Book 1 1.

Lttlice who it ngeodfor.
Of the hearb Patience or Monies Rheu- barb.
Mpod.L'Od.3,
The force and effefts off aft* ingfpittlc.
guilli the defire of luft, as Cucumbers, Pompions, Purflane, and Camphor do. Wherefore it muft be uled more largely by them that would lead a fingle life, and live chaftly, for this will take away their vencreous defires : but fuch as are bound in the bonds of Matrimony, may nor totally refufe the ufe of it : becaufe fome- times their brains are dried by too much venery. But thecoldneffe of it mud becorre&ed with heating hearbs, lead it weaken the generative feed too much, and make it uncffc&uall to beget chil¬ dren, and altogether unfit for it.
CHAP. X LIII.
Of Patience commonly call'd, or, the great Dock.
Since there are many kinds of Sorrel, or Dock, two of them especially are fit to be eaten, that which is commonly called Sorrel, that in Sailers whets the appetite and takes off loathing, and that which from its greatnefife is called Horfe-dock. It is a Pot- hearb with a great top with long broad leaves, and the ftalk when it is ripe is red, and the root is yellow : I find this hearb to be of fuch faculty that if you boylany flefhor meat with it, be they ne¬ ver fo old they will be tender and fit to eat ; For being it is of a flippery moift, nature, it will foften and temper the hardeft Oxe- flefh, or old Hens. Wherefore the Antients ufed it often,becaufe it will make meats eafy of digeftion, and it loofneth the belly. Orage is of tne fame faculty with it, which from the prickly feed is called Spinach, and is like to Lampfana Diofcorides fpeaks of^ which 1 think Martial meanr, when he faid,
Ufe Lett ice and the Adallovces foft.
And Horace,
Fat Olives pulled from the boughs of’th Tree 5 Orfowre D cks that Meadows love.
Or Mallows that with coflive bodies be ft agree .
CHAP. XLIV.
Of the operation of Mans [pit tie.
Divers experiments fhew what power and quality there is in Mans faffing fpittle, when he hath neither eat nor drunk be¬ fore the ufe of it 5 For it cures all tetters, itch, fcabs, pufhes, and creeping fores. And if venemous little beads have faftned on any part of the body, as hornets, beetles, toads, fpiders, and fuch like, that by their venomecaufe tumours and great pains and in- flammationsj do but rub the places with fading fpittle and all
t thof'e
Chap. 44. Of the operation of Mans fpittle, 165
tnofe cifccts will bego.ieand diiculled, moreover it kii!s Scorpi¬ ons and other venemous crcatures,or at leaf! hurts them exceeding¬ ly. For it hath in it a venemous quality, and fecret poifon, that it contracts from thefoulnefleof the teeth in part, and partly from vitious humours. For to the mouth and Jaws fumes rile from thefe and infed the fpittle with a contrary quality. Whence it is that fometimes we perceive a fair, fowre, fweec, or fharp tafie in Sweat ahdfplu our fpucie, as there is in fwcat alfo. Hence it is that when men pf^omthe are fatting their breath dinks exceedingly, and the unfavourinefle humours. of the breath offends all near us that talk with us. For fome fog¬ gy ill tmelis evaporate and boyl forth of the body, as out of fome muddy lake, and thefe being of a venemous nature in fed the foun¬ tains of fpittle. And this moyfturc that fwims in the mouch and , ' .
ftioyftneth the tongue, and waters our meat, is nothing elfe, man a flegmatique excrement, that arifeth from the fiomach, from the nutrimental juice received in and flees to the brain, and fo is lent down to the tongue and jaws.
Hence it is that thofe whole ffomachs abound with flcgmc, are aiwaies full of fpittle in their mouths, and is overwet with im¬ moderate moiflure ; but filch as are hot about theentrals and dry who have a dr with a feavorous heat, their tongues are not wet at all, but crack or moifi month. as the earth doth, when it is over-dried and parched by the heat of the Sun.
Since therefore the qualities and effeds of Spittle come from the humours (for clit of them is it drawn by the faculty of nature . nmucf0 as fire draws diflilled water from hcafbs) the reafon may be ealily diffedhmbi: underftood, why fpittle fhould do fuch flrange things, and de- ilroy fome creatures. And if the fpittle of a found man be ef- feduall for many ufes, that it will not onejy deftroy many crea¬ tures, but kills Quickfilver alfo, and fixeth it 5 what (hall we think of fuch that arc Tick of the Leprofy, the Pox, and many other contagious difeafes >
I know many that have catcht the fmall Pox and meafils by onely putting their mouths to the cups whereon the fpittle of thofe that were infeded did flick, by reafon of the clammincfle of it, and venemous mild that faflneth to the teeth ; fo that for the fame caufe the bicings of all creatures are dange¬ rous, by reafon of the contagioufneffe of their fpittle, except the nerves and mufclesbenot hurt by it.
CHAP1.
1 66
MilkWboltU goad for %
MilJtiithick- ned by heot>and melts by cold.
wine and milk mingled are naught.
Milk corrupts Fijlu
Beeflmgs.
Gowty people ore very lafci- view.
Of the ufe of Milk Beefings^and Creme, Book II.
CHAP. X L V.
Of the ufe of Milk, Beeflings, Creame, The dutch call the firft Beef , the latter Room : alfo what will keep thefefrom doddering in the Sto¬ mach.
THe ufc of Milk is not alike wholfome for all people : for thofc that have cold Stomachs , it grows foure in them , and fills the body with wind ; and thofc that are very hot of temper, in them it burns, and fends forth (linking vapours, and offends the Head. And fince the nature of Milk is lo , that it will thicken and be con- denfedby heat , and melted by cold : it follows that it isfooneft clottered in a hot Stomach , and nothing will hinder this more than Honey, and Sugar, adding a little Salt to it. But fince I have known many llrangled by clottered Milk coagulated in their Sto¬ machs, their bream being (lopped when they began to vomit, I think fome wanton young men , and lafcivious fuiters do very ill ; who at their afternoon meetings , ufc to fluff themfelves with Creame and Bieftings , and other Milk-meats , and drink Wine abundantly with them , to the great detriment of their health. For Wine makes Milk curdle, and become like to Cheefc ; where¬ with the Stomach being offended, and is not able to concoft it, all turnes to corruption, and thefe are the foundations and feminaries of great difeafes. So fifh and Milk , and all foure-things mingled with Milk, and drenched with Wine, caufe Scabs and theLe- profy. For all things cramb’d in thus promifeuoufly, corrupt, and are made fubjeft to putrefa&ion. Thofe gluttons, that when a Cow hath new Calved love Beeftings , (hall find nothing more hurtfull to man , fo that Children , that within threedayes after they are born, do fuck their Mothers Milk, are very ill by it, and onejy eicape Death. For it coagulates and c!ott,ers in their bo¬ dies, and flops the Channells of the blood, and the Veins , fo that nutriments cannot paffc fitly and without hurt. But thefe things diflolve Milk and Clottered blood alfo; Cummin-feed, Oyxmeland Vincger of Squils, Angelica, Malkr-worr.
CHAP. XL V I.
fvhy G outy people are Lafcivious and Tyrone to venery , and as many as lye ontbeir backs , and on hard beds.
SUch as have the Joynt-Gour are moft commonly Lafcivious, and luft^xceedingly , partly becaufe they have been ufed to it by long cuftome , by the immoderate ufe whereof they came to have that difeafe • partly becaufe their Nerves arc grown fliff, and ftretched out by it , and by lying often on their backs , the hu¬ mours flow to the generative parts. They alfo thatride much , or
-X.
Cbap.4^.
rvby Govcty people are l aft tv tow.
\6i
lyoalong on Snip-boards, and lye hard on their backs, aicvcry
Prone and given much to Vcnery. For the Nerves deftmated for
mans generation that run to thegcnitall parts grow hot., lo that by
theagicacion and influence of humours , the loincs are provoked ,
and there is eredion made thereby. By the famerealon, if any
man hurt or brudchis great Toe of his foot, immediately froni
this effe& the groin and cods fwell , that is, that wrinkled cover of
the Tciiicles is in pain by it, ariling from fconfcnr* and by reafon of
the interweaving of Nervs and Veins. As if any man puis into a 4 finite fr ip
fire that is very hot , a pair of Tongues , or other iron, not only Smiths.
tne part put into the fire will be red hot, but alfo that part which
is farr frofn the fire , grows fo hot that it cannot be handled : fo
pain is communicated to the parts that are on the fame fide, and
the fickly affe&isconveighed to the neighbouring part. So from
the Stomach, Inteftins, Matrix, Spleen, Liver, the head is affc &-
edj and when the brain is hurt or troubled with anydiftemper,
the mifchinfe is derived from thence to the parts that are under ir.
And therefore Mid-wives, though they know not the^aufe of it , The generative ufe to fearch and fee the Tefticles of Children , when they arc Tick, parts a'c fens and their privy member , by the obfervation whereof, they can °fg«odhiaitb judge : young men alfo, may perceive certain flgnesof recovery of death, ofhcaltn orlicknefle. For if the cafes of theTefticlcs be I00L and feeble, and the Cods fall down * it is a figne that the na- turallfacuh^ are fallen, and the virall Spirits that are the props- TbeTeftkigs of Life. But if thele fecret parts be wrinkled and raifed up , and bangingdom the yard Hands ftiffe, ic is a figne all will be well. But that Zbit^lnhti the event m3y exadiy anfvirer the prsediftion , we muft mark in are. ® whai part of the body the difeafe lyeth. For if in difeafes of the brain, and fuch as are above the ‘Diaphragm* , and the Septum Trapfverfum, the generative parts hang down and flag, it is beaithfull, as on the contrary it is an ill (ign to have them drawn upward ; tor the vitall faculty dies, and the nerves are contracted to their firit original.
I haveobfei ved this in many that were of found mind, and their F>cdiffi0n op rcafoogood, that their Tefticles and Yard were fo run in, that t..ey could not feel It to make water by. Butin all difeafes that fromtbeTejil- aff.ct the lower parts, it is a good ftgn to have their Tefticles cles* wrinkled, and their yard ftift, for thefe are figns that thofe parts revive that are infer vient to the natural faculties, and are made fit again to perform their natural actions; for no parts of the body fuo .ct recover, and become lively after a difeafe, thin thofe that dame nature natu placed in fecrer. fed ruovsrt
CHAP,
iff *
16$
■ )
Marigolds.
whether Claret- Tvinc caufeu = rinc and [went .
Milk fuhjtft to corrupt.
t *■' *
Thunder and lightning [poll
drink*
whether the Small -l1 ox and Meafils may be cured 5 &c, : Book II
V T t E / ' ,r .) ; •j' . r _ ' 1 ‘} _ {'ft 'I ' 'Iff
CHAP. XLVII.
whether the Snail-Pox and Meafils may be cured with red wine, or with Milk, that women ufe to admiisifier, when fuch Pujhes (hew them- felus.
. ,• , , ' *' . { 1 k,!, * ■ * j « i
IN difcafcs that proceed from the boyling and inflammation of blood, diaphoretiques and difculfive remedies fhould be admi- m fired, and iuch as attenuate the humours, that they may the better be vented through the pores and paflages of the body to breathe them forth, and none may doubt of this. Wtierefore I wonder how our Matrons, when luch pufhes break forth, give Claret-W inc to drink, which is commonly of a binding quality and thickneth and refrains the humour. Wherefore I bid them make a decoaion of Marigold howrs, DilfHyfop, Balm, Savoury* Figs, Annifeed, and Fennel-lied, this loofneth the skin, and dif- pells collection of humours. But I fee a reafon how it may be fafe- ly given without danger, foie be done feafonably, namely when all the force of the humours is brought to the skin> for shen ic drives them forth by the fame reafon as things that loofen the bcU ly byprelfingit, asMirobolans, Rhaponticum, or that is called Rheubarb, in all \vhich there is C6nrajned a manifeft binding quality ; whereforeby way of aftri&ion red wine drives forth the fmoky vapours, and fumes chat flay in the middle paflages arc for¬ ced out thereby at the outward skin. So I find by fome that the black Spasifh wine, called fine from its deep die, will loofen the belly s yet ic is given in dyienteries to ftay the flux of it. It doth it, partly bccaule by reafon of its thicknefle it cannot enter the veins, and partly by its binding and prefling quality wherewith ic moiftnech inwardly the Iriteftines. Likewife red wine becaufe it heats, hath a dilculfmg quality and provokes fwear. But I whoL ly difapprove of giving them milk, for it is very ill for feavourifh people, and foon corrupts, and is fubjetf: to contagion: fori know by experience, that when any onediech the milk will corrupt and look wan, and all the ill ayres flye thither.
CHAP. XL VI 1 1.
V 3 si ' tiilj i i'i £ " ' vj ,’ , V \ .
Wtne is [pil’d by thunder and lightning, and f0 ;s ^ and aud how this may be htndreu and the jorce o[ them reflored,
EVery Matter ofa Family knows by his own Ioffe, that thunder and lightning will do great hurt in wine and beer Cellars- For wine grows fowrc by thunder, and turns red, and its natural talk is fpoil’d by that fiery penetrating heat. Beer by that horrid noife and violent motion is made fowrc alfo and not fit to drink. And though the bummer heat be the chief caufe that drinks grow
fowre
C ! h p.4.$ . r/}n;\ /. lie ^ and Beer, is [port'd by Thunder and Lightning. 1 6y
iowrcj yet thunder and lightning do iuddenly change them though it be winter, whereas heat doth it by degrees. But if Cellars be underground and vaulted; and arched, the drinks receive the lefle 1 urc, and not id much as when they are plain with planks alone.
For the diitem per of the Ayre and weather iooner pierceth into tne places, and tails upon the vcflcls oi Wine and Beer. Where- .• fore I ufe to fence them before the ermpefts. come, by laying on how inn tne veifelsa oar of Iron withSalt,or Flintsftor the Lightning drives dm/a affthun* with the bardeft fubftance, and therein fpends molt of its force. e,*rm m *' For ic leaves thin and tender fubftances untouched, becaufe ic finds pal! ige through them and cannot ftay there : and hence we fee it is that Oaks and Holms, that are. very high and hard trees, are moft expoted to the injuryes of thunder ; whereas the Bay-tree. that yeilds to it; and refills ic not, is never touched by it. So we fee ic proved by experience rather chan by reafon, that the skin of a Sea sea-calves: Galfis never touched with thunder, I think it is becaufe it is fofc* and very fine, and not very folidj alfo an Eagle and the skin thereof. Yet this belongs to all men to know for their health, that nutriments lpoil’d by thunder are naught and dangerous to eat of drink, fo that the dogs will not touch them. For there is in thun¬ der a peftilent force that is communicated to thofe things it falls upon. Whence it is that fuch as are burnt by thunder, (fink excee¬ dingly and filthily, as we may perceive in rubbing the biafted ears Blaped-ctrni of corn that the lightning hath fal’n upon, they will fmell like Brimftone. And now having fhewed what thefe natural tempefts can do, and what mifehiefs they can bring unto us : it remains to {hew how things fpoil’d by lightning may be reftored to their for¬ mer goodndle. This you fhall notea fily do,unlcfleyou poure out the liquor intofome other veflel, which muft firft be made clean, and then feafoned with the decodion of the leaves of Savoury, wild-Time, Bays, Walnuts, Mynils,boih wild and of the Gar¬ den, which the Brabandcrs call Gagel\ ; Fennel, Juniper-berries,
Clary; and when the veflel is dried, fee it up, then when you have occalion to ufe it, it will have a very gallant colour, fmell, and tafte. Alio Beer when ic degenerates from its native goodnefle or grows dead, is retiored with fweetfented Phyficall drugs, and rc- to report covers its fa voury tafte ; namely by the roots of Orris, Ginger, ™vCOfrut~ Niltmegs, Cloves,1 Bay-berries, and with the dry leaves of it, with fweet Calamus, Origanum, Betes. For as the Coleworts corrupt Coie-xt arts cor - the nature of wine, fo Beets reftore it, becaufe they have a nitrous ruffrvi?te3Beeu faculty, whereby they hinder that wine cannot thicken and grow re^ore lt% clammy as honey, which Rocker-feed will do alfo, but not with¬ out greae hurt to ones health : for it hurts the nerves by its cauftick burning quality, and caufech the joynt pains, as fome roliny wines, and fuch as are feafoned with ftrange Ingredients.
For our Vintners ufe to lmoke their Cask vvich Brimftone, jrilh7¥hat abd they poure in Sea-water boyled with Honey, fome min- thins Mnet gle Cows Milk with it, others ftrew Quick-lime, Sand, Pow- dred Scones that are brought inco thcle parts from Bentima- mi%
B b ry ,
f TrediVtiom of Tempefts, £fc.