Ayre. Whence it hapneth, that not onely by realon of its weight it defeends to the bottom, but becaufe it con¬ tains no aerealfubitance in it. So Agallocha or Lignum Aloes* Lignum Aloes though it be light, and of no weight almoft, finks down to the bot- tom if you put it into water becaufe it is compacted, and there are no pores in it. ttr.
i ' fiTio .... , turn II J : JW •
' .
I
GHAP.
150 How Flejh and other meats may be preferred without Salt. Book II.
Salt makes fruitful.
CHAP. XXXVI.
How, when we want Salt , may flejh and other meats be preserved from corruption. By the way. Of the wonderful l force of Salt and Vineger.
* ; f - i. ' ‘ , ' : 1
Lignum Aloes "V TO man but knows the great ufe and neceffity we have of Salt. finStotbebot- JlN For befides that , that Salt makes all meats favoury, and tmoftbe was moll pleafanttoour taft and Pallats , and procures an appetite to ter. our meat, it preferves all things from corruption, elpecially
1 Satfiulebctl . which isboyld, till all the muddy dreggs be taken from it : for
it will (bine of a bright colour, and all things may be fafely feafon- ed therewith , and kept all the Summer ; for it will drink up and confumeall excrementitious humours , and thickncth and con- v denfeth all flefh and fifh, that the ambient aire cannot make themputrifyt Yet all men mull needs wonder that Saltfhould caufe fruitful! nelfe , and cure barrennes : and that fome fields have beenmadfe fruitfull by Salt fire wed upon them, which experi- ence hath proved to be true. For fat women that are commonly barren, become fruitfull and fit to conceive by eating Salt mode- rately with their meats , for it wipes away all foule moyflurc , and dries the overwet matrix, and caufeth the genitall feed to flick more eafilytothewombthatisnotfofhppery as before; But to dry women , whofe matrix is fcorched , like to ground that is thirfly, moy fining things muft be given , for Salt and fharp things are naught for them. Alfo the Low-Countries (hew that it will provoke the reines , and caufe ere&ion, who ufing Salt meats much, are exceeding falacious. So the frequent earing of Sea fifh, and all fhell fifh, as Oyflers, Crabs , Lobflers, Cockeis, Periwin¬ kles, make people Iuflfull , and are of a hoc biting nature. Foe which caufethe JEgptians&tfFlutarch fays,abflainedfrom Salt,and all Salt meats , becaufe they were perfwaded that Salt caufed ve- nery. Wherefore they thought fit rather to eate unfavoury meats, than to ufe the mod favoury fa wee , but I think they were too fu- perflitious in obferving that , nor did they fufficiently take care of their health t for Salt drives away corruption from mans body, and confumes all flrange and accidentall humours. Add to this that it hath an imbred force for generation of Children , whereby the con jugall covenant is confirmed. For the moderate life of it raifeth the vigour of the mind, and not only for embracing and killing, but for all actions we take in hand, it will make us more cheerfull and ready. But that it helps fruitfullneffe, it is proved bccaufe a wonderfull number of Rats and Mice are bred in Ships at Sea, and that women that deal in Salt are alwaies itch¬ ing, and have many Children : who are commonly helped by Saltmakes field Sea-men and Fifher-men that come into the Havens , and thefe jhitftu" are lufty fellows to do their bufinefle. For this reafon in fome Countries > Husbandmen ufe to flrew fome Salt amongfl the
Mares
S Infytyof:
J
Chap. 3 Flfjb and other meats way be prefe/vea without Salt, 1 y t
Mares Fodder, that they may eat their meat the more greedily, and endure their Labour, and be more ready and fit to bring Colts.
AUo it makes grounds fruiefuil , where tncy arc u>o moiil and wet.
But if Towns and Forts befieged flraightly fhould (land in need sgt-vater, of this , they uiufl make Salt ot Sea-water , which you fhali find then to be cffe&uali, when the Salt liquor will bear an Egg or Ambergrcece. Next to this, topreferve meats, is Vinegcr, but it will not laft fo long, for unlefte after fome months you poure off the former and poure onfrelh Vineger, on the fcafon’d meats , rbefaietf they will be mouldy and finnoed. But what forte and fatuity Vi new. it hath , as by many things , fo alfo it may be tried by this , that an egge fteeped three dayes in Vinegar, that is Very (harp, ora lictle more, the (Bell will grow fo tender , that you may draw it through a ring like a thin membrane. Alfo a Whec-ttone ora vinmret*- Flinc iteeped 7 dayesin Vinegar, may be crumbled with your farms an eggt finger into powder. Hence when Hanniball was to palfethe Alps,to *£j}t?f[$glvei * go into Itnty , He made the Rocks diffolvc with boyling Vinegcr , °r'c'
with the lofleof one ot his eyes. For fo great and penetrating is the force of Vineger , that it will cate and break Hones. I oucc made experience of it in a Jewel , and a Pearl, but it was not to precious as that of Cleopatra, Queen of t/Egypt^ which fhe ftccped in ^ar!syFtH dif- Vineger, and diffolvedand drank it up j tor the fharpneffe of the J£.*empr,ae~ Vineger will con fume Pearls. By the fame rcafon it refills Vc- nomes, and drives away the Contagion of Peftilcnt difeafes :
Therefore mc-th inks, they do well who, when any publickdifealc isfpread in aCountry, do moderately ufc Vineger : Forthiswill dilperfe and fcatter the faulty Ayre, and if you eate any of it wili keep the humours from infection and corruption. So chofe that luck out venome with their mouths, and any (linking wounds, do walh their mouths with (harp Vinegcr. But great care mud be taken rhat we do not ufc Vinegcr too much and immoderately; for itdryes the brain , and hinders deep, wherefore I Counfcllyou to mingle fome Rofe-water with it , and a little Rhenifh-wine , and Saffron a fmal quantity. For fo it will do the head Idle hurt. Of the famenature almofl, and of the fame efficiency , are all very fowf and (harp things, as Pome- Citrons, Oranges, Lemmons : tor the rheimeeaf Lemmon that is commonly Ovall hath a juyee fo fharp and cor- c»u roding naturally, that if you put a pcice of Gold fome hours in a *’’****• Lemmon , you (hall find it lighter and not fo ponderous when you cold, which burns as well as fire: So Spirit of Wine is moll effeduall to preftrve things , for flefh and fifh wet in it arc fafe i
from putrefadion and will never breed Worms. But Commin • . . if there be plenty of it , and carway feed, next Sait, are prefent re- cHwayM medics to preferve meats , if you rub the meats with them , and lay them up, by reafon of their drying quality , fo that fuch as ufc them often , wax pale and wan for wane of blood , becaufe they cat up all the natural! moyfiure. Alfo Honey, and Strope as they HoneySjr
call
152
Pale i Vo me a are more Lfciviom than fuchas are of a ruddy complexion , Book II.
call it trom its laft like honey, though ic look fomwhat black, and fo Jj^Vine which the. Spaniards call Aroba , have a virtue to preferve, dpecially Cherries , Prunes, Peaches, Grapes and all Verjuyce. wild fruiccs : which I have cried in l'owre Grapes j But moft ef¬ fectually , if you place in order any kinds of fruits in anearchen- poc, and cover the pot well with a -cover, and fmeer the fame, with Pitch, that no Ayre nor Water can enter it 5 and foletic ¥'otltS and funk. do vvn into the bottom of a Wei l : after a yeare is over, you fhall \n a welt, -*iii find them all fretli , and oi an excellent raft j For when they are la ft very long. p0 f2rr removed from the ambient Ayre , and all corrupt vapours, they cannot corrupt. For moyfture makes all things fubjed to cor¬ ruption, which being removed > and drinefs put in the .place , tmngs will noteafily confume. So ftock-fith, as we call them, in Laane CMerluc# , (for Salpa is another kind) and many more hardned and dried ip the wind , may be kept many yeares , as al¬ io bifquit , that will never mold , becau fe all the moyfture is bak¬ ed out of it: Wherefore extream heat or cold becaufe they both equally caufe drinefs will keep things trom Corruption.
Hence you may coiled! whence it comes topafle, that in Win- FnfUsaptf tcr> and hard frofts , a mans leg will break with the leaft touch . breakontslegs almoft 5 For the bone will eafily grow brittle and break, byrea- onof the drinefle of the outward Ayre , whereas when it is a moift feafon it is more tough and fkxible:the which thing alfo we obferve in Candles and fuch things arc made of fat.
Stec^-fijh.
CHAP. XXXVII.
«. • |«. I • !•. •' '
Pale women are more lafcivious than fuch as are of a ruddy c ample xion^and lean Women than fat , and do morehjl after men .
THofe Women are more hot , and prone to venery, and more mad after pleasure , that have more imbred heat , which is commonly found in pale & lean Womcn,&; iuch as are of a brown colour, for their genital parts are full of a lharp. fait biting humour, & therefore they require to be more moiftned;&: hence it comes to paffe that women are more ldflfull inSummer,& more defire mens women mon [a+ company, becaufe at that time heat inereafeth in them, but in men Hm it flags and grows more weak. Wherefore RueandThime, and manv very hot rhings extinguish luff in men, and fharpen it in Women* For in men they confume and dry up the naturail moi- flurc , but they heat the Matrix of Women by confuming the fu« perfluous mixture , and fo make them Luftfull. Wherefore ic is, that that Sex defires to be filled with ftrong Wine,but fat &: ruddy . Women, that are full of moy fture , and that have their genera¬ tive feed very wet, are of a faint and very fedate appetite in their Luft. Wherefore men mu ft make a good choice and not prefent- Jy take what comes next to hand rafhly. For he that hath, got a ■ - ■ • . A, •' ' .-■? ■ lean,
Chap. 2 8 . whether a man jhould drink greedily and plentifully. 153
lean (lender woman of declining years, hath fuch a one as isal- waies itching, and will never be fatisried ; let him know chat he hath got a perpetuall torment , that is continually lulling, and is daily more and more exaiperated : the will hick to her Husband like a Horfeleach, and (lie will never let him reft, though he be tired ouc quite , nor give him fo much relpite as to recoveries ftrength.
CHAP. XXVIII.
Whether a man jhould drink greedily and plentifully , or hy little and lit - tie and fparingly at fever all times , when he is tbirfly , or if fat at Table.
/T"i Me principal! way of preferving a mans health, confifts in his 1 temperance and moderation in eating and drinking. But be¬ cause 1 have fpoken elfewhere abundantly, of eating dry food and of bread , I (hall here fpeak of drink , and in what manner and meafure it ought to be ufed. Firft it cannot be preferibed certain¬ ly and abfolutely to thofe that are in Health. Becaufefomcare accuftomed to divers wayesordo&rine, which no man may pre- fently break off, but he will be in danger to fall into fome (ick- nefle. The beft and fafeft way of drinking is to be judged of , ac¬ cording to the age of people, and difference of times , as alfo the cuftomesthey have long ufed , and as their ftrength is, and as the Wine is ftrong or weak. So Beere or Wine , or other drink muft be preferibed to quench a mans thirft , and that the meat may not bedry nor flote, but be moderately wet. Wherefore the body muft be refrefhed by times, and at moderate diftances, and the meat muft be nowand then fteeped withmoifture, that it may the more commodioiifly goe into the veins by conco&ion , and be digefted into the body. But all drUnkenneffc, efpecially continu- ^ZITcLuL all , as Diofcorides faith , is pernicious, becaufe the nerves being \exnefe. l. ft foked continually with much Wine , are foftned , and the whole c • ?• frame of the body is diffolved. Wherefore a man ought to drink moderately all drinks that caufe drunkennefle, and in that we ought to imitate all Fifhmongers and Butchers , who when they Afauerram-' ftorc up their fifh or flefh cut into peices they poure in brine upon Butchers ™ " every row as they lay it, andfeafon it with Salt in order. So we, if we will take care ofour health , muft water our meat in order as we eate it, by drinking moderately. But it is hurtful! to tire the when digejlion ftomach with drink when conco&ion is begun , for it hinders and begins wemufi flops the faculties and fun&ions ofNature , that ihe is abour, and notdnnk Will not let the meat boil and concoft. For as pots leave off boil- a jimiiefrom ing and cool by powring in cold water : So the ftomach hindred by lbe drink powred in, ceafcth todigeft what it hath begun, and is lon¬ ger about it , nor doth it conco&it fo well ; for fo the meat is dri¬ ven into the narrow veins Undigcfted , or into the capacity of the*
Z bowels*
*54
whether a man jbould drink greedily and plentifully . Book II.
who ntufl drink largely.
A fmle from a, Smitbipiop*
bowels. before its due time. . Whereby the ute and fruuchaca roan fhould .have ofhi^mcacis loft, and by obft.ru&ing the bowels caU. leth putrefaction at humours, and becomes the feminary of Feavers and other diicatesj And the fame Inconvenience befalls them, who before meat wbc^ they go to meals, drf k abundantly. For the meats are prdently wafned away, and cannot ftay long in we mV dri»k the ftomach. Wherefore 1 think it is good counfell f or people bydCmdiin.d not tocirb>k greedily and great draughts when they car, but by Jit- *9tgree tie and Httic, that io~both'may mingle as they fliould. and be conceded alike, elpecially thofe that have large paflages, and wide veins. But thofe thafule to eat fo, that they do not drink in the middle of their meat, muft drink great draughts, that the beer may penetrate, and be mingled with their meat : Alfo they that are in hot feavers, and defire to be refrefhed with drink, muft drink abundantly, but not fuddenly and in hafte ; but leafurely and drinking long. For fo it will moiften the ftomach very abun¬ dantly, nor doth the drink prcfently run away to the bladder. For a little d{if*k neither qijencheth thirft, nor abates the heat, but augments it the more j For as Sea-coles in Smiths forges wetted with wtrbrufhes, fometimes will flame and burn the more,fo the hept of a Feaver is kindled the more, and not quenched with a lit- tjc drink and makes the fiejt the more thirfty. But they that are thirfty from wearindlcand heat of thr weather, they muft quench their tnirft gently and fweetly. For fo the liquor will ftay the bec- I t h fmevwn ttrsand moiften all the dry parts. But I thought fit to joyn to
bthlntlTi»k* chiS ar8umenc luch as confume by a he&ick Feaver or ccnfumption* and are grown exceeding lean by difeafes, it is better for them to eatfomcfolid meat, than to drink any drink. For the weight of the m* at dilatesihe jugular pufTagts, andmakes the waiesof the throat paftable, that it may fall down more eafily, which drink cannot do. For fmee the parts and paflages of the throat deftina* ted for this uie are funk down,tnat the fides lye one upon the other* drink being thin and not weighty cannot open them eafily and pafh down inoftenfively, unleffethey drink abundantly: for fo
rhefmiti can- tiie tiiroat wl11 glve avVi*y> and the drink run down. The like to not fo weiipaffe this befalls thole that have the Palfy, or the Apoplex. For the fpi- tothe nerves as rjts being thin and fuotile do not eafily paffe from the brain to tbemeat. tjie ncrves. Whence it is that fenfe and motion are taken from them, but the humours that feed the parts, make a way for thetn- felves by their weight, and find a paflage to the parts of the body which they open. So the fun beams cannot part a thick and dark clou J, whereas hail can do it eafily. Wherefore let not any man wonder how it is that paraly tick limbs are nourifbed when they want both feeling and morion : for the par ts receive nutriment by the broad paflages, and by their thicknefle make themfelvcs a way Tbenervet wl?ictl che fpiric? are wo thin to do; wherefore the nerves being de- bave fafe «ni privefl of the animall fpirit, deprive the parts of fenfe and motion, but they are fed by other wayes than by the nerves,namely by the rivers and receptacles of bloud which are the veins.
A fttnile from the fun and bail .
CHAP,
Chap. 3 y. All fucb thing* as hajiil 'y come to maturity cannot Liji long, 155
CHAP. XXXIX.
All fuck things as hajiil) come to maturity, or rife to their, full length, do. the fuoner fail , and cannot lajt long ; as we fee it in children, and fame Lind of plains,
AS in trees and all plants that grow up to their full growth, and come to their lull maturity before their due time, and tourie of nature, they foon decay and fail luddenly : fo in the wits and bodies of men, if any endowments and .parts do fliew themfelvcs looncr tnan ordinary, and they grow ripe, before they iliould, they ufc to continue the iborccr time, arid to fall to decay tneConcr. for there is no fol id force in thcifo, nor do they de¬ pend on a firm foundation, and fo do not calily come to perfecti¬ on. So chiidrcm that fount ft breed teeth, as Tome are born with teeth in tneir heads, : tooneft call their teeth. For their firft teeth by reafon of the foitnefle of the. binding nerves are not fo fad, nor do tin- y Uick fo firmly. So they that foon ftand on their feet and go, life to nave weaker legs : but fuch as are long before they go, go ftrongcr, and fall not fo often. Which is alfo obferved in thofe that [peak very foon, they will afterwards fpeak more ftammer- ingly, and will not bring forth their words fo articulately and fig- nificanciy. Wnerefore it is better chat things fhould proceed more lcafurely, and incrcafe more flowly. For when nature heaps up her forces on the parts more abundantly than is fir, it falls ouc that as they grow elder fhe wants to fupply them wichall. Whence it is that pofe parts perform their offices word, as not being fup- porred by any forccsy or nutriment flowing to them. And vve ob- ierveinail kind of plants and fruits, that thofc that come late to be ripe,iad longed, but thofe that are foon ripe, are fpongy and hither and foon rotten. For ripenefle that comes in hade decays firft* Wherefore we like in young boyes a foon ripe and hady wit the word, as alio many gifts of nature, or endowments of body or mind, that come on more hadily chan ordinarily they ufe to do, or is fit for that age. For fuch are found not to be fo long lived, and to dye in a ihort time. Hence the Hollanders have a proverb. They make coo much had; wnereby they mean that contrary to the cgjimoncourfe of nature and uiual time and order of things, and contrary to reaton, many things come to perfection, the fimili- cude being taken from children that will dand and go before they be a year old, and day by nothing to hold them up, which after¬ wards they perform very weakly, and will hardly go at all.
A finite from Trees.
It is ominous tc be born with teeth.
Rare fniitl foor, decay.
Lute fruit tails liiipfl.
Thofe that are foon ripe are nos fofolid*
A common Pro¬ verb on chil¬ dren that are aClhc too food.
z i
e h a p:
IS*
The beginning of living Crea¬ tures in the bo¬ dy.
Creatures bred of flthi
Animats bred oj their own ac¬ cord from no feed.
why the fe a is fruitfuUl with ffh.
Spearing ot Growdlint,
Of filth abounding in mens bodies . Book II
CHAP. XL.
Sometimes our meats are hurt, and contratt a venemotft quality , by the fitttng offome lenemcw creatures upon them ; Likewife in mens bodies from pith abounding in them, fome things are bred, as Frogs , Toads 3 Mice, %ats, Bats 3 and an example of this isfet down.
NOt oncly faulty and virulent humburs breed from corrupt nu¬ triments of the body ; but befides fome forts of Worms, di¬ vers lorts ofliving creatures breed in the fecret cavities of the bowels. For it hath been oblerved in our dayes, that a cerraiti wotban being differed, fome beads were taken out like to rats and mice, that it fe ems were bred from fome foul excrements that came from the food fhe ate. For natural heat being bufied in di- gefting that matter, could make no other fhape of it, than fuch as the matter would bear it had to work upon ; wherefore the in¬ ward force of nature frameth a living creature of that kind, and endeavours itj that moift fubftance being fit and ready to obey the efficient caufe. For it is found by experience that houfe-crea- tures as whelps, cats, mice, rats, fiitter-micc, toads, and frogs, when they wander up and down in Cellars and Butteries, do fome- times leave upon meatsan excremental feed, which when men do not wafti clean from filth, or do not wipe clean the outfides of fruits or pare them, from that moift foul matter that pollutes the meats, fomefuch things are bred. And if fnails and mice breed from corruption, and beetles, drones, and wafps from dung, and from dew, and moift Aire, caterpillars, butterflies, ants, locufts, grafhoppers 5 who can think it ftrange that in the bodies of men from fuch like caufes fuch things fhould be bred > Since here is a more effectual 1 reafon, that yeilds a feminary caufe for this bufl- neffe. For thofe breed of corruption and not lrom feed, though it be anfwerabld thereto for force and vigour, and next kind in facul- p ty. But thofe things that are bred alive in the fecret parts of mans body , proceed from a vitall humour and a living Creature. /'Therefore this muft not feem againft reafoncr a Paradox of fome old women, when as wc fee fo many things bred fpontaneoufly, without any copulation ©r incubation of living creatures, and that from a humour enlivened by the heat of the outward Aygc„ For befides thofe creatures that are bred on the wide earth, what an infinite number of fifh are thus produced in the vaft Seas and waters for mans ufe and commodity ? For there is nothing more fruitfull than the Sea $ becaufe the fubftance of it is grofle, and is full of a vitall heat in all parts. In which, as many things are bred from feed 5 foa great many, ofthemfelves without feed or help of any living creature.
So all Shell-Filh are firft bred from fome muddy and (limy mofr- fture, and all glib fifli , as Eels in fpeciall , which afterwards by copulation breed whole fholes. Groundlins, very fraall fifh in
Holland
■ '.t w
C hap. 40. Of filth abounding in mens bodies. I 5 7
Holland arc bred abundantly from the froth o£ the Sea, when after long drouth, rain falls in great quantity. For when the Mouths of cne Rhine and the Mare are very Salt by the Seas continuail in¬ fluence, efpeciallyin Summer, thofc Rivers being fupplied with a great deal of rain , and watred very much, abound exceding- ly with thefe fmall fiih , who when they grow great do procreate and breed exceedingly. Since therefore Nature attempts many ftrange things, whole force by theguift of God is fpread every where : let no man think it an old Wives dream , that forae pro¬ digious Creatures are framed in mens bodies , fmee in corrupt rot¬ ten wood , and many dead things , Teredines and many nimble Worms are bred, as we fee them in Cheefe, and many other meats in Summer feafon , where Wormes breed in abundance. Add to this, chat from filthy Ulcers and Impoftumes, pieces of Nails,
Hair, Shels, Bones, Stones, are taken forth , that grew from the concretion of putrid humours , and I have known Worms with Jmpofium renj tails, and little Creatures of ftrange forms caft up by vomit , efpe- forth rubbifh daily from fuch as were fick of contagious difeafes, in wbofe ***bair. Urines I have often fecn fmall Creatures to fwim,)ike to Ants, or efpecially like to thole chat in Summer ufe to role in the dew , and Goat~woms h none of thefe perfor.s, but was foully peppered with the French sJ^e(LrCfltn Pox. The intent therefore of this difeourfe is to this purpefe, that no man fhould without care cram in foul meats, and not well waflAi and clean led from outward accidents , which when Coun¬ try people ncglcd , they ufe to be fcabby and full of Pufhes that itch , and to be deformed with many foresand vices of their skins.
For they are not of fo good habit of body, and found conft itution,nor Fa comely and ingenious, and of fuch excellent naturall parts, nor yet fo healthfull , generally, as fome Noble men and Gentlemen arc, that will fuffer no meat to come to their Tables, no not the pUreft White-bread , untill the outfide and cruft of it be finely chiptoff, and the reft of their provifion miift be cnrioully and accurately provided with all decency and clcanlinefle. And this I clcaniineflein find no fault with , fo long as all is done, farr from luxury , fru- dietlii°yn'd to gaily and temperately in fffpeft of diet. For great men and Cour- ean% tiers fhould have fuch a manner of diet and Life, that all may tend to health , comlineffe, honefty and unblamable Manners, that the fplendopr of their fortune, and prolpcrity and abundance that God hath given them, may not ferve for luxury and prodi¬ gality but for moderation and temperance. The mod iiluftri- ous Phillip , the moll powerfull King of Spain, and £ n gland ^ and rbe prayfe Prince of the Netherlands^ g-ivt-th us an example of this, whofer Phillip his moft large endowments of Nature, doth reprefent a divine pat- terne unto mortal Is , who hath fo many valiant Peers to aflift him, by whofe authority and counfel , fo many flourifhing Kingdoms , and fo many large Dominions that came to him by fucceffion from his renowned Father Charles the Empercdr, are governd and pre- ferved. - ' r
C H AP.
*58
7bc effects of the Sun and Moon upon in - feriour bodies.
t
Virgils ptaife for bis great knowledge.
The condition of the skyebafl- getb mens minds.
1. 1. Georg,
A [mile front finol(yb$H{iS,
The force, andl^ature of the Sun. - ; Bock II.
CH AP. XL I.
The force rind Nature of the Sun and Moon in cauftng and raifingtem - feds : And next to that , what change may Le made in the todies , minds and Spirits of men , by the outward Ayre.^ By the wayynbence proceeds the ebbing and flowing of the S; a , that is interchangeably twice in the j pace of a natural} day.
• 4 » f *> p ■ 1 1 r «, . - , Y
T He Beams of the Sun and Moon do afford us certain and not- doubtfuil fignesof fair weather, rain and winds'; and they thereupon repreient unto us divers colours , cither from the feitu- ation of the place , and the compafle of the Heavens they are wont to paffe , or from the Nature of theobjeft , or fame other matter that fkaincs them : which if they would obferve well that write Almanacks, and deceive the common people, and fooliAi old wo¬ men with their predictions, they would not miftake To often, and be deceived, nor deceive the credulous 'people with falfe hopes. For tempefts and winds may be undoubtedly foretold by thefe , when they are not farr off , and what (hall be the condition of the Aire , whereby we lhall have a plentifull or penurious year, and many more rare things which Virgil comprehended in excellent verfe : who being he was moil verfed in the knowledge of things , and had foexa&ly fought out all the works of Nature , hedidalfo in fome meafure fubjed the minds of men to their forces and efftds. For men are diverfly affeded , and otherwife conftim- ted, according as the time is , according as the Starrs fet, or the Ayrc varies * and the four fcafons of the year differ. So when the skie is dowdy and dark,, and the airegroffe and thick, men arc fad and four countenanced, and fleepy ; but when the sky is clear and in the fpring-time , when all things flourish , men are cheer- full, and lightfome , and very much- given, to mirth. For the pleafanc aire dilTLpates all fouIncfTe of humours , and grofle va¬ pours that darken our minds, and makes our Spirits chccrfuU, and our minds quick and lively , which Virgil exprefled in this elegant verfe. v ,
But when thefeafon and the flitting tdfyre.
Cjrow moift , and Southern-winds begin to blowy Things are then thick ned^ that before were rare 3 And a great change is made in things below.
UVfens minds do alter as the times go round .
Wren Tempefts are , they do not hold the famey As in fair weather f ometimes birds abound , tAnd ftngj beafts skipy Crows a hoarfenote do frame.
For the Spirits that were before kept in y break forth when the ayrc is calme and pleafant, and when they are recreated with the Weft-wind, For as Smoke and vapours, when the houfes are
uniockt
Qhap.4 1 • The force and Nature of the Su». 159
unlockc and che dores fee open , the ay re and wind during , ufe to be diflipated and blown away , and ail Galleries and Chambers that were full of filth , begin to be more lightfome j fo in mens bodies , all foul vapours, and all (linking fe, its that were in them, and all dulinclfeof Spirits are difeufied and ventilated. Where¬ fore not oaely intcrnall caufcs , and imbred humours are helps to health or dilcafes, but the outward conjunction of the Starrs, and conllitution of the outward ayre and breathings , and qualities of the winds, breed divers and fudden mutations in the bodies or men , which every man may find true in himfelfe every moment ^ body, a aimod of time. For who is there , to paffe over the affe&ions of coJftitutloT of the m ind , who when fome temped is at hand , or didemper of the tbtayre. Ayre, three days alfo before it comes , doth not perceive fome pricking in his limos, and fome beating pains, contractions of the nerves, palpitations, or fome other feofible pains? For Warts,
Corns, Horny fubdances, Cicatrices, Knots, Kernells , or if any
thing be drain’d or disjoynted or broken , torn or diffolvcd in any
part of the body , all thefe willforeChew a temped coming, whic:i
doth not ufe to come but with mod bitter torments to (uch that
have any (ccret touch of the Whores Pox. For thefe when cold
winds begin to blow, arefooned fenfible of their pains , for their
Nervs are dretched, and their Mufcles grow diffe, and the vitious sic^ pespiepn_
humours in their bodies, being agitated , do trouble them grie- cehe the ebann
voufly^ For there is under thole parts a kind of didemper like to °flheaire'
the weather, that tortures them drangely in their inward parts;
But fuch as are of a found habit of body , and in good health, feel no inconvenience or didemper by it. For as parebt, broken, leak- . ing (hips , arefooner fwallow’d up^n a temped 5 fo difeafed peo- ship that Te pie and fuch as are of a decai’d and uncertaine health , are expof- fed to all injuries, and fubjeCl to all inconveniences: for upon the kali didemper of the Ayre arifing , they ufe to feci mod terrible pains , or when the Sun or Moon caufe any mutation in the inferi- our bodies. For thefe Planets put forth their forces , not only up- su/fff on mens bodies , but upon all cerredriall things , the force where- tym inferUut of is fo great , and is extended fo wide, thac all things contained bsdis*' in the circumference of the Heavens , have their order. Ornament and Glory from them ; and the whole courfe of things and times of the yeare are governed by them. And though the power of the upper Starrs be not ineffc&ua}l , yet by the help of the Sun all things of greaced concernment are brought to pafle. For the Sun ^chiefly adorns this World , and difpofeth and guideth all things very decently. For by the Suns operation feeds are propagated , and corn grows ripe, and all things inereafe and proceed. G ,
c And thtu the year doth trace it felf akout if Alfo the works of °r^‘ the Moon appeare very great in the Nature of things , but not fo great as the effeCls of the Sun. For fhe enjoyes the benefit of the Sun , and borrows her light from him , that fo much of the Moon is light as the Sun filings upon : but fhe fails and hath no light , "moIIi* co»}un* when the earth comes between and caufcth an ecclips, But then fo™ a. nc*
efpcei- Mm*
l6o
The force and Nature of iheSun.